Evening My Lovelies

Afraid today's chapter is probably the shortest one so far this story but I hit a bit of writers block and it's getting late now so I need to get this up and head to bed.

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you liked it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Hmmm I must say I'm a fan of the fall into a pigsty idea but I don't think they're near one at the minute. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Athos definitely should know how stubborn their brother is by now that's for sure, though Athos's words have made him think which is a good thing :D Don't worry about Marshall too much he wont be around much longer :D

KarenF (Guest): Thanks for the review - Glad you liked the sweetness, we've got more of that coming in later chapters. I would have loved to have seen more D'Art hurt-comfort moments in the show too. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - It was almost tempting to let D'Art try and get on the horse but I didn't have it in me to hurt him more... don't worry that vanished fairly quickly lol :D D'Art's still a little awkward with his brothers but things will be good again soon. Hmmm good point, I want Issac for the next one, maybe we wont make him lose his leg. Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Things are a little awkward but will get back to normal soon... He could go after them but there are others he could target... both Treville and Porthos aren't that injured :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - I don't think he'll ever learn that, but maybe Athos's words will help :) D'Art's guilt is still there though it has faded by quite a lot. I have a plan for the last bit of it don't worry :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - I don't envy him either :) Glad you liked their chat it was a lot of fun to write :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Well consider what happened to our lovely pup in my last story I think he's gotten off quite easy in this one :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - Well our boy's a stubborn one :) Athos's words have definitely made out boy think. Porthos is definitely quite pleased with the fact that he's the only one riding :) I've got some bonding moments planned for a few chapters time so we have that to look forward too :D Well they might have reason to be harsher very soon :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm really glad you enjoyed the brotherly moments, they were fun to right and cute to picture :) Our stubborn boy definitely has a lot to think about now thanks to both of them. I love childish-D'Art too! Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Sixty-One: Close To Home

"Please," whined a voice making the men around him smirk with amusement, especially at the look he received from his companion in return.

"No," stated Athos with an unimpressed look on his face, though on the inside he was finding the sight as amusing as the rest of them.

"Oh come on Athos," whined Porthos as he edged his horse closer to the side of the wagon Athos and D'Artagnan were on, the latter doing his best to smother the grin that was threatening to form from the conversation going on between his brothers, much to Porthos's delight and amusement.

"I'm not giving you permission to beat Marshall," sighed Athos, the unimpressed look still present on his face.

"One punch then," bargained Porthos with a wide toothy grin.

"No Porthos."

"But it'll shut him up!" whined the larger man with an overly dramatic huff that succeeded in making not only D'Artagnan but also several of the other men chuckle.

Athos's eyebrow rose as he stared down his brother from inside the wagon. "He shut up when the Captain had him gagged."

Porthos grin turned more devilish at that but he quickly returned his focus to his brother.

"Yeah but I can still hear him!"

As if on cue the sound of muffled curses and insults thrown their way after through the gag tied around the man's face.

"SHUT IT!" snapped the men of the regiment as one, making Remy, the only non musketeer member besides Marshall burst out with a bark of laughter, making the men around him smirk and making Marshall give him a dark look that instantly reminded him of the look Quentin had sent him when he tried to kill him.

Aramis noticed the instant sombering of his companion but before he could offer more than a reassuring hand squeeze Porthos was back to trying to persuade Athos.

"See! Come on Athos, one punch that's all it would take!"

This time Athos couldn't stop himself and let out a small, almost inaudible chuckle. Smirking he raised an eyebrow as he stared at his brother. "You sound confident about that."

Porthos responded with a smirk on his own as he nodded, "I took out that red guard the other week with one punch, I can do it to him too."

"What was that about a red guard Porthos?" frowned Treville as he turned in the saddle to look at the now incredibly sheepish looking musketeer, both men fully aware of the amused looks they were getting from the rest of their traveling party.

"Nothing Captain," replied Porthos in the most innocent tone he could manage under his Captain's piercing stare.

Treville held his gaze for a few more seconds before scoffing lightly under his breath and turning away, figuring that as long as it hadn't and didn't cross his desk then he didn't need to worry about it, he trusted not only Athos to keep his friends in line but also Porthos's restraint, he was not a man who would continue the assault once his opponent was down.

Despite his intentions to remain impartial to the stare down that had just happened Athos couldn't help but chuckle at the relieved look on his brother's face as their Captain turned his focus elsewhere. Not that he blamed his brother for being relieved, Treville could instill the fear of god in a person within seconds if he was angry enough and knocking out a red guard in public was definitely something that could make him that angry.

"Keep it up and I'll mention the one you punched too," threatened Porthos under his breath making Athos silence and glare at him while D'Artagnan grinned brightly at the sight.

For his spot near the end of the group Marshall couldn't stop glaring at the smug musketeers while internally planning how he would both hurt them and get away if and when he got his hands free from the rope binding them.

He had been working on them since he first woke up and found them tied and he could tell they were beginning to get some give in them but he was also acutely aware of how close to Paris they were now getting and he knew his chances of getting out of the city with his head still intact and his heart beating if he was brought there.

It was hard work trying to escape, as he didn't want the musketeer catching on to what he was doing until he was free and making his move. He had seen the dark looks in their eyes and knew that each and every man surrounding him was just waiting and praying for him to give them a reason to attack and likely kill him, something he was not going to do if he could help it.

Cursing both his predicament and himself for letting it happen Marshall returned to glaring at the musketeers and discretely working on his ropes, fighting hard not to outwardly smirk when he felt the fraying material give a little more.

Treville was not happy. He had forgotten, when deciding on the route to take to get back to Paris, that this particular stretch of road was not in the best condition and he feared what the jostling would do to the injured men in the wagons.

Unlike horses that could easily maneuver around potholes and other obstacles, the wagons were clunky and any sharp changes of direction would only hurt those resting inside more.

The road had been getting progressively worse the more they road and he knew his men had been doing their best to handle the pain but the next stretch was the worst yet and he hated himself for not having remembered this beforehand.

"Everyone stay focused," he ordered, as he turned in his saddle to address his men, particularly those in charge of steering the wagons. "Road's pretty bad ahead so wagons watch where your going and everyone else do your best to stay out of their way until we get past this stretch."

Marshall smirked outwardly this time, unable to help himself. This was exactly the sort of distraction he had been hoping for. With the group focused heavily on getting the wagons through while causing the least about of pain, the guard around him would be looser, allowing the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the newly found slack in his ropes.

"How ya doing whelp?" asked Porthos with no small amount of concern in his voice as he watched his younger brother bite his lip to silence a cry of pain as the wagon hit another pothole and he found himself hating the fact that King Louis was more interested in hosting parties and events then spending the money fixing the roads into the city.

"…Been… Better," replied the boy weakly, gasping in pain as the wagon knocked about just enough to force his healing hip against the side of it. Aramis and Treville had both done what they could to pad out his bandage in hope of preventing some of the pain if he, like he just did, knocked it against something, but it did little and the pain was still enough to cause tears to prickle in the corners of his eyes.

Hating to see his brother in pain Porthos thought quickly before twisting in his saddle to pull out his blanket from his saddlebag. When he had it in hand he turned back to D'Artagnan, the boy too lost in his pain to even see what his brother was doing.

Working as quickly and gently as he could Porthos place the rolled up blanket next to the Gascon's hip, hoping it might help prevent some of the pain if and wen the wagon jostled again.

"T-Thanks," smiled D'Artagnan weakly as soon as the pain had receded enough for him to think clearly and understand what Porthos had done. The larger man merely smiled and gently ruffled the younger man's hair, ignoring his weak shouts of protests before he left the Gascon with Henri and Athos and moved to Aramis's wagon.

"How's it going over here 'Mis?" he asked softly, once again hating the looks of pain on the men's faces that they couldn't hide.

"We're… currently debating whether… we can use this experience… to petition the King for better roads," remarked Aramis in between short gasps or hisses of pain.

"You really think he'd listen?"

Aramis shrugged though he regretted the moment instantly. "Probably not," he sighed, "Still a nice thought though."

"Just don't mention me to him," grimaced Remy, "Doubt a bandit's opinion on road quality will go over well."

Both Aramis and Porthos chuckled at the mental image that created and quickly the group settled into a easy string of banter that helped the injured members focus on something other than their pain.

Marshall watched the larger musketeer, hate burning in his eyes as he observed him joke and laugh with his friends. The man was getting too close to him for his liking but luckily he was now ready to enact his plan.