Evening My Lovelies
Okay so I may have gotten wrapped up in another conversation here today, but hopefully you all like it regardless.
Apologies if Treville comes across out of character
Also I have some potentially sad news... I feel like I need to warn you all that we don't have much left for this story ;(
Notes On Review:
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - D'Art's probably not going to tell them everything before he starts his plan for reasons we'll be hinting at today. D'Art definitely needed the chat with Fredrick. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - D'Arts not handling the whole thing overly well but the chat with Fredrick and the one he's having today with Treville will definitely help him. Enjoy the new chapter! x
FierGascon: Thanks for the review - Bwhaha loved your review and you're right I did know what parts of the chapter you were referencing :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - D'Art definitely needed the pick-me-up that Fredrick brought :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Bwhaha oh I love the idea of forcing D'Art to deliver a baby XD Bet he'd proper panic about it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - D'Arts actions will hopefully become a bit clearer here though as for him opening up and telling his brothers the truth... I don't know if he'll do that before he puts his plan into action. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you liked the chapter. Treville's papa-mode is coming out to play a bit again today. Yes, yes you can hug him, I'm sure he wont mind... though be careful of his arm :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - D'Art's definitely not been completely honest with his brothers, but he will be when he chats to Treville so that's something. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Haha Treville and the others are tempted. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - He did go in there with that intention but then Aramis ruined it lol Couldn't resist the small hug with our boys, though D'Art needs a hug now too. Fredrick is indeed the man our pup saved from the burning building at the beginning of this story. I'm really glad you liked the whole Fredrick and baby Charles bit, I wasn't sure if I might have taken that thing a bit too far. Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Seventy-Three: Opening Up
Treville leaned back, letting out a long breath as he took in all of what D'Artagnan had just told him.
As he looked at the young soldier Treville couldn't help the wave of sympathy, pity and anger that welled up within him. He hated the obvious pain and heartbreak he could see in the Gascon's eyes. He wanted nothing more than to be able to make things right for him. The boy hadn't done anything to deserve the fate now being handed to him, he had struggled against every obstacle to become a musketeer and just when he had finally achieved his dream it all began to slip away after heroically trying to save someone's life.
"Are they sure?" he asked, the tone of his voice echoing the disbelief he was currently feeling at the whole situation.
D'Artagnan squirmed slightly in his chair; uncomfortable with the intense look Treville was sending to his covered arm. "Doctor Reynard seems to think so," he said with a small shrug.
Treville's eyebrow rose, "What about Aramis? I thought he had been monitoring it since the beginning."
At this D'Artagnan seemed to squirm more, making Treville look questioningly at him until the boy sighed.
"He… Hasn't looked at it for a while," he admitted quietly, subconsciously clutching the injured arm closer to his chest.
Confusion flickered across Treville's face though he covered it fairly quickly. "That doesn't sound like Aramis. I would have thought it would be one of the first things he would have wanted to do when he woke up."
"He… did," admitted the Gascon whilst refusing to look at his Captain. "He's been trying… I just… Haven't let him."
"D'Artagnan," sighed Treville as he rubbed his temples, understanding now why the three senior members of the inseparables had asked him to order the Gascon to behave and to do what they told him. At the time Treville thought it to have been a joke, likely to do with the fact that D'Artagnan had just been given the freedom to leave the infirmary, so he didn't question or push the matter further… now though, it all made sense and he was cursing himself for not acting sooner.
"I've already gotten the prognosis," stated D'Artagnan with sureness the Captain hadn't expected. "I don't need to hear it from multiple sources."
Treville was torn between protesting and understanding. Part of him wanted nothing more than to drag him to Aramis and force him to have the arm examined, knowing that while Reynard might have more medical training, Aramis had been observing its healing since the beginning and would likely know more about how it was progressing. The rest of him however understood, if the second examination provided the same answer as the first then he had just subjected himself to the same pain twice and, if by some chance the second examination provided different answers then it would be giving him a hope that could well be false.
Settling on understanding Treville nodded, "Fair enough, that is your choice to make."
D'Artagnan sighed, relief so obvious on his face that it made Treville chuckle despite the subject they were discussing.
"They're not seeing it the same way I'm guessing?"
"That's an understatement sir," grumbled the Gascon but there was a fondness in both his voice and expression that told the Captain that the man in front of him didn't mind his brothers persistence as much as he tried to show.
"You don't plan on telling them?" Treville
D'Artagnan shook his head, "Not until I know for sure."
This confused Treville, having thought, from the way the boy had been speaking, that he had resigned himself into accepting the news. "Explain."
Surprise flickered across D'Artagnan's face like he was shocked the Captain wasn't berating him for having the hope he clearly still held.
"I… have a plan," admitted the Gascon as he took a deep breath and looked Treville, who looked a cross between serious and amused, in the eye.
"You've been training with one of the best strategic minds I've ever had the pleasure of working with," remarked Treville with no small amount of fondness in his voice. "I would be offended on his behalf if you didn't."
D'Artagnan's cheeks flushed with colour, either from embarrassment or pride Treville wasn't sure but he remained silent as the young solider explained the plan he had come up with, the Captain's heart sinking as he took it all in.
"Are you sure about this D'Artagnan?" he asked, his voice uncharacteristically soft as he watched the boy in front of him.
"It's the only way to know for sure," nodded the Gascon but Treville could see the pain the decision was causing him all too clearly.
"And you can't do it here? I do not like the idea of you doing this, of learning the truth on your own."
D'Artagnan shook his head, cursing internally as he felt the now all too familiar pinprick feeling of tears building in the corner of his eyes. "I can't do it here," he stated, hoping that Treville wouldn't press the matter further.
Unfortunately for him however Treville was not about to let the matter drop.
"I could order you to D'Artagnan," he said sternly, either not noticing the younger man's discomfort or simply choosing to ignore it. "Without having someone with you what would stop you giving up if it gets too hard, or pushing yourself too far and making things worse? You need your brothers D'Artagnan."
D'Artagnan eyes narrowed as he took in what was being spoken to him, hating the fact that the Captain seemed to be addressing him as if he was a child who didn't know any better.
"I know that," he hissed, the tone of his voice startling Treville out of his rant. "I know that but I can't do it here!"
Hearing how he stressed the word 'can't' made a flash of confusion cross Treville's face.
"Why not? Do you not trust your brothers to help you?"
"Of course I do!" snapped D'Artagnan, instantly becoming quite defensive, something Treville cursed causing.
"Then why?" he asked, his voice softer and full of concern this time rather than accusation.
For a moment it looked like he might not get his answer, that D'Artagnan might have reverted so far into his defensive state that he wasn't even going to respond. As he was trying to think of something he could say to bring the boy out of it and to give him the answers he was seeking he heard D'Artagnan sigh somewhat shakily.
"I just… can't," he said, his voice sounding more scared than Treville would have expected, though the Captain didn't comment on it as he allowed the boy to finish speaking. "I… If it doesn't work… I just can't."
"They wouldn't blame you D'Artagnan, it's not something you could control anyway."
D'Artagnan shook his head," No I know they wouldn't blame me but…"
Rising from behind his desk Treville moved so he could crouch down in front of the Gascon, placing a reassuring hand on the young man's shoulder as he did so.
"But?" he prompted, hoping he could get the boy to talk so he could make sense of what was going on in his head.
"They'll be disappointed," admitted the Gascon tiredly as he looked into his Captain's eyes, showing him the worry and fear he was feeling. "My arm not healing and losing being a musketeer would devastate me but… but I think I'd break if I had to endure that while witnessing their disappointment. Please Captain I'd rather do this my way, on my own. If it doesn't work I can stay gone and figure things out on my own without being painfully reminded of what I can't have."
"And if it works and Reynard's assessment was wrong?"
Hope flickered briefly in D'Artagnan's eyes for a moment and pride flared up within Treville as he noted his solider hadn't given up the fight quite yet.
"Then I come back… if you'd let me that is."
Treville sighed as he stood and leaned back against the desk. "I want it noted that I do not approve of your plan, I still think you would heal better with the support of your brothers and those who care about you."
D'Artagnan smiled softly; noticing the tone of the Captain's voice was not the stern one he had used earlier.
"But?" he prompted, using the same tone of voice the Captain had been using earlier in the hopes of getting the man to continue speaking.
"But you earned that pauldron on your shoulder and as such there will always be a place back here for you whenever you return… Because I am confident you are stubborn enough to get that arm of yours back into fighting condition before too long."
The smile that grew on D'Artagnan's face was contagious enough to have a much smaller version mirrored on Treville's own face, though it faded quickly as he returned to being serious.
"When do you plan to leave?"
Like Treville, this question caused the smile to drop off of D'Artagnan's face in an instant and once again Treville could see the pain this decision was causing the younger man.
"Doctor Pascal said Maria will be okay to leave at the end of the week and she's eager to get her life back so I will be leaving with her and Corinne. I need to ensure they're somewhere safe before I put my plan in motion properly."
Treville nodded, not liking the feeling that wormed about within him at the knowledge of the boy leaving within a week. "Where will you be going?"
D'Artagnan sighed, "As soon as they know I've gone they will try to come after me," stated the Gascon. "I do not want to put you in a position where you might have to lie to them for me sir so I'd rather keep that information to myself."
Despite his clear disapproval with not knowing Treville nodded, having seen the determination in the Gascon's eyes and knowing that there would be nothing he could do or say that would keep the man at the garrison when the week ended.
"Think carefully about what you're proposing D'Artagnan," he said with a touch of father-like affection in his voice. "You still have time to change your mind, but should you decide this is the path for you I wish you the best."
Tears once again prickled D'Artagnan eyes, as he nodded, not able to speak. Offering his Captain a smile he hoped showed his gratitude and fondness for the man, D'Artagnan rose from his chair and left the office, the pain in his heart growing as he leaned back against the door, knowing he now needed to return to his brothers' side. He had days left with them before he left and then he didn't know if he would ever see them again, he needed to leave on a more positive note with them, anything less and he wouldn't be able to focus on what he needed to do.
Without really registering the fact that he had moved D'Artagnan soon found himself outside the infirmary.
Taking a steadying breath the Gascon squared his shoulders. "Here goes nothing."