Evening My Lovelies :)

I'm really happy that everyone seemed to like yesterday's chapter :D As I said it was one of my favourites so that you all liked it totally made my day :)

I do feel like I should warn you all that the end of tomorrow's chapter is a bit of an evil one and might make you hate me :D

Notes On Reviews:

L J Groundwater: Thanks for the review - Hmmm I hadnt really thought of the whole blood bit until you mentioned it, I would assume there would be a coppery smell in the air or something ... We'll just ignore that bit lol I think it was just my mind trying to make it all dramatic :D Glad you liked the explanation as to why Aramis was there. Enjoy the new chapter! x

fariedragon: Thanks for the review - There'll be plenty of comfort/healing moments for our boys later on I promise :) I do try to write longer chapters but then I get to a bit where it would end on a cliff-hanger and my evil mind decides that's where the chapter needs to end. I'm trying at the very least to get the chapters to be at least 2000words but I will try for longer chapters if I can, I like longer updates too :D Glad to hear you're loving it so far, Enjoy the new chapter! x

romirola: Thanks for the review - I try not to leave cliff-hangers but I just cant help it lol I'm really happy you're loving it so far, I hope the rest of the story entices you to read it as it's uploaded rather then when it's finished as well :D On the plus side no cliff-hanger today :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Deana: Thanks for the review - Ohh yeah our other boy's are not happy... but then they're not happy about a lot of things at the moment (and it's only going to get worse :D ) Enjoy the new chapter! x

CaroH: Thanks for the review - Neither of them had a pleasant time in the last chapter that's for sure. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - I'm glad you liked it :) I was a bit nervous as to how it would be received seeing as how everyone was expecting it to be Athos that was picked. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - We get to see a bit of D'Arts mentality as to the decision to pick Aramis as well today. I'm glad you liked how I explained the decision, I was quite nervous as everyone thought it would be Athos. Also I figured it was time for a bit of brotherly love so I'm glad you liked that too. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the reviews - I'm glad the intensiveness of the last few days for you was happy :) Also thank you for the many reviews you sent. (Chapter 5) Glad you liked Camille & Tristian. I wanted her to have some happiness after what I wrote almost happened to her so I'm glad it came across as such. I kinda got the feeling that D'Artagnan's focus on doing the honorable thing would be something his father would have taught him growing up and then it them magnified when he died so I wanted to write the father the same way... though maybe not as reckless and head-strong as D'Artagnan lol. (Chapter 6) When you say you dont like Ortiz... Do you mean his personality and how evil/horrible he is - In which case yay me as I've done my job right in writing a villain or do you not like how I've written him? If so, in what way so I can try to improve on it. (Chapter 7) D'Artagnan hasnt given him anything and while he does have a court source... it's not his only one. (Chapter 8) :D I'm really happy you think so, thank you so much :D (Chapter 9) Glad you liked the chapter, I think Ortiz thought that D'Artagnan would rush to tell Aramis what was going on in the hopes of preparing them and ensuring they had all the information, or that Aramis would demand to know. So that he could then use them all against each other to get the information he's after. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad I hadn't bigged it up too much and that you loved it :D D'Arts definitely not in the right frame of mind (or body) to feign wellness at the moment so he most definitely wouldn't have been able to remain strong in front of Athos (as cute as that scene would have been) I hadnt really thought that Athos might be jealous but as soon as I read your review I fell in love with the idea :D I've put a bit in here so hopefully you like it and the idea of the Athos/D'Art chat is DEFINITELY happening! It wont be for a little while obviously but I can't not write such a good idea :D so thank you for it! As for a Porthos hug he'll get one in a couple of chapters time :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Violet Eternity (Guest): You have good timing :) I was just getting this chapter ready to publish i.e. writing the response to review bit when yours came through :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always many thanks to everyone who follows/favourites/reviews/reads this story I love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Ten: Pain Endured

"'Mis" called a voice, just barely penetrating the thick fog that was surrounding his mind.

"Aramis!" echoed another voice moments later, though this one sounded more commanding them the previous pleading voice.

Keeping his eyes shut for a moment while his mind properly returned to him Aramis tried to work out what was going on. The first voice, the overly concerned one seemed to be chastising the second for the tone it had used.

"Come on 'Mis" pleaded a familiar voice, one that tore at the medic's heartstrings with how scared it sounded.

"…P'thos?" he breathed weakly, slowly raising a chained hand to press against the tender bump on the back of his head.

"Bout time" Porthos smiled, though it was forced and didn't hide the fear the larger man had felt when he saw his brother being carried in by a pissed off looking guard several hours ago.

"Where's he?" Aramis slurred slightly, concussion his mind provided helpfully

"Who?" Athos asked quizzically as he looked at the still slightly out of it Spaniard with growing concern

"…'Tagnan"

He had barely gotten the word out when both men were practically pouncing on him with questions

"You saw him?" Athos demanded, his carefully constructed mask of nonchalance crumbled at the simple mention of his protégé's name

"Whelp alright?" Porthos asked at the same time, his fear for the young man and the anger he felt for those responsible for holding them ringing clear in his voice.

Aramis shook his head slightly in an attempt to clear the last of the cobwebs from his mind, although it worked it also sent a stab of pain through his skull that had him pressing the heels of his hands to his temples and curling into himself, a small whimper of pain escaping him but it was far to quiet to be heard over the noise of his brothers' questions.

"Easy 'Mis" soothed Porthos, placing a gentle hand on his brother's shoulder, "You took quite a hit"

At Porthos's words Aramis thought back to what he had been doing when he had gotten hit and he paled, looking to his brothers with fear, anger and guilt burning brightly in his eyes

Athos noticed straight away and felt his blood go cold as he asked of D'Artagnan once more.

"Bad" he growled out after a moment to gather himself

Athos's eyes narrowed at his brother's words and he urged the medic to explain what had happened.

As much as he didn't want to remember the sight of his little, baby brother in such a state he knew his brothers' needed to know what had befallen their Gascon.

Leaning himself slightly against Porthos, more to center himself then anything else, Aramis began explaining what he had learnt of their brother's predicament.

"They set a dog on him!?" growled Porthos in angered disbelief when the marksman explained the origin of what appeared to be D'Artagnan's worst injury, though the medic had admitted that he did not have a lot of time to examine the boy to confirm that this was the case and had been forced to believe D'Artagnan's judgment on this matter – something that worried the men as their little brother had an annoying habit of downplaying or hiding his injuries from them.

"What I want to know is" Athos said quietly after Aramis had finished explaining the injuries he had noted on their youngest, needless to say that every man in the room was feeling a murderous urge to their captor by the end of it. "Is why did he let you see him? Surely a man of Ortiz's standing would have access to a physician, he gains nothing by putting the pair of you in a room together" he explained, trying to keep calm as his mind fought to come to grips with everything he had learnt over the last hour or so.

After he had asked his question Aramis's face had become one of immense sadness while his eyes held a fiery anger. "D'Art requested me apparently" he stated softly, the sight of his brother so terrified and in pain refused to leave his mind and he could only imagine what he had endured.

Athos was quick to push down the small pang of jealousy that arose at Aramis's words. This really wasn't the situation to be jealous in. He knew the young Gascon made the correct decision by requesting Aramis, especially if his condition was even half as bad as the medic seemed to fear it was. He knew that had D'Artagnan requested him that he would have internally chastised the boy's decision but he needed to see the boy, to confirm with his own eyes that he was okay. The boy was his responsibility, had been ever since he'd charged into the garrison challenging him to a duel to the death. To be unable to do nothing but listen to him scream whilst Aramis actually got to talk to and comfort him was causing him to feel jealous and very unsettled.

"Well maybe the whelp could 'request' for us all to let go" grunted Porthos sarcastically, ignorant of the inner turmoil going on in Athos's head.

"It was payment for a deal… or so Ortiz said" Aramis defended, knowing that his brother's bite wasn't truly aimed at him but at the situation they found themselves in.

"Well I could hardly deny the cachorro (pup) when he held up his end so… spectacularly" interrupted Ortiz as he stood in the doorway to their cell, leaning slightly against the doorframe and looking completely proud – something that set the musketeers' teeth on edge.

"Though as I said" he continued, ignoring the glares sent his way by the musketeers as he came to kneel before Athos, "I was surprised he chose your Spanish friend instead of you… especially after hearing how close the two of you are and how much the boy worships you"

Athos fought to keep his expression neutral, years spent around the nobility had taught the musketeer how to keep his face emotionless. "Clearly your sources were mistaken" he shrugged, figuring that hiding his protectiveness and how much he cared for the boy from the man could only aid his brother. The man before him was someone who knew how to exploit weaknesses and that's what Athos was to D'Artagnan right now, a weakness and as much as it pained him to do so he would deny the boy to the moon and back if it kept him even a tiny bit safer from their captor.

"My sources are never wrong musketeer," sneered Ortiz with such certainty it made the musketeers frown, a dark gleam entering his eyes as he realized he had another card to play to taunt and hurt the men before him.

"So tell me Aramis," he asked cheerily, ignoring the growl that emanated from Porthos as he moved closer to the slightly concussed sharpshooter.

Aramis refused to verbally respond and merely settled for glaring at the man with as much force as his pounding mind could muster.

"Did the cachorro tell you were he's hidden my property?"

Athos and Porthos sent a glace Aramis's way at Ortiz's words; their brother hadn't mentioned anything of the sort to them

"Púdrete en el infierno!"(Rot in hell!) Aramis spat, though his concussion prevented his mind from realizing the consequences of such words and as such he was surprised by the fierce backhand that followed, he was dimly aware of Porthos once again shouting curses at the man though they were slightly muted to his ears as he focused on removing the dark spots from his vision.

"Yet you know something of what I speak" Ortiz mused, gripping Aramis's hair tightly to bring the medic's head back up from where it had fallen to his chest after the hit… he wanted to see the pain and guilt about to enter the Spaniard's eyes. "A whole hour together and you didn't even discuss anything of import?… I bet he's wishing he picked the first option now… He did so dearly wish to pick it when it was offered"

"And what was that" growled Aramis through gritted teeth, wincing when Ortiz's grip on his hair tightened.

"Why food of course" Ortiz stated with a grin that only grew in size as the medic's eyes filled with guilt. He knew it would be obvious to even an untrained eye that the boy had been given little in the way of sustenance since his capture and for someone like Aramis who clearly cared deeply for the boy it was the perfect piece of guilt inducing information.

Ortiz spent the next few moment rubbing salt further into the wound that was Aramis's guilt as he made jokes about how the boy had lost the right to food after his failed escape attempt.

"And what price did you force our brother to pay" snarled Porthos as he glared daggers at the man antagonizing his friend. He wasn't surprised by D'Artagnan's choice; it was a choice each of them would have made if they were in a similar situation. Besides, if the boy was in as bad shape as Aramis predicted then it made perfect sense to the larger musketeer as to why he had decided to request Aramis rather than either he or Athos or even food.

"He's quite a stubborn Gascon" Ortiz stated, releasing Aramis's hair as he stood to move to the middle of the room. "So I decided to test how deep that stubbornness went… Thirty minutes of silence from him while I tried to make him scream" Ortiz practically beamed at the faces of the musketeers at his words. Smirking darkly at the men he added, "And what love he must carry for you that he forced himself to do just that"

FLASHBACK

"Deal!" The boy had grunted and Ortiz found himself impressed with the determination and stubbornness the boy wielded. Of course it would only make it that much sweeter when he finally broke the boy. He was getting closer now; he could tell by the way the young man involuntarily flinched whenever anyone came near him. 'Though given what he has endured the last few days it should come as no shock' he mused darkly

"And just what would you like your reward to be?" He asked lightly though he doubted the boy could actually make it through what he had planned without screaming he was almost hopeful he would, if only to bring further torment to the Gascon down the line.

"The… Second" D'Artagnan coughed, feeling the early signs of the cold he had only just managed to shift before being sent on the mission resurfacing thanks to his time in the cold cell. "Brothers" he added with a glare, trying his hardest to not give into the fear that was threatening to overwhelm him at Ortiz's beaming grin.

"Really?" Ortiz asked, raising an eyebrow at the beaten man, he had imagined the boy would jump at the chance for food given how much noise his stomach made at the mere thought of it.

Looking at the determined glare D'Artagnan sent his way he merely shrugged, not overly bothered if the boy wished to speak to one of his brothers, there was no way he would win the bet anyway. "Fair enough, which one? I very much doubt you'll be able to tell me afterwards so best to tell me now."

D'Artagnan was quiet for a few moments as he struggled to decide which of his brother he wanted to see. In his mind he knew it had to be Aramis. He was badly hurt and it was only going to get worse if Ortiz's grin was anything to go by. He would need any sort of medical help his brother could give him if he was to survive, get out of his hellish prison and warn Treville.

But his heart… His heart longed for the assuredness that was Athos; he longed to hear his mentor's advice, to know that he was not wrong in his determination… that he would be okay.

Athos's strength was always a source of great comfort for the young Gascon and it was only his pride that halted the name of his mentor on his lips.

He also longed to see Porthos; the man was probably wearing himself out trying to curb Athos's self-destructive and Aramis's mother-hen tendencies that always emerged when one of them was in trouble. He also found himself craving the levity the larger man would try to bring to his situation. While Aramis would be focused on his wounds and Athos would be his usual serious self that tried to push down his murderous instincts, Porthos would try to make him laugh, to smile… anything but be scared like he was. His beloved friend always made a point to ensure his friends were happy, as well as healthy.

In the end the pain in his numerous wounds, as well as the comforting knowledge that he had already seen him at his weakest had the injured musketeer stating Aramis's name.

Ortiz's eyebrows rose again. He had been expecting the boy to state Athos's name. It had after all, been one of the only coherent things the boy mumbled in his pain, injury-driven sleep.

"Well then, now that that's all sorted… Lets get started"

Faster then D'Artagnan was prepared for Ortiz had gripped his wrists and forced him up and into a chair he had brought over whilst D'Artagnan was thinking.

Unable to do anything but glare as he fought a wave of dizziness, D'Artagnan struggled to push down his growing fear while Ortiz strapped his arms to the arms of the chair.

"Remember the rules now" taunted the Spaniard as he walked to the table that contained an array of devices and objects… nearly all of which were now coated in specs of D'Artagnan's blood. "No screaming for thirty minutes."

D'Artagnan had honestly been sure that nothing could have hurt worse then when the dog had attacked his leg but he was seriously reconsidering that option as he writhed in his chains, eyes screwed shut and lips gripped so tightly by his teeth that blood was beginning to dribble down his chin.

"You got balls kid, I'll give you that" commented Ortiz, slightly impressed with the boy's resistance as he continued pulling off one of the young man's fingernails with agonizing slowness.

The boy had tried to not show any signs of pain at the beginning but he had quickly lost that battle when Ortiz had bent the index finger of his left hand back slowly but with enough force to break it. Whilst he didn't scream he did let out a string of curses that would make even a sailor blush.

Without allowing the now heavily breathing young man a second to recover himself Ortiz had moved straight onto the next finger, repeating the process and becoming more and more impressed… and annoyed with the young man's stubbornness.

They were now nearing the end of the thirty minutes and were on the last nail. D'Artagnan's face was pale, gleaming from the coat of sweat covering it while his breaths were shallow and labored as the Gascon desperately fought not to give in to the pain and scream out all the agony he had been forced to endure over the last few minutes.

Tears were now streaming down his ashen face but the boy no longer cared, his mind repeating a mantra of why he was fighting so strongly and what he had to gain provided he didn't give in.

"Last ten seconds" announced Ortiz; as he grabbed the last remain unbroken finger on D'Artagnan's left hand. Starting from ten the Spaniard then began to count backwards, at each number he bent the finger back even more until he hit zero, at which point the air was filled with the resounding snap of bone breaking.

END FLASHBACK

"I wonder," mused Ortiz, a small smirk coming back to his face as he looked at the glaring eyes of the marksman, "Did the boy have you splint his hand or did he choose to do that himself?"

Chuckling darkly Ortiz left the guilt-ridden musketeer and his friends sitting in the silence of the small cell.