Evening My Lovelies :)

As I warned yesterday you may all hate me at the end of this chapter *hides* but regardless I hope you all enjoy it. I'm also aware that I've kinda kept you all in the dark as to what it is that D'Artagnan's taken but worry not that will be cleared up in tomorrow's chapter.

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Wow you were quick! I dont think it had been up for half an hour before you reviewed which was awesome :D Aramis is not having a good time. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - Oh that's an interesting mental image lol. I've realized in the last few chapters I've written that Ortiz is becoming more and more sadistic... a lot more then I originally planned. But this allows me to go even more evil with the whumpage so I'm rolling with it :D Ortiz is thoroughly enjoying hurting the musketeers any way he can hence his explanation as to what he did to D'Art. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - If they're not sick yet they will be in the coming chapters when the extent of D'Art's injuries become known. Our boy's are going to want some serious payback once this is all over. I have the escape bit planned but we have some more delicious whumpage to happen to all of our boys first :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

pain in the mikta: Thanks for the review - I'm afraid theres gonna be more hurting for your heart with what I have planned for later chapters, but I'm glad you're liking it so far :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

CaroH: Thanks for the review - The guilt they're feeling is only going to increase as the next few chapter progress. I have the escape bit planned but it'll be a little while yet before that happens. Enjoy the new chapter! x

romirola: Thanks for the review - Glad to hear it as I very much enjoy getting your reviews :) As to who to feel worse for ... Probably safest just to feel sorry for them all equally with what I have planned :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Haha I do love a review that starts with Oh Gods :D I've been loving stubborn D'Art but to be honest, with what I have planned, I dont know how much longer his stubbornness can hold out. Porthos is a big worry wart when it comes to Aramis lol :) I like your thoughts that it might be Aramis who's all guilty and near death when they get back to the garrison... We'll just have to wait and see. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - You were right on time as I had just begun sorting this out for publishing when your review came in :) Unfortunately the site still isnt showing reviews so I cant read the whole of the one you sent me as it was long enough to be truncated when it came through my email. I will respond to what I can read and hope I havent missed anything too important in the last bit. I'm so happy you liked my little taste of jealous Athos :) I have their later conversation somewhat planned out in my head but it'll be a little bit until we get there as I think thats best leaving until they're all somewhat on the mend. I think that after today's chapter Athos is going to be far too pissed at Ortiz to even focus on much else... but then that anger could simply give Ortiz more to work with... it's all about to get intense (intenser?) Aramis is feeling more guilty then the rest of them (though possibly not Athos as he has a habit of blaming himself for everything) as he's the only one (so far) that's actually seen D'Art so to then have Ortiz through things in his face that he missed is just piling on the guilt. I'm having soooo much fun whumping D'Art in this story :D Though at the point I've now gotten up to we've started whumping the rest as well which is basically me just giving my sick evil little mind complete reign lol :D Trust me that flash back was just as cringy to write as it was to read *shudders* but as I said, sick evil mind has free reign at the moment. Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always many thanks to you awesome people who follow/favourite/review/read this story I love you all! :D

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Eleven: Together Again

Silence encompassed the group after Ortiz left; Athos and Porthos were quietly simmering in their anger whilst Aramis's eyes filled with unshed tears. How could he have not have noticed that his little brothers hand was broken! The boy had little experience in setting bones properly and should they heal wrong Aramis would be forced to re-break them in hope of ensuring that he regained full mobility in his fingers. After everything his baby brother had already endured he had no desire to ever put him through that… Yet he might have to all because he didn't do a good enough job checking him over for injuries.

"Aramis" called a stern, yet kind voice, pulling the medic from his self-deprecating thoughts.

Looking up Aramis's watery eyes met the sympathetic yet angered orbs of Athos. "D'Artagnan's condition is not your fault," he implored having seen the guilt and shame that had settled on Aramis's face after Ortiz's announcement

Anger sparked in Aramis's eyes at his brother's words, "How is it not!" he spat, "I'm the medic! He requested me so I could help him and I missed something that could cause him no end of pain" he ranted, jumping to his feet despite the ache in his muscles so he could pace the small amount of space his chains allowed him to. "And lets not forget!" he spat, flinging his hands up in the air and he paced, "that should they heal too badly he might be forced to leave the musketeers and it'll all be my fault" Sinking to his knees his unshed tears began to flow down his cheeks, "Its all my fault" he whimpered, guilt crushing him as he realize just how badly he might have failed his brother.

"It's a broken hand he's not dead" snapped Athos, eyes hardening as he watched his brother withdraw into himself, "Which he may very well have been had you left his bleeding leg wound untreated for any longer"

Aramis paused then, the medic part of him agreeing with his brother's words. D'Artagnan's leg had been slowly bleeding despite the Gascon's own attempt to tend to it and that coupled with the lack of food he had been given would have caused him more serious problems later on then a broken hand.

"Listen to the man 'Mis" teased Porthos as he shuffled to sit as close to his brother as he could, "You did the best you could with the information given. Whelp wont begrudge you for that"

Aramis felt himself calm as he brothers continued to speak reassuringly to him, it did little to remove the guilt but it helped lessen the crippling effect it had on him.

Once Aramis had calmed down enough Athos began to question him on the item D'Artagnan had supposedly stolen from their captor.

"He didn't say much" the medic shrugged, "He doesn't want us involved –"

"But we're his brothers!" Porthos interrupted, hurt that his brother didn't trust them enough to help.

"He knows that" soothed Aramis, smiling softly at his friend, though it faltered as he remembered the fear on D'Artagnan's face, "He's terrified of Ortiz and he thinks that not telling us anything about what he took will spare us from him"

Sighing Athos grumbled under his breath about the stubbornness of little brothers, though his eyes had softened with pride at the youngster's attempts to protect his brothers.

"So he gave you no indication as to what this is about?" he asked, not liking having no idea what was going on.

Shaking his head Aramis sighed, "All he said was that it had to go to Treville and that hundreds of people were at risk if it didn't make it."

"Then we need to get out of here," Porthos announced, eying his chains with new determination

Over the next several hours the three men worked their chains with new vigor, each trying different attempts to release them. Unfortunately no matter what they did the chains remained in place.

"Argh!" shouted Porthos in anger as he slumped back against the wall of their cell, blood trickling down his wrists from his continued struggles

"Quiet!" Hissed Athos, tilting his head to the side in an attempt to strain his ears to pick up the sound he thought he heard.

Aramis, who had been looking sympathetically at Porthos's frustration turned his gaze to the door and copied Athos's actions, hoping his keener ears could pick up whatever it was that Athos had heard.

He was about to speak again, to ask Athos what he thought he heard but then he heard it too. It sounded like footsteps and judging by the sound accompanying them, something… or someone was being dragged.

Fear gripped the group as they all came to the same conclusion as to what was causing the sound. Before they could comment on it the door to their cell swung open and the heartbreakingly familiar form of their little brother was thrown into the room, rolling across the ground until he landed in a heap just before Athos's feet.

"D'Artagnan!" the three men screamed as they rushed to get to their injured brother's side, the fact he hadn't moved since landing, let alone make any sound was worrying the musketeers more than they would ever admit in front of a man like Ortiz

"D'Artagnan" Athos whispered brokenly as he placed shaky fingers to his young protégé's throat, letting out a shaky breath when he felt the pulse beneath his skin. Sharing a look with his brothers who were too far away to reach the boy Athos let them know that their brother was alive and breathing.

Once he was sure the boy was breathing Athos turned his gaze to the boy's numerous injuries, his anger growing at each new bruise or cut he found. He felt his stomach churn though when he saw the state of his little brother's hand – each finger was clearly broken, D'Artagnan had tried to set them straight but with nothing to splint them it had done little good. But worse then the breaks were the missing fingernails one each finger on his left hand, the beds were bleeding and no doubt incredibly sore and sensitive.

"What. Have. You. Done. To. Him?" snarled Athos, glaring fiercely at Ortiz whilst he placed a protective hand on his protégé's shoulder.

"I told him all he had to do was tell me where my property was and I'd stop." Ortiz shrugged, completely nonplussed over the musketeer's reaction. "It's not my fault he's so stubborn."

"I'm gonna kill you! You son of a –"

Porthos's threat was interrupted by a pained groan from D'Artagnan, instantly gaining the attention of the three musketeers.

"You with us D'Artagnan?" Athos asked gently, ignoring the fact that Ortiz was watching with great amusement

"…'Thos?" came a weak, but hopeful reply and Athos was sure he hadn't heard a sweeter sound

"I've got you D'Art," whispered Athos as he ran a hand soothing through the Gascon's hair.

"You're awake," sneered Ortiz as he walked over to the boy, ignoring Athos's attempts to shield his brother from him.

"As interesting as our games have been I tire of them now" Grabbing D'Artagnan by his hair Ortiz dragged him into the middle of the room. The Gascon's gasps of pain were drowned out by the roars of anger from his brothers who's anger were also mixed with fear for what was about to happen to their youngest.

"Last chance mocoso, you tell me where you've hidden it and maybe they wont have to hear you scream again." Snapped Ortiz

D'Artagnan wearily opened his eyes, gazing sadly at each of his brothers. He could feel their anger at how he had been treated coming off of them in waves but he could see the grim determination in their eyes which let him know they accepted his decision.

"Go … to … hell!" D'Artagnan spat, putting all his hatred for the man into his glare

Ortiz merely sighed at the stubborn boy and turned to face Porthos who was the nearest musketeer to him. Faster than any of the musketeers could react Ortiz had launched a strong kick to the larger musketeer's stomach, knocking the wind out of him and causing the two more coherent musketeers' to roar in anger whilst D'Artagnan let out a strangled cry as his eyes widened in horror

Not giving the musketeer any time to recover Ortiz began pummeling the larger man, focusing much of his attacks on Porthos's shoulders and ribs. The constant attack on his already breathless chest made in increasingly difficult for the man to get in enough oxygen to fight back.

One particular punch landed with enough force to crack one of Porthos's ribs, causing the man to let out a cry of pain.

"PORTHOS!" cried Aramis and Athos as they watched on, powerless to stop the assault on their brother.

"S… STOP IT!" shouted D'Artagnan, though his voice was shaky and hoarse, "HE… HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!"

Ortiz said nothing in response and neither did he let up his assault on the musketeer who by this point was beginning to see dark spots dance across his vision as the burning pain in his ribs intensified.

This pain was momentarily forgotten however when Ortiz launched another kick at the beaten man. This one however was not aimed at his stomach but instead his shoulder. It hit the joint with enough force to push Porthos's entire frame back into the wall.

Aramis flinched when Porthos let out another scream of pain, he knew even without looking at the joint that it had most likely become dislocated. In his anger over his brothers' treatment he started cursing at Ortiz, slipping accidently into his mother tongue as he did so.

Athos's attention however was diverted from Porthos when he saw D'Artagnan trying to move. Cursing both the boy's stubbornness to attempt to move given how injured he was as well as his own growing hope that maybe the boy would be able to be of some help to Porthos, he could only watch on as the lines of pain on D'Artagnan's face grew deeper and more pronounced as he tried to get his aching and bleeding limbs to remember how to move.

His entire body was protesting even the tiniest movement and he knew had it been any other time he would have listened to it but he just couldn't lie there and do nothing while Porthos suffered for his actions.

It took several minutes, during which time Ortiz continued his assault on Porthos, but eventually D'Artagnan managed to get to his feet. By this point both Aramis and Athos were watching him with concern and hope burning in their eyes. Both men could see it was only out of sheer force of will that D'Artagnan was standing but the Gascon himself wasted no time contemplating the miracle that was his movement and staggered as stealthily as he could over to where Ortiz was single-mindedly pummeling Porthos.

Knowing he lacked any strength for a proper fight D'Artagnan was forced to settle for launching himself at the Spaniard and hoping that the force of the impact plus his weight would be enough to get the man away from his brother.

Whilst it did work to push Ortiz away from Porthos, the force of the fall sent waves of excruciating pain through D'Artagnan's body and so he powerless to do anything to stop Ortiz when he growled and got to his feet, taking a pistol from one of guards who had entered the room when they heard their boss's surprised yell.

Kneeling before the panting Gascon, Ortiz looked at him with pure venom in his eyes, pointing the pistol under D'Artagnan's chin, "Tell me where it is!" he growled

Narrowing his eyes in anger and filling his voice with equal venom D'Artagnan spat back, "I. WILL. DIE. FIRST!"

Ortiz spat out a Spanish curse, cocked his pistol… and fired.