Evening My Lovelies :)
This chapter was ridiculously hard to write. I don't even know why but it just didn't want to be written. Hopefully it's still good though :)
Notes On Reviews:
ploiuiu: Thanks for the review - Worry not you'll find out today. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Deana: Thanks for the review - Yep :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
fariedragon: Thanks for the review - Well we know they all make it to the garrison at least but after that ... *evil laugh* :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Guest06 (Guest): Thanks for the review - I know I just can't help it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - I wasnt going to have Bryce doing anything but everyone seemed to want him to do something so hence his reappearance. We get some more heartbroken moments today as well as some protective/concerned Treville... Mainly because he's one of the only 'key' characters still conscious. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pain in the mikta: Thanks for the review - :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - How strange :S Hopefully it'll fix itself soon so it'll stop happening. We'll find out more about D'Art today but can't promise it'll be pleasant. Treville's back being protective/concerned today as well which is fun to write. Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - :D Nah you love me really lol :D But I will admit I have been quite mean cliffhanger wise these last few chapters. Glad you're enjoying the story as well as Bryce's moment. The puppy pile idea is something i'm really excited to write as it's such a cute idea :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - For some reason your review posted 2x... not that I mind, makes me feel doubly loved lol :) There's not a cliff-hanger today so hopefully you'll recover from my last two evil cliff-hangers. Hope you've recovered from the heart attack :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
A reader (Guest): Thanks for the review - As much as I liked your theory I'm afraid i wasnt that nice :D We get a small Athos moment today but I have more key moments planned in later chapters. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - We get a brief Athos moment today but he's quite ill too so he wont be awake for long. Porthos is still unconscious but he'll probably wake up briefly tomorrow. You are right to be worried about D'Art :D Glad you liked the tenderness moments as well as sleepy D'Art. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Good timing with the review, I was just finishing up prepping this for publishing when the email came through :D It's definitely not good for D'Artagnan, he's in quite a bad way. I actually quite liked Bryce's moment, I wasn't overly sure of it when I started writing it. Aramis's moments were cute to write so I'm glad you liked them too :) Yeah the way Aramis is going he's going to end up worse then the rest of them if he keeps pushing himself... Whilst his wounds are currently uninfected, I can't promise they'll stay that way :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love to everyone who follows/favourites/reviews/reads this, you're all awesome!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Twenty-Two: Injuries Revealed
Galen and Leroy knew they would have their work cut out for them as soon as they glimpsed the injuries the captured men had received, though even with their training and years of military service the pair were still shocked at the extent of the damage the youngest of the four rescued men had endured.
Both men knew how cherished the young man lying unconscious by them was by the 'inseparables' and how much it would devastate the tightknit group, but as they found new injury after new injury their hope for the young man's survival diminished.
"How-" breathed Leroy in disbelief as he washed the young Gascon's body clean of any blood and dirt with the utmost tenderness.
"I have no idea," agreed Galen, though his eyes did not divert from where they were focused on mixing a draught to help with the boy's fever. "All I do know" he added, ensuring he kept his voice as low as possible so as to not worry the only remaining 'inseparable' who was still conscious and was currently trying his best to watch them like a hawk. "Is that we need to get this fever down fast. It's way too high"
With that Galen poured the fever-draught down D'Artagnan's throat, keeping one hand over his mouth and the other gently massaging the boy's throat to get him to swallow.
Between them, the two men worked quickly trying all the different things they could think of to try and lower D'Artagnan's raging fever. Distantly they heard Treville chastising Aramis and all they could think was that now was when they could really do with his expertise because despite their best efforts they were having little effect on the ever-growing fever now raging war inside D'Artagnan's body.
"Shit! D'ARTAGNAN!" shouted Galen, forgetting in his panic the effect his words would have on those in the camp.
Though neither he nor Leroy had time to contemplate it when D'Artagnan began seizing, the fever having finally reached too high a level for his body to maintain let alone fight.
Leroy quickly jumped so he was by D'Artagnan's feet and gripped the boy's ankles with all of his strength, fairly sure he would be forgiven should he leave a bruise or two on the boy after this.
Galen moved with equal speed and rushed to keep D'Artagnan head still as he began involuntarily thrashing about.
Unfortunately he wasn't fast enough to stop a particularly painful looking bash from D'Artagnan's head on the hard ground.
It was also unfortunate that this was the exact moment that Athos returned to consciousness
"D'ARTAGNAN!" Cried Aramis weakly as he fought against Etienne's grip as the musketeer tried to stop the anxious medic from injuring him further.
The terrified tone of Aramis's voice pierced through the groggy part of Athos's brain causing the musketeer to shoot up, his hands instinctively reaching for where his blade would usually be located.
"…D'Artagnan?!" he breathed brokenly as he watched with horrified surprise as his little brother was surrounded by several of their comrades as well as their Captain. The newly awakened musketeer could only hear the curses coming from the men as well as occasionally seeing glimpses of the young man he had come to consider family as he thrashed about in the throws of his seizure.
"No Athos!" exclaimed Treville as he noticed the injured man attempting to get up.
"What's going on," Athos demanded, trying his best to ignore both the pain of his injuries as well as the intense dizzy spell that almost had him collapsing again.
"Lie down before you fall over" Treville scolded, though it was softer then it would have usually come across given the circumstances.
"What's. Going. On" Growled the swordsman, pushing himself to his feet only to them stumble forward and collapse against Treville who had seen the stumble and had moved to intercept the stubborn man.
"They have him Athos" Treville whispered soothingly, "But they can't work if they're distracted by you as well"
The heartbroken look in Athos's eyes was enough to soften Treville's annoyance at the man's stubbornness. As he gently sat the swordsman down on the blanket he continued to whisper words of comfort to the man, though his words went unheard as Athos kept his focus on the shielded from of his brother.
"Jesus Christ D'Artagnan" sighed Galen as he gently released the young man's head now the boy had stopped thrashing, "You don't do things by half measures do you?"
Athos who had heard the young soldier's rant couldn't help but chuckle slightly, amused that he was seeing how their usual concern for D'Artagnan looked to outsiders.
"How's his head?" Aramis interrupted, now completely sagging against Etienne as he struggled to stay awake, only the concern for his brothers keeping him from collapsing and sleeping for at least a week.
"…We've got him Aramis" Leroy said, hoping his voice didn't contain any of the concern he was feeling as he noticed Galen's hand had come away bloody when he took it off from D'Artagnan's head.
Luckily for the pair Aramis was too far-gone in terms of exhaustion and pain and so didn't question them further as he passed out. Etienne gently placed him back on the blanket before returning to the task assigned to him by the Captain.
Smiling fondly at Aramis's now snoozing form Treville turned back to Athos who looked like he was seriously considering moving again in an attempt to get closer to his brother. "You need to rest as well Athos"
"D'Artagnan"
"Is being seen to" cut off Treville, fixing the musketeer with a stern look, "Your injuries need tending to as well"
"I promise, I'll wake you should anything regarding his condition change" Treville promised seeing that his lieutenant was about to continue his protest.
Knowing he was fighting a losing battle Athos grudgingly agreed, letting the Captain help him back onto his stomach so his back could be tended to. The last thing he did before closing his eyes was to turn his head so it faced his young injured protégé.
"How is he really?" Treville whispered once he was sure that the remaining inseparables were indeed asleep.
"Bad" Galen admitted sadly as he pushed a needle through the skin on the back of D'Artagnan's head, sowing up the gash he had gotten during the seizure. "He hit his head pretty hard before I could stop him, we're going to need to pay extra close attention to it to ensure there's no serious damage"
Treville nodded, using one hand to massage his shoulder as he looked at his youngest soldier with pity, sympathy and a promise of revenge in his eyes. "And the rest of him?"
Galen sighed before nodding to Leroy to take up explanations.
"Getting worse with every injury we find Captain" Leroy explained, his tone grave but was underlined with fury towards the men who caused all this damage to one of their own.
"He's got at least three broken ribs, the rest are seriously bruised. He appeared to suffer at least one prior head wound which is making the one he has now all the more serious. His shoulder is completely dislocated and has been left that way for some time, we're trying to cool it to get the swelling down so we can reset it but that'll take time. His hand is a complete mess" Leroy explained, gently lifting the limb so Treville could see for himself and the Captain had to use every single fiber of his self-control not to go and tear Ortiz limb from limb for what he put his men through.
"The bones are completely broken and the several of the nail beds are now infected as whatever he used to remove them left traces in them." Leroy added, interrupting the Captain's murderous thoughts.
"His chest?"
"Boy's gonna be a patchwork of colours for at least a month" scowled Galen, taking over explanations as Leroy changed out the cold compress they were using in an attempt to bring down the swelling of D'Artagnan's shoulder. "Several different blades were used, some of them even serrated" shuddered the man, imagining the pain the young Gascon had endured. "Several of them came dangerously close to important organs and as such he's going to have an extremely painful recovery process ahead of him. The only upside here is that the burns aren't too deep and remain clear of infection so far." Blinking he added, "And I can't believe I just said that burns were a good thing"
"Please tell me that's every" Treville said, his voice dangerously close to sounding pleading as he watched D'Artagnan take labored breaths, the damage to his ribs no doubt making it painful and difficult to breathe properly.
Leroy let out an angry scoff, "Not even close Captain."
Following Leroy's pointing finger Treville noticed, for the first time, a bloodied bandage wrapped around the boy's leg. Scowling he looked to the man for answers
"Dog bite from the looks of it" Leroy explained, hatred clear in his voice as he unwrapped the bandage so Treville could see the damage.
"It's infected too which isn't helping the fever D'Artagnan's fighting. We're trying to clear it up with everything else…" he explained shrugging helplessly.
"Then there's his back" Galen added sadly as he gently worked to clear out the infection in D'Artagnan's nail beds
"What!" Treville growled unable to believe there were more injuries that his young soldier had sustained
"We've only had a brief glimpse," Galen explained, looking worriedly at D'Artagnan, as the boy didn't even react to him resetting the bones in his broken hand. "But it appears to have some significant damage as well.
Sighing Treville looked at the young man worriedly, one hand lightly gripping the boy's wrist, taking reassurance in the weak but steady pulse
"… His chances?"
Sharing a look with Leroy, Galen put down his supplies and looked his Captain in the eyes, "He needs a trained physician… Hell they all do! We'll do what we can but…"
"I understand… Do what you can for him, boy's too stubborn to die and they're too stubborn to let him."
Getting up from his spot by D'Artagnan's side Treville stormed over to the two men who were guarding the now awake Ortiz.
"Captain!" one of the men stammered, slightly surprised by the look of pure rage on his Captain's face.
"Make sure you watch him twenty-four-seven" growled Treville before he knelt down so he could glare at the man who was somehow looking quite smug despite being chained, gagged and blindfolded.
"Now you listen to me," snarled Treville as he gripped the Spaniard hard by the chin. "If he dies… If any of them die. I will take enormous pleasure in ensuring you meet your end in the most painful and slow way possible."
With a slightly forceful push he stood from his spot by Ortiz to return to his men's bedside. Sending up a silent prayer for the lives of his men.