Evening (or morning I suppose) My Lovelies :)

Gah! this chapter was late again, sorry! I keep getting stuck on the odd bit and then deciding, "I'll take a five min break then come back to it and it'll be fine" then that five minutes quickly turns into like forty-five and yeah... I hate YouTube sometimes lol.

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thank for the review - My thoughts exactly! Enjoy the new chapter! x

pain in the mikta: Thanks for the review - *Observes whimpering form before handing some tissues as well as the new chapter* :D We'll be addressing D'Art's thoughts on his new scar in a later chapter but I like your thoughts on it. Enjoy the new chapter! x

AmazingWriter123: Thanks for the review - Damn you're right *pouts childishly* lol It's not quite the end of D'Art's troubles but any whumpage that follows will probably be aimed more at the other brothers instead of him. Is hating him a good thing? If not then I apologize. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Anne having more heart than Louis isnt a difficult thing to do when Louis's who he is lol. Yep, our muskys are not going to have pleasant dreams for a bit. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - Anne's kinda like Louis's conscience at certain points, trying to remind him how to be a decent human being. Our boys are not coping with D'Art's injury all that well thats for sure. Enjoy the new chapter! x

watlocked: Thanks for the review - Glad your enjoying it. I liked having Anne fuss over him but I think she's the sort of person to then chastise him when he took it too far. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Hmm Yeah Treville would probably be okay seeing as how he's Captain but I could so see Aramis snapping enough at any of the others to get them to leave very quickly. Either way Treville didnt want to risk disturbing them whilst they're working hence the agreement to stay outside. Hmmm your thoughts on Anne are interesting and possibly quite true, I could definitely see it happening. Things are quite tense with regards to the boy right now and our muskys arent that much better off. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Yeah our boy's are not at all happy they had to do that but it was either that or let the boy die which is something they obviously weren't going to do. I quite liked Athos's flashback, I wanted to show how they're all still affected by what happened there not just D'Art. Our poor pup is in desperate need of some brotherly love but theres a bit more drama coming their way before that can happen (my evil mind's been slightly unleashed again) Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks to everyone who follows/favourites/reviews/reads this.

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Forty-Three: Ambush Aftermath II

It was hours before any of the musketeers saw any sign of movement from the infirmary, being forced to sit and wait for news of the fragile fate of one of their own as the minutes ticked by was not something that any of the men handled well.

Several men had tried to spar, to burn off some of their excess nervous energy, only to give up minutes later and return dejectedly to their seats.

"Should we be worried it's been so long?" whispered Farrin gently, his eyes never leaving the door that was blocking them from their young comrade.

"No," Etienne said several moments later, his voice determined and hopeful, "If something was wrong Aramis wouldn't waste a second before asking for help."

"The kid was practically sliced open," remarked Farrin angrily, "I'd say that was pretty wrong all in itself."

Sighing Etienne placed a hand on his worried friend's shoulder, "That no-one's come out or that we've not heard them tearing apart the infirmary means that D'Artagnan's still alive."

Farrin opened his mouth to respond when they all heard the telltale sound of a door being open. At which everyone's attention turned towards the door only to be surprised by who exited the room.

"Thierry!?" Exclaimed Etienne, quickly rising to his feet as he watched his best friend and brother wearily move towards the group. "What do you think you're doing out of bed!"

Thierry smiled softly at his friend's worry before turning back to face Treville and the other gathered musketeers. "The boy's got some impressive strength."

"He's alive then?" Treville asked, feeling the tension of the garrison as everyone awaited news.

"Yeah," grinned Thierry tiredly, laughing as he watched his brothers-in-arms celebrate the news.

"H-how is he?" Treville asked, feeling a heavy weight lifted from his shoulders at the news of D'Artagnan's fate.

"He's not out of the woods yet," Thierry explained grimly, instantly gaining the attention of everyone in the courtyard. "He was already weak from the blood loss and then Aramis was forced to cauterize the wound." Hisses of pain could be heard from the men who had endured being cauterizing before – at least it explained the screaming.

"Aramis says he's in a really critical state at the moment due to how much the procedure affected the boy. He's currently making some poultices to help the burns heal as well as draught for the pain and to help combat the effects of blood loss."

Treville nodded, the relief he felt earlier quickly fading at the mention of how bad D'Artagnan was. "What can we do?"

"Aramis wants to keep people out of the infirmary for a while, at least until D'Artagnan's stable enough to be moved. He doesn't want anything to disturb D'Artagnan's rest."

Treville was silent for a few moments before he nodded in agreement, "We can reach the stock room without having to disturb him so that shouldn't cause any issues, but if there's another emergency then we'll have to come in."

"Thank you Captain." Thierry smiled tiredly before moving back to the infirmary to let the musketeers know the Captain's decision.

"Get yourself back to bed before you collapse Thierry!" yelled Etienne, though his chiding lacked the intended effect given the man's brilliant smile of seeing his friend up and walking whilst also learning that his youngest comrade was making promising steps towards recovery.

Thierry chuckled weakly, raising a hand to wave to his brother before closing the infirmary door.

"Right," called Treville, his voice instantly gaining the attention of all the gathered musketeers. "You heard him, D'Artagnan's alive. Now whilst this is great news the man who caused his injury is still out there and I want him found."

The jubilant mood of the garrison quickly soured with Treville's words. None of the men took the attack on one of their own lightly, even those who didn't like D'Artagnan were out for Ortiz's blood and so each musketeer gave Treville their complete attention.

"I want patrols out looking for him within the hour." Treville ordered, "No-one goes anywhere alone. I want at least three members per group, I'm not risking anyone else to this madman." As he spoke Treville placed a book down, open, on the table, "When you've decided on your group, note down which area you're patrolling. Check every single possible place he could be hiding, leave no stone unturned and bring him in dead or alive."

As soon as Treville had finished speaking the musketeers leapt into action, quickly deciding on groups and patrol locations before gathering their supplies and weaponry before heading out. It was an impressive sight as the courtyard was cleared within thirty minutes.

"I'm going to check in Richelieu," Treville explained to one of the few remaining musketeers who were staying to guard the garrison. "Keep an eye on them and find me should anything serious happen."

The guard nodded and Treville mounted his horse, heading over to the Red Guard garrison.

INSIDE THE INFIRMARY

"Poultice is done 'Mis," called Porthos as he passed the bowl filled with thick paste over into the awaiting hands of the medic.

Aramis offered his friend no word of thanks, but Porthos didn't expect any, quickly moving his deft hands to gently apply the thick paste over the fresh burn that now marred his brother's body.

"What was that?" Athos asked, having heard the medic faintly mumble something to himself.

"This will leave an ugly scar," Aramis sighed sadly, "He'll never be able to forget, to get away – "

"Hey!" snapped Porthos as he grabbed the now ranting medic with one hand whilst Athos gripped his shoulder.

"D'Artagnan gained it saving my life," said Athos grimly, "He should carry only the pride attached to it… I'll carry the shame."

Porthos huffed, eyeing the sleeping boy with a look that spoke to how much he was willing the boy to wake up so he wasn't left to mediate the pair on his own.

"You should go," Aramis said tiredly as he sank into a chair by the boy's bedside.

Athos's eyes went wide at his brother's words and he couldn't hide the hurt contained within them.

Aramis quickly realized how his words could be taken, especially after what Athos had just stated, "You're covered in blood," he explained quickly, not wanting his brother to think he blamed him for what happened. "You'll worry the kid if he wakes up to find you still covered in it."

Athos's shoulders visibly sagged at the medic's explanation, his eyes full of silent apology for doubting the man before he shook his head, "Don't have anything clean left in my rooms here." He said, grimacing at the blood he had only just noticed covering the majority of his torso.

"Then go to your apartment," Aramis said, his tone not unlike one would use with a stubborn child.

"But – " Athos protested.

"'Thos," sighed Porthos, rubbing his forehead tiredly, "Do as he says, go get cleaned up and bring us back some of the wine you have stashed in your room."

Athos mock glared at the larger man before sighing, nodding and standing to leave. Sending D'Artagnan one last worried look before he turned towards the door.

"The good stuff 'Thos!" Called Porthos with a cheeky grin, chuckling as he watched his brother flip him off as he left.

"Level with me 'Mis," Porthos said seriously several minutes later.

"What?"

"The whelp. What're his chances and don't sugarcoat it like you would if 'Thos was here."

Aramis sighed, "not the best," he admitted quietly, "That he survived the cauterization was a good sign but he's lost a lot of blood and the procedure took a massive toll on his already spent body. We're going to need to watch him like a hawk and be ready to deal with the long list of complications that are just waiting to emerge."

Porthos nodded, sending his younger brother a pleading look, almost as if the boy, despite his unconscious state, could see it and would fight harder to stay alive because of it.

He was distracted from his observation of the boy when Aramis let out a large yawn.

"Get some sleep 'Mis," he said softly, "It's been a long day."

"m'fine," yawned the medic, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hands as he spoke.

Porthos fought the urge to laugh at the completely childlike image his brother had just created and instead focused his attention on getting the man to sleep.

"Look there's a bed just there," he said pointing to the bed several feet from D'Artagnan's, "You're practically falling asleep there so go lay down and I'll wake you should we need you."

Aramis hesitated for a moment before the call of a bed became too much for his exhausted body to ignore.

"Wake me when Athos's returns, or before if D'Art wakes," he demanded, pointing his finger at Porthos's face as he spoke.

"Just go to bed 'Mis," chuckled Porthos, shooing the yawning, yet somehow also scowling, musketeer away

"Guess it's just you and me whelp," whispered the larger man, his hand resting gently on the young Gascon's forehead, his thumb rubbing small circles as he watched him sleep.

ROAD TO THE MUSKETEER GARRISON

Athos couldn't help but curse as he strode down the road, a small bag containing wine and a change of clothes resting on his shoulder.

He had only been intending to stop off at his apartment to very quickly wash the blood off of him and change his clothes. Unfortunately his very stubborn landlady had seen him approach and had demanded that he have a proper bath.

He had intended to refuse and actually had been doing so for a small while until the woman gave him a look that would have had even the King doing whatever she asked of him.

Whilst he grumbled the whole time about it, Athos couldn't deny that his muscles greatly appreciated the soothing quality of the warm water. The events of the day finally caught up with him as he allowed himself a moment to relax and the next thing he knew he was waking up, still in the tub, but the water was cold and tinted red whilst his skin was wrinkled.

Cursing himself for falling asleep Athos forced his sore and aching muscles to move as he rushed to dry and dress before gathering up the bag he had packed earlier whilst his landlady was preparing the bath and rushing out of the room.

Now he found himself moving quickly through the streets of Paris as he headed towards the garrison.

So focused on his self-recrimination he was he didn't notice that he was being followed until he found himself being pushed into a nearby alley.

"Tell me musketeer," sneered a voice and Athos looked up to see the face of the man who had cut Ortiz's bindings at the execution.

"What do you think you're doing," growled the swordsman, attempting to lunge at the man before being stopped by the two men who had pushed him into the alley.

"Tell me," the man said as if Athos had never interrupted and currently wasn't glaring at his with death promised in his eyes. "Did Ortiz's favourite pup survive his parting gift?"

Athos refused to answer, choosing instead to intensify his glare at the man. Something the man clearly took offense to as he nodded to the two men that were currently restraining him and before the musketeer could brace himself the two men each landed a punch to his stomach, knocking the air from his lungs.

Son of a – ranted the swordsman internally as he struggled to regain his breath

"I'll ask again," snapped the man, "did he survive?"

Not yet able to get a full lungful of air Athos was forced to resort to spitting in the man's face – completely worth it he decided after seeing the look on his interrogators face because of it.

"Have it your way then," growled the man, nodding again to the two men who began to beat Athos relentlessly, never giving the chance to move out of the way or fight back.

Over the top of the sound of flesh hitting flesh as the men attacked him Athos heard something that turned his blood to ice.

"I'll find out for myself."