Evening My Lovelies

I am so so sorry there was no chapter yesterday, circumstances arose which prevented me from writing and as such I had nothing to publish :( Hopefully today's chapter will make up for it.

WARNING: Unless I have some masterful idea of how to extend this story even further tomorrows chapter will be the final one :( BUT on a happier note I am already planning my next one - It'll probably be a short wait as I like to have a batch of it written before I start publishing but knowing my addiction to writing, I wont keep you all waiting too long.

Speaking of my new story, there's the possibility of a romantic element within it... In between all the evil whumpage :D. Is this something you'd be interested in seeing? and if so who would you like it to involve. I think the character could be made to work for any of the boys at the moment as I'm just beginning to develop her character.

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Yeah I'm pitying Aramis for all the work he has a head of him now. As to whether he'll collapse? Honestly I'm surprised he hasn't already :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Aramis is definitely treading a very dangerous line. I think the only think keeping him alive is that he only speaks out like that in dire circumstances so the King then ends up distracted by other things and forgets, that or Anne calms Louis down. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Teddy2104: Thanks for the review - Anne pretty much saved his commission there that's for sure... Even more reason for him to love her. We'll be seeing a bit of Ortiz today but you'll get to see his end in tomorrows chapter. D'Art's pretty much just ignoring his injuries and focusing on his brothers but he is on the mend. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - I've really been enjoying writing Aramis's chats with the King, I like the fact that someone's standing up to him so I'm glad you like it to. Enjoy the new chapter! x

watlocked: Thanks for the review - D'Art to the rescue! :D I'm planning his last nightmare. I was going to write it here but it makes sense to happen in the next chapter so it will be happening. We'll be getting a little bit more banter today as well :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Bombadilo Baby: Thanks for the review - I'm hoping D'Art's mentality doesnt seem too rushed. I just get the feeling that seeing his brothers in trouble would push any remaining doubts to one side while he helps them. If you're bloodthirsty for wanting to see Ortiz die them I don't even want to know what I am for putting the boys through all I have lol :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Porthos's condition isnt the best no... but he does have Aramis who's too stubborn to let him die so he'll be okay... Eventually. I loved writing the King chat, basically any opportunity to scold/annoy the King is highly amusing for me lol Enjoy the new chapter! x

pain in the mikta: Thanks for the review - I think all our boys are long overdue a collapse. They'll be sleeping for a week after all this I think lol. Aramis talk with the King was really fun to write, I love having the chance to irritate the King ^.^ Enjoy the new chapter! x

A reader (Guest): Thanks for the review - :D Glad you liked the banter, I really enjoyed writing it so it makes it even better to know that you enjoyed reading it. We havent got much left of this so hopefully you still have time to enjoy the last 2 chapters. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Aramis wasn't about to take any crap from anyone, least of all our Kingy lol :D I can't seem to stop them ruffling D'Art's hair, he's going to go bald at this rate ^.^ ... *bursts out laughing at the image of a bald D'Artagnan* Aramis is slightly questioning Athos's sanity as he seems completely fine with slowly being crushed, but he gets better (a bit) today. I loved having D'Art being told off by Aramis so glad you liked it too. We're going to get a glimpse of Ortiz today but he'll be meeting his end in tomorrows chapter. Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always many thanks and much love for continuing to support this by following/favouriting/reviewing/reading. Love you all! *gives cookies*

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Sixty-Two: Crushed & Buried III

"D'Artagnan see if you can help Athos while I look at Porthos,"

To be honest Athos was pleased that Aramis had sent D'Artagnan over to him, there was something going on with the boy and Athos wanted to know what.

From his spot on the floor he could already tell his protégé had endured quite a beating, as his face was a mismatch of colours as the bruises and swelling continued to develop.

"What happened?" growled the swordsman as soon as the boy was close enough to him to hear. The resigned look in the young Gascon's eyes told of how he had expected such a reaction but there was a gleam of pride in the boy's eyes that Athos hadn't seen in a long time and he was curious as to the nature of its return.

"Cla-" scowling at his voice D'Artagnan coughed, trying to clear it enough to speak properly, "Claude," he said again, a smile grin appearing on his face as he managed to get the word out without his voice breaking.

"What!?" exclaimed Athos, well as much as he could with the pressure on his chest restricting his breathing. Using his unpinned arm Athos gripped his little brother's chin in his hand, tilting it from side to side to get a better look at the injuries the boy had sustained.

"'Thos," sighed the Gascon, his voice quiet and hoarse.

Athos's eyes darkened with anger when he saw the clear handprints around his brother's throat but was distracted from questioning it when he looked back into the boy's eyes and saw the gleam of pride burning in them again.

It was then that it finally clicked for the swordsman and he couldn't help but smirk, "He'll be causing no more trouble I trust?"

The smirk D'Artagnan sent in response was enough to calm the worst of Athos's anger.

"Course," scoffed the boy, "Leant from the best didn't I?"

Though it was slightly hard to understand him with his voice as hoarse as it was Athos understood what he was trying to say and smiled proudly at the young man who was now on his way to returning to his normal self.

It was whilst doing this that Athos unknowingly shifted slightly causing the pressure on his chest to increase and he couldn't contain the grunt of pain that escaped him as he felt his ribs stain under the pressure.

"'Thos?" asked D'Artagnan worriedly as he assessed how the rubble was laying on his mentor.

"Can't lift it off with only one hand," grunted the swordsman as way of explanation.

"Maybe three?" D'Artagnan suggested croakily, shifting closer to Athos's side so he could get a better grip on the debris.

Athos was hesitant to agree to this, knowing that doing so would cause the young man's wounds to flare up but he also saw the fierce determination in his protégé's eyes that was almost daring him to disagree with the boy's plan.

"This will hurt D'Artagnan," stated Athos, needing the boy to know what he was getting into regardless of the fact he was determined to do it anyway.

When all he got in response was a glare from the boy Athos sighed and instructed him on the best way to move the rubble off of him.

It took no small amount of effort from the pair of them but they eventually managed to get the rubble off of Athos's chest, the sudden pressure relief sending pain ricocheting through the swordsman's body.

"Athos are you in need of urgent treatment or can I steal D'Art?" called Aramis from his spot by Porthos and although he was calm Athos could hear the fear in his voice and felt himself pale slightly at the thought that Porthos might be worse off then he had originally thought.

Despite the pain coursing through his body Athos was not about to let Porthos suffer and jerked his head over towards his brother's form, indicating to D'Artagnan that he could go. D'Artagnan looked a little hesitant to leave Athos's side given how much pain his mentor seemed to be in but a hiss of pain from Porthos motivated him to move. Ignoring the agony of his own injuries that had been intensified from moving the debris off of Athos, D'Artagnan scampered over to Aramis, practically skidding to a stop on the other side of their fallen friend.

"I need you to put pressure on this," Aramis instructed, a small-relieved smile gracing his face for a moment before he returned to medic-mode. "I need to sort out my supplies and I can't do that with this still bleeding out."

Without saying anything D'Artagnan thrusted his hand onto Porthos's wound, determinedly ignoring the feeling of his brother's blood seeping through the cloth and onto his fingers.

As soon as he was sure that D'Artagnan pressure was secure Aramis moved to the bag he had brought in with him, instantly searching for the urgent supplies he needed.

"…'Mis!" croaked an alarmed voice, startling the medic from where he was threading his suturing needle.

Seeing what had worried his friend Aramis couldn't help but sigh, "Probably for the best," remarked the medic as he casted a look at his now unconscious brother. "I'm gonna need to stitch this and it's always best that he's unconscious for that."

"Usually I would clean the wound, especially in a circumstance like this," continued the medic as he worked to suture the wound while D'Artagnan methodically wiped away the excess blood obscuring the medic's vision. "But he'll bleed out if we wait much longer, hopefully these will hold until we can get him out of here and I can have a proper look at him."

As he had plans to re-open the stitches later on Aramis didn't waste time in ensuring they were up to his usual standard and instead focused on getting them in and stopping the blood from leaking out of his brother's body.

Once the stitches were in Aramis wasted no time in unrolling some bandages and with D'Artagnan's help he managed to get them secured tightly around the man's wound.

"Etienne's gone to find a stretcher," stated the medic as he pushed himself back onto his feet, gritting his teeth at the pain in his leg. "Stay with Porthos until he comes, I'll call you if I need help with Athos."

Once again D'Artagnan looked torn but still nodded resolutely, a tiny part of him pleased that Aramis trusted him to watch over the man.

As he was making his way over to Athos, Aramis noticed the unconscious form of Ortiz lying with his legs pinned under some rubble.

"Is it bad I'm hoping that's broken his legs?" enquired Aramis innocently as he turned back to Athos who snorted in response.

Once he was settled beside Athos, Aramis could clearly see the pain on his brother's face.

"What hurts worse?" the medic asked, his eyes roaming over the swordsman's body, instantly noticing several deep bruises forming were the rubble had been compressing his left side.

"Pretty much the same," grunted the musketeer, eyes screwing shut in pain as he spoke.

"Can you move your fingers?" Aramis asked, gently picking up his brother's left hand in his own, both men breathing a heavy sigh of relief as the swordsman's fingers twitched and moved slightly.

"The pain will most likely pass as feeling returns to your limbs," explained Aramis as he repeated the moving exercise with Athos's toes.

"I'll make you something for it when I get the chance though," added the medic with a small grin when he caught the dissatisfied look being sent his way from Athos.

"Porthos?" inquired Athos through gritted teeth as Aramis began his work checking over his ribs.

"Bad but should be okay." Stated the marksman, though he did glare slightly and add, "He better be as I need to lecture him on the stupidity of his decision to pull that thing out of him before I could tell him it was safe to do so."

Athos watched his brother rant with a relieved look in his eyes… If Aramis was planning on just how badly he would be punishing Porthos for his actions then it mean that the larger man stood a good chance of recovering.

"Now for you…"

"I hardly think it's fair to blame me for almost getting crushed by a bit of falling ceiling," defended the swordsman.

"True," nodded the medic, "but chasing after Ortiz without backup is something I can blame you for," added Aramis with a hard look.

Athos sighed, having known that was coming at some point, "I couldn't let him get away… not after everything he's put my family through."

Though he said this quietly Aramis still heard it and his heart warmed at the words and his expression softened as he brushed a stray piece of hair out of his brother's eyes.

"I think I speak for all of us when I say we would rather catch him another day then to have lost you in the pursuit of him, brother."

Athos opened his mouth to say something in response but was cut of by the arrival of Etienne and a couple of musketeers.

"Where do you want us Aramis?" Etienne asked, nervously looking around as if he expected the whole thing to collapse in on them again at any moment.

"Get Porthos out of here," instructed the medic, "I've closed his wound but it needs urgent cleaning, he was impaled by some glass and has lost a lot of blood."

Etienne's eyes widened in surprise but he moved to the fallen musketeer's side and began to help the men get him on a stretcher.

"We'll be back for Athos as soon as we get him out of here," informed Etienne as the men carefully left with the unconscious musketeer.

"Just take care of him," grunted Athos as he watched Etienne leave.

Now with no one to watch over D'Artagnan made his way back to his mentor's side, eyes sending questioning looks to Aramis who could only smile softly at the young man's worry.

"He's gonna be sore as hell for a while and has several broken or cracked ribs but he should be fine with some rest." Reassured the medic

While Aramis and D'Artagnan set to work cleaning the many small cuts that littered Athos's skin, the man himself noticed movement out of the corner of his eyes.

"WATCH OUT!" screamed the swordsman as he pushed himself up into a seating position with his good arm and used the recovering strength in his left to push D'Artagnan out of the trajectory of the glass shard the newly awoken Ortiz had thrown. Unfortunately, while he was quick enough to get D'Artagnan out of harms way, he hadn't been quick enough to evade the glass himself and let out a howl of pain as the shard punctured his skin.

With fury burning in his eyes at the attack on his mentor D'Artagnan's hands moved automatically as they pulled out the small dagger he kept in his boots. Without looking away from the shard now sticking out of his brother's arm, D'Artagnan through the blade, inwardly cheering when he heard Ortiz's scream of pain.

Without sparing the screaming Spaniard a glance D'Artagnan lifted his gaze from Athos's arm to the now surprised expression on his face. At seeing the expression D'Artagnan couldn't fight the smirk that grew. "Does this mean I get to yell at you now?" he teased, and despite the raw croakiness of his voice his words were still understood and his smirk grew as Aramis snorted in amusement while Athos shook his head at his words.

"We'll just add that to the list of injuries you now have my friend," teased Aramis as he took Athos's arm in his hands

"How badly did you hit him?" Athos asked through gritted teeth as he watched Aramis tend to his arm as Ortiz's continue to make pained noises from where he laid trapped.

D'Artagnan shrugged, part of him feeling lighter after managing to get a small piece of revenge on the man who had tortured him and his brothers.

"I'll check him over when you're on the way back with Etienne, now shut up and let me work."