Evening My Lovelies!

60 Reviews! wow you guys are awesome. I'm hoping this chapter is a worthy thanks for all your continued support. We have some questions answered (or half answered), a flash back... and my personal favourite a mini rant from our favourite medic :D

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Unfortunately they'll be hanging on for a while. Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Oh that made me laugh :D and produced some rather lovely mental imagery which is slightly distracting lol. On the plus side though I don't keep you waiting too long whenever there are cliffhangers. Enjoy the new chapter! x

FierGascon: Thanks for the review - Glad you're liking/hating him so far. The hate-o-meter will definitely be needed soon (chapter 8) we may also need the angst-o-meter for that chapter as well. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - They have their suspicions but worry about our missing boys is overwhelming that. Aramis will definitely come to regret that, more so in later chapters once the whumpage has really begun. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - Yeah it wont be easy but he's trying. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Jmp (Guest): Thanks for the review - Good :) means I'm doing my job right :D You'll have a name to put to the hate today and I'm afraid that in the coming chapters your hate will only grow. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Helensg: Thanks for the review - And I love the daily reviews :D They make boring days at work more bearable. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay I'm really pleased you think so. Things are going to start heating up drama and whumpage wise in the next few chapters so hopefully it'll continue to get better. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Zoe (Guest): Thanks for the review - He does indeed, I'll be addressing just how he knows so much in a later chapter, it means nothing good for our boys but will hopefully at to the drama and whumpage which is always good :) Loved writing those protective outbursts so I'm glad you liked them, our lovely medic is going to be forced to start thinking more clearly in the coming chapters. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Hmmm can't really say anything for that as it's the focus of todays chapter but I can talk about Aramis :) He's going to be suffering quite badly on the emotional side in this story, especially in later chapters... He's still going to get physically whumped as well of course but I have some serious emotional blows for him to endure in later chapters. Glad you liked their protective moments, I really enjoyed writing them. Enjoy the new chapter! x

MicheeO: Thanks for the reviews - Your reviews weren't for this last chapter but I'm far to lazy to go back and add the replies to those chapters. I was beginning to think you weren't going to review, or read, which would be poor form on your part considering the nagging you did to get me to start publishing this lol :) Haha Glad you're hooked though and don't worry I'm updating daily so you wont be left hanging for long once you've caught up :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - I can't see D'Art not finding the similarities between the whole Vadim situation and the situation he found himself in when he awoke and as the Vadim thing would still be fairly fresh in his mind I could see it freaking him out a bit so I'm glad you liked it. It might get brought up a few more times so hopefully it wont become annoying. We'll be putting a name to our new baddy today as well as a nickname to our mysterious woman. Our new baddy has some low views on musketeers as you'll notice in coming chapters hence his disdain for the term brothers and for thinking him and D'Art to be lovers. Glad you liked the protective moments, they're always good fun to write... and imagine... and swoon over... ANYWAYS... We'll be seeing some more of them soon and even get one today, though not roar inducing I'm afraid (tomorrow there'll be one I promise :D ) Hopefully this chapter is worth the anticipation built up. Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for the continued support by following/favouriting/reviewing/reading

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Six: A Reunion... Of Sorts.

Athos was aware something wasn't right as soon as his mind began to wake up. The man was well known in the regiment and amongst his friends for his habit of drinking himself into a stupor every night in a bid to banish bad memories and dreams. As such the morose musketeer was immediately able to tell that the rigorous pounding in his head was not the result of yet another evening's overindulgence in drink, but rather the by-product of something more sinister.

Willing his heartbeat and breathing to remain calm and steady Athos took a moment to let his mind push out the last remaining bits of fog and to let his other senses pick up clues that may alert him as to where he was.

The first thing that caught his attention was the clinking of chains, clearly wherever he was, he was not there willingly… Though one could argue that the pounding in his head and irritating dryness of his throat was also a clear indication of that fact.

The second thing that caught his attention was the smell, or lack of it. His prison obviously hadn't been used much as there were no lingering smells such as the stench of body odour or any medicinal smells, which would indicate a captive, had been treated.

The third and most grabbing thing that caught his attention was the sound of a familiar voice hissing out his name.

"Athos!" The voice hissed irritation clear in its tone; clearly the swordsman had spent longer assessing the situation than he had anticipated. "I know you're awake damn you now open your eyes!"

"Aramis," nodded Athos after he eventually opened his eyes, allowing his stoic mask to falter for just a second at the sight of one of his dearest friends handing from chains before the mask returned.

"He nods!" exclaimed the medic more to himself then to Athos who merely watches with fond amusement as the Spaniard continued his rant. "He finally comes to after being drugged with God knows what, finds both my lovely self and him chained in a room and all he does is nod!"

"Are you done?"

Aramis shot a glare at the completely unbothered man before shrugging as best as he could given the chains, "Hardly, I could go on but I figure our host will be visiting us shortly so I'm sure you have more important things you wish to discuss before that happens."

Athos couldn't help the smirk that blossomed then, the Aramis before him, despite being chained and slightly bruised, was acting more like himself then he had since Marsac.

"Understanding what this is all about would be a nice start," Athos stated, raising one eyebrow at his chained friend in silent acknowledgement that he was not pleased with the man's rashness that had landed them all in this state. Acting out of grief was something he understood all too well, though he had also learnt the consequences of doing so the hard way when his reluctance to visit his childhood home almost cost Porthos his life. Athos had no intention of letting Aramis's grief endanger them more than it already had.

Clearly the medic understood the silent scolding as his head fell to his chest and Athos could see the grief warring with guilt and shame clouding his eyes.

"You are unharmed?" Athos questioned gently though despite this his eyes held a promise of pain to their captor should the answer be not to his liking.

Aramis let out a broken huff of laughter, "Our host is generous it seems, this is the worst he's done to me so far," explained the medic as he tilted his head to the side to show the bruise forming from the knock he took upon his capture.

Seeing Athos's eyes darken at the injury Aramis felt his heart warm, "I am well mon ami… Much better than I expected to be given our present situation."

"And D'Artagnan?" enquired Athos as he pushed aside the vindictive side of him that wanted nothing more than to cause equal hurt to their captor. His dark expression remained however when Aramis allowed his worry and sadness to return to his eyes.

"I… I don't know," said the medic softly unable to look his friend in the eye out of fear of the anger and disappointment he thought he would see for having put both himself and the man's protégé in danger. "I know he lives as our host has made mention of him the several times he's been to question me, but for as to how he fares… I have no idea."

Athos sighed, barely biting back a growl that wanted to be released as frustration and anger threatened to take hold. "So what is this all about?" he asked, pushing himself up into a better sitting position slightly clumsily as last remnants of the drug remained in his system.

"How'd they get you anyway?" Aramis asked, worry about his brother's state forcing him to push aside the request for information.

Athos sighed still feeling slightly out of it from whatever they had been given, "A promise of information and some drugged wine it would seem."

"Okay…"

Athos knew that snippet of information wouldn't be enough for his nosey friend so he sighed once again before explaining how both he and Porthos had been caught.

FLASH BACK

"Don't see us getting much information here 'Thos," Porthos said, keeping his voice low as his eyes scanned their surroundings. "Place looks deserted."

Athos couldn't help the niggling feeling of dread beginning to settle within him that only strengthened at Porthos's words. "Regardless we will try," he stated, his voice dripping with authority he didn't even need to use given the present company. Without saying another word he direct them towards what appeared to be the local tavern.

Entering the tavern both men were pleased to see several other people already there, both musketeers' had a bad feeling about the lack of people in the village but found themselves relaxing slightly at the sight of several people.

"Evening gents," called a bright feminine voice, "Make yourselves at home, what can I get'cha?"

Once they had ordered a couple of bowls of stew and some wine the musketeers began quietly debating over the information they had gathered so far.

"Should we inform the Captain?" Porthos asked mid chew

Athos shook his head, "We don't have enough information to take to him yet."

"But 'Mis and the whelp are clearly in trouble."

"We knew that coming here. Without anything more solid the Captain wont be able to act, or even send anyone else here to help out." Sighing Athos took a large swig of his wine. "We're on our own for now my friend."

"I don't like this," grumbled Porthos a few moments later, drawing a sympathetic breathy chuckle from his companion.

Athos would have said more had a shout from a man a couple of tables away from them caught their attention.

"I'm telling you there was musketeer! He had the pauldron-thing and everything!"

Sharing a brief look with Porthos both men stood, leaving their food and drink unguarded, and made their way over to the table where a couple of young men sat.

"Look there's more!" exclaimed the man who had shouted earlier. Due to the man's youthful age and his excited look Porthos deduced the man was enamored by the idea of the King's musketeers.

"You mentioned another musketeer?" Porthos said hesitantly, leaving Athos to silently observe the men. "Was he in the company of a young man? Would be slightly younger then yourselves?"

The man thought about it for a moment before nodding, not missing the hope that entered both men's eyes.

"Why don't you join us and I'll tell you everything I know."

Athos's wary nature was screaming at him not to accept but a larger part of him was telling him that this was for Aramis and D'Artagnan… For that reason alone he nodded and the two men went back to get their food and wine before joining the men.

It was several minutes into their discussion that Athos realized his earlier paranoia was correct as his vision began to blur and he could feel his body swaying dangerously.

END FLASH BACK

"And then I woke up here," Athos stated, his voice so nonchalant that had Aramis not known the man he would assume the drugs were still affecting him. "I'm assuming, since Porthos is not here, that he is wherever D'Artagnan is being kept."

"Well I'm glad to see the musketeers don't employ idiots." Remarked a voice interrupting Aramis before he could even speak. "Then again," mused the man, "You did allow yourselves to be drugged so maybe…"

"We hardly allowed anything," stated Athos as he scowled at the newcomer. "Care to tell us who the hell you are and why we're here?"

"You may call me Marcel," nodded the man before he turned his gaze on the much more immobile Spaniard. "As for why you are here… Well your friend here has some information I want. The rest of you are merely leverage. I would have preferred not to involve the petit chiot but he refused to stand down when the offer was made to him so I can't be held accountable for anything that happens to him."

Athos allowed himself a small prideful smirk at the man's words about D'Artagnan. He had known since reading the boy's rushed note that the Gascon had no intention on letting the Spaniard handle this alone.

"And Viv!?" snap the Spaniard as he fought against his chains as much as he could. "What had you done with her?"

"She lives," shrugged Marcel, clearly unbothered by the medic's anger.

Athos fought to keep his face impartial, no need for the man to know how little he knew about what was going on. Though by the pained look in his brother's eyes, the woman was important and that was all he needed to know.

Marcel continued to question Aramis for several hours with the medic refusing to give up any information or even to speak if it wasn't a sarcastic comment.

"Maybe you'd be more talkative with the right motivation." Marcel mused, turning to Athos he added, "Clearly your safety isn't enough for him," and with that he moved to the door.