Evening My Lovelies

I have a feeling you may hate me again at the end of this chapter but you know I can't help it!

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm really glad you liked it, after all the trouble it gave me I was worried it would come across really rushed and horrible. Our boys are going to be getting some rest some hopefully I'll be letting them feel better soon... maybe... Enjoy the new chapter! x

romirola: Thanks for the review - You're welcome :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - Unfortunately Treville has no clue (blame my evil mind for that) The reunion between our group is going to be a little bit from the looks of things. Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Yeah but we love him so I suppose we'll have to let him off :) Hope you got some sleep. Enjoy the new chapter! x

FierGascon: Thanks for the review - All injuries are forgotten when someone else is in trouble... much to Treville's and the doctor's frustration. haha I really like the idea of Treville having a psyc diploma hanging up in his office, it can be what he does when he retires from the musketeers lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x

watlocked: Thanks for the review - I can't stop writing papa bear Treville! He just fits into the role so well. Writers block hit again today but I think I managed to beat it :) It's just annoying as I know what I want to happen it's just figuring out how to write that down that's the problem *sigh* oh well hopefully it's all gone well. Enjoy the new chapter! x

f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Greetings my no-longer-a-guest friend :D Papa Treville is just so much fun to write I really can't stop doing it, luckily for me everyone seems to like it so it's alright :D Treville's going to be VERY thankful when Athos and Porthos eventually get back and can handle Aramis lol Glad you liked their heart-to-heart I was really worried it wouldnt come across the way I envisioned it in my head but its been well received so I think it went okay in the end. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Seeing as how Aramis is technically resting I can see Treville taking it as a win lol. Not explaining the situation only means we get even more Aramis guilt next time he's awake which is always fun for me to write XD Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - It was probably for the best that D'Art was out of it during their talk as I don't think Treville could have handled both of them at the same time given the moods both of them would be in. Although it could have been interesting to see them both fretting over the other and trying to get them to rest lol. I think that had Aramis's condition not been as bad as it was Treville might have Gibb's headslapped him. His words wont have completely convinced the man but it's the first step. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Your review totally made my evening so thanks for that :D I'll admit the dialogue heavy chapters are usually the ones that give me trouble, especially yesterday's one but I'm really happy with how well it ended up being received, made all the trouble completely worth it :) I felt a bit bad at having Treville almost accuse Aramis but I felt that that would be the only way he'd see the truth. I did so love writing Treville finally having enough with Aramis and forcing him about so I'm glad you liked it too :) I'm so incredibly happy that all of Aramis's emotions came across properly. I was worried it might come across rushed or incomplete with the writers block incident I had so that comment in your review really made me smile :) It was probably for the best that D'Art was out, could you imagine how poor old Treville would feel trying to handle the pair of them in that sort of mood? It would give him a stress induced heart attack! We're getting a teeny tiny bit of D'Art today which I quite like but I agree completely that those two (D'Art/Aramis) are in desperate need of a snuggle moment. Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Long Way Home IV

The loud thump that echoed through the room as Aramis hit the ground was enough to freeze both Treville and Moreau in their places.

"Aramis!" exclaimed Treville, eyes wide in worry as he dashed to his unconscious soldier's side.

"Roll him over," ordered Moreau as he knelt down on Aramis's other side.

Needing no further instruction Treville did as he was asked, taking one of Aramis's hands in his own, his eyes focused on the doctor as he examined the unconscious sharpshooter.

"Well?"

"He's okay."

Treville scowled, "He's unconscious."

"He's injured, starved, dehydrated and has been working himself to the bone for the last God knows how long. It was bound to catch up with him at some point. He'll be fine once he's rested for a bit." Moreau explained sympathetically, knowing that the Captain's gruff words were only out of worry for his charge.

Treville nodded, seemingly placated by what the doctor told him. Gently he placed an arm under Aramis's shoulders and another under his knees, lifting him up bridal style before turning to look expectantly at the doctor.

"The bed next to the boy's free. I'm going to get some more water then I'll do a full check up on him, as I said those wrists need tending."

"Thank you," Treville said softly before lowering Aramis gently onto the bed next to D'Artagnan, he was about to leave when a small whimper caught his attention.

"…D'Artagnan?" he asked hesitantly, not entirely sure he had heard the sound he thought he had.

The only response that came to his words was another small whimper and the sound of ruffling sheets, as the boy squirmed slightly, no doubt his injuries causing him pain.

"Easy D'Artagnan," soothed Treville as he removed, soaked and reapplied the cloth on the boy's forehead. The cold water seemed to spark some life back into the boy as his eyes sluggishly opened. They were glazed with fever and Treville doubted the young man was completely with them.

"D'Artagnan?" he said softly when he noticed the Gascon's brows scrunch up.

"…C'pt'n?"

Breathing a sigh of relief Treville offered the boy a small smile as he took one of the other cloths in the bucket and began dabbing the cool water over the Gascon's scorching skin and judging by the noise D'Artagnan made it was greatly appreciated.

"How are you feeling?" Treville asked, nodding absently to the doctor when Moreau returned and began his examination of Aramis.

"…Tir'd" admitted the boy weakly and Treville could see he was having trouble keeping his eyes open.

"Understandable, you're quite ill. "

D'Artagnan moved in a way that Treville took to be his attempt at nodding at the Captain's explanation. Then to Treville's alarm D'Artagnan's eyes shot open, wide with panic and fear.

"'Mis!"

And Aramis thought D'Artagnan would blame him, scoffed Treville internally before gesturing to the bed next to D'Artagnan's. "He's okay. Moreau says he just needs some rest."

"You did a good job keeping him alive kid," grinned Moreau as he moved to stand by Treville so D'Artagnan could see that his friend was in fact breathing. "That wound to his chest could very well have killed him if you didn't treat it when you did."

"…Wo'd't… st'p… bleedin'" mumbled D'Artagnan tiredly, his eyes never leaving Aramis's form.

"Well it has now thanks to you," nodded Moreau, a frown coming to the doctor's face as he felt the heat coming from the boy's skin.

Slowly D'Artagnan turned his face from Aramis and back to Treville. "…'Thos?... P'thos?"

Now it was Treville's turn to frown as he shook his head. "We've seen no sign of them though I have men out searching."

If anything Treville's words seemed to make D'Artagnan pale further causing Moreau to quickly finish what he was doing.

"…Chair," slurred D'Artagnan, his tiny amount of energy beginning to leave him. "… Pr'f… M'sac… Sa'oy…"

Treville frowned in confusion but before he could question the Gascon further Moreau returned to the boy's side.

"Drink this," he instructed holding out a small goblet to the boy's lips. Too tired and sick to argue D'Artagnan obediently, if a bit slowly, drank the goblet's contents, his eyes flickering shut as soon as he finished.

"Do I need to be worried?" Treville asked, as he looked hard at the doctor who was still frowning at the boy.

"His fever is extremely high, the mere fact he was lucid enough to have any sort of conversation with you is testament to his impressive force of will.

"What can we do?"

Moreau sighed, "Not much, aside from keeping him cool and making him drink those herbs it's all up to him now."

Treville frowned, torn between concern for his injured men, worry over the missing members of their group, anger at the man behind their capture and confusion over the cryptic explanation D'Artagnan tried to give him.

"Keep me informed of their conditions, I need to know the second one of them is awake and ready for visitors."

Moreau nodded at the order, knowing that there were two missing men that only the unconscious men on the bed could locate.

"…Porthos?" called Vivienne gently, her tired eyes watching the larger man worriedly

Her worry only grew when the musketeer failed to respond or even show any recognition to her words. When another attempt failed once again to draw out any response she looked pleadingly at Athos who had also been watching his friend.

"Porthos," Athos called, infusing his voice with as much commanding presence as he could muster and to his immense relief it seemed to snap the larger musketeer out of his trance.

"…Are you okay, we've been calling you for a while?" enquired Vivienne hesitantly when the musketeer turned to look at them.

"What's up?" grunted Porthos, ignoring the question about his wellbeing, something Athos did not miss.

"It's getting dark, shouldn't we be looking for shelter?"

It wasn't until Vivienne had mentioned it that Porthos noticed how dark it actually was, "…Yeah," he admitted distantly, "We'll stop when we find somewhere, keep an eye out."

Nothing was said for several long minutes as the group navigated the darkening countryside in an attempt to find somewhere safe to camp.

"I hear water," announced Vivienne, perking up slightly at the sound of water.

With no other options and a need to find water the group followed the sound, each of their moods picking up when they arrived at a small spring, the noise being created by a couple of small animals that had been playing in the water before fleeing the approaching group.

"Will this do?" Vivienne asked having never had to set up camp before and therefore feeling quite out of her comfort zone.

"Secluded enough it could work," mumbled Athos, a small cry of pain escaping him as Porthos and Vivienne set him down by a tree.

"I'll get firewood," announced the woman and she scampering off before either man could stop her. She had seen the looks Porthos had been giving the swordsman's wrists and knew the proud man would not wish for an audience while it was being tended to.

"How's the foot?" Porthos asked softly as he eased himself onto the ground near his friend, his eyes locked on Athos's face for any signs of a lie.

"Well I can still feel it so that's better than nothing," deadpanned the swordsman, successfully bringing an eyebrow quirk from his friend.

"And the wrist?"

Athos subconscious moved his injured wrist to his chest, "nothing serious."

Porthos sighed, "Just let me look at it."

After a few silent moments of staring each other out Athos sent a defiant look to his friend. "I offer a trade."

Porthos's lips quirked upwards slightly as his head tilted to one side, "a trade?"

Nodding Athos explained, "You can look at my wrist if you tell me what is bothering you, this time without lying."

Porthos frowned, he didn't want to trouble Athos with his thoughts but he knew he needed to look at the man's wrists and apart from waiting until the man fell asleep to do it, which seemed a bit underhanded, he would have to open up. "Fine," he grunted holding out his hand for the man's wrist.

Athos waited a few moments before deciding that Porthos's agreement was true and handing over his damaged wrist.

"So?" he asked, biting back a hiss as Porthos prodded the joint.

"…It's stupid," mumbled Porthos, not meeting Athos's eyes.

"It's clearly important to you."

"It's just… Marcel said 'Mis and the whelp are dead…"

Athos eyed his friend curiously, waiting in silence as he collected himself enough to continue.

"It was easy to dismiss it as lies when we were inside but now…"

Athos's eyes widened in comprehension, "Now we can find out the truth, we might actually see the proof," he finished gently.

"'Mis was in no condition to be fighting, you saw him! The kid's stubborn enough to give you a run for your money but even he can only fight so long with one arm, broken ribs and no weapon. They'd be ideal targets for bandits."

With his good hand Athos gripped Porthos's shoulder, squeezing it gently in support as he had been thinking similar things of late as well.

"Providing they got to their horses they'll be fine. We've both seen Aramis out ride a group of bandits when he was barely conscious and had his wrists tied together."

This drew a small smirk from Porthos as he remembered that. Aramis had ridden into the garrison like a man possessed, followed quickly by a trio of bandits who had been so focused on their chase that they hadn't noticed where they'd been led. Afterwards Aramis had admitted that the group had been larger but he'd been able to out ride most.

"The whelp…"

"Isn't about to let Aramis fall behind and I thought you said he's too stubborn to die?"

Huffing out a laugh Porthos finally let his eyes meet Athos's, smiling fondly at the man. "Thanks 'Thos."

Nodding Athos allowed himself to respond in kind to Porthos's smile though it quickly faded when a twig snapping caught their attention and forced Porthos to move in front of the swordsman protectively as he gripped the gifted blade tightly in his hand.