Evening My Lovelies :)

Okay I'm quite proud of how this chapter turned out so I'm going to beg for reviews for it. I really really want to know what you guys think, even if it's just a 'good' or 'rubbish' anything is fine.

Also I found this today figured some of you might like it :) watch?v=afLZQJIXZH0

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - First off thanks again for alerting me to that typo, I was in such a rush to get the chapter up I didn't even notice it. Considering D'Arts current condition it might not be the most relieving thing to have the three of them together... but oh well we're heading for some brotherly moments and that's all that matters. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - For once D'Art actually had good timing lol :) Hmmm if that yesterday scared you I fear you may need a heads up for today's chapter as I've been a bit of an evil writer again :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Oooh yeah :D Athos's guilt is going to be sky high when the boy wakes up, he's going to be blaming himself for the pup collapsing... even though D'Art would have done so even without Athos's rant. We're back with Treville and Aramis today so I'm really hoping you like what I've done with it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Helensg: Thanks for the review - Athos is going to be regretting his anger now the pup's passed out so he'll be apologizing soon. Enjoy the new chapter! x

f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Oh you're quite right that the lecture is far from finished, I think Athos needs to start making a list of who he needs to lecture lol. As you'll see during this chapter Treville will have to put off the lecture for a while :D Dr Moreau is going to be pissed when they return, especially with poor old D'Art. Enjoy the new chapter! x

watlocked: Thanks for the review - Hehe I think that surprised quite a few people as well :D It's one of the reasons I did it, need to keep you all on your toes somehow lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha I know poor D'Art's in for a SERIOUS tongue lashing when they're all safe, for now Athos has the pup's health to worry about. Pretty much everyone's recovery time is going to be set back by the time they return to Paris because I'm just that evil :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - It kinda threw everyone that it wasn't D'Art, which was part of the plan, a girls gotta keep you all on your toes somehow :D Plus considering the lecture I had planned for the pup I figured he should quickly do something to get closer to being into Athos's good books lol. The falling off the horse seems to be a recurring thing for our little pup... probably not good for his health or his head which mean's I should really stop writing it... or at least have him actually injured from doing so. Glad you got all the feels :D Athos is going to be regretting how harshly he spoke to the pup but we'll have to wait until he's conscious again for them to speak about it, though I guess now at least they have reason to stop, poor Porthos's arm really needs proper tending. Haha I think Athos with a bit of grey would make him look quite distinguished :D I'm afraid you'll be waiting a little bit to see what's happening with them as we're back with Aramis and Treville today :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Cookies and other yummy treats for all you lovely people who follow/favourite/review/read

Enjoy!

xxx

P.S I'm going to beg again... Please review!

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Confrontation

"Shit," cursed Porthos as he and Athos quickly moved to D'Artagnan's side. The Gascon's breaths were coming fast and shallow but at this point they were just relieved he was still breathing.

"His skin's on fire," noted Athos with barely concealed worry as he used his less injured hand to move some of the boy's sweat-drenched hair out of his eyes.

"We don't have anything to treat this," Porthos said softly, his own worry loud and clear in his voice.

"Stupid boy," huffed Athos, "What was he thinking going after us in this condition?"

"Look, the whelp needs to be both alive and awake for you to finish lecturing him so why don't we leave the blame until later and figure out how we're going to help him!"

"The stream," said Vivienne quietly after noticing neither man was thinking straight thanks to the worry they were feeling for their young sick friend.

"What?"

"The water's cold," explained Vivienne, suddenly nervous that her idea would be laughed at or rejected. "There's a shallower portion a bit further up, maybe it'll help bring his temperature down…"

Both Athos and Porthos blinked in surprise before a beaming grin lit up the larger man's face.

"Viv," he breathed, hope lighting his eyes, "You're brilliant!"

Vivienne blushed deeply at Porthos praise before moving to help the men remove D'Artagnan's boots, jacket and shirt, leaving him only in his breeches.

Once the shirt was removed both musketeers glared at the red stained bandage covering their young friend's chest.

"Leave it," Athos sadly ordered when he saw Porthos's fingers going to the fabric. "As you said we have nothing to treat it, best focus on getting him cool for now."

Porthos nodded, moving his hand away from the young man's chest only to then frown.

"How're we movin' 'im?" he asked, "You can't walk and I can't carry 'im with my arm the way it is…"

"We get him up and you and Vivienne can carry him the way you've been helping me walk," suggested Athos, waiting for both people to nod their consent before moving to help get the Gascon up.

Captain Treville could feel the tension in the air growing and despite the fury he felt for what his men had endured he still preferred the idea of trying to get out of this without having to fight.

His eyes flickered over to Aramis as the man taunted them with how he had made their comrades scream in pain. Treville could tell the medic was really feeling his injuries and he suspected it was only hate for the person taunting them that was keeping him from giving in and passing out.

"I have the proof you sought," declared Treville, not bothering to hide his fury and disgust from his voice. "I offer you a trade, the information for my men."

Despite not being able to see him Treville could practically hear the man's smirk as he declined the Captain's offer.

"Those were the terms set by Marcel," exclaimed Aramis, the medic shaking as he gripped the reigns of his horse tightly, though whether from fury or from fatigue Treville didn't know. "Why wont you honor them?"

The man's smirk faded, quickly replaced by a scowl as he finally emerged from the shadows to stand in front of the group. The medic in Aramis was wincing as he noticed the thickly padded, yet still bloodstained, bandage around the man's face, though the musketeer in him was bursting with pride, having deduced that, considering how recent the injury appeared to be, it had been caused by one of his brothers.

"Why should I honor deals with men that have no honor?" Spat the man, not missing the way all the musketeers bristled at the slur to their honor.

At the insult to his men Treville dismounted his horse and while keeping his back straight and his hand on the pommel of his blade he took several steps closer to the man.

"My men have more honor then you or yours will ever have," said Treville with a coldness that surprised even his men, "You, who wont even identify himself. Honor the deal and release my men or we will take action."

The man surprised all around him then when he let out a humorless laugh, "Tell me Captain," spat the man, "Where is the honor in knowingly sending a group of men, some barely out of their adolescence to their death?"

Aramis watched as Treville froze at the accusation, the sharpshooter had struggled to come to terms with what his Captain had done regarding Savoy but as a soldier he knew that orders given are followed and that sometimes a loss is required to protect something greater. It was one of the main reasons he had fought so hard to ride out on this rescue mission, if giving up his life meant that his brothers could be free and safe then it was something he would gladly do without hesitation. What he wouldn't do however was see a loyal and honorable man lose the trust of his men for something that was half a decade done.

"Where is the honor of skulking about in the shadows instead of confronting things head on?" Spat Aramis with more strength than he felt. "Marsac acted wrongly in his grief but even he wouldn't have condoned this!"

Treville closed his eyes at the pain he could hear in Aramis's voice, it killed him how the whole situation with Marsac had gone down. Given what had happened at Savoy the Captain had been more than willing to overlook the man's desertion from the regiment providing he never returned to Paris where he would have been forced to act.

Treville also couldn't help the small smile that grew at Aramis's defending of him. He knew the man had every right to never want to serve under him again, in fact he had been sure the medic had only remained with the regiment after finding everything out because of Athos and Porthos, as well as the new addition of D'Artagnan so it warmed his heart to see that maybe the Gascon's words of Aramis not blaming him were in fact true.

The man looked enraged at Aramis's words, made worse by the smirk the marksman had plastered on his face so before things could escalate in a way that would put Aramis in direct harm Treville took another step forward.

"Identify yourself and honor the deal agreed upon or we will act. This is your last warning."

"Daviau," nodded the man before a smug smirk appeared on his face, "and if you think I'd ever submit to the likes of you your mistaken." Turning slightly Daviau let out a yell and mere moments later the whole area erupted in battle.

Despite the number of mercenaries Daviau had clearly hired for this attack the small group musketeers refused to back down, choosing instead to rely on their extensive training and battle experience.

Noting out of the corner of his eye that Aramis was in no condition for a physical confrontation, Issac, who had been closest to the musketeer, thrusted his pistol and a small bag of ammunition into the man's hand before quickly spinning on his heels to parry a blow with his sword.

"I've got your back so do what you do best!" yelled Issac over the sounds of battle as he swept his opponent's legs out from under him before quickly finishing him off by plunging his blade deep into the man's chest.

Nodding despite the fact that his comrade couldn't see it, Aramis wasted no time in firing off shots from both his and Issac's pistols in quick succession, feeling better than he had in weeks to be doing what came as naturally to him as breathing.

After a quick reload Aramis noticed that Favier was becoming dangerously outnumbered as he tried valiantly to fight off four attackers. Before Aramis could raise his pistols one of the men managed to through Favier's impressive guard and stab the man deeply in his side, causing the musketeer's legs to give out in shock. Aramis felt his eyes widen in horror as one of Favier's other attackers, who had ended up behind him, raised his blade to end the musketeer who was still desperately trying to defend himself despite being on his knees. Without even thinking Aramis fired both pistols simultaneously, one bullet hitting the man behind Favier in the throat, killing him instantly whilst the other hit one of the other attackers square in the back, possibly hitting a lung considering the blood that pooled out of the man's mouth as he fell to the ground.

The surprise attack on their group distracted Favier's remaining two attackers just long enough for the musketeer to get his legs back from under him. Not wanting to waste the chance Aramis had given him Favier followed up firing his own pistol at one of the men while swiping his blade across the others throat, ending them both within seconds.

"Favier!" Aramis screamed as he saw the man fall back down to his knees, his skin now dangerously pale as his pistol and blade fell from his shaking hands which then slowly came up to rest on the growing red stain on his side.

Issac, who had just finished defeating another enemy when Aramis's shout pierced the air spun on his heels to stare in horror at the sight of his oldest friend falling to the ground. His whole being was screaming at him to rush to his friend's side but he knew doing so would leave Aramis, who was in no real condition to defend himself, alone and unprotected.

Seeing this Aramis made the decision for him. "Go!" he ordered, hoping the fact that he technically out ranked the musketeer would force him to move. "I'm fine, go!"

A quick sweep of the field told Issac that the musketeers, despite their small number, were winning and that coupled with the order from the sharpshooter had Issac abandoning his post as Aramis's defense and rushing to his friend's side.

"Fav!" he screamed as he skidded to a stop by the downed musketeer's side, instantly Issac was on his knees rolling his friend onto his back and lifting up his shirt to get a better look at the wound.

At the sound of the nickname that only one person called him Favier's eyes fluttered open, "Is…" he breathed, wincing at the pain shooting through his body.

"Stay still," order Issac in a shaky voice as he pushed on the musketeer's shoulders to stop him from squirming. "I've got you."

Daviau frowned as he noticed another of his hired thugs falling to a musketeer's blade. Clearly his money had brought him quantity but not quality as the fight was quickly turning to the musketeer's favor. Daviau had no plans on dying before seeing Treville and all those involved in the Savoy massacre dead at his feet so his mind began conjuring escape options.

"Where are my men?" growled Treville as he used his blade, which was currently, locked with Daviau's, to push the man back a step.

"Gone," shrugged Daviau, quickly making use of the falter of focus from the Captain to swipe his blade across the man's face, creating a gash that ran from Treville's ear to his nose. "They're probably dead by now," smirked Daviau as he parried Treville's counter attack.

Raising his wrist to his cheek to wipe away some of the blood Treville glared at the man in front of him. "What do you mean probably?" he snarled, blocking an attack with his blade while following it up with a swift punch to Daviau's nose that elicited a smirk from the Captain as he felt the bones crack under the force of his blow.

Despite their brief fight and his own confidence in his skills Daviau could tell that if he didn't find a way to end this soon then it was very likely that he would lose. While he was letting his rage empower him as he fought, letting it emanate off of him in waves, Treville kept his restrained and masked, the Captain's own emotion only coming through during the force of his blows.

It sickened Daviau that he might lose to the Captain despite the several wounds he had managed to inflict on the man so he knew he had to find a way to either end the fight or escape and soon.

To Daviau's great joy his opportunity came mere minutes later when one of the last remaining hired thugs managed to sneak up on an unsuspecting Aramis, hitting him hard against his cheek with the pommel of his blade before following it up a slash to the throat that would have been instantly fatal had the musketeer not managed to scramble backwards just in time to avoid the worst of the hit.

As it was the attack drew a sharp cry of pain from the marksman making Treville falter as his worry for the injured musketeer overpowered him for just a moment.

Taking full advantage Daviau kicked the Captain's legs out from under him, causing Treville to land hard on his back, the breath completely knocked out of him.

Kneeling hard on the downed Captain's chest Daviau sneered at the wheezing man. "See you in hell Captain," he spat as he drove his dagger deep into Treville's chest before fleeing.