Evening My Lovelies

Oh I think I surprised quite a few of you with what I did to our lovely pup :D

I'm hoping what I've tried to do with today's chapter makes sense, the idea seemed really good in my head but I'm not too sure how well it translated to paper (or screen technically)

Notes On Reviews:

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - I know :D I'm quite evil. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Deana: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it. Enjoy the new chapter! x

guest (Guest): Thanks for the review - Glad you think so :) We may or may not be getting another today so be warned. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - We're getting a bit of a flashback sort of thing as to what happened when D'Art was poisoned. Moreau and Aramis definitely have their work cut out for them. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I try :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Ruth (Guest): Thanks for the review - Bwhaha its telling how evil I am that poisoning is the better option lol. Yeah I'll be explaining why he was poisoned instead of just killed in tomorrow chapter, today we're more seeing how he's handling it. I have a plan in mind to explain it all so worry not it'll all become clear (hopefully) Hmmm I get what you're saying about Durand and it makes sense, now I'm debating changing what I had in mind... We'll see :) Viv's punishment wont be as gentle as she's probably hoping for. Enjoy the new chapter! x

watlocked: Thanks for the review - Gotta keep you all on your toes somehow :D Yeah Athos really shouldn't be moving around... though in all fairness neither should Treville but he's moving. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - We'll be seeing why poison was used in tomorrows chapter. Now you all see why Moreau had to come back :) Poor Aramis doesnt really have much knowledge of poisons so they're going to be struggling a bit. Neither Aramis nor D'Art know that Viv was the shooter. I'm really looking forward to writing the Aramis/Viv conversation but we have to deal with this first. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it :) I couldn't leave Athos unconscious, D'Art needs him! I wanted to try something different, hence the poisoning, hopefully what I have planned will still satisfy your desire for D'Art whump :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Never! D'Art can never suffer enough! He's too much fun to whump so I can't help myself :D Treville gets why Porthos did what he did, even if he has to disapprove of it. Yep lots of lectures will be happening once they're all better... but also some snuggly moments too. Oh Moreau's going to be angry at the pup for leaving and will be lecturing him plenty once he's better. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Helensg: Thanks for the review - Yeah I never make things easy for him :D Haha very true, poor Athos is barely holding it together and it's only his stubbornness to see D'Art okay that's keeping him from passing out. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Gotta keep you all on your toes somehow and D'Art's such a lovely target :D I had to wake up Athos, D'Art needs him and him caring for the boy is too cute an image. Well at least I let Aramis have a short rest I suppose, though he does have some help this time so hopefully he wont be working himself to collapse again... Who am I kidding this is Aramis we're talking about lol. Porthos's protective instincts took over when he saw D'Art, he wasn't about to let anyone handle the boy but him. We'll be seeing the motive more tomorrow, today's chapter is more about how they're handling the poison. We are definitely due a snuggly moment soon, maybe in a chapter or two when things begin to calm down a bit. Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Poisoned I

Waking up in the river wasn't exactly what he had had in mind when he had left to clean up but now he was just glad his friends hadn't found him… Taking longer then anticipated was something that could be easily explained away but being seen waking up in the river was something he didn't think Aramis and the others would let him brush off.

While his mind had caught up with the fact he was now awake fairly quickly, his body was still somewhat sluggish to respond and he had to give himself a minute when his sore muscles protested any from of movement.

A few minutes later he knew he couldn't put of returning any longer, part of him was honestly surprised that someone hadn't been by yet to check on him whilst another part of him, which sounded suspiciously like Athos, was internally ranting at him for leaving himself in such a vulnerable position.

Sighing he forced his tired muscles to move against the sluggish current as he made his way to the riverbank. As he crawled out of the water his eyes locked onto the bloodstained rags that had been his shirt. The sight of the clothing had ignited a reminder of his panic attack in his mind and although he was able to get himself under control before fully succumbing he could feel the violent tremors assaulting his body.

"Stupid," he cursed under his breath as he closed his eyes, leaning his head against his arms as he waited for the shaking to pass. Once it had he noticed a water skin sitting innocently by his discarded boots.

D'Artagnan couldn't help but blink owlishly at the canteen, his tired mind trying to work out if he had brought one with him when he had left to clean up. For several long moments D'Artagnan kept up this staring contest with the object until the dryness of his throat had him conceding defeat.

Within mere moments of drinking from the water skin D'Artagnan knew something was wrong; his throat burned as if he hadn't had anything to drink in days while his vision began blur. It wasn't long until the pain in his throat had D'Artagnan coughing, desperate for some relief, but all that did was make things worse.

"Sorry about this kid," said a voice sounding completely unapologetic, barely penetrating the fog of pain surrounding the Gascon's mind.

Still on his knees as another coughing fit overtook him D'Artagnan could do little but glare at the man, panic growing in the back of his mind as his lungs protested the lack of air reaching them.

"If its any comfort, death, while not guaranteed, will be welcomed in the end should your musketeer friends not follow my instructions."

D'Artagnan's glare intensified at the mere notion of being used as bait or leverage against the regiment but before he could say something in response back yet another coughing fit took hold, this one more violent and painful then the last.

"Ooh that doesn't sound so good," teased the man as he knelt down in front of him but D'Artagnan was spared any further taunts as he faintly heard his name being called.

"See you soon kid," whispered the man into D'Artagnan's ear before he disappeared, the call of his name growing every few moments.

"…Easy D'Artagnan you're okay," soothed Athos as he gently squeezed the whimpering boy's shoulders.

The camp had been a flurry of activity after the announcement of D'Artagnan's poisoning and whilst both Aramis and Moreau were struggling to determined what he had been poisoned with the swordsman was unwavering in his desire to stay by the boy.

"…'Mis" he called when D'Artagnan once again let out a pitiful whimper. True to his expectations the medic was by the boy's side in a heartbeat.

"The poison's messing with his mind," sighed Aramis sadly as he realized that D'Artagnan was suffering from nightmares. "We can try to wake him but I think it'll be easier on him to endure them whilst asleep then awake."

"There's no way of stopping them?" Athos asked sadly, his hand once again finding itself in the Gascon's now sweaty hair.

Aramis let out another sigh, slowly shaking his head as he spared the Gascon one last look before returning to Moreau's side as they continued to debate what poison could have been used.

D'Artagnan barely had any time to comprehend what was going on when everything in his poison-induced nightmare shifted and he was back in the musketeer camp.

He felt his heart rate pick up as he watched Athos and Aramis chat leisurely as the medic tended to the swordsman's injuries. The Gascon tried to fight against the lock the dream seemed to have on his body, knowing full well what was about to come.

From his spot in the camp D'Artagnan saw a shadowy figure raise an equally shadowy pistol, aiming it directly at his friends.

"NO!" exclaimed the Gascon, his struggling increasing as he tried everything to warn his friends what was about to happen but even in his own dream he was powerless to stop it and was forced to watch the bullet hit his mentor and for the man to collapse onto Aramis.

Finally feeling like he could move D'Artagnan scrambled to Athos's prone form, tears stinging his eyes as he watched his friend struggling to breathe.

A part of him knew that this was his nightmare taking over, that the bullet hadn't punctured Athos's lung and that his mentor was alive and recovering well… But unfortunately for the Gascon that part of him was being silenced and overshadowed by the overwhelming fear and grief the image in front of him was creating.

"A-Athos," cried the Gascon, his trembling hands gripping the swordsman shirt as tightly as they could as he was forced to watch his mentor drown in his own blood.

Letting out a loud scream of grief-induced pain as light finally left Athos's eyes D'Artagnan collapsed against his now deceased mentor's form.

"D'Artagnan?" called Athos gently as he leant forward, ignoring the inferno of agony that caused him. He could have sworn he heard the boy responding to him.

Aramis and Moreau were in the middle of crafting several draughts that would hopefully help ease some of the poison's symptoms and whilst they had been doing that Athos, despite not being talkative at the best of times, found himself softly speaking what he hoped to be comforting words to the unconscious Gascon.

He had no idea if the boy could hear them or even if they were helping but Athos knew he had to do something to help his friend. With Aramis working with the doctor and Porthos off with Issac, who Favier had forced to leave, searching for any sign of the one responsible for the poisoning the swordsman was feeling pretty inadequate.

"A-Athos," came the mumbled words from D'Artagnan's lips, creating a sense of hope in the musketeer's heart that was squashed when a still unconscious D'Artagnan screamed, his whole body flailing violently.

"D'ARTAGNAN!" exclaimed Aramis and Athos as one as they, along with Blaise who had swapped off of guard duty with Alain and Moreau fought to hold down the young man's flailing limbs.

"What's going on!?" Athos exclaimed as he pushed down hard on the Gascon's shoulders

"The nightmares are getting worse," grunted Moreau as he struggled to hold down one of D'Artagnan's legs.

"You don't say," snapped Henri, grunting as D'Artagnan's other leg managed to slip from his grasp and land itself in his stomach.

"Can't you cure him?" inquired Blaise, his worried glaze never leaving D'Artagnan's pale, tear-stained face.

Moreau sighed, sitting back on his heels and shaking his head when the boy finally stopped fighting them. "Without knowing what poison was used we can't create a proper antidote," he explained, looking at the young man with sympathy burning in his eyes. "The problem lies with the condition your friend was in before being poisoned."

Athos's face scrunched up in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Here Aramis took over explanations, "D'Art was already quite sick before all this happened, it's throwing off of diagnosis, for example we can't say if the fever is from the poison or from the infection and if we can't put symptoms to poison then we can't identify what was used to poison him. If we give him the wrong thing as an antidote we could make him so much worse."

Athos's heart dropped at the thought of D'Artagnan being in worse condition then he was now, looking at Aramis the medic could see the fear in his friend's eyes as he asked, "Will he die?"

Aramis didn't have the heart to answer that, he knew none of them would give up without a fight but D'Artagnan's condition was deteriorating and without an antidote he feared they might very well lose their young friend.

From his spot on the floor D'Artagnan could have sworn he heard Athos's voice. The man sounded worried and almost panicked, something the Gascon had not come to associate with his mentor.

Knowing something must be wrong for his friend to sound like that D'Artagnan pushed the image of him dying out of his mind and tried to stand. Only for the whole scene to once again warp as soon as he had gotten to his feet.

Instantly recognizing where he was now D'Artagnan was barely able to choke back a sob, "No… no no no" he mumbled as violent tremors shook his frame. His legs finally giving out and tears mixing with rain on his skin as he watched the familiar men disguised as musketeers enter the roadside inn.

"P-Please," D'Artagnan begged barely able to get the words out passed the lump in his throat constricting his breathing; the pain in his chest growing as he felt like his heart was being ripped out of him. He could hear what was going on inside the inn and knew what was coming… A terrified sob escaping him when he saw his father exit the inn…

"P…Papa" whimpered an unconscious D'Artagnan and the pain in that one simple word broke Athos's heart. It was at times like this when he was reminded just how young their newest friend actually was and how much he had suffered in those short years.

This knowledge made a protectiveness Athos hadn't truly felt since Thomas grown in his chest, sure he was fiercely protective of Porthos and Aramis but they were grown men… trained soldiers who knew both when to engage and run from a fight… D'Artagnan… D'Artagnan was little more than a young man barely out of his adolescence who had been cruelly stripped of the only familial comfort he had left and forced to push his grief to one side and mature quickly.

The fact that the boy seemed to be having nightmares about his father also caused an almost feral rage to settle within the musketeer and he wanted nothing more than to be alone with the bastard who had decided to poison his friend.

"Aramis?" he said curiously, his eyes locking onto the small vial in the medic's hands with growing hope.

"I don't know how much of an effect it'll have," warned the medic as he gently lifted the unconscious Gascon's head slightly so he could drink the vial without choking. "It might not do anything at all but we have to try something."

For the next several hours the men worked tirelessly to help their sick friend, Porthos returned with news of his search, Blaise offered to ride out to meet the coming supply wagon to get them to speed up, Aramis and Moreau worked with burning determination in their eyes, creating a range of draughts to help combat the symptoms in hopes of giving the weakening Gascon the chance to fight the poison on his end.

Treville watched his men work with pride growing in his eyes; D'Artagnan wasn't even an official musketeer yet his men treated him as such, that alone spoke volumes. Knowing he was in no condition to be running around with his men Treville decided instead to focus on cooking something for them all to eat, he knew most would probably refuse it in preference to helping D'Artagnan but he had to do something.

Wincing Treville eased himself down to sit with his back to a tree, a small assortment of vegetables in front of him and a small pocketknife in his hand.

He was about a quarter of the way through peeling when he felt the sharp tip of a blade pressing against his throat.

"Hello Captain…"