Evening (or very early morning) My Lovelies
Hmm I'm really not liking this... I think this chapter just goes to prove that I really shouldn't be writing when I'm so tired :(
It's kinda fillerish but we'll be moving on tomorrow so hopefully that'll be better.
Notes On Reviews:
romirola: Thanks for the review - Hehe Glad you liked it :) It's not often I have Athos all delirious with fever so it was a lot of fun to work into the story. Athos's guilt about the whole situation is kinda being put on hold today but we'll be exploring it a lot more in tomorrow's one. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay glad you liked the cuteness... After everything that's happened I couldn't resist adding in some cuteness and I felt like Aramis really needed to make amends so what better time to do it :) Aramis and Porthos are certainly eager to learn the truth about Thomas but I'm holding that conversation back until tomorrow... It'll be worth it I promise I have a whole scene planned with some cutey musky moments thrown in :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - We're going to be seeing more of the whole Thomas situation tomorrow, which, if I can do the idea I have in my head justice, should be emotional. Hmmm how about, instead of aliens... Zombie Alien Pirates! I have no idea how they'd fit in but sure sounds badass! :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - Hmm I seem to be alternating between being able to write and getting writers block... which by the way this chapter went means that tomorrow should be good :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Deana: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Well pretty much everything about Athos is lovely but it would probably be inappropriate for Aramis to mention that lol :D We're going to be addressing the whole Thomas situation more tomorrow which should be fun :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - After everything I've put the boys through I felt they needed to hug it out so I'm glad you liked it :D Hmmm if there's going to be anything to fear it wont be appearing until at least after tomorrow so they're safe for now :) ... Though I do love the fact that cute/sweet moments in my stories are now considered the lead up to whumpy events lol! Enjoy the new chapter!
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Hmmm Lecture wise I do have a short one in mind for tomorrow (though I wont say for who) I may even work in a return lecture if I can :D Aramis is returning more to himself now (thank god) He just really needed to hug it out with our pup :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Aramis seems like a hugger and I couldn't resist adding it in, glad you liked it though :D D'Art really didn't think Aramis had anything to apologize for but accepted it anyways having known what our lovely medic is like :) Moreau's threat is returning today as well as the addition of a new one from someone else :) We'll be seeing the whole Thomas thing in a lot more depth tomorrow, which I'm really excited to work on. But for now D'Art has no plans to tell Athos what he said, mostly because he figures it was the fever talking and he didnt really mean it. Don't worry though we will definitely be seeing that talk, I have it aaaaallll planned out in my head... And if I can do the idea justice, it should be full of feels :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Forty-Eight: Uncomfortable Questions and Friendly Threats
D'Artagnan knew that when Athos fell asleep once more it would only be a matter of time before the questioning started and he found himself praying that his mentor would remain awake for some time, even as confused as the fever was making him.
Unfortunately for the Gascon, Athos was only able to remain awake for a few more minutes before his exhausted eyes closed once more.
For several minutes silenced fell over the group, neither Aramis nor Porthos ready to break it with their questions, while D'Artagnan was content to take the reprieve the silence offered.
"D'Art…" Aramis said softly, having apparently decided that the silence had gone on long enough.
D'Artagnan, wanting to avoid the questions he knew were coming, focused on dabbing his mentor's skin with a cool cloth
"Whelp," sighed Porthos having noticed the Gascon's attempts to ignore Aramis
With a sigh of his own D'Artagnan carefully placed the damp cloth on Athos's burning forehead before looking up at his friends.
"Who's Thomas?" Porthos asked getting straight to the point. There was a small sliver of hurt in both his and Aramis's eyes at them not knowing this clearly painful part of Athos's past, that the friend they had known for at least five years had trusted the information to a young man he had known a matter of months instead of them.
D'Artagnan shook his head, sending both men an apologetic look, "Can't… say," he croaked
"Why?" asked Aramis, though it came out as more of a plea then anything else. Both musketeers could tell that whoever this Thomas was, was a source of great pain for their brother and after everything Athos had done for him Aramis wanted nothing more then to help ease his brother of this painful burden.
D'Artagnan shifted, clearly uncomfortable, though the look he sent the sleeping Athos warmed the hearts of both musketeers. "Made… a promise."
"To keep it a secret?" Porthos asked, though he was sure of the answer already and felt a series of conflicting emotions settle within him. On the one hand he was hurt that Athos didn't want or didn't trust them to know while the other was proud of the Gascon for sticking to his word so loyally.
When D'Artagnan nodded in response to Porthos's question the musketeer found the pride winning out against the hurt. He knew how dearly D'Artagnan craved acceptance from them… acceptance, unknowing to him, he already had… So for him to choose to risk that by keeping Athos secret showed the young man's honor and integrity as well as confirming the firmly held belief Porthos had in him that the young man belonged within their family.
"How long have you known?" Aramis asked, his own eyes lacking the hurt they had held previously as he too had come to the same conclusion Porthos had and was now simply after as much information as D'Artagnan was willing to give.
D'Artagnan opened his mouth to reply when the burning in his throat reached new heights, leaving him coughing madly and fighting for breath.
As soon as the first cough exploded from their friend Aramis and Porthos were by his side, offering him water and patting his back.
"Easy whelp. Don't panic, it'll pass," soothed Porthos as he patted the Gascon's back
Much to D'Artagnan's great relief the coughing fit, whilst painful, was quick to pass and he sent his friends a grateful smile that came out as a bit more of a grimace then anything else.
"Maybe lay off the talking for a little while 'ey whelp?" teased Porthos with a small grin that was overshadowed by the worried look in his eyes.
Nodding with a weak smile D'Artagnan returned to taking care of Athos while Porthos settled down for some sleep like he had been planning on doing before Athos woke.
"It was when we visited Athos's home town wasn't it?" asked Aramis quietly a few minutes later. "During the whole Bonaire business?"
He had noticed the lightness that had followed Athos when he and D'Artagnan had returned to the garrison the day after he and Porthos arrived. There was evidence of burning and the smell of smoke lingering on both their clothes that had the medic brimming with questions but the soft smile the swordsman had offered the clearly tired Gascon silenced any questions before they could leave his mouth.
Whatever had gone on during the time the group had been apart had clearly been enough to strengthen the newly formed bond between the two men and Aramis had a gut feeling that if he questioned it, it would only hinder the progress the two had made, so against his own burning curiosity the medic remained silent.
Aramis's question had D'Artagnan blinking in surprise before offering a slow, hesitant nod, though Aramis could tell the walls were coming up and the boy would offer no more answers on the topic.
Accepting the boy's right and desire to keep Athos's secret Aramis let the matter drop and the group returned to the system they had been using before the swordsman had woken earlier.
"Okay I've had enough," snapped Henri as he and Corbett made their way over to the tired quartet.
"What?" mumbled Aramis sleepily. It had been many long hours into their tending of Athos and the hour long naps were no longer doing much to aid in keeping them rested enough to work. All three men felt ready to drop, had stopped even trying to hide the pain their own injuries were causing them and if Henri and Corbett's presence meant anything they probably looked as worse as they felt.
"The three of you can't keep going like this much longer," explained Corbett, his voice absent of mirth letting the men know he was serious. "You're doing more harm then good like this."
"We're alright," dismissed Porthos with a tired wave of his hand, "We'll rest when Athos's starts improving."
"But that could be days!" snapped Henri, the man practically radiating waves of frustration. "Look me and Corbett will stay and watch him. We'll wake you as soon as there's any change but if you don't get some rest, so help me God I will knock the three of you out!"
"Don't tempt him Aramis," smirked Corbett when he saw the exhausted medic's mouth open to retort back. "It's all he's been talking about for the last couple of hours."
"Henri," sighed Aramis, ignoring Corbett's warning.
"Don't Henri me!" barked the musketeer, surprising the conscious members of the quartet with the anger in his voice. "You're injured too in case you've forgotten. Keep working yourselves like this and we'll be down a medic and a fighter for our trip home. You'd be putting not only your own but every single person in this camp's lives at risk so will you just do as you're told and get over there and sleep!"
"Don't make me order the three of you," added Treville from his spot by Favier and Issac. Henri's rant had attracted the attention of the entire camp and now the quartet had multiple sets of eyes on them.
Aramis sighed, knowing better then to push the pair of them in their current moods, choosing instead to glare hard at both Henri and Corbett. "Anything changes, you come wake me," he growled, almost daring the men to go against his word.
"Understood," smiled Corbett, "Now go sleep before Henri does actually hit you."
With no small amount of grumbling Aramis and Porthos, who had picked up a still sleeping D'Artagnan, moved over to the sleeping area, their eyes closing the second their heads hit the makeshift pillows.
"Impressive," smiled Moreau as he knelt down beside Henri and Corbett, "I was beginning to think I was going to have to put something in their water to get them to rest properly."
"My way would be much more satisfying," grunted Henri as he lifted Athos's head to help the sleeping man drink some medicine laced water.
"Yes but then the good doctor would have four patients instead of one and Treville would be even more stressed with the added delay to our departure," comment Corbett with a teasing grin, his words causing Henri to push the man's shoulders lightly in jest.
"So," coughed Henri as he turned to look at Moreau, "How's he really doing?"
Moreau frowned, though it wasn't deep enough to cause a sense of dread to settle. "His fever's still dangerously high but his infection in already showing signs of clearing… Looks like the young man sought help just at the right moment."
Corbett frowned, "But if his infection's clearing shouldn't his fever be coming down too?"
"Not necessarily," explained Moreau, "Athos's body underwent a great trauma; first the torture, then getting shot and finally having to have the wound cauterized. A fever can sometimes be the body's natural reaction to something like that so even if the infection clears the fever might still plague him."
"Do you think he can handle being moved?" Henri asked, discretely checking over his shoulder for any signs of Treville. "The Captain's really feeling the stress of being here and is wanting to leave as soon as you say Athos can be moved."
"Please say he can," mock-pleaded Corbett with a teasing, grin, "I think I might lose my mind if I have to listen to his entire departure plan one more time."
Moreau chuckled, "We would have to travel slowly but providing his condition gets no worse between now and the morning I see no reason why he can't."