Evening My Lovelies
So I have a request :) I've just realized that if I can get 11 reviews for this chapter then I'd have reached 600 reviews by this time tomorrow, which would be awesome! So this is me begging for reviews and bribing you all. *hands cookies and other yummy goodies* :D
Right now for this chapter I received 2 different requests for Aramis whump from Deana and Issai You two are lovely awesome people who always take the time to review my stories so as a thankyou here is some Aramis whump for you, hope you enjoy it! :D
I'm not too sure about the beginning of the chapter but I promise it gets better just stay with it!
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - Yep poor D'Art's not having a good time. You most certainly can have some more Aramis whump my friend :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Athos likes his cuddle time with the pup, no matter how much he may try to deny it lol :) Things are beginning to go downhill now (my evil mind's back) :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Ah when am I ever completely done with D'Art :) The trip home isn't off to a great start and it's only going to get worse from here mwhahaha :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I think D'Art may be cursing his own stubbornness right now ... or he would be if he wasn't in a drug-induced sleep. I couldn't have the pup injured near Athos and then not have Athos's protective nature come out somehow :D ... Plus I love me some snuggly muskys :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
romirola: Thanks for the review - I'm definitely not making things easy for our pup am i? :D I think he's going to be regretting his stubborn decision, which will probably help him when our boys eventually get around to lecturing him. As for the ranting :) We'll probably end up having one at some point, thanks for the heads up and don't worry about detracting from my excitement, I'm easily pleased where our boys are concerned lol :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - Yes, yes they are :) Though on the plus side I think even D'Art will be admitting that this was a reckless and stupid move so that's progress :) hmmm Shaking probably wouldnt help now... wait until he's a bit better or at least make sure his arm is properly secured before you do it so you don't jostle him too much :) Yay I'm glad you liked the Favier moment, I figured it was probably the only way he'd be able to restrain Aramis as despite his injuries Aramis was the one in the better condition (not so much after today :D ) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Guest: Thanks for the review - Don't matter if you're mean, you'll fit in just fine here :D Glad you liked it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - As you've reviewed pretty much everything I've ever published on here you most definitely can request and get some Aramis whump :D I spent all day trying to decide what I wanted to happen to him, hopefully you like it :) Personally I think Athos is enjoying the snuggle time with D'Art... not that he'd admit it of course but I know the truth lol Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Poor D'Art's going to be regretting his own stubbornness so at least we've gotten him to grow a bit I suppose. Couldn't have D'Art injured and not have Athos's protective nature come out so glad you liked the end. Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - In my defense you knew I was really mean about 45 chapters or so ago lol :D I figured that Favier would only be able to restrain Aramis by doing that. Fav's still a bit weak from losing so much blood which meant that Aramis would have been the stronger of the two but fortunately for Fav he knew Aramis wouldnt risk injuring him if he did what he did so in the end it all worked out :) I kinda saw the whole getting into the wagon thing as being like when you're trying to convince/get tantrumy toddlers into a car for a journey lol :D Can't resist me some snuggly muskys :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yes I thought you might enjoy the whump, you're evil like me that way :D I'm pretty sure that isn't going to be the end of the D'Art whump so don't worry. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - They tore at mine too when I was writing it! I felt a little bad personally. Poor D'Art just wanted to be getting better and then I come in and pretty much just kick his feet out from under him... Ahh who am I kidding I'm an evil writer I'm pretty much incapable of feeling bad about whumpage :D I was soooo tempted to have an "i told you so" moment but you're right it would have been too cruel... maybe when he's a bit better and Porthos isn't feeling the guilt as much. Treville's gotten pretty fed up with everything these last few chapters, it's kinda fun to write :) Him and the other musketeers aren't standing for any of our boy's reckless stubborn behavior anymore this trip. We're getting another set back today and don't worry I haven't forgotten about Marcel, I'm just trying to decide the best way to bring him back. Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading. You guys are awesome!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Fifty-One: Day Two II
"Corbett," called Treville, waiting for the musketeer to ride up next to him before instructing him to take a few men to scout the area a head, they had been riding solidly for several hours and Treville knew that if his aching body was feeling it then the injured men in the wagons most definitely were.
"Something going on?" asked Porthos quietly once Corbett had left with Henri and one of the other musketeer's who had originally accompanied him.
Porthos himself had been riding close to Athos's wagon, his worried eyes frequently flickering over to the sleeping Gascon. The musketeer was feeling a deep amount of guilt for letting D'Artagnan attempt to walk and was trying to make up for causing the injury by watching over the boy as he slept through the pain.
"We're stopping soon," informed Treville, knowing that Porthos's protective instincts were on high alert since D'Artagnan's fall and that Corbett riding off with the others would have worried the man. "How are they doing?"
Porthos sighed, looking over his shoulder to his brothers, "'Mis and the whelp are sleeping. Athos is as well, though judging by the twitching he's doing he'll be waking soon."
For the next hour or so Treville and Porthos lightly conversed, the larger musketeer making a point to ignore Durand who was in Treville's custody for the length of their trip. A little while into that time Athos had indeed woken up and offered his own thoughts on the conversation whenever his focus wasn't on the Gascon currently nestled against his side.
Thankfully it hadn't taken long for Corbett's group to find somewhere for them to stop, the musketeer returned alone to inform them, worrying the group momentarily until he explained that the others were preparing for their arrival.
Part of Treville was hoping that Aramis would remain asleep until they had gotten the camp set up fully at least, given how he knew the medic's temper would be at having been denied access to his hurt friend hours earlier. Unfortunately for the Captain that was not meant to be and Aramis woke almost as soon as the wagons pulled to a stop.
"Aramis," nodded Treville when he noticed the man awake.
"Where's D'Artagnan?" demanded Aramis, ignoring the Captain's greeting while trying to hold back his anger towards him.
"Whelp's still sleeping at the moment 'Mis," stated Porthos as he stepped up to help his friend out of the wagon. He too knew how Aramis was likely to react and he was honestly too tired to be dealing with it right now. "Let the boy rest a bit more before you start prodding him," he added with a light tease that seemed to work as Aramis stopped mid-stride towards the wagon that held their injured friend.
"He's okay though right?" asked Aramis, his eyes pleading Porthos to tell him good news. The larger man had explained all this to him before but Porthos knew his brother wouldn't believe it until he had checked the boy out for himself so he nodded.
"He's in a lot of pain and gonna be sore for a while but the doc says 'e shouldn't 'ave any permanent damage."
"You shouldn't have stopped me from checking on him," stated Aramis barely biting back a growl as he forced himself not to glare at his Captain.
Treville sighed, having expected this, "Doctor Moreau was more then capable of handling it and you could have done yourself further harm by rushing out the way you tried, I would be surprised if you didn't rip your stitches in your rush."
"Stitches can be redone," bit Aramis, no longer able to contain his glare as the guilt of not being with his friend when they were injured hit the medic in full force.
"And shifted bones can be realigned," retorted Treville, his arms crossing over his chest as he took a few steps closer to the Captain.
"He's right 'Mis," said Porthos quietly, a little surprised at how quickly the argument was developing between the two. "The whelp's fine now and you know how much it would've eaten the kid up inside if you popped your stitches trying to get to him."
Now Aramis turned his glare onto him, though it had significantly less heat as his brother's words began to sink in. "But…"
"Enough Aramis!" snapped Treville, the headache he had been nursing the last half an hour now turning into a full on migraine, which was making it very hard for the tired, sore Captain to remain civil with his soldier. "Corbett and the others have cleared the surrounding area, go cool off before you say or do something you'll regret."
Hearing the no-argument tone of Treville's voice Aramis spared a still sleeping D'Artagnan a look before letting out a huff and storming out of the camp.
"Drama queen," chuckled Porthos under his breath at his brother's actions.
"If he's gone more than half an hour go find him," ordered Treville before he went off in search for Moreau for help with his migraine.
"Yes sir," muttered the musketeer at the retreating from of his Captain before turning to face the wagon that held his other two friends.
Inside Athos was watching with a sympathetic expression, knowing exactly how much it had hurt their sharpshooting friend to not be able to reach D'Artagnan when he was hurt.
"You ready to get out of that thing?" grinned Porthos, waiting until Athos nodded before helping his friend out of the wagon. The pair had silently decided to leave D'Artagnan inside, neither wanting to risk hurting the boy further by accidently jostling his injured arm while attempting to move him.
"How ya doing 'Thos?" Porthos asked quietly while the two ate their lunch. The larger musketeer knew his brother would never admit to just how bad he was feeling in the presence of others but he was hoping he would give him so hint as to how worried he needed to be for the swordsman.
"Better then yesterday," shrugged Athos, though the way his hand would frequently twitch as if he was having to focus on stopping it from resting against his wound told Porthos that his friend was indeed in some pain.
"Need the doc or 'Mis?"
Athos shook his head, not willing to admit how much the tight, burned skin was paining him right now. Had they been alone he might have done as Porthos was his brother, but everyone else… To them he was their lieutenant, they had already seen him in weakened state it wouldn't do any good to see him in pain now too.
"…Maybe you should bring Aramis some food," he said a few minutes later after a particularly painful throb from his broken ankle hit him as he shifted positions slightly.
Without commenting on the pain that he noticed flash through Athos's eyes Porthos nodded, rising to his feet to grab a bowl of hearty broth for his brother. He knew Athos's words were a silent request to bring Aramis back and he wasn't about to let his friend suffer pain for any longer then he needed to.
Meanwhile Aramis had found himself at the edge of a fast paced river, glaring at the water as if it had personally offended him while muttering a string of curses in Spanish.
A small part of his mind was telling him that he shouldn't be so close to the edge of the river but that part was largely overshadowed by the guilt and anger eating at him.
After a few minutes the musketeer had ceased his cursing and was now attempting to skip stones from one side of the river to the other before it could get swept away in the current and to the man's growing frustration he had only managed to do it twice since he had started.
With a small huff of annoyance as his latest stone sank into the water Aramis began searching around him for another to throw. Spotting one not far from his the medic rose to his knees, stretching out to reach for the smooth rock.
Only for his wound to choose that exact moment to send a stab of pain through him as the stretch pulled at his stitches.
Unfortunately for the musketeer the pain was so sudden and so sharp it caused him to lose his balance as his body instinctively tried to curl into itself. Before Aramis had registered what was happening his knee had slipped off of the riverbank, sending the slightly breathless musketeer headfirst into the freezing waters, a blinding pain exploding in his skull as his head banged hard against the submerged bank.
Despite his dazed mind Aramis retained enough cognitive function to know he had to get his head above water. Pushing hard against the mud at the bottom of the river Aramis forced himself against the current until he broke through the water with a deep gasp.
The medic's relief was short lived however as the beating he had taken to his head had left him feeling weak and unable to fight the current for too long until it dragged him under once again.
Struggling against the current and the concussion he was sure he now had Aramis fought once again to get his head to the surface, his lungs now burning for air while his chest burned in pain, the struggle doing little good to his pulled stitches.
However during his latest struggle Aramis failed to notice his leg getting tangled in the reeds and roots littering the bottom of the bank.
Pushing his head above the water once again Aramis was quick to weakly grasp a large rock imbedded into the bank, he knew he wouldn't be able to hold on for long and panic was beginning to set in as he could feel his energy rapidly draining as blood and river water obscured his vision.
"Hey 'Mis you out here?" called a faint voice. Aramis's head perked up at the sound of his brother's voice, he could tell by the volume of it that the man was some distance off but he was getting closer and the marksman felt hope building within him.
Unfortunately for the musketeer the exact moment he opened his mouth to call out to his friend was the moment his ever weakening grip finally lost its battle to stay connected to the rock, the current once again pulling him under.
Only this time he didn't get dragged along. During the time he was above water his leg had become even more tangled among the reeds. This meant that while the current was trying to pull him further downstream, the reeds were pulling back just as hard.
Aramis could feel the strain on his leg and a sickening feeling settled within him as the part of his mind that wasn't panicking over the lack of oxygen realized that it was only a matter of time before his knee popped out of it's joint.
That thought spurred him to use his last remaining strength to force himself above the surface once more. He knew that when it dislocated he would be unable to stop the scream that would escape him and that if it happened while he was underwater that he would lose the last precious bit of air he had and would most likely drown before Porthos could reach him.
With timing he would one day brag about Aramis manage to reach the surface mere moments before he felt his knee being ripped from its joint.
Porthos had been in the middle of once again calling out for his friend, worry filling him each time the medic failed to respond, when an agonizing scream pierced the air.
Dropping the bowl of broth without a second thought Porthos began sprinting towards the sound of the scream. "ARAMIS!"