Evening My Lovelies
So I needed 11 and you lovely people gave me 14! That means we're at over 600 reviews! Thank you!
Notes On Reviews:
romirola: Thanks for the review - Couldn't resist the cliffy I'm afraid, hope the wait wasn't too long for ya :) Enjoy the new chapter!
Deana: Thanks for the review - You're very welcome, I'm really glad you enjoyed it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Haha I know :D Knowing me D'Art'll have some more whumpage moments before this is done, he's too fun to whump so there's bound to be something else happening to him at some point. Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - You knew that ages ago lol :) Glad you liked the chapter, Porthos isn't going to be overly injured but he'll be getting a bit banged up, much to Treville's annoyance. I don't think anyone's going to let Aramis forget this for some time :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Haha yeah that's true, though in all fairness I think they're all in need of some non-whumpagey time off. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - What can I say, I love surprising you all with the whumpage :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
AllForOne (Guest): Thanks for the review - Welcome back :D Our poor boys are definitely having a trouble-filled trip :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Guest: Thanks for the review - Yeah I know what you mean... I think I've kinda put the plot on hold.. or at least on the back burner as I was trying to figure out Marcel's return. This story has ended up deviating quite dramatically from my original plan so I'm pretty much winging chapters right now. I pretty much allowed myself to give into the evil part of my mind that just wants to whump them all while I was trying to figure things out. On the plus side I have now got that sorted so hopefully we'll be able to return plot wise now :D Thanks for the comment regardless, I welcome constructive criticism and I think I needed to hear/read it to push me back into the actual story (whumpage writing is too addictive lol). Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Hmm thats a good point with regards to the migraine so thanks for that... technically I should know that as I suffer from them as well... oh well it wasnt a major point so lets just forget about that :) Athos is doing better but he's no means healed so don't worry. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - :D nope. If one gets whumped they all get whumped (or so my evil mind demands lol) Hmm that is a good question :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Haha yeah you'd think by now they'd know that :) I think Treville may begin including that lesson in the basic musketeer training lol. That was part of the reason I settled on the knee, not that Aramis still isn't going to try to avoid the wagon. Hmm with Porthos he's not badly hurt but he's gonna get a bit banged up. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Ruth (Guest): Thanks for the review - Whoop whoop! 600th reviewer :D Haha I know right, Treville's definitely considering a buddy system now :D Treville's a bit of an exhausted single parent with accident prone toddlers lately bless him. I'm absolutely loving your idea for D'Art/Athos snuggles and it's definitely happening soon :D I'm almost disappointed with myself for not having thought of it before you suggested it, it's such a cute idea! Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm really glad you liked the whumpage. Everything's getting to Aramis a bit at the moment, making him unintentionally reckless and snappish. Our boys are going to have to have a talk with him over the guilt he's feeling for dragging them into all this. We'll be seeing what's happening with our drowning medic today, worry not I wont keep you waiting. Athos is definitely gonna be feeling the guilt, even though it's not his fault. Treville's stress levels are at all new heights by the end of today... such troublesome children he has lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Thanks! :D I seriously can't believe that I managed to get so many reviews, I may have done a small happy dance at work when the 600th one came through my email lol. What can I say Aramis doesn't do things by halves :) Haha I think Treville would quite happily agree to that rule given recent instances. With Treville stressed and Aramis overwhelmed by guilt and everything it's caused the two to butt heads more then I originally intended, though it's fun to write :D I think our Captain might take pity on the medic now that he's injured and almost died. Our muskies are already very protective of our pup :D Hopefully this will be worth the wait :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading. Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Fifty-Two: Day Two III
For several minutes after Porthos had left to find Aramis, Athos had sat in silence, his eyes closed as he struggled not to show any sign of the pain he was feeling.
"Athos," nodded Treville as he sat down next to his soldier, his keen eyes observing him for anything out of the ordinary.
"Captain," greeted Athos, his voice ever so slightly strained as the last of the throbbing pain began to dissipate.
"How's D'Artagnan?"
Athos sighed, "Still sleeping, Moreau said it's to be expected given the strength of the draught we had him drink."
"And Porthos?"
"Taking some food to Aramis, hopefully he's calmed down enough for Porthos to bring back."
Watching his Captain out of the corner of his eye as they spoke, Athos knew there was something more to this conversation then was currently being said. Thankfully for what remained of his patience, Treville stopped beating around the bush fairly quickly.
"What do you make of Marcel?" Treville asked curiously, silently pleading for the man beside him to say something to ease his growing concerns.
Athos was silent as he debated his answer. He knew why Treville was asking as he had been informed of the encounter the men had had with Marcel several days previous. No doubt the Captain was curious as to whether he could be trusted, something Athos himself had been considering for some time.
Shrugging Athos let his gaze drift to where Porthos had disappeared off to earlier, a nagging sense of unease settling within him. "Marcel never looked comfortable with the torture Daviau had him performing, he pretty much admitted he was scared of the man after he had stopped Daviau from killing Porthos. On that action alone I would be tempted to consider his change of heart to be genuine."
"But?" prodded Treville, hearing the hesitance in Athos's voice.
"But… The grief and anger that had driven him to set the whole kidnapping plan in action was strong and real. I can't see him giving up his need for vengeance, or as he calls it, justice, not even when he was helping us escape the compound. I get the feeling he has something in the works and we should approach with caution whenever he next appears."
Treville sighed, not exactly the words of comfort he had been hoping for. "Did you learn anything about him that might be of use should his apparent change of heart not be completely genuine?"
For the next few minutes the pair sat and discussed possible plans Marcel could be running as well as the different responses they could take to each plan. They were just finishing up when a panicked voice cut through the air.
"MOREAU! I need some help here!"
Athos paled instantly as he recognized the voice as Porthos, without even having to ask, Treville, who had seen the fear in his eyes, was helping him stagger to his feet. Both of their eyes going wide as a drenched Porthos staggered into the camp with an unconscious and equally drenched Aramis in his arms.
"What happened?" demanded Moreau as he rushed to the musketeer's side.
"No idea," grunted the larger musketeer as he eased himself down onto the ground next to his unconscious friend. "Was out lookin' for 'im when I heard 'im scream…"
FLASHBACK
"ARAMIS!" he roared as he sprinted towards the sound.
Horror filled the musketeer as he approached the scene before him, Aramis was nowhere in sight and the only thing around was a fast paced river. In his gut he knew what that meant as without even thinking about it Porthos ran towards the bank, stripping off his jacket and weapons as he moved.
Once he was by the bank Porthos could spot the heartbreakingly familiar form of his brother under the water and refusing to waste another second, he jumped in after him.
The pull of the current was stronger then he had anticipated and he was surprised his injured friend had managed to hold on as long as he did.
Upon reaching his brother Porthos felt the horror and fear within him reach entire knew heights at the sight of Aramis unconscious in the water.
Just before he was forced to the surface for air Porthos noticed what was keeping his brother trapped in the water, growling internally as he pushed himself towards the surface.
Breaking the surface he was quick to grab onto a nearby boulder, allowing himself a brief moment to catch his breath while he carefully reached for the small dagger Henri had given him a couple of days earlier. Thankfully he hadn't chucked that one on the ground before jumping in and it remained sheathed on his belt.
With the dagger firmly in his hand Porthos took the deepest breath his lungs would allow before diving back under the water, doing his best to ignore the fact that Aramis was unconscious as he struggled to hack away the roots and reeds keeping his friend trapped in the water.
Unfortunately, in his haste to free his friend Porthos had failed to take into consideration what would happen when he was free of the reeds and so was unprepared for the current pushing both himself and Aramis hard into the side of the bank.
From the way they were angled Porthos hit the side first with Aramis bashing into him mere moments later. The force of the collision was strong enough that it very nearly knocked the air from his lungs.
Ignoring his now painful side Porthos gritted his teeth, laced his arm around Aramis's middle and pushed the pair of them skyward with as much strength as he had.
It was even more of a struggle to get the both of them completely out of the water and to be honest he wasn't quite sure how he actually managed to do it but eventually he was lying on his back, panting heavily as he tried to get air back into his starved lungs, Aramis lying unconscious beside him.
The second he felt he could move without collapsing back on himself Porthos was by Aramis's side. The medic was unnaturally pale and unconscious, both things almost causing the musketeer to freeze in fear.
"Don't you dare be dead," growled Porthos as his shaking fingers searched for a pulse on his friend's throat. It took several agonizing moments, during which time he felt his hope quickly being replaced with dread and fear, but just as he was about to give up he felt it… It was faint, weak and barely there but it WAS there.
Choking back a sob Porthos let out a sigh of relief… relief that quickly faded when he realized that while his brother might still be alive, he wasn't breathing.
"Come on 'Mis," he pleaded brokenly as he moved the unconscious man onto his side, hitting his back firmly in a desperate attempt to help rid the water from Aramis's lungs.
Thankfully Aramis's response to this came quickly, the man's eyes shooting open as a series of loud hacking coughs assaulted his body, each one expelling a bit more of the water that had almost killed him.
"Easy 'Mis," breathed Porthos and he rubbed his gasping friend's back, "get it all out, you're okay… You're okay."
Thankfully for the both of them the coughing fit was over in a few moments, though it did leave the exhausted medic bordering on unconsciousness.
"Hey," called Porthos as he tapped Aramis's cheeks, "None of that now, you've gotta stay with me 'Mis."
"…P'thos?" croaked Aramis, his voice was thick with exhaustion and pain and that one word alone seemed to drain the man of even more of his quickly diminishing reserves.
"Aye it's me 'Mis," nodded Porthos, his relieved smile becoming strained as he noticed the shakes now taking over Aramis's and his own, though he barely noticed them, bodies. "I'm gonna pick you up and get'cha back to camp. Think you can stay awake for me while we move?"
Aramis mumbled something that Porthos took to be an agreement to at least try and the larger musketeer moved quickly to gather up his abandoned weapons, quickly putting them back where they belonged and his discarded jacket, choosing instead to wrap this around Aramis in a desperate attempt to warm him up, before he moved to pick up his barely conscious friend.
Unfortunately while doing this Porthos had failed to notice that Aramis's knee had become dislocated during his time in the river, so when he tried to pick him up it had the medic screaming in pain and promptly passing out…
END FLASHBACK
"I got us back here as quick as I could after that," said Porthos as he finished explaining what had happened, his eyes never leaving Aramis's form the entire time he was talking.
Athos, having been helped to Porthos's side during the explanation, wordlessly took his friend's hand into his own, offering the larger man a reassuring squeeze as both of them waited for news from the doctor.
"And you?" Moreau asked as he worked to check over the unconscious musketeer. "How bad are your injuries? And don't think of lying to me!"
As if Moreau's question reminded his body that it was in pain, Porthos grimaced, the hand not currently being held by Athos coming up to rest on his side.
"Might'a cracked a rib or two," he admitted gingerly, hissing in pain as Athos moved to check, a quiet confirmation of this coming from the swordsman moments later. "Other then that I think I just gained some more bruises for my collection," he added sarcastically, earning a sympathetic look from the worried Captain and an un-amused eyebrow raise from Athos.
"Good," nodded Moreau, his eyes still focused on the patient in front of him. "Things could have been a lot worse for the pair of you, you should consider yourselves lucky."
Porthos scoffed, "no offence doc but I think I'll hold off on that until you tell me 'Mis aint dying."
"He's not dying," stated the doctor, his eyes leaving Aramis's unconscious form for the first time to look at the exhausted musketeer that was now resting heavily against the swordsman.
"That you were able to get the water out of his lungs and wake him up, no matter how briefly he was awake for, is a very good sign. We need to keep him warm, get him out his wet clothes and we'll need to keep watch over him for the rest of tonight but he should make a full recovery, though I can tell you more when I see how he's fairing in the morning… But first… First I need to reset that knee. Luckily the cold water helped stop any swelling so it should be an easy reset but be prepared."
That last part was more for Henri and Corbett who had come to help him with this part. At his words the two men moved to hold down the unconscious man, preparing themselves for the fight he would most likely give once Moreau began to reset his joint.
Looking up from his spot by Aramis's knee Moreau sent the two men a nod and then quickly popped the dislocated joint back into place. The silence of the camp was instantly disturbed by the scream of pain that tore its way from his throat and made his brothers flinch.
Thankfully the whole ordeal was over surprisingly quickly and Moreau was able to split the knee, giving the newly reset joint some additional support before wrapping it and announcing that there wasn't anything more he could really do for the man until either the following morning or until he awoke and made him aware of any other painful parts of himself.
Treville nodded from behind Porthos and began shouting orders to the rest of the men to set up camp. The group had only set up a bare basic camp, intending on moving on after an hour or so but given their current situation they were in no condition to be moving on just yet.
"And no one goes anywhere alone!" snapped the stressed Captain; he was honestly beginning to believe they were cursed given everything that had happened to them. "I don't want any more men injured. You leave camp then you take someone with you and you inform someone else of where you're going that's an order!"
If the men were surprised or frustrated with the new restrictions placed upon them they certainly made no verbal admission of it, choosing instead to focus on what needed doing to sort out the camp.
Spare clothes were given to both Porthos and Aramis with Athos moving to help Moreau with Aramis as much as he could, given his still weak condition. The two drenched musketeers were then given several blankets each and a small fire was set up near them in the hopes of helping them to warm up.
Once the men were dried and redressed Moreau left them to rest, his expression silently ordering Athos to stay put and rest as well, something the swordsman was happy to comply with.
After quickly asking for D'Artagnan to be brought over to them the two musketeers settled around their unconscious third, neither wanting to be far after almost losing him.