Evening My Lovelies

First off I'm apologizing now for the length of this chapter. It's a fair bit shorter then usual but it was giving me such trouble and it's already gone 1am (and i have work in the morning) so I decided to get to a good stopping point and leave it at that. Hopefully the content is enough to make up for the length but either way I apologize *gives apology cookies*

Also wow so many of you reviewed yesterday's chapter :D That's definitely made my day, you guys are awesome! x

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - I'm glad you liked their conversation, I figured Treville would want to speak to her at some point. It ended up being a lot longer then I had anticipated but I liked how it turned out :) We're seeing a bit more of Aramis today, can't promise it'll be good though. Enjoy the new chapter! x

romirola: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you've been enjoying them. I just love writing the whole D'Art/Athos brotherhood relationship (it's too cute!) We're gonna see more of the Porthos/Aramis one today so hopefully you'll like that just as much :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Hmmm I don't think it quite sunk in when he was talking to her but she's going to have a little while to think it all over so who knows :) Hehe I loved that D'Art scene too. Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Originally Viv was supposed to be a good character, I'm not quite sure when that idea changed but its quite shocking when i think of how her personality was suppose to be and compare it to how it is now. Our cloaked man is having fun at playing all mysterious lol :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

watlocked: Thanks for the review - I'm glad my chapter helped, hope everythings okay now :) I think most of you lovely readers had forgotten about our shifty stalker which was one of the reasons I brought him back :D (I'll let you all off as he's not a major player in this story) Expect some more aww's today (and not the good kind) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Ruth (Guest): Thanks for the review - The plan is definitely not good I can promise you that... though I was tempted to make it sound all ominous and then have it be something completely harmless lol :) I hadn't thought that about Pascal but now that's all I'm going to be able to see whenever he pops back up lol. Viv's quite stubborn but maybe she'll see the error of her ways once she's had some time to process the Captain's words. She's definitely pushing Treville's last nerve. Couldn't resist the snuggly moment and D'Art's feeling the love now which is good :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it, couldnt resist the cute snuggly moment :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Helensg: Thanks for the review - You'll have to wait until our boys (eventually) get back to Paris to see what new nefarious plan I have in store for them. Glad you liked the snuggles :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm really happy you're loving my writing, hopefully today's chapter wont put a downer on that as I'm not overly sure if I liked how it turned out. Protective Athos, especially around D'Art is just plain adorable and I love writing him. We'll have to wait until Paris to see what new nefarious plan I have in store for them. Enjoy the new chapter! x

f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Treville's definitely given her something to think about but as to whether she'll actually make progress... we'll have to wait and see. I think Athos secretly loves all these hugs really lol :) Porthos protective side is coming out again today. As for our cloaked friend... you'll have to wait until Paris. Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - You're very welcome :D As for your request for more Athos do you mean more of him in the story or more of him getting whumped? Or hey could be both :) Either way he'll be more present in the story in later chapters, he's kinda been pushed to the side at the moment with all the additional whumpage I've done to the others. Treville's going to be in full protective papa-bear mode once they're back... or from now on but yeah I think he's seriously beginning to doubt if they'll ever get home lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Vivienne's pretty confident that she'll survive, though that confidence has waned slightly after her talk with the Captain. As for your idea about Aramis and panicky Porthos... I LOVE it! hopefully this works something like what you had in mind. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - Porthos is in full mother hen mode currently. Enjoy the new chapter! x

AllForOne (Guest): Thanks for the review - Feeling a bit sorry for our boys at the moment as they're all thinking they can rest and relax when they get back to Paris... Oh if only they had an idea of what's coming :) Aramis will most likely try to talk to her again and we'll get to see if she's actually taken Treville's words to heart. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked the brief glimpse of what's going on in Paris. I'm a little worried about what might end up happening to Jacques the stable boy if he spots Pascal again. I dont think the kid would sit back and do nothing... might not end well for him, we'll just have to wait and see how evil my mind decides to be when I get around to writing that chapter. The chat with Viv was way longer then I had originally planned but I really liked how it turned out. I think it would be hard, even with how angry she is at him, for her to be unaffected by Aramis's near death incident. Aramis, once better of course, will probably want to talk to her again so we'll see if she's actually taken in anything that's been said to her up to that point. I loved writing our boys in that chapter. Athos's protective nature came to the forefront again, which is always good fun to write, and I think he's secretly enjoying all the hugging lately lol. Embarrassed D'Art is also so cute to write :D I think I'm trying to get as much of it out of my system now as he wont be getting as embarrassed in my next story. Porthos and Aramis are the focus of today's chapter and they're actually going to get to talk to each other today :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading. Love you all, you're awesome!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Fifty-Four: Concussed

"How's our patient looking?" Moreau enquired tiredly as he moved to kneel beside the still unconscious Aramis.

"No change," sighed Porthos, worry clear in his voice, "He's stirred a little but always settles down straight away."

Moreau nodded, his expression carefully neutral as he examined the unconscious musketeer. "Understandable, he was most likely in the water a while before you got to him, from what you explained about the river's condition the current would have tired his body out massively. That alone would make it difficult for him to wake."

Porthos nodded though the worry was plain as day on his face and had Moreau wishing he had good news to give.

"Why don't you grab your friend some food," suggested the doctor as he began searching through his bag, "I'll wake him up while your gone and then we can see about getting some food in him."

Despite looking uncomfortable at the idea of leaving his friend Porthos eventually relented, offering Moreau a small nod before rising to his feet and heading over to where Issac was dishing out bowls of food.

Fishing out the small tin he had been searching for Moreau shuffled closer to Aramis, "Come on Aramis," he whispered under his breath as he wafted the smelling salts under Aramis's nose, watching as they brought the exhausted musketeer back into the waking world, just in time for Porthos's return.

"Well look who's awake," beamed Porthos as he settled himself down beside his confused looking friend, placing a small bowl of broth on the ground. "It's really good to see you awake 'Mis."

Aramis squinted, both from the headache he was sporting and in confusion. "…P'thos?" he slurred as he valiantly tried to get his eyes to focus on his friend.

"Aye," nodded Porthos, his hand quickly moving to take his friend's in his own.

A faint smile tugged at Aramis's lips as he did his best to fight against the pain in his body to squeeze Porthos's hand. "Y-You found me…"

Porthos scoffed lightheartedly, "Did you ever doubt I would?"

"…No," acknowledged Aramis tiredly, the look of confusion still remained on his face, like he was trying to work out what was going on.

"Gave us a right scare you did," grinned the larger musketeer, relief and joy practically radiating off of him.

"Monsieur Aramis," beckoned Moreau, drawing the barely conscious musketeer's attention away from the question he was trying to form.

When he was sure he had the musketeer's attention Moreau began his examination. "I need you to follow my finger okay," he instructed, slowly moving his finger from left to right, watching as Aramis followed it. It was clear it hurt him to do so but the fact that he could was comforting to both the doctor and Porthos.

"That's really good Aramis," soothed Moreau, "I'm going to ask you some basic questions now okay?" Again he waited for some form of confirmation from the musketeer before getting started.

"Do you know what you do for a living?"

"…Musketeer," slurred Aramis, it becoming harder and harder for the man to stay away.

"Very good. Can you give me your Captain's name?"

"…Treville."

This went on for several minutes and everything seemed to be going well until Moreau came to his last question,

"What's the last thing you remember?" Moreau asked, barely hiding his hesitance and wariness as he spoke.

For several moments Aramis didn't speak, Moreau had to silently shush Porthos when the worried man was about to interrupt the medic's concentration.

"Aramis?" prodded Moreau in concern when he saw tears beginning to gather in the medic's eyes.

"…T-There was… an attack."

At this both Moreau and Porthos were unable to hide their shock and worry, the last attack on the group had been days ago, if this was what Aramis last remembered then things were worse then they thought.

"'Mis?"

"…I …I tried b-but I… I couldn't."

The more he spoke the more distressed he got and his distress only served to heighten Porthos's worry.

"Aramis!" barked Athos from his spot by a very worried but thankfully silent D'Artagnan. The authority in Athos's voice seemed to be just what Aramis needed to snap him out of his oncoming panic attack.

Once his friend was calm… well as calm as he could be, Athos spoke up again, though his voice was notably softer this time around, filled with a sad realization that did little to comfort Porthos who watched on helplessly. "Aramis… Where do you think we are?"

Porthos's eyes went wide at this though before he could offer anything in response Aramis sobbed out an answer, one that broke the hearts of his dearest friends.

"…S-Savoy," he sobbed, shivering slightly as he spoke. "…T-They came at… We … we had no warning … I … I tried…"

"Shh," whispered Porthos as he shakily stroked Aramis's hair, "It's okay 'Mis, you did your best, they knew that."

Despite his attempts to be comforting Porthos's words only sent Aramis further into a panic attack, rambling the entire time about how it was his fault and they would never forgive him.

Without even thinking Porthos grabbed Aramis, who had been forced to sit up during Moreau's earlier questioning, by the shoulders, quickly pulling his distraught friend tight to his chest.

"…You shouldn't be near me," whispered Aramis brokenly; his voice muffled by Porthos's shirt just enough so that he was the only one who could hear him. "… I'll… I'll just get you killed too."

Those whispered words almost did Porthos in, he could feel his heart breaking at the pain he heard in his brother's voice. Choosing to hold off on his own breakdown he gently gripped Aramis's face in his hands, forcing the musketeer to look him directly in the eye.

"Don't even think that for one more second," he growled before quickly reigning in his anger and softening his features, "Get some more sleep 'Mis, things will be better when you wake up, I promise."

Aramis looked ready to protest but the pain and exhaustion was too much and he found his eyes involuntarily closing and within moments he was out once again.

When he was sure that Aramis was well and truly asleep Porthos wasted no time in grabbing Moreau's arm and dragging him over to where Athos and D'Artagnan were sat.

"What the hell was that?!" hissed the larger musketeer, concern and worry radiating off of him in waves as he glared daggers at the doctor.

Moreau sighed, a hand coming up to run through his hair, "The blow to the head he sustained must have been more significant then I thought, it's affected his memory."

"Is it permanent?" asked D'Artagnan, his voice small and raspy as he clung to the mug of honeyed tea like a lifeline, his eyes flickering between the doctor and Aramis as he leaned against Athos's side for comfort.

Porthos blanched at the thought of Aramis's memory being permanently scrambled and the urge to punch something was growing strong within him.

"It's hard to say," admitted Moreau sadly, "the fact that he was coherent, even with the memory damage is a good thing but I wont be able to say whether the memory issue is permanent until I see how he is the next time we wake him up."

"…And if he's still the same?" Athos asked, his voice thick with emotion as his arm, which was still around D'Artagnan's shoulder, tightened its grip.

The sad look in Moreau's eyes told them all they needed to know but he chose to clarify it anyway. "If… If there's no sign of improvement the next time he wakes then it would be in your best interests to prepare yourselves for the likely possibility of it being permanent."

"No," growled Porthos, his eyes firmly locked on to Aramis's sleeping form, "I refuse to believe that. 'Mis made it through the hell hole of Savoy, he can come back from this too."

"Course," grinned D'Artagnan, though his smile was strained. Aramis had always had faith in his ability to come back from injuries, the least the Gascon could do was have faith his friend could come back from his own now.

Moreau nodded, a tired smile tugging at his lips at the men's devotion to each other. "We'll let him rest for a few hours but I'll be back to wake him up, we can try again then… In the meantime just try to keep him and yourselves warm."

"He'll be alright," stated Athos with a fierce conviction mere moments after Moreau's departure.

"He'll be alright," whispered Porthos in confirmation with a slow nod of his head, his worry-filled eyes returning to Aramis's sleeping form as his hand unconsciously moved towards Athos, who didn't even hesitate in grabbing it as firmly as his injured wrist would allow.