Evening My Lovelies
Omg we're soooo close to claiming the top spot! We need 10 reviews and this'll be at number 1!
Notes On Reviews:
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Laurent was killed during Marcel's initial 'takeover' of the garrison so we still have the latest gunshot to deal with. Definitely no end of trouble for our boys when my evil mind gets working lol :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
romirola: Thanks for the review - Yay, Glad you're enjoying it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Deana: Thanks for the review - I think my 'bad guy finding Aramis' bit might be a let down as I changed my mind last minute and now I can't decide whether I actually like it :( Hopefully it still works and you still like it but I am preparing myself for some less then happy reviews regarding it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - I am drawing the whole thing out a lot longer then I had originally planned, we'll be getting into trauma and stuff tomorrow I promise! Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Mwhaha I know! I'm so evil teasing you all like that :D We'll be seeing who's been shot tomorrow. To make up for it theres no cliffy today :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Our boys definitely did not enjoy listening to Athos scream. I don't even want to begin imagining the pain that would have caused, I felt so bad for writing it for Athos but my evil mind wouldn't let me not write it. Our prisoners certainly came up with a good idea... we'll have to wait and see if it actually panned out or not. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - I'm loving Jacques as well :D You'll have to read on and see if it's him :) Your welcome, hope you enjoyed the bit of Athos whump :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Yep, poor Jacques is beyond terrified (but handling it surprisingly well). Aramis has Athos well in hand but the poor man's in a lot of pain :( As for who's at the door... you'll find out pretty quickly today so I wont keep you waiting long. Enjoy the new chapter! x
watlocked: Thanks for the review - Marcel was definitely lucky on that count, not that that might stop them from 'accidentally' grabbing him by his injured shoulder when moving him. Mwhaha I know I'm mean, he was doing so well too. I'm going to leave you all waiting for Jacques as we're focusing on the infirmary boys today. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Read and find out :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Laurent was killed before the musketeers even returned to the garrison so the gunshot they heard is someone completely different :D I was wondering if anyone would recognize the name :) Worry not they'll face justice soon. I had no idea how to write Serge so I'm glad you liked their scene :) I'm gonna keep you all in suspense a little longer I'm afraid with regards to our 'prisoner' people as the focus of today's chapter is the infirmary boys. Oh god I hated doing that to Athos, I can't even begin to imagine how much that must have hurt *cringes* Glad you liked the small brotherly moments between them, we're getting a few glimpse of the protective side of our boys today as well so hopefully you'll enjoy them too. Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Sixty-Three: Gunshot III
At the sound of pounding on the reinforced infirmary door the entire medical wing instantly went silent, Aramis even going as far as to gently place his hand over Athos's mouth, the swordsman having been groaning quietly moments earlier.
Without saying a word Porthos gently pulled D'Artagnan behind him, fully intending to protect his young injured friend from whoever was on the other side of the door. The Gascon scowled at the man's protectiveness but accepted the silent order and remained somewhat hidden behind his friend.
"Athos you in there?" bellowed a voice that instantly had the room relaxing due to its familiarity, "It's Blaise, the Captain sent us to check on you."
Porthos noticed Favier edging towards the door with an eager expression on his face, most likely having thought that Issac would be at Blaise's side. Not willing to risk opening the door just yet, as after all, who was to say that Blaise didn't have a blade at his throat and it was all a ploy to get themselves let into the room, Porthos stilled the musketeer with a hand and a quick shake of his head.
"Who else is out there with you?" enquired the larger musketeer as he approached the locked door. He wanted to believe that it was only their own out there but being the healthiest in the room, the safety of the injured men fell onto Porthos's shoulders and he wasn't going to put them unnecessarily at risk.
"Just me and Alain now are you going to let us in or what?" came a slightly irritated reply, though that could have had just as much to do with the current situation the regiment was facing as it could Porthos's stubbornness.
"We're happy to guard out here," spoke a chipper voice, undeniably Alain's. "But we have reason to believe Aramis is in danger," he explained, not realizing the effects his words had on the men in the room. "...Porthos?"
Alain's words had sent chills down the spins of Porthos and D'Artagnan, who were both now staring at their friend with concern in their eyes.
Aramis on the other hand was wearing a hard, almost resigned expression as he ignored the stares of his friends and comrades, deciding instead to focus on finishing up with Athos.
Deciding that they needed the extra help if an attack on them was in fact imminent Porthos gave the order for the door to be opened, allowing a harried Alain and Blaise into the room.
The pair instantly began assessing the situation whilst also informing the infirmary occupants of what had been going on.
"So Marcel lives?" asked Aramis quietly, speaking for the first time since the pair of musketeers had knocked on the door.
"Unconscious and tied to the desk in Treville's office last time we saw him," nodded Blaise with a smug grin plastered on his face.
"And sporting a particularly tight bandage on the gunshot wound the Captain gave him thanks to yours truly," smirked Alain, sending the medic a cheeky wink.
Aramis felt his lips quirk up to a smirk at that. The wound paled in comparison to the numerous injuries he and his friends suffered at Marcel's hands but it was a good and somewhat satisfying start.
D'Artagnan, who had subtly been watching the medic, noticed the way his friend was moving as Alain and Blaise continued their talk with Porthos. Understanding flooded through him quickly and he found himself unknowingly taking on a very Athos'eske look as he stared out the medic, "Where do you think you're going Aramis?" he asked, just loud enough to catch everyone else's attention.
The faint blush on his cheeks from having been caught slightly negated the determined look set upon the medic's face.
"Something tells me you already know," smiled Aramis sadly as he saw the knowing look in the boy's eyes.
"It's a bad idea Aramis," warned D'Artagnan, a slight pleading tone to his voice as he spoke to his friend. "I can't let you do it."
"There's no other choice."
"Whelp's right 'Mis," sighed Porthos, internally berating himself for not having noticed the self-sacrificing look on his friend's face before. "We aint gonna let ya leave so you can forget all 'bout your plan to offer yourself up for bait."
Aramis scowled at this, though a small part of him was touched his friend's, even D'Artagnan who had only been with them a short while, would be so against his risky and dangerous plan. "I will not let these men be put at risk because of me!"
As he went to move away he felt a weak tug on his wrist that he knew couldn't have come from either of the two men he had been speaking to. Looking down at his arm the marksman was surprised to see Athos awake and, if experience had taught him anything, attempting to glare at him from his spot on the bed.
Unable to help himself Porthos let out a bark of laughter at the look on Aramis's face.
"See 'Mis," he teased lightly, though there was an undertone of serious in his voice. "Even 'Thos doesn't approve and you know the man's damn near stubborn enough to follow you out there if you do go."
"But..."
Another weak tug on his wrist along with an even clearer attempt at a glare followed the medic's words and he couldn't stop the fond smile that played at his lips as he looked at his irritatingly determined friends.
"Fine," he sighed, crossing his arms on his chest as he sank back down into the chair he had been using whilst tending to Athos. "But after all this is done we really need to stop letting you spend so much time with Athos my friend," he grinned cheekily at the now confused Gascon, "You're even starting to look alike now, it's scary."
D'Artagnan turned bright red at the comment but was saved from any further teasing by a small cry of alarm from the other side of the room.
"Greetings musketeers," smirked the man holding Moreau by sword point.
"You do realize you're outnumbered and outgunned right?" sneered Aramis as he slowly moved to cover Athos, one hand coming to rest of the swordsman's shoulder as he moved, a silent plea for his friend to remain still.
To the group's surprise the man simply shrugged. "I aint afraid to die."
"Marcel's been captured and you're alone, why are you doing this?" D'Artagnan asked, ignoring Porthos's attempts to once again push him behind him.
The man laughed, pressing his blade harder against Moreau's neck, just enough to draw blood. "I don't give a rats arse about that piece of trash. Marcel and Daviau can rot in hell for all I care. I'm here to get revenge for my men you killed."
It was then that it clicked into place, the clothing the man wore was near identical to the uniform of the men Daviau had hired to attack the musketeers.
"Geez how many of you are there!" sighed Alain before his mind could register what his mouth was saying.
The man scowled and without warning, threw the blade he had been using to contain the doctor at the young musketeer. Only for his scowl to then deepen as metal collided with metal and the blade fell harmlessly to the floor.
"I would think again before attacking my partner monsieur," snarled Blaise, his sword still up from where he had drawn it to block the dagger before it could reach its intended target.
The man, still glaring at Alain, simply spat in response, seemingly unbothered by the now roomful of blades and pistols aimed right at him.
"You came to die," breathed Aramis, recognizing the look on the man's face as one Athos himself had worn in his very early days with the regiment. It was the face of a man with nothing left to live for but without the desire to end his life by his own hands.
"And take as many of you down with me when I do!" snarled the man, pushing Moreau, hard, into Aramis's arms before he leapt at the nearest musketeer, who in this case happened to be Porthos.
"Porthos!" cried the medic and Gascon, though their concern was largely unnecessary as it became abundantly clear very quickly that, even as injured and battered as he was, Porthos was more than enough to handle their attacker.
"What did you mean when you said he came to die?" D'Artagnan asked quietly, his eyes never leaving the fight going on in front of them, though in Porthos's case it was more of a cat playing with a mouse before he kills it.
"He's the last one left," answered Aramis, a sad quality to his voice as the look on the man's face brought memories of Athos's pain to the surface. "He can't kill himself, so he's come to get us to kill him while getting what he considers to be justice by taking us down in the process."
"How'd you notice that?" he asked, genuinely curious as to his friend's observational skills.
"The look on his face," shrugged Aramis, doing his best not to look down at the bedridden swordsman and make it abundantly clear where he recognized the look from. "That… and he's beyond drunk which is why Porthos doesn't have to try."
The fight, if it could really be classed as such when one opponent wasn't really trying and the other was one drink away from passing out, went on for a few minutes until the sound of a bell ringing broke the silence.
"They found them!" exclaimed Alain joyfully, the rest of the men equally as happy having been informed earlier what the bell would signify.
"Wrap it up Porthos!" ordered Aramis with a teasing tone to his voice, "Captain's going to be coming soon and you know he hates fighting in the infirmary!"
Blocking a weak blow from the drunk man Porthos turned to his friends, an over the top pout on his face as he sighed and nodded to his brother's request. Applying just enough force to disrupt him, Porthos kicked the man's legs out from under him, waiting until he was on his back before jamming his blade into the ground, impaling part of the man's shirt as he did so thus preventing him from moving.
"Death would be too kind for you right now," sneered the larger musketeer as he knelt down by the drunken man's side, "Your 'men' might be gone but you can still pay for the crimes the lot of you committed."
"Lock him in one of the windowless storerooms," ordered Porthos as he rose back to his feet. "He should be sober for his trial."
Without needing further orders Blaise and Alain stepped forward, unpinning the man before dragging the drunk, now cursing, man off to his temporary holding cell.