Evening My Lovelies

WE DID IT! WE DID IT! WE DID IT! This story is now the most reviewed musketeer fic on this site! *happy dances* I'm really hoping this chapter is a good thank you to you lovely people who have continued to support me up until this point. Hopefully you'll continue to do so until the end.

Also when you get to the section that starts with "Earlier" just be aware that although it starts off a little bit before everything else it does catch up with the timeline - crappy explanation I know but it'll make sense as you read it.

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you liked it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - We'll be seeing what happened to Jacques and his group today, though you may all hate me for it :) Ooh I loved writing that blade bit, my evil mind was pleased to know it gave you a mini heart attack :D Not so much on the funny side today, hope you still like it. Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Hmm is it bad that I had to look up what that word meant to understand your review, though i do have to agree with you :) You were right to be worried though :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - This story seems to be full of baddies you can kinda sympathize with... usually my stories are just full of the sadistic crazies, this is new territory for me lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Hehe Glad you liked it, the mental image i had for that scene was amusing so I had to write it :) I like to think that D'Art's hero worship of Athos is at the stage where he's subconsciously copying how he acts. Poor Moreau's in dire need of a vacation now. Our Aramis is an observant one that's for sure :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

watlocked: Thanks for the review - Haha true, I think Athos could be dying and he'd still be trying to be bossy/in charge lol (though thankfully he's not dying) Worry not we're pretty much focusing on Jacques and his group today... though I have a feeling you may all hate me for what I've done :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Helensg: Thanks for the review - Athos is never to ill/injured to glare his friends into submission when they're being stupid. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Haha I love that my writings made everyone suspicious when things start going well :D As for Vivienne, I have to thank you for mentioning her as I'd gotten so wrapped up in everyone else I had honestly forgotten about her! I've sorted out what's going on with her and she should be appearing again in either tomorrow's chapter or the day after. Thanks again for reminding me :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - ... Well not everyone, we still have Jacques's group to look in on :D I like to think D'Art's hero worship is really bad at the beginning and so he's unconsciously picking up Athos's quirks and looks :D You'd think by now Aramis would know they would never let him sacrifice himself but he had to try anyways. Haha Yeah I think Moreau's really considering that right now XD Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Sounds like you had quite the binge :D I'm really glad you enjoyed it enough to binge it like that, hopefully you continue to like the coming chapters as well :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Haha So suspicious :D but you really shouldn't say things like that, you're just giving me ideas lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - I know! Top spot! I still really can't believe this story has the support it has. I proper squealed when I realized that it had claimed the top spot XD As for who I overtook, this beat out BlackBandit111's Of Little Brothers story. I was honestly surprised by this, I read that fic myself, its good if you haven't checked it out before. We're seeing the protective side of some of our other muskies today which was fun to explore and Aramis is back in medic mode which is always fun :D I'll explain how that man got into the room in tomorrow's chapter, Treville's not happy that the assault (if you can call it that) was able to happen. Haha Yep our boys are definitely awesome. Now I'm going to go and await the angry reviews for what I've done in today's chapter :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Can't thank you all enough for the continued support but as always much love and as many thanks as I can give for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading

Enjoy!

xxx

p.s. We're number 1!

Chapter Sixty-Four: Gunshot IV

Treville was reaching his limits, he knew it, the two men accompanying him knew it but all refused to comment on it was they continued their rush search for their brothers-in-arms. With each step came a new burst of pain for the Musketeer Captain but he fought to ignore the pain and to focus on the fact that each step instead brought them closer to their missing men.

"Stop!" panted Issac, his head tilting to one side as he tried to make out something.

"Why are we stopping?" huffed Corbett, his eyes flickering between the curious actions of his friend and the worrying condition of his Captain.

"I heard something," Issac explained, silencing the group with a wave of his hand as he tried to pick up the faint sound once again.

"There!" he exclaimed, charging off to find the source of the sound, leaving his companions to follow him.

As they got closer they were able to identify the sound clearer, it was the sound of a struggle, accompanied by the occasional pained grunt that had the trio sending each other concerned looks... But it was the scream... The agonizing scream of pain that had them running faster then they had been and almost ended with the three of them tripping over each other as they came to a stop in the small, barely used stock room.

Earlier

As the sound of the gunshot pierced the air it was quickly accompanied by the agonizing scream of its target as he crumpled to the ground.

"JACQUES!" the group cried, each of the captured men rushing to the boy's side.

The sight that greeted them was terrifying to say the least, the shot had hit low in the boy's back and a substantial pool of blood was already forming on the ground around him.

"Quickly we need to stop the bleeding!" ordered Reynard, leaving the recruits, who were too absorbed in glaring at the shooter, to handle things on their end while he and Serge did the best they could to save the young teen's life.

Without hesitation Reynard quickly pulled his shirt off over his head and pressed it, hard, against the bleeding wound. The scream that tore from the boy's mouth had everyone flinching.

"I know it hurts but you need to stay still and keep those eyes open okay?" implored the musketeer as he fixed his eyes on the barely conscious boy in front of him. His stomach turned as he felt the boy's blood seep through the material of his shirt and onto his fingertips.

"…H'rts," whimpered Jacques, tears springing from the corner of his eyes as he valiantly tried to keep them from falling.

Smiling softly Reynard nodded at the boy, gently wiping away a stray tear from the teen's cheek, whilst doing his best to ignore the streak of red that was left in its place. "I know," he soothed, putting his hand back on the bleeding wound. "Just stay with us alright, we'll get you help soon."

"Serge I need your hands here," Reynard called as he noticed the blood was showing no sign of stopping.

"Serge!" he barked, having noticed the man had frozen at the sound of the young man's pain.

Snapping out of his stunned state Serge quickly moved to help the musketeer in attempting to save the young teen's life.

It was several minutes later that the pair of them noticed the grunts of pain. With their hands still pressing hard against the bleeding wounds they turned to see the two recruits, both of whom still had their hands tied in front of them, attacking shooter, Pascal.

"If he dies!" roared one of the recruits as he launched a powerful kick to Pascal's stomach, knocking the air right out of him. "If he dies, you die!"

Pascal tried to open his mouth to retort, no doubt intending to issue threats or sarcastic comments but another kick to his chest silenced any response before it could even truly begin to form.

Seeing his recruits had the matter well in hand Reynard turned back to the young man bleeding out in front of him. "We need to get him to the infirmary," he declared, his eyes full of worry as he noticed how pale the teen was as how much he was struggling to stay conscious, even with Serge desperately trying to keep him awake and talking.

"Is it even safe to move him?" Serge asked worriedly

Reynard shrugged, "We don't have a choice, he'll bleed out if we don't do something!"

For the next several minutes the group focused on working out exactly how to get Jacques safely to the infirmary while both recruits continued to take out their frustrations on a now barely conscious Pascal.

Once the bleeding had begun to slow down and Serge felt safe enough to remove his hands, the former musketeer practically tore off his shirt, ripping it into strips in the hopes of being able to use it as a temporary bandage until they could get the young teen to the infirmary.

With the makeshift bandages in hand the two men worked quickly to tie them around the wound, steeling themselves against the whimpers of pain that escaped the boy as they worked but not even they could stop the flinch that occurred when Jacques let out an agonizing scream as they worked on tying the bandage tight against his body.

"Just breathe Jacques," soothed Serge as tired not to look at the blood now staining his hands.

Once they were sure the bandages were holding and at least slowing the blood flow down Reynard decided it was time to risk moving him. He had been tempted to order one of the recruits to find either Aramis or Doctor Moreau and simply bring them to the boy, but the infirmary had more supplies so they would have to risk it.

Just as he was about to make the order the door to their cell flung open, sending the men into action. Both Serge and Reynard quickly moved to cover the now unconscious teen while the recruits, still in the process of beating Pascal, merely raised their fists and assumed a defensive stance.

"What… the hell… happened here!" panted a familiar voice causing the musketeers in the room to relax.

"Captain!" exclaimed Serge; his eyes alight with relief at the prospect of reinforcements.

"We came to rescue you," said Corbett, his voice taking on an amused quality when he noticed the state of the man on the floor. "Though from the looks of things you had everything well in hand."

At this the two recruits grinned devilishly, though their grins quickly faded when a small whimper from Jacques caught everyone's attention.

"How bad?" demanded Treville as he ignored the painful cries of his own body to kneel down by Reynard's side.

"Bad," admitted the musketeer, "We need to get him to the infirmary, he's lost a lot of blood.

Treville nodded, "Then let's move. Corbett, take one of the recruits and sound the signal, meet us back at the infirmary as soon as it's done."

"Yes sir," nodded the musketeer as he grabbed the nearest recruit, practically dragging him out of the room in his haste.

"How are we going to carry him?" enquired Issac sadly, he was fond of the young boy and to see him in such dire straights was hard to do.

"Put him on my back," stated Reynard as he stood, "Use one of the ropes from the restraints to tie his hands loosely around my neck, I can hold his legs and that way we're not putting pressure on his back."

Treville nodded and the group was quick to comply with the order, the men part way to the infirmary with Jacques on Reynard's back and an unconscious and bloodied Pascal being dragged between Serge and Issac when the bell rang.

"Good they made it," smiled Treville before pushing his body harder, "Let's get a move on."

"Alain! Blaise! Open the door now!" bellowed Treville once the group had reached the infirmary and to their relief the men inside were quick to comply with the order.

"Aramis!" exclaimed Reynard having spotted the medic as soon as he stepped inside, "I need your help, he's lost a lot of blood."

Aramis's eyes went wide with worry as he spotted the pale, unconscious form hanging limply on the musketeer's shoulder. "Get him on a bed," he ordered, quickly finishing his check on Moreau, who had passed out after being pushed by their drunken assailant from earlier.

"Jacques!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, his eyes full of worry as he ran to the young teen's side, instantly grasping his friend's hand in his own as he tried desperately to ignore the large red stain on his back.

Moving quickly Aramis untied the bandage on the boy's back and began his examination.

"What?" questioned D'Artagnan, his voice thick with fear as he caught the quiet Spanish curse that escaped Aramis's mouth.

"Everyone Back. Up." Snapped the medic, as he noticed the large crowd of people now swarming the teen's bed. Nearly everyone complied instantly, all knowing too well not to push Aramis when he was in medic-mode, only D'Artagnan remained and on his face was a glare that dared the medic to try and force him to leave his friend. Seeing this Aramis felt his expression soften slightly as he nodded his consent for the Gascon to stay before getting to work.

"The shot's still in his back, I need to get that out before I can do anything else," he explained, picking up his tweezers.

"Got water heating and Alain and Blaise have gone to raid the herb cupboard," stated Porthos from his spot by Athos's side. Years of working with the sharpshooter had led them all to know what basic supplies their friend would need when beginning work and seeing as how he himself lacked any medical skill or training, preparing everything helped take his mind off of how useless he felt.

Aramis nodded in reply, his complete focus now on removing the ball without doing further damage to the boy. It was a long and trying task, given the shot's location, but eventually he was able to remove it, though his concern for the boy's health had risen when he didn't let out a single sound or move at all during the procedure.

"Reynard…" he called quietly as he worked to clean the wound ready for stitching.

Sensing that the conversation they were about to have was not intended for everyone to hear Reynard shifted closer to the medic and answered in just as quiet a voice. "Yes?"

"How much blood did he lose before you got him here?"

Reynard sighed sadly, looking down at the unconscious boy who still wasn't reacting at all to what was being done to him. "A lot," he admitted quietly, "He was conscious for a while and even when he finally passed out he still had enough awareness to react to the pain. It was only on the way here that it seems to have stopped."

Aramis swore softly, tightening his grips on his tweezers as he worked.

"…'Mis?" D'Artagnan said softly, his hand still gripping Jacques's

Knowing he could not in good conscience keep what he knew from the patient's closest friend the medic sent the Gascon a sad sympathetic look. "He's lost a lot of blood D'Art."

"…So?" he said softly, feeling a growing sense of panic and dread at the words his friend was speaking. "You can help him right?"

Aramis nodded slowly, "He's still fighting and I will do all I can."

D'Artagnan practically felt himself pale, "But?"

Aramis's took a deep breath, hating himself for what he was about to say. "But you need to prepare yourself… It … It might be too much for his body to handle. I… I can't guarantee he'll survive this."