Evening My Lovelies!

Okay so today I learnt how hard it is to write when you feel like crap :( Hopefully this chapter doesn't reflect how crappy I'm feeling today otherwise you're all in for a pretty abysmal read I'm afraid.

On a cheerier note though we're on chapter 75! AND we're near 900 reviews!

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Yeah this search is not going to be a pleasant walk in the park for our two boys but they're both stubborn and worried enough to push forward regardless of their own pain. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I think considering the situation Treville will be kind enough not to kick him out... punish him maybe but the Captain's feeling pretty guilty at not telling them so that'll make him more understanding and forgiving of their anger. Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Yeah it was definitely inferred :D Haha yeah Marcel's going to meet a bloody end I can promise that much :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

FierGascon: Thanks for the review - *gives cookie* :) Ouch about the fingernails . I was wondering about the hate-o-meter, bet it'll happen again when we get to exactly what Marcel and his goons did to our boys to get their stuff covered in blood :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

watlocked: Thanks for the reviews - (chapter73) wow I'm glad you think so, thank you so much! :D haha yeah maybe Corbett should be forced to listen into the lecture about not antagonizing your captors that D'Art really needs to have. (chapter74) Oooh I love D'Art channeling Athos too (as if that wasnt obvious by the several times i've done it lately) I think that might be happening more in my next story as well :) Yay I'm glad you thought Athos was still in character... I wasn't sure if the punch was going to have been too much. Their anger is kinda being pushed to the side in a way today as they're completely focused on the search for the missing men but when they rescue them and see the conditions they're in ... ooooh they're gonna be pissed again :D Bwhahaha XD I was soo tempted to write something like that but I figured Athos is all pissed and serious and that line (or something like it) would be a bit of humor that probably wouldnt have fitted with his character right then but now I can't stop picturing him saying it with an exasperated sigh lol XD Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - It was going to be Aramis who threw the punch, especially as his emotional state isn't exactly the most stable right now but I figured Athos feels like he's responsible for his friends as he's their little groups leader so I could see him taking this whole situation really hard and lashing out. Unfortunately Marcel has been quite nasty to our missing men... but I have a plan for some cute conversations to follow in coming chapters so thats good :D I think furious is an understatement. His plan is focused more on Treville (as you'll understand in a coming chapter) and hurting Aramis by doing so is an added benefit. Glad you liked it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Definitely expect the worst :D Our lovely pup is in quite a state. Athos & Aramis's anger is kinda being put to one side at the moment so they can focus on the search but it'll be coming out in full force once again when our boys have been rescued :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Couldn't resist the small cuddly moment so I'm glad you liked it. Our boys are pretty furious at the moment and it's only going to get worse when they see the condition of the missing men when we get around to the rescue. Athos and Aramis are definitely not in any condition to be fighting... but they're furious and stubborn enough to give it a good go should the opportunity arise. Enjoy the new chapter! x

MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Tempting but yeah that would have probably have ended one of their careers if I had done that. Ahh you love the virtual treats really :D Athos and Aramis are pretty stubborn, especially now that they know what's at risk so they'll get pretty far... Can't promise they wont pass out afterwards but they'll get there. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you liked it :D Had it been anyone but their friends I think Athos and Aramis would have seen the sense in Treville's logic of not telling them... but seeing as it was their friends all sense and logic was stamped out by anger and worry. Our boy's are going to be feeling the guilt at sleeping through their brothers torture when this is all over (lots of guilt happening very soon) but first their anger is going to return in full force when they see just how bad our missing men are. We may even get another punch... just probably not to Treville as that might be pushing Athos's luck a bit. I was sooo tempted to end the chapter with the punch and not even tell you what was in the box until today but I thought that would be a bit harsh. It was tempting to have some sort of body part in the box but I figured that missing a finger or something would impact the persons ability to hold a blade or fire a gun so would probably end that persons musketeer career and the only person i could do that to would have been Corbett, who has annoyingly grown on me, so i couldn't do it. Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading. Love you awesome people so much!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Seventy-Five: The Search

Waking up to the agony raging through his body was probably the worst thing Corbett had ever experienced, every twitch of his aching body sent shockwaves of pain through him and his ribs burned with every breath he tried to take.

With a weary groan of pain the musketeer forced his tired eyes open. The first thing to catch his eyes was the streaks of dried blood staining his skin and clothing. It took a few moments for his pain-addled mind to comprehend why he hurt and why he was covered in blood but as soon as he did his head shot up, ignoring the inferno of pain the action caused. Corbett's eyes went wide as they landed on the slumped form in the corner of the room.

He took a few minutes to take in the damage done and before too long the pain of his own injuries was once again pulling him under, a whispered name leaving his chapped lips as his eyelids fluttered closed once more.

"…D'Artagnan."

"Aramis!" grunted Athos as he followed behind his furious friend. The pair of them had discussed their search plan the night before once their anger at being left out of the know had calmed enough for them to think without wanting to break something.

When the medic failed to respond to his call Athos huffed before trying again, "Aramis!"

Thankfully this time Aramis seemed to have heard his name being called and quickly spun on his heels to look at his brother, eyebrows raised in question.

Choosing to respond to the silent question with a silent answer Athos merely nodded towards the crutch gripped tightly at his side, a scowl growing on his face the longer he stared at the offending item.

It took a moment for the anger to fade enough for Aramis to realize what was going on but once he did he sent his brother a small apologetic look, understanding that he had been charging off in his fury and the injured swordsman was having trouble keeping up.

"Sorry my friend," whispered Aramis brokenly, a hand coming up to rub the back of his neck.

Athos let out another small huff at his brother's actions, the hand not gripping the crutch coming up to rest gently on the medic's shoulder.

"We'll find them."

Aramis swallowed, fear and anger warring for dominance in his eyes as he tried to banish the memory of the blood stained pauldrons and jacket.

"Aramis," called Athos, his voice commanding yet still somehow soft as he gently squeezed the man's shoulder causing him to zone back in. When he was sure Aramis was focusing on him Athos looked straight into his eyes and said, "We will find them."

Aramis nodded weakly though his next words were out of his mouth before he could even register it happening. "B…But what if –"

"They're alive," stated Athos definitively having easily been able to tell where Aramis was going. In all honesty his mind had gone the same way briefly but he refused to let his mind linger on that possibility.

"You don't know that," whispered Aramis brokenly, unconsciously leaning into his brother's touch.

"I do," nodded Athos as he slowly eased the medic to start moving again.

"How?"

"Marcel wants to hurt us," stated Athos as he kept his eyes focused for any signs that could lead to his missing friends. "If he had killed them he would have tormented us with their bodies instead."

Aramis nodded, understanding the logic in his brother's words. "He could be trying to give us false hope…"

"Doubtful."

"But possible," Aramis said, his hand coming to clutch the rosary around his neck, a silent prayer for his friends' safety and lives leaving his lips as he and Athos continued to walk.

"…They're alive," stated Athos are a few moments and the conviction in his voice had Aramis nodding in agreement, despite the pessimistic part of his mind that was listing all the ways they could have died.

"So," said the medic with as much false cheer as he could manage, "Constance's?"

It took the pair longer then they wanted to admit to reach the Bonacieux residence and both found themselves sighing in relief as the modest home came into view.

"Madame Bonacieux?" called Athos tiredly as he knocked heavily on the door. The walk had taken a lot out of him and his whole body was screaming out for rest. He knew Aramis had been watching him worriedly for a good part of the walk but he found himself unable to care, with Porthos and the others missing there was no time to think about his own pain.

"Athos?" called a hesitant voice in response and moments later the door opened.

"Did you catch him?" asked Constance, her eyes filling with worry as she failed to spot her lodger with the two men at her door.

"What?" blinked Athos.

"The fugitive," explained the redhead, having realized her rushed questioned might not have made much sense to the clearly tired musketeer at her door. "D'Artagnan warned me to stay inside until he was caught."

"You saw him!?" exclaimed Aramis, almost pushing Athos out of the way to reach the young, now visibly worried, woman. "He was here!?"

Over the next few minutes Athos and Aramis told Constance what they knew of the situation, omitting the more ominous facts while she told them everything she remembered of D'Artagnan's short visit.

"You'll… You'll find hi-them right?" asked Constance, a furious blush hitting her cheeks as she prayed they didn't notice her almost slip, though from the knowing looks on both of their faces they did.

"Stay inside," said Athos as the pair prepared to leave, "I'll have Treville send someone to notify you when they've been found."

Sighing and grumbling under her breath about her lack of ability to do anything to help Constance nodded before retreating back into her house.

"Well they made it to Constance's at least," mused Aramis, "That means they would then be heading to your apartments."

Athos nodded before pointing to a small side street, "that's the quickest route. I doubt Porthos would have been willing to risk further delay by taking the main road."

Aramis nodded, eying his exhausted brother for but a moment before grabbing is free arm and throwing it over his shoulder, the medic's own coming to gently wrap around the swordsman's waist.

"Let's go then."

Porthos let out a small groan of pain as the pounding in his head became increasingly more apparent.

Squinting his eyes open the larger musketeer let out another groan and hiss of pain as he fought against the wave of nausea that was building within him.

When it had passed the musketeer finally realized that it was daylight outside, muttering a string of curses under his breath he tried to work through the pain enough to check out the condition of his friends. The last thing he remembered, it hadn't even been fully dark outside so to wake up and find it clearly mid morning was very disconcerting and worrying.

The musketeer barely held back a hiss of pain as he turned to check over Corbett, having figured that Marcel's anger would have spurred the man on to focusing the attention onto the two musketeers in the group.

The sight that met him had his eyes widening in both concern and horror. The bruises that had just been beginning to form the last time he had checked were now deep and dark, dried blood crusted across his face and several fresh pools now stained his torn clothing.

From his position Porthos could also just about make out the faint gleam of sweat on the man's skins, evidence of a fever as the temperature of their cell definitely wasn't something that would make one sweat.

"Christ Corbett," cursed the musketeer as he tried to ignore the pain that shot through his body as he moved in an effort to search for more injuries on his friend.

"…P'thos?" came a pained reply from the man Porthos hadn't even noticed was awake.

"How you doing Cor?" asked Porthos, his words slurring slightly as his body battled injury-driven exhaustion. "Looks like they did a number on you."

For a few moments Porthos thought the bloodied musketeer had passed out again due to the silence and lack of reaction from his friend but eventually, just as he was about to give up, he heard a small grunt that drew his attention back to his friend.

"Corbett?"

Saying nothing in an attempt to conserve what air he could get into his lungs Corbett slowly shook his head, squinting at the other musketeer to make sure he was paying attention before nodding towards the corner, a guilty and worried expression on his bloodied and bruised face.

Porthos felt his heart stop as he realized what his friend had been gesturing to. Ignoring the agony that threatened to overwhelm him as he forced his injured body to quickly turn Porthos felt an animalistic growl full of rage bubble up in his throat as he was met by the appalling state of his young friend.

"You're sure?" Treville asked, trying his best to not look too intimidating as he questioned the young boy who had brought the box to the garrison that morning.

After Athos and Aramis had all but stormed out of the garrison Treville had ordered a couple of his men to track down the young delivery boy, hoping he would be able to give them some information regarding who had paid him to ensure the box made it to the garrison.

It had taken a few hours but eventually Alain and Blaise had managed to track the boy down and, after numerous promises that he wasn't in trouble, brought him to the Captain, who had then spent the next hour or so continually questioning the nervous young boy.

The boy had given them some interesting and potentially promising information but given the seriousness of the situation Treville found his paranoia questioning every little thing the boy was telling them.

"It's true sir, I swear!" exclaimed the slightly fearful boy. After he had described the three men who had paid him to deliver the boy the Captain had gotten very demanding with his questioning, though the boy wasn't quite perceptive enough to realize that it was only after he had described the third man that the musketeers had all tensed up and the questioning had intensified.

"Captain," called Issac quietly, worriedly eying the small boy in front of his Captain, the more demanding Treville became the more terrified the boy got and Issac hated seeing the child so scared.

The call of his name seemed to be enough to snap Treville out of his mood as his let out a long sigh before sending the boy an apologetic smile.

"You have our thanks Remy," stated Treville as he passed a few coins into the boy's hand before sending him on his way.

"What do we do now Captain?" asked Alain, fidgeting nervously as he tried to contain his growing worry for the missing men.

"Get me Athos and Aramis, they'll want to be here for this."