Evening My Lovelies :)

Wow this chapter did not make it easy for me, I think this may not be an example of my best work thanks to the load of rewriting I did for it but I'm hoping you will still enjoy it :)

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Oooh yes Aramis's eventual (and soon to be happening) collapse is going to be good... Who knows it might be just what our boy needs to learn not to push himself so hard. Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked our boy's comfort moment, I figured poor D'Art was long overdue for a hug. Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Don't worry our boys will look after the pup, Porthos will even hold his hand for you :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I've missed writing nightmare scenes, we've only had a few so far and they were ages ago! Haha yeah Aramis did have a tiny heart attack at Athos slapping D'Art but I think he made up for it with the cuddlefest they had afterwards. I think Treville was happy to accept any sort of apology that didn't end with Athos punching him again lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x

watlocked: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm really glad you liked it :) haha if that comment made you sound morbid and sadistic I'd hate to think how this entire story has made me sound lol :D I'm really happy you liked the chat between Athos and Treville, it was such a difficult conversation to get right as they're both proper Alpha-males hide all emotion kind of men lol. Bwhaha I'm so stealing that line when Aramis collapses! ... Or for after he wakes up, seems a waste of a good line to use it when he's unconscious. Aramis will be collapsing pretty soon and I know how I want it to happen, just trying to work out how best to write it :) Honestly I'm surprised at myself for being able to remember so many of their injuries... though I think I only remembered the whole bear thing because, even for me, it was a bit random lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Yorokobi Asahi: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you thought so, the pair of them seem emotionally distant and so it was hard to write how they'd have a heart to heart conversation. Don't worry our lovely pup will get lots of love and comfort from our boys. Enjoy the new chapter! x

f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked the comfort, figured D'Art would need a nice cuddle after that nightmare. Our boys are quite lucky at the moment, Aramis isnt completely bossing them around just yet lol Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - It'll definitely be a relief to the rest of the regiment that they've cleared the air between them that's for sure. Aramis will be collapsing fairly soon, in the next chapter or two. I'm still working out the best way to write it so once I've got that down it'll be happening. Enjoy the new chapter! x

MicheeO: Thanks for the review - I wouldn't say it's completely happy, they're still pretty beat to hell but things are definitely improving for them. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Yay *fist pump* I'm soooo glad you loved it. I had a feeling you might when I was writing it and I've been looking forward to hearing what you thought of it all day :D I've so missed writing nightmare scenes so I'm really happy it wasn't just the comfort moment that caught your attention. Athos's slap wasn't something I had originally planned on but seemed to fit well considering the trouble they were having with waking the boy up. I absolutely adored writing the hug/comfort moment, long long overdue in my opinion so I really wanted to make it worth the wait. Obviously we still have a lot more moments like that coming our way so hopefully you'll enjoy them just as much. Plus we WILL be getting a puppy-pile at some point ... I'm determined to include it! Your comments on the chat between Athos and Treville made me smile too, I was really worried they would both come across really out of character or something, so hearing people enjoyed it and liked reading it really made my day :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading.

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Eighty-Nine: Athos's Rooms II

Once the door closed Porthos let himself sag back against the pillows, his recently reset arm cradled tight to his chest as his eyes flickered between the now unconscious D'Artagnan and the door his brother had stormed out of only moments earlier.

"He'll be okay," murmured Aramis softly as he worked on re-stitching the Gascon's wounds. "He cares about our young pup more then he admits, it hurt him to see him like that."

"Aint the only one," huffed Porthos, wincing slightly as a stab of pain shot through his body.

Aramis raised an eyebrow at the sound of pain, "You okay?"

"Yeah," grunted the larger man, "Throbs like a bitch but I'll be alright, focus on the whelp."

Aramis nodded, though his gaze lingered on his brother a moment longer before returning to his young patient.

"So where do you think he went?" Porthos asked, a slight teasing tone to his voice that had the corners of Aramis's mouth tugging upwards instinctively. "We've got his good wine here after all."

"Doubt he went far," shrugged Aramis as he tied off a finished row of stitches. "He'll want to be close in case we need him."

"I dunno," grinned Porthos cheekily, "He could be raiding our rooms for that bottle of brandy we took the other week."

The memory made Aramis chuckle, lightly glaring at his brother for distracting him before returning to work with complete focus.

For a few minutes the only sounds in the room were their breathing and the occasional muffled whimper from D'Artagnan. Eventually it became too much and Porthos had to ask the one thought that had been plaguing him since he had woken up in that cell to find his friend had been tortured.

"…'Mis?" he called softly, the vulnerability in his voice catching Aramis's immediate attention as he looked up from where he was mid-stitch. "Whelp's gonna be okay right?"

Aramis's face softened though there was sadness in his eyes that warred with the determination burning there. "I will do everything I can mon ami," with a sigh Aramis reached out to gently run his hands through the unconscious boy's hair. "Our puppy has been through quite the ordeal unfortunately, he's lost a lot of blood and if I can't get control of these infected wounds they could pose a serious risk."

Porthos was silent for a few moments while he let what Aramis had told him sink in. Without even realizing it his hand had moved from cradling his arm to rest lightly on top of D'Artagnan's heavily wrapped and splintered hand, their fingers instantly entwining.

Aramis watched the exchange for a moment with a sad yet fond smile before returning to his work, relieved that at least, because the reopened wounds had already been cleaned, they only needed stitching.

"It still happened!"

Both musketeers blinked at the sudden, if slightly muffled shout coming from just outside the door.

Aramis, who recovered first couldn't stop the immensely smug grin that settled on his face as he turned to his brother. "Told you he'd stick close."

"He could've left earlier and just be returnin', don't mean you won," huffed Porthos with mock annoyance.

"Such a sore loser my friend," teased the medic, "it doesn't become you."

At his words Porthos glared at the man, which only served to make him grin and laugh more.

"Get some sleep mon ami," smiled Aramis as he noticed a yawn his brother wasn't quick enough to stop. "Athos will be a while talking to the Captain and there isn't really anything you can help me with right now."

Porthos looked unconvinced but when another yawn escaped him he grumbled his acceptance and slowly shuffled down the bed into a lying position, his hand still holding D'Artagnan's as he drifted off.

Despite feeling slightly unnerved by the silence Aramis was also glad for it. It meant that his brothers were alive and that Athos was finally clearing the air between himself and Treville… Or at least he hoped he was, with Athos it was entirely possible the swordsman was just scowling at the Captain.

Chuckling quietly under his breath at the image Aramis rethreaded his needle and set to work on the next wound. He was partially through stitching it when his whole body froze, his eyes instantly screwing shut in pain as a silent scream tore its way out of his throat.

For several long agonizing moments Aramis was unable to move, blink or do anything that wasn't just breathing as he waited for the inferno of agony that way his leg to calm back down to a manageable level. When he was able to move without feeling like he was going to throw up the marksman eyed the vials of pain reliever with a conflicted longing. His entire body was screaming at him to take something to end the pain but his brain reminded him that the draught would make him sluggish, providing of course that it didn't straight up knock him out given how tired he was. Aramis knew he couldn't risk D'Artagnan's life by taking the draught, he'd just have to bear with it until the young Gascon was out of the woods.

Just before he pierced D'Artagnan's skin with the bloodstained needle once again the door to their room opened as a tired Athos limped inside.

Unfortunately the sound of the door opening had a negative effect on the Porthos. The moment the heavy door opened the larger musketeer had practically shot out of bed, his wild eyes frantically searching for any sign of danger while his hand, the one not still entwined with D'Artagnan's, lifted the book that had been resting on the bedside table as a weapon.

"Easy Porthos!" exclaimed Athos, surprise and worry clear on his face. "It's just me, you're safe."

The shout of his name snapped the frantic musketeer out of his daze and shame immediately coloured his cheeks.

"'Thos I …"

"You good?" asked Athos warily as he approached the panting musketeer, who flinched for a second at their proximity before stiffly nodding.

Without another word on the matter Athos helped his brother back into the bed, quickly picking up a pain draught for the man once he saw how the subconscious actions had jarred his injuries.

"Apologies my friend," said Athos softly, ignoring the shocked and surprised look from Porthos. "I did not think, I will be careful next time."

Really not wanting to talk about what just happened and knowing Athos could see that Porthos merely nodded, letting his eyes settle on D'Artagnan so he didn't have to look at the brother he had just, once again, almost attacked.

"Everything good with you and the Captain?" he mumbled several minutes later, relaxing as Athos filled the pair of them in on the discussion he and Treville had had outside.

"…Sir?" called a hesitant voice, forcing Treville to, reluctantly, pull his attention away from the gunshot wound he was redressing on Issac.

"What?" he asked, doing he best to keep the growl from his voice, the musketeer in front of him hadn't done anything to warrant such an angry verbal response from the exhausted Captain. Moreau had tried several times over the time they had been there to get the Captain to take a short break and catch up on some sleep but, being the stubborn man he was, Treville refused, stating he would rest when he knew all of his men would survive the night.

"It's the Bonacieux woman sir, Constance," stated Etienne as he shuffled nervously. He could tell, even if he hadn't been on the mission with him, that the Captain was in an extremely foul mood that definitely wasn't helped with him running on fumes like he was.

Treville sighed, "What about her?"

"She's here sir, in the garrison."

Treville blinked at this, surprised the young woman's husband would have let her take a trip to the garrison, especially given how late it was.

"She's asking about D'Artagnan sir," added Etienne, answering the unasked question he knew the Captain would have. "She's quite insistent sir but I didn't want to disturb Aramis so I came to you."

"My thanks Etienne," sighed Treville as he patted the man's shoulder gently. "Return to what you were doing, I'll talk to her."

"Constance," called Treville calmly when he was near enough to spot the redheaded woman who was nervously pacing about the garrison courtyard.

Constance turned sharply at the call of her name and instantly began making her way over to the Captain.

"What are you doing here Constance, does Monsieur Bonacieux know you're here?"

Constance shrugged off his question. "Where is he? Is he okay, no one will tell me anything?"

Treville sighed before motioning the frazzled young woman over to a nearby table. Once they were both settled Treville braced himself for what he was about to say.

"He's alive Constance," he stated, figuring he'd get the best news out first.

Constance practically sagged in relief, "My neighbor mentioned seeing a group of musketeers rushing to the garrison with several injured looking men in a wagon and I just…" quickly wiping a stray tear away Constance took a deep breath to compose herself. "Can I see him?"

Treville shook his head, ignoring the confused look on the young woman's face in favor of explaining instead. "He's in a really bad way right now my lady and Aramis has enough to deal with without interruptions. I'm sorry but I can't allow you to see him."

Guilt filled the Captain as he saw how pale the young woman went at his words but he had also known Madame Bonacieux long enough to know that only the blunt truth would stop her from storming up to Athos's rooms.

"Why don't I get one of my men to escort you home," offered Treville gently as he reached over to squeeze the redhead's hand. "I'll send word to you as soon as Aramis says he can have visitors."

Constance nodded weakly as she stood, waiting for the musketeer escort Treville was arranging for her. She could shake the fear in her heart for the young man she'd come to care for and with one final glance at towards the garrison she sent up a prayer for his recovery before following her escort home.