Evening My Lovelies

Okay this chapter was a little difficult to write as I explained what our poor pup was having nightmares about when he actually had the nightmare several chapters ago, because of this I didn't want to just repeat that in this chapter but I didn't want to just brush over their talk either so I'm hoping (fingers crossed) that the way I decided on going works and doesn't leave you all disappointed.

Still have at least a chapter to get in your thoughts about Durand's future, here's how we're looking so far:

Redeem: 6

Leave: 2

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - It's not going to be pleasant for the pup but he'll try to talk about it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Yeah they're slowly getting there, lots to recover from but they'll be fine... eventually. I needed a protective Athos moment (love them) so I'm glad you liked it too. Hopefully my decision on how to take this chapter makes it a good read for you. Enjoy the new chapter! x

crazykids121 (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you're loving the story :) I usually create an addition side character just so they have a name and I can stop saying musketeer every time they speak but then they grow on me and kinda develop stories all of their own so I'm really happy you enjoy the 'checking in' chapters where they're featured :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm really glad you're enjoying seeing the bonds of the other musketeers as I'm never 100% confident as to how side characters are going to be received but they have the annoying ability of growing on me and so I can't not mention them. Hopefully you'll like the direction I took this chapter in. Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

watlocked: Thanks for the review - Is it bad of me that I'm glad it made you want to bawl? I really wanted to get that glimpse of their relationship right and ended up rewriting it several times until I was happy with it (though it made me want to cry too!) In all fairness that cliffhanger was a very mild one compared to some of my others lol :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Guest: Thanks for the review - Its probably mean of me to be glad it made you cry but seeing as how that was the response I was hoping for I'm quite pleased it worked :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I rewrote the Fav/Issac bit several times as I wanted it to be really emotional and a bit of a call back to how worried Issac had been all those chapters ago when Favier almost died. I think I can definitely work in a bit more of Beaufort reading to Jacques :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Helensg: Thanks for the review - I was wondering where you had disappeared off to but I'm glad you seem to still be enjoying reading this, though hopefully you're not working yourself too hard :) Our boys are definitely multitalented lol :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Miisakee: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm really glad you're enjoying our other musketeers, they've really grown on me this story. Thanks for pointing out the small errors I missed as well as the advice. I try to do a quick proof read before publishing but I think I tend to miss stuff because my mind knows what it should say and just substitutes it when i read it, I'll definitely try your idea though, hopefully any mistakes I make arent making it hard to read. I'm not sure if my time appropriate language is still happening here (I hope so though!) Thanks again for all the advice I really appreciate it! Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm really glad you loved it, I rewrote it a few times to ensure it was as emotional as I could get it :D Hmmm I hadn't considered that as being a potential thing Aramis might do but I have to say I quite like the idea, I might see if I can work it in... Oh I can just picture the rant our other boys would unleash on the medic upon hearing about it :D I love it! I hadn't really planned to include any of my additional musketeers in my next story, purely because I didn't want it to seem/come across as a sequel to this one but I'm definitely more than willing to bring them across if you want them to appear... It'll save me trying to come up with names for any characters I add as well so that's a big plus :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Aramis is definitely going to play a key role in helping our pup get through his nightmares, though our lovely medic is hindered by nightmares of his own which our boys will struggle to help with (why?... because I'm evil lol) Glad you liked the Fav/Issac bit, it was one of my favourite points in that chapter. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Yorokobi Asahi: Thanks for the review - I'm mean for doing so I know but I couldn't resist tempting you all with what was about to happen :) Hopefully this chapter was worth the wait :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Issac's getting there... just a fair bit slower then the others. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - For some very annoying reason your review isn't showing up on the site so I'm going to have to respond to the truncated version of it that came through to my email. Glad you liked the brotherly bonding moments, we've got some comfort moments coming our way today as the focus is entirely on our inseparable group :) Fortunately Moreau wont have to feel disgusted for too much longer as I'll be waking Corbett up soon. I figured that if the regiment was a brotherhood as it's usually described then the men wouldn't leave their injured to wake up alone in the infirmary so I'm glad you liked that approach. Oh the Fav/Issac moment was one of my favorite bits to write for that chapter and I'm soooo happy so many people loved it. I ended up rewriting it several times as I wanted to make sure it was as emotional as possible :D We've got lots of brotherly moments today as I said, poor D'Art's going to struggle opening up about his nightmares. This is when your review cuts out in my email so I'm sorry if I've missed anything else! Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Ninety-Six: Opening Up

The musketeer's could tell, just by the trembling of their young friend's body, how much strength it was costing him to build up enough courage to start talking.

Aramis, having had experienced a similar situation before when dealing with his Savoy nightmares, was quick to act. While Athos and Porthos focused on calming the Gascon down enough so he wouldn't have a full blown panic attack, the medic made quick work propping up several pillows and cushions against the headboard of Athos's bed.

Once he was done and D'Artagnan's tremors had calmed down enough that they weren't so visible, the three musketeers eased the boy back against the newly padded headboard, each of them knowing that, despite the pain sitting up would cause, D'Artagnan would prefer not to be lying down while explaining his nightmares.

True to their expectations D'Artagnan sent them a weak, yet grateful look at their actions.

What did surprise the Gascon though was when Aramis, who had been lying in the bed next to him originally, settled next to him, gently putting his arm around the boy and bringing him to rest against his side, totally uncaring of his own healing shoulder wound, though he was extremely careful not to put too much pressure on the Gascon's shoulders, all too aware of how tender and sensitive the boy's numerous wounds were despite the heavy padding they had added when they wrapped them.

D'Artagnan all but sank into the comforting embrace of his friend, his tremors dulling to a very mild shake as he greedily and unashamedly took the strength and support being offered to him by the marksman.

Before anyone could say anything else both Athos and Porthos decided to join in this show of support for their clearly traumatized friend.

Porthos shifted so he was sat on the bed near D'Artagnan's legs, having gently lifted Aramis's healing leg up so it could rest on his lap, allowing him to both sit closer to his friend whilst also ensuring his brother's leg remained elevated as the doctor had instructed. Once he was settled he lightly rested his hand on D'Artagnan's ankle, his thumb drawing small, yet extremely comforting, circles on one of the few places that had avoided being sliced open by Marcel's goons.

Athos on the other hand, shifted his chair to be as close to the bed as he could get, not wanting to risk aggravating his protégé's injuries by squeezing himself on what remained of the bed.

Once the chair was sorted Athos reached out to take D'Artagnan's hand into his own, offering it a gentle squeeze in reassurance. The swordsman had also taken to resting his broken ankle up on the bed, letting his foot rest right next to D'Artagnan's own, a small reminder that he was not alone.

"We're not going to push D'Art," explained Aramis softly as he dipped his head to look down at the boy in his arms. "Talk when you're ready and don't think you have to tell us anything you're uncomfortable with."

D'Artagnan snorted weakly, though even that simple act brought soft smiles to his friend's faces. "I'm uncomfortable with all of it," he admitted quietly, not wanting to admit how terrified he was about vocalizing details of his nightmares.

"You don't have to talk," reassured Athos, though D'Artagnan could hear the silent plea for him to open up and to let them help. "We would not suggest talking about it if we didn't think it would help though, but like Aramis said, we wont push."

D'Artagnan's eyes fluttered shut for a moment, the Gascon simply taking a second to relish in the love, comfort and safety he felt radiating from these three men. After a few seconds though he took a deep breath and opened his eyes, a slightly dimmed version of his usual stubborn fire burning in his eyes.

"No… I… I want to… I need to."

Porthos gently squeezed the Gascon's ankle. "Take your time whelp, we aint going anywhere."

"It…It's always the same… every single time," explained D'Artagnan quietly, his eyes downcast as he refused to see the emotions being broadcasted across his friend's faces as he explained, with as much detail as he could stomach, what was tormenting his mind every time he tried to sleep.

He told them of how it would always start with him being forced to watch both Porthos and Corbett being mocked, stabbed, beaten and, should his subconscious be feeling particularly vindictive that day, he would be forced to watch as other, much more violent and sometimes permanent acts of torture were performed. Unable to help whilst waiting for the same to be done to him.

Porthos closed his eyes at that, mentally chiding himself for having ignored the fact that D'Artagnan had watched what had been done to both himself and Corbett, all in the knowledge that it was only a matter of time before they moved onto him.

The larger man knew from experience how hellish something like that felt. He and Aramis had been captured once on a mission several years ago. Athos had been checking out a lead for the case they were working on and the pair had been on their way to meet him when they were ambushed. The two men then woke in a dimly lit cell where their captor, who turned out to be the suspect they were searching for, tried to get answers out of them by using physical violence as motivation to get them to talk.

Thankfully then it had only been beatings and Athos had found them fairly quickly but it had been hell for the larger musketeer to both watch and listen to his dearest friend being used as a human punching bag whilst also knowing it was only a matter of time before their captor moved onto him once he realized Aramis would give him nothing but sarcastic quips and barely veiled insults.

He was pulled out of his trip down memory lane when he realized D'Artagnan was now rambling at him, no doubt having taking his grim expression and silence on the matter as blame or some other negative reaction.

"I swear I tried Porthos," rambled the Gascon, desperately not wanting his friend to think he had done nothing while he had been hurt. "Honestly I tried but my hand… I know that doesn't… but…"

Porthos raised his hand that wasn't resting on the Gascon's ankle, effectively cutting the boy off mid ramble. "Easy whelp," soothed the larger man, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

"I know there was nothing you could have done, there's no blame on you for that."

D'Artagnan blinked, his eyes slightly misty with unshed tears. "B-But…"

"Look whelp," sighed Porthos as he waited for the Gascon to look up at him before he continued. "We both saw and heard you try, we know what you did. The fact it didn't work aint on you." Porthos paused for a moment, letting what he had said sink in before adding, "And if I'm honest I'm glad it didn't."

The goldfish impression the boy was doing as Porthos's words stunned him into silence would have been amusing for the men had it not been for the serious subject matter they were discussing.

"Whelp, me and Corbett… We knew what was comin', we're musketeers and while it aint a common occurrence, capture and torture happen. You… You have none of the experience and training we do and despite the outcome that happened, your attempts not working kept you safe for a while longer and I can live with that."

D'Artagnan looked like he wanted to protest but seeing as he knew his friends well enough to know that they would continue this argument without either side admitting defeat Athos stepped in, gently directing the conversation back onto the subject of D'Artagnan's nightmare.

Unwilling to spend any longer on his nightmares then he had to D'Artagnan allowed the direction change and went back to his explanation.

He spoke of how he eventually managed to get the attention of the men, only when they were moments away from killing Corbett, at which Porthos cringed, the larger man still punishing himself for passing out and leaving his friends to endure what they had all alone.

It was at this point in the explanation that D'Artagnan's tremors returned in full force and his breathing became shallow and fast.

"Breathe D'Art," whispered Aramis firmly, gently tightening his hold on the boy in an effort to ground him.

Both Porthos and Athos watched with growing concern as Aramis's attempts to calm the panic attack were met only with failure.

"D'Artagnan," spoke Athos as he lifted the hand of the Gascon's he was holding and placed it on his chest. "Focus on me, on my breathing. You'll pass out if you're not careful so focus on my breathing and breathe with me, can you do that?"

It took a few moments and the musketeers could see the clear struggle on their young friend's face but eventually he was able to force his breathing to match Athos's.

"That's it whelp," grinned Porthos as he reached out to gently ruffle the now exhausted boy's hair.

"Do you feel up to continuing or did you want to take a break?" asked Aramis kindly. He knew talking about what was haunting his friend's mind would help him get passed it but he also knew that pushing too hard could make matters worse and that was the last thing he wanted to do to the boy.

D'Artagnan shook his head, wincing and inhaling sharply as it pulled some of his wounds. "...I'm good," he stated, taking a deep, steadying breath before continuing his tale.

The musketeers felt sick at what D'Artagnan was telling them, of how slowly Marcel's men worked so as to drag out the pain for as long as possible without respite. Of how they would taunt him with the promise of release if he would throw away his pride and beg them to stop. Of how they would either inflict a new wound or put pressure on an existing one whenever he was about to pass out, the pain violently jolting him back into consciousness.

D'Artagnan spoke of how, in his nightmare, he could feel the pain as if it was happening all over again but that this time there was no eventual relief of unconsciousness and that he was awake and fully conscious the entire time his body to sliced and cut into, unable to do anything but watch and scream as his body was mutilated at the sadistic pleasure of Marcel's thugs.

The inseparables also got the sense that there was more that D'Artagnan was refusing to say, but given how much it had clearly taken for the young man to even admit as much as he had they decided not to push. Choosing instead to offer him whatever comfort they could whilst also gently brushing his hair out of the way as he was physically sick at the mere memory of his nightmare.

By the time D'Artagnan had thrown up the pitiful amount of substance that he had in his stomach he was beyond exhausted and was sagging limply in Aramis's arms, his eyes drooping closed against the Gascon's clear intentions to try and stay awake.

The musketeers were just able to get the exhausted boy to drink a few sips of water, which was laced with a mild pain draught, before the Gascon lost his battle against his own body and slipped into a deep sleep, his head rolling to nestle into the crook of Aramis's neck.