This is rather sad as this is the final chapter of this fic. This fic ended up being a bit longer than I originally thought and was very emotiotional to write. I hope that I kept the same standard throughout and I hope you enjoy it. :)

Warning: Contains some battle violence.

Three days later it happened. The majority of the Musketeer regiment had gone hunting with King, including Captain Tréville. The Captain had been reluctant to leave but he was also aware that it was his duty to be at the King's side. The Musketeer numbers were therefore greatly reduced in the garrison.

D'Artagnan had spent a lot of time in the infirmary with the others trying to work out possible ways for Raymond to attack. They all knew that, due to injury, any attack outside the garrison would mean other musketeers needed to be involved. Currently, the other Inseparables weren't even entertaining the prospect of D'Artagnan leaving the safety of the garrison. D'Artagnan was becoming somewhat annoyed by his brothers' need to keep him safe, even though he did appreciate it.

Although it was unlikely Raymond would attack within the garrison walls, it would be preferable for his brothers to have a chance at helping. At least that was what they said. D'Artagnan was secretly hoping the attack would be outside as they wouldn't be at risk at all but he had to find a way to get himself out of the garrison without them knowing. Easy right?

They were all in the infirmary when panicked shouts could be heard from the courtyard below. D'Artagnan looked out into the courtyard from the window and could see Gabriel ordering everyone about in an authoritative manner. The musketeer saw D'Artagnan watching and quickly made his way up the stairs.

'What's happened?' D'Artagnan asked with a feeling of dread causing his stomach to clench as Gabriel entered the infirmary.

'Deserted houses are on fire a mile or so away,' Gabriel panted but his eyes showed that he didn't think this was a coincidence. 'Red Guards are already there but we need to help put the fire out before anyone gets hurt.'

'He's coming,' Athos said simply as he stood and put on his sword belt. Porthos and Aramis followed suit.

'We need everybody for it,' Gabriel looked totally out of his depth. 'We can't leave the garrison unguarded though.'

'It won't be,' Porthos growled before smirking.

'It'll just look like it,' Aramis smiled that smile which said he was relishing a fight.

'Are you sure about this?' Gabriel questioned but was met with resolute stares. They would deal with Raymond.

'Get everybody out,' Athos said with an authoritative tone. 'Raymond will not spare anyone.'

Leaving the garrison unattended was something Tréville always stressed should never happen, but this was different and it wasn't as if the garrison would have no-one in it.

Gabriel was wary but realised the decision had already been made and not by him. 'We'll be back as soon as possible,' he declared as he left.

Raymond watched from the side-lines as the musketeers flocked out of the garrison to help with the fire his men had started. For once he had thought it better to burn an empty house instead of a full one. He didn't need any more potential crimes on his head. He just needed to kill the musketeer and go. If anyone else got in the way, then they would die too.

He waited until the musketeers were far off in the distance before making his way into the garrison. Thankfully, all of the locals were distracted by the news of the fire and nobody was paying any attention to him and his men. He hadn't recognised D'Artagnan in the group that had vacated the garrison although some faces had been recognisable.

He peered around the garrison entrance and could see the place was deserted. It appeared that even the stable boy was gone. He felt his senses rise. D'Artagnan was clearly not a fool but he wasn't anywhere near full strength yet, which was why he had been left behind.

'D'Artagnan!' he called in a sing-song voice. 'Come out, come out, wherever you are!' Raymond kept his pistol close and watched the infirmary.

He had noticed that D'Artagnan spent a lot of time in that building and he had seen no-one else occupy the room while he had been watching. The only way anyone else was in there was if they had been severely injured before Raymond had started his watch. If that was the case then any man in that condition would not be a threat.

He beckoned his seven men forward and they stalked the courtyard. D'Artagnan would only have one shot, possibly two before his men could open fire themselves. There was no way the boy was getting out of this.

'D'Artagnan!' Raymond called again. 'Your friends wouldn't want you dying like a coward, would they?' Raymond waited for a reaction.

The door to the infirmary opened and shots were discharged from Raymond's men but just the door was wounded.

'Eight against one, isn't exactly in my favour,' D'Artagnan called from behind the stone wall of the infirmary.

'True,' Raymond smiled wickedly and put his pistol back in his belt. 'Put your firearms away,' he said to the others and D'Artagnan peered around the doorframe.

D'Artagnan noticed that those that had discharged their weapons hadn't reloaded. Big mistake.

'Come out D'Artagnan,' Raymond called in a sing-song voice again. 'It's only you I want. You're friend doesn't have to suffer.'

D'Artagnan felt his heart sink as this had not been foreseen. He moved into the open and watched as a badly beaten Marchal was dragged forward and dumped on his knees. The young musketeer had clear wounds to his face, most likely from punches and was clutching his chest.

'I'm sorry,' D'Artagnan thought he heard Marchal mutter before he was kicked to silence him.

'This one doesn't have to die like the others,' Raymond crowed as D'Artagnan slowly made his way down the infirmary steps. D'Artagnan seriously doubted that.

'Don't-' Marchal managed to get out before he was kicked again and groaned in pain.

'I'll even let you choose how to die,' Raymond looked positively gleeful. 'Sword fight?'

'Ten against two, well,' D'Artagnan looked at Marchal, 'one, hardly seems fair.'

'You'll die better than your friends who were thrown on a pyre while they lived,' Raymond replied with a sneer. 'Don't think anyone is coming to help you and drop your pistol on the floor, there's a good lad.'

'You believe that you will win, don't you?' D'Artagnan asked playfully. His pistol was still on his belt as he walked in front of Raymond and then started moving to the left. The men followed him and turned so that they were no longer looking directly at the infirmary but not quite side on to it. D'Artagnan deliberately pulled his pistol out of his belt. 'You too,' he nodded as he still held the weapon.

'D'Artagnan,' Raymond said with an annoying simper. 'I win or I die. I'm not dead,' he shrugged and grinned as he threw his pistol to the floor and D'Artagnan followed suit.

'Not yet, anyway,' D'Artagnan replied with his own knowing smile.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Six shots fired off in quick succession from the infirmary window and doorway. Raymond and his men turned to see what had happened, well four of them did as six men now lay on the ground either dead or severely injured.

Raymond was about to let out a frustrated roar when he felt D'Artagnan tackle him to the ground. Both men letting out a groan of pain as they hit the hard ground and the air was momentarily forced from their lungs.

Marchal quickly managed to reach for one of his captors daggers while the man was distracted and thrust the dagger into the man's leg causing the man to howl in pain. The two remaining men fled form the garrison as fast as they could run.

D'Artagnan was grappling fiercely with Raymond who seemed unaware that he was the only man left. He was getting the better of the younger musketeer whose shoulder now felt as though it may explode.

Suddenly, D'Artagnan felt the weight lift off him and a familiar growl could be heard. Porthos threw Raymond away from D'Artagnan with a powerful throw and offered a hand to pull D'Artagnan up to his feet.

Raymond shook his head. He was winded and he tried to regain his breath. He looked over to see who had the audacity, never mind the strength, to throw him like that and his face paled at what he saw. Those men were dead.

'But you're dead!' Raymond said in disbelief at what he was seeing.

'Hello Raymond,' Athos said in a polite voice as though he was greeting a friend. His blue eyes however, made it clear that he furious with the man lying before him.

'Wish we could say it was good to see you again,' Aramis smiled and cocked his head to left slightly. Though the gaze of the brown eyes was not quite as fierce as the blue, Raymond could clearly see the anger and disgust.

'But that would be a lie,' Porthos growled with no fake smile or indifference. Porthos was clearly very angry.

D'Artagnan was stood between Porthos and Aramis with a dark look on his face that made Raymond appreciate how close these men truly were. Aramis then turned and moved across to Marchal who was sat on the ground looking rather worn out.

'What are you going to do?' Raymond spat at them.

'Arrest you,' Athos said in a bored voice. 'I'm sure the Cardinal would like a word and his men have methods of making you talk.'

Raymond blanched slightly at the suggestion of torture as it also became apparent that the Duke would be under surveillance no matter what as he had stupidly divulged the information to these men.

BANG! BANG!

The sound of running footsteps accompanied the pistol shots and Aramis was the first to return fire. The men that had run away had found their comrades who had set fire to the deserted house as a distraction for the musketeers and red guards. The men were covered in soot.

Raymond was glad he had called for reinforcements as he tried to dive for the pistol he had thrown away earlier but D'Artagnan kicked it away. Raymond stumbled backwards to give himself time to unsheathe his sword. D'Artagnan stood in front of him with his sword already drawn.

D'Artagnan knew that with his sore shoulder a proper fight may leave him out of action for a while but beating Raymond and wiping that smirk of his face would be worth the pain. He looked across and saw the others fighting. Athos and Porthos were clearly hampered by their injured legs and yet, D'Artagnan knew they would win. Aramis was doing his best to protect Marchal who finally seemed to have run out of energy.

D'Artagnan saw Aramis pick up his thrown away pistol and successfully kill one of the men they were fighting. It was only then that it occurred to D'Artagnan that the shot men who hadn't died straight away must have been finished off by his brothers without him noticing.

D'Artagnan became aware that there were many men in the courtyard. Far more foes than friends. He quickly blocked Raymond's first attack and D'Artagnan told himself to concentrate.

'I called for reinforcements when I realised I would have to attack the garrison,' Raymond sneered as he lunged forward and D'Artagnan darted out of the way.

D'Artagnan could see Athos, Porthos and Aramis all fighting two to one and Marchal was now sat on the ground looking as though he was dizzy and wasn't of much use.

D'Artagnan managed to deflect another attack and realised he needed to concentrate. Athos had been working with him to use his left hand in sword fighting but he wasn't a patch on his right handed skill. He was now truly beginning to see Athos' point about being able to use both hands equally.

His right arm was hurting now but he had to block out the pain and deal with Raymond and trust that the others would find a way to win their respective battles.

Raymond was overconfident, that was clear to D'Artagnan. D'Artagnan knew he could only win this fight by using his brain as his skill was limited due to his injury. His stamina wouldn't last as long as Raymond either.

Raymond attacked and D'Artagnan parried away the strike. Raymond decided this fight needed to be over and started attacking quickly and precisely. D'Artagnan watched and analysed as Athos had taught him to do while continuing to block the flurry of attacks.

Raymond tended to put a lot of his weight on the front foot which meant he was always close to overbalancing. Aramis caught D'Artagnan with that on his first day in training. Raymond was also dropping his trailing shoulder which made D'Artagnan smile.

For a few moments only D'Artagnan and Raymond existed. D'Artagnan had analysed the man's fighting style while relying on his own instincts. He had to take advantage. Now.

Raymond watched the musketeer greedily. The young man could barely hold his sword. This would be easy.

D'Artagnan focused and deflected a couple of Raymond's swipes. The man was now charging too quickly and without thought as D'Artagnan made sure his feet would stay underneath him so he could keep his balance.

Raymond lunged again, eager to put an end to the fight, but D'Artagnan blocked and forced Raymond's blade upwards. D'Artagnan could feel the pain in his shoulder blade as he pulled it further than he had since he had been injured. Raymond was trying to force his blade down on D'Artagnan's and his balance was starting to waver.

D'Artagnan pirouetted underneath his outstretched right arm, beneath the clashing swords so that his back was towards Raymond's chest. D'Artagnan then elbowed a surprised Raymond in the chest before unsheathing his dagger and plunging it into the blonde man's chest. Raymond's eyes widened in shock as he released his sword and fumbled for the dagger protruding from his chest.

D'Artagnan watched silently as Raymond fell backwards, clutching at the instrument that would end his life. Raymond hit the ground and started to cough up blood but D'Artagnan just watched. The man who had tried, and thankfully failed, to kill his brothers was dying in front of him, just as he had imagined.

D'Artagnan's senses returned to him and he heard to commotion around him. At first fear struck him as he saw Porthos and Athos sitting on the ground while Aramis was bent double and gasping for breath. D'Artagnan's fears abated when he heard Athos speak.

'We had everything under control,' Athos huffed from his place on the ground.

'Yeah, that's what it looked like,' Vasselin's cheerful sarcasm was welcome. He was stood beside two corpses and there were flecks of blood on his uniform but he was mainly covered in soot.

'We were fine,' Porthos said but it was clear the big man was grateful.

D'Artagnan looked around and finally noticed Gabriel and Joubert as well, both looking rather black with soot with red spot decorations.

'Why can't you lot admit you needed us?' Joubert sounded half exasperated and half amused.

'That would be admitting defeat,' Aramis chimed with a hitch in his breath.

'Anybody gonna say thank you?' Gabriel ventured looking at them all. The four Inseparables exchanged looks.

'Thank you,' was the chorus.

Aramis wandered over to D'Artagnan who was clutching his arm. 'Don't tell me...it's fine,' Aramis smirked while D'Artagnan sighed.

'Actually, it really hurts,' D'Artagnan answered truthfully making Aramis smile.

'Well, he's dead,' Porthos stated the obvious as he shook Raymond not too gently.

'I thought the Cardinal wanted to question him,' Athos said with his usual drawl.

'Bit late for that,' Aramis smiled as D'Artagnan grimaced at the marksman's prodding.

Horse's hooves could be heard and they all turned to the garrison entrance as Captain Tréville entered. He dismounted and looked around.

'So...this is what happens when I leave the garrison in your hands,' Tréville quipped but he was struggling to contain the smirk that threatened to emerge on his face.

'In our defence, you left Gabriel, Vasselin and Joubert in charge,' Athos deadpanned straight at Tréville trying to ignore the looks from the three mentioned members of the garrison.

'And yet, it is you four I'm looking at,' Tréville stepped in front of Athos and turned individually to the other three before looking back at Athos.

Laughter erupted around the courtyard as Vasselin couldn't stop himself and the effect was infectious, even Marchal, who looked as though he could sleep for a week, was laughing quietly.

'What happened to you three?' Tréville asked as he saw the state of Vasselin, Gabriel and Joubert.

'Fire in deserted houses, about a mile away,' Gabriel answered before giving Tréville precise directions. Tréville sent a group of the returning musketeers to the site of the fire.

'I assume this is...was Raymond,' the Captain said looking down at the body. D'Artagnan bent down and removed his dagger form Raymond's chest.

'I killed him,' D'Artagnan said quietly as Athos limped over and stood beside the younger man as a reassuring presence.

'Best get him to the Cardinal,' Tréville smiled as the Inseparables moved towards the stables. 'Where do you think you're going?'

'We're coming with you,' Aramis said cheerfully and Tréville knew better than to argue with them. At times they could be the most stubborn of men.

Somehow Athos had managed to get himself on his horse but Tréville didn't dare ask how. All of them were hurting but their resolve was far stronger than the pain. They arrived at the palace having had Raymond's body brought in a cart by Vasselin who said he had no intention of staying to see the Cardinal. Tréville managed to get four red guards to carry the covered body but they didn't look happy about being given orders by the Musketeer Captain.

Tréville noted how his men showed very little sign of their recent injuries as they walked through the palace corridors. He just hoped that Louis wouldn't expect them back on duty too soon if he saw them.

They found the Cardinal in conversation with the King and Queen in the library. Tréville told the red guards to wait outside.

'Ah Captain Tréville, I wasn't expecting to see you so soon after the hunt,' Louis was looking happier after the hunting hadn't gone particularly well earlier. Queen Anne's eyes were on the four men following the Captain.

'I have news about Raymond,' Tréville announced deciding that he just wanted to get to the point.

'What news?' the Cardinal answered although it looked as though he already knew from his expression.

'He's dead,' Trévile answered bluntly. 'He attacked the garrison this afternoon and was killed along with his men.'

'I needed him alive!' Richelieu flounced. 'I needed the information on Lorraine.'

'Regretfully it was not possible to apprehend Raymond or his men alive,' Tréville stated as Louis looked somewhat amused by the war of words between Richelieu and Tréville. This was sometimes the best entertainment.

'Who killed him?' Richelieu asked directing his gaze to the Inseparables.

'I did,' D'Artagnan answered. The atmosphere was tense and Queen Anne sighed.

'Perhaps we should remember that we know that Raymond worked for the Duke of Lorraine and your spies, Cardinal, can relay the information without the Duke being suspicious,' Queen Anne commented as everyone turned their attention to her. 'I assume all of the men were caught?'

'We believe so,' Tréville answered, 'but I still have men searching to see if there were any more men that started the fire. Certainly all of the men that entered the garrison are dead.'

'Fire?' Louis asked and Tréville explained all of the circumstance that had occurred in the past few hours.

Queen Anne was watching the other musketeers who were all now starting to show signs of discomfort. She could see that they were all hurting but she could barely contain her joy at seeing them alive after believing the worst not so long ago.

'What am I supposed to do with the body?' she was drawn out of her thought by the Cardinal's exclamation.

'Whatever you want,' Tréville responded with a sigh. The Captain just wanted to get away now and his irritation had become clear.

The musketeers turned to leave but stopped as Queen Anne approached. 'I just wanted to say that I'm glad you are all recovering and I hope you take some more time to rest,' she smiled at man individually with her gaze lingering slightly on Aramis. 'Oh,' she smiled touching her stomach. 'Someone agrees with me.'

'Thank you, Your Majesty,' Aramis answered and the others nodded before they turned and left. Athos saw Aramis look back again before the marksman noticed his friend's glare and proceeded to look where he was going.

Moments later Tréville was called back by a red guard as Richelieu wanted to speak to him in private. The Captain sighed and shook his head slightly.

'All of you get back to the garrison and rest,' he ordered as he headed towards the Cardinal's office with a scowl.

'I'd love to be a fly on that wall,' Porthos chuckled quietly as they exited the palace.

They all managed to mount their horses, Athos with the aid of a nearby stool, and headed for home. Along the way they passed a tavern and Athos suddenly remembered something.

'You never did get my wine,' he said offhandedly to D'Artagnan with a raised eyebrow. Aramis and Porthos chuckled beside them as D'Artagnan sighed and then dismounted.

Athos handed him some coins and said, 'Get enough for all of us,' before they decided to ride on leaving D'Artagnan outside the tavern.

Normally, D'Artagnan would feel slightly put out by the idea of ferrying wine to his friends, but the fact that he was being asked to ferry wine was a good thing as it meant his brothers were alive. He'd take it, for now.

He quickly bought the wine and placed the bottles in his saddlebags and decided to walk the short distance back to the garrison. It had been a difficult few weeks in which he had experienced a range of emotions. The devastation of his brothers' deaths, before the joy of finding out that they were alive but the worry as they were still on the brink of death, and then the relief at their subsequent recovery.

He passed by the Bonacieux house and saw Constance taking in the washing. They exchanged smiles but that was all as Bonacieux had his back to D'Artagnan and the musketeer thought it best not to attract attention from the merchant. He would try and get a message to her so that she knew they were all recovering but he knew he would have to be careful.

The garrison came into view as D'Artagnan realised he had arrived without really paying attention to where he was going. He looked across at the table which had been empty when he thought Athos, Porthos and Aramis were dead. The table at that moment and characterised the emptiness of his life without them. Now they were again seated around it smiling and laughing, well as close as Athos ever really got to smiling and laughing, filling D'Artagnan's life again. Porthos spotted him and waved him over as he removed the bottles of wine from his saddlebags.

D'Artagnan pondered, as he wandered over to his friends, how an inanimate object could reflect his life so accurately. As he sat down next to Athos he realised that his life without these men would be empty while with them in it his life was complete, almost. He hoped that their table would never be truly empty again, well at least until they were old and grey and had lived their lives to the full.

A/N: I hope that this chapter ended this story on a high note. I have truly enjoyed writing it. I could have extended it but I felt I would be doing so just for the sake of it, but it means a lot that many of you did want it to continue. (It was a difficult choice to end it.)

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, followed and favourited it means a lot to know that you are enjoying the story. Currently, it is the musketeer fic with the highest number of favourites that I have written so far. I'm happy you have enjoyed my first mutli-chapter fic with D'Artagnan at the centre.

I wish you all well and maybe I will write another fic soon. Thanks again. xx