Different turn of events at the barricade.

Chapter 1

Eponine saw the gun pointing at Marius, but as she went to step in front of it another boy hit the man knocking the gun away. The shot hit Eponine in the side. When Marius climbed down the steps and noticed he ran to her.

"Eponine?"

"Marius.." Eponine gasped.

"Ponine... I am here." He said. Coming to rest by her side. Inspecting the wound. "She needs a doctor now." He yelled to the others.

"Marius..." Eponine whispered. She regretted what she was about to do, but if she died he would never know. She reached into her pocket pulling out a piece of paper and handing it to him. "Marius here...

Marius gazed at the paper in her hand. It is from Cosette. I... I kept it from you." Eponine told him.

Marius took the piece of paper as Eponine passed out and helped the boys carry Eponine to one of the houses, so the women could tend to her wound.

Javert watched as they brought the young boy in. Setting him down, while another boy went to retrieve help. As he watched the boy they called Marius caress the wounded boys face. He was confused by the intimacy. Until he heard him call the boy Eponine.

A strange name for a boy... Eponine. Who names their son Eponine? Javert thought.

He knew that name. Where had he heard it. He searched and racked his brain till he remembered. The girl.. he thought. That Thénardier girl. She was called Eponine he was sure of it.

That would mean... Javert thought... No they wouldn't allow a mere girl to become privy to such danger. Javert watched as they picked her up again and carried her away to one of the back houses. Her hat falling to the floor letting him see her fully. Her long hair escaping its confinement, highlighting her face. Javert forced himself to look away.

"You call yourselves men?" he mumbled. "Nothing but boys!"

Both Enjolras and Marius heard him. Marius merely looked at Javert knowing perfectly well what he meant and deep down he asked himself the same. To allow Eponine there. Why had he not made her stay away. She wouldn't be in there if she would have stayed away from the barricade.

Enjolras noticed Marius's discomfort and would not allow the Inspector the satisfaction. Walking over to the Inspector.

"And you Inspector? Being caught by us boys?" he hissed.

"Boy!" Javert corrected.

"I beg your pardon?" Enjolras asked.

"A boy… I was caught by a boy. The rest of you simply tied me up. Had not been for him I would not be here. I'd be with my men hauling you BOYS to jail." Javert smirked seeing the slight recognition on Enjolras face. He could tell his blood was boiling. Bracing himself for what he knew would come.

Javert felt the familiar sting of flesh hitting flesh as Enjolras heaved a hefty blow to Javerts face. It nearly knock the Inspector off balance had he not expected it he would probably be on the floor. No! he thought. No child will knock him down that easy. I'll die before that happens. He promised.

Enjolras turned and stormed out leaving Marius. Marius looked at Javert meeting his eye. The look on Javerts face caused Marius to feel sick. He quickly turned and left.

Javert stared after Marius felling as though he succeeded somewhat.

As Marius walked out he took the note Eponine had given him and read it. Feeling shamed as his heart filled knowing Cosette loved him as well. While Eponine may be dying.

Marius approached Gavroche in his cubby. Asking him to take a note to Cosette. Gavroche said yes. He looked up to Marius and would do anything for him.

As Marius waited he thought about Eponine. He loved her... he knew that, but not in the way he knew she wanted. She was his friend. His best friend. He could never view her the same as Cosette. She deserved someone that did.

When Gavroche arrived back at the barricade Marius was nervous.

"Did you find the house Gavroche?" He asked.

"Yes."

"And..." Marius pushed nearly wanting to shake the boy.

"And nothing a man opened the door. I handed him the message and he sent me on my way. Who was that anyway?"

"A friend Gav." Marius said and left it at that. Deep down Marius hoped her father would give her the message. He had never met the man, but to raise such a girl as Cosette he had to be a decent man.

There was no activity at the barricade for a long while till Valjean arrived dressed as an officer. The boys were shocked an officer would approach alone. At least the Inspector had the mind to disguise himself. They would not be fooled again.

The only thing that stopped them from immediately tying him up like Javert was Gavroche. What convinced them was when he shot two officers without hesitation.

Enjolras was curious about this stranger, but Gavroche would never lie about something like that if it meant their lives. He allowed Valjean do take care of The Inspector in his own way.

After a while they heard the shot in the alleyway which they assumed was Valjean killing the inspector.

Their suspicions were confirmed as Valjean emerged from the building and nodded to Enjolras.

Javert ran back to his men. His head reeling from what had just occurred. Valjean let him go. After everything and all this time he said he didn't blame Javert for doing his duty and allowed him to live and even told him where to look if Javert still wanted to arrest him.

Javerts mind suddenly turned to Eponine. That girl. She caused him so much irritation throughout the years. Her and that vermin she called a family. Perhaps it would be better… Javerts stopped himself from thinking such things. She may be a street rat, but even he had to admit she was brave for fighting along side those boys. He would have never thought he would see the day a woman would do as she had. She's a stubborn girl he could tell, but that wound looked bad. He found himself curious if she had made it or not. Surprised at himself for wondering and thinking it would be a shame if she didn't.

Javert shook the thought from his mind and back to more important matters. Valjean was still loose and possibly going to die at that barricade. With that thought Javert quickly changed back into his uniform and without warning took off towards the barricade.

"If he dies tonight it'll be by my hand. An inspectors hand, and not by one of my men." Javert swore as he neared the barricade.

Javert made it back to the barricade just in time to see Gavroche climbing over the wall. He knew the lad was crazy, but didn't realize he had a death wish.

"So never kick a dog because he's just a pup." Gavroche sang.

Despite the warning shot Gavroche kept coming, even smirking as they missed. While the other boys were shouting for him to stop and go back.

Javert didn't understand why his heart sped up as he watched the boy continue down the barricade.

"We'll fight like twenty armies and we won't give up."

The second shot rang out hitting Gavroche in the arm. Surely that would stop the boy.

To Javerts' surprise it did not stop Gavroche advances. Javert could swear he could hear his heart beating loudly as he watched his men reload another shot.

"Why should I care what happens to that street rat?" Javert wondered. "He nearly caused my death had Valjean not release me."

As he looked at Gavroche he saw no fear in the boy. He was willing to risk his life for his cause. Willing to risk it for his duty.

Before Javert knew it he was running, not towards his men, but to Gavroche.

"So you'd better run for cover when the pup grows up."

His reached for Gavroche and his heart skipped a beat as he heard the final shot.