Disclaimer: I do not own Albert the Fifth Musketeer or the characters

Notes: There. This lengthy, angsty fic of mine is finally complete after all this time. Two of my close friends know of this, and encouraged me to continue writing it after I'd told them about it.

No matter how bright and cheerful someone can be, even they are prone to emotional scarring. I wanted to prove that even Albert would be affected if something were to happen to his friends. I apologise for putting Albert and the Three Musketeers (plus D'Artagnan) through this, it killed me to write it... Anyway, I do hope you enjoy reading this story, emotional though it will be.

Chapter One

Everything was dark. Somebody kept calling to him, but who was it? Why were they insisting he wake up? He was just sleeping, right? Eventually, he decided to give in to the person, if only for them to shut up. He tiredly opened his eyes slowly and moved to sit up, but he was pushed down gently. He realised the person calling him was the doctor. "Doctor?"

"Easy there. I haven't finished seeing if you were also injured," the medical practitioner murmured.

"Injured...?" That's when it all came back to him. He bolted upright, only to put a hand to his head and let out a moan.

"See what I mean? Just lie back."

"I wasn't injured...but, the others...?"

"I patched them all up first, they needed immediate care. They're all asleep at the moment, it's the only way they can avoid feeling the pain for the time being."

"Will they be alright?"

The doctor got him to lie down again, a serious expression on his features. "I'm not certain just yet. They were in horrible shape when you were all found. But, if you weren't injured, why were you unconscious?"

"I think I must've fainted. My head still feels a little funny."

"Have some water, that might help you. Now, I'm going to need you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"Keep an eye on the others. Something tells me you won't want to leave them anyway." He looked to the side, and lying on four cots were the other Musketeers. "Do you know what happened?"

"I think they may have been attacked by more Guards than usual. When I arrived, I saw D'Artagnan fighting five Guards on his own, but the others were already unconscious. Normally, they're able to fight the Guards with little issue, even if I'm not there to help out, so the numbers must've been against them."

"I see. Then, what happened?"

"I helped D'Artagnan fight off the last of the Guards, and that was when I'd noticed his injuries. Then, I noticed the others had the same types of injuries, only in different areas of the body. Not long after D'Artagnan collapsed from blood loss, I felt myself becoming overwhelmed and then, everything went dark."

He nodded. "I see."

"Just how serious were their injuries?"

"Pretty serious. They had some very deep cuts on their arms, legs and torsos, and I even saw one on Athos' face. It's fortunate someone found all of you when they did, otherwise these gentlemen may not have made it through the night. As it is, they're all touch-and-go."

His eyes widened as he heard that. "Is there anything else that can be done?"

"Just let them rest and pray that they'll wake in the morning. That's when I'll be able to give them some broth and administer the pain medication. For now, it's too dangerous. If they do wake in the morning, then everything will be fine, though they'll all still be weakened from their wounds for a few weeks. If they don't..."

He shook his head. "How could this have happened...?"

"Don't worry about that now, Albert." The doctor put his hand on the smallest Musketeer's shoulder. "It's over. Just focus on them, okay?"

He nodded. "Okay."

"I'll be in the next room. If anything goes wrong, call for me and I'll be right in."

"What should I do?"

"Just keep an eye on them, and observe their condition every half-hour. One time to call me is if they develop a fever, as that could be a sign of infection." He patted the smaller male's shoulder gently, then left the room.

Albert slid off his cot and moved to the centre of the room. He could see his friends lying there peacefully, though he knew they couldn't be, not with the pain they were dealing with.

Albert had just finished checking if his comrades had any sign of infection, testing their temperatures and checking the areas near each wound for a dangerous red line. Thankfully, there was no rise in temperature and nothing to hint danger. Even so, he still couldn't be reassured that his friends were going to be alright. "Why didn't I get there sooner...? This should not have happened, not to them..." He sat by D'Artagnan's cot, and listened as his friend breathed steadily. "Despite the seriousness of your wounds, you continued to fight. Why? When I arrived, you were...you were practically dead on your feet..."

The brunette stirred slightly and opened his eyes with difficulty. "Albert...?"

The hoarse voice caused the petit male to sit up straight in alarm. "D'Artagnan! You're awake! Are you alright?"

"It hurts all over..."

"I'm sorry, but the doctor can't give you pain medication until morning. It's not safe in your current condition, it could make you ill..."

"Thought so...water...?"

"Of course. Your throat must be parched." He moved to the bench and poured a cup of water for his friend, adding a straw to make drinking easier. He returned to the cot and offered the straw. He continued holding the cup while D'Artagnan had something to drink.

"Better. Thanks."

"It's alright. You need to keep your fluids up." He returned the cup to the bench, then returned to his seat.

"How did we get here?"

"I don't know. The doctor said someone found all of us lying unconscious."

"Were you injured?"

"No. I fainted not long after you'd collapsed. Just how did you all get so injured in the first place?"

"There were twenty Guards. They were too strong, but we didn't want to give up until we defeated them."

"If only I was there, I could've helped you. I could've prevented this, I could've prevented all of you from getting injured so severely."

"How bad did the doctor say?"

"Pretty bad. If you hadn't woken by morning, then there would be no hope of recovery. But, in the morning, if everyone's able to wake, then everyone would be able to have some medication and begin recovery."

"That bad?"

"You were all cut very deeply. How did you not realise?"

"You know me. Once a Guard is around, everything else is out of the picture, even my own condition."

"Yes, I know that. Still, it was absolutely stupid of you to keep fighting in your condition. You're lucky to be awake now."

"Not so much, the pain's getting worse."

"I know, D'Artagnan, but it's not safe for you to have the medication." He knew the only other course of action would be to wait until D'Artagnan's pain became so unbearable, he'd pass out on his own.

"Are you alright?"

"I wasn't injured."

"I don't mean physical injuries. I heard you berating yourself all night. This is almost like the way you felt you'd let us down following our first mission together. Only this time, it's much worse. What happened was not your fault."

"I want to believe that, but I wasn't there to help you. If I was there, then nothing like this would've happened."

"The only ones at fault are the Guards." He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth as the pain from one of his wounds gripped him. "It hurts..."

"You wouldn't be in this condition if I had arrived in time. None of our friends would be close to dying. I wasn't there! Our motto is One for all, and all for one, meaning we should all be there to help each other, and I wasn't there until it was too late! The Guards may have attacked, but I'm still at fault for not being able to help even things out, my inventions could've helped all of you while you fought as many Guards as you could handle, without having to get so injured!"

He wanted to say calm down, but he figured the venting was what Albert needed so he could begin his own recovery.

"D'Artagnan...I'm so sorry for not being there to help you...when you needed it...I really did let everyone down this time..."

"No."

He looked up at his friend.

"You did not let us down. You came when you did, and it did help."

"But, I was too late..."

"There's no such thing as too late."

"There is if being too late results in having your friends lying on the ground bleeding to death."

"No."

Albert shook his head. "I was too late! I arrived too late! You were barely able to stand as it was when I arrived, what if I hadn't arrived until much later?"

"Exactly. You didn't arrive much later, so it wasn't too late. We all got help in the end. Don't know how, but we did."

"I couldn't do a thing. I helped fight off those Guards, and soon joined the rest of you in a state of unconsciousness."

"Albert, stuff like this happens. Even if you were there during most of the battle, they might've managed to overwhelm you as well. I'm glad you showed up when you did, I'd hate for you to be in the same condition we are."

"D'Artagnan..."

If he could've moved his arm, he would've placed his hand on top of Albert's head affectionately. "You're safe, and we're all going to recover just fine. I think that deserves to be called a victory, don't you?"

"No, not if the price to pay for victory is the near-death of four of my closest friends. I don't know what I would've done if you had died. I don't know what I will do if the others don't make it."

"Stop that. We're meant to have faith in each other. All you can do is have faith in the others that they will pull through with the strength all men envy." He noticed Albert's hand was sitting on the bed, so he slid his arm over slowly, just enough so he could take hold of it. "Okay? Just believe in them."

He nodded, turned his hand and returned the grip, albeit very lightly so as not to cause more injury. "I will." He shook his head. "I've never felt so scared in my life..."

"I know. But, we'll be okay. I promise. And any word made on D'Artagnan's honor is a promise that will be kept."

He nodded quietly.

The doctor came in to change the bandages on each injured male, and check that their wounds were clear of any sign of infection. He noticed Albert sitting by D'Artagnan's bed, gently holding the older male's hand. He also noticed the younger male was fast asleep. "Looks like he's worn down too. I'll let him rest for now." Finishing his job, the doctor filled another pitcher with water before returning to the other room.