Pairing: Albus/Alastor.

Rating: PG-13.

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. Characters owned by J.K. Rowling.

Summary: Hogwarts? You probably want to age them down a bit. Rabican's challenge. Drabble.

"Constant vigilance, Albus."

"I know, Alastor. Mind that hand. There you go. Can you sit up?"

Gnarled, leather hands clutched fistfuls of cloth. "Constant vigilance!" he hissed.

Albus pursed his lips and shook his head sadly. "You'll have to talk to me, Alastor. I cannot help you if--"

Releasing a sharp cry that may have been a sob, or infuriating anger, Moody bowed his head and pressed his forehead to the older Wizard's shoulder. "... vigilance," he whimpered drowsily.

Albus sighed and circled his arm around the man's shoulder, rubbing his palm in soothing circles. "Alastor," he whispered. "You should rest."

"No rest for the vigilant!" Alastor hissed.

"You've had a very long while to--" Albus interrupted himself, shaking his head. "Alastor, I'm so sorry for what happened."

The man he held was not recognizable anymore. The Auror who had inspired fear in their enemies, the same man who had walked with such confidence once, was a broken shell. Merlin only knew what Crouch had done to him in those moments Moody had needed to be subdued. Albus closed his eyes and wound his fist in the grey frazzled mass of Moody's hair. "I'm so sorry, my boy."

"Vigilance," Alastor murmured, and fell asleep on Albus' shoulder, his galleon-round eye moving restlessly.