Gathering

Author's Note: Takes place between Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 of the Toll. Or before the hospital scene in Brotherhood.


"Second Lieutenant Breda?" called Fuery, going back to the communications center they'd set up in the former Fuhrer's staff room.

"What's the news?" Breda asked.

"They're both alive and they're both in the hospital," he answered. "First Lieutenant Hawkeye lost a lot of blood from a slashed throat, but they missed the artery and the larynx. Once the blood is restored, she'll recover completely - about a week they think."

"And the Colonel?" Breda could tell from Fuery's face that the news wasn't nearly so good there.

"He's not in critical condition," said Fuery, hesitantly.

"Spit it out!" said Breda. "He's alive and he's going to stay that way. I got that. What's wrong with him?"

"He's blind," said Fuery. "And his hands are hurt pretty bad. They think his hands will pretty much get better, though."

"But he's going to stay blind, is that it?" said Breda. This was not good.

Fuery nodded.

"Shit," said Breda, looking down. "Shit, shit, shit."

"He wants to get us together in his and Hawkeye's hospital room," Fuery added in a small voice.

Breda jerked his head back to Fuery. "They're in the same hospital room?" he asked.

Fuery nodded. "First Lieutenant Hawkeye had me add her name to the patient list outside the room so we could get her past the orderlies."

"So Hawkeye's in the same room and Mustang's calling a meeting," he said half to himself. "Means the chief hasn't given up yet."

"He's still got to leave the military, doesn't he?" asked Fuery.

"Well," said Breda, "probably. But Hav managed to do some good on the outside. When are we meeting?"

"As soon as possible. I need to check with Second Lieutenant Falman," he said. "He's still in the Briggs chain of command, so he'll have to arrange to get permission. He won't want to go AWOL like us."

"Definitely not," said Breda. "If he has any problems, let me know. I'll arrange something. We should regularize our status too."

Fuery recognized the look on Breda's face. Calculating. Maybe this was going to work out after all.

"Blind?" muttered Breda, then called after Fuery as he reached the door. "Have Falman check the regs, would you? On disabilities."

"Yes, sir," said Fuery, finally throwing a smile at Breda before he ran off to find Falman.