Chapter One: The One That Got Away

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Ed narrowed his eyes in concentration, watching as people came and went from the bakery. It was early evening still, but the approaching winter was making the days much shorter. Already it was getting quite dark.

"Brother?" asked Al from where he was sitting, leaning against the opposite wall of the alley. "I'm hungry."

"I know. Don't worry, just be ready, alright?" Ed replied. Al simply nodded, but the worry didn't leave his eyes. With a sigh, Ed climbed slowly to his feet. The bakery wasn't busy - it was time to make a move, if his aching stomach was any judge. He stuffed his cold hands into his pockets and huddled in his thin jacket as he crossed the street. A bell jingled noisily above him as he pushed open the door and stepped inside. Several pairs of eyes turned toward him curiously.

"Thank-you, come again," said the woman behind the till to the last customer, and very soon Ed was the only one left. He moved slowly, calmly filling the large brown paper bags they provided, with the bread he was going to 'buy.' The clerk watched him for a moment - simply because there wasn't much else to do - and then she busied herself with a bit of paperwork. The boy glanced discretely toward the door. He could see through the glass that the coast was clear on the outside.

He folded down the top of the bag, chanced one more glance at the distracted clerk, and then bolted. The sound of the jingling bell faded behind him as he found himself back out on the cold street. There was a shout behind him, but he turned into the alleyway. Al was waiting, and Ed quickly handed off the bag of food and kept running. Al slipped behind a dumpster and out of sight. The woman stopped at the alley entrance, and listened to the sound of Ed's retreating footsteps in the alley. With a sigh of defeat, she turned back to the bakery.

After a few minutes, Ed paused and listened carefully. She wasn't following anymore. He sighed and leaned back against the nearest wall. Suddenly he felt very weak. He clutched his chest, willing the sharp pain that had formed there to go away, and closed his eyes tightly.

"Brother?" his eyes snapped open at his brothers voice. "She went back," Al said.

"Then lets go before the police show up," replied Ed, moving swiftly from his place against the wall and on down the alley. The two boys faded into the darkness.

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Mustang heaved a frustrated sigh and put his head in his hand to try to ease the headache that was forming. "Did they get the information confirmed yet?" asked a familiar voice, and he looked up to see his old friend Maes Hughes walk into the office. He was dressed in casual wear - obviously off-duty. Hawkeye entered the room just behind him, moving over to her own desk to file some papers.

"Yes," replied Mustang. "And that's the third place he's ripped off this week."

"Well at least we know what area he's in now," said Hawkeye hopefully.

Hughes slumped down comfortably in one of the large soft chairs in front of Mustang's desk. "So what?" he asked, waving a hand dismissively. "The same kid you guys have been after for months slipped through your fingers again." His tone was bored. "Big surprise. Nobody's ever been able to get close to catching him. So why'd you call me here all of a sudden, wanting me to take him?"

Mustang sighed. "Because I'm going to lay a trap for him, and I thought you'd be the best place to take him once we catch him."

"You found out who he is?" asked Hughes in surprise, sitting up straight.

"Yeah..." Mustang glanced at a paper on his desk. "And it was confirmed by some lady at the bakery yesterday. Edward Elric, 12 years old."

"So what makes you so sure you're going to be able to catch him?" asked Hughes.

Mustang scowled. "He always gets away - smart and resourceful. But I can't let this continue. We need to get that kid off the streets. Which means," he said, "we'll need to take more drastic measures."

Hughes sighed. "So what you're saying is that you're going to send in a cavalry to do a one-man job."

"You've got a problem with that?" Mustang asked. "As I recall, you wanted to bring him in too. But you gave up on the idea, because nobody could catch him."

"Well, yeah, but... is it really necessary to go that far?"

"Hughes..." this time is was Hawkeye. "In all the months we've been after this kid, only one officer managed to lay a finger on him. And that officer ended up getting knocked uncontious." Hughes looked away.

"I know what you're thinking. But there are no other options left Hughes." Mustang sighed again. "I'm tired of this chase, and I'm sure he's tired of running. In the end it'll be for his own good. Otherwise he's just going to be plunked in jail, and we both know that's no place for a kid."

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"Brother? I'm hungry," Al said softly. He looked to Ed, who was crouched shivering against the wall. A violent cough erupted suddenly, shaking his small frame. "Brother?" Al cried out in concern. He put his arm around Ed.

"I'm... sorry," Ed muttered quietly after the cough had subsided. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine. It's just a cough." Al frowned, noticing not for the first time that his brothers voice was getting quieter, softer. "I'll be back," said Ed, standing abruptly. "Wait here where it's warm." He smiled reassuringly. "I won't be too long."

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Ed frowned and glanced back nervously. Something was wrong. He could sense it; something about this place wasn't safe anymore. But it was starting to snow, and the air was so frigid around him that he could see his own breath. He needed to get some food. The bread he'd stolen two days ago had run out the day before, and now the struggle for food began again. He returned his gaze to the convenience store on the corner. No... it was too high of a risk. Too many camera's and alarms in those sorts of places. He knew that... but Al needed food. He needed food. He took a cautious step forward, then another. Leaving the safety of the alleyways was always nerve-wracking, but there was something else that was making his heart pound. It was flowing throughout his entire body and stealing away his strength.

Ed felt suddenly dizzy, and having left the safety of the alley behind him, he instead leaned against the nearby wall of a shop. His limbs felt heavy - heavier than usual - and his head felt hot despite the bone-chilling cold. He shivered and closed his eyes, pulling his thin jacket tighter around himself in a useless attempt to clock out the cold wind. He stood still, waiting for the dizzy spell he was feeling to pass. The gently-falling snow bit at his bare face and ears, but he ignored it. He could deal with the cold later. For now, he needed to...

His eyes snapped open at the sound of a car moving slowly, and he looked up to see a police car. His heart skipped a beat and he tensed, ready to run, but it carried on by without changing its speed. Edward sighed in relief. It wasn't looking for him - but it did eliminate the idea of robbing the store on the corner. He was hungry, yes, but not stupid. Pushing himself off the wall, hands still in pockets, he stumbled back into the alley.

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Mustang watched in the rearview mirror as the boy headed into the alley and then pulled over. "Alright," he spoke into the radio. "We have his location. Begin the operation - and remember; I don't want to hear a single siren or see any flashing lights until I give the okay." He put down the radio and opened up the map of the back alleys, smirking. Hawkeye studied it as well. "Good..." muttered Mustang. "Now we just have to drive him into our net."

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Edward walked down the alley, eyes downcast. He hated the idea of telling his brother they'd have to go hungry for a bit longer. A thin layer of snow had built up on the ground, and he watched it shift in the slight breeze through half-lidded, tired eyes. Suddenly he felt his throat tighten and once again a powerful cough overtook him.

He doubled over, gasping for air until it passed. He could taste the metallic flavor of blood, and once again a wave of dizziness washed over him. He stood still, leaning against a wall until his vision cleared, and then kept walking. "There he is!"

Edward jumped at the voice and whipped around to see two officers coming down the alley behind him. Instantly his survival instincts kicked into gear. He shot off down the alley, away from the men. Weaving right, then left, left again, toward an exit. He skidded to a halt at the flashing lights that sat waiting, and spun around again, off in another direction. More officers pursued.

Another exit from the maze of back-alleys - another set of flashing lights. Twice more he met the same dead end, and was forced to keep moving. 'Al..." he thought, and realization sunk in. They had him trapped! He needed to get out of the alleys and lead them away from his brother! But his breath was coming in ragged heaves, and the taste of blood was only getting stronger from the cold air rushing into his lungs and scraping his throat raw in the process.

Ed paused for a moment to listen for the men chasing him. In that moment of hesitation and officer stepped out from his hiding place and grabbed Ed's arms from behind. Ed jumped at the unexpected presence, crying out in surprise, and felt his arms being held tightly. He couldn't move! Wildly, stemmed by fear, he slammed his whole body backward, throwing the officer off balance and sending them both toppling painfully to the ground.

The rolled in the snow and the man's grip loosened a tiny bit. It was enough of a chance for Edward. He jammed his elbows back, catching the man in his chest and winding him. And then he was on his feet and gone again. The fallen officer pulled out his radio and climbed to his feet, brushing snow off his uniform.

"This is Falman," he said. "He just went down into sector four." He cringed and rubbed his chest. "And they weren't kidding; the kid packs a wallup."

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Al was dozing against the back of the dumpster they'd been using as a hiding place. It was a small space, about a two-foot gap between the dumpster and the wall, but the snow didn't fall there and a vent from the building sent warm air out. It was a good place for Edward, Al knew, since his brother always seemed to be cold. He was much thinner than Al was, simply because whatever food he took in was used up right away in shivering to keep warm. It was something they had grown accustomed to, though; Al was always hungry, and Ed was always cold. 'And probably hungrier than I am,' he thought miserably, rubbing his hands together and breathing on them. And speaking of Ed, where WAS he?

The sound of a distant siren caught his attention and he froze, listening. No, there was more than one of them. "Brother!" he said worriedly, emerging from their hiding place and running down the alley to a juncture. He looked both ways, not sure of what to do. Was Ed in trouble? If so, then...

Al gasped as a strong hand fell upon his shoulder. He jumped back, only to collide with the person's body. Ed spun around, his heart racing, and found himself looking up at the face of a tall, dark-haired officer. He yelped and tried to jump away, but another strong pair of hands fell on his shoulders.

"Relax, kid," said the Raven-haired man calmly. Al looked up to the face of the other officer - a brown-haired man with a cigarette in the side of his mouth.

"Don't worry. We're not going to hurt you." Al shivered in the cold air he was exposed to. Why had he come out? He should have stated hidden! Another siren joined the others, this one a bit closer, and Al turned around, trying to look down the alley again. Surely any second now, Ed would show up and save him... any second now...

Since Al refused to walk, he was promptly lifted and carried. After a short and un-effective struggle, which involved a bit of shouting on his part, he found himself in the back of a police cruiser.

The Raven haired man sat down in the front seat, leaving the door open. "Who are you looking for?" he asked.

"N-no one!" Al lied. Mustang just sighed.

"You're brother's giving us quite the chase," he said, deciding to give up the pretenses. "As I would expect from the one who always gets away. But this time..." his eyes narrowed as he looked down the alley. "He's got nowhere to go."

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Hughes pulled up and parked his black car behind the four police cruisers already there. As he stepped out into the snow he saw Mustang climb out of one of the cars and shut the door. "Did you catch him?" asked Hughes in surprise, noticing the blonde hair of a young boy in the back-seat of the car he'd just emerged from.

"Not yet," replied Mustang. "But we got the little brother, as planned. It looks like we lucked out. They weren't together."

"So you still have to catch the older one?" asked Hughes.

Mustang looked to the alley entrance and Hughes followed his gaze. At least 8 officers stood at the ready. "He can't get away now," said Mustang. "The kid is fast and resourceful, but it's already been half-an-hour, and even HE can't run forever. Once my men drive him into this area he'll be trapped."

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Edward was out of ideas. Every exit was blocked. He had a painful stitch in his side and his legs felt like they were moving numbly. With the officers pursuing him, he had no choice but to keep moving forward. He clutched at his chest, unable to draw enough air into his lungs. He paused for a moment, leaning against the wall, but the sound of shouts and running feet drove him on. He felt like a sheep being herded, and he didn't like it. But like the sheep-dogs, these men had teeth, and he had no choice but to keep running.

As he came to a junction in the alleys, he saw flashing lights to his right. He took a sharp left, and the appearance of an officer in front of him left him no choice but to take the next right again. 'No!' he thought desperately, realizing that the only place left for him to go would be the alley where their hiding place was.

He had no choice though... it was the only place left to go. At the end of the alley, police cars were waiting. He slid to a stop and whirled around in a desperate attempt to go back the way he'd come. He slid to a stop again and stumbled backwards. There were at least six officers blocking his retreat, and more if the others who had been chasing him showed up.

He was surrounded and trapped. Through the officers he could see Al pounding desperately on the windows of one of the police cars. So he had been caught.

"Edward Elric," a voice rang out clearly. "You have the option of coming with us peacefully. If you continue to resist, we'll have no choice but to take you in forcibly."

Edward smirked as the men circled around him on three sides. He stepped back and felt the cold stone of the wall. His breath came in ragged heaves. His body and strength was spent, but the fire remained in his eyes. He couldn't escape. He knew there was no way out... but if he was going down, he would at least make sure they remembered it.

With a sudden cry, he flew at one of the nearest officers, sending him sprawling. In the chaotic struggle that followed, Edward kicked, punched, bit and scratched until finally he hit the ground. The side of his forehead scraped against the cement only a few centimeters beneath the snow, drawing blood. He tried to roll, but it was too late. He was pinned there. And officer sat on his back with both his knees on Ed's elbows, his hands pinning his wrists. However much he jerked or thrashed, he could not free himself.

The men spoke amongst themselves, and Ed listened without really registering. "Someone cuff his ankles until we get him outta here." He felt hands on his ankles and then the weight of the metal rings. He shivered as the cold metal snaked its way around one wrist with a few clicks, and finally the pressure was removed from his elbows so that they could bring his hands together and do the same to the other. Someone commented on the fact that he had an automail arm, but he didn't care. He closed his eyes, chest still heaving as he struggled to breathe with the added weight of a person. Eventually that weight, too, was lifted.

Hughes watched the scene play out from a distance. As the boy's eyes closed, and his desperate struggle ended, he felt his heart go out to the child. This was it then... the hunt for Edward Elric had ended. He glanced around and shook his head in awe. It had taken over 25 officers and an extremely complicated trap to bring down a 12-year-old.

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-END-

Authors Note:

Phew... thank goodness that's typed out. This is probably the first story where I wrote the entire thing on paper, so the longest part is actually typing it out on the computer to be uploaded... I hope that people like this... R&R regardless, I'd like to know what you think.