"What the hell were you thinking?!"

Fullmetal remained stubbornly silent, glaring up at his commanding officer. His golden blonde bangs had fallen in front of his eyes, darkening the shadows underneath them and only slightly exaggerating the weary look on the teen's face. There was a livid bruise across his left cheek bone, making the patch of skin that was scraped raw even more evident. His mouth was set in a tight line, his jaw locked so tightly it was a wonder that Hawkeye and Roy couldn't hear his teeth grind.

"Damn it Fullmetal!" Mustang yelled at the teen sitting desolately in the hospital bed, "I want answers."

Edward looked down, away from the probing black eyes of the older man. His automail arm crossed over his chest. His left arm was in a sling, pinned so that he couldn't straighten it. He seemed two times smaller than his usually petite size, curled up in the hospital bed with his legs underneath him. The sterile white sheet wrapped around his waist, tucked almost tight enough to keep him from moving.

Roy Mustang sighed, accepting that his subordinate wasn't going to be giving any explanation, "Fullmetal…"

"Just go away!" Edward spoke for the first time, his tone clipped and tired. He refused to look at the older man, glaring instead at his metal hand as he closed it into a fist. He refused to show the other his distress, locking it inside himself for a time when he was finally left alone.

Looking down sadly at Edward and with another defeated sigh, Mustang turned to leave, Hawkeye just behind him. Precisely as he touched the knob the door sprang open and a woman walked in. Her hair whipped around her head, cords of thin braids lashing out dangerously. Her eyes flashed as she stalked past the Colonel and up to the hospital bed, her white coat waving behind her like a cape.

Startled, Hawkeye reached for her gun, clicking the safety off and holding the weapon behind her back in case this woman was a threat. She remembered her from before, when Edward and Alphonse had disappeared to parts unknown for a few weeks.

Edward was too tired to even cringe as Izumi stood before him, her anger palpable. Her jaw worked silently for a moment or two, as if she couldn't decide what to say; then her hand whipped forward, smacking him smartly across the face. Edward had known the hit was coming but even so he didn't raise a hand to block it. His head whipped to the side, a small grunt of pain escaping from his lips.

Mustang glowered, his fingers twitching and ready to fry the woman if she did anything more. But he hesitated, the fact that Fullmetal hadn't moved making him curious as to who she was.

"You went after them on your own?" Izumi growled, ignoring the danger that the two military officers posed. Her attention was on her student, and the stupidity of his latest escapade

"Yes Teacher." Edward admitted quietly. There was no shame in his voice, but his eyes remained downcast. Mustang and Hawkeye gasped at the title he gave Izumi, suddenly understanding who and what she was to him. Roy looked like he wanted to stay but Hawkeye dragged him out of the room, leaving Fullmetal to be reprimanded by someone who actually held his respect.

"Why?" His teacher asked her anger bleeding away as she sat down on the bed beside him. She raised a hand and brushed the bangs out of his eyes, grasping his chin and forcing his head up so he was looking directly into her eyes. Izumi told herself that she wasn't surprised by the sorrow and despondency she saw in the depths of his shimmering gold eyes.

Edward sighed, "I'm tired of everyone getting hurt because of me." He said, looking away again.

Izumi frowned, "It's not because of you Ed."

"Yes it is," Edward protested, "The Homunculi are here because of me, everyone they've hurt…it's all because of me." The tears he had been holding back released and streamed silently down his cheeks.

"Stop being selfish!" Izumi snapped, Edward looked at her in surprise, "You stupid boy, how can you think that the actions of those heartless creatures are your fault?"

"Teacher…"

"No!" Izumi silenced him, "It's not your fault Ed." She put a hand on his shoulder, "It's not your fault." His breath hitched quietly and she drew him into a motherly hug, shushing him as his grief and fears spilled out of him in the shape of childish sobs.

"Promise me you won't go after them like that again." She demanded quietly as his crying slowed to a stop. Edward nodded against her shoulder.

"Yes Teacher." He whispered. Izumi hugged him tighter for a second then released him. He sat up, regarding her with his now puffy red eyes.

She looked at him with a slightly amused gaze, "You do realize that I still have to punish you for doing something so foolish?"

He returned her slight smile, "Yes Teacher." He looked at his bruised body, "But can it wait a while, I think the doctors are getting annoyed that I'm always here."

"That's a good point," Izumi said and though for a moment, "But it would be best if the punishment was immediate, so I guess it can't be physical can it?"

Edward was getting a little nervous, "I guess not." He waited a while longer, nervously watching Izumi's smile become dangerously mischievous, "Teacher, what's the punishment going to be."

Grinning outright now his teacher leaned forward and whispered into his ear. Edward's eyes widened impossibly large, "No you can't."

"Yes I can, as your teacher it's my duty to find a suitable punishment that matches the crime," Izumi said logically.

"But it'll be humiliating." Edward argued.

"That's the idea." Izumi stood and prepared to leave, "and don't worry about having to buy anything, I'll take care of it all."

"Wait Teacher!" Edward exclaimed, but Izumi ignored him as she went out of the room