There was a hushed silence, almost eerie, as storm clouds coated the once blue sky above Amistris. A clap of thunder sounded, and the black sky was illuminated by the single strike of white lightning as it bent and cracked as it tried to touch the ground with unrealistic fingers. Rain pounded the sidewalks, trapping every sensible creature inside in their dens and homes as mother nature cursed Amistris with another roar of thunder. A single person weaved his way through the rain, trudging past puddles as he frantically walked, hoping his efforts weren't in vein.
"Gah..." Alphonse Elric muttered as he fought for shelter under the awning of a closed shop. The drug store was just a few blocks away. If he headed back to the Military base now, all his hard work and his soaked clothes would be for nothing. He paused and sneezed, and sighed. "I swear, if Brother isn't happy about this, he has it coming for him."
Al pushed his way against the wind and the rain, wincing as every clap of thunder roared past him, and stopped his walking when the lightning shot to the ground from the sky above. If Al had still been in his armor at this moment, he would have been like a walking lightning rod and would have been toast. Al paused and sneezed again, shivering from the cold.
"Please be open." Al prayed to himself as he walked to the small drug store at the end of the block. He recalled coming here only once before, to pick something up with Fletcher. He smiled at the time, and how the doctor had reacted towards his armor.
But now Al pushed his way through the open door, his clothes dripping wet as he entered the dry shelter. The doctor eyed Al warily as Al stepped up to the counter, flinging his hood off his head and slinging his soaked arms onto the white, clean counter.
The doctor sighed as he got up from his stool at the back of the store and walked up to the counter where he stood beside Al.
"Young man," he addressed firmly, "aren't you a bit too young to be traveling alone in this sort of storm?"
Al almost laughed, but nodded. "Yes, I know," he said, respectfully dipping his head at the man. "But I have to get something. You see, my brother is very ill, and is has only been getting worse. I am very worried about him."
The doctor smiled, and Al had not noticed the cigarette in the doctor's hand until he brought it to his parted lips and slowly drew in. Only until after blowing the steamy, white smoke from his mouth and nose did he answer. "Ah, I see. Well, I wouldn't suppose you would have a certain medicine in mind, but can you tell me your brother's symptoms?"
Al nodded, and ran a list through his mind. "He is having really bad stomach pains, and ear pains, too. He doesn't want to eat and has a fever, and he constantly complains of his throat being sore. His nose is runny and his eyes are red. He coughs a lot and I think his chest is hurting him, also, but he won't say anything until it is really hurting bad." Al lowered his gaze to the floor. "I-... I feel so helpless, not knowing how to help him feel better, so I-I thought that coming here and getting some medicine to help him would make him okay."
The doctor puffed on his smoke once more before putting a gentle hand on Al's shoulder. "Call me Doctor John Staybin. I might know how to help your brother, but I need to see him to correctly asses his diagnosis."
Al's eyes lit up. "T-Thank you, D-Dr. Staybin! M-My name is Alphonse, Alphonse Elric." Al stammered through chattering teeth as he bowed to the doctor.
John smiled and laughed at Al, then stood up and ran a hand through his musky dark brown hair. He was very tall and around his thirties.
Al waited for John to collect his things before heading back into the rain. Luckily, the downpour had lightened a bit, and the wind had died down. The thunder still rolled in the distance, but the walk back was much easier.
Al leaded his way down the hall of Central's Military base and into an old staff room that now served as Ed's resting spot.
Al pushed his way through the door, greeting Ed, who was lying on his back with his face pale and Winry standing over him. Winry's face was sick with worry as John's head peeked through the cracked door.
Al's happy expression faded to grim worry as he made his way to Winry.
"Al, I-... Who is this?" She asked, turning to John.
"This is Dr. Staybin. I got him from the drug store down the road. He said he would treat Brother." Al explained, and John nodded.
"May I talk to you in private for a moment, Doctor?" Winry asked.
Al nodded, and stepped out of the room. He knew what she meant by it.
The doctor didn't even have to examine Ed before knowing what had happened. "He's in a coma, right?"
Winry nodded shakily. "I don't think he has much longer."
John sighed and stepped closer to Winry. "Is Alphonse connected to him on a deep level?"
"Deeper than you could imagine." Winry tried to force back tears.
"You're right, he hasn't got much longer." Staybin frowned, leaning over Ed. "Two days in this state at best. It would be a miracle if he recovered from this."
Al couldn't hold back the tears from streaming down his face as he listened in on the conversation. If somebody up there really is controlling our fate, Al sobbed to the sky, than please don't let Ed die. Take me. Take me back to the Gate. It is equivalent exchange.
And, as another bolt of lightning touched the ground, it seemed to draw something back to the sky with it as Winry and John's faces clouded with greif when John felt Ed's wrist.
It was as still as the air outside, and not a single flash of lightning or rumble of thunder could be detected as the seconds wore on like years.
Is this the end for Edward? I know it was a rush, kind of, but please review and tell me if I should continue this story or not. Thanks! And I don't own anything. Thanks! See you next chapter!