Chapter One: Circles

AN: Any further updates depend on the response. Read at your own risk- don't get attached to it. It may or may not be continued.

Hawkeye didn't need any extra sense or alchemy to tell her that this was going to be one hell of a day.

Rubbing her temples, she wearily surveyed the remains of what used to be an industrialized part of town out from under a blonde fringe. Of course, used to be being the key words; what had been a budding center of commerce in the industrial part of town, more than two blocks, was now up in smoke.

Ah, yes, back to that long day theory. What she wouldn't give to have merely called in sick like Mustang told her to. Hell, it wouldn't be so hard to just feign a headache and go home now- no one would think less of her and…

She would think less of herself, she thought. No, really, it wasn't so hard to track down a nigh invisible rouge alchemist who left nothing but smoke and ashes behind him. Nope, not hard at all.

"You're looking tense, Hawkeye." The newest member of the small band under Colonel Mustang, a young man named Susa, tossed her a winning smile from under his heavy red fringe of hair. "You want to turn in? Maybe take a late morning? It's your birthday- you shouldn't be working. I can handle this-"

"I'm fine." She grumbled, stroking her cheek with a finger as she looked out at the devastation. "Are there any survivors? Witnesses? Make a sweep of the surrounding offices for any suspicious individuals or anyone-"

"Hey," Susa held up his hands, smiling, "I know the drill. Chill and I'll be back in a sec…"

He reappeared moments later and holding a steaming cup in his hands. "You looked like you needed it."

Smiling, Hawkeye reflected wryly that, although new, he had quickly learned that a Hawkeye with out her coffee in the morning was a rather unfriendly Hawkeye. And an unfriendly Hawkeye was a bitch to work with.

"Thanks." She lifted the cup to her mouth and took another survey. Turning to Susa, she arched a brow, "The sweep?"

Grinning boyishly, Susa gave a brief salute and trotted off into the center of the wreckage, a band of four foots trotting behind him.

Guess I'll take the businesses, she thought and shrugging.

Still stroking her cheek, Hawkeye ignored the cinders and ash staining her uniform and turned to the surrounding buildings.

She was trying to piece together the alchemy needed for devastation of this magnitude. Underneath the rubble, none of the cement seemed to be missing…

Back up, she thought, pacing within the calm of her office. Cause and effect. What would have caught fire? What she had seen on her infrequent visits to this part of town had shown nothing more than a concrete canyon. Nothing to burn so what had burnt, and it had burnt very well, had to be transported in somehow. There were two choices; alchemy or physically moving it in.

There had been no problem, or at least a very minimal amount of crime, in that district as it was very affluent; no suspicious individuals as of late, no suspicious activities…

And again, there were no obvious signs of alchemy.

Hawkeye indulged for a moment in the thought of a warm bed with Black Hayate and a good book…

Damn, she gave the report a dirty look and reached over to her desk to toy with the edges.

Oh well, she thought as she shot the Colonel's door a slightly guilty look; won't hurt to turn in just a tad early on my birthday. She'd already put in a quite full day already, right?

Hawkeye sat down and quickly cleared off her desk, then laid her head down- and well, a small nap wouldn't hurt…

"Hawkeye?" She woke to an incredulous Susa, who had both hands palm-down on her desk and was shaking.

"Hawkeye? Are you alright? Sweet miracles!" He swept her into a hug, pulling her up and over her desk, and then pushing her away to give her a once over, still holding her groggy form up by her shoulders. "Thank fire and stone you're alright-"

"What happened?" She snapped, brushing his hands away.

"I think I can answer that." A tall form moved in the shadows of the door frame, materializing to show the features of a very white, drawn Colonel Mustang.

"Colonel?" She asked, alarmed.

"The barracks have been blown been victim of assault, assumably victim of the same perpetrator of who was behind the attack on downtown. There are innumerous casualties as most of the men were sleeping at the time."

It took her a moment to process the information.

"Shit."

"Couldn't have said it better myself." Mustang agreed wearily, slumping into the chair next to her.

As she turned around to stride out of the room she heard him inhale sharply, she could have been mistaken but there was a whisper of, "Oh thank God she's alright..."

AN: Don't expect an update any time soon- I'm warning you.