Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters included in this fan fiction.
Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter!
Heartache
Author: Emilee1
Chapter 2: Diagnosis
"We're back!" Winry called as she and Pinako walked in the door. They had gone to get their Tuberculosis vaccines from Dr. Benito.
Winry sat her purse down on the kitchen counter and walked into the living room to find Ed and Al sitting on the couch.
"Ed, you should really consider getting that vaccine," she pleaded.
Ed huffed and replied, "I am not getting a damn vaccine. I don't get sick."
"Maybe you should think about it brother," Al stated, but Ed just crossed his arms.
"Tuberculosis is a very serious disease. People die from it." Ed just shook his head. "Fine then, but you still have to go see the doctor later on."
He frowned but nodded. Heh, I had my fingers crossed. He stuck his tongue out at Winry when she turned her back. He then looked back to his brother.
"Hey, Al," Ed said while Al turned to him. "Why don't we spar a while? We didn't yesterday when my arm was fixed."
"Ok brother," Al replied. They stood up and walked outside.
"Don't hurt yourselves!" Winry called to them from inside.
A wind picked up and blew the grass over onto its side. A few leaves flew off the trees and into the wind.
"Are you ready?" Ed asked and Al nodded. "Cause here I come!"
Ed jumped and punched at Al's arm but was blocked by his left hand. Al tripped him, but Ed did a side flip and ran forward.
"You're not gonna beat me this time!" Ed shouted taking another punch at Al's chest plate. He wasn't blocked this time, but it didn't seem to do much damage.
Suddenly, Al hit him in the side and Ed was sent flying. He landed on his feet but was leaning down holding his chest.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to hit that hard!" Al shouted. "Brother? Are you okay?" Al asked slowly walking towards him.
What is this? Why does my chest hurt so badly? He reached up and held his chest while his breathing became raspy. It's so hard to breathe. He began to cough rapidly. Blood was trickling down his lip dropping onto his hand. He couldn't stop, he couldn't breath, he couldn't move. Finally he fell onto the ground heaving for air.
"Al?" Ed blacked out and his arm went limp at his side.
"Brother!" Al shouted while picking him up. "Hold on brother!"
He ran towards the house and quickly burst inside. "Winry?!"
She turned her head around a corner and saw Ed. "What happened?!"
"I don't know he just collapsed!" Al yelled helplessly. "We have to do something! Please!"
Winry felt of his head. "He's burning up in fever. We have to go to the doctor right away!"
They rushed to Dr. Benito's house down in the valley. Al carried his brother along the way. He and Winry were both running quickly. Ed's condition had only gotten worse. His fever was growing even higher.
Finally they arrived at the doctor's house. Winry slammed open the door and shouted, "Dr. Benito! Help, it's an emergency!"
He rapidly ran into the room. "What happened?" He felt of Edward's head, and quickly pulled it away. "He's burning up in fever. Bring him to my office," he said showing them the room.
Al laid him down on the table. His breathing was raspy and quick. Something was terribly wrong. The doctor took out his stethoscope. He listened closely to his breathing and his heartbeat. Winry and Al sat in the waiting room.
After doing a series of tests on Edward, he came to a conclusion. He decided to wait until Ed woke up before telling him.
An hour later, Ed woke from his sleep. He slowly rose and rubbed his head. "What happened?"
The doctor looked at him and said, "If I am correct, you passed out while fighting with your brother. At least that is the story that he told me."
Ed's eyes lit up, "That's right, I was…" He started coughing again, but only a few coughs. "What's wrong with me?" he asked as a few trickles of blood fell onto his hand.
Dr. Benito took off his glasses, cleaned them with his shirt, and put them back on. "This is hard to say, but you have Tuberculosis."
"I have w-what?" Edward was astonished. He had the exact same disease that Winry gave a chance to prevent. He looked up at the doctor and asked, "That is treatable right?" He was scared… terribly scared, knowing that this disease could kill him.
The doctor had a regretful look on his face. "This is the strongest case I've seen. There is a fifteen percent chance that you will live."
Edward's eyes were wide. He looked into space; his mind was a blur.
"I haven't told Winry or your brother," Dr. Benito said snapping Ed out of his daze. "I am leaving that up to you to tell them. You best be going now."
"But there has to be something right?" Ed pleaded.
The doctor put a finger to his chin. "There is something that I can give you, but it won't ensure anything."
Ed nodded and took the small bottle of medicine. He then walked out into the waiting room. He tried his best to act normal, and it seemed to be working just fine. On the way back to Pinako's house he was quizzed with many questions from Winry.
"Why did you black out like that?" she asked.
Ed looked at her and replied, "He said that I had just gotten too hot. You know heat exhaustion."
"I don't know," Winry said looking at him slyly.
Once they arrived at the house, Edward went into his room. He laid down on the bed and began to think. Am I really going to die? I can't live without my brother. I have to fix him; put him in his real body. And Winry? I-I can't live without her either. I shouldn't tell them; I'll keep it a secret so they won't get hurt.
