Edward's POV

I tossed and turned, the sheets getting caught in my toes and tightening around my hips as I turned violently onto my side, sucking in the oxygen as it got difficult to breathe. I opened my eyes slightly; cold tears that were unable to spill before now sliding down my cheeks. I wiped the clammy sweat from my forehead, rubbing my eyes as I slowly heaved myself up into a sitting position. My chest was heaving up and down, like I'd been running a marathon. It was getting so hard to sleep these days…

I realised my body was clammy all over, every inch of me aflame. The sheets were sticking to my organic limbs, my bed shirt plastered to my chest. I rolled my eyes as I changed my shirt, the new shirt fresh and cool against my humid skin. It didn't take long for the coughing to start up again, the air catching in my throat. I cleared my throat as I felt it coming on, biting my bottom lip so hard I could taste iron in my mouth, praying that I won't cough too loud to disturb Al.

I heard some movement from downstairs and cursed under my breath, wiping the beads of sweat away from my forehead with my hand, lying down on my side. Al had heard for sure…great. More reason for him to insist I had the day off tomorrow. I closed my eyes, trying to even out my breathing so it sounded and appeared fast asleep.

I heard the door creak slightly, feeling his knowing gaze upon me. Although my eyes were closed, I could feel his eyes on me, the stare so physical it sent violent shivers down my spine. There was silence, an awkward atmosphere passing between us although we weren't speaking. My heart hammered in my chest, pounding as I found it harder to appear asleep. I heard Al inhale deeply before hearing the door click, closing behind him. I opened my eyes slightly, feeling a pang of guilt.

Sorry…Al…I thought, the pace of my heart slowing to a jog. I just can't…

* * * * *

Alphonse's POV

I couldn't keep it inside any longer. I heard him last night…Brother was definitely sick. Very sick by the sound of it. And it terrified me…it terrified me to my core that something may be wrong with my older brother…the only real family I had left.

He came down the stairs at 06:00am, looking drained, his blond hair disarray obviously from tossing and turning all night. His skin was so pale…it scared me a little.

Silence filled in the space between us, me sitting down on a chair in the kitchen, he standing over the sink, making himself a glass of water. I watched him, noticing the ever so slight trembles of his arms as they supported him. I took a deep breath before cutting the silence between us like a blade.

"You're sick, Brother…" I said softly and slowly, so not to come across like I was attacking him. His body tensed a little, knowing he was caught. I waited. His shoulders slumped and he turned round to face me, a grin on his face. That fake smile made me angry in a way, angry that he was still concealing the truth from me.

"What? Oh you mean yesterday?" Brother babbled as a sprinkle of pink on his cheek that coloured his chalky complexion. "Don't be silly, Al. It's just a small chest cold. I feel a lot better today…"

I rose to my feet, knocking my chair to the floor in the process. I clutched his shoulders, shaking him gently.

"Don't lie to me!" I yelled all my concern and frustration taking over my actions. "Edward! You're sick! I heard you coughing last night and that does not sound like a chest cold! You're worrying me, Brother…you're scaring me! I don't want to lose you…"

Brother narrowed his eyes, his lips pressing into a thin line.

"Let go of me, Al," he said firmly. I realised my grip on him was tightening, I saw him grimace a little as I pressed on his organic shoulder. "Alphonse…" he said again but louder and firmer. "You're hurting me." I reluctantly let my hands drop from his shoulders, looking down at him.

"Tell me…" I whispered meekly, my hands trembling. "Tell me, Brother…please…"

"I don't have to tell you everything," Brother replied flatly. "I am fine, Al. And that's the truth. I don't know what else you want from me…I promised you I wouldn't stop until I have our bodies back the way they were…it's my fault and I refuse to let a small cough stop me from finding a way to get our old bodies back. So just let me get on with it…please…" his eyes looked grim as he smiled, the corners of his lips raising ever so slightly, just enough to dent his right cheek with the dimple he's had ever since we were kids.

I hesitated. He knew he was sick…he knew it in his gut…he must. But Brother won't stop blaming himself until he gets our bodies back to normal, and I hate it when he blames himself. It makes him sick, physically as well as mentally. Even if he did have the day off, he'd only wallow in self pity and sulk that he couldn't go to work. So I allowed it to drop.

"Fine…" I tried to return his easy-going manner. "But promise me if you get worse you'll go to a doctor."

Brother rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue. "Fine…so long as I don't have to have a needle." He teased, taking a sip of his glass of water. "We better go, Al."

* * * *

Edward's POV

Half way through the day I began to feel light headed. Fainting was the last thing I needed right now, especially since Al had been on my case all morning. He'd been casting me anxious glances, asking how I felt, offering to ask Colonel Mustang if I could have the rest of the day off. This is EXACTLY why I didn't want him to know. He'd panic and fuss over me, like the worry pot he's always been. I smiled at that thought.

"Fullmetal."

I glanced up from my desk, my eyes narrowing a little as they landed on the ever so smug vision of Roy Mustang.

"Yeah, what?" I said, irritated when he didn't continue.

"You look a little pale," Mustang said, his voice sounding confusingly worried. "You feel okay?"

Hmph…I guess even grumpy assed men getting worried sometimes…funny. I never really though of Mustang as the worrying type, especially when it came to me.

"I'm fine," I dismissed, bowing my head once more over my book. "Just a little jetlagged. I guess I haven't been sleeping well…"

Silence. Why did everyone run out of things to say these days? I hate silence. It makes me feel awkward…like I should say something but I'm not 100% sure what. I felt his eyes on me, just like Al's, as I read. My face heated up at the feeling of his eyes on me, fighting the urge to look back up. I made it clear to him that the conversation was done with by keeping my head down.

"If that's how it is, then there's no reason for myself to worry," Mustang said eventually, his voice heavy with an emotion I couldn't quite put my hand on. Disappointment? Concern? Frustration? "Just let me know if you need a break, alright, squirt?"

I raised my head, teeth gritted like a dog ready to bite. It surprised me when he put his hand on top of my head, ruffling my hair a little. My face dropped, my mouth parting a little as if I wanted to say something to retaliate but couldn't find them. I closed one of my eyes, peering up at him with the one. He was sure in a weird mood today…did someone put some caffeine pills in his coffee again? After a moment, he put his hands back in his pockets, smiling at me before walking away.

I shook my head, shaking off the unexplainable blush that clung to my cheeks. Shaking my head so vigorously wasn't a good idea, since it made the dizziness worse. My stomach twisted unfavourably, a sickly lump rising in my throat like a ball of vomit. I pinched the bridge of my nose, holding back a coughing fit that built inside my chest.

"No, no, no, not now…" I groaned, pushing myself up to my feet. I staggered out of the room and down the hall to the water machine. It was strange how unstable the hall was becoming. It felt like I was on a boat and it was rocking against the waves. The room spun like I had been on a spinning chair for about an hour and everything was trying to find its natural place once the spinning motion had stopped.

I gripped the water machine, shakily putting a plastic cup underneath the spout. The water began to shoot out, filling the cup up quickly. I breathed in through my mouth, trying to refresh my mouth from its dry feeling, trying to subside the growing twists in my gut. I went to grab the cub once it had reached the rim when my knee suddenly gave way. My other knee followed. My hand knocked the cup flying, icy cold water spilling all over me. I fell to my chest, the spinning only getting worse despite the fact I was lying still. A ripping pain erupted in my chest and I began coughing, depriving my lungs from the oxygen it desperately needed. My eyelids turned heavy, fluttering so I could see black curtains dropping over my vision. I heard static in my ears, saw a flash of white and then nothing…