"So to put it simply fullmetal, you slept in?" mustang was rather peeved that there meeting was prolonged due to his subordinates lateness.

"yeah I slept in, so what? it's not like you have anything to do today other than shirk your paperwork, and avoid a rampaging lieutenant." Ed had in fact slept in, but not because he had went to bed late the previous night. In fact, he should've been well rested seeing as how he hadn't gotten a good nights sleep in ages.

"That still doesn't tell to me how you have a headache." the superior stated simply.

"Who are you to say I have a headache." Ed was slightly irked that the colonel was somehow always right.

"You've been massaging your left temple since the minute you got here, explain fullmetal." In that strong interrogating voice there was a hint of concern that hadn't been there a minute ago.

"It must be the low pressure in the city right now, nothing big." He pretended as if it was nothing, but in reality he felt as if someone was trying to pry his head apart with a cleaver.

"May I suggest going back to the dorms and sleeping a tad more."

"But what about that 'important mission' that you wanted me to go on so badly?" Ed may have

been a little dazed from the pounding ache in his head, but didn't take away his ability to mock the colonel by way of air quotes.

"it's not entirely necessary for you to make yourself ill over a whim of the military. Now I repeat,

go to you room, and get some sleep, THAT'S AN ORDER!" ignoring the commanding tone in the colonel's voice Ed got up and walked away. presumably to his room.

His headache was getting worse by the second, and by the time he got back to his room, he could hardly bear it. he jerked open the door, staggered over to his bed, and fell gracelessly onto it facefirst. quite a bit dismayed at the sudden unnerving entrance of his brother, alphonse made to go help him but stopped when his brother wimpered.

"could yah not walk so loud, please, your sorta makin' my headache worse." ignoring the slurs and pathetic please of his older brother, he moved to the side of the bed flipped Ed over. Ed's face was scrunched up in pain and was slightly flushed in the cheeks. With glazed eyes he looked up and was about to say something when the phone on the wall decided to interrupt the tense moment.

stepping lightly Al made his way over to the phone. He answered with a quiet "hello?" and glanced over at his pained brother. his eyes were closed and he musta been asleep

"Hey Al, is that you?" surprised at the voice he heard on the other end of the phone he quickly returned the question with a similar statement of disbelief. "Winry?"

disclaimer, I don't own fullmetal alchemist, but am extremely addicted to it.

so I decided to continue, but the same goes as for the last chapter. I'll only continue if you the reviewers want me to. bye for now

-Pink Pagoda