His quick respite back into sleep was short-lived when a wet wash cloth touched his face, causing him to jerk back into wide-awake pain. Fresh tears welled in his eyes as he met Winry's concerned gaze. He watched her face fall as he attempted to croak out her name. "Water?" He nodded yes and she took the cool cloth away. He felt her arm slide under his shoulders and cringed as she inadvertently jostled his sore flesh. When her hand gently ran across the newly-drilled holes in his back he gasped, his vision flickering, accidentally releasing the tears sitting in his eyes. He took his time getting his breath back, appreciating for the first time how patient Winry is. He sagged against her as she lifted him up; his eyes studiously watching the bed come into full view. Shame and embarrassment filled him as he took in the yellow stain drying on the bed. He looked up at Winry as she was positioning the pillows behind his head. He waited for her to catch his eye, heart sinking as she turned away without realizing he wanted her attention. He opened his mouth to attempt calling out to her again when she turned back with a glass of water in her hand. He tried to summon the energy to take it from her, but she beat him to the idea. He leaned in to the hand on the nape of his neck as she helped him drink. He was finally able to find his voice as he drained the last of the glass.
"Win….the bed…." He cringed at the question; both the way it sounded and it's contents. He watched as she shrugged in response, a distinctly uncomfortable feeling rising in his belly.
"No big deal. I didn't think you'd need the tube, but I didn't get up soon enough to catch it. I was hoping you'd sleep through me changing it." The uncomfortable feeling became magnified as Winry explained what happened. He didn't hear her apologize as he looked around the room, trying to spot a bed pan.
"Winry…..I…" he ground his teeth in frustration as his voice failed again, the pain of trying to talk forcing him to swallow convulsively irritating his throat even more. He struggled to sit up completely and move causing Winry to dart closer.
"Ed, stop it!" He glared into her confused eyes, willing her to understand and help him instead of pressing him back against the pillows. The feeling spiked ten-fold as her fingertips grazed his side. He desperately resumed his struggle. His eyes widened in horror as she climbed onto the bed with him, further restraining him, and the first trickle leaked out. He blinked furiously, tears rolling down his cheeks as his bladder escaped him. Winry's hands were on his chest, her big eyes barely an inch from his own and wide with shock at the escaping tears. "Ed?" She questioned, the breath of his name caressing his lips. A moment passed before her eyes drifted down. He closed his eyes as a look of disgust flashed on her face. He held his breath as he waited for her reaction, his lips trembling ever so slightly. A sigh followed by a giggle caused him to open his eyes again. "Good thing I hadn't changed the bed, yet."
He lay back and closed his eyes again, already exhausted and still embarrassed, as she moved around the room. Relief filled him when she didn't immediately go get Granny or Al. Al Thoughts of his brother drifted through his mind. He felt Winry struggling with the sheets and then her voice cut into his consciousness again. "Ed, I'm going to pick you up now. I have to move you to change the sheets." He immediately shook his head no, causing her to pause with her arms halfway around him. "Don't be difficult. Either you let me carry you or I go get Al. Which do you prefer?" He felt his lips begin to pout and bit the bottom one to stop it from showing. He weighed over the dilemma in his mind before the answer abruptly came to him in a memory. He was about 5 or so and Al had wet the bed. He felt more shame fill him as he recalled how he teased his younger brother, how his mother had punished him and soothed Al about it. He looked up into Winry's clear blue eyes and marveled at her understanding as she waited for him to decide. He smiled at her his heart doing flip-flops as her eyes widened in surprise before melting into a smile back at him.
He reached out for her hand, finding it and giving it a squeeze. His heart pounded painfully as her smile widened and she squeezed back. He fought with his pain, pushing it down in his mind as he summoned the will to speak. "Winry….thanks….Al…." He croaked the words, choking down a cough that rose in his chest. He blushed as her fingers moved out of his hand and pressed on his lips. Understanding, he looked at the door and mouthed "Al" again. He felt his blush brighten when she nodded in acceptance, kissed his cheek, and strolled from the room.