When I woke up again, the Colonel was sitting in a chair next to the bed. Edward was standing, with his arms crossed, in the corner. Roy stood up, trying to hide his concern. "Are you alright?" I nodded. He regained his composure, and became angry at me. "You did it again! How many times have I told you not to even ATTEMPT it?" I could tell that he was more worried about me than he was angry.

"I know, but, Roy… I saw Laurence today." His angry face drained away, and suddenly, he spoke much softer.

"H-how is he?"

"He's doing better… I gave him his right arm back by giving my leg." He grimly smiled.

"I see… Please don't do that again. You've lost so much blood already; I don't know how much more you CAN lose." He was on the side where my human hand resided. He took my hand, and I felt slight pressure being applied. Again, I knew that he was just worried about me. "Well," He said, reluctantly, "It looks like you'll be discharged for about the next year."

I was shocked. "Wait, a whole year? No, I can't! There's too much to do! I'm already adjusted to one automail leg, I can adjust to another! I have to get up! I'm fine! Please, let me get up!"

Edward shook his head. "Just stay there. It'll take at least seven months for recovery. At LEAST. Just wait."

"No! I can't sit and do nothing! I need to find the Philosopher's Stone!" I gasped; so did Edward and Alphonse.

"You're looking for the Philosopher's Stone as well?"

I nodded, and answered him, irritated. "Well, what do you think? My brother and I are in pieces! I'm missing three limbs! He's lost the ability to walk, and he has one arm! This is all we can do!" I calmed down sufficiently, and then resumed. "Guys, I need an automail leg. A regular one won't cut it. Winry, bring the leg. I give myself only a few months, if not just one." Mrs. Pinako seemed almost angry.

"ONE MONTH? You can't survive that; no one can!"

I turned to her, with a determined face on. "Mrs. Pinako… if you knew me better, you wouldn't be so surprised." I turned back to the hand that Roy was holding,

She shook her head. "You're going to go through Hell."

I turned back to her. "I've been through Hell. And I've come back for more." They all stared at me, a new-found respect in their eyes. Except for Mustang. He knew what I could be like.

Alphonse came to me, a small tray of food in hand. "Here, eat up before they put the leg on." I ate it quickly, and he handed me an earthenware cup with something in it. "Here's some milk!" I winced and shook my head.

"Um, no thank you… I really don't like milk."

Winry nodded, knowingly. "So that's why you're so-" I turned to her with a murderous look in my eyes.

"Call me short, and you'll never speak again." I turned, and saw that Edward said the exact thing I did at the exact same moment. I laughed lightly. "I don't know why you're sensitive about your height, Edward. You seem tall enough to me." Winry, Mrs. Pinako, Mustang and Alphonse turned to me, a skeptical look in their eyes. "What? Well, he's plenty taller than I am. If I called him… that name… Then it'd be like calling myself that!" Edward walked over, a serious look in his eyes, then bent down and hugged me. "Um… You're welcome, I guess?" I mouthed to Alphonse, "What just happened?"

He answered, silently, "This is a milestone for him. He's never been called tall before."

I smiled, and then faced Winry again. "I'm sorry to try and rush you, but I need that leg put in now, please. I HAVE to recover in a very short period of time." Alphonse and Edward, who finally released me, went to a part of the room that was quieter. They had a hushed conversation. When they'd finished, they came back to me.

Alphonse told me they had decided that being in a group, we'd be more likely to find the Philosopher's Stone. I grinned widely and nodded. "Of course! That would be fantastic!" I turned to Winry again. "Uh, Winry, Mrs. Pinako, could we get that leg on, please? The sooner it's on, the sooner I can recover!" They smiled, but I could tell that they were worried. They instantly began preparing everything. Roy called into Central to inform them of my current situation and state of health.

Edward walked to the side of my bed and asked, in a quiet and sweet voice, what my name was. I smiled. "Mi- Miranda. Miranda Hunt." He nodded.

"Miranda… you probably already know this, but I'm not going to lie to you, and I want to warn you. You are about to go through a lot of pain. But I'll be here, alright?"

I smiled at him, and said, "Thank you, Edward."

"You can just call me Ed."

"…Ed."

Roy came back from the telephone. "Miranda, they told me to advise you against this; told me to tell you that you should get a different kind of prosthetic. Your body can't handle this much strain." I shook my head at him.

"Roy, you know I can't do that. You know that the only kind of prosthetic that can keep up with me is automail." He sighed.

"I wish you weren't so stubborn."

I smiled lightly. "But then I wouldn't be myself, would I?" He sighed again. "Let's just get this over with."