Hello! First off, I apologize for the brevity of this chapter, but I have a major exam this week and I'm basically writing in what little spare time I have for you guys.

Please know that your reviews help me through some rough days in school and inspire me to keep writing! :)

His whole world narrowed. He was no longer focused on the blood staining the pavement, the front of the police station that'd been blown wide open- the charred body lying among the torn up pavement.

There was nothing- it was like he had tunnel vision, his breathing coming in harsh, ragged gasps as he stumbled over uneven ground, towards the only thing he could see- the small heap of red fabric lying in the street.

He was almost to him- only about ten feet away- when his whole world shifted and he came tumbling to the ground.

His head throbbed, and he lifted his head slowly, only to realize with a disquieting sense of nothingness he'd tripped on the charred corpse of the electric touch alchemist.

Still, he ignored it completely, hauling himself up and continuing to stagger forward towards the quivering heap of crimson.

"Fullmetal..." he paused when he reached the boy, kneeling beside him, pausing with his hands out, uncertain as to whether or no he should touch him.

There was a groan from beneath the fabric, and Roy reached out, pulling back the cloak to come face to face with charred skin...

He'd lost all the breath in his lungs. It was as though his lungs were full of water, and even when he turned away, he was still seeing it.

"Auuuggghhh!" Ed screamed, burns exposed to the air, and something within Roy broke at such a painful sound splitting the air...

"Sir!"

He hadn't realized he was on all fours and breathing heavily until Hawkeye said his name sharply from where she knelt on Edward's other side.

When had she gotten over here?

Why was it so hot?

He was struggling to breathe, like his collar was choking him, and he reached up and tugged at it absently...

"H...hurs..."

Roy's head shot up, charcoal eyes looking over at the small blonde in horror. The boy's left side had sustained most of the burns- he'd most likely turned to try and shield himself. His skin was angry red in the luckiest parts- the right side of his face, mingled with charred blonde hair.

His hand had the worst of it- charred black in some spots, angry red patchworked in with the charcoal, weeping soot and ash up the forearms, until only the angry red climbed his shoulder and disappeared beneath his collar bone. The boy's pants and shirt were charred, and Roy didn't want to think about the damage that lurked beneath the cloth.

His mouth was dry, and he blinked. He'd done this to Fullmetal. The kid's pain was his fault...

"I know, Ed. We're going to get you help, don't worry.." Hawkeye said, looking down at him with concern.

A car came tearing up- Furey stumbled out of the driver's seat, breathless.

"I got here as soon as you radioed, who's hur-" he paused, eyes widening when he saw the heap that was Edward splayed on the pavement. He gaped, looking at Roy, who's black bangs obscured his eyes as he stared at the ground, just trying to figure out how to breathe, then to Hawkeye, uncertain.

"Help me get him into the car." Hawkeye said, and Furey quickly nodded, hurrying over to help her.

Edward was moaning, squirming slightly on the pavement. Roy doubted he'd even known what'd happened to him.

"Edward- we have to get you up now. This may hurt." Hawkeye bit her lip, before she nodded to Furey, who grabbed Ed beneath his automail arm, while Hawkeye gently placed her hands beneath his flesh one.

She nodded to Furey. "Now."

One brief moment of silence as they attempted to pull Edward to his feet, before...

"Yaaaaaahhhh!" Ed screamed, striking out blindly. His automail fist- still warm from the heat- collided with Furey's face, and he went crashing back to the pavement, writhing and whimpering.

"S-stop." he panted brokenly. "J-just don't." tears were streaming down his face, leaving clean streaks on his sooty face...

Burns were excruciating. There was no way they were going to get Ed into the car without there being pain. But the best thing they could do for the kid was get him to a hospital asap.

Roy stood, his breath returning along with his ability to think. "Start the car. I'll carry him."

"... are you sure, Sir?" Hawkeye asked, coffee eyes resting on him critically. He knew what she meant. Are you sure you can handle this right now?

"I'll be fine, Hawkeye. It's my fault, anyways- the least I can do is get the kid to the hospital. Furey- start the car."

"R-right Sir." the short sergeant took off, and Roy crouched back beside Edward, who whimpered.

"N-no... It hurts."

"I know it hurts, Edward. And... I'm sorry." his voice came dangerously close to cracking, and something that felt a lot like tears were building in the back of his throat. "I'm not going to lie to you, Edward. This si going to hurt. A lot. But I'll go as quick as I can. Alright?"

"B-but it hurts..." Ed whimpered, red eyes looking up at him anxiously.

"I know. But this will go faster and hurt less if you don't struggle, understand?"

Fullmetal let out a strangled sound, golden eyes falling closed and he let his head fall back on the pavement. For all intents and purposes, it looked like the kid was giving up.

Roy could feel his lip quivering, and he tried to be as gentle as possible as he looped an arm beneath Ed's slightly bent knees and the other beneath his back- he'd be carrying the boy bridal style.

He stood as quickly as possible, and jogged towards the car while keeping the boy steady. Edward didn't struggle- but Roy doubted he would ever get the sund of Ed's screams out of his head.

Fullmetal finally laid, panting, in the back seat of the car, trying to catch his breath, head resting in Roy's lap as the man quickly slammed the door.

"Drive." he ordered. Furey hit the gas.

Fullmetal was trembling from where he was sprawled in the back seat, head in Roy's lap, though whether it was from pain or shock Roy couldn't tell.

Tearful golden eyes fluttered open to look up at Roy as the boy whimpered slightly, squirming- no way he moved was going to relieve the pain.

"W-why is it so hot?" he asked, voice choked as he looked up at Roy desperately. His tortured skin was burning- the air touching it stung, and he didn't know why- he didn't remember anything after the explosion of fire, all he knew was excruciating pain. The shock and hurt of it all had reduced him to his barest elements- a scared thirteen year old kid.

"I'm sorry, Edward. Just close your eyes. We'll be there soon."

Pained eyes fell closed as Edward obeyed him without question- the kid would've done anything to dull the pain.

"'S hot." Edward whimpered.

"I know, Ed." Roy's voice was barely above a whisper, and he felt the crushing pain in his chest as guilt finally devoured him. He took slow, ragged breaths, water tainting cheeks of the man who was normally useless when wet, dripping onto the face of the petite blonde who laid in his lap.

"W-why is it raining?" Ed asked, voice barely above a whisper. as he shifted- his trembling has lessened slightly- the boy's agony was givign way to exhaustion and shock, and he wasn't thinking clearly. Roy hoped he wouldn't remember any of this- of the agony he'd caused him.

"Shh, Edward." he managed, voice barely above a whisper and wavering. He was dangerously close to losing it and breaking down completely, losing control over his sient crying. "We'll get you taken care of. I promise."

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