Felis Arcanum

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor ever will, Fullmetal Alchemist or the characters within.

3: Discovery

Alphonse Elric was the calmest, politest soul there ever had been. He had survived everything from being attached to armour to being the younger brother of the sometime highly emotive Fullmetal Alchemist.

To open his eyes, eyes, real eyes and see his father staring at him completely derailed him and a word he had never used, but had been long conditioned to hearing slipped out of him.

"Fuck!" He exclaimed and then realised he had a mouth,real mouth and sound, real sounds. No metallic echo. He began to shake and he lifted his hand, real hand up and stared at it. "What the hell?"

Hohenheim reached out and placed his hand on Al's. Al nearly jumped off the bed. He could feel it, he could feel it! He could feel touch again!

"Al. Calm down."

"Dad?" He asked in a quavering voice. His other hand gripped at the blankets and he could feel that too. There was a beating in his ears, real ears. Heartbeat, I have a heartbeat! I can breathe!

"It's okay, Al. I know this is a bit of a shock so just relax and take it slowly."

"I'm me again. I'm real." He whispered in an awed tone and saw his father nod. "Where's Brother?" He looked around the small bedroom and then back as his father as the older man sighed. The faded golden eyes dropped slightly and his voice was soft.

"Al. Only you came through."

Edward Elric hated hospitals. He hated them when he had been human, he hated them now he was a cat. He hadn't realised the smells that pervaded a place like this before. At least I'm not the patient this time, he thought as he tried to stretch but found Mustang's hand holding him down again.

"Let me stretch, bastard." He growled softly but the hand stayed put. Mustang had selective hearing, he was sure of it. For someone on the brink of death he was doing a pretty good job of staying alive. Although there had been that scare earlier when the bandages around his head had suddenly turned red.

Blood had built up behind the skin they had pulled across his now empty eye socket and it had ruptured. Edward had watched as they had drained the blood and sealed off the offending artery before re-sewing the skin back. Edward had seen bad injuries before. Holding onto your own stumps, trying not to bleed to death sprang to mind rather quickly. When the swelling and the bruising disappeared it probably wouldn't look as bad as it did now. They had left Edward beside Mustang and he knew that was because the last time they had tried to remove him, Mustang had frightened them all by not breathing.

Edward looked at the clock. Twelve hours now and the staff checked on him every fifteen minutes. He looked over at the camp bed they had set up against the wall. Fuery had this shift and was dozing. Edward and Mustang were probably the only ones to have had any real sleep recently.

He rolled over onto his back, Mustang's arm now lying across his stomach. Bad move, Ed thought and tried to roll back. He managed to get halfway. "You're going to have to let me go, bastard. I have to go to the bathroom." He growled and then hissed as he remembered what that now meant to him. And he was hungry again as well. He wriggled forward and he suddenly moved faster as Mustang's arm moved away.

He stood up and walked carefully up the bed to be closer to Mustang's ear. "Just how much do you understand me Mustang?" He growled softly but there was no answer and Edward sighed. "I wish I could go and see Al." He absently rubbed his head against Mustang's cheek and then moved down the bed.

Fuery would probably get him something to eat if he complained loudly enough, but what about the bathroom issue? Edward pondered for a moment and then leapt down from the bed.

Cats always land on their feet he thought, except when they don't. Ed growled in embarrassment. He had landed on the floor, but his automail had slid on the smooth surface and he had hit the floor with three paws and a face. He scrubbed at his face with the side of his paw and felt better.

He padded across to the main door and tried to push against it. It was heavy and he couldn't make it move. He tried standing on his hind legs and pushing, he tried leaning fully against it. Neither method worked. He had seen the staff go in and out, he knew it was a push door and not a handled one. That had pleased him as he had thought he would be able to leave easily. But now he knew he couldn't. He was too damned small. He padded over to the bathroom door and he stared up at it. That door had a handle. He was trapped in here.

He looked at Fuery and walked across to the camp bed. The small man had taken his glasses off and was sleeping. It would probably be a shame to wake him Edward thought. But needs must and a full bladder was definitely a need. Edward miaowed and nothing happened. He miaowed louder and Fuery twitched slightly. Edward did it again but Fuery had slipped back into sleep. Edward judged the distance and crouched down. He could feel his hips swing from side to side just before he leapt up to the bed.

He landed on Fuery's chest and the man suddenly woke up to find a weight on his chest accompanied by a glaring golden eye and a demanding miaow. Fuery wrapped one arm around the cat and sat up, his shortsighted eyes going straight to Mustang to make sure he was alright.

"What's the matter? He seems fine." His free hand scrabbled around and found his glasses and Edward leapt from his arm and miaowed again before jumping down from the cot and going to the door. At least he hadn't fallen this time he thought to himself as he waited for Fuery to figure out what he wanted. He miaowed again, impatiently.

"You want to go out?" he asked and Ed nodded and miaowed loudly. "Okay let me get someone to watch the General while we're gone." And he pressed the buzzer. Edward walked around in a circle and miaowed again. There had to be a better way to do this, he thought. But I doubt my bladder would hold out while I tried to scratch words in the floor.

Ed was nearly dancing with impatience by the time Fuery had managed to get a nurse to stay. The minute the door opened, Edward was through it and Fuery had to run to catch him. Ed protested as Fuery picked him up but Fuery walked quickly and soon found the small courtyard he had used earlier. Edward noticed that Fuery kept his back turned again. Now if only they could set something up in the room, Ed wouldn't need to go through all of this every time. But how to tell them that? They were still concentrating on Mustang, and scratching words on the floor would tell everyone and he didn't think it wise to have the hospital staff aware of his new circumstances. For years he had been worried that the Military would take Al away from him because of what Ed had done to him. If too many people realised he had somehow become a cat, there was no way he would escape becoming someone's test subject.

Fuery carried him back and asked for something to eat for the cat as Edward moved to Mustang's side. Why had the Gate seen fit to put him into this form? It was embarrassing, annoying and downright inconvenient. He pressed his head against Mustang's hand and closed his eye for a moment. Why had it not brought Al back? I want my brother back, he growled low in his throat. Mustang's fingers twitched and he nearly bit at them in his frustration. Waiting was not something he could do with any grace, but he had no choice at the moment. Get better soon, bastard, he grumbled.

The door opened and Breda and a nurse appeared. Breda took Fuery aside and Edward saw them leave them room but the nurse had a plate with something on it that smelt good. His nose twitched and he was moving before he knew it, hunger taking over his thought processes for the moment. She picked him up and put him on the floor with the plate and Edward began to eat. He finished at the same time as she finished checking Mustang and he found himself picked up again and put by the man's side.

Edward sat there and groomed his face as he licked tiny fragments of fish from his fur. She disappeared briefly but then returned with a tray of what appeared to be dirt and she placed it under the head of the bed. He watched her and his tail flicked as she leant near him. Her hand was smoother than Mustang's as she scratched behind his ear and his head tilted back.

"It's for you, for when you need to go, " she said and smiled at him. He tilted his head and looked at her, his ears flickering and she gave him a last pat before opening the door.

"…widen the search. I'll relieve you in an hour." Breda was saying as they re-entered the room. Edward pricked his ears up. Who were they searching for? Were they going back to the underground city to try and find him? Fuery looked rather pale and his hand was shaking slightly.

"Ok, Breda." Breda left and Edward watched as Fuery sat down on the camp bed and placed his head in his hands. Fuery stayed there for the longest moment and Edward kept watching him as he settled back into his spot at Mustang's side.

"Damn, damn, damn, hell." His ears pricked up the smaller man's mutterings and he wondered just what had happened to upset Fuery so much.

It took Al three days to get used to having ears again. He would jump at noises and sounds and found it so different to hear things without the metallic echo he had always had for speaking and listening. He would say random words just to hear his own voice.

When his father had told him that Edward was not here, he had broken down. The shock of being restored and not having Ed here to see it overwhelmed him and he collapsed. It didn't help that he couldn't remember how he had gotten here and the last time he had seen Edward, he had still been in the armour and Ed had been standing at the edge of that large array.

Hohenheim had found Al sprawled across the steps outside the small house he owned. The boy, no, young teen had been deathly pale and almost frozen to the touch. There had been bruises around his neck and down the side of his face and they hadn't faded much yet. He had been unconscious for three days before he had awakened.

"...name was Dante," Al said as he was telling Hohenheim what he could remember. "She had this homunculus who was going to...to..." His hands shook as he remembered watching Gluttony moving mindlessly towards him, the empty hungry stare forcing him towards the array. "I looked over at Brother and ...and that's all I can remember."

Hohenheim hung his head low for a moment before aching old gold eyes met those of his youngest son. "Dante ... she is the dark stain of my past." He looked back down at his hands. "I hid for so many years from her, to protect you... to protect me. I was naive to think that once she had had a victory over me that she would leave you alone."

"I was the Stone." Various expressions chased across Al's face. "Everyone saw that. Brother was the only one who still saw me. And I was angry at him for that." His vision blurred as his eyes burnt and it was the longest moment before he felt arms, his father's arms around him and he dissolved into tears.

It was hours later before either of them spoke again about Dante and the array. And still later before Hohenheim shared some of the history he had with Dante. They spoke of the Stone and Equivalent Exchange. And they had discussed the Gate that Al did not remember seeing but had somehow passed through. Al collapsed again when Hohenheim told him there was no way to return.

He began trying to concentrate solely on the new feelings and sensations that sometimes overwhelmed him. Sounds and then taste. To be able to eat again, to taste the things he remembered and then new flavours he had never known existed. To touch and feel and to just simply be human again.

But the questions and worries never stayed away. What had his brother sacrificed for him? Was he only here because his brother was dead? And why was he here and not back home?

Questions that ate at him and there was no way to find any answers.

Mustang was still alive after twenty four hours. Edward stayed by his side and felt worried. There was something going on and they weren't talking about it where he could hear them.

Fuery had been relieved by Breda and then Breda later by Havoc. It had struck Ed strange that Hawkeye had not been in here. He knew how concerned she had been for Mustang. He knew there were probably a lot of reasons for her not to be here, but he also knew she would never be away this long without a very good reason. And given that the others were looking a lot worse than they had the night before, Edward was fairly certain something had happened and that it wasn't good at all.

For the hundredth time he cursed being in this form. He couldn't ask anyone, he couldn't even open the damned door to go and find out for himself and he still hadn't been able to go and see his brother. And they were all too busy with whatever was happening to be concerned with a small cat. He growled in frustration and wished there was something he could do. Who knew how boring being a cat was? The urge to sleep kept swamping him and he struggled with his increasing need to go and see Al.

He turned his head and looked up at the sleeping General. Damn, the man was a nuisance. But if he woke up then maybe, just maybe, the others would start talking to him and Ed might be able to find out what was going on. "Wake up you bastard," he growled and batted his head against the relaxed hand beside him.

"Cute, cat." Havoc's amused voice came from above him and he looked up to see the red-rimmed, tired blue eyes looking down, watching him. He hissed slightly and flicked his tail. Havoc laughed slightly. "You are one strange cat."

"Come closer and I'll show you just how strange," Edward growled and felt his claws dig into the blankets. Havoc was not an animal person, Ed thought. Or maybe he just preferred dogs. Ed wondered if he could get Havoc to see him as something other than just a cat. He watched as Havoc stared at Mustang. He sighed, those blue eyes were still completely fixed on the bastard.

"Wake up Boss, we need you." Ed's ears twitched at the softly spoken words and he tilted his head to one side. Havoc noticed and leant forward. "And don't you tell anyone I said that, okay, cat?" Ed blinked at him and miaowed. He nearly rolled his eye, like who could he tell anyway. Not yet anyway.

"Good boy." Havoc said and ran his hand across Ed's head. Ed did roll his eye.

"I'm not a dog, Havoc." He growled and flicked his ears angrily. He hated this, absolutely hated this. Once this was over, he was to have a lot of things to say to the tall blond.

Havoc laughed gently and his tired face eased for a moment. "I'm glad the Chief has you here, even if you are the smallest cat I've ever seen." Edward hissed. Fuck waiting, I'll get him now! Havoc was going to die from all the scratches he was going to inflict upon him. Edward raised up slightly and he felt the swinging of his hips and tail as he prepared to leap. The hand that landed on his back pushed him flat and he almost squeaked. He put his head into the blankets and swore in a long low growl.

He looked up and rubbed his face against the blankets to straighten his whiskers and saw Havoc staring at Mustang. Ed twisted around and saw the single dark eye was open. He miaowed and it blinked. Havoc ran for the door and he was shouting for a nurse the moment he pushed it open.

Edward dragged himself out from under Mustang's hand and padded carefully closer to him, lifting his forepaws up to rest on the man's right shoulder and leant in slightly. He miaowed softly and the eye seemed to turn towards him.

"You stupid bastard," Edward miaowed at him and watched the eye close. He looked at Mustang, it almost appeared as if he was smiling.

The doctor and nurses had arrived and one of them lifted Edward out of the way and handed him to Havoc. Ed complained but they let them stand against the wall as they busied themselves around the patient. The doctor came over to them a short while later.

"Well, it's certainly more promising than it was earlier. He's still not completely out of the woods, but it's definitely better then we had hoped for. Give him another twenty four hours and his chances are much, much better." The doctor looked at the cat and stroked it lightly. "I understand there have been things happening elsewhere" and Edward pricked his ears up "but it's best that they not be discussed here."

"Yeah Doc. They warned us about that. About how coma patients can sometimes hear things."

"Precisely." He smiled absently at the cat. "He can go back to the bed now."

Havoc placed Ed back on the bed and he sat there and watched them, hoping they would say more but understanding now why they probably wouldn't.

"Does he have a name?" the doctor asked.

"No. He's a stray as far as we know."

"It really is remarkable. In these situations, the best results come from pets who have been with their owners for a long time, usually years. The bond between these two is quite unique if he only found this little thing yesterday."

"Yes, it was really strange apparently." Havoc looked at the golden cat and it stared back at him. "I think we'll wait and let the Brigadier-General name him. After all, it's now his cat."

Edward hissed at him. There was no way he was going to be Mustang's pet. No way known to man, or cat, was that ever going to happen.

It took Al a week to regain his balance enough to walk without having to be supported. It had felt so strange to feel so heavy and he had listed to one side. The armour had been heavy but he never felt its weight because he had only had to think and it had responded. There had been no links of nerves and muscles, it had all just been there. It had been why he moved so fast, it had been why he had been able to be so flexible for steel. But now gravity had found him again.

He leant against the wall for a moment before he continued down the stairs. The house was small and sparsely furnished but it was comfortable and filled with books. His dad said he lived alone but did private tutoring for some of the students at the nearby university to support himself and to buy more books.

There were voices coming through a half-opened door off the entry hall and Al surmised his dad was in the process of tutoring someone. He carefully negotiated the last steps and walked slowly down the hall to the kitchen. His dad had explained the layout of the house to him a few days ago.

He was thirsty. It was still strange to feel thirsty and stranger still to actually be able to do something about it. Al looked around the small kitchen and saw several glasses on the board near a sink. An Aga stove filled one wall and a pantry cupboard and small larder were opposite. Al felt comfortable here. It was different, but not too different. He filled a glass with water and sipped it slowly as he leant against the sink and tried to see out of the dirty window. Dad was obviously not too concerned with some aspects of domesticity.

There seemed to be a small overgrown garden out there and Al knew as soon as he was more stable that he would go out there. To be outside, with all the sounds, smells and feelings he remembered. He was going to be able to feel them all again. He looked at the glass in his hand. In his hand, real flesh hand.

It's hard, he thought. I have everything I …we wanted for so many years but I don't have the one thing I need. I don't know if he's dead or alive. I don't even know where he is. He could be as lost as I am. He could be thinking I'm dead too. He could dead. He could be dead and I don't know. He's my brother and I don't know where he is!

The glass shattered in his hand as he gripped it too hard. Glass fell to the floor and some remained embedded in his hand. Blood seeped from the cuts. Footsteps came running and his father burst into the room.

"Al! Are you all right?" Hohenheim stood nearby and surveyed the damage. "Stay where you are and just turn around and run the water over your hand while I clean this up." Al did as he was told and watched the blood run into the water. He shivered as it tingled and he began to pull out the larger shards from his flesh. Hohenheim slipped from the room and Al heard murmured voices before his dad returned with a small broom.

"I'm sorry Dad."

"It's ok, Al. These things happen. As long as you haven't hurt yourself too badly."

"Some of the bleeding has stopped now," he said as he took his hand out of the water and held it up. Blood welled from several places and he looked closely at them. "But there's some bits of glass that I just can't get out."

"I'll take care of them." Hohenheim said as he put the broken glass in the bin and came to look at Al's hand.

"Found it, professor." A voice called and Al heard limping steps in the hall. Al looked up as the young man entered the kitchen, a first aid box in his hand.

Al found himself leaning against his father and Hohenheim was the only thing stopping him from falling to the floor. He stared at the young man who was staring at him. He was looking at his own face.

Edward discovered that sharing a bed with a Roy Mustang near death was preferable to one beginning to recover. He had been useful but now he wasn't. And he was bored. He was beyond bored. Mustang didn't need him to be at his side all the time anymore but he couldn't leave the room. He was trapped in here.

Perhaps a normal cat would be happy to lay on a bed twenty-three hours straight but Ed was no ordinary cat and he hated it. There was absolutely nothing to do. About the only thing he had done was to jump endlessly back and forth off the bed. He never slipped after the first time and he found that as long as he took his time he could allow for his skewed perception. it was a mindless exercise that kept him from thinking too much about Al. The urge to curl up and submit to the black thoughts at the edges of his mind became stronger the longer he laid there.

Breda had found his antics amusing until Ed had decided that perhaps he should try practicing on Breda's lap. It had taken a bit of effort but he had managed to leave some lovely scratches on Breda's legs before Breda had picked him up and dropped him back next to Mustang.

"You did that on purpose didn't you?" Breda had accused and Ed had miaowed at him in a very satisfied way. "You really are his cat." Breda added and Ed had hissed at him. It was getting harder to wait until Mustang became less of a worry to them all before trying to communicate with them. And he was going to need Mustang to be awake and aware. Only another alchemist was going to be able to understand and hopefully be able to explain it to them. They were going to have a hard time believing it anyway, having the bastard to at least confirm the alchemy behind all this would give him a better chance of being believed and not written off as some 'stupid cat'.

He was itching to go and find Al as well. It had been nearly two days and they hadn't even been discussing the arrangements for a funeral at all. Edward knew they were worried about what Mustang would hear in his comatose state, but Mustang knew Al was dead. Why weren't they making any arrangements? What if they sent Al to Resembool and he never got to see him again because he stuck in this damned room? What if he had already left?

Ed was under the bed when his chance came. He again thanked the nurse who had thought this to be the best place for his litter tray. Out of the way and out of sight and they changed it every hour even if it hadn't been used. He had finished and was just about to make his way back up onto the bed when Havoc opened the door and signaled to Breda.

Ed ran as quickly as he could on three legs to avoid making a noise with his automail paw and managed to get outside just as the door closed behind him. He sat by the door and looked up to see Fuery with Havoc.

"There's still no sign of him," Havoc said as he brushed the hair back from his tired face. "We still don't know how he left."

"We've searched everywhere." Fuery added.

"Riz is calling Major Armstrong and Falman back to help. Can you get word to Brosh and Ross, Breda?"

"Can do."

"Given what's happening at Headquarters we can't have this getting out. We have to keep this amongst ourselves. Riz says she thinks Hakuro is going to try and take over. And we all know how he feels about the Boss." There was silence and Ed tilted his head. No wonder they had been worried, he thought. But it still left him with more questions.

"The girl, Rose can be released tomorrow the Doctor said." Fuery informed them. "I spoke to her this afternoon and she agreed to come with me back to that place to see if there's anything there."

"She doesn't remember much. Only that the Elric's were there and that Ed told her to run and get away. She said he looked pretty determined about something."

Ed looked down at the floor and thought hard. He remembered Rose being there and Dante controlling her like a puppet, and the baby. Dante had used the baby to open the Gate and…and…yes, she had done that because Gluttony had become uncontrollable after he had started to... eat the...Al...armour...and she had used it to destroy the fat homunculus. Ed shivered and felt his fur fluff. Ed had grabbed the baby and Rose and pushed them out the door while she had been distracted. And then he had gone back in because Al had to be brought back, because Al was his brother, because he had promised and because without Al he wasn't complete.

"Ed always was determined." Fuery said.

"Was? We don't know that for sure yet." Havoc remarked.

"I know, but Ed wouldn't stay away for this long, not unless something…" Fuery stopped, unable to go on.

"Not unless something is stopping him." Breda finished for him.

"Ed would never voluntarily leave Al." Havoc stated. "We all know that."

They were all silent as they knew that Ed had left Al and it could only be because of the worst of all reasons. Ed watched them. He wanted to find a way to communicate with them, but it just wasn't something feasible right now, and miaows and hisses weren't exactly the most translatable of noises.

Havoc shook his head and blinked. "First things first, it's your turn with the Boss, Fuery. Get as much sleep as you can. We'll go back out and see if we can get anything to help us find Al. There has to be something out there we're missing."

Edward's mind closed in on those two words. 'Find Al.' Why would they need to find him? He was in the mortuary, wasn't he? What had happened to his brother? What had they done to his brother?

He was moving before he knew it. He remembered the sign he had seen the other day, he knew which way it was. He went. He ran and ducked and weaved his way past anything and everything without thinking about it. He let his eye and mind make whatever adjustments needed to gauge depth and space and found that a cat had the reflexes to correct any mistakes very quickly. He was round the corner before they had realised he had been there.

He ignored their pounding footsteps behind him and kept running. He found the corridor he remembered and turned so fast, his hind legs nearly slipped. Straight down that corridor and trying to find a sign and to keep track of obstacles in his way was difficult but he went forward. He had to find out what had happened to his brother.

Damn, damn, he swore. It was on a lower level and he could hear them getting closer. The door to the stairwell opened and Ed was through it without stopping. As fast as he could he ran down the stairs. He appreciated his new form's flexibility as he had to twist a few times to avoid tripping over himself, but he refused to slow down. He had to get to the mortuary. He had to know exactly what had happened to Al.

He was nearing the bottom of the stairs when he realised that he was probably the stupidest cat that had ever been. The lower door would be closed. He would be trapped in here. He wasn't going to be able to get through that last door. He would have howled in his distress if he hadn't been plummeting down the stairs.

Booted feet and the occasional shout were echoing above him and his automail paw was clicking. The noises were loud to his ears and he kept them flattened against his head as he leapt the last steps and found an open door. Someone had propped it open and there was a heavy smell of paint in the air. Edward went through it and found another corridor but there was another open door and it had the words he had been searching for and he was finally there.

He paused in the doorway for the briefest moment and then he went in. Damn, damn again he thought, I can't see anything from the floor. He complained loudly as he tried to find a way to get higher. Havoc and the others came into the room just as he leapt upwards to the nearest trolley.

Edward ignored the covered body he had landed on and looked around. When Havoc grabbed him, he hissed violently and struggled to get free.

"What is with that cat?" Breda demanded. "Why did it come here?"

"Riz said she and the Boss found it with Al." Havoc said as the small animal twisted like a demon on his arms.

"Maybe it was Al's cat?" Fuery half queried.

"They never had time to keep a cat, Fuery. Or any other sort of animal."

"I know but Al went missing for a few weeks, maybe he had one then," Fuery said.

"It's possible but highly unlikely," Havoc replied.

Ed writhed and managed to spring himself free and arched down to the floor. He headed towards the first gurney and was leaping up again when Breda grabbed him mid-leap. He growled and turned his head to bite at Breda's hand.

"What is the damned thing doing?" Breda exclaimed as he dropped the cat and shook his hand as blood rose from the small puncture wounds.

Ed leapt again and started to go from gurney to gurney but he could do nothing in this form and the silver doors to the cool drawers were closed to him. He scratched at them with the automail paw, growling at his inability to find Al.

"I think he's definitely looking for Al," Fuery said.

"That is one very strange cat. You don't think it's not really a cat do you?" Breda asked.

"Not you too, Breda?" Havoc groaned. "I thought Schieska was the best for wacky ideas."

"Falman told me about that." Fuery added. "And it's too small to be one of those chimera things. The Major told us about those from that place down south, remember?"

"It's just a cat. With a bad attitude," Havoc said and took his jacket off before trapping the small cat beneath it. Edward howled and fought against the jacket but Havoc held him tight.

"Sorry cat, but Al's not here and we can't waste time here with you when we've got to go and find him." Havoc spoke clearly and the cat froze for the briefest moment before fighting even harder to get free.

"Let's take him back upstairs. He helped the Boss, maybe Mustang can return the favour."

Edward struggled and cried the whole way back. Al couldn't have gone missing. How was that possible? Al had died. He had seen him lying there. They were supposed to have taken care of him. How could they lose him? Who could have taken him? What if someone was going to try to bring him back? But who was left who would or could do that? Tucker? What had happened to Tucker? Had he something to do with all this? He screamed into the jacket. Where is my brother? His claws tore through the material and he put every effort into getting free. He had to find his brother. He had to know what had happened.

Havoc gritted his teeth as the cat tore through his jacket and metal claws sliced down his arm. It was hard to keep a tight hold of the struggling little beast. It arched and twisted and tried to escape with such desperation. The noises it was making were muffled but Havoc could hear the anger and frustration clearly. More tearing came as teeth appeared and the cat bit down hard on Havoc's hand.

Havoc resisted the urge to swear and tightened his grip on the cat. Ed struggled but Havoc just wouldn't let him go and he tasted the salt of the blood from Havoc's hand. His ribs began to hurt, Havoc's grip was interfering with his breathing. But he had to go and find Al. He tried again to twist out of Havoc's grip.

"Give it a rest, cat. You're not helping any here, you know."

"Are you sure that's a normal cat, Jean?" Breda asked again as they approached the door to Mustang's room.

"I'm sure. It's an annoying little nuisance who's wasting our valuable search time. We just don't have the time for this!" Havoc said angrily as they pushed the door open. Havoc walked over to the bed and dumped the cat on it. Edward tried to shake free of the jacket but found Havoc's hand on his back and he looked up as he tried to wriggle out from under his grip.

"Brought your cat back, Boss," Havoc said as he signaled for the others to get ready. Fuery came over and placed his hand next to Havoc's and pressed down. Ed hissed and complained, growling as Havoc let go and he and Breda left the room as fast as they could. The door closed completely before Fuery lifted his hand.

Ed was off the bed and howling at the door as soon as he shook off the torn jacket. He pushed at the door with his head, his paws, with everything he could. It wouldn't move. He was trapped again. He glared one-eyed at Fuery who had settled on the cot and was watching him. He knew Havoc would have warned the staff not to open the door for a while.

Ed shook, trembling in his distress and he padded slowly away from the door. He leapt back up onto the bed. He was shaking harder as he pressed his head into Mustang's side. He curled up into the smallest ball he could and cried.

Mid-morning in Central was a pleasant time, she thought. Her shopping was done and she was mentally planning out the rest of her day as she walked home when the car almost hit her as it went too fast around the corner. She dropped her bag and fruit spilled onto the pavement. She bent to pick it an apple and a hand reached out at the same time. The young boy picked it up for her and smiled at her as he helped collect the rest of her shopping.

She offered him an apple as thanks, but he just shook his head, his hazel eyes and blond hair shining as he turned and disappeared around the corner.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for the comments and reviews for this… I think I'm becoming addicted to them…lol…

So, another little chapter, sooner, much sooner, than I planned but I know no-one complains about that...lol

Please enjoy and as always, thank you

silken :)