Those Days After

Special thanks to: St. Iggy the Pyro: Yeah yeah. Both of my reviewers said that. DX But really, the issue was that it's so traumatic that is brain tried to stop him from remembering it. And honestly, would you want to remember the worst day of your life? Exactly.

bronze andromeda shun: Eh heh... sorry. Not long after I put up the poll, I'm like... "You know what? I have this idea and I kind of like it, so I'm just gonna go with that... though I'm curious what your idea was! Maybe I could use it sometime later! And yes, it's the same with what I told Iggy. It's an uber traumatic experience that he doesn't particaularly enjoy, so his mind just blocks it out. Don't worry, everything's all good! XD

A/N: Sorry it took so long. And that this first part was crappy. DX The rest of it's better, but you know how it is. :p It's not so bad, but parts of it I could have better detail, I just don't know what to do with it. Hopefully others won't turn up like that. Please enjoy my sadistic writing! XD

Around the lunch hour, Edward fought his way, with Hawkeye, to the Headquarters. She had threatened him at gunpoint, but he ignored her. He needed information. "Besides," he'd told her nonchalantly as they walked, "it's not like I'll be working. I'm just going to visit the General and the guys. You can't get mad at me for doing that."

Riza knew that his intentions were a little less pure than that, but what could she care? He didn't remember a thing from last night. He couldn't exactly do anything stupid. Besides the fact that no matter what he did he managed to attract trouble.

Understandably, Roy was rather surprised when Edward walked into his office and seated himself on the couch, leaning forward on his elbows and sighing.

"Lieutenant-"

"I tried sir. But apparently he's not here to work."

"Am I not allowed to come visit?" Ed suddenly piped in.

Roy raised his eyebrows. "But I'm the last person that you'd visit, certainly."

Ed shrugged. "Obviously not."

Roy raised his eyebrows and sighed. "Fine, it doesn't matter. Actually, I was just going to go and get lunch. Do you two want to come with me?"

Riza smiled at him softly. "Sure, General. I'll come. I need to talk with you anyway."

From the tone that she used, even Ed knew that she needed to talk with Mustang about him.

Edward cocked his head to the side innocently, his mind fighting with his natural hatred towards the Flame Alchemist and his curiosity about his brother.

"Well Ed? Take it or leave it, we're going down now." Roy said. He crossed his arms, watching the boy fidget a little.

Ed looked up at him. "…I think I'll meet you down there. I'm going to run to the bathroom. Save me a spot?" he said.

Riza smiled at him. She held the door open for the General, who walked out of it and waved at him. "Sure. Don't take too long though." He scolded.

"I won't." Ed left the room as well, walking towards the restrooms. 'I'm surprised that he didn't make a single crack about my height. Meh, maybe I've grown tall enough that he's finally over that…' he thought. He went into the bathroom and took care of his business. Standing at the sink to wash his hands, he looked into the mirror. 'So… Hawkeye doesn't answer me, Mustang has yet to mention anything, and there's been no sign of Al all day. So where is he? He wouldn't have gone back to Risembool without me. That, I'm certain of.' He thought. He furrowed his eyebrows and sighed. He remembered bringing back Al, holding him so tightly for 10 minutes straight without letting go. So Alphonses's soul certainly wasn't lost. But then…?

Pouring rain rushed into his mind. Followed by thunder and lightning. But extreme heat, rather than the cold one'd expect from the rain. What was he remembering?

There's no such thing!

Why was he thinking of that?

He nearly fell over from the weight of his memories rushing back to him. 'Oh god… no… Alphonse…' he had to find the General and Lieutenant! They'd know; that must have been why Mustang didn't want to coming in today!

He left the bathroom as quickly as he could, suddenly feeling sick but the natural stink of the place wasn't going to help him any.

He found his way to the cafeteria, and forced the doors open. His eyes scanned the latge room until they spotted one head of blond hair and another of black. He rushed over to them and slammed his hands down on the table. "No one's answering me." He said.

Roy raised his eyebrows at him. "What do you mean?" he asked innocently.

Edward growled at him. "What happened last night? Why didn't I remember anything? And where's my BROTHER?" he demanded.

Roy glanced over at Riza. He sighed, stood, and took Ed's elbow. "C'mon Fullmetal. You're making a scene." He scolded.

"Don't give me that! What makes you think that I care?" Ed growled.

Riza, too, stood. She grabbed Edward's hand and pulled him after her. Roy released him and followed. When they escaped the prying eyes of the cafeteria, Riza dragged him to a bench. She shoved him into the seat and sat beside him. Roy sat on his other side.

"Do you remember what happened?" he asked.

Ed nodded. "'Think so. Didn't you guys find something on him? I mean, he's so young. He doesn't deserve this. So why… oh lord, why?" he said. He leanded forward and buried his face into his flesh hands.

Riza softly rubbed his back. "No child ever does deserve this." She said.

"Well?"

Roy heaved a deep sigh. "No. Nothing yet. But we'll find him. I have Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong out looking for anything that might help." He assured.

Edward didn't know what to say, so he didn't say anything. He shook his head and shook his head.

Two days spent asleep did nothing to delay Alphonse's fears and worries. His hands were tied behind his back and his mouth was taped shut. His eyes, though, were left open, to see where they were. Though why, he didn't know.

Speaking of things he at the moment didn't know, he chose to list them in his head. 1) Why they'd taken him. 2) Where he was. 3) Who his captors- as it was obviously more than one- were. And 4) what the heck had happened.

Alphonse winced in pain, trying to force himself into a more comfortable sitting position. He glanced around at the scary holding pen he was in and gulped anxiously. His ears pricked when he heard a voice behind him.

"Well kid? Took you long enough to fucking wake up."

Alphonse's bronze eyes widened, and looked up at the voice. Heart pounding, his eyes found their way to a man standing above him, soulless black eyes stealing into him, shaking him to the core. He tried desperately to get up and ask where the heck he was, but nothing would work. He tried to spread his lips just to pull the tape off, but he was sealed tightly.

He toppled over onto his stomach when the man's foot came after him, striking his side roughly and suddenly. His chin hit the ground roughly, bruising him. He looked behind him to find the attacker, to see where and when he'd strike next.

The man crouched in front of him and grabbed his chin. "You just took your damn time in waking up, didn't you? It really inconveniences the rest of us, you idiot. And I thought that you and your brother were, oh what was it…, for the people? From the way you are, I don't see why Edward didn't just drop you first chance he got." The man snapped.

Alphonse stared at him; couldn't look away. What did he mean, that he and his brother were 'for the people'? He'd never heard of a term like that before…

"Don't know what I'm talking about, you stupid boy? You and your brother were near the same genius weren't you? Hard to believe. Why don't you get your ass up off of the ground, little boy? It'd do you some good."

Al attempted to push himself up, just as the man said. But he couldn't. Whatever had happened, he was weak.

"Godammit kid, get up. You're so weak. Hmmph, maybe this'll help." The man growled. He seized one end of the tape on his mouth, and yanked.

As soon as he could, Alphonse screamed. He bit his lip, his chest heaving. "Wh-where…" he couldn't manage anymore. He was heaving and terrified and his little voice wasn't able to push out more than that.

"Where what? If you don't speak, I won't know what you're trying to say."

"Where's my… my big brother… and where am I?" Al stuttered out. He gasped when another kick found its way to his gut.

"I don't recall that being any of your business." The man snapped.

Al groaned and rolled onto his side. "If it's… something to do with me… then doesn't that make it my business… by default?" he pondered, glancing up at the man above him.

The man snarled. "Shut up, you little bastard." He growled. He leaned down and lifted the boy to his feet by his collar. He then shoved him back against a wall, cracking his head on it. Al slid down it, whimpering. "See that? You're weak, useless, annoying, and stupid. Can't even defend yourself. How pathetic." Then he left.

As soon as the man was gone, Alphonse bundled into himself, curling his legs up to his chest. He breathed deeply and leaned his head forward onto his knees. 'What the heck is going on here?' he thought.

Above him, the sole light that kept the area lit went out, and Alphonse was glad, because so far as he knew, he could always think well in the solitary, lonely darkness.

Winry was thankful that she hadn't had to pull an all-nighter again as she settled into the warm comfort of her soft bed. She sighed and pulled her comforter up to her chin, then turned to the side. Her eyes accidentally found a photo that was sitting on her bedside table, framed and dusted off special. It was one of she and Ed, their arms wrapped around each other's shoulders, Al standing in front of them and laughing. Pinako had kindly taken that picture.

Winry reached out and snatched the picture from its place. She brushed her finger along the side of Al's face, and then Ed's. She smiled. "I haven't gotten a letter or a call from them or anything in a while. I wonder what's going on with them?" she wondered aloud, her tongue clicking anxiously. She leaned back against her pillow. She turned to her other side and prepared to go to sleep.

Where's my… my big brother… and where am I?

Winry practically shot out of her bed and looked around. Wasn't that Al's voice? Yes, she absolutely recognized it. But she couldn't see him, and they'd just checked in five days ago, they'd been in Central and headed toward a big lead. So why was she hearing him? She suddenly laughed, leaning back on her pillow and squeezing her eyes shut. "I must just miss them enough!" she giggled.

Wwiiii~iinnrryyy… you've gotta wake uuu~uuup… you stupid little girl. Your frie~ends… they're in daanger… and here you are, sleeping the night awaay… I hope that one of them diiiieees for your sa~ake, but I'm not telling whoo~

Winry screamed and shot out of bed. 'Danger? Dead? What am I hearing?' she thought. She climbed out of bed, shivering, and threw her robe over her head. She rubbed her head and escaped from her room to downstairs, creeping past her grandmother's room like a cat. She found her way to the phone and picked it up, quickly dialing the number that she had memorized a hundred times over. No answer came at all. 'They're just sleeping, they're just sleeping…' she thought. Surely Ed and Al weren't in danger? No, Ed was too strong, and he'd protect Al with everything that he had.

Accidents haa~aaapen, giiiirlyyy…

What was she hearing? She didn't even recognize that voice, but it sounded like it was coming from inside her head, as though she knew what was going on but at the same time didn't…

One more number rushed to her head. Not caring who she woke, she called the office of Roy Mustang, who would surely know where they were if he decided to stay late. Again, no answer. Maria Ross and Denny Brosh were next, but nothing. 'Why isn't anyone answering? Don't they know I'm panicking here?' She knew that they couldn't know that, but they could at least answer her! Honestly!

Finally, she remembered Edward giving her two other numbers that she could reach them at. Her hand crawled out for the contact book on the table, and she flipped to the page she was looking for. 'M… M… M… gah, where is it! Oh, here. Finally!' she dialed the number, and held the phone up to her ear. She waited patiently, but no one answered her.

Then, Hawkeye. Surely, if no one else knew, she would. Winry herself had asked her to keep an eye on them. Yes, she decided, Hawkeye would now.

The ringing came, and then a voice, tired but still so full of life, bubbled up, "Riza Hawkeye, who is this?"

"Miss Hawkeye, it's me, Winry. Um… if it's not too much trouble… I haven't been feeling very well, and I was just wondering if you happened to know where Ed was? He hasn't called in 5 days and I know that it's not that long but I was getting worried. So…"

She heard a wide yawn, and then what sounded like a nod or a shake of the head. "Hello. Just a second."

And end! Wow, sorry that took a while. I got stuck and then and I couldn't figure out where to go and then it got really confusing. XD Yeah! So yeah. We get to hear the rest of this last one next chapter, and maybe something more. Does anyone have any ideas, cause that'd be helpful! If so, please tell me in a review! And this, I have no officially decided, is officially AU. It's kind of like a mix between Brotherhood and the original anime. You know, I didn't want him to go past the Gate, but I didn't want him to lose his Alchemy (we're talking Ed here) but other than that it's legit. And before you ask, I have no idea how Al got his body back. None whatsoever. It just... happened, kind of. A bit of an explanation will come in later, kind of. Maybe.

So anyway, tell me how it was? I thought that this chapter was pretty good. It'd better be. I'm wasting project-making time doing this chapter! XD Oh yeah!

With love...

Ja ne! :-)