Heya! Just a little note saying here is the newest part on this Christmas Day and spending some time with family. ^_^ Enjoy this installment of "The General's Daughter and the Fullmetal Alchemist"! I think this is one I am proud of. It is kinda hard to get into the mind of Roy Mustang, but I think I did it. Your thoughts?

With how much Taylor talked about her cousin, practically raising her since she was young, I never knew McKenzi could cry. The girl sounded tough as nails, no bull shit, and a badass girl who didn't care whether or not what she was doing would have any effect on anyone else. But there were the tears silently dripping down her cheeks.

"Taylor, you're sending me away?"

From the sounds of it, the last thing McKenzi wanted to hear from her cousin was that Taylor was sending her away like General Lockert would. I felt for the kid; having been to nearly every boarding school in the country because it would look good for his rep was just not right. I'd always expected General Lockert to disown her after a while. But, that would mean he isn't a perfect human like everyone would think he is-if anyone did think that.

Taylor sighed, trying to keep her composure. This was killing her. "I have to." She walked around the desk to McKenzi. "I have no choice. If I could, I'd hide you at home or close to me, but I can't There is a killer out there after Lockert blood, and I can't let you die because of them." She wiped some of the tears off the nineteen year old's cheek. "Now, if it was Uncle Devon, I'd have no problems letting him die. Then you wouldn't have to go to another boarding school and you could stay here in Central."

"Taylor..."

She gave her a sorrowful smile. "Listen, as soon as it's clear, I'll send a message to Briggs and have you come stright home. Until then, you're going to have to be in Briggs and Colonel Elric is going with you."

The look on Ed's face made me laugh. It was a mixture of shock and some other emotion I couldn't place. I remembered that look from sending him on missions he didn't know if he'd come back or not with his brother's full body. I haven't seen that face in a long time.

"What? You're sending me? I have paperwork that will pile up."

Nice excuse, Ed.

"Fullmetal, don't worry about your paperwork or rank. When you're in protective custody with Miss Lockert, everything is on pause for you. Besides, you have to be highly trusted with this kind of mission."

McKenzi bit her lips, fighting back more tears. Fear spread in her sapphire-gold eyes. She looked to Taylor for reassurance. Taylor went back to her desk, near her sword.

"Colonel Elric," she said as she turned to the window, "do you accept going to Fort Briggs with her?"

Ed stood straight. "Yes, sir."

"But, Taylor, I could take them. My shooting skills were best in any school I went to."

"I am not taking the chance," she said as he deflected a bullet, sending it to the wall beside her desk. She turned to her cousin after she used her alchemy to repair the window, making it stronger and like it was never damaged in the first place. I blinked, rubbing my eyes, wondering how she did that. "Kenzi, listen, it hurts sending you away when you just got back. But I have to. You and Colonel Elric have to leave immediately. No getting your luggage or anything."

With tears still dripping down her cheeks, McKenzi nodded. "Can I at least have my red coat you got me?"

Taylor shook her head. "I might send it later, when I think it's safe to send anything through the mail. For now, no."

McKenzi bowed her head. I suppressed the chuckle. Her and Ed where cut from the same cloth. Both had an affinity for tasteless clothes, even if she was pretty fashion forward today. Her black leather jacket covered her arms and showed off the low-cut white shirt she was wearing under it with one of the two necklaces she was wearing ending in the middle of her large, but perky boobs. Her purple-streaked, blonde hair was on her shoulders, layered. Her dark, faded jeans were tucked into her buckled, heeled boots. If I saw her in a bar, I'd take her home with me without a second thought.

Taylor turned to Ed. "Colonel, when you get to Fort Briggs, give this code to General Armstrong. She'll, then, know everything with these four letters." She handed him a piece of paper. "Memorize the code and dispose of the paper with no trace to be found. And above all," she shot a glance to McKenzi, sadness crossing her eyes, "protect my cousin at all costs."

Ed nodded, shoving the paper in his uniform pocket. "Yes, sir." Now tears were dripping down McKenzi's cheeks as the gravity of everything hit her. "I will protect her."

"Good, now get on the next train out of here. Both of you need to get to Briggs as soon as possible to get a headstart on getting there." She looked to McKenzi again. "Kenzi, it'll be for a little while. After, we can move out of Uncle Devon's house and be free from him."

McKenzi nodded, taking in a shaky deep breath. Her resolve was fading fast. I saw that before when I was in the war.

Taylor went back to McKenzi, hugging her tight. "Just remember, I love you and I'll send for you soon."

"I love you too, Taylor," she said as tears pooled in her eyes, hugging Taylor tighter. "Be careful."

Soon after, both Ed and McKenzi left. I didn't relax. I knew I couldn't relax with Taylor having to go to Lockert's house after having to send her beloved cousin away for her protection. When the silence between us was too much, I spoke up.

"Where are you going after work?"

"Home to figure out who would want to assassinate my uncle or Kenzi."

I sighed a little, binding my courage into one. "You need to hide too if this assassin is after General Lockert and his family." Taylor looked to me, her eyes telling me I had a point. Well of course I had a point. "You can stay with me in my house. I have a guest room you can use and an open kitchen. You wouldn't be a bother, trust me."

"I can't do that, Roy."

"I am insisting."

She sighed. "Fine."

This girl needed a strong drink after what she just had to do.

"I even have liquor there." I knew that would get her. She looked like she needed a drink after today's events.

"Better yet. I want to be numb; sending her away is going to near about kill me."