AN: Sorry this chapter took so long, a lot has been going on and I havn't had much time to work on it. Add that to the fact that my computer crashed and I lost half of it and there you have it. Excuses over, on with the story.

P.S. thanks for the reviews and favorites. I'm glad your enjoying. :D

TnC

Chap 4 – The Healing Alchemist

Ed came into work early the next morning to talk to Roy and Jean. He got there to realize he was there before even Hawkeye. He sat at his desk and thought about the night before. Kate was awkward with the four of them having dinner together, and that wasn't even a date. She wasn't one of Roy's women that would go home with almost anyone if you gave her enough to drink. And she wasn't one of Havoc's women who may not have been as friendly as Roy's, but still knew their way around the block. Hell, Ed wouldn't be surprised to find out that Kate was still a virgin. She didn't deserve what those idiots wanted to put her through.

Roy was the next to arrive, setting a small basket of flowers on Kate's desk. Ed just glared at him. "We need to talk, Roy."

The Colonel turned to look at Ed. "What about?"

"About that stupid bet you made with Havoc. Kate deserves better treatment than that. Especially from her commanding officer and fellow soldier."

Roy turned and looked at Ed a moment before a smirk made its way to his face. "So you're telling me your little 'date' with Kate didn't go so well last night?"

Ed fumed. "No, I'm telling you that this is only going to end badly. You can't treat a woman like that. Especially one like her."

Roy was quiet for a moment, and then started to laugh. "I think I get it. You're falling for her!"

Ed growled at the man. "So what if I am? I told you the day you made that stupid bet that it was a bad idea." Ed took a deep breath and sighed. "She seems so, I don't know, vulnerable. She told me last night that her house was so isolated she never really had any friends. Judging by how nervous she was I can't help but believe her."

"Besides that," Ed continued, "we have to be able to trust each other, to watch each other's backs. We are a team after all. Having something like that stupid little wager you two made hit the fan would devastate that."

Roy was about to tell Ed that he was right and that he would talk to Havoc about it later that day when Hawkeye strolled in. "Good morning, Lieutenant," Roy smiled at her, "lovely day isn't it?"

With that Roy was on his way back into the office, leaving a confused Lieutenant and a fuming Major in his wake.

"Bastard." Was all Roy heard as he closed the door.

.o0o.

The knock on Roy's door that afternoon was soft and seemed almost hesitant. Roy smiled, "Come in." He stood when Kate entered the room. "Kate, please have a seat." As she sat he moved to the front of his desk and leaned against the edge.

He noticed her hands shaking slightly and tried to set her at ease. "How has your time here in Central been so far? Settling in well, I hope." He watched her carefully as he waited for her answer. He wasn't as good as reading people as Hughes was, but that was to be expected. Hughes worked in investigations; they read people the way some people read billboards. Hughes had taught Roy a few things though, and they were coming in handy.

Kate took a deep breath before she answered. "Things are going better than I expected so far, Thank you, Sir."

Roy smiled, "I'm glad to hear it. I know Central must be a big change from Liet, and I hope we can help things feel a bit more welcoming." Roy had decided Ed was right about her. She was vulnerable, but it seemed like she was making herself that way on purpose. He got the feeling that there were walls that were just waiting to spring up around her, hiding her mind, her heart, and her emotions from everyone outside.

"Everyone here has been wonderful, Sir. I get the feeling I'm very lucky to have been assigned to your team." Her cheeks turned a bit pink and guilt hit Roy like a ton of bricks. She wanted to be open with him and his men. She wanted to trust them. She wanted to really be one of them, and she was fighting her most ingrained instincts to keep those walls down and do it.

"Now for the real reason I've called you in." Roy smiled and walked back around the desk to open one of the top drawers. He pulled out a manila envelope and silver pocketwatch. He handed them both to her with a smile."Congratulations, Healing Alchemist, and welcome to our team."

The uncomfortable twinge that the Colonel had put in her stomach up until now was gone. He seemed to genuinely be glad she was there and was truly concerned about how things were going. She could see why his subordinates were ready to follow him to hell and back. "Th-Thank you, Colonel." She couldn't say anything more as she looked at the watch and read the letter from the Council giving her the name of The Healing Alchemist.

"Is everything alright?" Roy sat in the chair across from her and turned so they were facing each other. Everyone had their own reasons for becoming state alchemists and this woman was no exception.

She looked up at him and smiled. "Yes, Sir. It couldn't be better. I was just thinking about how right my grandfather was about leaving Liet and how I wish he could have been here."

Roy gave her a soft smile. "I know being in my command isn't the same as a family, but I hope that we can eventually be a close second. And I know your grandfather would be proud of you. He taught you all your alchemy, correct?"

She stood up and smiled. "He did, Sir, and thank you." He stood along with her and she saluted him.

He returned the salute and smiled. "You're dismissed, Major. Could you please send Jean Havoc in here when you leave?"

"Yes, Sir," and with that she was leaving his office and closing the door behind her.

Roy went back around to his chair and smirked while he waited for Havoc. They would call off the bet, but that didn't mean they couldn't watch Ed squirm a bit before they let him in on that fact.

.o0o.

Ed couldn't help but smile as Kate came out of Roy's office with a large envelope in her hand and a silver chain coming out of her pocket. He stood and offered a hand to shake in greeting. "Why hello there, I'm the Fullmetal Alchemist. And who might you be?" He asked her with a goofy grin on his face.

She couldn't help but laugh at his antics. "I'm The Healing Alchemist. It's wonderful to meet you."

Ed smiled. It was a perfect name for her. Somehow the state assigned names always were. He opened his mouth to speak but Feury beat him to it. "Hey, Kate, we were just kinda talking about what to do for your birthday tomorrow. We wanted to know if there was anything special you wanted to do after work."

The smile slipped away from her face. "Thank you, all of you. But if you don't mind I really don't want to make tomorrow different from any other day. I really do appreciate the thought. It does mean a lot to me."

Kain Feury immediately wished he hadn't said anything after seeing the look on her face. "I'm sorry; we really didn't mean to make you feel badly."

Her smile began to return a bit. "It's alright Kain; you had no way of knowing. There are just too many things that are associated with my birthday that I don't want to think about."

The look on her face made Ed's heart break for her. She looked like she was fighting some internal battle and both sides were fighting hard to win. "Kate, are you okay?"

It seemed to him that question was what tipped the scales in the fight and she looked up at them all with a genuine smile. "You know what? I really am. Never been better in fact. I've changed my mind." She smiled at the group in the room. "Whatever you guys want to plan for tomorrow, count me in."

Riza grinned at her. "Are you sure? We don't want to pressure you into anything."

Kate walked over and hugged the woman who was quickly becoming her closest friend. "I'm sure. It's long overdue." With that Kate turned her smile to the rest of the room. "Whatever you guys decide to plan, I really am looking forward to it."

Kate grabbed Riza's hand. "Come on, I'm overdue for my lunch break, and I know you are too. Let's let the guys plan this one and we can be surprised."

Kate waved to the men in the room as they left and closed the door behind her.

Sgt. Feury knocked on the Colonel's door to get the attention of Roy and Havoc. Once they were all in the outer office the four men planned an evening out. She had only been with them for a few days and she had already won them over. They each wanted to make it a day she would never forget.