Oh gawd, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to leave updating so late but I've been mildly flustered and overwhelmed with school. Stupid exams... I'm putting this out in the open now, next update may not be for a while because I have...4ish exams that I haven't really started studying for.

Anywhoo(heehee I'm an owl) enjoy this little update that I'm writing in my joyous relaxation time!

Disclaimer: I in no way own FMA or its characters.

Chapter 4

Roy Mustang

My ungraceful landing on the ground does not go unnoticed by my body for it protests in agony whenever I try to move.

Ed's unconscious once again but it doesn't look like the fall harmed him. Much… The boy is still clutched to my chest and I feel the steady, but painful small, rise and fall of his chest. He's breathing, and at the moment that's all that matters.

"Ed," I say but it comes out as a hoarse rasp. Dust coats the inside of my mouth and throat, impairing my speaking. "Ed, you okay?"

The boy doesn't reply and I sigh. Reluctantly I look at my surrounds. I'm half buried in rubble but it could be a lot worse.

Ed could be dead, a voice in my head says. It'd be so easy to leave him here and escape by yourself.

Shut up, I mentally hiss at myself. Okay, I'm losing it, talking to myself, good job Roy.

I distract myself by watching Ed, making sure his condition doesn't worsen or for signs of consciousness. I'm not sure which, maybe both.

The building continues rumbling and screeching but I ignore it. All my attention stays on the blonde boy in my arms.

Sleep begins to take hold on my already drained body and I fight it off. Sleep isn't good right now. I need to make sure that Edward is alright.

Unfortunately, one cannot fight the body's primary needs for long and I doze off. The sound of voices and a particularly loud crash of debris wake me from my slumber.

I'm just imagining things. I'm sitting at my desk at work, asleep and avoiding paperwork.

"Mustang! Ed!" the sound of a voice flutters towards me. It sounds like Hawkeye…

"…Riza…" I groan. That woman wouldn't leave me alone, even though I clearly needed the sleep.

"Colonel," she calls again. Damn it, why is she so determined to wake me up.

I open my eyes, caught off guard with my surroundings. Luckily, it quickly comes back to me and I call back as best as I can. "…Riza…Where are you…"

Hawkeye's form soon appears in front of me and she crotches. "Ed," She breaths. "Colonel are you okay?"

I try to smirk, "Okay as I can be in the current position I'm in." I glance at Ed and my humor simmers away to nothing . "Guess this means you can't kill me. He's still alive."

"Barely," a new voice mutters. I quickly look down at Ed and so does the First Lieutenant. "W'at the 'ell happen'd?"

He tries to move but winces in pain and settles for leaning back against my chest. "Not much Kid. Don't move much, we don't want you hurting yourself more," I tell him softly, laying a hand protectively on him.

Hawkeye gapes at me and I pretend I don't notice it.

"s'hen 'ju 'et 'ere 'awk'ye," Ed struggles to form the words and get them out in a coherent manner.

Her face momentarily looks perplexed but softens. "Not long ago Ed," she says as she smooth's his damp bangs away from his eyes. I hadn't realized he was sweating… "Just relax okay?"

The boy closes his eyes and Riza visibly relaxes slightly.

She shifts off her jacket and slips it onto the once-again shivering Edward. She settles beside me on the ground and moves close to Ed, sharing her body heat with him and, consequently, me.

Hawkeye unconsciously smooth's the blonde hair continuously but the small boy doesn't do anything.

We all sit huddled like that for an immeasurable amount of time and slowly Ed falls back sleep, he heavy weight of his body mass settling onto me.

"Colonel," Hawkeye tenderly asks.

"Hawkeye, just call me by my name! I'm not in to mood to deal with titles and all that at the moment," I snap, unreasonably harsh.

"…okay s-Roy," she says softly.

I sigh, I didn't mean for it to come out that way. "Listen Hawkeye, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound so harsh but I'm just frustrated at the moment."

"I understand," I look over at her calculatingly. "Just go to sleep for a while, I'll keep an eye on Edward."

I nod and lean my head back, letting my thoughts waver and consciousness slip.

Edward

The black hands extend towards me and Alphonse, my little brother. That thought screams through my mind. Those damn hands are going to talk my little brother away from me! I reach towards his out stretched hand, screaming.

"Alphonse!"

("Edward?")

"Alphonse," I scream; the agonizing pain of my limbs being torn away and the terror I feel at losing my little brother clearly reflected in my voice. "Alphonse!"

My little brother is slowly being taken away from me. "Al don't go!" I try to move towards him but without my leg I can't.

"Give him back! He's my little brother!"

("Ed! Edward are you okay?")

Sobs violently rack my body, sending spasms of pain up my spine.

In front of me suddenly stands the truth. I'm thrust backwards through the gate and knowledge crams into my mind, adding to the already searing pain I feel.

I'm propelled back into the room where Al and I attempted the transmutation and see the horrible thing me and my little brother created. Desperately I crawl towards a suit of armor and draw a seal on it and activate the transmutation circle.

White hot pain scorches my arm and the world swirls.

Suddenly, I find myself in that same room but safe. My arm and leg are automail and I`m alone.

In front of me the air mists and when it clears my eight-year old brother stands. "Why'd you do it, Brother! I told you not to! You took my body from me, do you know how that felt!"

"Alphonse I'm-" my voice cracks.

"You attached my soul to a piece of armor," the little boy yells, slowly transforming into the Alphonse I know today. "I can't feel, I can't smell or taste!"

My vision swims and I see both Al's in front of me. "Alphonse, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen, it's all my fault. I'll get your body back, I promise."

"I HATE YOU," the two Alphonse's scream at me in unison.

"Al please…" My voice wobbles at the end as Alphonse is replaced by somebody else, two somebodies.

"What the hell do you think you're doing Fullmetal," the Colonel yells angrily at me as he clutches the second person to him.

"She's dead because of you! How could you, don't you even care!"

I realize the person he's holding is Hawkeyes limp body, bloody dripping from a wound I can't see. "Colonel…Hawkeye…I don't…"

("Ed wake up!")

"In your selfish search to restore your body you sacrificed Hawkeye," he screeches at me, bordering on the edge of hysterical.

"No, no! I don't care about my body! I just want to get Alphonse his back," I deny desperately but when I look at my limbs they're flesh.

Mustang scoffs at me, "Al is dead Ed! Because of you! How could you do that!?How could you sacrifice your own brother and Riza just for yourself! I should've never sponsored you to join the arm as a state alchemist!"

"No… I… no…" I gasp out as the scene changes.

"Edward…" the voice is soft and filled with sorrow.

"Mum…"

"Why, Edward? Why did you do this to me!?" The fog clears and the twisted monster that was the result of the failed mutation is there. "How could you do this to your own mother!? And sacrificing Alphonse in the process!"

"Mum…I'm sorry…I didn't…"I gasp out, my heart shattering.

("Edward! Damn it Fullmetal, wake up!")

My eyes fly open and I gasp for air, hissing as pain shoots through me. I put my head in my hands, gasping and trying to regain my composure.

I strong hand slowly rubs my back and I turn to see Hawkeye looking at me sympathetically. I jerk away; Hawkeye looks too pale and there's blooding dripping down her arm and onto me.

"Edward," Roy cautiously says. "It's okay."

I ignore him, continuing to stare at Hawkeye. "Hawkeye," I moan in pain and sorrow, guilt slowly taking over.

She blinks at me confused. Then opens her mouth and tries to speak but a soft gurgling sound emits instead and I clap my hand over my ears and squeeze my eyes shut. No. No no no.

Mustang gently places a hand on my forehead but quickly pulls it away. "Damn," he mutters, then speaking to the dead Hawkeye, "He has a high fever, he must be hallucinating."

The Colonel pulls me against him, softly murmuring but I can't tell what he's saying.

Roy Mustang

Ed's burning up with a fever which must be an effect from a now infected cut. Probably that gash on his side.

I hold his trembling form against me murmuring softly.

I watch Hawkeye, Hawkeye watches Ed, Ed watches whatever horrors his mind is showing him.

It's a vicious circle.

I don't know how much longer we can hold out here like this.

What is taking that damn rescue team so long?

Authors note!

Well, well, well! Look whose back and writing yet again! That`s right! This two-thumbed personnel! (sorry I`m bored and this is the result of said boredom...) Anyway, Thanks for all the awesome sauce reviews peopleles! I`ll try not to take to long to update, but in the mean time stay calm, befriend an exotic animal and don`t, I repeat don`t, don`t listen to that voice in your head that says playing with a container of sparkles is a good idea, I personally guarantee its lying to you!

Stay frosty cheeseslices,

~Twink

By the way, if you see any letters with random accents on them, i apologize my laptop kept switching to "french canadian" keyboard mode...