AN: This was the second chapter I wrote for the fic. Ugh, I just love Royai angst so much.

Enjoy!

"Why are you doing this?" Rebecca rounded on her. "Why are you fighting us on absolutely everything?"

Tension had reached a head in their safe house. Everyone wasn't happy with Riza and her bad attitude, and she knew it. Rebecca had been the only one with the balls to call the former team member out on it. She had purposefully done this so that they couldn't get close, because once this was all over with she would disappear once and for all. It was too damn hard to watch over Roy's shoulder from a distance. It was too hard for Riza to protect him from the shadows. The way she continued to protect his life without being able to say a word to him…

Her heart tore in her chest at the thought of leaving him, but she owed it to herself. She had fought for too long. It is time to leave it up to the fates, she had told herself half-heartedly, not really believing it. He was at the top now. He had achieved the majority of what he had set out to do. It seems like a life time ago that he first revealed his vision for the future.

The worst part was, that when this country finally reached a democracy and Roy was tried for his war crimes during Ishval, Riza wouldn't even be tried. She wasn't a part of history anymore, therefore no one knew about her. There was no record of her in the military. The Hawk's Eye no longer existed in this world. She was supposed to be by his side during it, but now she couldn't be. She would have to do it herself.

"Because I am tired!" Riza cried, her emotions getting the better of her. Pressure built behind her eyes, the tears threatening to spill over. However, Riza was beyond the point of caring. "Because I am tired of everything. I am tired of having to work with people I once called friends and having no one recognise me. I am tired of being so angry all the time." Riza's voice dropped in volume. Rebecca had to strain to hear her.

"I am so damn tired… of being so goddamn alone."

Riza's front fell, all her bravado and strength evaporating out of her in that second. This was not how she envisioned the conversation going. This was the exact opposite. She had one more day of this hell, one more day. And she had just gone and blew it.

The room before her was silent. Riza didn't know what was worse, having her old friend, and the six people no doubt listening closely in the next room, watch her break down, or them having no idea what she was talking about. Both broke her heart yet again.

She truly was all alone.

Thanks for that Truth, you bastard.

Riza avoided her old team mate's eyes. "I am sorry, you guys. I truly am." She addressed them all because there was no way they hadn't heard Riza's outburst.

Someone protested her leaving the room, however the blood was roaring in Riza's ears as the tears continued to fall. She didn't know who it was.

Locking her bedroom door behind her, Riza fell onto the bed. She was unmoving. For a while, there was only silence in the house. Then, floorboards creaked as people begun to move. Hushed whispers followed soon after.

No one knocked on her door. No one even ventured close.

Of course, their memories were stolen by Truth, so they were likely thoroughly confused by her speech.

Despite that, it still cut her deep.

The heart is a funny thing.

Just one more job Riza. Get it done then you can disappear again. Then the pain will be gone.

For once, the lies she told herself didn't work.

Riza lay there, face down on her bed, simply staring at the sheet. Her back still ached but she embraced it as a punishment. It was no less than she deserved. Her thoughts turned to her small speech. Initially, she felt embarrassed she had opened herself so much like that. She had never meant to break down in front of her old team like that. She promised herself she wouldn't. However, the past few weeks, working so closely with them again, brought all of her emotions back up to the surface. It was becoming more and more difficult to keep a lid on it all.

Riza was so lost in thought she missed the quiet knock on her door. She missed a soft male voice calling to her, asking her to open up.

Roy was confused by Hawkeye's words. She had referred to the team as people who were "once her friends". What had she meant by that? As far as Roy was aware, they had never worked together before. Hell, he had never even met the woman before this mission. The blonde had been brought in to help at Grumman's insistence. Why they needed a criminal to help them on this case, he didn't know.

Looking around the group, everyone wore the same perplexed expression. Catalina watched Riza leave, her expression holding sympathy in it. She clearly didn't expect that reaction. She was clearly deeply troubled. The anger and fight was simply a front, Roy knew that now. But a front for what?

Edward, however, his gaze was on Roy, and he was clearly not happy.

"What's up Fullmetal?" he asked, frowning at his expression.

Instead of replying, Edward scoffed and turned on his heel to leave. Roy debated going after the young man, but decided against it. He really didn't want to get into a shouting match right now. He was tired. They all were. They would need their strength and rest for the mission tomorrow. Whatever this was, whatever Hawkeye meant, could be left for another day.

"Where the hell is Hawkeye?" Mustang growled into his comm, ducking behind cover. They were taking heavy fire at the warehouse. The criminals had finally gotten desperate and were firing wildly into the streets. The main concern was traffic and civilians. This was supposed to be a controlled op. Hawkeye and Catalina were supposed to be providing covering sniper fire, but with one sniper short, it was difficult for the other to keep up.

The blonde had been MIA since her outburst last night. Havoc had gone to fetch her from her room that morning, only for it to be locked. Confused, Mustang ordered him to pick the lock after they had spent time calling out to her. The room was empty when they finally got in.

"What do you mean, gone?" Roy asked, baffled.

"I mean gone, sir. As in, there is no one in the room."

"What the hell?"

"Everything is gone."

"Goddamn it." This was not what he needed right before the mission. He needed his team present and accounted for. Granted, Hawkeye wasn't technically part of his team, but they had a deal. He thought the thief would honour that at least.

Edward was quiet as he watched his irate former CO. Hawkeye had told him exactly what her plan was. He wasn't entirely happy about how she had gone about it, however it was up to her. Ed just hoped she knew what she was doing.

"Everyone, in the cars," Mustang barked. "We don't have time for her little game. We have a job to do."

"We don't know, Sir," Breda replied reluctantly.

A shout went up from the other side. The enemy ceased firing immediately. Poking his head up cautiously over the top of the wall he was behind, Roy's eyes widened in surprise.

Hawkeye stood in the middle of the two sides, gun and arms up in surrender.

"It's Hawkeye!" someone shouted over the comm.

"What the hell is she doing?"

"She's gonna get herself killed!"

"What's the plan, sir?"

"Everyone, eyes on the targets. Don't let them shoot her!"

"Evans!" Hawkeye shouted. Her voice rang out through the entrance to the warehouse, the challenge clear within it. No one dared speak or even move as Hawkeye stood in the death zone.

"Well, well, well. Riza Hawkeye," Evans smirked as he sauntered out from the darkness. "What a pleasure."

Guns were trained on the group's leader as he spoke with Hawkeye.

Roy readied himself, poising to snap as soon as necessary. Well, they had found her at least. Why she was currently standing in between the two groups, Roy didn't know. His stomach twisted at the thought of her getting gunned down. He sure as hell wasn't going to lose another soldier, no matter how much she had fought him the past few weeks. Roy had a duty as a commanding officer, even to Hawkeye. He wouldn't let her down in that regard.

"Pleasure is all mine," Hawkeye replied. Despite her words, her tone was clipped and sharp.

"Please tell your men to stop firing at mine. It is most unpleasant."

"They are not my men," she replied defiantly.

"Ah, but they were once, weren't they?" Roy watched as her shoulders stiffened and Evans' smile widened. "I thought so. You know, I used to admire you in your military days. You were so headstrong and fought so hard for what was right. And now look where it has got you. Playing for the opposite team." Roy listened on, confused. They all did. Hawkeye was ex-military? Well, it explained her shooting. Evans tsked to himself. "What a disappointing outcome. But still, you always found your way back to him."

"Stop firing," Riza barked over her comm.

"What the hell?" Havoc whispered from beside Roy.

"Just do it," Hawkeye hissed.

"Thank you. Much obliged."

Roy flinched, mouth hanging open as Evans reared back and punched Hawkeye in the jaw.

The team were frozen in silence, too stunned to act.

After the second punch, the blonde's head snapping sickeningly, everyone sprang into action.

"Hawkeye!" Catalina cried from her sniper's perch. She reloaded her gun and trained it on Evan's head.

"Get out of there!" Havoc yelled, training his pistol on Evans.

"Stop!" she panted, falling to her knees and clutching her jaw. "Stand down!"

"Like hell I will!" Mustang growled.

"Do it!" Something in Hawkeye's tone stopped them. The command was sharp, but was also full of desperation, mixed with fear. But… What was she afraid of?

Evans kicked her in the left arm, sending Riza crashing to the concrete. Her head bounced off it roughly and her gun went flying off to the side.

"Let's go," Evan commanded, all pleasantries gone from his voice. He picked her up under the shoulder roughly, dragging her along the ground. Hawkeye tried to get to her feet, but failed. "I wanted the Flame Alchemist, but," Evans grinned to himself. "Considering your history, you will do just fine right now." A gun was placed to Hawkeye's temple.

Roy sprang into action after the pair, only to be stopped by the enemy firing again, covering their leader's exit.

"Damn it!" Roy shouted. They were getting away. He didn't know what was going on, but he wasn't about to let Hawkeye hand herself over to the enemy. What the hell was she thinking? Why did Evans want him? Why would Riza "do just fine for now"? What the fuck was going on?

Roy was prepared to snap, however something hit his hand. Hissing in pain, he clutched his hand to his chest. Taking a look, his heart sank when he saw the transmutation circle on his glove was ripped.

He was useless.

"Havoc! Gun!"

A pistol was tossed to him. Plucking it from the air, Roy readied himself to fire. It wasn't his strong suit, but damn it he would do his best if it meant getting Hawkeye back. He didn't know why the urge was so strong to get to her. It baffled him. Chalking it up to being her superior officer, he focussed his gaze and fought to reach her.

They slowly picked the opposition off as Evans and Hawkeye disappeared into the gloom. Panic filled Roy at the thought of her disappearing with that psychopath. Pushing out from behind his cover, Roy began to sprint into the warehouse, only to be knocked backwards to the ground.

Multiple explosions ripped through the building, knocking soldiers off their feet. The team behind him staggered and fell, watching in horror as the roof of the building came crashing down.

Roy climbed to his feet shakily, his ears ringing after the blast. He shook his head, but the ringing didn't stop.

"Riza…" he whispered, his gut wrenching.

Staggering, he ran towards the collapsing warehouse.

Everything was on fire as he approached. The heat was so intense, he had to back away.

"Fuery!" he shouted, although it sounded like he was underwater. "Call the MPs and the fire brigade!"

They couldn't have gotten far. She had to be nearby.

She had to be.

Rubble shifted to his right. Turning, Roy caught a glimpse of a boot kicking away the loose stones. A cough followed soon afterwards.

"Riza!" Roy called, sprinting over to her location. He shifted the boulders lying atop her. Once Hawkeye was clear, Roy bent over, lifting her gently. Cradling the nearing unconscious woman to his chest, Roy picked his way through the rubble and out into the street.

In the distance he heard sirens, signalling the approach of the military police and the fire brigade.

Roy placed her against the wall he had recently used as cover. The blonde continued to cough in an effort to shift the dust and smoke from her lungs.

Ed rushed over to Hawkeye, almost pushing Roy out of the way.

"Hawkeye, did it work?" he asked, his voice hinging on desperate. Hawkeye coughed violently. Her eyes remained closed and her head lolled backwards. Roy caught it, lowering her to lie on the ground. "That was a risky move, Hawkeye. I can't believe you pulled it off." Ed chuckled to himself in disbelief. "I don't know why I am surprised. You always get the job done."

"I had to make it believable," she whispered, her voice raspy.

"What are you talking about?" Roy demanded.

As if Ed was just realising the man was there, he turned to him, surprised. "Hawkeye just saved your life Mustang."

An ambulance pulled up behind them. The paramedics loaded Hawkeye onto a stretcher, ushering Roy out of the way. He didn't know why, but he felt an inexplicable urge to remain by her side. He remembered the fear he had felt when the building had come crashing down on top of her. It was nothing like he had ever experienced before.

Ed hopped in to the back of the ambulance with Hawkeye. As it sped away from the scene, Roy could do nothing but watch it disappear.

"Sir, what happened here?" Havoc asked. Turning to look at the team they all shared the same expression. They were all equally as confused as he was.

"I… I don't know."