"What do you mean dead?!" Winry nearly lost control as she stumbled back falling onto the couch, and covering her mouth in alarm. Tears rolled to the front of her eyes and Al lowered his head.
"'Fraid so, Winry. Least, that's what the Colonel told me."
"No…" Winry tried to shake the tears.
Pinako remained silent. She didn't know what to say… What to do…
"NO! I won't believe it!" Winry came angrily to her feet. "I'm going to see the Colonel myself, and I will… I'll…"
"Winry," Aunt Pinako stepped over beside her and set a hand on her lower back. "If the Colonel says he dead, he's telling the truth; even if he is a dog of the military. There's nothing we can do."
She shook her head again. "I just can't believe he's gone."
"I know, dear… I know."
Once Mustang arrived at the station, his senses were on full alert. Anyone who looked like they knew anything was questioned on Ed's whereabouts. He jogged here, fast-walked there, asked who, where, and when… Nobody knew. He spent hours asking around, even the ticket management, and still received no word on Ed's possible survival. He was ready to give up by noon.
He started to walk back to the waiting car to take him to the scene of the last shred of evidence to support any life left in his infamous missing soldier. I guess it was the truth… he really is dead.
"That man?"
"Yeah, that's the man looking for the boy… You say you saw him? You should tell him."
Mustang overheard; the noon-shift ticket lady didn't have to say a word to call him over to the stand. "Where is he?"
His hasty demand caused the lady to pause a moment before responding, "He stumbled up on the tracks the other day… He… passed out and a doctor took him… is he your son?"
"What doctor?" Mustang's persistence seemed to frighten her a bit.
"D-doctor Carson. But the boy didn't look like there was much life left in him, so I don't know if it's worth knowing-"
"Where can I find him?" Mustang's voice was steady with a slight edge to it, and he leaned closer to make sure he didn't miss a thing.
"St. Marge's hospital… he's top-dog around there, they'll tell you where he is."
Mustang bounced lightly on his toes eagerly thinking over things to see if there were any more questions of which an answer would benefit. Coming up with no further remark, his hand gently slapped the counter and he pealed away, "Thank you very much!" Mustang jogged past Hughes, grabbing his sleeve and dragging him to the car.
"Roy? Did we find him?"
"Yeah, St. Marge's hospital." A broad grin consumed Mustang's commonly composed features as Meas slid into the driver seat and, not bothering with the seatbelt, revved the engine, speeding off toward the hospital.
"I knew he was alive."
"Winry?" Al stepped down on the bank by the river.
"So this is where Ed would go if he were upset, right?" Winry whispered and a tear slipped silently down her cheek, reflecting the light of the setting sun in its bulb and flickering as it fell.
"I'm sorry." Al crouched down on the ground, drew a circle in the sand, and poked the middle; he began to draw a transmutation circle.
Winry glanced at what Al was doing and stooped down next to him. "Whacha gonna make?" She wiped another tear from her eye. Al didn't respond, so she waited patiently.
When Al finished the circle, he reached into his armor and pulled out a small bouquet of white lilies. Winry's eyes softened in realization and she looked out at the swift sparkling water. The soft glow of the transmutation filled her peripheral for a moment and all was still.
She suddenly flinched as Al set the new wreath of flowers on her head. She put her hand up to hold them on when they slid a little, and she smiled sweetly at Al as a thanks.
"We should head in, it's late." Al stood.
Winry nodded and stood too. As Al climbed the hill, Winry paused two steps from the water's shore carefully removing the crown from her head. She looked up at the sky, sighed, kissed a flower, and tossed the ring in the river. She didn't even wait to watch it float away as she climbed the slope and went back to the house.
"Excuse me." Mustang called out as he tossed open the hospital's door. A startled RN (registered nurse) looked up from her paperwork. "Where can we find either Edward Elric or Dr. Carson?
"Oh… Um… According to this note, here, Dr. Carson is away… And, who?"
"Edward Elric." Mustang was careful to articulate.
The counter woman wheeled her chair around and opened a small notebook. "And when would he have been admitted?"
"A few days ago."
"I'm sorry, the only patient still being treated here from a few days ago- or longer before- was released this morning… And I… Don't see an Edward Elric. Sorry." She pushed herself back to the desk and smiled apologetically up at him.
"Parked the car, Roy. Any luck?" Hughes entered the hospital with a smile. Seeing the woman, he nodded in greeting and looked back at Mustang.
Mustang thought for a moment… "Where can I find Dr. Carson?"
"Is this important?"
"Very."
"Let me give him a call." She slid over to the phone and dialed a number off a notepad.
"Thank you." Mustang said quietly and he heard the phone on the other line start to ring; a soft 'hello' followed.
"Yes, Dr. Carson?" "This is Jacky." "Yeah, I have a couple of soldiers standing here looking for an 'Edward Elric…'" She spoke his name slowly looking into Mustang's eyes to be sure she was getting it right. Mustang nodded and she turned back to the conversation. "Yeah… Uh-huh… Yes… I'll let him know… Uh-huh. Of course… Buh-bye." She hung up and turned to Mustang and Hughes with a wide smile. "Dr. Carson would like me to send you to him."
"Him?" Hughes perked up.
"Ed?" Mustang asked for clarification.
"Dr. Carson wants to meet up with you both to discuss the condition of Mr. Elric."
"Is he alive?" Mustang pressed, both his hands resting eagerly on the counter.
She smiled softer, "Yes. Here's the address."
"Thank God." Mustang snatched the paper and turned away putting his hands to his forehead, then ran his fingers through his hair.
Meas smiled and patted him on the back. "You were right… Again!"
"Damn straight, let's go."