You get me every time.

-Goodnight and Go by Imogen Heap


"Ah, Fullmetal, it's good that you are still small; I don't think we could fit you in here with everyone else otherwise." The Fuhrer smirked at his little joke, but dropped it as soon as he realized that the blond sitting beside wasn't going to respond.

"Bastard Fuhrer," Edward murmured almost to himself into Roy's shoulder. "I wish you wouldn't make fun of me all the time…I'm so tired. Can't you just leave me alone for now?" Edward sounded exhausted and heaved a tired sigh that made even Roy's bones ache.

"Of course, Edward, but just stay awake a little longer," the Fuhrer's tone was gentle and worried, but he did well to mask his concern with his usual casual tone. "I want to take you to a doctor before we take you home. You're ill and I want to make sure you don't just curl up and die next to me from something that could have been helped." The Fuhrer's voice was still gentle, but it now held a joking tone to lighten up the mood.

Edward's head shook violently and Roy thought the boy-man (he's a man now) would give himself whiplash with the speed. The younger man flashed his eyes up at the Fuhrer. "I thought you said you weren't going to drop me off at the hospital!" His breath quickened raggedly and his eyes were wide and bright.

"We're not. It's just a check-up. Calm down before you hurt yourself. You're weak enough as it is; I'd hate it if you passed out… You would hate it if you passed out because then we would have to dump you at the hospital."

Edward slumped back onto the Fuhrer's shoulder and sighed. "Okay, but…" He trailed off and Roy thought he'd fallen asleep.

"Hey, are you sleeping?"

"No," he said after a few seconds of silence.

Then there was another pregnant pause before Roy spoke up. "What were you going to say?"

There was a deep breath and a gentle cough. "Tell Havoc to drive faster. I don't feel so hot." A groan and another sigh before silence.

"I'm driving as fast I can," the newly-appointed Colonel hissed from the driver's seat. "Don't rush me, brat."

Ed let out a gasping laugh and shuddered against Roy. "Don't make me laugh…hurts."

Havoc smiled into the rear-view mirror and then looked back to the road, his concentration almost tangible. "Can do."

Armstrong cleared his throat and sighed from the passenger seat. "I feel so out of place when I'm not included."

Roy could feel Edward smile against his shoulder and felt himself smile as well. "Ah, Armstrong, you could just put yourself into the conversation."

"But then I would feel like I was a bother."

There was a chuckle against Roy's shoulder and a snort came from the other side of Edward. Hawkeye sat at the young man's side looking like the bodyguard she had always been and the "mother" she had become over the past few years to both of the Elrics.

"Colonel Armstrong, I must ask you to stop your whining. You are acting like a child."

Armstrong quickly shut his mouth and relaxed into his seat in the front. Hawkeye smiled and looked to her side at Edward. Edward felt her eyes on him and looked towards her.

"Is something wrong," he asked gently.

She stared at him for a few moments before looking away towards the window. "I was worried about you," she said as she tracked the buildings and the road outside the window. "You should have called before now."

"'m sorry," Ed mumbled, still watching her. "I'll do better next time," he said as his human hand slowly made its way to her hand. He grabbed it and squeezed as she turned around to face him again. They both sighed and then looked away.


After being examined by the doctor Edward promptly collapsed on the examination table.

"He should be okay, Fuhrer. He just needs a few days of rest and proper nutrition," the doctor had calmly told Roy, assuring him the young blond unconscious on the table would be fine. And Roy was more than happy to allow the young man to rest. The Fuhrer dismissed Armstrong, Breda, and Havoc soon after the examination was over. Armstrong had nearly been carried out by Havoc and Breda for he had refused to the leave the weak blond's side. And Armstrong's leaving was the exact reason the great and powerful Fuhrer of Amestris, Roy Mustang was left with carrying Edward out of the hospital, carefully cradling the small body like a newborn babe.

All hail the mighty Fuhrer of Amestris and the Hero of the People… Roy let out a mental snort at the though.

As soon as Roy was away from the hospital he relaxed and slumped in his uniform. "Riza, would you mind driving? I'd like to sit in the back and keep an eye on him."

"Of course, and then I'll drive you back to Headquarters and have you get back to work."

"What? Riza, you can't be serious! I've been planning to sleep the rest of the day away."

"I know. I was only joking with you. I'm not that cold-hearted, Roy."

"Riza, don't do that to me. I never know when you're being truthful-your face never changes; it would make a good poker face. By the way, do you play poker?"

Riza glared before getting into the car and left Roy struggling to get the door open with an armful of Edward Elric.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Turned into a simple "bag" boy. Roy shifted Edward onto his shoulder before throwing open the military issue car door.

"You could have helped me. I wasn't even being mean or lazy," Roy murmured.

"I know," Riza said before letting herself go a little and laughed. "You should be grateful that I've lightened up in the past few years."

"Oh, believe me, I am. Everyone is, but…"

"But what, sir?" Riza's eyes sharpened like a hawk's and eyed Roy through the rear-view mirror.

"You still won't hesitate to shoot at us."

"Good boy."

It was amazing how the woman had so much control over the mighty Fuhrer of Amestris to this day. It really wasn't fair if they all thought about it. The roles should be switched; Roy had always held a higher rank than her, yet Riza was always the one on top of things with all the power in her trigger-happy fingers.

The dark haired man was about to say more before there was movement in his arms and he realized that he hadn't put Edward down or closed the car door. "Ah, good grief," he groused before pulling the door shut. "Why didn't you tell me the door was open?"

"I thought you had a reason for doing so. Did you not?"

"No, I'd just forgotten." Roy sighed as he buckled himself in and adjusted Edward in his lap. It'll be okay if we sit like this for a little longer. It's okay as long as he doesn't wake up.

Mustang sighed and watched Edward snuggle into his chest like an infant.

Only like this at your weakest. What did you get yourself into?

Roy leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes, wishing for simpler times to come back. But really, had there ever been a time in which their lives were simple. His life hadn't even been simple before he met the Elric brothers. It was just that after he met them, life had become a little bit harder. Would it ever stop for them?

Could they all just stop and take a rest…just for a time.

Roy grimaced as a bony shoulder bored into his stomach and hissed when the assailant didn't let up. He looked down at Edward and gently moved him out of his stomach. The man was skinny. Not just in shape like Edward had always been; he was deathly skinny, perhaps frail would be a better choice. Roy poked the face that now had little to no fat on it at all. The cheeks were gaunt and pale; Roy swore that the man was almost grey. Roy sighed as Ed's eyes twitched before opening, revealing two very tired golden eyes. There was a whimper before the face turned to the back of the passenger's seat and Edward hacked and gasped with all his might.

Edward's throat burned and his eyes watered as he continued to cough, barely able to get in a labored breath between the coughs and splutters. His heart skipped beats as his lungs rebelled against him, thinking that the air around was made of nothing but noxious gas and poisons.

"Edward!" Roy yelled his name and rubbed at his back, attempting to get Edward to breathe easier.

Can we all find a place to rest our weary heads and sleep for awhile?

Edward's body shook with the effort of controlling the coughs and he eventually settled his body, wheezing and gasping for a minute before being able to take in steady breaths again. He sighed as he looked back up at Roy and was frozen when saw the look on the man's face.

Roy was pale and shaking. His eyes wide with fear and concern for the eldest Elric brother. The man's lips quivered as he struggled to find his words and recover the use of his mouth. He couldn't move his lips, but his hands whipped to Edward's face and held it. An index finger ran across Edward's bottom lip before pulling away and revealing a wet, red substance. Edward was almost as pale as Roy was when he saw the blood on the older man's fingertips.

"Hawkeye, get back to the hospital!" There was really no need to tell her because the woman, forever the military personnel she was, was already headed back to the building.

Edward felt detached from his body and wondered why he felt so numb. It was a strange feeling, like none he had ever felt before.

When my body wants to go
tell me will my mind and soul
live on and on forever?

He couldn't feel Roy's desperate hands slapping at his face. Nor did he hear the booming voice of the Fuhrer as he yelled for Edward to keep him damn eyes open and stay awake.

It was odd; he had never heard Roy curse at him before. Perhaps he wasn't in the car where he thought he was. Maybe this was a totally different place…back in Xing…with Envy…the homunculi…the chimera…monstrosities…

Am I on another level
a learning vessel of several
lessons to make me cleverer?

Edward's eyes closed as Roy screamed and beg for Riza to drive faster because he was sure the boy was going to die. He was sure there wasn't much time because his eyes were closing and he wasn't breathing the way he should and the coughs had started again.

But remember when I moved in you

And The Holy dove was moving too

And every breath we drew was hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah


Thank you, Ryu Sabakuno for telling me to update this story-I'd almost forgotten about it from the lack of reviews. Sorry it took so long to get this out. I was going to wait for my beta to finish with it, but she's busy with life. I tried my best with editing.

Please, please, please review. And thank you, thank you, and thank you, to everyone who still reviews.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of the songs used by Imogen Heap: Hallelujah, Sweet Religion, and Goodnight and Go. Hopefully everyone will enjoy this chapter.

I'm going to go back and edit the previous chapters because I have noticed several grammatical errors. :- Arrggg!