A/N: I missed my own Friday deadline. Sorry it's late. Warnings are the same as before.
Chapter 7
Edward had slipped into sleep, but seemed unable to rest fully, as he was awoken many times by the rough coughs that rattled his chest. They soon realized that Ed breathed easier if he was propped up slightly, but the blanket didn't provide enough support when they put it under Edward's head and, because Alphonse was so bulky and his armor was hard, Edward couldn't get comfortable when his brother tried to lean him against him.
Eventually, Roy ended up sat with the folded up blanket in his lap and Edward's head cushioned on top of that.
"He's only a better pillow because he's fatter than you, Al," Edward mumbled. Al was refusing to sit down on the opposite bench and instead stood hunched over, fretting over his brother's form.
"Ed! The Colonel is not fat," Al chastised.
"I will dump you onto the floor, Edward." Roy grumbled. Ed's retort was cut off by a bout of coughing. Mustang automatically lifted Edward up further so that he could work his way through the coughing fit.
Once the hacking was over, Ed began to struggle to say something, but Mustang cut him off.
"Save it, Edward. I've already cleaned up your puke once today. I'm not doing it again."
Edward scowled, but he shut his eyes and concentrated on taking careful breaths. Alphonse set a cool cloth on Edward's forehead and Ed sighed softly. Edward's cheeks were red, a sign of the fever that his body was fighting. Seeing that his brother was still for now, Alphonse finally sat down with a heavy sigh. The silence stretched on and Mustang had the distinct feeling that something wasn't quite right.
"Are you all right, Alphonse?" Roy was studying the other boy curiously. While Al didn't have a regular body, Mustang couldn't stop thinking that Alphonse looked exhausted. He supposed it was a soul deep weariness that permeated the armor. The Colonel could relate to that feeling… but what was he supposed to do about it? Al didn't exactly sleep.
Startled by the Colonel's question, Alphonse just stared at the man for a moment. He then glanced away to the side before meeting Roy's eyes again.
"Not really… Is that… is that alright?"
"Of course," Roy felt a pressure in his chest that made it hard to get the words out…because Alphonse sounded too scared and way too damn young. "Of course it is."
"Are you alright?" Al whispered.
"Yes," Mustang lied immediately. Alphonse just stared at him after that and Roy wondered if the boy saw through the lie, if he could see him for the hypocrite that he was. However, Al never responded and the silence stretched on until Edward woke up, gasping desperately for air.
There was only one hour of the trip left when Edward began coughing so hard that he didn't seem able to pull in any oxygen and the Colonel began to worry that the boy was going to suffocate in his arms.
"Breathe…" Roy kept saying, but it didn't seem to help and, as Edward struggled on and on, he didn't seem to be able to hear him at all. Ed was gripping Mustang's arm hard, trying to anchor himself through pain and borderline panic. "Just a little longer, just a little longer…" Roy was muttering to himself as Edward gagged and retched again. Stomach acid dribbled down Roy's arm, but he didn't care. He did not give a damn. Don't let him die in my arms, please just don't let him die in my arms. And Mustang didn't know who he was pleading with. He wasn't the kind to pray to anything, but for the first time in a long time, he found himself begging in his mind. Pleading with the world, the universe and anything that might listen... Please, he cannot die in my arms.
If he dies now, it will be my fault.
Yes, it will.
Edward's coughing had eventually subsided, but his breathing was harsh and the Colonel found himself just staring at his rising and falling chest. Every time Ed took a breath, Mustang wondered if it would be his last. The rise and fall would cease and there wouldn't be a damn thing the Colonel could do about it. The thought was maddening and the weight of it all pushed down around Mustang. They just needed to make it through this trip. He just needed to hold on for a little while longer...
Before the train had fully stopped, Roy was up and out of the compartment with Alphonse right behind him. He was soon carrying Edward briskly through the station, without even a clear plan of how he was getting Ed to the hospital, when two familiar faces appeared before him. Before he could process what was happening, Edward was being lifted from his arms and, without his burden, Mustang realized he had sat still for too long on the train and he had stood up much too quickly. His leg muscles seemed to freeze up and he felt himself tilting, falling…
"Roy!" Hughes' voice. However, it wasn't Maes who grabbed him to keep him upright. Mustang felt metal arms wrap too tightly around him and force him back on his feet.
"Colonel's not well," Al's quiet voice reverberated in Roy's ear. Mustang felt resentment and embarrassment flood through him. Alphonse was too perceptive for his own good.
"I'm fine." Roy insisted, though not as loudly as he intended to. The Colonel pushed himself away from Alphonse and blinked hard to bring the world back into focus. Havoc was standing there, with a sad smile. Who the hell gave him permission to have that look on his face? Roy didn't need pity; he needed to get to the hospital for Edward. Mustang looked around quickly, realizing he didn't know Ed's exact location. The boy was being carried by Hughes and gasping away in his arms. Ed's face was flushed with the fever that wouldn't break, but he had awoken and he blinked at the Colonel with bright eyes.
Roy became aware that they were now being stared at by other people on the platform and Hughes narrowed his eyes at the curious strangers passing by.
"We have to move. Let's go." Maes turned quickly and led the way the crowd. He followed his friend automatically and he tried to ignore Havoc's hand on his arm, he tried to ignore the fact that he needed the extra support.
There had been an urgency in Maes' voice that didn't sit right, something wasn't right. Before Mustang could inquire, he was being pushed into the passenger seat of a car. He turned to watch as Hughes and Havoc worked to gently lay Edward across the backseat. The boy's eyes were shut again and Roy thought he must have fallen into unconsciousness. The car doors were slammed and Mustang could hear Al sounding worried, followed by Havoc responding, but everything sounded far away. More silence followed and Roy took a deep breath as he tried to ease some of the tension he felt. Ed's haggard breathing filled his ears and the Colonel felt that he would be hearing that sound in his nightmares from now on. Mustang was interrupted from his thoughts when Hughes climbed into the driver's seat.
"I told you to take care of yourself, I said you wouldn't be of any use if you ran yourself into the ground." Hughes sharply shut the car door. Roy didn't reply, watching as Maes started the car and agitatedly tap his fingers on the wheel.
"Where's Al?" Roy asked.
"Havoc is driving him right behind us."
"Why are you on edge? Did something happen?"
"What happened, was that the higher ups realized you went on a little field trip. The Western offices are pissed beyond belief."
Roy had been fighting to keep his mind clear, but now anger sharpened his thoughts.
"What the hell… I did their job for them. They can go f-"
"They were not kept in the loop that Edward Elric had been found. A few hours ago, they got to the hospital where he had been and they found out that Colonel Mustang had already been there and discharged the Fullmetal Alchemist without a word to the search team."
"Their job is done. They can go back to sitting on their asses."
"Yes, well… They are now pissed. They say you impeded their investigation and that you withheld information from their search party that caused them to waste time and resources."
"Maybe if they ran a proper investigation, they would have found him sooner. They need to back off, they don't even care, why are they pulling all this protocol bullshit?"
"Something about a massive flood in the area that they strongly believe was caused by the Elric brothers. Did Alphonse say anything about redirecting a river? Because, apparently, they are saying someone did."
"There's no proof that was Alphonse."
"So he did do that. Great." Maes pressed a hand to his temple, fighting off a migraine.
"They have no proof."
"Well, also, they hate you."
"Good to know that General Hasling still has that stick up his ass. He's been walking around with that thing since the academy."
"Seriously, Roy. They're putting you on suspension. That's why Hawkeye's not here, she's working to smooth things over. Also, for the official record, Havoc isn't here either."
"Suspension." Roy echoed.
"There's nothing going to come of it. Let the Western offices bluster for awhile and you can take some time off. Besides," Hughes looked at the Colonel up and down, "You're going to be at the hospital."
"Yes, I need to make sure they take care of Edward. He doesn't want morphine, but I don't know if he can avoid it. Especially with his leg…"
"That's not what I mean. I'm taking you to the hospital to be checked over. After they admit you for dehydration and exhaustion, and they will do that, we'll probably be able to convince the superiors that it was temporary insanity."
"I am not insane, Maes." Mustang had a sudden bitterness in his tone that cut through Hughes' attempted joke. Maes sighed and swore under his breath. Hughes had spent so much time and a lot of dark nights convincing Mustang that he wasn't crazy, but in all honesty, Maes didn't think anyone in the military was completely all right anymore.
"I know, Roy. I know. I didn't mean it seriously… Have you looked at yourself though? You look awful and you smell like puke."
"I'm fine."
"…'m fine," came the muffled echo from the back seat, which caused Roy and Maes to jump in surprise. They both turned to see Edward, who was unconscious, but had begun to murmur in his sleep.
"I'm glad you're both fine," Hughes muttered while shaking his head and rolling his eyes.
Maes turned the car into the lane that lead right up to the hospital, still followed closely by Havoc. There was a stretcher waiting and Roy realized that someone must have called ahead. Good. Edward would be taken care of here. He would be treated correctly here and then he would walk away from this.
Mustang stepped away from the car and watched as a flurry of medical personnel descended upon the vehicle. They were shadowed by Alphonse, who was caught between not wanting to get in the way and needing to be as close as possible to his brother. Roy felt Maes grab his arm to steady him and he wanted to resent the man, but in all honesty, Roy could feel his last reserves of energy slipping away.
As Edward was loaded onto the stretcher, Mustang felt the pressure on his chest alleviate slightly and he took a deep breath. They had made it, everything would be fine now.
To be continued...
A/N: I rushed with the proof reading on this one. I just really wanted it posted. Thanks everyone!
