I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist

Chapter 10

Ed sat nervously in Roy's office, tossing his pocket watch from hand to hand. The Colonel had been talking on the phone for a good hour, trying to find the whereabouts of Daniel Tucker. Every small sound made Ed jump, thinking that it was Daniel. He heard a small squeak of he floorboards and nearly jumped out of his seat. It turned out it was only Black Hayate.

Ed let out the nervous breath that he realized that he'd been holding and placed his hand on Hayate's head. Hayate barked happily and placed it's front paws on the couch and looked up at Ed, his brown eyes full of wonder and curiosity.

"Damn it!" Roy slammed he phone down and ran his hand through his hair.

Hawkeye walked over and place the phone on the receiver. "Sir, could you be more gentle when hanging up the phone?"

"I will if I could ever find any information," Roy muttered. He picked up a piece of paper with a list of all the placed that Daniel had been spotted in the past and crossed another name out. "52 places and no ones seen a single hair of Daniel."

Ed looked up at the sound of knocking on the office door. It was thrown open to reveal a breathless Havoc.

"I've found him," He replied between gasping breaths. "Three blocks from here in front of an ice cream shop."

Roy stood up quickly and grabbed his coat. "Lieutenant, come with me."

Ed stood up. "What about me?"

"I don't want you getting hurt," Roy replied truthfully. Ed took another step forward.

"I'm coming." Roy could tell that Ed would not take a 'no' for an answer. The fire that shone brightly in his eyes was proof that he was ready for a fight. "I also want revenge. He's tho one who did this to me, I'm going to make him pay." Ed pointed to the cat ears on the top of his head.

Roy knew Edward well enough to know that he didn't often use revenge to motivate him to do something, but Roy knew that it wasn't what Daniel did to him, it's what he did to Winry that was setting Ed on the path for vengeance.

"Fine, you can come." Roy let out a sigh of defeat. "Havoc, Breda, Falman, and Fuery,. I want the three of you to come as well, in case we need back up."

"Yes sir!" The four of them said together as they saluted.

Ed looked around nervously, half expecting Daniel to jump out of nowhere like he did the other night. Roy walked close to Ed as if he was nervous about the same thing. It was early morning and the sun was barley in the sky, sending little light to brighten the street. Behind them, Hawkeye and Havoc both had a large riffle strapped to their back, while Breda, Fuery, and Falman only carried smaller ones.

The area around them showed definite signs that Daniel had been there, the most noticeable one was the fact that the ground was covered in a thin layer of ice. Ed felt his heart beat faster and he walked closer to Roy. Roy seemed to notice how Ed was staying close to him, because he put a hand on the blond's shoulder.

"Don't worry Ed," he said. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

Ed nodded. He trusted Roy, but he wasn't sure if Roy was saying that just to reassure him. Ed was glad that he sent Alphonse back to Resembool and that he didn't have to be here. Ed let part of him relax knowing that both Al and Winry were safe.

They were there for a few short minutes before Ed heard footsteps behind them. He turned around and held back a nervous gasp when he saw the familiar Glacier Alchemist walking towards them.

Daniel pulled out his usual toothy grin and spread out his hands. "Why, looks like my Chimera finally decided to show up." He took a couple of steps closer. Hawkeye pulled out her gun and pointed it at him, releasing the safety.

Roy walked in front of Edward, blocking him from Daniel. Pulling on his ignition glove, Roy Mustang turned to face the enemy.

Daniel frowned. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to fight. All I want is my Chimera, but-"

"Shut up," Roy growled. "You're not taking Edward again."

"But you don't have a choice," Daniel replied. His voice held a slight amused tone hidden beneath his usual laid back and innocent voice.

"Shut up before you get hurt!" Roy shouted. He pointed his hand at Daniel, ready to snap. Ed could see the intense fire in his eyes that glowed almost as brightly as his flames. Ed stayed well back. Part of him wanted to fight while another part wanted to run away his his tail between his legs. If he still had one, that is.

"I don't think you would be able to hurt me even if you tried." Daniel's smile made Ed feel uncomfortable and he felt his anxiety and fear rising.

"You wanna bet?" Roy met Daniel square in the eye; cold black on icy blue. Ed could tell that a fight was just waiting to get started. Daniel's eyes glowed dimly in the growing light. Roy walked forward to stand in front of his subordinates. "Stay back. Guard Ed with your life." Was his only order.

"So you're willing to risk the lives of everyone close to you in order to protect this one boy." Daniel laughed a cold, cruel laugh.

"Lieutenant, be ready," Roy said without taking his eyes off Daniel.

Hawkeye nodded and gripped her gun tighter. "Yes sir."

Roy turned his full attention to the man, his enemy, standing before him. "Daniel Tucker, you dare to take Ed away, you deserve everything that's coming your way," Roy growled out of pure hatred. His eyes narrowed. "Feel my wrath!"

Roy snapped his fingers, instantly burning the beam of ice that came shooting his way. Daniel pointed his palm at Mustang and shot another beam of ice, this one with more force than the last, at Roy.

Snap! The beam melted into a small puddle right at Roy's feet. The battle continued to rage on, With every beam of ice shot his way, Roy melted it with one swift movement. Hawkye, Havoc, Breda, Falman, and Fuery all stood with their guns pointed at Daniel ready to follow the Colonels orders to protect Ed.

Daniel laughed loudly as he dodged, yet another, of Roy's flame attacks. "You're going to tire out eventually! By the time I'm hit, your flames won't even be hot enough to cook toast!"

Roy didn't let Daniel's threats stop him. Th only thing on his mind was to protect Edward, even at the cost of his own life. With each snap, his flames did weaken, although they were still hot enough to burn a man alive.

Daniel's eyes drifted off to where Ed was standing right behind of Roy's subordinates.

Gunshots rang out piercing the air and made the lonely street sound like a battle field. Ed looked up just in time to see Daniel Tucker diving down towards him. Hawkeye turned around but hesitated to pull the trigger. Daniel was standing feet from her, she could have easily killed him right then and there, but he had Ed.

Daniel smiled wickedly and created a swirling vortex of ice, trapping both Daniel and Ed inside. Ed looked around, wide-eyed with panic. There has to be a way out. Ed looked around frantically for an exit. He was about to jump through the ice when he heard Daniel's amused voice.

"Wouldn't do that if I were you," he warned. "Unless you want to freeze to death?"

Ed's heart pounded in his chest and threatened to jump right out. Taking a nervous step back, Ed tried to steady his uneven breaths. "W-why are you doing this?"

"Why am I doing this? That's a good question." Daniel smiled. "You see, ever since I was young, I was set on the path of revenge. Each and every person on my list perished." He took a step closer to Ed. "But you're different, I need my Chimera alive. I still have to finish my work, and it looks like I would have to do several steps again."

Ed took another step back, going as close as he could to the vortex of ice without touching it. He shook his head trying to clear his thoughts. "Let me go. Leave me alone."

Daniel frowned. "And why would I do that?"

Ed looked pleadingly at Daniel and said in a small voice, "Please let me go?"

"As you wish, my lovely chimera." Daniel smiled cruelly and the swirling vortex of ice came crashing down on top of Ed.

"Edward!" Roy yelled as loudly as he could. It happened so suddenly. Daniel creating a swirling icy vortex that trapped both him and Edward inside. It had only been no more than a minute, even so, Roy continued to yell out Ed's name until his voice felt raw. "Edward!"

"Colonel, the barrier." Hawkeye pointed up and Roy saw the top begin to collapse. Slowly, the vortex that trapped Ed began to crumble, large chunks of ice hitting the ground and shattering feet from Roy.

Roy stood there, shocked at what he was seeing. He would have been squashed if Havoc hadn't pulled his away. "Sir, are you trying to die?"

"Fullmetal's in there," He yelled, stating the obvious.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Havoc said, irritated at how stubborn the damn Colonel was being.

It was a few short minuted before the entire vortex collapsed. Roy pushed Havoc away and ran over. Daniel was nowhere to be seen and neither was Ed. For a brief moment Roy thought that Daniel had taken Ed, that was until he spotted the red cloth.

Roy ran over and dug and the snow and ice. A second later he pulled Ed out of the frozen ice and held him in his arms. The boy's skin was deathly pale and as cold as ice. His lips had a faint blue tint to them. With trembling fingers, Roy began to frantically search for a pulse, anything to show that Ed was still alive. Finally he felt a faint, yet strong, thumping against his fingers. Roy held Ed tightly in his arms, not ever daring to let the boy go again.

"Colonel, is Edward alright?" Hawkeye asked with a faint hint of concern in her voice.

Roy stayed where he was on the ground, his arms still wrapped tightly around Ed's small, freezing body. Hawkeye walked over and felt for herself how cold Ed was. She took off her military coat and wrapped it around the blond's body. Roy stood up. "Lieutenant, lets get back to HQ."

Hawkeye nodded and stood up. Roy quickly walked back to HQ, often glancing right and left wondering when Daniel Tucker was going to attack Ed next.

Ed groaned and rolled over. The cold crept further into his body, chasing away his the little warmth he still had. He tried to remember why he was so cold, but he couldn't grasp the memory. It was right there, right within his reach, but yet he still couldn't grab it. It took Ed another long moment to begin to wonder where he was. Opening one bleary eye he realized that he was lying on the couch in the Colonels office.

"Awake now?" Roy's voice asked him.

Ed sat up and looked confused at the Colonel. "How'd I get here?"

"I carried you here after you almost froze to death under a pile of ice," Roy told informed.

Then Ed remembered. The suffocating darkness, the freezing ice that penetrated deep within his body. He started shaking, not only with cold, but also with fear. He pulled the blanket around him tighter. "Did did you ever get Daniel?"

Roy shook his head. Bitter defeat shone on his face. Even without the shake of his head, Ed could have easily told that Roy had failed in capturing Daniel.

Ed allowed himself sink back onto the couch. He closed his eyes trying to gather his jumbled thoughts. Why is Daniel so fixated on capturing me? Was his thought.

"Fullmetal, what happened in that vortex?" Roy asked suddenly, jolting Ed out of his thoughts.

Ed tried to remember. It was all a blur, he had trouble picking out one specific detail among all the jumbled blurry thoughts that swirled through his foggy mind. "He?" Ed sighed. "I'm sorry Colonel, I can't remember."

Roy began to wonder if Ed was hit on the head when someone walked into his office. "Sir?" Hawkeye asked. "How's Edward?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Roy pointed at Ed.

Hawkeye looked over at Ed and smiled. "Good evening Edward."

"Good evening?" Ed whispered quietly to himself, repeating what Hawkeye had said. He looked from Hawkeye to Roy. "But didn't we go to look for Daniel in the morning?"

"You've been passed out on my couch all day," Roy told him.

Ed let out an irritated sigh. "Why didn't you wake me then?"

"We tried," Hawkeye informed him. "But you didn't wake up, no matter what we did."

Ed leaned back on the couch. I'm such a fool, He thought. Sleeping on that bastards couch all day. He looked down at the floor. "I'm gonna go back to my dorm." Ed was telling the truth that time and wasn't going to take an unscheduled trip to the library again. All he wanted to do was sleep. He didn't know why he was so tired at the moment even though he's been sleeping the entire day.

"Edward, I'm not letting you go anywhere alone," Roy told him. "After what's been happening, I don't think you should be alone."

"What?" Ed protested. "I can protect myself on my own."

"And look where that's got you," Roy said. "You've been unconscious all day and you nearly died this morning. Do you expect me to let you go off alone when all that happened when you had six people guarding you?"

Ed hesitated. What Roy was saying was true. Ed felt scared when he was alone, terrified and wondering if Daniel would appear before him again, yet he was embarrassed when other people tried to protect him. His thoughts were a jumbled mass like a ball of string that had been attacked by a cat one too many times.

"Edward, how about you stay at my place for a bit longer?" Roy suggested. "All your stuff's there anyways."

Ed thought about it for a minute before nodding. "As long as I'm not attacked again tonight."

Roy walked over and placed his hand reassuring on Ed's shoulder. "Edward, I promise that I'll protect you with my life."

Ed felt a spark of hope begin to light up, finally promising light at the end of this seemingly unending tunnel of darkness.