AN: Okay hate me for having a dark mind. I swear I'm really trying to work through my issues. But keep reading because it only gets more screwed up from here. I HAVE COMPLETELY LOST TOUCH WITH REALITY AND MY MIND!
Ties of friendship Chap. 10
Edward sat by Winry's bedside feeling helpless and distraught. He would have to tell her about the baby when she awoke. They had sedated her for the pain. Al walked through the door after having his arm casted and his head bandaged.
"Ed you need to have someone look at your head." He was worried about his brother because Edward's head was still bleeding some.
"I'm not leaving this room Al." Edward sounded like every bit of life had been sucked out of him.
"I'll get the doctor to come in here." Al said leaving to go get the doctor. As the doctor entered the room he could feel the tenseness in the atmosphere. He walked over and began to examine Edward's head. Edward was so still it scared the doctor he thought he was going to snap at any second. He cleaned his wound as best he could and bandaged it then he walked over to Al.
"He has a serious concussion I'm surprised he's still able to stand." He said with concern "He needs to relax and get some sleep in a few hours."
"Brother has always had a hard head" Al said giving the doctor a stern look "But I can tell you he won't be sleeping anytime tonight because he'll sit there and watch over her all night." He turned to the doctor "Can you come back and check his head in the morning?" The doctor nodded then left.
Al felt like this was his fault as he slowly walked over by Edward "Ed" he said softly "I'm sorry I should have taken better care of her." He was on the verge of crying.
"Al" Edward said sternly "This wasn't your fault." Edward dropped his head "It was mine." He began to speak softly "I want you to tell Granny that no one will ever do this again." He clinched his fist "I made sure of that." He turned and smiled a slight smile at Al "How's the arm and head?"
Al shrugged his shoulders "I'll live" then his head dropped "But I am sooorry brother I feel like it's my fault. I should have seen that board coming." Tears rolled down his cheeks "I-I-It's just when I say what they were doing to her my focus went completely on her not my fighting."
Edward sighed, "It's okay Al" he leaned forward and took WInry's hand in his "She's okay due to your help."
"B-B-But Ed I didn't do much." Al got more upset till Edward snapped him back to reality.
"ALPHONSE!" He snapped and Al jumped "You did well and I thank you, I know you did everything you could."
Al knew now that his brother didn't blame him but he kept beating himself up on the inside thinking there was something more he could have done. The same way Edward kept dwelling on the five seconds he thought would have changed things and that would plague his dreams and his mind for quite some time.
The next morning Winry opened her eyes, well as best as she could. She noticed Edward sitting in the chair with his arms crossed and his head back staring at the ceiling.
"Ed" she said softly and he lifted his head forward and looked at her and slightly smiled.
"Heeey" he got up and walked over to the bed "Don't move too much" he said placing his hand on her head. She wanted to know about the baby but she had a sinking feeling that it was a question she didn't want to hear the answer too.
"The baby?" she asked softly as his eyes dropped she knew by his reaction that she had lost it and the tears began to flow from her eyes stinging the cuts on her face.
"Winry please don't cry." He pleaded as he leaned down and tried to hold her the best he could without hurting her.
"Heeee touched me Edward" she said coldly remembering the disgust she felt as his hand touched her in that spot.
"I'm Sorry" Edward said shaking and she could tell he had seen that and as he held her tighter he firmly told her "He won't ever be touching anyone again."
Her eyes widened as she heard those words leave his lips "Did you?"
"Kill him" he said coldly then leaned back and looked in her eyes "Yes I did." She felt a satisfaction when he said it. She didn't think of the consequences she just knew that asshole would never hurt anyone again.
He knew he had to tell her they had to leave town for a while so he explained it to her that he had killed Leo in cold blood and his family was going to want answers. She kept thinking if she had just stayed home none of this would have happened. She repeated it three times to him while he was trying to explain things to her till he finally told her.
"Winry they wouldn't have stopped, either way something had to be done. You couldn't have hid out your whole life." His eyes lowered "But I never thought this would happen."
"I'm sorry about the baby Edward." She kept repeating that too as he comforted her best he could then he had to tell her how he truly felt.
"It wasn't your fault Winry, I still have you and that's all that matters. The way they were going I don't think they planned to let you walk away." She could tell he was scared and she knew he was right. She also thought they weren't going to let her walk away because Del'quan had a knife he was twirling around. He had stuck it in his boot to hold her arms and he told her it would slice through her neck like it was butter.
Edward asked her about going to Briggs telling her it wouldn't be an easy trip for her with the pain she was in. Knowing he would have to get a compartment car with a bed and he would ask the doctor for something for pain, then again Dr. Knox would be there. He asked her if there was any other place she would feel safer but she told him no Briggs would be fine. She knew Olivier Armstrong would not let anything happen to her and she knew most of the soldiers at Briggs. Not to mention Scar and Major Miles were back from Ishval and she defiantly knew Scar would protect her if anything happened to Edward.
"Alright then were going just as soon as I hear from Mustang." Edward knew Mustang would be getting in touch with him today so all he had to do was wait a little while. The doctor came in to check Edward's head again and Winry freaked out when she saw the gash in the back of his head that went from the crown of his head almost to the bottom and she realized that could have killed him. But then again Edward had always had a hard head. The doctor informed Edward he needed to rest but Edward just referred to him as a dumbass quack and told him he'd sleep when he was dead. The doctor bandaged his head with a clean bandage and told him he could use a few stitches but after arguing with Edward for a couple of minutes he got frustrated and walked out.
Shinji had come by to inform Edward about what was going on. He told him Love and Rose had taken the bodies of Leo and Del'quan to Niki's grandfathers pig farm. It seemed they had lost Del'quan's body along the way not knowing where it fell out at. Leo had been disposed of in a very chewy demise. The families of the boys were asking questions and filing missing person's reports. Alex had disappeared for the night but showed up at home this morning only to tell the police he separated from his friends because they were getting drunk and stupid and he didn't know where they had went.
Lieutenant Hawkeye rounded the corner to see Edward and Shinji talking in the hallway. She had brought some flowers for Winry that Colonel Mustang bought. As she got closer she could see the exhaustion was taking a toll on Edward he looked tired and his thinking wasn't clear. At that point she became very concerned about him making the long trip to Briggs. She informed him that the Colonel had talked to Olivier and she was expecting them. The Colonel hadn't informed her on everything he just told her that Edward needed to get out of town for a while. Hawkeye handed Edward the flowers and some paperwork.
"This paperwork has been dated last week. It says that you and the Wire alchemist have been up at Briggs profiling soldiers to see if isolation plays a factor in their performance." She put her hand on his shoulder "So Edward you weren't even in town last night." She gave him a stern look "Got it."
Edward couldn't believe Mustang went this far as to alter paperwork and put his job on the line. He finally understood that everyone was trying to cover this up, but his focus was on getting Winry somewhere safe. He didn't want her to half to walk around with all those bruises and cuts and have people asking her questions.
"Olivier says that Scar and Major Miles will meet you at the bottom of the road. During this time of the year the storms are down so you shouldn't have any problem getting Winry up there. Dr. Knox is ready whenever you are." She pointed to the flowers "The Colonel picked those out especially for her." Edward looked at the flowers they were Lilies one of Winry's favorite flowers and he grinned.
"Tell the Colonel thanks Lieutenant" then he sighed "Well leave after dark." He stared at Hawkeye "I don't want anyone to see us board the train." He turned and handed Shinji some money to get three tickets and a compartment car the military had already bought Dr. Knox's ticket. Edward knew he and Winry would have to stay out of site for the whole trip up there he couldn't take the chance of anyone seeing them.
The Lieutenant had a camera with her too "Edward the Colonel wants me to take pictures of Winry's injuries just in case something comes up later. Don't worry the Colonel and I will be the only ones that see them and he'll keep them in his safe."
Edward was reluctant but he knew that it was proof of what happened to her so he agreed. Hawkeye walked into Winry's room and Edward heard the camera click a lot of times. She walked back out as her eyes dropped to the floor "They really worked her over didn't they?"
"Yes they did." Edward had hardly any emotion in his voice when he spoke of them and Hawkeye knew he had been changed forever.
Shinji had returned with their tickets and by this time Niki had showed up with her suitcase. Edward informed the doctor that Winry would be checking out today and that there was no point in arguing with him. When the doctor handed him her prescriptions he gave them to Hiyori to go get filled. Mustang had sent Armstrong to escort them to the train station. The rest of their friends showed up to say goodbye.
Armstrong walked up to Edward "Such a tragedy that happened Edward Elric. I wish I'd have been there I'd have squashed THEM WITH MY VIBRANT MUSCLES!" He yelled flexing his muscles.
"I know Major and thank you." Edward wondered if he was going to rip his shirt off.
Hiyori came back and Armstrong spotted her and Shinji "Are these your good friends Edward?" he threw his shirt off "COME LET ME WELCOME YOU WITH A HUG DEAR FRIENDS OF EDWARD'S."
"There it is." Edward sighed at him ripping his shirt off and chasing his friends through the hospital. He caught Hiyori "SHINJI HELP! CREEPY BIG MAN HAS ME" she struggled to reach her foot "CAAAAN'T REEEEEEACH FLLLLLIP FLOOOOOP!" She struggled against his grip, "FADING… FAST… HUGS… KRYPTONITE!"
"HIYOOOOOORI!" Shinji yelled.
Edward walked up "Don't worry he's harmless, maybe some hugs will mellow her out." Edward walked into Winry's room and he heard Armstrong talking behind him "You're a feisty one I JUST LOVE HUGS."
"QUIT FLEXING OLD MAN!" Hiyori yelled.
Edward began to help Winry get dressed when he noticed the new bruises that had formed overnight and he had a sick feeling in his stomach as he looked at each one. He couldn't believe someone would do such a thing to someone else purposely. He ran his hand gently over them as she looked up at him "What is it Ed?" she asked seeing the distant look on his face.
"You have more bruises across your back" his head dropped as he whispered for the millionth time "I'm sorry."
"Edward you have to stop beating yourself up over this." She was always the optimistic one about things. Even with what was happening she was trying to make him feel better. But he knew sooner or later she was going to have to deal with the feelings she was shoving down. She hadn't even dealt with losing the baby she had just cried for a short while. He thought maybe it was the pain killers they had her on that weren't letting these feelings surface yet.
He finished helping her on with her shirt then he went through the suitcase to find her a skirt or something comfortable to wear that wasn't tight on her mid-section. He came across a pair of sweats and walked over in front of her and bent down putting her feet in the leg holes then he helped her stand and pulled them up. She stood inches from his face and she could see the pain in his eyes. She could tell he was exhausted and he narrowed his eyes around bright sunlight which told her he had a headache and by the look of the gash in the back of his head she figured it was a massive one. He finished with her sweats and leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"Ed, I think I might be able to dress myself if you don't want to." She told him as he chuckled.
"Trust me I love to see you naked and I've had broken ribs before and I takes everything you got just to breathe." He turned and grabbed her hair brush "I don't know how this is going to go." he said holding up the brush "Do you want me to go get one of the girls to do it?"
"No go ahead and try." She sat slowly down into the chair and he started at the top and brushed it in soft strokes. There was still blood in her hair from the night before and he didn't know what to do. So he grabbed a basin by the bed and filled it with water then he grabbed the shampoo. He put some drops of shampoo on his fingers and ran it down strands of her hair then he'd cup water in his hand and rinse it over the basin. He took a towel and dried it some before her ran the brush through it. He did this for almost thirty minutes till he felt it looked okay. She kept telling him she didn't care what it looked like, but he did. He wanted every trace from the night before he could get off her gone.
He finally opened the door and asked Shinji to grab a wheelchair he brought one and Edward helped her sit down in it. Armstrong couldn't believe the job these boys did on her now he understood why Edward killed them. Dr. Knox came walking down the hall and he took one look at her and looked at Edward.
"Well dumbass, I hope you jacked those assholes up?" he bent down in front of her "Don't worry sweetie I'm going to take good care of you on this trip." He stood up and Edward smiled a slight smile as a tear rolled down his cheek. Dr. Knox walked behind Edward "I'm going to have to keep an eye on that gash in your head too. It's still bleeding some and you might need a few stitches. If you do we'll have to do it soon."
Edward was about to protest when his eyes widened as he looked down the hall and saw Pinako walking towards them with Al. He walked forward and stopped her about twenty feet from Winry.
Al looked at him "I'm Sooorry brother but she twisted my broken arm till I told her what was going on."
Pinako looked up at Edward "Ed, I don't blame you and I know it was out of your control. Al explained it and I want to see my granddaughter before you take her away." She took a deep breath getting ready for an argument with him. But this was Edward's breaking point as he fell to his knees in front of her and cried hard as he apologized to her.
"Granny I'm sorry I should have taken better care of her. I'm such a failure. I don't blame you if you hate me trust me I hate myself right now." She reached out and placed her hand on his head.
"Ed I could never hate you. If it wasn't for you-" She paused when she caught a glimpse of Winry and she whispered out "She'd probably be dead." She reached down and grabbed him under the arm and helped him up "Now stop apologizing."
She walked over to Winry and placed her hand softly on her granddaughter's cheek "My sweet girl I'm so sorry about the baby." She looked Winry's face over then turned to Edward "I hope you kicked their asses good Ed!" Edward gave Al a look of surprise that said 'You didn't tell her?' Al shrugged his shoulders.
"I thought you should tell her." Pinako's head shot up.
"Tell me what?" she looked to everyone standing around as they all looked in different directions "ED! Tell me what?" she repeated.
He sighed and walked forward and dropped his head and tried to spit the words out "Granny I-I-I killed him."
Her eyes widened and she took a deep breath and sighed then she got a look on her face like Edward had never seen before. It was a look of hate then satisfaction as she turned to him and nodded "Good boy son." She turned to WInry and smiled "Always knew he was a good boy." She turned back to Edward "Now get her out of here for a while." She leaned over and kissed Winry's forehead "I'll see you when you return dear." She patted Ed on the shoulder as she turned and walked off down the hall. Edward felt a sense of relief because he was really dreading the idea of leaving without talking to Pinako. That old woman and Winry were the only family that he and Al actually had left and he hated to disappoint her.
Al reached in his pocket and pulled a small roll of money out and handed it to Edward "Here we all pitched in, including Granny and got more money for you guys."
Edward was surprised "I-I don't know what to say. You guys didn't have to do this." As he looked at each of them he thought 'These are my friends.'
Shinji walked over and threw his arm around Edward's shoulder "Yes we did, we all want to see her recover one hundred percent." He bent down by Ed's ear "So spoil her a little. Hell Hachigen gave you a thousand so buy her something special."
Edward didn't know what to say as he teared up again "Thank you all." He put the roll in his pocket as he turned and began to push the wheelchair down the hall with all their friends following them Winry knew she was going to miss them all. They were carrying their suitcases to the train station and all of them came to see them off.
Dr. Knox broke the awkward goodbyes at the station "Well let's get the hell on the train and let me get her settled because I'm going to need a drink after this sappy shit."
Edward chuckled at him as he helped Winry aboard and got her to the compartment and settled her in. The train began to take off as he stuck his head out the window and waved to everyone "GOODBYE MY FRIENDS, YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!" 'My friends, True friends' he thought pulling his head back in the window. They all watched the train disappear down the tracks.
Shinji turned to everyone "So let's go get some coffee guys." As he began to walk off and they all followed him. It seemed with Edward gone Shinji was now the leader of the pack.