X Wounded

March 12th, 1913

Fort Briggs, Amestris

"How is he?" Mustang asked as he walked into the infirmary.

They had managed to patch up Ed's wound and stop the bleeding in a field hospital, but he had carefully been moved to Fort Briggs where they were better equipped and he's be safer. There had been a cease fire for the past few days and things were finally looking good for Amestris, so Mustang had gone to see how Ed was doing.

"Still no change" said the doctor.

He had been unconscious ever since he had been shot. His wounds were healing slowly, and they kept him on fluids and nutrients through tubes in his arm, and even though he seemed to be getting better there were no signs of him waking up anytime soon. Mustang was glad though. Through the past month the war had been pretty brutal on both sides, and as long as he was asleep Ed wouldn't have to go through any more of that, but would he awaken when the war was finally over?

"Since things are finally calmed down we've decided to transfer him to East City hospital. He'll be even safer there"

Mustang nodded.

"I'll let his family know"

May 3rd, 1913

East City, Amestris

The hospital was quiet, as it usually was. There were a few visitors walking around, so no one paid attention to the middle aged blond man with golden eyes as he walked down the hall, at least not until he reached Ed's room.

"Um sir, only military personal and family members are allowed in here"

"I'm his father" he told the nurse, and it was indeed true.

The nurse blinked, then finally noticed the resemblance and nodded. She seemed to be done with what she was doing, so she quietly left the room leaving the man with his unconscious son. Hoenheim sighed as she left, then quietly closed the door before walking over to the bed.

Ed seemed to be sleeping peacefully, but as he noticed his automail limbs, the tubes in his arm, and all the bandages under his hospital clothes he knew he had been through quiet a lot. His eyes softened as he looked down at him painfully. No parent liked to see their child hurt like this. He took his brown coat off and set it on the chair in the corner before pulling a stool up and sitting by the bed.

He held his hand gently, but he didn't react. Hoenheim had heard many rumors about his son, and when he went to go visit Pinako in Resembool he found out that many of them were true.

"My son" he began as if he could hear him.

"I may not have been a good father to you, but I can at least give back to you what you have lost"

Van Hoenheim, or Hoenheim of Light, and even known as the Western Sage from an Xingese legend was the Philosopher's Stone, and the souls inside of him were willing to be used for his son's sake. A strong red light filled the room a moment later, then after it had died down the man left with his coat, but he knew he would see his son again soon.

May 4th, 1913

East City, Amestris

When Mustang had gotten a call from the hospital he had expected the worst had happened, so he had been surprised when he had been told that Ed had finally woken up and was completely healthy. Of course when he heard the news he had rushed over. He saw that it was indeed true when he saw that Ed was sitting up in his bed happily scarfing down his lunch, but when he saw Mustang walk in his expression changed from happy to annoyed.

"So you finally woke up FullMetal. Then again you were only asleep for such a short time" he teased with a smirk.

Ed's temple twitched when he said the 'S' word and gave Mustang the death glare while he continued to smirk. However Mustang was the one who was frowning when Ed suddenly was the one smirking. He didn't do anything at first, he just reached for his glass of water and gulped it down quickly before taking in a long deep breath...

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL A SNEEZE CAN BLOW THEM ACROSS THE XINGESE DESERT AND THEN THEY FALL INTO SOMEONE'S WATER AND DROWN IN A SINGLE WATER MOLECULE!"

Mustang was quite shocked at his sudden rant, and once it ended he coughed for a minute before drinking more water.

"Vocal chords are kinda weak..."

"So you wake up and you suddenly have you're voice back?"

"I can feel and taste things again too"

"But how?"

Ed sighed, then reached down to the mini trash can beside his bed and pulled out a crumpled up piece of paper before tossing it to Mustang.

"I was holding it when I woke up"

My dear son,

I know that I haven't been there for you as a father, but this is something I gave back to you that you had lost. I will stop by Resembool again soon and explain everything to you.

-Van Hoenheim

"I heard the war's over now, is that true?"

Mustang nodded as he handed the paper back to him. It was the good news he had come to tell him, but apparently one of the nurses or doctors had told him first.

"In that case I want to quit the military" he said as he tried to get out of bed.

"I was expecting that"

Ed had wobbled a bit since he hadn't used his leg mussels in a while, but he manged to stand firmly and stretch his legs for a minute.

"I just hate sitting round so much."

Then one of the more stricter nurses came in the room.

"Edward you're supposed to stay in bed!"

"But I need to-

"No buts!"

Ed groaned and slowly got back in bed. The nurse smiled, then as soon as she left he hoped out of bed and ran over to Mustang and grabbed his shirt.

"You have to get me out of here! I can't take it much longer!"

"You've only been wake for a day FullMetal"

"You know I don't like hospitals!"

"Sorry FullMetal, you'll have to bear it for a while"

"But-

"Ahem" said the nurse as she poked her head back in and shot a glare at Ed.

He smiled as he laughed nervously, then quickly got back in bed. Mustang left with a smirk, and he knew one thing for sure: He liked Ed better when he was mute.

Author's Notes

I would've updated yesterday, but I had computer problems (Stupid piece of crap!) Man I'm so glad I don't have to write as mute Ed anymore, it's harder than it looks...So anyway I hope you liked this chapter, only two more left! (the plot twist is coming up...and most of you are probably gonna hate me for it...) Please keep reviewing ^_^

Also, to whoever 'Ghost' is: Yes they can I looked it up before I wrote this.