Edward Elric drew from the girl's grasp, suddenly extremely uncomfortable with the intimacy of their position. He could feel everyone's eyes on his back.
Just then, the doctor opened the door, having finally made it through Hughes's stack of family photographs. He was livid. "This is still my hospital and it is still my domain, and I still get to say what is best for my patients." He glared at every person in the room. "Mr. Elric, return to your bed. Shut the curtain behind you. Everyone else…out."
Colonel Mustang bristled about taking orders from another, but filed out with the rest.
The door shut behind them and Mustang turned to Hughes.
"I held him as long as I could. I guess it's time to take more pictures of my beautiful little girl."
Everyone groaned. Mustang spoke up. "I'll get Full Metal cleared as soon as I can so you can talk to him." He looked back at the closed door. "I don't know when you'll be able to talk to the girl. She's pretty unstable."
Alphonse piped up. "She trusts Brother."
Mustang's expression hardened. "They've been through an ordeal together."
"Colonel," Hawkeye broke her silence, "that was very…not Edward."
"Brother can't stand it when people use alchemy to hurt others."
Hughes shook his head. "Damn, I want to know what happened." He sighed. "I've got men hauling the bodies back to headquarters." And, turning to Mustang, "wanna come take a look?"
"Go ahead, I'll be along shortly."
The two men locked eyes. Hughes nodded. "See you later." He turned and walked away.
Without a word, because Colonel Roy Mustang did not have to explain himself, he opened the door and walked back in. The doctor was bent over the girl's bed, but Mustang couldn't tell what he was doing. He cleared his throat and the doctor turned to him. "What is the prognosis?"
The doctor scowled and looked back as his patient. "Physically, she is malnourished and severely anemic. I have her on a nutrient drip. Hopefully soon she can move to solid food. Her wounds are infected, but the infection is being fought effectively by antibiotics."
Mustang's dark eyes followed the doctor's to land on the girl's face. Her violet orbs were wide, and her expression was strained. "How long?"
"At least give me a couple of days." It was obvious they'd had similar discussions.
"How long until we can talk to her?"
"Sir, I don't think she is mentally or emotionally stable, I suggest you let me assign one of our…" The doctor trailed off when he saw Mustang's expression. He sighed. "I don't know why you bother asking me, Colonel. You'll talk to her when you want to and take her when you want to."
Mustang smirked, "Protocol, Doctor."
The doctor sighed again, pulled out a hypodermic needle, and moved to insert it into the girl's IV.
The Colonel's eyes flashed. "What is that?"
"A mild sedative."
"Don't…she has nightmares."
"But…"
"Just don't."
The doctor bristled, turned to Mustang and saluted mockingly. "Aye, aye, sir." He turned sharply on his heels and marched out of the room.
Colonel Mustang had a hard time dealing with doctors—any doctor and every doctor. He couldn't see around the huge lump of guilt standing in his way. Mustang mentally shook himself and turned to the other side of the room. He placed his infamous smirk on his face and snapped the curtain open.
"Hello, Colonel Bastard." Edward sat on his bed, his arms crossed firmly over his chest.
"Hello, Squirt."
Edward's self control wavered, but his mood was mellowed greatly by recent events. He simply scowled. "I heard you negotiating with the doc for her. What about me, am I free?"
"You're never free, Full Metal. Remember, I've got you on a leash like a miniature poodle."
"Who are you calling so small and cute that you'd put bows in their hair and paint their toenails pink!?!"
Mustang looked around the room like he was searching for someone who could have said a thing like that.
Ed sat back down and the blood drained from his face. "Just get me out of here."
"Put your clothes on, Full Metal. Your brother is waiting outside the door with Lieutenant Hawkeye." Mustang purposefully turned his back. "For disliking hospitals so much, you sure do what you can to land yourself here."
"Shut up, Bastard."
Mustang sensed Edward walking past behind his back, but forbid himself from turning around. "Report to headquarters and Lieutenant Colonel Hughes as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir, Colonel, sir." The door slammed and Ed was gone.
"You killed him." Her tone was almost accusing as he threw open the curtain and looked at her. She returned his gaze.
"I did." He took one step to stand firmly on her side of the room but did not approach further.
"With alchemy." It was a statement, not a question. She saw the brief flash of pain pass behind his dark eyes. "Alchemy hurts you."
Mustang was drawn by the girl's open concern, her simple understanding of his pain. "Yes."
"It hurts you when it hurts others." She paused and glanced at the door. "It hurts Full Metal too." She said the name slowly, as though thinking about how if felt in her mouth.
"Alchemy has hurt you." Mustang took a step toward the bed where the girl sat cross-legged, the blanket tangled in her fingers. She looked away, her eyes clouding over.
"That man used alchemy to hurt all of us."
"Us?"
She closed her eyes and shook her head. Mustang backed off.
"What should I call you?"
"He called me One." Her eyes stayed downcast.
"What is your name?"
She opened her mouth, but closed it again, twisting the blanket harder. "That is not me anymore."
A heavy silence descended on the room, only to be broken by a sharp knock on the door.
Mustang looked at the girl a moment longer before going to answer.
"Sir," Hawkeye made no move to enter the room.
"Where are the Elrics?"
"Probably just reaching headquarters, sir. Hughes sent word that he needs to talk to you right away."
Mustang tightened his face into a slight smile. "Hughes needs everything right away." He glanced over his shoulder at the girl who'd lain back against the pillow and was gazing intently at him. "Sleep. Be ready to talk when I return."
Hawkeye stepped away from the door. "Shall I escort you, sir?"
"Let's go."