So….here's chapter ten. By asking of people I'll put more in my chapters. As for a timeline of about when this happens…this is right before Maes' death.

Also I mentioned Volvin in the story last chapter as Mustang's lover. They'll show up briefly in chapters but nothing serious. So I was wondering if people would like me to post up the Volvin/Roy story. I have to type it up anyways as a favor to my best friend.

~Emi

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"Let me go!"

Alena looked up from her paperwork at the voice. She knew that voice although it took her a couple of minutes to realize who it was. What's she doing here? Alena walked over to two officers holding the old Ishbalan woman.

"Let her go officers."

One of the officers laughed and shook his head, "No can do. We are equal rank with you at this moment."

Alena gritted her teeth together; all the officers were rubbing it in her face that they were equal with rank to her now. Since she had dropped the Scar case she had gotten put on probation for failure to do her job or some stupid thing like that. Not that she cared anymore, she cared about nothing now.

"Officers! Let the woman go!' Mustang walked up behind Alena, watching the men with dark eyes. A younger man beside Roy Mustang giggled and covered his mouth.

Alena's lips twitched slightly as she watched the man, Volvin, giggle. Ever since Volvin had come around this last month Mustang had become more bearable. It was actually nice to be around the two of them, not that she would ever say so.

The two officers paled and saluted the Alchemists, "Yes sir!" they said in unison as they let go of the Ishbalan. Alena sighed and looked away from the woman's stare.

"What do you need old one? It must be pretty serious if you're risking coming here."

"I need to talk to you Alena, I need a favor." She reached up and brushed a hand against Alena's cheek, "You're sick again aren't you?"

Alena pulled away from the touch and didn't answer. Yes she was sick but she would never admit it, nor say why she wasn't taking care of herself.

"I'm fine, just a bit stressed is all. Mustang-"

"Use my office for as long as you need."

"Thank you." Alena led the way to Mustang's office, wondering what the woman needed now. This wasn't the first time she had showed up in the last couple of months. Last time she tried to tell Alena that Scar still wanted her. Yeah, riiiiiight.

When they reached the room, Alena shut the door and turned to the woman, trying to act indifferent but really wanting to know how Scar was doing. Her heart ached at the thought of Scar and she blinked back tears.

"What do you need old woman?"

She sighed and closed her eyes, "You're sick Alena…I'm not a fool. I know you are. He is too, you know. Very sick, pushing himself to the point of death."

Alena paled slightly and looked away, "I don't care about what happens to him, he made his choice that day. He probably won't even talk to me anymore. So how should I get his attention?"

"I know a way…it'll stop him in his tracks." The old woman smirked slightly and pulled Alena close, whispering in her ear. Alena's eyes widened and she pulled away to look at the Ishbalan,

"Is that really it?"

There was suddenly the sound of footsteps and yells as officers ran from headquarters. Mustang opened the door and looked inside,

"Scar's been spotted."

Alena didn't even bother to grab anything, she just ran from the room and out into the pouring rain. She asked the nearest officer where he had gone and was told south, towards the Ishbalan camp.

Alena started off in that direction and arrived just in time to see Scar cornered. She slid to a stop and stared at him as he exploded a hole in the wall and ran through it. Alena followed and soon it was just the two of them.

"Altair!" She yelled out, watching as he stopped dead and turned to look at her, eyes slightly wide.

"H-How?" He asked breathlessly, eyes still wide. After all these years without a name, hearing his god-given name sounded strange. Especially when the name came from her. Scar looked Alena over and then looked away. She looked horrible; pale, shaky, eyes looking like every once of happiness had died in her. And it was his entire fault…

He couldn't stand this! So he turned and ran again, trying to get the image out of his head but it wouldn't leave him. He'd destroyed the Alena he had grown to love. There was no chance now…

Alena chased at him, tears mixing with the rain that drenched them. Why was he running from her? Did he really not love her anymore? She stopped when she realized he wasn't in front of her anymore and looked around, eyes narrowing slightly.

"I know you're here Scar."

There was a sound of footsteps behind her and she dodged out of the way just in time as the wall behind her exploded. She turned to face Scar, the old Alena shinning through for a moment before she looked away.

"I only come to deliver a message. Stop fighting long enough to heal. Those that care about you are worried." She slapped his hand away from her face and stared up at him for a moment before turning to walk away.

"Get out of here now. If they catch you, you're dead."

Scar wanted to call after her, to pull her back to him and just hold her. But he couldn't speak, he couldn't move. All he wanted to do was to tell her he was sorry for destroying her life and he couldn't even manage that.

Alena walked for a while in the darkness, tears falling as heavily as the rain. But after a while her tears stopped and her feelings became numb and she was just lost, no coherent thoughts going through her mind. So she just kept walking, not really caring anymore.

Her foot found the one pothole in the street and twisted, making her cry out in pain. She collapsed to the ground and curled up a bit, trembling as the rain pounded down on her. Slowly thoughts began to penetrate her mind.

Where am I? Why do I feel so tired? What's going on? Each thought took such an effort to think and deal with. It made her tremble even more and she whimpered as she slowly blacked out…her last thought the picture of Scar sleeping in the Ishbalan camp, so peaceful and calm. Scar…

Roy found her about an hour later. He rushed over and touched her face gently, it was freezing. He sighed and pulled off his jacket, laying it over her and picking Alena up. Volvin drove up in the car and stepped out, helping Roy put her inside.

As Roy sat in the back, with her head on his lap he stared out the window. Scar needed some sense knocked into him. Roy had promised Alena's parents to look out for her and he had been working behind the scenes to help her out. But now…now was the time to take a more active role in helping her.