A/N: The reunion that you have all been waiting for! And the chapter is longer than the others, I didn't know when to stop, and ideas just kept coming to me.

Sorry about the slightly slower updates than you have all become used to. I've had a busy week with work and a wedding to go to (and getting myself hurt before said wedding). Again (as usual) this hasn't been Beta'd - I should probably get a Beta, right? - so if there are any issues that's all me and I'm sorry.

Please, let me know what you think! And enjoy! I had a lot of fun writing this chapter.

Chapter 10

The house had been too quiet since they had gotten in, and Roy was starting to wonder if their information had been wrong. They hadn't come across anyone yet, none of the captives or their slave master and the brief flurry of hope that had bloomed in his chest was starting to die. Havoc was behind him, his gun drawn and ready to stop any threat before it happened, while Hawkeye was taking point up front. Her back was tense, and her hair was beginning to fall out of its clasp, blonde stands falling down her back. The tension was so thick that Roy was sure that it would choke him. The trio moved slightly along the corridor, Hawkeye and Havoc checking each room before Roy entered – but each one was empty. They had signs of people having been there – unmade beds and clothes waiting to be washed, but there was no sign of any people.

Roy was about to give up when they came to a last room, one close to the front door – they had entered through the back and the sight of what could only be a fresh grave lay heavy on Roy's mind and heart. The door was locked and Havoc moved to pick it without order. Roy turned his back to look down the corridor, Hawkeye still on guard at his side. "We'll find him, sir." She said softly, glancing back at Havoc as he struggled with the lock. Roy wished that he had her confidence. It had taken them weeks for Al to wake up to even be sure that Ed was still alive. They had finally gotten the full story of what had happened in that warehouse from the younger Elric, but it had still taken them a month to get enough information and clues to finally decide to chase up on this lead. A lead that didn't seem to be giving up anything and Roy was getting more and more desperate. He knew of the awful things people could do to each other, especially when that people felt like they owned another. It was his fault that Ed was taken, and the thought of anything happening to him made him feel sick to his stomach.

Behind him Havoc let out a breath as he finally got the door open and Hawkeye moved to his side, leaving Roy with his back to the door as he tried to cling to the hope that Fullmetal would be on the other side, unharmed. His lieutenants moved into the room with practised ease, Hawkeye was ready to shoot anyone that moved as Havoc flicked the switch on to light the room. Their gasps was enough to fill Roy with dread as he turned to the door. "Sir, we've got him."

Roy moved into the room, pausing at the sight that greeted him. It felt like someone had punched him in the chest, he couldn't breath for a moment and time itself seemed to stop. The blonde that lay on the floor looked like a shell of his former self and Roy pushed his rage down in order to turn to his men. "Watch the door. Make sure that no one gets close. Don't kill if you can help it." He ordered, waiting as his men left the room with silent nods before turning to Edward. He was naked and his tan skin was covered in dry blood and bruises. He hadn't stirred or showed any sign of life since they came in and his golden hair was dulled with grime and browned with blood. It had been cut, and instead of his normal long tresses – a style that he had had for almost as long as Roy had known him – now, his blonde hair was about the length of Roy's own.

Moving closer, Roy shrugged out of his thick military coat and draped it over Edward's naked body before kneeling beside him. Roy peeled his left glove off and reached out to press his fingers to Ed's neck, sighing in relief as he found a pulse there. "Edward, wake up." He called out, tapping the blonde's shoulder. He was scared to shake him, he seemed to fragile and broken already, the last thing he wanted to do was hurt him more. He got no response and tried again, this time slightly shaking him, but was still met with a deafening silence. He looked up at the door with he heard footsteps outside.

"Don't shoot!" The voice was female, and scared. "I just want to help him."

Roy turned back to Edward, Havoc and Hawkeye could deal with whoever was outside. The collar around Ed's neck caught his attention due to the small array on the back, one that Roy had seen on the previous slaves that had been rescued. It was alchemically sealed to shut, but Roy couldn't help but wonder why Edward hadn't just used his alchemy to take it off. Why had he stayed here? What stopped him fighting?

"Sir?" Hawkeye's soft voice made him look up from Edward. She was standing by the door with a woman about Ed's age. The redhead was looking nervously between Roy and Edward and he instantly got defensive before he noticed the collar around her neck too. She seemed unharmed and in her hands was a basin of warm soapy water. "She says she's here to help."

The redhead nodded and looked at Roy again. "Its been my job since we were sold together. I... I get sent in after..." She paused, and looked sadly back at the unconscious male at Roy's side. When it was clear that she wasn't going to say anything else, Roy stood up, catching her attention again. He nodded to Hawkeye briefly – who returned to guard the door with Havoc.

"After what? What's he suffered?"

"Beatings mostly. He's been tortured and... Last night was one of the worst he's had. Our master was angry about Edward cutting his hair." The redhead said, looking tearfully down at the water in the basin between her hands. "Master liked his hair, its what he found so attractive about him."

"Attractive?" Roy asked, glancing back at Ed and gesturing for the girl to come closer. She did so without hesitation, kneeling by his side and dipping a cloth into the water, wringing it out before she moved Roy's coat down to Ed's hips and started washing his back. Beneath the dirt and blood, Roy could see angry cuts that he assumed could have only been made with a whip and he swallowed past the lump in his throat. There was also an angry looking burn across his ribs, almost like a brand, and the sick feeling was harder to swallow than the lump was.

The girl nodded sadly as she worked to try and clean Ed. "He rapes Edward, sir." Her voice was so quiet that Roy wasn't sure that he had heard her properly but when she looked up at him her eyes were filled with tears. "I've wanted so badly to help him. To get him out of here, but all I can do is try to clean his wounds and ease his pain." She sobbed, turning back to the blonde with a shake of her head. "He told to me to leave and I did. I was so scared that I just left him to suffer like this."

"That's Edward for you. He was never going to blame you, he wouldn't risk anyone else getting hurt." Roy said softly, sighing as he moved to the door. "Havoc, get a car here, and phone the hospital so they can prepare of Edward and the girl. Hawkeye, call Al and let him know that we've found his brother. We're getting them both out of here now."

"Al? He's alive?" Roy turned at the hoarse voice and his eyes met golden ones. The pain and sadness was obvious in those eyes, and Roy didn't miss the roughness of Ed's voice that hinted at sobbing and screaming. He moved to Ed and knelt beside the girl as she dropped the cloth back into the water.

"He's alive Ed. You'll see him soon, okay? We're getting you both out of here."

Edward pushed himself up onto his knees, blushing slightly as Roy's coat pooled at his hips, and Roy reached out to pull it up and around his shoulders, never letting his eyes linger on any of the marks tainting Ed's skin. He didn't have the right. "You shouldn't move too much. We don't know what injuries that you have yet."

"He's right, Edward. You were beaten badly last night." The girl at his side said, and Ed rewarded her concern with a small, weak smile.

"Don't worry Cara. I can handle it."

She scowled at him, but didn't reply as she reached into the water and took out the cloth again, gently washing away a streak of blood on his face with a sad smile. Roy watched them for a moment, saddened by how close they seemed. Not because of anything to do with jealously, but because he knew that they were close through shared horror and abuse. Cara didn't seem harmed, it seemed she'd been used for more domestic chores, but she had seen Ed beaten and bloody and raped and had stood by him, trying to ease his trauma as much as much as she could. Edward gently nudged her away and moved to his feet. Roy stood with him, and only just caught him as he slumped again, falling into Roy. He held the blonde up, his hands on Ed's arms to steady him. "Edward, stop. You're not strong enough right now."

Edward felt the blush warm his cheeks and he pulled Roy's coat around him tighter, resisting the urge to take in a breath and the scent of his commanding officer. The shiver assaulted him with no warning and caused pain to shoot through him from sore and tired muscles. Cara moved from his side the minute that she saw his shiver, moving across the room to pick up some clothes that had been left on a table by the door. They were plain, grey slacks and a white vest but it was better than standing naked in Roy's arms. Cara moved to Ed and took his arm, holding the clothes out to him. "I didn't have time to clean all the blood from you, but you need to stay warm."

Ed waited until Roy released him cautiously before taking the clothes from Cara. Roy left the room, and Edward heard him talking quietly to Riza and Havoc but he couldn't make out their words. Edward couldn't shake the feeling that this was a dream, that he had made all this up. "Where is he?" He asked Cara quietly as she helped him to dress. He would have been embarrassed but this was becoming something of a routine for them now. She just shook her head and shrugged, informing him that Hal had stormed out, locking Edward in the lounge and slamming the door shut as he had left. He hadn't returned home yet. She helped him to walk towards the doors, and when Mustang saw them he moved to Edward's side instantly. Ed handed him the thick black coat back, and Mustang took it, before draping it over Ed's shoulders again.

"You need it more than me right now." He said in way of an explanation. Hawkeye was at his side, Havoc lingering by the front door. The house was silent and Edward tugged Mustang's coat tighter around himself, the familiar smell of his commanding officer offering him more comfort than he cared to admit. Before they could acknowledge each other, or even for Havoc or Hawkeye to greet Ed the front door crashed open. The noise was so loud that Edward jumped in fright, his eyes instantly landing of those of his master, and the hatred in them made him cower back slightly. He pulled Cara with him, nudging her behind him as Havoc and Hawkeye had their guns trained on the man. Roy moved in front of Ed, and the blonde was left staring at the back of his head for a moment before he peeked around the side of him.

"Well well well. What have you gone and done now, my Golden Star?" Hal purred it, and Edward forced himself to not flinch, but after last night his fear of the man had spiked. The plan with his hair completely backfired on him. "I assume that you have come for your dog?" Hal directed this question at Mustang, and Edward glanced up at the man when he sensed him tense. A dog of the military, he'd been called that before, they both have. So why did Mustang seem so angry about it now? Ed glanced at Cara, wondering how much the girl had told his commanding officer of his abuse. He'd woken up to voices and it was only when Al's name was said that he was really able to make any sense of what was being said. What did Mustang know about what had happened?

"How about we make a deal?" Hal spoke again, a bright smile on his face.

"A deal?" Mustang almost laughed, his disbelief clear. "You have two choices, you let my men take you in for the brass to deal with, or I kill you here and now for the crimes you've committed against a military officer, and to this civilian."

Hal just smirked at Mustang, shaking his head. "No. I think I would much rather go free and continue to live..."

"I don't give a shit what you would rather!"

Ed flinched a little when Mustang shouted, not used to hearing him swear, or to the anger in his voice. Yeah, they fought and shouted at each other all the time, but that was no more to do with a force of habit than any real animosity between them. It had been a while since Edward had heard Mustang sound this pissed and that was a surprise to him. Hal's good nature seemed to slip away now, his own ever-present anger finally rearing its head. An anger that Ed had grown so used to seeing, to receiving. Clenching his hands into fists, Edward glared at the other blonde, who still stood by his front door, two trained handguns aimed at him, and he at least seemed to have the sense that if they chose to shoot, they wouldn't miss.

"Havoc, take Fullmetal and the girl out to the car." Mustang commanded, not taking his glare off of the man in front of him, his hands ready to snap in their white gloves. Havoc moved to them, and Edward watched as Cara hesitated before moving further away from their master and closer to the safety that the military personnel was offering. Ed didn't move, just kept looking between Mustang and Hal, a morbid curiosity of what would happen. Hal couldn't be stupid enough to attack, surely? He was stuck, and Mustang was right. He didn't really have all that many options, but would his commander actually kill the man in front of him? Edward knew enough about Mustang's past to doubt that he would kill someone willingly, but he was still a soldier, and soldiers had to kill at times. Would now be one of those times? A hand on his flesh arm pulled Ed from his thoughts and he looked at Havoc, who was waiting for him to respond, a concerned frown on his brows.

"Come on Boss, lets get you outta here." Havoc said to him softly, timid, as if speaking to him would cause him to shatter in front of their eyes. While Ed appreciated the concern – which he would never admit – it pissed him off that they were all tiptoeing around him. Scowling, Edward turned to go. He swallowed the fear of turning his back on an enemy, one that had caused so much pain already. He was safe. Hal wasn't getting past Hawkeye. A quiet and yet cruel chuckle made him freeze and glance over his shoulder. As he did he saw Hal slip out the small remote from his pocket and look directly at Ed, a glint in his eyes betraying just how much he enjoying hurting the younger blonde.

"He's going nowhere. I know that he's the main prize, that the girl is just a bonus. Why do you think I bought them together?" Hal laughed, waving the remote in front of Mustang, well out of reach. It had two buttons on it, and Edward had seen him press one more than he cared to think about, but he had never touched the other. Ed wasn't sure that he wanted to know what it would do. "Now, back to my deal. I will allow you to take my toys away on the condition that I go free."

"Your toys?" Hawkeye snapped, her gun steady in her hands. "They are people! Not anyone's toys. You are not getting away with the disgusting acts that you have committed here."

Hal glared at the women, threw a glance at Mustang – who Ed could only assume was giving nothing away in his face – and finally rested his gaze on Edward again.

"I go free, or we both die here." Hal said, looking back at Mustang with a cruel smile, and Edward fully realised how unhinged this man was. He didn't have time to think about it though, because Hal pushed the button on the remote that he had grown so fond of. Edward tried not to scream at the pain, tried to stay on his feet. He didn't want any of them to hesitate long enough for Hal to get away, but the agony that burned along every nerve from the shocks was too much for his exhausted, weak body and he dropped to his knees, his eyes shut against the tears as he screamed. Instantly Havoc was on his knees next to him, and Mustang was shouting his name but it took a moment after the attack for Edward to fully focus again. He was panting, his muscles aching as he tried to force himself to speak; to tell them that he was okay – even if it was clear how not okay he was.

"Boss, stay awake. Come on, we'll get you out of here." Havoc was speaking to him softly, hands on his shoulders as Edward took in heavy breaths through his nose. He just wanted to sleep.

"So what will it be, General? I can keep doing this. I can make him scream until his voice breaks and I don't think you'll risk shooting me, not when this button-" Hal paused, moving his thumb to hover over the two button with a grin, "-will kill him within seconds."

Edward looked back at the scene behind him, catching Hal's look, and then meeting Mustang's eyes as the dark haired man turned to look at him. There was too many emotions in those eyes for Edward to even begin to understand, and before he could even isolate a single emotion, Roy's typical apathetic mask slipped back into place. He couldn't be considering letting Hal go, could he? The young blonde pushed himself to his feet a little unsteadily, pushed his aching legs to Mustang's side and stopped just a little in front of him, forcing him to look at him.

"You can't consider this. If he gets away we both know..." Edward started, resisting the urge to reach out and hold Roy's arm. He didn't get to finish his sentence because of the second shock that pushed him to his knees. He was faintly aware that he'd slumped into Roy's chest, that the older man had safely lowered them to the ground, his strong arms holding Edward even as the world around him blurred with tears. He was faintly aware of his own panting breaths as the pain slipped again and of the low, angry growl from the man who's arms he was currently in. The noise was comforting in a way.

Mustang was tense, Edward could feel it in his muscles. He was only just holding onto his anger, only just keeping it under control and this close to the man it was easy to hear the constant rasping of the gloves as Mustang tried to control his anger, tried to stop himself from snapping and setting the whole place on fire. Edward tried to move, to pull himself from the man's arms but it was a struggle. It felt like he was wrapped in cotton wool, and he desperately wanted to just sleep. A laugh behind him made his whole body tense. There was no humour in it, and Edward closed his eyes against the wave of nausea that it caused. He had grown to know that laugh and it never led to good things.

"Aren't his screams just delicious?" Hal hummed. "You should hear him begging. All the little noises he makes are just delightful. But then you might already know that, right General? You're Roy Mustang, heard you've been fucking him since he was a boy. Is that why you are so angry right now? Don't you like to share?"

"Shut up." Ed wanted to snap it, but his voice was weak and it came out sounding closer to a sob than a threat. Roy hadn't moved from Ed's side and the blonde felt the older man hold him tighter when he spoke. Damnit Ed didn't want sympathy, least of all from this bastard, but the older man was basically holding him up, and Edward couldn't remember the last time that he felt so safe.

"He is a spectacular human, isn't he General? Even with the scars and metal. He is powerful, strong and gorgeous. You can't imagine the thrill of having him so helpless beneath you."

"I said shut up!" Ed shouted it this time, and at least it didn't sound as broken as before. Hal just laughed at him, letting his eyes trail down Ed's body. Edward pushed himself onto his feet, refusing to look so defeated in front of this man, but as exhausted as he was, he stumbled slightly, ignoring how Mustang instantly held him steady. The man was a solid wall of support at his back, and Edward wanted to do nothing more than bury himself in that warm, and the scent of Roy that clung to him. "He's my commanding officer, and there is nothing else between us than that. I got into the military because of my skill."

Edward didn't notice the flicker of hurt and disappointment in Roy's eyes before he quickly buried those feelings, but Hawkeye did. She saw almost everything that Roy was feeling, but she saw that Edward had seemed to relax in her friend's arms. It was because of this, and the way he didn't bat Roy's hands off him that Riza didn't fully believe him, she didn't want to believe it. Roy was her closest friend and she knew it would crush him if Edward saw nothing more than a professional relationship between them. It was clear that the blonde was exhausted as he swayed on his feet, and Roy's emotions were only just being kept in check. They needed to get out of here. Edward needed to be seen by a doctor, and he needed to be resting somewhere safe.

"Fullmetal, go with Havoc." Roy tried again, meeting Riza's gaze briefly, before he looked back at the blonde in front of him, who had turned to face him with a frown. Roy could have wept to finally look into those golden eyes, he had dreaded that he would never see them again. There was fire still, and that was such a relief that Roy had to focus on not reaching out to Edward and embracing him. It wasn't his place, he had no right. It was one thing to support him when he was injured and in pain, but to just hold him was not something he had permission to do.

"Cause that worked so well last ti..." Edward's words were cut off by the bark of Hawkeye's gun, and he turned to see what had happened. Roy couldn't stop himself from reaching out and stopping him though, his gloved hand on Edward's cheek, turning his face away from the sight of Hal staring lifelessly up at the ceiling, a bullet hole in his head. Blood and shards of bone sprayed out behind him against the glass. He didn't want Edward to see this. He wanted to protect the blonde from any more horror. Hadn't he suffered enough? Edward had frozen at the touch, and Roy fondly watched as the young man fought through so many emotions before settling on surprise. The sudden urge to kiss him was so powerful that Roy almost did just that, only stopping himself at the sound of Havoc opening a door behind them and leading the girl out.

"You don't need to see that, Ed." Roy said softly, lowering his hand slowly, reluctantly. He then gave Edward a gentle push towards the door that Havoc had went through before moving to Hawkeye. "Thank you Riza, I couldn't risk using my alchemy at such a close range." He said, looking down at the lifeless eyes of the man who had horrifically abused the man that he kept telling himself that he didn't love. Couldn't love.

Edward turned to watch Roy move closer to Hawkeye, flesh hand raised to lightly brush the warm that was spreading through his cheek where just moments ago Roy's hand had been. He couldn't understand the action, or the emotions that were going through the older man's mind, flickering in his eyes like a camera reel. He had wanted to kiss his commanding officer so badly just now that Edward wasn't sure what he would have done if Roy hadn't moved away. Angry at himself for his stupid feelings, Edward glanced at the body of his abuser. Roy didn't want him to see this, and he could understand why, but Edward needed to see it. Needed to know that this man was dead, that he wouldn't appear somewhere months down the line to hurt him again.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Edward looked back at Mustang and Hawkeye. "There's a body in the garden." He said, lowering his gaze as the two soldiers turned to look at him. The guilt was crippling. That body was his doing. "He was just a kid and that bastard..." He shut his eyes, cursing himself and his damn tears. His flesh knuckles ached from how tightly he clenched his fist. "If he could get a proper burial that would be nice." He finished lamely, turning on his heel without looking back at Hawkeye or Roy and stormed out of the house. Havoc was smoking by the car, Cara was sitting inside, her head in her hands. Edward didn't acknowledge Havoc, choosing to slip into the back of the car and slid along to sit in comforting silence with Cara. He was so tired.