DA: Well this has been a stressful week. Little depressing at times, but I'm known for my resilience. Kinda like Ed if you think about it. If something knocks me down, I'll be right back up again and usually pissed off. Writing as him musta rubbed off on me. Haha. Anyways, I'll stop boring you with my ramblings and let you guys read this chapter.

Disclaimer: Still got nothing witty. Ick

Usual warnings apply. Funny how my writing ability improves quite a bit once there's blood involved. Hehe... Enjoy the chapter!

Darkness to Dawn

Chapter 11

Al winced sympathetically as he unraveled the stained bandages away from his brother's abused torso, wanting to flinch himself at the angry, red welts and slashes that stared up at him from the pale flesh. Ed's breathing was strained, pain making everything forced and ragged. Resting a careful hand between the blond's shoulders, Al nearly pulled away at the groan. "I'm sorry, Brother," he murmured as he ran the gauntlet as gently as he could down the teen's back. The muscles were visibly bunched, trembling with the effort it took to keep the pain at bay. Guilt bubbled deep within Al, but this had to be done. Mustang had voiced his own concerns and shown the evidence to back it up, thus proving something was amiss; some alchemy was at work here. A gasp left Ed's throat, the hand nearing the small of the blond's back, and he arched his torso, trying to avoid the touch. A glint of horrified understanding lit in his irises.

The Colonel's hands restrained the teen at the shoulders, an apologetic expression softening his face. A look of panic was etched in Ed's gold eyes, his face pale. "No! Stop! You don't understand! If you go any farther you'll-" Al's fingers dipped into a deep cut and the effect was instantaneous. Blue light illuminated the room, spreading from the thick, now bloodstained, fingers to the entire array. The younger boy jerked his hand away, but it was too late.

The blond threw his head back, his body still curved away from physical contact. Teeth closed on his bottom lip, eyes clenched shut and his face pinched in pain. Mustang snatched his own hands away, terrified to touch the boy any longer. Without the support, Ed collapsed back onto the bed, body taut and shaking ever so slightly. Muffled groans assaulted their ears as they stared at each other, uncertain of what to do. Blood oozed from the blond's back, soaking the white bedsheets beneath him.

And still, the blue-white crackle of alchemy sparked through the air, the activated array obviously working some sort of effect on the boy. But as to what, neither of the coherent occupants of the room knew. Ed curled into himself on the bed, hands scrambling to clamp around the circle on his lower back. Whimpers escaped his throat, the pain unreal and draining. Energy poured from him as if he were the one using the array rather than it using him. He remembered when it had been carved, but unfortunately that memory had resurfaced too late. At the next wave of unbearable agony, he curled tighter, pressing his scraped forehead against the cool metal of his automail knee.

Ed's back was facing towards Mustang, the man pale with shock. He and Al had done this; they had unknowingly activated the array. The atmosphere was composed of crackling energy and ragged, pained breathing, the bright light illuminating the creases of both worry and exhaustion on the Colonel's face. His dark eyes remained fixed onto his subordinate, his mouth open as if to say something that might comfort the boy. And that's when it hit him. Ed's back was facing him. The array was facing him. His hands flailed for something to write with, eventually landing on the pencil that he had accidentally shoved into his pocket in his mad rush to get to the hospital. The other drew the stained paper from his other pocket, unfolding it and pressing it to the table by Ed's bed. "Al," he said, trying to focus on the alchemic circle on the teen's back. The root of it was dripping blood, the reaction reopening the injuries. The armored boy, who had been panicking over his brother, started at his name, jolting upright with a clang. "Keep him still. I'm going to try to copy this bastard down."

Al, though disgusted with the older man, did as told, leather gauntlets pressing down on his brother's shoulder and knee. A strangled whimper emerged from the injured party, adding to the feeling of nausea that was desperately desiring to be noticed despite the fact that Al could do nothing to act on such a feeling. Copy this down? Surely there was more important things to be worrying about, such as trying to stop the reaction before it does anything else! At the next pained noise, his hand moved up to smooth the golden hair on his brother's head in an attempt at comfort. The rough scratching of pencil lead against paper mingled with the other, slightly disturbing sounds. "Colonel," Al said at the next moan from Ed, worry overtaking his sense of manners. "Shouldn't we be trying to stop this?" Mustang appeared to not hear him, busily sketching the circle carved onto his brother's back.

"Al..." Ed whimpered, voice hoarse and pain-riddled. "Please..." Even Roy stiffened at that, pencil freezing where it was on the paper. But it continued not even a second later, though its journey was moving at a much faster pace.

"I'm here brother," the younger brother murmured, pressing his hand to the side of the alchemist's face. He was unable to do more, a thought that unnerved him more than anything. He was alive because his brother had risked everything to save him, but he could do nothing to help Ed in his time of need. The boy urged Mustang to copy faster, urgency filling him.

Finally, the pencil was thrown down and the dark-haired man straightened, concern etched into his onyx eyes. His hands hovered over the mark on Ed's back, shaking with uncertainty. He looked up at Al. "Any ideas?" As the words left the older man's throat, the alchemic energy died, the array fading to lacerations that were smearing blood over the bed. Without the blue outlining, the circle was almost unrecognizable. Somebody had known what they were doing when they made this.

Ed went limp on the mattress, breaths puffing from parted lips. His skin was white and shone with sweat, his back was wet with blood. Al called for his brother, voice rising a few octaves at the lack of response. Roy swallowed and left the room, the array on the table all but forgotten in his search for a doctor. Uneasiness churned in his stomach, leaving a bad taste in his mouth. Somebody had left that circle there knowing that they would find it, but who? Of course, just as everyone believed that things were winding down again, the situation was getting more complicated.

FMAFMA

Mustang had just stepped into the room when Ed gasped, eyes flashing open. He breathed heavily, staring at the ceiling with a somewhat blank expression. After a few moments, he relaxed, his metal hand pressing gently to his forehead. "Oh man," he moaned. "What happened to me?" The persistent frown that had been present on Roy's face ever since the activation deepened, taking a deep breath in.

"Alphonse accidentally activated an array that had been carved into your back," he answered, grimacing at his own words. Ed started at the sound of another's voice, head whipping to the side to face the speaker. Roy's hands were secured behind his back as he walked up to the bed, back tight and straight. "We're not sure what it does yet, but you passed out after the effects had faded." The boy's golden eyes searched his face, finding it eerie that the Colonel had his professional face on, the one with no emotions visible. He nodded slowly, eyebrows collapsing inward.

"Where's Al?" he whispered. He felt sick, his body aching all over. And why was he so weak? It felt like it took an enormous amount of effort to even lift his arm. Mustang even noticed the pale pallor to the boy's face, a problem that he had thought they were rid of.

"He's talking to the doctor. The man was understandably curious to why his patient, who had been healing so well, all of a sudden had reopened most of the injuries littering his back. So Alphonse is filling in a few holes for the man." That explained a little for Ed as to why his back felt like it had acid poured down it. As he opened his mouth to inquire what the array had looked like, the door opened again, a bulky form stepping into the room. It took Al all of two seconds to realize that his brother was awake and the younger boy came storming up next to Mustang.

"How're you feeling brother?" he asked, his voice attempting for light and comforting, but the undercurrent of heavy concern broke that facade. Ed smiled, pushing himself higher upright on the pillows. Pain raced up his spine, but he kept the sensation at bay and off his countenance.

"I'm good, Al. Just a little tired." Even without any facial expressions or telltale body language, Roy could read the skepticism rolling off the suit of armor in waves, holding his own doubt for Ed's statement. Rolling his eyes, he regarded the haggard appearance of his subordinate.

"Good as in you're actually good or good as in your version where it means I'm not dying therefore I must be fine," the Colonel replied, sarcasm dripping from his words. The teen glared at his superior, shaking his head.

"I'm actually good, Colonel Bastard. It's not that hard to believe." The dark-haired man raised an eyebrow, blinking disbelievingly at the boy. "But that's not the point here. What the hell was that array doing on my back?" The room was silent, Roy and Al glancing at each other awkwardly.

"We...don't know," the words slipped from Flame's mouth without permission, watching the annoyed surprise on Ed's face manifest. It pained him to know that he didn't know what that array had done to the boy, what it still could be doing. "I copied the circle down, but we haven't had a chance to really study it yet." Ed rolled his eyes, waving him off. He sunk back into his pillow, sighing. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he really didn't have the energy to remain conscious, not to mention try to figure out this mystery. Maybe some sleep would alleviate this ill feeling.

"Well, while you do that, I'm going to get some sleep. Goodnight Bastard." Roy rolled his eyes again, shaking his head.

"Goodnight, Shrimp." Ed frowned, aiming a molten glare at his superior officer.

"'m not a shrimp." The denial was mumbled, his eyes drifting shut against his own will. When did this bed get so comfortable? He was asleep within moments, head falling to the side with the flow of gravity. Mustang couldn't help but smile at the image, but managed to stop his hand before it came to a rest on the boy's golden locks. Al sighed next to him, reaching over to pull Ed's covers around his shoulders.

"He's lying..." the younger boy murmured, helmet tilted downwards. Mustang let silence take the room as Al settled into the chair next to Ed's bed, deep in thought. Ed was lying and that worried him to no end. That array had done something to the younger alchemist and they needed to know, sooner rather than later. His gaze wandered around the room, eventually coming to the piece of paper that he'd forgotten in his rush to get a doctor. The circle was scribbled in the bloodstained parchment, messy with haste, but readable. Picking up the paper, he scanned it, some standard symbols catching his attention, but none that would be of any help to solving this mystery. Shit, he wasn't versed enough in other varieties of alchemy to know what half of this shit meant. He needed a more skilled alchemist, one that wasn't focused in only one branch of the science. "Colonel?" Al's voice interrupted his thoughts and he glanced up at the boy, lowering the paper slightly. "Would you mind if I took a look at that?"

...Of course! The Elrics had trained with a teacher before trying their illegal act, one that wasn't specialized. And, on top of that, they were certified geniuses. Without a word, he handed the paper to the young boy. If luck was on their side (for once), maybe Al might discover something that he wouldn't.

FMAFMA

Al was sitting by the bedside table, leaning over the piece of paper as if to conceal it from the world. A few clean sheets were next to him, a pen clutched loosely in his large hand. He loved pens. Best thing mankind has invented in his opinion. Their casing made them durable to those who grab them too tightly as if they could not feel. He stared at the array, wishing for its secrets to be thrust into his head without much effort. The pen tapped against the hard wood, leaving dots of black ink in its wake. A few notes littered one of the pages, but nothing that was of much use. One mark said that the transmutation was meant to be continuous, or at least that's what it would have meant if it had been formed correctly. But Al was unsure if the poorly drawn symbol was due to the actual mark or an error in the copying. At least it wasn't working properly or his brother would still be feeling the effects, something that relieved the younger boy to no end.

"Hey Al," a hoarse voice whispered from the bed. Al looked up, dropping the pen. He really had no use for it right now anyway. Though the transmutation wasn't still ongoing, Ed still looked weak. His skin was pale, sickly even, and every time he moved, his limbs trembled beneath him. The doctor had put him back on the stronger pain medication due to this latest development but it didn't appear to be working that well, golden eyes shadowed with the pain that the teen was desperately trying to hide from his brother. Ed pulled himself to a sitting position with a moan, blinking sleep from his eyes as he studied Al. "What're you doing?"

"Nothing Brother," Al responded with a patience most envied. "Go back to sleep. You look like you need it." Ed threw him a sidelong glance, the expression heavy with annoyance.

"I'm not tired." If Al had any eyebrows, one of them would have risen to meet his hairline.

"Then I was just imagining your yawn?"

"Of course you were. I did warn you about that overactive imagination of yours."

"You did." The younger boy kept his gaze steady upon his stubborn older brother, hoping the stare would be more than enough to guilt the blond back into slumber. But alas, it was in vain.

"So what're you studying over there?" The suit of armor sighed, his stare dropping back to the table. The array just gazed right back at him, unyielding with its secrets. He scooped up the pen again, allowing it to dangle from his fingers as he hunched over the paper once more.

"The transmutation circle on your back. I was hoping to figure out what it does, but it's not as simple as it looks." Ed looked thoughtful, eyes flicking to the papers scattered over the table. Though his vision wasn't focusing properly, the circle looked complicated, arching and curving in ways that even he, alchemic genius, had never thought of before. If it had been carved onto him, then it would have to have been some Cretan form of alchemy all together and not an Amestrian form that Al had been looking for. Maybe he would know more.

"Let me take a look at it. I think I have an idea." He held out his hand, twitching his fingers expectantly. The suit of armor lifted the paper but hesitated, gaze flicking between the hand and the array itself. "C'mon, Al. It's not as if a piece of paper's going to actually hurt me." Though with his track record, it was highly possible for a piece of paper to actually hurt him. But he wasn't going to let Alphonse know that. His hand closed around the edge of the parchment as it was pushed into his palm, the paper crinkling in his grasp.

His back twinged as his arm returned to him, the paper now a few inches from his nose as he studied its contents carefully. Hmm. Just as he'd thought. This was no Amestrian alchemy, rather it was a technique specific to the western areas. He'd read a book on it once on the off chance that it had information regarding the philosopher's stone or another method to retrieve his and his brother's bodies. These symbols looked similar to those he'd seen in the books, though he couldn't think of their uses off the top of his head. It had been a long time since he'd read the book, and it had been a bust lead anyway, so it had been, for the most part, pushed from his memory. Of course. Just his fucking luck. "I don't think this is an Amestrian alchemy. Look." He pointed to the curves in the design, the places where the symbols lined those swirls. "Whereas Amestrian alchemy uses straight lines and encircled symbols, these are curved and each marking stands alone. This is an entirely different style than the arrays we use." Before he could even blink, the paper was out of his hands and in front of his brother's helmet. The soul red eyes scanned through the array several times, each time a little more frantic than the time prior. Ed snickered quietly, watching his brother come to the same conclusion as he had moments prior.

"...You're right!" He rolled his golden eyes; always the tone of surprise. When will it hit everybody that he was a genius? Seriously. "I've been going about this an entirely wrong way! You're a genius, Ed!" With an annoyed sigh, the alchemist snatched the paper back. He pointed to another spot on the paper, the central symbol.

"And, for Amestris, the array will be mostly blank in the center, but it looks like Cretan alchemy uses a symbol in the center to focus the entire array. It's my guess that if you can figure out the meaning behind this symbol, you can figure out what the function of the entire thing is." He paused for a moment, studying the paper again with an almost appreciating look in his eyes. One of his metal fingers lowered to trace the lines of the circle, expression gentle. "It really is amazing how these curves work. They must help direct energy..." The fingertip brushed against the lines and the entire thing lit up, the one on his back following not moments later.

The pain was instantaneous, his muscles tightening against it. A groan was forced out through clenched teeth, bared by lips pulled apart in the agony. "Brother!" Al's yell fell on deaf ears. His vision swam, colors blurring together, making him nauseous. The paper drifted from his suddenly limp hand, landing neatly onto the bed as his body collapsed backward onto his pillows. Ed squeezed his eyes shut, not like they were actually picking up any images anyway. A high pitched whimper emitted from his throat, his lips now squeezing together to clamp down any sound that wished to escape.

"Fullmetal!" Great. Another person to see his moment of weakness. A wave of pain cut off his thoughts, washing them away as if they were nothing. Tears leaked down his cheeks, sobs of pain muffling into the pillow that he shoved his face into. Whatever the array was doing, it fucking hurt. And it drained him, leaving him with no energy for himself.

"Edward!" a girl screeched, terror leaking from that one word. Someone cursed above him, a hand resting on his head.

"Al, get her out of here!" Ed cracked open his eyes, wincing at the bright lights of the hospital room. A black head bobbed near his face, and though blurry, he could almost see the concern emulating from the man. Moving his gaze slowly across the room, his eyes half mast, he watched vaguely as a blond blur escaped from the hold of some silver form and rushed to his bed, her hands scrambling for purchase on his body. At her touch, the flames that seemed to be searing his insides cooled somewhat, a faint moan of relief brushing against his mouth.

"What's happening?" Her voice shook with fear and he could hear the tears in her voice, trembling on the edges of her eyes. "Al, what's happening to Ed?" The silver form pulled the blond form from him, mumbling something that he could not understand. "No, let me go! I won't leave him!" He needed reassure her before she did something crazy. Wincing at every movement, he lifted his automail arm, fingers reaching for a hand that he couldn't see.

Fingers interlaced with his metal appendages, though he couldn't actually feel it. Schooling his expression into a soft smile, and only managing a slightly less pained grimace, he tightened his grip around the feminine fingers reassuringly. "'m ok, Win," he whispered hoarsely, the pained sentence betraying how badly he felt. A laugh was choked out above him, her soft forehead pressing into their fingers.

"Of course you are... You wouldn't admit if you weren't. Stupid alchemy freak." His chest heaved with a gasping laugh, sharp bursts of pain stabbing at each intake of air. He opened his mouth to say more when a blanket of darkness suddenly fell around him, cutting him off from everything. A horrified scream shattered the silence. And he knew no more.

FMAFMA

Roy stood in front of the doctor, face fixed in a worried scowl. It had only been a few hours since the last activation of that damn array and when Ed had woken, something hadn't been quite right with him. His eyes seemed lost and it took him more than a few minutes to gain his bearings again, something that concerned both his brother and his superior to no end. So Mustang had called on a doctor to check the boy out for any physical effects of the alchemic reaction. And now the doctor, Dr. Hendell, had the results. "Dr. Hendell," he started, his gaze secured onto the woman's face. "Do you know what's wrong with Edward?" She sighed, pursing her lips. Her own eyes carried worry for her patient, flicking between him and the clipboard in her hands.

"Unfortunately, yes, Colonel Mustang," she replied, leveling her eyes with his own. "When I performed the check on your suggestion, Edward seemed to be displaying the symptoms of Hypophosphatemia, a deficiency of phosphorous in the body. It was so unlikely, however, that I ordered a blood test be performed to prove it. The results cannot lie. Mr. Elric's phosphorous levels were in the moderate levels of the deficiency, nearing the severe levels. It's the deficiency that caused the seizure and the confusion upon his waking and I've started him on a phosphorous drip to stabilize him." Mustang's frown deepened. That's another piece to a puzzle they didn't quite understand. Now only to figure out what the fuck it meant. And what if the array kept activating? Shit.

"If the levels get to a low enough level, could it threaten his life?" Dr. Hendell gave him a strange look, raising an eyebrow at the question.

"I suppose it's possible, but highly unlikely now that we have knowledge of the deficiency. Why do you ask Colonel?" He paled slightly but shook his head, unwilling to disclose any more information. The array was threatening the boy's life. Could this get any worse? Shaking his head again, he pushed the thought from his mind. Best be cautious and not try to lose what little luck they had left.

"It's best if you don't know doctor. Thank you for your time." He walked off, leaving a very confused doctor behind him. Edward's door was open upon his arrival, allowing him to just step inside. Alphonse looked up at the entrance, but continued leafing through a small alchemy tome not even a moment later, several pages, one containing the copy of the array, spread out in front of him. Ed was asleep on the bed, his automail hand clutched in his mechanic's grasp. After what she'd witnessed, they were having a hard time removing Winry from the teen's side. Not like that was a bad thing. Ed could use the company when they were off tearing apart local libraries for more information.

With a sigh, Mustang settled himself into a chair that had been placed next to Al, instantly scanning through some of the notes that the boy had made in the short time he was gone. They were of no real worth; just some standard symbols that stabilized the array. Gently easing a blank piece of paper out from under the armor's elbow, he stared at the array, tapping his pencil against the paper. The book was lowered down by his arm, which was extended across the table. "Colonel, I need to get to the books within Central's library," Al said, the kind voice echoing in the empty armor. He lowered writing hand, pondering the thought. "The books from the local libraries are good, but I need something more specialized. Brother mentioned that this was Cretan alchemy. I need books on that." Still silent, Roy nodded, exhaling softly. He didn't mistake the fear and urgency in the younger boy's words. If Ed was trying to overcome something that hurts him in some way, Al would always be right there to support the boy. Why would now be any different? Ah, hell.

"Alright. I'll bring you to Central Library tomorrow. They'll be sure to have at least a few books concerning Creatain alchemy." For a boy without a face, Al sure was expressive. Gratitude emitted from the armored shell in waves, the soul red eyes sparkling at the black-haired man. His smile barely perceptible, he pushed himself out of his chair, stretching his arms upward. "And if that's the case, I'm going to head home to get a few hours of sleep so my head will be clear. Call me if something happens."

"No problem Colonel. Pleasant dreams!" His grin widening slightly, he rubbed the boy's helmet as he passed in an endearing gesture. The boy shivered slightly when the hand was removed as if he could feel the touch, light chimes filling the room. Glancing at Ed once more before he left, he was taken aback at how weak the teen looked despite the treatment racing through his veins. His cheeks were hollow and gaunt, the skin still stretched tightly across bone despite the amount of calories the doctors had been piling into him. His golden hair seemed to have dimmed, appearing brittle and thin as it fanned out across the white pillow. His expression tight, he turned and strode out the door, not wishing to see his subordinate in that state any more.

FMAFMA

The library was quiet that day, few visitors coming into its cool interior to explore its contents. However, the all encompassing silence didn't stop the pair who had set up fort at a table near the bookshelves labeled "C". Book after book was thrown onto the table by one Roy Mustang, soon picked up and opened by his companion, Alphonse Elric. The dark-haired Colonel was up on a ladder, his finger tracing the spines of a line books, many of them journals. Al was at the table, several of the books open around him with a brown-stained paper slung over a page of one older tome. One large finger pressed onto the opposite page, he hastily scribbled notes down on a journal of his own, the pen scratching on the thin paper. Mustang plucked one of the books he had been investigating on the ladder and threw it down onto the table below, earning a few glares from the librarians at the desk. The annoyed expressions were easily annoyed, a much bigger task distracting them. Finding out what the hell was wrong with Edward was proving to be a bigger task than either of the pair had imagined and if it wasn't for the dire situation, it might have been easier to just give up.

Mustang climbed down the ladder, another book in hand. "Any luck?" he questioned, leaning over the shoulder of the armor to peer at the boy's notes. Al shook his head, finishing the sentence he was on.

"It's all just basic symbols, nothing that's really adding up right now," the boy murmured, hand moving to lift up the stained paper. The symbols were simple for such a complex circle, an irritation for those who were trying to unlock what it meant, what it was capable of. "I feel like its function is just under the surface of what we found so far...we're just missing something." Mustang resisted the urge to snort, dragging a hand down his unshaven face. That was the understatement of the year. But Al was right. They had to be close, but they were missing something that was key to its power. What that key was, they were clueless to.

"Maybe we need to focus more on the lines of the circle. They might mean more than the symbols themselves." As if to prove his point, Roy leaned over and ghosted a finger over the outline of the circle, curving with what would be the flow of energy, had the circle been active.

"You say that as if it's so easy." The words were muttered, barely heard above the squeaking of joints in need of oil as Al extended an arm to turn a page in one of the books. Mustang retracted his own limb, his frown returning full force. If only it was as easy as words made it seem. He angrily brushed back a few strands of black hair that brushed against his eyelashes, snapping his gaze back to the shelves lined with volumes and volumes of the same subject: Cretan Alchemy. Though the library supplied a lot quantity wise, it was quality that they were looking for and that was lacking. Books upon books, but each one filled with the same information. It was getting tiring to say the least.

Several hours later found them in a similar situation, only with the Colonel sitting across from Al, his nose lodged firmly in a book. The urge to just slam his head into the table in front of him was becoming more appealing as time passed, enough so that he was eying the sturdy wood around the edges of the cover, wondering idly how much it would take to knock him unconscious. A quiet, lighthearted voice dragged him from his frustrated thoughts. "You made me a promise once, Colonel," Al whispered, placing his own book gently down. Roy lowered his with shaking hands in order to meet the younger boy's gaze, dark eyes wide at the sudden sound. "You promised you wouldn't give up on Brother. Because if you did, then I would know that there was no hope. I know it's for a different situation now, but the same oath still applies here. You can't give up. I know the answer's here somewhere. We just need to hang in there, for Brother."

Mustang averted his gaze, his irritated expression softening into one flecked with guilt and self-loathing. He couldn't give up, not with one of his subordinates on the line, but how does one go on when the situation is wavering on the brink of hopelessness? He stared at the floor, tracing the grains in the wood swirling intricate designs around his polished boots. With a hefty sigh, he dropped his head into his hands, palms grinding into his eyes. Here he was, a Colonel in the military being taught childhood lessons by one at least half his age. He should be ashamed of himself. A breathy laugh, bordering on a gasping sob nearly brought on by exhaustion, shook his shoulders as he shook his head, his forehead sliding against his fingers.

A hand clamped on his shoulder, his head jerking up at the sudden contact. Whirling around, he breathed a soft sigh of relief at the sight of the librarian. He hoped she wasn't here to bitch them out. He really was too tired for that shit. Clearing his throat and cleaning all emotions from his expression, he addressed her. "What can I do for you, miss?" Her gaze swept disapprovingly over the mess they had strewn across the once clean tabletop, made up of books, crumpled paper, broken pencils, and other assorted study materials. Shit, she was here to scold them.

"There's a call for you at the front desk Colonel from Central Military Hospital," she informed him, locking eyes with him. All color drained from his face, a cold pit forming in his stomach. Pushing his chair over in his haste, he all but sprinted to the desk, accepting the telephone the moment it was passed to him.

"This is Colonel Mustang." Even his greeting sounded tight and breathless, anxiety pouring out through his tone.

"Colonel," Hawkeye's calm voice said through the speaker, bringing a sort of structure to his thoughts. "Major Elric has had another 'attack'. He went into a seizure near the end. The doctors have him stabilized again." The tight concern in his stomach eased at her words, her informative reports bringing him a comfort that nobody else's could. Edward was ok. He'd suffered another activation, but he was still alive. Sighing into the receiver, he rubbed his forehead, scrunching his eyes shut. "Colonel?" He smiled slightly at the hint of worry that she'd added to his title.

"Ok," he finally said, more relaxed than before. "We'll be there soon."

FMAFMA

Ed glared at his two supervisors, arms crossed over his chest. A plastic tube ran from the crook of his elbow to the bag hanging from the IV stand. Al twittered anxiously next to Mustang, who glared right back at the boy, dark eyes meeting molten gold. "Well?" the teen snarled, eyes narrowing. Roy raised an eyebrow in surprise, the raw anger in that one word catching him off guard. "Aren't you going to tell me why the hell you woke me up? Or maybe you woke me to check if I was alive? Hate to break to you, but I'm still here." The slim black eyebrow rose higher. Sure, the kid had a short fuse, but this was unwarranted.

"Sorry, Brother," Al apologized hurriedly, hands waving in front of him. "We didn't mean to dis-" Mustang cut the boy off, his own sharp voice cutting above the higher pitched tone.

"What the hell, Fullmetal?!" he snapped, scowling. "We came in to check on you before we head back to the library. We didn't mean to wake you up. No need to be annoyed with us." Ed held his glower for a little longer before huffing, brushing his bangs back with his metal limb. When the hand dropped, the fury was nearly absent, a softer, calmer expression gracing his face.

"Sorry," he breathed, smiling softly at his visitors. "The doctor said irritability may occur, bit I didn't expect it to be that hard to control." Roy sighed, allowing his own annoyed anger to melt away. He should have guessed as much; Dr. Hendell did mention that the deficiency, if bad enough, may cause a few psychological problems that would fade with treatment. "So how's the research going? I'd be helping you, but the staff won't let me out of this damn hospital bed. Winry keeps threatening to take my automail away if I keep nagging." The Colonel snorted quietly, shaking his head.

"Brother, you know that if the doctors don't think you're ready, then you shouldn't be up," Al chided, fixing his gaze on his older brother. Ed waved submissively at the younger boy's words, rolling his eyes.

"Yea, yea. So alchemy. How's the research on the array going?" There was a wistful note to his voice, a longing to be out there.

"We've verified that it is, in fact, a Cretan array. But beyond that, nothing of value has surfaced in any of the books," Mustang informed, finding it difficult to keep the disappointment from his voice. They'd studied the damn circle at least five different ways, but nothing. The books in the library were far too vague in regard to anything pertaining to the decoding. "I find that a lot of the tomes are about the basics rather than complex arrays." The blond had his hand pressed loosely about his mouth, as if hiding the thoughtful twist of his lips.

"I don't suppose you brought any of the materials with you..." He glanced up only to see them shake their heads, his gaze dropping once more to the bedsheets. "Of course not," he muttered sardonically under his breath.

"After what happened last time I gave you the array, we decided it was best to leave that specific piece of paper far from you," the suit of armor explained, tone patient. Ed didn't seem to hear his brother, murmuring his own thoughts back to himself. Roy threw Al a questioning look, receiving a shrug as a response.

"Ok," the teenaged alchemist finally said, words slow. "If there's nothing in the books in Central's library, there's only one option. I saw an alchemy book in...the warehouse." Roy's lips tightened at Ed's momentary hesitation, Al shifting nervously next to him. Maybe he wasn't as healed mentally as he lead them all to believe. "If we go back, we might find more information on the array that we can't find using Amestrian resources." Mustang nodded contemplatively, his mind whirring through the idea. There was just one problem.

"'We' Fullmetal? I believe you're confined in that hospital bed." Furious flames ignited in Ed's golden eyes, the anger reappearing much too easily for anyone's liking.

"You need me to come along bastard, or you won't be finding anything."

"The building's in slightly different condition since the last time you saw it due to my team blowing it up. Your expertise, however small, is practically useless when dealing with a pile of rubble." The kid's teeth were grinding together, lips twitching as if to bare them.

"Fuck off Mustang. This whole situation concerns me and my well being. I'm entitled to help if I want to. I'd rather someone less useless work on it." Mustang's eyes narrowed, scowling deeply at the boy. His anger was blinding him from seeing the hidden meaning behind the words, a secret protectiveness that Ed always tried to hide.

"Well it's a good thing I'm your superior officer. You're ordered to stay here while we go investigate the warehouse." Ed's eyes were practically blazing with pure fury, the skin between his eyebrows crinkling with the emotion. A nearly feral snarl left his throat, looking ready to pounce onto the older man and beat him senseless. Mustang's hands were twitching towards his pocket, where his gloves were stored. And, seeing where this argument was heading, that's when Al stepped in between them, blocking the teen's line of sight.

"Enough Ed," he said, his voice firm enough to calm his enraged brother without yelling. "Colonel Mustang has a point. You're still healing and the area might still be dangerous. And with your arm still in that cast, you can't use alchemy." Ed's glare focused onto the suit of armor, frowning at the mention of his weaknesses. "What if the array activates again too? We wouldn't be in any position to help you. It's best if you stay here."

"But Al-" The younger boy didn't even let Ed formulate a response.

"It's for your own good, brother. I don't want you to get hurt again." Al's voice wavered slightly, a careful mix of worry and fear balanced in the delivery. The blond took several deep breaths, unwilling to raise his voice against his younger brother. His eyes cooled into something kinder, the anger boiling just beneath the surface. Besides, he couldn't say no to Al when he used that tone.

"Ok, Al... I'll stay." The words felt like acid in his mouth as he spoke them. Al stared at him with those unblinking red eyes, trying to ascertain if that was truth. Finally, the boy sighed and nodded, accepting Ed's statement. Good. Now he just needed a plan.

DA: Well that was long. I think I'm gonna start posting shorter chapters after this because this was exhausting. But I had to give you this much. This chapter didn't have much going on in regards to entertainment and I'm one to believe that the boring parts should be just thrown out there all at once to get them over with. And sorry if you found any mistakes... Didn't really go through it like I normally do.

How'd you guys like that tiny little EdWin moment? Subtle, well kinda, enough that it wasn't glaringly obvious that I find this couple adorable. At least I think so, but you're welcome to your own opinions. I'd also like to point out that while I am working towards a medical degree, I am not a doctor yet and therefore my medical lingo may not be up to par. So work with me here. But yes, that is a real deficiency.

Anyways, I'm finished with my cosplay! Wig's all set and the costume's ready and I'm super excited for my first full on convention! But that's all for today. Tell me what you guys thought about this chapter and I'll see you all next week!

May your hearts stay strong,

DarkAngel555