AN: Well I'm sure all of your mouths are hanging open by now because mine is. But let's see what other crap can happen.

Ties of friendship Chap.14

As Edward and the girls walked down the street to the automail shop that Pinako ran. All the girl's wondered what he had to talk to them about. He had a feeling that they were all going to hate him after he got through but he had to explain to them what happened.

Entering the automail shop door Pinako came out of the back when she heard the bell "Oh…Ed it's you." She scanned the group of girls behind him and he knew she was looking for Winry.

His head dropped some "Granny I need to talk to you and the girls for a minute."

"Where's my granddaughter Ed? I could use some help here." Pinako reached for her pipe that was on the counter as she searched Edward's face for a reaction.

He lifted his head "She'll be home in a couple of weeks Granny. I sent her to Dublith for a while because of what happened."

Pinako got a puzzled look on her face "What happened?"

He put his suitcase down "I think all of you should sit down." All the girls got a strange look on their faces as they sat down wondering what he was going to say. Pinako walked over by him as he turned towards the window.

"I feel like such an asshole as Niki pointed out to me." He turned towards them and stared at all their faces 'Well here goes' he thought as he began to speak "I'm going to get straight to the point." He took a deep breath and let it out "Winry tried to kill herself at Briggs."

All the girls were shocked as they gasped and Pinako knowing her granddaughter turned to Edward "What did you do Ed?"

"I'm sorry guys and especially to you Granny." He turned back to the window and stared out "I was a complete fool and Winry almost took her life because of it" He turned to face them all again and saw all their faces looking at him 'They want to kill me' he thought staring into their angry faces.

He waved his hands out in front of him "Don't worry everything's fine now. We got it all settled but now I have to go turn myself in." The girl's relaxed knowing they had got to the root of the problem and straightened it out.

Edward knew he had to ask a big favor of them "Listen I don't know what's going to happen but I'm sure I'm going to jail." He got a pleading look on his face "When Winry gets back can you guy's take care of her for me? I don't know how she's going to handle me being gone."

The girls all sat there and looked at each other then they all nodded to each other and Lolly stood up and walked over to him "I don't know what happened between you two up there Ed but I'm really glad that you two figured it out" her voice changed to her husky one "Because I wasn't looking forward to killing you." She then let out her little laugh in her girly voice "Hee hee." As she hugged him tightly "Of course we'll take care of her you should know you don't even have to ask."

"Thaaanks Lolly" he wheezed out as she crushed him against her.

She let him go as all the girls walked up to him "Don't worry Edward we got her" Niki flashed a smile at him.

"Yeah you DUMBASS did you think we would just leave her hanging in the wind?" Hiyori grabbed for her flip flop.

"Please Hiyori don't crack me with a flip flop" Edward threw his hands up "I have to go call her and I need all my teeth to do that."

"FIIIINE!" Hiyori got a pouty face as she put her flip flop back on her foot.

"I want to talk to her Ed" Pinako told him as he dialed the number.

"Hey teacher is Winry there?" Edward asked staring at all the faces looking at him then he turned his back to them and they heard him say "Hello my love" the girls just got a one sided conversation of him telling her he was going to see the Colonel and trying to explain to her what might happen. "Don't cry Winry please" his head went down "You know I hate it when you cry." He calmed her down on the phone then told her Granny wanted to talk to her.

Pinako got on the phone with her and Edward walked over by the window 'This is going to be the hardest thing I've ever done.' Shaking his head 'I thought our life together was going to be together not so far apart. But leave it to me to even screw that up….why? Why did I have to kill him? I should have just beaten him to a bloody pulp.' His thoughts were interrupted by Pinako yelling his name and handing the phone back to him.

All the girls listened intensely to what he said to Winry "Remember what I told you I love you and I always will no matter what. You are my one reason for living and nothing will ever change that." He looked at all the women who were now looking at him with such love in their eyes "I gotta go Winry I'll call you later okay." At the last minute he threw in another "I love you."

Lolly had pulled out her hankie and was wiping her eyes "Ahhhhh, I've never heard such a sweet conversation. THAT WAS SOOOO BEAUTIFUL ED." She threw her arm around his neck "You have to be one of the sweetest people I know" Then she blew her nose.

Edward leaned back "I don't think you would have said that a week ago if you saw my actions Lolly but thanks."

The time had come and now as he walked to Mustang's office he felt as if the whole world was balancing on his shoulders. After everything he had been through it came down to this a mistake that he had no control over himself when he committed it. He walked into Central and down the halls he had been down so many times before he was about to knock on Mustang's door when Hawkeye opened it "Edward?" she said surprised to see him.

"Hi Lieutenant is the Colonel in?" he smiled looking past her to his desk where he saw Mustang's head shoot up.

"Yes Edward he is." She moved aside and let him pass.

"What the hell are you doing here Fullmetal?" Mustang scowled.

"I'm here to turn myself in to get Shinji and my brother out of jail." Edward scowled back.

Mustang crossed his hands in front of his face "I see." Mustang had a feeling that this was going to happen he knew Edward too well. "So what's the plan Ed?" he smirked "Are you just going to waltz in there and confess?"

Edward sighed "Yeah that's the plan."

"Are you sure you don't want to think this through?" Mustang asked standing up.

Edward stared at him for a moment "I've already thought it through Colonel and I'm not changing my mind."

"What about Winry?" He broached the subject carefully.

Edward looked at him "She understands and she's okay now."

Mustang walked around his desk "Okay then I see I'm not going to change your mind." He said seeing the determined look on Edward's face.

"Nope you're not so let's get this over with." Edward turned to walk out the door "Colonel will you accompany me to the police station?"

Mustang sighed "Yes Fullmetal let's go."

As the drove to the police station Edward got a feeling this would be the last time he would feel free. Walking in the police station doors he took a deep breath and let it out then walked up to the cop behind the desk "I have information on the killing of that guy Del'quan White."

The cop looked over to another cop "Hey Paul this guy has information on the White case."

"Let him back here then" the cop motioned Edward and Mustang back.

The cop Paul came over and asked Edward to sit down "So what information have you got boy."

Edward looked him straight in the eyes "I killed him."

The cop was shocked "Just who are you?"

"I'm Edward Eric" looking down Edward began to explain the event's that took place that night at the dance then he got to that part "They beat my wife and tried to rape her and when I came around the corner and saw what I saw I just reacted the way a husband protecting his wife would."

"Where is Leo Hartman's body son?" Paul asked.

"I really can't answer that I don't know what happened to the bodies after I picked my wife up and rushed her to the hospital." Edward knew he wasn't lying because he didn't really know what Kensei, Rose and Love did with the bodies "The last I knew they were still in the hallway of the school."

"Was Shinji Hirako present at this attack?" Paul asked Edward.

"No he came after it was done." Edward answered.

"What about your brother?"

"I told you they attacked my brother and he came and got me." Edward was getting a little annoyed at the questions "I KILLED THEM THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!"

"Alright settle down son" Paul said as Mustang put his hand on Edward's shoulder.

Edward looked up and through gritted teeth "You want me to settle down my wife was pregnant when this happened and she lost the baby."

Paul's eyes widened at Edward's statement "I'm sorry for your loss but do you have any wounds that can prove to me you did this?" he knew if Edward had wounds that he was probably the one who did it.

Edward lowered his head and reviled the gash that was now smaller than it was before "This is what I got when Jason hit me with a board. It used to go from here to here." Edward pointed to the top of his head to the bottom.

Paul examined the gash and sat back down "Well Mr. Eric did you intentionally kill them?"

Edward shook his head "Let me ask you a question" he looked Paul straight in the eyes "If you saw them doing to your wife what I saw them doing to mine what would you do?" He stared a Paul for a minute "I really don't think I meant to kill him but I just lost it when he put his hand" Edward's words stopped as he swallowed.

"Well it seems that your brother and Shinji Hirako were the wrong ones arrested." He made a call then looked at Mustang "I'm going to arrest him now and I'll let the other two go but he's going to need a very good criminal lawyer. I will tell you I would have him plead temporary insanity with extenuating circumstances." He walked over to Edward "Please stand up Mr. Elric" he took Edwards arm and cuffed it then the other one and he bent in next to his ear "The answer is yes I do believe I would have did the same thing in your place."

Shinji and AL walked out of a door and both looked over towards the Colonel then they saw Edward as he raised his head and slightly smiled at them.

'Brother!' Al thought 'What has he done?' "Ed" Al said walking over to him "What are you doing here?"

"You guys are free to go Al" Edward told him "Take care of Winry for me alright."

"NO ED! WHAT DID YOU DO?" Al turned to Shinji and Shinji knew Edward had confessed then Al turned to Mustang as he dropped his head not wanting to see the terror in Al's eyes.

Edward turned to his brother and calmly "It's okay Al go home and take care of Granny. Winry will be back in a couple of weeks" He leaned closer to Al "Watch her carefully Al she's been through a lot."

"B-But what about you?" Al continued "How's she going to handle this?"

"We already discussed it Al and she knows. Now go and take care of them." Edward was being led away by Paul as he looked at Shinji and he nodded to Edward. Shinji knew his best friend had just given up his life of happiness and freedom to save him and Al.

Mustang turned to Al "Come on we need to find him a good attorney."

"This isn't fair! IT WASN'T HIS FAULT!" Al was sobbing at this point and Edward could hear his brother's protests all the way down the hall "They pushed him to do it." Al fell to his knees as Mustang put his hand under his arm and lifted him off the ground.

"We'll make sure the attorney knows all the facts. Now let's get you out of here." He looked at Shinji and knowing Shinji had been the one that killed Del'quan he motioned for him to follow him out the door. Mustang stopped outside the doors and looked at Shinji "I don't know what happened to the other bodies and I don't want to know. But he is in serious trouble with one murder on his head. So if you think any other bodies are going to surface I suggest you make sure they don't." He narrowed his eyes and told Shinji sternly.

"I can't believe I just fucking told you to hinder evidence." Mustang face-palmed then dropped his hand "This is only between us GOT IT! Edward doesn't deserve this." Shinji nodded as Mustang turned and walked to his car "Come on I'll give you guys a ride to Pinako's house."

After Mustang dropped them off Al called Winry "Winry I'm sorry but they arrested Ed." 'My brother, Why did you do this? Why does he always think he has to do everything on his own?' He looked at Shinji then held the phone to his ear as he began to sob feeling guilty that Ed was in Jail "W-Winry it's my fault because I couldn't protect you and he had to get involved."

"No Al it was Ed's choice and I knew he was going to do it so don't feel like it's your fault." Winry tried to reassure him.

"B-But Winry we don't know how long he'll be in jail." Al sighed.

"I know Al" Her voice lowered "But I also know we'll be together again someday soon."

"Alright Winry I'll see you when you get home." Al felt a little relieved that she was being so calm about everything.

Winry hung the phone up and turned to Izumi "They arrested Edward."

Izumi looked at the girl who looked so defeated with her shoulders slumped and head down "Are you going to be okay?"

Winry pulled her shoulders back and lifted her head slowly as she took a slow deep breath "I told Ed I wouldn't give up anymore." She looked at Izumi and flashed a bright smile "I'm not going to let this get me down. I want him to know I can be strong too."

"This will pass but I don't know how long it's going to take Winry. Edward has got himself in a mess and he might be away for a little while." She walked up to Winry "But I also know you waited for him for so long so I'm sure he knows you'll wait for him again." 'I just hope it's not a lifetime' Izumi thought to herself.

Paul escorted Edward to a small cell in the back "You'll be here for the night" he unlocked the handcuffs "You won't see the judge till next week though." He opened the cell "Tomorrow we'll send you to a holding facility."

"Thanks" Edward told him walking into the cell and turning around he looked at Paul "Will I get a chance to call my wife before then?"

Paul looked at Edward and the concern on his face for his wife "I'll make sure you can call her kid."

"Thank you" Edward sat down as he heard the cell door slam behind him. His mind was clear and all the stress was gone he felt a sense of relief that this was finally almost over.

A few hours later Paul walked up to the cell holding a tray of food "Here have some food then I'll take you to call your wife."

"Thanks" Edward stood up and walked over and took the tray. Paul pulled up a chair outside the cell because he found this boy interesting 'I can't imagine being driven to do something like this to save my wife and still be able to function.'

As Edward ate Paul asked him some questions and the answers he got surprised him "I read your military file Elric and you were a good soldier and a great alchemist and you gave up your alchemy to get your brother back now that was a huge sacrifice."

"He's my brother" Edward smiled "I would give up my life for him."

"That's a brother's love." Paul now wondered if Edward confessed to save his brother. When Edward finished Paul took him to a phone. Edward dialed the number and waited for an answer as Paul stood next to him.

"W-Winry it's me" Paul could see his mood lift by the sound of her voice "How are you?" he couldn't tell what she said to Edward but his head lowered for a second "I know" then it lifted up "That's my girl" Edward smiled then he got a serious look "Listen Winry remember I love you and I would do it all over again to protect you." She said something to him and he smiled a huge smile "I love you very much and always remember that." He turned his head to the side but Paul could see the tear trail down his cheek as he lowered his voice "I would die for you Winry Elric."

Paul then heard her "EDWARD ELRIC YOUR NOT GONNA DIE! YOU'LL BE WITH ME SOONER THAN YOU THINK! IF I COULD HIT YOU WITH A WRENCH NOW I WOULD!"

Edward chuckled then sniffed "You never change do you my love always putting me back in my place." Paul waved his hand to tell Edward his time was almost up "I gotta go but I'll call you as soon as I can alright? Goodbye for now my love." Edward hung the phone up and Paul escorted him back to the cell.

"She sounds like some woman you got there." Paul smiled.

"She's the best." Edward said walking over to the bunk and lying down as he closed his eyes and saw her smiling face in his dreams.

see i'hen i ed around his desk "