Part Two:

Roy had his gloves upon his hands before they even left the office, knew Edward took notice of them, was eyeing them in the car as they drove toward home. There were two more cars behind theirs carrying what Maes considered reasonable back up; just eight more bodies to get in the way as far as Roy was concerned. He was sure he, Ed, Al, and Maes could take care of this on their own but it quieted Maes. He knew it was Maes making sure he and Edward didn't do something rash; were mindful of those around them and kept them from tearing things apart. It was smart and he had to hand it to Maes, but at the same time, even though it was Riza, Havoc, Falman, Fury, and Breda in the mix, people he trusted, he didn't want them there. He didn't even want Ed and Al there because he might have to do something he didn't want them to see.

His nerves were beyond on edge, he could feel his body trembling but didn't want to think of himself, he didn't even want to really think, felt he'd done nothing else in the last few days. So he turned to Edward who sat beside him in the back seat. Ed looked almost calm, ready to confront what ever they were going into and he had to wonder if Edward always looked like this when out on assignment.

"How's your arm?" He'd not asked his son this in what felt like ages, just looked it over every so often. Looking better and feeling better were two entirely different things in his book.

Ed looked down and shrugged. "I'm fine." Then he looked up at him. "But you look like hell."

Roy smirked. "Thanks Ed,"

"We're here," Maes announced. "I'm parking a few houses down. Everyone has their orders. Some will surround the house in case anyone tries to run."

Roy merely nodded as he'd heard this before. He looked out his window, down the side walk to the small house. It wasn't that big, smaller than his, painted white with red trim and a red door. There was a nicely painted white fence bordering the yard and a metal mail box near the gate. The yard was covered in snow and looked untouched, the walk un-shoveled but then again he really couldn't tell if anyone had walked up the walk for he wasn't close enough. The for sale sign was still in sticking up along the curb and he checked the chimney for signs of a fire. There wasn't any smoke.

The plan was to surround the house; Ed was going to use his alchemy to make a door in one of the walls then he, Riza, Edward, and Alphonse were going in first Havoc and Maes next. They'd search the house and he prayed to god they found his daughter safe and alive, well. If not he didn't even want to think of that for it meant back to square one, a place he didn't want to ever see again.

The path to the house was simple enough. No one made a sound except for Alphonse and their feet crunching in the snow but other wise they were as quiet as mice. The others were taking up position at the exits to guard and then the silent signal that they were secure in their efforts was sent.

Roy nodded to Edward and Ed clapped his hands, placing them upon the side of the house. Blue light, the breaking down of the wood and installation into a passageway large enough to fit Alphonse was made. It still never ceased to amaze Roy Mustang how Edward could perform alchemy without the use of a circle and he couldn't be more thankful. Edward hesitated and transmuted a blade from his auto-mail. Golden eyes looked back, telling him he wanted nothing more than to be prepared and Roy only nodded his approval, entering first.

Riza and Maes took the upstairs, Havoc followed Alphonse to the south side of the house while he and Edward took the north side. They checked every room and found nothing, not even a foot print in the dusty floors save their own. Maes and Riza reported the same.

Roy sighed and sent Al to check the outside, see if there was any movement. They checked the house twice more just in case they missed a hidden door or trap door but they hadn't and Roy had never felt so lost in his life, his hope diminishing to almost nothing. Then his last grain of hopeful sand was sparked into life as Al suggested the shed in the back yard. The suggestion came just as he decided to search the perimeter himself.

There were foot prints gathering around it and leading to the back gate into the alleyway.

Roy smiled a cold smile as he knelt beside one set of foot prints. He pulled off one of his gloves to touch the dusted with dirt mark in the snow. If there was anything he could ever count on with Anise it was her vanity. The very footprint he touched was made by a woman's boot with a heel. Anise always did wish to look her best, always had the best fine dresses, always in style, hair perfect no matter what she was doing. It seemed this was no exception.

Rising slowly he nodded to Maes as he slipped is glove back on. A man came running toward them, another officer not upon his staff but from Eastern command who was assigned to the case. He held a folder and stopped before him, saluted, panting. "At ease," Roy said quietly.

"Here sir," he said passing the folder into Roy's hands. "It's everything. The house is for sale by the owner and not a leasing agent."

Roy opened the folder fully aware that every second counted but he still needed the information. He read the report and passed the folder to Maes. "It seems Anise did some shopping before coming to town." He was not thrilled at the idea of Anise planning this long before ever relinquishing his daughter to him and that's exactly what this report indicated. She'd bought the house next door as well

Maes nodded. "Yep and commissioned a structural alchemist for hire by the name of Garret Lansdale for some work, think it might have been work underground?"

"I'm counting on it," He looked at those with him and split them up, sending half including Alphonse and Maes to the house next door to check it out. Lights were on in the upstairs windows and smoke was billowing out from that chimney. Chances were Anise would be in there.

He kept Edward and Riza with him, sending the rest of his group back to this house to watch the exits and asked Fury to guard the shed entrance. "Lets go, Edward," Roy replied.

Ed didn't need alchemy to open the door to the shed, just busted the lock with the blade of his auto-mail and slid the barrier open. He and Ed went in first, finding the trap door upon the floor, the rest of the shed was empty.

Edward bent down and lifted the door as carefully and quietly as he could and an odd smell wafted up to them. It smelled alarmingly like the fluid for lighters and a sickening amount at that. It was so bad he wanted to cover his face. Roy felt his heart clench. She was prepared for this it seemed, prepared for him and he wondered what other tricks she had up her sleeve, awaiting them down there in the dark.

Edward looked back, nervously. "I don't think you should use your alchemy."

Despite his growing unrest, Roy removed his gloves from his hand and slipped them into his pocket. Riza ever being prepared handed them a flash light. He took a deep breath and took the first step toward the darkened stairs. Ed caught his hand. "Shouldn't I go first?"

Roy shook his head. "No, not this time." If anyone would be hurt on this round it would be him, not his children, they'd been through enough. He gave Edward a reassuring smile and proceeded down the stairs, turning on the flash light.

He listened as he walked down and met the floor. Only the quiet sounds of his feet, Ed's, and Riza's, scraping along the wood and their breathing could be heard. It had been years since he'd been in the dark like this, walking into the unknown with hints of danger and it wasn't something he wished to do again. It brought too many terrible memories to the surface of his mind, things left better in the dark regions never to be visited again.

Dust stirred in this half completed underground room in the stream of light from the flash light. It looked well made but not complete, a little drafty, and nothing but gray walls met him beneath a cement floor. It was quick work no doubt, hastily done.

They moved into the room searching, hearing and finding nothing but a door. Roy waited until they'd moved into relatively safe positions then opened the barrier and shined the light into the next room. No one jumped out and there wasn't a sound. There was, however, a table and two chairs in the middle of the room. Empty food wrappers and containers lay upon it with two books and a lantern. Across the room was another door and what looked to be another set of stairs that led up.

Roy motioned to Riza to move in and check the stairs then moved in himself, heading for the next door. Nothing in the world could have prepared him for what lie awaiting him in that room and by god he hoped to never see a sight like that again, ever for it about stopped his heart inside his chest to never beat again.

He found a child size coffin resting upon a table, closed, locked down with a padlock and for a moment time seemed to stop, the flashlight falling from his hand and clattering loudly to the floor. The blood coursing through Roy's veins chilled so drastically with dread it took his body temperature down with it until he was trembling. Edward's feet sounded until the boy was beside him, stopping, his breath catching in his throat.

God was she… in th-there? A place inside his head said she was but his heart screamed no.

And then it was as if time suddenly decided to resume it's passing at an alarming speed.

Roy and Edward both lunged at the coffin, both going for the lock, tripping over who knew what and thus making quite the clatter.

Ed fell to the floor. "What is all this?" his voice was breathy with confusion. "Instruments?"

Roy didn't care, all he knew was the sickening feeling in his stomach, the lump rising in his throat threatened to steal his breath before he could get the lock broken and the lid up, the fear that Lily was lying dead inside never to smile again or call him 'Daddy', say she loved him, or ask him to hug her stuffed animal.

His hands tore at the offensive metal for a moment before Edward pushed him away and broke it for him. Then he pushed Edward aside, gently, and lifted the lid. Someone, he didn't know who, didn't really care, had picked up the flashlight and was shining it so they might see.

Good God, she was here, she was here and lying as if asleep inside this… this thing of death, the inside torn up as if she'd fought and clawed, trying to get out. Roy was frozen, nothing moved except his eyes, not even his lungs. Her tiny frame was so utterly still. Her eyes did not open; her lips didn't curve up into that familiar smile or his smirk. Her little hands and arms didn't reach for him. She just lay there as if she were gone, lay there so still just like her mother had.

No!

He reached inside as Edward uttered something, to touch Lily's face. Her skin was cool, had warmth to it, but was still chilled and so pale. How long had she been in here, in the dark all alone? What must have gone though her mind? She must have been so scared, calling for him, crying out for him. Had they arrived too late?

"She's still breathing," Ed pointed out with relief.

"What's that?" Riza asked from behind them.

Breathing… She was breathing and that meant she was alive! Roy didn't pay attention, just bent and lifted her small, light body from the coffin and held her crushingly close. She didn't stir and it frightened him, but she was breathing so perhaps she'd just fainted and would wake later. He told himself that, promised himself. She'd be okay, he had her in his arms now, and she was going to be alright. "I've got you poppet, you're safe now."

"D-dad," Ed breathed, tugging upon his arm. "Look,"

Roy opened his eyes, feeling a tear escape him to see what Edward wanted him to see. The boy was pushing back some of the torn fabric to reveal what looked to be an incomplete transmutation circle, one that was out of line, scratched in the dark of a small confined prison, tainted with blood.

Ed lifted one of Lily's tiny hands and Roy could see Edward trembling, panting, and tears upon his cheeks. "She tried to get out,"

Ed was right; Lily's fingers were bruised and cut, a few splinters embedded under the skin, her nails broken from scratching and clawing.

"It's clear, no one's here," Riza said quietly. "Looks like Anise left, at least in here."

"Let's go," Roy ordered. "Riza, get the car ready." He wanted to take Lily to the infirmary, get her looked over and make sure she wasn't poisoned. Horrified couldn't begin to describe how he felt to find his baby in a coffin, to know it was her aunt who put her there and left her to die. What kind of person in their right mind put a seven year old child in one? What kind of person would consciously torture an innocent in this way? He told himself it could have been worse, she could have been dead, could have been beaten.

"I want to hold my sister," Ed whispered as they made their way toward the entrance from whence they came. "Please,"

"In the car," Roy promised reaching the middle of the first room.

"Really is that so?" A cold familiar voice said from behind. Instantly everyone turned, Riza's gun aimed and ready, light from the flash light aiming in the direction of the phantom voice of Anise. The light found her standing near the second stair case holding a box of matches, smiling cruelly, coldly, as if she had the upper hand. She must have slipped down those stairs while they weren't looking, while they were passing, must have escaped Maes. And sure enough he could hear the heavy footfalls of several pairs of boots over head, shouted orders.

"Because I really don't think you'll make it out of here with her Roy. You make so many promises that you never keep and in the end you kill everyone you touch." She moved further into the room.

"Keep moving Anise," Riza barked. "Believe me I want to shoot you."

Anise smirked but halted. "So here's my proposal. I let you leave with Lily and you get me cleared."

Roy held Lily tighter. "You know I can't do that." Could he really risk it? Could he really risk his men above, his kids, the woman he loved, and friends who'd done nothing but try to help him just to capture this monster?

"Can't or won't?" Anise asked as Havoc came bursting down the stairs. "Seems to me like you really don't have a choice. I might be out numbered brother, but I know every escape route and you do not."

Roy tried to think of something quickly, desperately. He couldn't let her get away to cause more damage, more heartache but he was in such a state of fatigue and inner turmoil he couldn't come up with anything other than to have Riza shoot her and run like hell, praying that the block didn't ignite into flames. If they could just get that box of matches away from her…

"You sick-" Ed shouted.

"Edward!" Riza barked as Maes and Breda appeared, Alphonse trailing behind them.

Anise laughed, she really laughed and it was a cold heartless sort of laughter. "You know Edward you really are something else. We could have had fun you and I."

That was it; it was all it took for Roy Mustang to finally snap. He might have done something rash had someone else not taken that first step before him. It wasn't Riza and it wasn't Edward nor Maes, Havoc, or Breda. It was Alphonse. Sure there were a few rounds fired and the match was struck and fell to the floor. Flames did heat the bitterly cold room but they were extinguished by a sudden wave of water that felt colder than the ice sickles hanging from the eaves and trees. The water was stronger, faster, and there was more of it, knocking everyone in the room to the floor. Somehow, from some where Anise pulled a gun and began to fire.

Riza shouted for Edward and Roy to go over the gun fire, but Roy didn't have a chance to look for he was being yanked to his feet and pushed along by two sets of hands. He could make out clanking, shouting, and a loud crash as he ran up the stairs, Ed's hands ever pushing him forward, knowing he could come back once Lily and Ed were out of harms way. It was a moment in time where chaos reigned much like it would upon a battle field with no direction upon either side.

He and Edward burst out of the shed and fell into the snow at Fury's feet, both grunting. Fury, of course, was quick in helping them to their feet.

"Lily," Ed asked, pawing at him, whimpering a little. "Dad?"

Roy checked her. She was still unconscious. "The same," Suddenly the yelling, the gunfire stilled and nothing could be heard from below. It was quiet a moment then Maes shouted up.

"We got her, or rather Al did."

Roy sighed in relief and tugged Edward close to him. Ed let out a cry of pain. It didn't truly register and he found himself weeping, sinking to his knees in the snow. He wanted Al here so he could hold him close as well; he wanted all of his family.

It wasn't until Roy felt something warm seeping into his forearm, through the fabric of his wet coat and uniform sleeve, his dress shirt sleeve, that he knew not all was right. A moment passed, a moment where he tried to differentiate what the warmth was, if it was Edward's body heat warming him or something else. They were both soaked and would surely catch cold if he didn't get them changed and warmed up soon. He could deal with Anise later, his kids came first before revenge and punishment.

Slowly he released Edward, lifting his hand to his face, looking up into pain stricken amber eyes. "Ed what's wrong?" He didn't have to ask for he could see the blood upon his right arm, staining the sleeve. Once again Roy felt his heart stop.

"It hurts," It was all Edward could manage before collapsing upon him.