AN: Takes place in the hospital after the battle with Father. Italics=Flashback.

Theme #28: Pain and Wounds

A heavy weariness lingered over her body as she slowly regained consciousness. She winced at the intensity of the morning sun that flooded the white room in which she laid. Blinking away the spots that danced before her eyes, she attempted to rise from her supine position, but all movement was arrested when a comforting hand settled on her uninjured shoulder.

"You shouldn't be moving," Roy scolded her as she directed a weakened glare at him that he couldn't see. He placed a supporting arm beneath her and lifted her up so that she sat against the back of the bed. The sudden change from horizontal to vertical made her dizzy, and she had to close her eyes against the spinning world around her. Her hands tightly clutched the sheets at her sides, and her whole body was tense as she waited for the sickening sensation of vertigo to abate.

"Riza?"

Realizing that she was causing Roy more worry than he needed right now, she took a steadying breath and dared to open her eyes. Everything was mercifully still.

"I'm okay now," she assured him as she entwined her fingers with his. The half-hearted smile that worked its way on to her face did little to convince him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I was just a bit dizzy for a moment. It's over now."

"Thank goodness," Roy heaved a sigh of relief and gripped her hand more tightly. "Don't ever scare me like that again."

Riza cringed at the sound of such anguish in his voice. It was exactly the same as when he had begged her to answer him as she laid unmoving, dying, in a pool of her own blood.

"I can't die...because I've been ordered not to."

The statement was nothing more than bravado to mask her fear. She knew she was dying, and there was nothing that could be done to stop it save Roy committing human transmutation. She couldn't let do him do it. Her life, one single life, meant nothing compared to all the thousands of lives in Amestris.

"...Colonel...you don't need to perform human transmutation." The words were barely more than a shaky whisper, but a silent signal with her eyes ensured that he received the message. Content in the knowledge that Roy wouldn't commit the taboo, she finally succumbed to the embrace of darkness.

The feel of Roy's fingers against her face brought her back to the present, and she was surprised to discover that she was crying.

"Please don't cry," he murmured as he brushed a tear away from her cheek. "I don't like it."

A mirthless laugh escaped her lips. "I thought you said my tears were beautiful?"

Roy leaned forward and carefully wrapped his arms around her. "I was wrong," he breathed as Riza rested her head in the crook of his neck. "I don't ever want you to cry again."

AN: Please take a moment to review so I can know what you think about this. I welcome criticism so long as it's constructive.