Some people have forgotten the plot of my fanfic, due to my month or so break. SO! Here is a short summary of events so far:

Ed was turned into a chimera by Joe, Charles and a nicer woman Victoria

Ed then was given a chip where his memories were suppressed

Roy then went to rescue Ed, alone, failing

Roy's team And Hughes save Ed and Roy

Roy then takes in the damaged Ed and in turn Al

Ed is traumatised for a large period of time

Once Ed recovers enough mentally and physically he was scheduled to go back to work

But Scar attacked Ed and Al

Ed and Al, with Riza and Jean, go on a train to Resembool

Charles attacks Ed and company, taking Ed to where he had Cameron and Mark

Ed escapes only to be captured again in a short period of time

He and Mark are them rescued by the military

Ed's muscles are now torn and wings broken...

Now you have been court up XD

Enjoy!

Chapter 26- Girls, Girls, Cats

(Ed's POV)

Three Months, One Week (January)

"Nii-san... Nii-san... Nii-san wake up!"

Ed just groaned as he rolled over. "Le'v m' 'lone..."

"Come on, Nii-san. You have visitors. It's almost midday anyway." His shoulders now gently being shaken. His muscles being so close to being healed but just not.

Ed slowly opened his eyes and sat up even slower. Once in a sitting position groaned at Al who was still coaching him. "I'll be down in ten minutes... Just leave me alone."

"Stop being a grouch." Ed sighing at his brother's comment, "They've been here for hours already. Come on."

"Fine-fine. Five minutes. Now leave!"

"Thank you, Nii-san!" Playing his innocence as he trotted out of the room.

"Geez... I wonder who's here to see me?" Yawning as he prepared for his encounter. Travelling down the stairs into the living room, streaking is arms above his head, loosening his stiff back. "So, who's here that's so important to wake me..." His eyes meeting Winry's, not noticing the women next to her as a wrench collided with his head. He was on the ground, he wasn't ready for that and his body sure wasn't, hearing the slightly distant frantic flurry of Al.

"Winry! He's still healing! You need to be more careful! Nii-san? Nii-san? Can you hear me?" Hands reaching his shoulders. "Nii-san?"

Opening his eyes meeting soul fire and ocean waves. "What was that for..." Groaning as Al helped him sit up.

"For worrying me! And look you've done it again! You always have me worried, Ed!" Her loud worry, stabbing his throbbing head.

"Shhh... You're so loud..." He said as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Look, I'm fine. Stop worrying about me... I'll be fine, I always am-"

"-Fine is being depressed is it? Al told me. How could you shut yourself off like that? You worried us all. He said you were broken. But I don't understand why you did it. We're always here for you. Why would you be so selfish?!" Her eyes watering.

He wanted to tell her to stop. To not cry over him. He wasn't worth it. Not after everything. But nothing came out. All that she had said just made him stop. He shut himself off and they couldn't get in and it worried them. He never even noticed how it affected them...

But the pain always came back when guilt overcame his other emotions. His insides cut and turned and he slumped onto Al, groaning in pain. His muscles throbbing and his head spinning. Only picking up distant commands and actions.

"Nii-san?! Winry... pain... Blue... kitchen.. top ...the left..."

He didn't even notice he was moved onto the couch until he was lied down fully.

'Great... just great... I'm having another panic attack...' Ed was always aware through his panic attacks, but he couldn't move besides shake and curl closer to himself. The only way to fix it was to basically drug him. All it was really was pain medication, that you inject, Ed loved that... but it worked. As long as he didn't overdose, Doctor Yin gave her okay.

He didn't notice much, but he always noticed the needle go in. Jolting with pain, it was like fire creeping through his veins, always creeping, never racing.

"I know, Nii-san. I'll be over soon..."

"Will he be okay?" Hearing a women's voice not familiar

"Yes, he'll be drowsy for a while, but he'll be fine." His permanent burden answered.

"I feel bad now..." The cause of the attack spoke

"Don't worry, Winry. This isn't the first time. I've caused more than a few. Single words can trigger his panic attacks. But don't worry." His speech being more frantic, "He's getting better. Much better. He just needs rest..."

The rest fading as Ed followed the suggestion and falling asleep for a while.

When the drugs decided to wear off and his brain decided to switch back on into reality he could hear hushed voices. He opened his eyes to be met with the back of the couch. Blinking a few times slowly. He finally decided to sit up. Slowly, with the aid of the couch, he sat up, leaning on the armrest. The voices coming from the open kitchen door. The voices quickly coming closer as he finished positioning himself.

"Nii-san?" His father's vintage armour, which carried his beloved brother's soul emerging from the kitchen. "Are you awake?" Soul fire and hell fire meeting, "Good. You were asleep for a while." Two women following Al out of the kitchen. One Winry and the other, unknown.

"Who are you?" Ed pointing at the women behind Winry and Al.

Bright green eyes widening in shock, "He doesn't remember me!"

"Bella, calm down. Nii-san wasn't even conscious when we met you." Al calming the slightly enraged women

"Hello? My question still stand... Who are you?" Ed rudely interrupting.

"Bella- Bella White." Al putting his hand in front of her as to say he would continue

"She was the wonderful women who offered her home when you were attacked by Charles."

"When?..."

Bella's mouth gaped open. Mumbling some words of shock.

"You're hopeless... Alchemy freak..." Winry muttered.

"I'M NOT DEAF! I'M ANYTHING BUT! GEAR HEAD!" Ed wailed back in his normal rage. Regretting it as he coughed wildly, his vocal cords slightly affected by the transmutation.

"Nii-san... you really are hopeless... Bella came to see how you were. And so you could meet. You weren't very... for lack of a better term, healthy, at the time of your meeting."

Bella advanced into his direct field of vision, hand out to shake. "Bella-Bella White." Ed muttering something of a small brain and goldfish while Bella continued, "Nice to meet you, Edward-Edward Elric." Ed taking her hand in his flesh hand, shaking lightly.

"Sure, nice to meet you, Bella." Not sure what else to say. He didn't know the girl, she seemed... nice... He guessed. She did kinda save his life... kinda. But he didn't even know who she was, she wasn't mentioned once. Saying that, he didn't really ask in the first place. "So... Thanks... For saving my life... I guess..." Almost voicing his internal thoughts as a question.

"Well, I guess" Sounding bubbly and friendly, "you're welcome." Smiling at him, too nicely for his liking. Still not sure what to think of him

Winry piping up from next to Al. "I'm sorry, Ed..." looking at her feet.

"For what?" He really wasn't sure why she was having the need to apologise.

"For you know... causing your panic attack." Her voice growing quieter and quieter.

His eyes slightly widening, shaking his hand in front of his face in defence. "No-no-no-no! That wasn't your fault! It's all me. Not you. Don't blame yourself! It isn't your fault!"

"I told you he wouldn't blame you, Winry. He never does." Al putting his arm comforting around her shoulder.

Before more conversation continued, Ed turned his ears back at the sound of a car pulling in. He sighed. Muttering, "Great... He's home early..."

"What's wrong, Nii-san?"

"He's home..." Groaning his response.

"The Colonel?" Bella inquiring

"Sadly..." Ed sighing once more.

"I thought you didn't mind the Colonel now." Winry questioning his reaction.

"Things change don't they. Especially when you are one soul less. Remember?"

"Still... You can't just hate someone like that..." She mumbled.

Ed choosing to ignore the statement as the sound of keys turned his ears back. Sinking into the couch more. Only now noticing everyone had taken seats, Al at his feet, Winry and Bella sharing the other large couch.

The door finally opening, Ed previously hearing mumbled swears and keys being dropped. The man being met with a full house, standing slightly wide-eyed at the door, not lasting long.

"Good evening, ladies"

Ed coughing and mumbling, "Womaniser..." and "Pervert.." Gaining a glare.

Roy just sighed "And how are you feeling, Fullmetal?" Mustang reverting to Ed's military title due to his newly changed attitude.

He just shrugged his shoulders. But soon having Al answer for him.

"He had another panic attack." Gaining a kick from Ed into his metal thigh. The sound of metal colliding, causing Ed to flatten his ears slightly. Al just sighing. "He's had his medication and eaten more than enough earlier in the day before sleeping for another few hours before these two dropped in. Sorry, I forgot to tell you, Colonel."

"It's no problem, Alphonse." Turing his attention to the two girls "Are you staying for dinner? You're free to if you would like."

"No, I should be leaving." Bella politely denying the request, "My parents must be getting worried. It was nice seeing you all and meeting you, Winry. But I should be leaving. Thank you for your hospitality. Have a nice afternoon." Standing with Winry, hugging.

"It was wonderful to see you again, Bella was it?" Roy leading her out.

"Yes. I hope to see you all again." Winry, Al and himself waving her off.

Once the door shut, Ed sinking further into the couch. Closing his eyes.

"Don't sit like that. It will hurt your back." Roy stated blankly as he passed.

"Whatever, Bastard..." Sinking down now lying completely down, legs tucked up so not to collide with Al.

"What did someone disturb poor things nap?" Ed imagining Roy raising his eyebrow at his comment.

Ed just groaning at his comment, rolling onto his stomach, face finding a pillow. A blanket finding its way onto him, he just decided to sink into his position and ignore Roy. Which was harder than expected. Hearing his conversation within the close vicinity, which is close to impossible to tune out.

"My offer stands for you, Ms Rockbell. Would you also like to stay the night? Ed can take the couch... He already has... It would be no problem."

"Only if you are sure. I couldn't intrude..."

"It's no problem at all. With one exception. While Al has his hands full with Ed," He wondered what he meant, "would you mind helping with cooking dinner."

"He's a shit chief." Ed muffled by pillow vocalised.

"At least I'm not scared of fire."

"It wasn't my fault. You almost burnt me!" His wings expanding, he wasn't sure why he ever did this. He had started to subconsciously expand his wings while he was fired up and yelling at Roy. He thought it may be a survival instinct. Those were annoying. Humans shouldn't need to know when a bird is flying overhead or a rat under feet.

Winry just sighed. Cutting into their once again pointless argument. "IT! Would be my pleasure to help you, Colonel."

"Let's get you set up upstairs." Roy now finally leaving, gaining peace for him. Peace meaning sleep.

It wasn't a good thing, but he was now really nocturnal. Which sucked. He needed to get a better sleep pattern. But he was up most nights just looking at the stars with Al. He liked the arrangement, Al wasn't lonely. But every night Al would have the suggestion of fixing his sleep pattern. Al always wanted what was best. He always smiled at the thought. 'Those who have lost the most are always the more selfless.' A phrase commented on every day, not really being able to relate until now.

He was just drifting into sleep when a distant call of "Alphonse" was heard by Ed. Feeling his lower half shift. In all of his attempts to not entangle his legs with Al's, his legs still ended up extended over Al's. 'That's what the Bastard meant...'

He shot his head up, only to be met with Al's hand softly pushing his head back down.

"Calm down, nii-san. I'll be right back."

His half-asleep brain not waking for Al's return.

(Al's POV)

Three Months, Three Days (January)

Ed curled up in the corner of the kitchen. Shaking, muttering and rocking back and forth.

Ed had two panic attacks, the physical, painful ones and these ones, the phycological ones. He would shut himself off and be... well... this.

He was triggered by Al saying something Ed didn't like. He wasn't even sure what he said. But it was common for words to trigger panic attacks. While trying to 'escape' Al, Ed had collided his automail arm with his chest plate, denting it. And now he didn't know what to do, Roy wasn't home and Ed cowered from his touch. He didn't know what to do. He was beginning to panic and he was lost. But he still tried once more.

"Nii-san? Hey, nii-san? Can you hear me?" Muttering still erupting from his brother. "Please, nii-san. I need you to come back to me. Please." His pleads in vain as the chimera in his own world, far away. "Please, Ed..." Al about to move from his crouch position near Ed when metal fingers interlocked in his own. "Nii-san?"

"I-I-I'm sorry..." Only a whisper and only just hearable.

"It's alright, nii-san. Do you want anything? Can I do anything?"

"Can-Can I be..." His brother hesitating, "alone?..."

"Are you sure?" Al not sure if he wanted to leave his brother alone.

"Please... I'll be alright... I'll be out in a minute..."

"Only if you're sure. I'll be right out in the living room. Just call me okay. I'm not far..." Hesitantly, unlocking his fingers from his brothers and leaving his brother alone.

Taking a seat on the couch waiting and waiting.

His brother emerging with a very fake half smile on his face. "I-I'm sorry for hitting you... I didn't mean to..."

"It's alright, nii-san. I know you didn't mean it. Do you want to talk about it?" His brother joining him on the couch.

"No, it's alright." His brother commenting too quickly and confidently. "Let's get you fixed up." Quickly clapping his hands, only for Al to place his hands around them.

"No, I can do it, nii-san. Don't waste your energy. It's alright."

Al wasn't sure of the face his brother was making. But he knew it wasn't one that he hoped to find on his brother's face, ever.

'Please, please, get better, Nii-san. Stop being so selfish and thinking of me so much...'