Hello! I'm back... Well, sort of. I have a slight break in exams so I should be able to update once more. The beauty of having pre-written chapters. Don't ask about the title, I'm not sure...

Disclaimer: I wish I owned FMA, but unfortunately the Genie said no.

Don't Tease The Cat

Roy stayed in hospital only for a few more days after he woke up. His head wound didn't seem to be that bad, apart from the memory loss. I knew he would be perfectly fine after seeing how much pleasure he took in greeting Alphonse as the Fullmetal Alchemist when the brothers returned to Central.

If it wasn't for Kit, I would've expected a fight between the two. I scowled at him as he reached out his hand to Al and greeted him back.

"Hey, Fullmetal," he said nonchalantly. Al looked between Ed and me before sheepishly replying.

"I'm not Fullmetal," Al replied in a high pitched voice.

"Sure you are," Roy went on, "I mean that is your little brother, right?"

Ed screamed some obscenities at Roy which I ignored for most part. Instead I took Kit upstairs to wrap him in something warm so that I could go and visit George in the hospital. I walked back downstairs to find Ed and Roy still fighting.

"I'm going out," I said. Roy's attention slipped onto me instantly.

"Wait, I'll come with you," he said. I looked at him and scowled.

"I don't need babying," I snapped. Ed and Al looked between us as if they were expecting a fight but before Roy could reply Ed pitched in.

"Would you mind taking Al?" Ed said, "He was asking about George this morning. Weren't you, Al?"

"Yes," Al said, edging away from Ed and Roy, "I wanted to see how the Lieutenant was doing."

I frowned across at Roy before nodding and leaving the house. Al followed a few steps behind me until we reached the end of the garden when he caught up to me.

"The Colonel really cares about you," he said. I looked up at him and sighed. "I'm sure that he didn't mean any harm by -"

"I know he wasn't, Al," I said, "But he can't afford the luxury of caring about me."

"Even if you weren't getting married, you would still be a target, Riza," Al said, "You're the closest thing to family he's got."

I smiled lightly: "You are too clever for your own good, Alphonse Elric. Let's hope I never get on your bad side."

George was in quite a state still although she had regained consciousness in the last week or so. When we arrived at her room we weren't surprised to see Havoc and Fuery sat round her bed. She was awfully pale. I sat down near to her and smiled warmly at her.

Her eyes wondered onto Kit. Abruptly she burst into a coughing fit. Fuery looked mortified as she continually coughed for a few minutes. Her body shook violently with each cough. Havoc jumped up to support her shoulders. When she stopped coughing her breath became raspy. She muttered her thanks to Havoc as he helped her back down into a laying position.

Her eyes turned to Al and she managed a weak smile.

"How goes it Al?" she asked. Her voice was hoarse. Al didn't reply, instead he hung his head like he was crying. George tilted her head to the side. "Where's Ed?"

"He's with the Colonel," Al replied quietly.

"And you two left them, together?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. I smiled at her. Al looked up. She entered another coughing fit. She held her chest as she coughed three to four times. She regained herself and sighed in relief. "Damn I hate this."

"I'm sorry," Al blurted, "If I hadn't had let Scar sneak up on me then -"

"Stop being stupid," George snapped. Havoc nodded. "It wasn't your fault. If anything it was Havoc's."

"What? Why me?" he asked. George turned her head to him and smirked.

"Because it would be cruel to blame Fuery and stupid to blame Riza," she replied, "You're the most logical choice."

"I'm glad to see that you're getting better," I said before Havoc could open his mouth to retaliate. "Last time I saw you, you seemed a little depressed."

"Ah," George said airily, "They've put me on some new drugs. Everything seems good at the moment."

"How long until they'll discharge you?" Fuery asked. George shrugged.

"When it stops feeling like my lungs are slowly turning into ash," she replied. She put her head back on the pillow and smiled at Al. He avoided her eye contact for a minute or two. "I'm glad Ed was able to patch you up. I was worried, you know. I mean, I was half expecting Armstrong to loose you or leave you on the train. Now that Mustang is out of the hospital it means I have to get better fast before Scar comes back for round two."

"No," Al snapped, "You can't fight him. Look what happened last time you did."

"Al," George said calmly, "Normally I wouldn't have taken him on after being injured like I was but I knew that both Havoc and Buca would cover for me."

She frowned at Al.

"Besides, I like the challenge," she went on, "That man is an enigma. I remember him vaguely before I joined the Briggs. Don't worry, Al. Next time I see him I'll show him what a Briggs soldier can do."

"But…" Al stammered. George held up her hand to silence him.

"I may be a sick woman at the moment," she stated, "But I'm a Briggs soldier. The strong survive, the weak die. If I can't brush off this measly illness then I don't deserve to wear my uniform."

"But…" Al said.

"George is too stubborn," I said, "Like Edward and Roy. Would you try reasoning with Ed?"

"I guess not," Al said, "I'd help him if I could."

"Then that's how you've got to be with George," I went on. I was suddenly aware George was glaring at me. "She might be sick at the minute but she'll bounce back. What's wrong?"

"Are you dragging me down to their levels?" she asked.

"Levels?" Havoc asked.

"Yeah, Mustang's is here," George explained raising her hand above her head, "And Ed's is here."

Her hand moved down the side of the bed. I scowled at her as she made fun of the poor alchemist, half glad he was here to hear her. I looked down at my lap where Kit was sat peacefully. He was staring at Al as if he was trying to figure out what he was.

I stood up.

"I should get back to Roy and Ed," I said, "To make sure they haven't killed each other."

"OK," George said. She looked over to Fuery who had also stood up.

"I'll go with Hawkeye," he said sheepishly. He edged towards me. Al stood too. He bowed at George.

"I hope you get better soon," he said. George smiled softly. We turned to exit, leaving George with Havoc. I watched them interact for a moment as I walked out of the ward. I noticed the serious look on her face as she turned to Havoc. Fuery caught me watching them.

"He's been sitting with her all week," Fuery said in an almost moan, "I don't know what's got into him but he's doing his work and coming here straight from work."

"Maybe he likes her," Al suggested. I sighed loudly.

"I think there's more going on here that meets the eye," I replied. The boys looked at me.

"Are you saying that there's something more between those two?" Fuery asked, worriedly. I shook my head.

"George's brother was sent to the stockade after an inspection up at the Briggs," I replied calmly, "Since when does Central inspect the Briggs?"

"I've never heard of it," Fuery said, "But I'm sure it's just to check up on the command there. Maybe General Armstrong is being promoted."

"I doubt that," I told Fuery, "General Armstrong loves her icy fortress. I doubt anything could take her away from there."

The two boys looked at each other, contemplating this. In the end they nodded and we continued out of the ward.

Erg... will update soon, unless I get forced into revision ¬_¬ only 3 more exams which isn't too bad seeing as I had 8 originally. Warning: the next chapter is quite short and may contain traces of nuts.

RSx