Erika had just seen to a group of patients were safely aboard several ambulances bound for the next train station, where they would then be transferred to a hospital in Central. She was tired, her feet were killing her and she was supposed to be off duty several hours ago. The last two days had been non-stop with the fighting that had picked up, which in turn produced more wounded. All she wanted to do was sleep. But the Major blocking her way changed her plans. She wasn't expecting Edward's troop to return so soon. If she was going to be seeing anyone from the troop, she preferred it to be Edward, not the smug young man standing before her.

"I'm curious," Russell said studying her with mocking eyes. "Will you continue to play nurse if he gets kicked out or will you follow him again? Like some lost puppy."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Erika sighed irritably. She was confused about the getting kicked out part and angry over the puppy reference. It was true but she didn't need him to point it out to her and she was too tired to deal with him at the moment. It also hurt because lately she didn't know how much longer she could be with Edward knowing there was no future for them.

"Well," Russell said checking the time on his pocket watch. "It shouldn't be much longer until we find out."

Erika wasn't in the mood to stand around any longer to figure out what Russell was talking about. She knew that's what he wanted; to have the satisfaction of throwing some kind of bad news in her face. But she wouldn't let him have it. She turned to walk away without a word. She'd just have to go around, taking the long way back to her sleeping quarters. Whatever it was he wanted to brag about, it'd just have to wait. She was sure she'd hear about it sooner or later; preferably from someone other than Russell.

"Wait," Russell called out but she ignored him, continuing on her way. She heard him jog to catch up with her. She tried to hurry but her weariness slowed her down. She felt his hand close upon her arm. She was surprised by the gentleness of the action as he stepped around to face her.

"I overheard Sergeant Brody say you and Ed already knew each other," he said, searching her face. It was a completely different look from before; it was interest and something Erika didn't think it could be but it looked like hope. "If you hadn't met him, would you have given me a chance?"

Erika looked at him curiously. She had never seen him like this. She was used to him glaring at Edward whenever she was around. She assumed jealousy. It wasn't surprising. Edward did come between the two of them, he was good looking and a higher ranking officer, not to mention already famous as the Fullmetal Alchemist; Edward had a lot going for him. But what she had assumed as petty jealousy was now obvious to her as something much more. Russell liked her; he really liked her. He looked like he was sorry for the things he had said; that he only said it to get back at her for not returning his feelings.

"Yes," she said honestly, remembering how she thought him handsome but quickly hated him because he reminded her of Edward so much.

"Would you have followed me?"

Erika grew nervous. She would have surely given him a chance as she did with everyone else where she was working in Central. But as to falling in love... "I don't know."

He mulled over her words for a moment. Then it looked like he braced himself before continuing. "Tell me. What is it about him that you like?"

"Do you really want to know?" Erika asked looking him in the eye, trying to gauge if it was a good idea or not to tell him.

"Yes." He said confidently like he was ready for anything.

"I like that he's so stubborn. He thinks he's so strong, that he can take care of everyone and that it's his responsibility to do so. I liked the challenge of trying to break that down; that if he was going to take on that burden he should not feel guilty about enjoying himself at times. He's been through a lot. You can see it in his eyes. I like to see that I can make the pain go away; even if it's only for a moment."

She felt it strange that she even said it; none of it was really his business. It was even stranger that she didn't regret it either. Russell asked for the truth and she gave it. She was not ashamed of it. Though if it had been anyone else who asked, she didn't think she'd tell them. But who else would have, unless they cared for her.

"But that's all you are to him," Russell said quietly, looking at her with a mixture of pity and sadness as his hand dropped from her arm. "A temporary fix."

"I know," Erika whispered. It had been her doing that had done it. She was all too aware of it.

"I'm sorry," she said feeling a heavy weight settling upon her; something that was more than just exhaustion. "I really need to get some sleep."

She turned and walked away as Russell watched until she turned and disappeared behind a row of tents.


Edward waited patiently as the Brigadier General sat expressionless, taking his time as he read through the report. Edward could see Colonel Robienne was getting restless - even looking a little nervous - with Locke's unnatural slowness. Edward didn't mind. It kept Robienne from talking. He had to stand quietly, listening to the Colonel's accusations, most of which would have been cleared up if he had allowed Edward to explain. He decided he didn't much care what Robienne thought or would try to do to him. It was up to Locke and Edward felt he wouldn't mind what his final decision would be. Of all his experiences with the Brigadier General, he knew him to be a practical man, not one easily influenced by sparkling words with no meaning. Edward knew he'd be fair and just. Finally Locke cleared his throat and set aside the report. Robienne jumped upon the opportunity to speak his mind once again.

"I'm sure it's just a repeat of the same excuses he tried to give me. It does not matter if he gave the correct orders and they were misinterpreted. Any officer with a command must take measures to see that these miscommunications do not happen," he said with a quick glare towards Edward.

"You are correct, Colonel Robienne," Locke agreed but the tone in his voice did not imply that he was taking Robienne's side.

The Colonel blinked, unsure how to proceed next, hearing the undertones in Locke's words. He had been expecting more understanding from the Brigadier General, perhaps an angry stare directed at the young Lieutenant Colonel, a more verbose agreement, indignation over an officer's lack of control over his own troop. But Robienne was not to get any of this.

"I also know," Locke continued, "that this is not the first time such miscommunication has happened under your supervision or anyone else's. Unfortunately these things happen and I hope none of it was intentional. Based upon Lieutenant Colonel Elric's performance of near flawless activity since he joined our ranks, I don't believe it was negligence on his part, and your demand for his dismissal is asking for too much."

"But, sir!" Robienne exclaimed in disbelief. He had known the Brigadier General to be tough on the younger Lieutenant Colonel and had been counting on exploiting that fact to ensure Edward's dismissal or better yet, demoted so he didn't have to worry about some young upstart out to make him look bad. "He nearly destroyed the whole troop. We almost lost to that Drachman battalion."

Edward cringed when thinking about the men who were killed by his guns. Even if he wasn't directly responsible it still pained him; he had put his trust in the person that had caused such devastation, he couldn't help but feel remorse. As he tried to pull himself together he happened to look at the Brigadier General and found Locke's eyes observing him carefully.

"Colonel Robienne, I know all this," Locke said, slowly bringing his dark eyes upon the Colonel. "But it is not up to you to decide anyone's fate but those Drachman bastards. You are dismissed."

"Excuse me, sir," Robienne said blinking. The dismissal was said so casually out of nowhere it was almost like it was imagined.

"You are dismissed," Locke repeated.

Robienne looked between the Brigadier General and Edward. It looked like he finally realized what was really going on when he saluted angrily and left. A minute of silence passed. Edward was not too sure how to interpret the situation so he remained silent, staring ahead of him, seeing nothing as he waited for Locke to speak.

"Is there anything you'd like to say?"

"No, sir. I've said all in my report. It is my fault. I take full responsibility," Edward said quietly. "I should have prepared a better system of communication."

The Brigadier General studied Edward. It wasn't in the cold, angry manner of one who lost so many men and who should rightfully be upset over such a failure. It was with an understanding there was something else going on, that the young Lieutenant Colonel made an error of judgment upon one of his own men and he was willing to accept the consequences for his mistake. Any other ambitious, young officer would be pleading and arguing his case; that it wasn't his fault, that it was his own men who were incompetent, not him. But a good officer knew it was their fault; that it was his duty to weed out that incompetence and correct it somehow. A renewed respect arose and the studied expression on Locke's face began to reflect that as he watched Edward.

"Well, I don't believe it is your fault. I'm not so worried about losing my position to someone more capable than me like Colonel Robienne is. I can read between the lines of your report and in the Colonel's insistence you be dismissed from service."

"I don't follow you, sir," Edward said looking at Locke nervously.

"Don't try to sound like a fool now," Locke growled with a touch of disappointment. "Whenever I've asked for your opinion in the past you've always stated what was on your mind, whether it was right or wrong, you gave me something. Don't feed me the garbage I have to hear every day from those less talented than you who are not worth giving you orders."

Edward was stunned. This was a complete opposite of what he was sure the Brigadier General thought of him. It always felt like he was being tested by Locke to see if he would fail; that the great Fullmetal Alchemist didn't have what it took to command; that the new Fuhrer had been wrong. Edward could see now that the challenges were not set up for him to fail and end up making Mustang look bad; it was to push him to his limit; to find what his limits actually were so Locke could see for himself what Edward was capable of.

"If everyone in the military had your brains the Drachmans would never have attempted to take what didn't belong to them. But I'm stuck with the dregs of the military; those who worshiped and tried to get into the good graces of those traitorous Generals, then turned around to bid for their positions when they were removed from power. There is nothing wrong with being an opportunist but there is a right way and a wrong way and I prefer someone with genuine skill to be promoted. I will not allow anyone like your Major or Colonel Robienne to throw someone like you to the dogs to help their cause. I am not blind. I know what's going on. I know that you went behind enemy lines to destroy that bridge; a pointless mission but one that was accomplished. I know you've held your own against impossible odds and provided us with the best fortifications that lasted us until we were ready to make our move. You helped split the Drachmans lines between Ulen and Kellroy. I know everything that goes on with every troop under my command. I know that Major Tringum misinterpreted signals and took your medical team away leaving a Sergeant to almost bleed to death. I know he bullies the artillery squad and his Sergeant is scared to death of him. I also know that everyone under your command, but for Major Tringum, would take a bullet for you. I will not overlook that. So do you still want to take responsibility even though it's not for you to do?"

"Yes, sir," Edward said defiantly. "If you know everything then you know that I staked my reputation on Major Tringum. I put my trust in him and gave him a second chance fully understanding that I would accept any consequences that came from my decision."

"Very well," Locke said seriously with a hint of disappointment but he could not completely hide his respect for Edward sticking to his decision. "Here is the consequence of your actions. Someone does have to take responsibility and the punishment must fit the crime, which will happen eventually; losing almost half a troop will not be overlooked or forgotten," the Brigadier General said as he started going through a stack of files sitting on his desk.

"This is your punishment for giving someone, who was not worth it, a second chance." He set one of the files in front of him, opened it and held up a piece of paper.

"Your promotion to Colonel will just have to wait a little longer," he said.

Before Edward could form any reaction or thought, Locke then proceeded to rip the paper in half. "Get your troop in order. I'll have orders for you in the morning. You do understand that I will accept nothing less than perfect from you now."

"Yes, sir," Edward said still in a state of shock and disbelief.

"Good," Locke said fighting to hold back a smile. "You're dismissed."

Edward left hardly feeling his legs propelling him out of the Brigadier General's presence.