I pulled my hand away from my leg, Ed would never forgive me if I used it on him. But I had to do something, I couldn't let him die, he was the hero. The hero doesn't die, he had to finish his quest, thats how every story goes.

Ed grunted in pain and his eyes fluttered close, my heart jumped.

I leaned over him.

"Hey!" I snapped tapping his cheek, he was going cold. "You can't do this, okay?" I whimpered, "this isn't how its supposed to go" tears welled up in my eyes, "you're supposed to save the country, save everyone…"

The corners of his mouth curled up and his eyes opened slightly.

"God what are you babbling about?" he asked laughing.

He gasped in pain gritting his teeth.

"You must have hit your head pretty hard" he muttered reaching up and touching my head.

I squinted at the pain slightly but I didn't move away.

"The hell you laughing at!" I snapped over him, "you've got a pole sticking through your gut, you're half dead and you're laughing at me" my voice broke making him flinch.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and his face softened.

"Oh no Lexie" he whispered, "don't cry, please don't cry..."

I sat back trying to assess the situation with a clear head but this concussion was making everything so much harder.

"Im not crying!" I snapped staggering to my feet.

Ed smiled but I saw the pain in his face. He knew I was on the verge of losing it and the moment I did I wasn't going to be of any help.

"Good now I need you to pull it out" Ed was talking about the pole, if I pulled it out he was going to bleed to death. He'd die.

"Ed I'm not having you die on me!" I snapped down at him, "I've had enough people I love die in front of me for a life time, you're not going to do this to me either!"

My knees buckled under me and I fell to the ground.

"You can't die" I whimpered.

Ed grabbed my arm.

"Stop it Alexis" he growled, "you're freaking out, now pull out the damn pole!"

Ed pulled on my arm so I looked at him.

"I need you to do it" he whispered at me squeezing my arm.

I shook my head.

"You'll bleed out" I croaked, "I can't have you bleeding out..."

Ed took in a deep breath squinting in pain.

"I need you to trust me Lexie" he was going pale, either way he was going to die if we didn't do something soon. "Please do it, I need you" he said letting go of my arm.

I staggered to my feet.

Ed was relying on me so I had to do it.

I took in a deep breath.

More of the mine collapsed and Ed quickly clapped his hands putting them to the ground.

I glanced over my shoulder.

Ed had stopped the mine from collapsing on top the chimera's.

They stared over at us when they realised Ed had just saved them.

I spun around clamping my hands around the pipe.

"Why the hell are you doing?!" I snapped at Ed.

I yanked the pipe out and he screamed in pain.

"Saving lives in my possible dying moments!" he snarled at me in pain.

I threw the pipe aside and dropped to my knees putting pressure on the bleeding hole in his abdomen but it wasn't doing much.

"Idiot!" I snapped, "why the hell can't you help your damn self before worrying about some stupid chimera's?!" I might not have agreed with what he had done but his compassion for others in the worst of times was something that I admired about him. I was getting angry because he was something I could never be, a good person.

My hands were shaking furiously while I tried to think of a way for him not to bleed out.

"Please don't die" I started whimpering. "We all need you Ed" I whispered leaning all my weight on the wound, "for gods sake I need you" I admitted.

He grabbed my arm to help him sit up.

He gritted his teeth in pain.

"Stop talking shit Lex" he growled.

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Im not talking shit, you really think id still be alive?" I asked him, "if Victor hadn't got me killed by now I would have done it myself!" I snapped. "With all these damn voices in my head and everyone dying around me, I seriously wouldn't be able to take it much more!"

Ed slung his arm around my shoulders keeping himself up right.

"Stop talking like that, you're not crazy and you sure as hell aren't going to kill yourself" he took in a deep breath, "now keep me up" I had no idea what he was doing but he pulled my hands away from his wound and clapped his hand with the one that was over my shoulders, I held him up confused.

"This is going to fucking hurt" he growled.

He put his hand against the wound, his other hand locked onto my shoulder in pain and he pulled me closer digging his face into my neck growling in pain.

I froze not sure what he had done.

His body went slack.

I wrapped my arms around him keeping him up. I knew he wasn't dead because I could feel his breath against my neck and I could hear his heart beating rapidly.

"Ed?" I whispered, "what did you do?" the bleeding had stopped but that still didn't mean everything was okay. He had lost a lot of blood and god knows what he might have done to his body, no one should be able to with stand what he just dealt with.

"Promise not to get angry?" he whispered.

I shook my head trying to pull away from him but he didn't let me.

"What did you do Edward?" I asked.

He sighed against me.

"I used alchemy combined with my own soul like you would with a philosopher stoner" he muttered against me, "it might have taken a few years off my life but I won't bleed to death" he admitted, "but I still need to see a doctor" he wouldn't let go of me. I wanted him to let go so I could look at him but for someone on the brink of death he sure as hell had a strong grip on me.

"Why would you do that?" I whispered. I could have done it, I could have used to damn stone. "I wish you wouldn't have done that" I whimpered clutching him against me, this wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all.

"Stop getting upset" he whispered back, his body was getting heavier. I knew he was barely keeping himself conscious, god the pain he just went through had to be unbearable but here he was sassing me.

"God you're being so dramatic…"

I rocked back and forth on my knees clutching him, I didn't know what to do. I felt useless.

"Shut up" I growled, "you nearly died so you bloody don't get to tell me what I can and can't get upset about" if only I had been stronger I would have been able to pull us up but I couldn't, I was too weak and I had let go.

"I didn't realise how upset you would get…" he whispered, "how much you cared…"

I frowned.

"You're so stupid" I whispered back, "you can't even see when someone loves you."

He froze in my arms.

"Wait what did you say?" he asked pulling back, he moved too quickly and his eyes rolled back into his head.

He fell forward and slumped against me.

"Shit" I muttered, he needed medical attention. I had to at least do that for him.

"Are you two okay?"

I spun around and saw the two chimera's watching us intently.

I barred my teeth at them.

"Touch us and ill skin you alive" I snarled at them clutching Ed.

They stepped back holding their hands up.

They had done enough to us today.

"We can help-"

"I don't need your damn help!" I snapped at them.

They took a step closer still holding their hands up.

"But Miss-"

"Im not fucking kidding!" I shouted at them, "don't you think you've done enough to us today?!"

"Lexie stop it" Ed grumbled trying to open his eyes but he couldn't. He was getting weaker.

"He saved us, we would like to help"

I put one arm under Ed's knees and the other across his back.

I staggered to my feet.

"Fuck off" I spat at them, I didn't need their help. I could do this myself, I didn't need no damn chimera's helping me, especially the ones that had tried to kill us earlier.

I stood up straight using all my strength to hold Ed but everything spun and my knees buckled under me.

I dropped to the ground.

My eyelids got heavy and I closed them.

I sunk further to the ground with Ed.

I had hit my head hard and there was no way I was going to be able to help Ed like this.

"You grab the girl, I've got fullmetal"

I felt my body lift off the ground.

"Hurt him" I slurred, "and ill rip your throats out..."

My body went limp and my mind shut off.


The moment I awoke I wanted know where Ed was but no one was to disturb the doctor, of course I had tried to get in the room but I was no match against two chimeras, a bloody head and on the verge of breaking down. So I paced, I kept pacing until my legs couldn't take any more. The chimeras guarded the door and I sunk to the ground. Nothing could distract me from the very thought that Ed wasn't going to wake up, he had lost a lot of blood and done some pretty sever trauma to his gut. It didn't take a doctor to know that. Even the voices in my head had no effect on me.

I wouldn't rest until I knew he was okay and that he wasn't going to die on me, I don't think I could take it if he did. Not another person I cared about, not someone I loved and deserved more than the world. I wouldn't be able to tell Al, that would break my heart, kill the only good part of me. Every time I lost someone I went down hill and this one would send me spiralling and I don't think I'd come back from this one.

I stared at the room.

It was silent.

So deadly silent.

"Just let me see him!" I snapped pushing off my feet.

The chimeras hauled me back.

"Come on Miss!" They snapped back, "calm down, the doctors making sure he doesn't die."

I struggled against them.

My head was aching and the voices were screaming but nothing was affecting me, I just needed to know Ed was breathing.

"He's not going to die" I whimpered.

My body went slack against the chimera's and they held me up.

"He can't, if he dies then he's taking me with him" I whispered staring at the ground.

My head shot up.

"I will do anything to make sure that doesn't happen"

I shot out of their grip and sat on the ground pulling out my dagger.

I was going to get this damn thing out of my leg, I would use it on Ed to make sure he didn't die and he could hate me for it but he'd be alive. Thats all I cared about.

"Woah what are the doing?!"

One of the chimeras grabbed my wrist when I tried to stick the dagger into my leg.

"Let me get out it!"

I fought against his grip.

"I can use it!"

"Give me the knife! You're not thinking clearly!"

The chimera pried the dagger from my fingers.

I wrestled with him but in the end he won. I was in no state to win this battle.

"Fuck you..." My voice trailed off when the door opened.

I stared up at the doctor.

The chimera's stepped away from me as I staggered to my feet.

"Well?" I asked, "he's alive, right?" I asked.

"Yes" said the doctor nodding, "he's alive."

My shoulders slumped forward in relief.

"But he's sleeping at the moment and won't wake for a day or so, his body is recovering-"

I pushed past the doctor.

I wasn't going to be satisfied until I saw him myself. I needed hard proof he wasn't going to die on me, I wouldn't know what to do with myself if he did. I'd be lost all over again.

Ed was lying on the bed still, eyes closed but defiantly breathing. I stood beside the bed and put my hand on his head, his skin felt warm and alive.

"Oh thank god" I whispered collapsing to my knees.

I gripped his arm.

I felt so relieved that the piercing pain in my head came apparent and it was worse than I thought.

I groaned in pain slumping sideways against the wall.

The doctor was bent down beside me looking me over.

"What hurts?" he asked.

I pointed to my head and held up my left hand.

I couldn't move my fingers, the bones had been crushed but everything else felt numb.

The doctor reached for my head but I jerked back.

He held his hands up slowly.

"I need to clean that wound before it gets infected" he assured me, "will you let me?" he asked.

I leaned back on the wall and nodded closing my eyes.

He felt around my head making me twitch in pain.

"I'll fix you up then leave you alone, yes?" He asked.

I pulled out some money from my pocket dropping it on the ground, it was covered in dried blood.

Chuck's blood.

He took the money as a yes and I stayed still and silent while he taped my fingers together and cleaned and bandaged my head. He didn't ask any questions, anything he wanted to know he asked one of the chimera's which was probably best. Of course the chimera's didn't look half lion or half gorilla anymore, they were human and watching me intently.

"What?!" I snapped at them, "he's not dead so you don't have to hang around!"

They glanced at each other then back to me.

"We're just making sure you don't go hurting yourself" the blonde one spoke up.

I scoffed sliding up the wall.

"And suddenly you care" I laughed mockingly at them, "why?" I asked them, "I'm not your problem, he's not your problem" I gestured to Ed, "so why stick around two kids who are practically breaking at the seams?!" my voice broke.

The truth of my own words felt like a kick in the stomach, we were breaking at the seams. Ed was nearly dead and was going to take me with him. I couldn't lose him, not someone who taught me how to find myself, how to bring me back from those dark places. Who saved me from myself. And that had caused me to fall in love with him but what was the point of admitting that?

I couldn't have him, I wasn't allowed.

He was the hero.

I was the villain.

Thats not how this story ends.

"He saved our life so we're going to return the favour" gorilla man added. They were being very calm towards me when I was being nasty.

"And if we went back to Kimblee like this he'd kill us" lion man sighed, "but maybe when Fullmetal-"

"Ed!" I snapped at him, "the kid has a name not that damn stupid thing Bradley named him, thats not his name, his name is Edward!"

He nodded at me slowly.

"When Ed wakes up maybe he can…Fix us" so thats why they were sticking around, they didn't want Kimblee finding them and tying up loose ends and they also had the slightest bit of hope thinking Ed knows how to tear the chimera part from them. Unfortunately he didn't but they didn't need to know that right now, they might be useful and I had no idea how long we were going to stuck here until Ed recovered.

"Yeah well if I was in charge id make sure Kimblee did find you" I paused and glanced down at Ed, "but I'm not he is and he saved you for a reason so if you want to be helpful make sure word doesn't get out that he's in here" I ordered them.

They stood there staring at me moving.

I sighed.

"Look, he's not dead so I'm not going to lose my mind, ill be fine, he'll be fine just leave us alone!" I snapped at them, "remember he saved your life not me so that doesn't mean I happy either of you are near us" I added.

"Yes ma'am" he both muttered.

I smirked.

I could get used to that.

They turned around.

"Oh and remember my threat still stands in place, betray us and I will skin the animal out of you" I warned them.

They nodded understanding, I wasn't kidding. I would skin them if they betrayed us, we were at our weakest right now and ill be damned if two chimera's got the best of us. I was not going to let us fall again no matter what, it was our turn to start winning this crazy battle.

"And close the door" I added.

When they were gone I started pacing the room, thinking.

"What the hell are we supposed to do now?" I asked Ed. I knew he wasn't going to reply but it was better than sulking over him. I was over that, now that I knew he was going to live there was no point getting upset.

"And you're going to be so damn weak when you wake up" I stopped and stared up at the ceiling, "ah!" I groaned. "You nearly die at the worst time ever, why couldn't you do it when it was convenient for everyone not when everyone needs you!"

I started pacing again.

I glanced over at him but no response, silent and still but breathing.

I dragged the chair from the corner to beside the bed.

I sat down putting my elbows up on the bed and leaning on my hands.

I took in a deep breath, thinking.

I didn't have Ed at the moment so I had to think for myself, I had to admit it was hard and thats why I rushed head first into most things but I couldn't do that now.

"Okay" I whispered closing my eyes, "you had a hole through your right lower abdomen" I was trying to figure out exactly how he had to recover. "The wound is sealed up but your core is going to be weak, same with your right side" I muttered, "except for your auto-mail arm but we'll have work on your leg, chest and upper and lower back which shouldn't be too hard."

I opened my eyes and leaned back.

"What am I kidding" I moaned, "this is going to take weeks Ed" I groaned.

This wasn't going to be an easy process and it wasn't going to take a few days to get Ed up and walking around ready to fight homunculi, it was going to take weeks. Weeks of training, getting his strength back not just physically but mentally as well, he wasn't going to walk away from this easily but I knew he was going to do it.

Ed had already lost a leg and an arm, so this shouldn't be too hard but it also won't be easy either. Mentally and physically he was going to exhausted when he woke up, then there was the money issue. The moment we took money out of his military account then our whereabouts was going to be known so he had to be ready for that, you can't just drop off the radar for a few weeks and not expect consequences. We needed to be prepared for anything.

"What a mess you've got us into" I muttered lying my head on the bed, "lets hope we can think of a way out of it…"

I reached up and put my hand on his chest. His heart was beating steadily, no odd rhythm or flutter, beating healthy. I was so relieved, he had pulled through it when if it was anyone else they wouldn't have been so lucky, I know I wouldn't have been.