Chapter Seventeen

A Time to Reflect

Mustang-Elric Residence

9:00 am

Edward would like to pretend he was surprised to find Falman, Breda, and Fuery at the door this early but after the last few months, nothing was really surprising anymore. He was alarmed however.

"Ed, sorry, but lingering on the stoop of our C.O.s house when officially we should be at work and he isn't even here is going to look bad if anyone sees us." Breda said after Ed just continued to stare.

"Oh. Yeah." Ed said, as he steps aside to let them in. "What's happened now? Is everyone alright?"

"Yeah, about that. That largely why we came over." Breda said with a frown as they all made their way into the living room where Winry and Al had been sitting with Yuery. "You might not want to go over there today. Havoc is having trouble, and decided that he was going to let the others in on it last night."

"What kind of trouble?" Ed asked with a frown.

"He can't feel anything below the injury." Fuery said grimly. "Not since the incident. He had been hoping that it was going to just go away, but if anything it got worse so he finally decided to let Mustang and the doctors know. Mustang is understandably upset."

"Oh hell, he's not thinking of doing something stupid like checking out early to find some way to fix this…right?" Ed said, but was not reassured by the way they all frowned.

"Okay. Okay." Ed said as he ran a hand through his hair trying to think. "Okay. Got it. Breda, are you still on leave?"

"Yeah, until next week. Falman too." Breda said in confusion.

"Great. Okay. I'm going to give you some very off the record information. I mean it. Completely 100% off the record. Like at least four people could be thrown in jail if this got out off the record." Ed said. "But it could help Havoc, and may be his only chance."

"Okay, you can count on me Sir." Breda said, adding the sir to indicate that he was taking this seriously. Ed nodded before turning to the notepad they kept by the phone and asking Al to go grab his journal.

Ed flipped through the journal before stopping on a page and copying down some information. Then he flipped the page, and wrote quickly, before finally handing Breda two pieces of paper, one sealed and the other simply folded. "Follow these direction to find a man named Maroh. Tell him Ed sent you, but told you nothing, then hand him this note. Wear civvies if he sees a uniform he'll run. "

"What kind of people have you been associating with Edward?" Falman asked with a frown.

"I have no idea what you mean. Maroh is simply an unusually gifted small town doctor." Edward said with a smirk.

"You have spent far too much time with Mustang. Seriously." Breda said shaking his head. "You're starting to sound just like him."

"Whatever." Ed said with a sigh. "Hey Winry, would mind watching Yu for me for a bit later? I need to go see Havoc and Mustang."

"If you want, we can drop you on the way to the train station?" Breda said. "That way you only have to walk one way."

"Thanks, I'll go get dressed, go ahead and grab some breakfast, it's still on the table." Ed said as he looked down and realized he was still in his sleep shorts and tank top.

A few minutes later he returned in his black leather pants, a black long sleeved button down, and his normal boots and gloves. His hair was in a ponytail instead of a braid. He saw the frowns the other men were giving him and shrugged. "I'm not working right now, I can dress casual." Before clipping his watch onto his belt loop. He never left it even when just wandering around the city.

Winry smiled and told Ed to have a good day before picking Yuery up and walking out of the room. Like Mustang she understood Ed's refusal to ever let Yuery watch him leave. It had been made worse by his recent encounter with his father. Now he wouldn't even go to the market unless Yuery was otherwise occupied, for fear of his son thinking he was being abandoned.

Central Military Hospital

Mustang/Havoc room

10:00 am

Edward walked calmly into the room carrying a folder and a couple of books, as if he was going to report on his research to Mustang. Once he was certain that the men were alone in the room, he flopped down in the chair between their beds with a sigh. "I heard the news Havoc."

"That was fast, even for this group." Havoc said with an attempt at good humor.

"Yeah well, they arrived before breakfast was over demanding I let them in so they wouldn't be seen, then they insisted on giving me a ride anyway. When I suggested this was flawed logic, since they wanted to not be seen, they said that was because I was from the Boonies and used to knowing everything about everyone." Ed said with a frown.

"Their theory is flawed I'm afraid." Mustang interjected. " I'm from Central, and I agree with you on the matter."

"I'm from the Boonies and I think you two are crazy." Havoc said cheerfully. " Of course you're alchemists so you're just naturally crazy."

"Anyway." Ed said with a snort of amusement. "As I said I heard about the problem."

"Don't worry Edward. I'm working on a solution." Mustang said. "There is no reason for you to concern yourself."

"Yeah well, I already did." Ed huffed. "I hope you don't mind Mustang but I borrowed one of your men and sent him on an errand for me."

"Did you now?" Mustang said, curious but aware that the room was likely bugged, and he knew Ed was aware of it as well.

"Yeah, I needed some research materials from out East that I forgot to pick up last time I was out that way." Ed said casually. At the same time he stretched and casually handed Roy his folder.

Roy read the top page before nodding and said in reply. "Yes, I can see how your research could benefit from this extra material. Provided of course you were able to accurately recall the location I am sure it will not be a large inconvenience. As I've mentioned before, repeatedly, my staff are available to aide you whenever you need, as long as you keep me informed "

Ed took the folder back and tucked it between the books on his lap, before nodding and adding. "Yeah, it ain't like your using them right now anyway. Managed to get yourself a nice paid vacation. Personally, I'd have gone with a simple head injury instead of impalement, but to each their own."

Edward and Roy weren't concerned about the contents of the folder, as it had been written, as agreed upon years ago, in the guise of a research update. Roy was able to read the hidden message easily enough. He remembered Marcoh well enough, and hoped that the man would agree to come help, though he also could understand if the man refused. He would be putting himself at risk coming here even in disguise.

Mustang himself was having a hard time sitting still this long, especially after learning of Havoc's condition yesterday. He needed to get back out there to find out what really happened to Maes, and what these things interest in the Elric brothers meant for the boys because he feared they were in great danger.

Ed stayed awhile longer, he even managed to convince both men to play a round of card together. When Ed slipped away after saying good bye he didn't think they noticed. When he arrived down in the lobby, he noticed Hawkeye seemed to be waiting for him. She nodded to him, and he sighed but followed as she lead him to her car. Once they were inside, and buckled she simply stated. "Falman expressed concern for the safety of your research and health should you carry it down the wrong alleyway."

"How completely irresponsible. I do not carry research down alleyways. Anymore. I learned my lesson years ago." Ed snorted but accepted the ride, so he could advise Hawkeye on what he was planning which was the biggest reason why she was here herself.

Mustang Residence

2:00 pm

Ed answered the phone, as he always did, with a polite. "Mustang Residence, how may I help you." He made sure to never identify himself when taking these calls, mostly because he still feared transferring if their housing arrangements annoyed the brass again.

"It's me, Breda" came the response across the line.

"Can I help you?" Ed asked, but was concerned because their arranged protocol had no one call in from an unofficial mission unless there was an emergency.

"Someone already took off with the material you were looking for sir." Breda said sounding worried. "Whoever it was has no respect for the ways of filing either. The whole room looked like it had had a fight in it or something."

"That does sound terrible. Well come on back and I'll just worry about it later then. Hopefully no permanent damage was done." Edward said, amazed at his ability to sound calm over the phone. He hoped Breda would make it back without any issue. He shouldn't have sent the man off alone like that, not to deal with an alchemist. He was just worried about spooking Marcoh, now he had to worry about worse. He needed to go update Mustang.

Once again he asked Winry if she would mind watching Yuery while he ran over to the hospital, and the rushed through getting ready before heading out in the right direction. It was about twenty minutes walk to the hospital, not really a big deal to him, provided no one was already onto him and wanted to keep him quiet like Hughes.

It didn't matter that he hadn't finished piecing things together. They didn't know for sure Hughes can or if he had just gathered too many pieces. Ed walked briskly, as if he was in a hurry but otherwise occupied, like he did when he was thinking of his research. No one bothered him or acted like they were watching him as he went along. Sometimes though he could swear he felt eyes on him coming from the shadows of a building, or down an alley and he would speed up slightly, all the while telling himself he was overreacting.

It was a relief when he arrived at the hospital, and he was not at all surprised to spot Mustang talking to Knox while reading a book on spinal injuries in the middle of the lobby. When they saw Ed approaching Knox took his leave and Ed frowned deepened. He collapsed into the chair recently occupied by the old doctor and with a heavy sigh he said. "Breda said it was a no go. Someone got to it before me, but at least I know I'm not chasing a myth but a legend."

"That is disappointing and concerning." Roy said carefully. 'Are you going to switch tracks or are you going to try to track down this elusive tome."

"I don't see the point in chasing a cold trail with my other responsibilities needing my focus. I will search for other avenues." Ed said with a sigh. "C'mon I'll walk you back to your room so the nurses don't yell about you walking around alone."

Once Ed managed to get Roy settled back into his room, he turned to leave. Before he could Roy stopped him to say. "I need you to not do anything rash Edward. I can't help you from in here, and they aren't letting me out yet."

"I'll be safe Roy, I promise." Ed said in return, which did not reassure the older man at all. They both sighed as Ed left, neither happy with this turn of events.

Mustang-Elric Residence

6:00 pm

Ed was pensively watching his son play in the living room, walking shakily along the couch while babbling to himself. He knew he needed to talk to the others about his theory about Al, but he didn't know where to start.

Winry joined him then and sat on the floor next to him, while Al sat on the chair nearby. "Okay, something happened. It's been eating at you all day."

"Well. It's just a theory but… you know how I found out that thing wasn't actually mom? And you were worried about what that meant for getting you back?" Ed started, and Al nodded. "Well I was thinking about the whole memory thing."

"What about it?" AL said, still a little sore on the subject even if he had mostly let it go.

"Well the thing is, I noticed just recently, probably because I never paid attention to it before. You have memories I don't" Ed said quietly.

"Winry, do you remember when we were little and Al and I both asked you to marry us, and you said no?" Ed asked.

"Yeah." WInry said with a nod.

"Well, you and Al both remember that but I don't." Ed said. "And there's a bunch of stuff I remember but Al doesn't… I was thinking about that night, and how we mixed out blood. I think by doing that we somehow mixed our souls a bit too. I think your body might still be there at the gate waiting for us to reclaim it!"

"Wait but if it is, does that mean it's like Barry an-" Al said upset at the idea.

"No not exactly. I think maybe MY body has been supporting your body this whole time, and that's why I'm so sh- sh- short. I mean haven't grown properly." Ed said as the other two stared at him in shock at the idea that he just admitted his size issue.

"Well, if that's true, how does that help?" Winry asked.

"It means we don't need to rebuild Al a new body, just get his old one back." Ed said, "I think that maybe those things may be part of the answer but we'd have to catch one to find out."

Before Ed could say anything else Winry glared at him, and bopped him on the top of his head before scooping up Yuery and pushing the child into his lap. "Edward Elric. You can't go doing crazy things! What would you have me say to him if something happened to you?!"

"That's the thing Win!" Ed said rubbing his head. "Those things have gone out of their way to avoid causing us harm. I don't think they're allowed to hurt us. We just got to think of a way to make that work for us."