Some gore, some Papa Roy, and some de-stressing for me. Grandpa, who just go home form the hospital for a stroke, has now broken his hip and is back in the hospital. Hospital not allowing visitors due to covid. Hoping and praying grandpa will be home by Christmas! He's 89 and we miss him.

I am seriously considering impersonating a nun to see if I can break into the hospital. So yeah. This is my life. Buckle up. Writing this fic is literally therapy for me.

"How's he doing?" Hughes was waiting for him when he got back to the office.

Roy shrugged. "As well as can be expected. Surprisingly cooperative. I had more of a problem with the nurses trying to make him remove his automail and telling me it's better for him if I don't visit. Speaking of which, he asked me to bring a couple of books." Roy moved out of his office, with Hughes trailing along behind him.

"So actually- I have some good news. I did some digging on the hospital, since I'm paranoid like that. And did you know that they have a unit for the criminally insane on the fifth floor?" Hughes asked.

Roy frowned. "Yeah, I heard that from the nurses. How is that good news?"

"Well, that unit is patrolled and security is provided by the military. Since most of the patients are dangerous criminals."

Roy blinked. "Really?"

Hughes nodded. "Yes, really. And because it's staffed by the military, and you're a military officer, you have the right to 'inspect' that unit at the hospital, or any unit at the facility, as you see fit. So if Ed were to need you outside of visiting hours, you'd just have to flash your watch and they'd have to let you in."

Roy blinked, grinning. "Well- that is good news."

"I wouldn't do it unless you have to- you don't want to ruffle any feathers more than you already have- but it's something to keep in mind." Hughes said seriously.

Roy nodded. "Right. How's the survivor, the little girl?"

"She was beaten and starved. And the things she told us she saw- they made her watch while her friend and fellow captive was tortured. They killed him in front of her. And they made her help them cut up the body." Hughes was looking disgusted.

"You think she should be in a psych ward, or home with her family? Has her family come by yet?"

Hughes nodded. "They're sitting in my office. Mom and Dad. Left their other children with their grandma. I'm going to take them over during visiting hours to see her."

"As far as her being at home or in the hospital- if it were my kid, I'd want them home and be taking them to therapy everyday. But after that victim went nuts and turned into the killer's apprentice, I get why the brass is making her stay there temporarily. In face, she's in the same ward Ed is in."

Hughes frowned, looking as though he remembered something. "By the way- the recovery team got two bodies out from the factory's basement. The medical examiner wants you to look at one- the teenager. He's having trouble making sense of the cause of death and thinks there's alchemy involved. It was the teenager who became sympathetic to the killer, the one Ed said he killed..."

Roy frowned. "Do you know who he was yet?"

"Yeah. We do." but Hughes didn't look happy about it. "He was probably one of the first kids who was taken. He was reported as a runaway by his grandmother after his parents kicked him out- was homeless and living on the streets when he was snatched. Since he was fifteen, nobody assumed he was in danger- just that he'd run off to drink and party. Despite the fact the kid helped with the torture and murders at the end- he may be a victim of the guy himself. Not that that makes this whole thing any better. How's Ed taking it?"

"He's handling it."

"Has he told you anything about his feelings on all this? This is the first time he's killed anyone."

"The kid cried himself to sleep in my lap on the way to HQ. We talked about it. I think he's gonna be alright."

"You think he's up for visitors? If he is, I'll say hello when I bring the girl's family by today."

"Yeah, I think he'd like to see you." Roy said. He'd finished piling up the books Ed had requested, and he nodded to Hughes. "Guess I'm headed to the morgue, then."

"You mind if I tag along? I want to see what happened."

Roy frowned. "You may not like what you hear."

"There's a lot of things I don't like about this case." they fell into silence as they headed downstairs to the morgue.

The medical examiner's steel tables were full of remains in various states.

Dr. Gilbert, the medical examiner, looked up from where he was working over the body of the deceased teenager. The man had the body cut open at various points, and when he saw Mustang, he smiled.

"Ah. Just the man I was looking to see. I've got a mystery on my hands. This man has no clinical abnormalities or injuries to the main organs that would cause death. The only abnormalities I found are in the brain, and they're... well, I've never seen anything like it."

The man had the skull open, and in a large specimen dish, there sat a rather deformed looking mass, like a large, wrinkly ball of bubble gum with some blackened material on the edges.

"I've seen some interesting death by alchemy cases, but even with Scar, the brain was liquified and basically leaked out the ears. Never seen a brain like this." the doctor motioned to the thing in the jar.

"So this is the brain, then?" Roy asked, feeling unease creep into him.

"Yes. Can you see any traces of alchemy on it?"

Roy grabbed a pair of rubber gloves, reaching down to turn the brain over and examine it. It was about six inches in diameter, and when he touched it, the outer layer of cells started to slough off, and there was the smell of burnt hair...

Roy turned to the base of the brain and pointed.

"There. There's transmutation marks. This brain was rapidly transmuted."

"Transmuted into what?" the medical examiner asked. "With Scar it was just destroyed, but this... it's melted, to be frank." the medical examiner said simply.

"There are three steps to alchemy. Understanding the composition of a substance, deconstructing that substance, and reconstructing it into something you want. This brain was stopped at the deconstruction phase. I have a rudimentary theory as to how this brain was melted like this."

"I'm listening." the medical examiner said simply.

"So the brain is made up of neurons- brain cells. And these cells generally communicate via electrical potentials- the ions of calcium and potassium in the cells change and the voltage difference signals to other cells. The difference in membrane potential is the mechanism of signaling, because these ions conduct electricity. Correct?"

"Yes, I'd agree with that, as a man of medicine." the medical examiner agreed.

"From what Ed told me and what I'm looking at- this brain underwent decomposition and decomposition only. As to how Fullmetal did it- he has a basic understanding of ions and electrical conductivity in the brain. He took advantage of the electrical conductivity of the ions in the brain and used them to apply electrical current through the brain at levels higher than physiologically possible to sustain life." Roy said simply.

The medical examiner nodded, seeming to follow along. "I see."

Hughes frowned. "In english? For those of us who aren't doctors or alchemists?" he asked hopefully.

Roy turned to Hughes, heaving a sigh. "So- he used his own energy and alchemy to generate electricity and run it through the guy's brain. He basically fried it."

Hughes expression dropped. "Oh. Didn't know that was possible." he said quietly, voice barely above a whisper.

"Neither did I." Roy admitted.

"Yes. it's unfortunate, really- this lad also has some pretty bad trauma and... tearing. Either he was brutalized or into very risky sexual practices. With this young man being only sixteen, however, I have a feeling he was manipulated into becoming this monster..." the medical examiner admitted.

"Do we have an ID on the serial killer yet?" Roy asked, voice low.

The medical examiner nodded. "Yes, he was the first one I identified. He's John Rudolph- an art school graduate recently expelled from his position as an art teacher for making young children draw the human form nude. That, too, is quite an odd case. I sent the files to your office, Mr. Hughes. And I checked his medical records- it seems he spent some time in Sisters Mental Hospital right here in East City undergoing treatment at one point, so I've put in an inquest to gain access to his records and see what was going on with him mentally."

Hughes frowned, crossing his arms. "That's the same hospital Ed and the only surviving child are at. Is that a concern? Could he have friends on the inside that would want revenge?"

Dr. Gilbert shook his head. "I doubt it. That hospital has more than a thousand patients come and go each year seeking mental health treatment, and the staff are all friendly and professional. Even if Rudolph had made friends with the other patients, chances are they lost touch or left the hospital. I see no danger there. It's the best rated mental facility in town."

"Right. Anything else I can do for you, doctor?"

"No, you've already helped me out quite a lot. You're alright if I cite you as a consult into the alchemic cause of death here?"

"That's fine with me."

"Thanks. Good day, men."

Roy nodded, and they turned and were off.

It was quarter to six pm when Roy finally got to the hospital, and he'd been worried Ed was pacing anxiously waiting for his arrival.

However, his fears were allayed when he got there to find the kid still dead asleep, cocooned in the blankets.

His face softened slightly- Hughes was sitting beside the kid's bed, and he placed a finger to his lips when Roy stepped into the room, depositing his load of books and clothes on top of Ed's desk.

"He said to wake him up. He doesn't want to miss my visit. He's been... clingy lately. Not that I mind. It's nice to know the kid doesn't utterly despise me." Roy admitted quietly.

"He trusts you. It's not that much of a surprise." Hughes said simply.

Roy paused, looking at Ed's expression for a moment, before he was gently shaking the kid's shoulder.

"Fullmetal. Hey. Fullmetal. Wake up."

"Ngh?" Ed blinked awake, looking surprised. "It's morning?" he looked out the window, where it was already dark, confused.

"No, it's after work. I came by to see you like I promised. And Hughes stopped by too."

"Oh- hey, Hughes." Ed peered around mustang to wave at Hughes, who gave him a smile.

"Hey, kiddo. How're you feeling?"

Ed shrugged and yawned, stretching slightly. "Dunno. So far all I'm done is laze around and sleep."

"Well, you look like you needed it." Hughes said.

Ed looked worlds better than he had been when they left the factory, but the kid was still pale with dark circles under his eyes. "I guess. I'm not used to just sitting still. Do you have paperwork from the office or something for me?" Ed asked Mustang, looking a bit bothered by his inactivity.

"No. You need the rest- think of this like a vacation where you can sleep all you want and rest up so you can tackle it all when you get back. How is it here?"

Ed blinked. "Um... good? I haven't left the room honestly, but it's pretty quiet here, i can hear the other kids running around sometimes. So that's nice. And the blankets are warm. it's nicer than a couple of the hotels I've stayed in." Ed said simply.

"That's good. Just so you know, Ed- the girl you found in the factory is being treated here as well, the doctors want to make sure she's alright mentally. I didn't want you to be surprised when you woke up in the morning if you saw her in the common room."

"Oh. Am I allowed to talk to her?"

"Yes. you're allowed to talk to anyone here."

"Right." Ed nodded, looking troubled. "You know, she can see dead people too, right?"

Roy and Hughes both tensed, Roy looking to make sure no one was in the hallway. "Don't mention that here. We're aware. The medical staff doesn't need to know that, though."

"Right. Okay." Ed stood, striding over to his desk and going through the pile of books happily, humming in pleasure as he selected the one he wanted and climbing back into bed with it.

"Well, I'm gonna take off. Have a good night, you two. Rest up, Ed."

"See you, Hughes!" ed said goodbye to the man, thumbing through his book to where he'd folded a page down to mark his place.

"So." Roy said calmly. "Everyone's treating you well here? No problems?"

"No, nothing yet." Ed said calmly. The kid actually looked pretty relaxed here, and Roy was please with that.

Ed smiled. "They said i get to talk to the psychologist tomorrow morning. So that should be the start of me getting out of here, I think."

"That's good. I saw a payphone right by the elevator when i came in, and you've got your quarters, so you can call me anytime- you know the numbers."

"Yeah." Ed looked up, watching hinm warily. "You're not leaving yet, are you?"

Roy paused. "no."

"that's good." ed looked releived. "I got a favor to ask, if it's not too weird."

"Shoot."

"Ed paused. "So... whenever I'm at my dorm, al is pretty much always there, in the corner reading or playing with his contraband cats or something. But he's gone, and i have a hard time falling asleep without someone in the room with me. So... can you... would you mind staying? Just until I fall asleep?" Ed asked hopefully.

Ed had never asked anyone for a favor, or admitted that he had a hard time with anything before. It was touching the the kid trusted him this much.

Roy nodded. "Yeah. I'll stay. Of course I'll stay." he scooted the chair closer to Ed's bedside, and Ed looked relieved.

"Thanks. You don't even have to say goodnight or whatever, when I'm out you can takeoff. Cause then when I wake up it'll be morning and I can convince this doctor guy I'm sane..."

"Have you been studying?" Roy asked carefully.

Ed's brows furrowed. "Studying for what?"

"For your mental health test. So you know the correct answers to all the questions." Roy joked, cracking a small smile.

Ed smirked. "Good one, Bastard." but there was none of Ed's usual contempt in his tone, and he was smiling when he said it.

"Whatever, you flea. Aren't you supposed to be trying to go to sleep?"

"Yeah, but you keep talking to me!"

"Because there's nothing else to do here. Give me that book- at least let me read to entertain myself."

"Alright, fine. But put it on the desk when you go, I want to finish it tomorrow. Hey- wait a minute- if you're gonna read it, you might as well read it aloud. That way we both learn something." Ed said seriously.

Roy blinked. That actually made sense. "Alright. Fine. But you're on chapter three, so you have to get me up to speed on the first two chapters."

""Um... Olsen's theory of reciprocal transmutation, and Jaeger's Postulate of reconstruction." Ed rattled them both off calmly.

Roy sorted through his mental filling cabinet, he'd studied this all, but it'd been nearly a decade... "How in-depth was it about reciprocal transmutation?"

"Do you remember the Henfield equation? Can you solve an example on how much water it would take to make 3 moles of hydrogen from water?"

Roy blinked, recalling his early days of textbook studying. "Yes."

"Then you're good. That's as in-depth as they get. You're up to speed." Ed smiled, looking pleased from himself. He placed his hands behind his head and laid back on the pillows, looking at the ceiling.

Roy started to read.

"When converting heavy metals to alkali metals, care should be taken to be certain that the transmutation area is free of water, to avoid the violent reaction of alkali with water." Ed nodded quietly in agreement.

"Based on the theory of reciprocal transmutation- that anything that has been transmuted into one form can be reverted to the other, as long as all the pieces are nearby and trace elements and gasses needed to revert the transmutation haven't dissipated, arises Chattel's theory of tandem transmutation- via a careful aliquoting of materials and a detailed understanding of the reactions involved, one may continually change and transmute in increasing complexity in a stepwise manner, building 'from the ground up' so to speak. This is demonstrated in the following examples of the transmutation of benzene from carbon and hydrogen..."

Ed's eyelids were starting to droop, but he nodded. "That's the plan. Build it from the ground up... from scratch." Ed said quietly, getting cut off with a yawn.

Roy blinked. "Build what from scratch?"

Ed blinked sluggishly. "My new arm. And leg. Once we can understand the chemistry and composition of an arm and leg on a cellular level, we're going to use that approach to continually increase in complexity until we've transmuted a living arm and leg for me. We'll start with my limbs- that way if we mess it up, it's not a big deal." Ed said seriously. "We're still... laying the groundwork."

Roy blinked, surprised. "And you think you can do it?"

Ed nodded. "Yeah. Already transmuted some skin in the petri dishes the other day. Might take a few years, but we're gonna... we'll do it." Ed was cut off by another yawn.

"You did?" Mustang was sitting forward in his chair, now, raptly at attention. "Can I look at it?"

Ed nodded. "Yeah. It's in the fridge in the alchemy lab on the second floor. Just... make sure you put more culture media in there, so it doesn't die. I forgot to do that last week." Ed said seriously. "Notes are all in my journal, you have it, if you want to look through them."

"That's brilliant. You realize that if you figure this out, you could make skin grafts for accidents and burn victims, right?"

Ed blinked. "Huh. never thought of that."

"You should submit this for your annual assessment, the military would throw funding into it. hell- you might be able to regenerate limbs for amputees one day..." Roy was getting excited- it'd been awhile since he'd been this intrigued by any type of alchemy.

Ed gave him a tired grin. "No, really- I hadn't even thought of that." he said with a grin, wiggling his automail fingers at Roy. "Quit jabbering and keep reading. I'll never be able to do it if you don't help me learn the basics."

Roy blinked. "Right." he'd gotten distracted from reading the book- the very knowledge Ed was going to have to master if this scheme was going to work.

"Chattel's theory has proved true for many pharmaceuticals and complex chemical substances- however, it has yet to be perfected for more complicated multicellular organisms, such as plants and animals. The most recent success came from the lab of Earl Winkler, where he had an amputee mouse regrow a lost tail..."

Roy looked over to see Ed was dead asleep, curled up on his side facing Roy, breathing deep and even with his mouth slightly open.

Roy smiled, getting to his feet and marking the page in the book, replacing it on Ed's desk. he strode back over to Ed's bedside, pulling the blankets up to the boy's chin.

Ed let out a contented sigh in his sleep, and Roy leaned over and tosseled the sleeping boy's hair in a gesture of affection he'd rarely get away with if the kid was awake.

"Goodnight, my brilliant little flea." he said, giving the kid a grin, before he was ducking out of the room and turning off the lights.

Boom! Did you like that? That sneaky I pulled- where Roy was reading Ed an alchemy textbook like a bedtime story? And how excited and proud Roy was of Ed's research progress- like a proud papa when his kid brings home an A from school. Papa Ro gives me life! Let me know what you thought! :)