CHAPTER 8

Tick. Tock.

Tick. Tock.

The first thing Ed heard.

A swarthe of blankets

The first thing Ed felt.

Dark room.

The first thing Ed saw when he haphazardly opened his eyes. It was now dark outside, moonlight streaming in through the window. Other than this the only light in the room was the small lights on each little machine. Ed glanced around the room and saw Al sitting in the corner nose deep in a book. No one else was present in the room.

"Al…?" Ed called quietly. Al perked up and hopped to his feet in an instant.

"Brother, are you okay?" Al asked.

"Hurts." Ed said.

"Well you are supposed to be dead." Al's voice grew more sinister. Ed jostled his head.

"Wh-what?" Ed asked.

"You're just so weak. You know that? I mean really. You couldn't get out on your own? How pathetic." Al's voice was shifting into a much deeper tone.

"A-Al I…" Ed could feel hot tears pouring down his cheeks.

"How are you ever going to get our bodies back when you're so weak?"

"I'll get them back Al, I promise! I… I promised you!" Ed was yelling now.

Ed could suddenly see the room around his crumble beneath him. He was falling deep into the darkness. His eyes were opened wide, tears flying out from his sockets. He felt his body crash into the ground. Lust was peering over him with a sly smile. Ed couldn't move. All he could do was cry. Lust was leaning down closer to his face. She took a long finger and stroked his hair away from his eyes. Sweat poured down Ed's face, mixing with the salty tears.

"Goodbye Fullmetal Alchemist."

Then everything went dark.

Ed jolted upwards, heaving breaths escaping his body. His tears were pouring in mass quantities. He realized he was screaming.

"Edward! Edward, you're alright! It's just a dream!" A voice was calling out to him. It was a deep one. Ed tried to ground himself, tried to hold onto something to keep himself from floating away into insanity.

"Brother!" Al's voice stretched over the rest. He finally turned to face his brother. Al extended his arms and pulled him close. The cool armor felt perfect on the alchemist's red hot face. Big gloved hands stroked his hair and a quiet shushing slowly brought him back to reality. "You're safe now. It's okay." Al said in a hushed tone.

"A-Al?" Ed said, sounding small.

"I'm here." Al said.

"This time it's real, right?" Ed quivered.

"I'm as real as can be." If Al had lips he would curl them into a warm smile.

"How do I know… It seemed so real… It seemed so real…" Ed was growing more panicked once again, letting his thoughts and unsteady feelings consume him.

"You can feel me, you can hear me. You can feel pain, can you not?" Al said, gently.

"I can."

"Then you are here."

Ed sighed in relief, suddenly remembering that he was severely injured. His ports were on fire and he could feel a warm sticky feeling from his shoulder.

"I'll go get the doctor." The deep voice said again. Ed now recognized it as a certain Colonel.

"S-sorry Al." Ed sniffled.

"Don't be." Al said, feeling like he was the older brother at this moment. The doctor was swift to come in and tidy Ed up. Replacing a few stitches that popped out of place and rebandaging his shoulder. He checked on his leg to ensure nothing was wrong and quickly amped up the pain killer to soothe the fire he felt on his ports. The doctor worked quickly and talked to Ed the entire way through it to keep him grounded. Ed kept his one hand on Al's, squeezing it as tightly as he could. The doctor left as soon as he came. Leaving the three men in an awkward silence.

"Where Winry?" Ed said, hoping she didn't end up witnessing what had just happened.

"Lieutenant Hawkeye took her to her hotel for the evening." Mustang explained. Ed felt relief wash over him. He never wanted Winry to see him so weak.

"Fullmetal. I think we need to get you to speak with a therapist of some sort." Mustang said. Ed shook his head.

"I don't need one. I just had a nightmare. I'm fine." Ed didn't like the thought of someone prying into his deepest thoughts. Therapists were like weird mind readers.

"Ed these panic attacks are only seeming to get worse." Mustang replied, trying to sound gentle.

"It wasn't a panic attack! It was a nightmare. You're telling me you never get nightmares?" Ed was growing defensive.

"We all get nightmares, Ed. But I've seen PTSD, I've seen it tear men apart at the seams. I've seen men lose everything because of it." Mustang was trying to remain calm, but Ed was stubborn. Always stubborn. Why couldn't he just let them help him?

"Whatever. I'll think about it." Ed casted his gaze down, not being able to turn his body away from Mustang to lay on his side. His unbalance without the automail was prevalent as well as a heavy cast on his good leg, which did not help his situation.

"That's all I ask." Roy finished, knowing he wouldn't get much further on the topic at this moment. "Get some rest."

"I've been doing nothing but sleeping. I don't want to rest." Ed was growing uneasy in his skin.

"Would you like me to read to you? I've been reading this good one about the philosophies of ancient alchemy from around the world. I think you'd like it." Al suggested.

"Yeah… That sounds good." Ed would read it himself but he didn't have the arm to hold the book, nor the strength to keep himself upright. He liked it when Al read to him, his voice was always gentle and he never went too fast or too slow. Al creaked and got up, moving over to the corner table where a leather bound book sat. He picked it up and moved over to the side of the bed. Roy knew that was his cue to leave. He gave a quick goodbye and was out the door in an instant.

9:23 PM

Roy didn't realize how long he had been at the hospital today. Time seemed to move so slow but also fast at the same time. His exhaustion from the day's events was beginning to set in. He could feel his eyes growing heavier and he was sure his scowl was deeper than usual. Roy knew he could have called a car to take him home, but decided to walk, the evening was nice and cool. The streets had grown quiet and the only forms of light were from the moon and the few streetlights. The world was beginning to take its rest. Lights flickered out from apartment windows and only a few people were still on the streets. Mostly drunk young couples and elderly men who value themselves on drinking the bar empty each night. Roy turned the corner onto his road where his apartment lay. It was a small building on the end of the street. The rent was cheap and it got him by. Not that he was there very often, anyways. The long stretch of road bore in front of him like a long corridor. His street only had one small street light that illuminated only so much of the road below. In reality, this place was pretty creepy. Dark and secluded. But Roy was used to it, he even liked it at times. He made it to his apartment with ease, turning his small key into the rusty lock.

Click!

Roy turned the knob and stepped inside. He threw his boots in the corner of the entryway, not caring where they landed. He slung his coat onto a small hook and walked into the main area of his apartment. It wasn't anything special. A hallway leading from the entryway then opened up to a small living room and kitchen. On either side of the hallway lay two doors. One to his bedroom, and one to his bathroom. It was all he needed. He knew some others had large, luxurious homes. Using their wages to invest in a lavish property. Roy didn't care for that kind of stuff. Roy felt the grease and sweat clinging to his shirt and hair from the day's events. He turned into the small bathroom, closing the door behind him. Roy really got a good look at himself in the mirror now. His eyes were sunken in and his lips looked chapped. His hair was a mess, black strands flying in every direction. Roy laughed gently to himself. He looked like a ghost. He quickly moved to turn on the water to the shower, letting the warmth slowly crawl its way out of his pipes. He threw off his black t-shirt along with his blue work pants and underwear. Steam began to rise from the shower, indicating it was time to get in. Roy stepped in gently, letting the hot steamy water rush over his skin. It prickled his pores and cascaded down his body in long streams, where small droplets were racing down to reach the bottom. Roy dunked his head under the shower head. His hair hung in his face and the water flowed around his head. Roy let out a sigh, letting his eyes close. His body began to slowly relax

"Maybe I'll soak in the tub for a while after this." Roy thought to himself, enjoying the warm sensation. A large bang drew Roy from his calm and jostled him in surprise.

"What the hell?" Roy said out loud. He peered his head out of his shower curtain. Everything was as he left it in the small bathroom. Roy heard shuffling again. He quickly threw a towel around him and prepared himself. Roy lived alone with no pets. Someone was in his home. Roy inched the bathroom door open, careful to not let it squeak as he swung it open. His gloves were in his jacket. He peered gently out into the hallway, there was no one to be seen. They might have moved into the kitchen area. Roy knew it was a risk to run out and get his gloves without knowing the position of the enemy, but if someone was in his house, he needed to defend himself. Roy gently opened the door the rest of the way and began to creep outwards toward his jacket.

'`Just a few more steps" He thought to himself cautiously. He looked around his shoulder often, hoping the perpetrator wouldn't hear him. The shower water was still roaring away, which Roy hoped drowned out the sound of his footsteps. Just as he was reaching towards his jacket, a long clawed hand seized his wrist, digging its nails into his flesh. Roy let out a wince and turned his head.

"Lust."