Roy was walking down the halls of the hospital with Chiko on his head and the team following him. Edward was attacked by an assassin hired to kill him, he had a concussion, a broken arm, a stab wound, broken ribs and his automail was gone. They got to the room that was guarded by two guards, the guards saluted and Roy waved his hand and said. "At ease. How's Fullmetal?" "The doctor said that major Elric be okay sir, he's awake now and he's brother is with him." "Good. Let us in." They nodded and one of them opened the door to see Edward eating with one hand and his brother next to him, talking. "Brother I wished you'd be more careful." "S'not my fault that everyone has it out for me." "Sure it isn't, it's your temper that gets you in trouble." "Well maybe if people didn't make fun of me then I wouldn't have hurt them." Roy smiled at this and said. "But Fullmetal your easy to make fun you because your the size of a bean." "WHO'RE YOU CALLING A BEAN YOU BASTARD!?!" "Why you of course." Ed seethed and glared at him as Alphonse greeted him. "Hello colonel how are you?" "I'm good Alphonse, just a tired from all the paperwork. How are you?" "I'm good." "And you Fullmetal? How're you?" "I'm fine. I keep telling the doctors I'm fine but they won't let me leave." Roy rolled his eyes and said sarcastically. "Ah yes your the picture of perfect health with you concussion, broken ribs, broken arm and your automail being smashed into a million pieces."

Ed cringed at all of that and looked away from him clearly embarrassed. "Yep, the picture of perfect health Edward. The doctors know what their doing Ed, let them help." "Whatever." Roy smiled at him and said. "You have some guest here to see you." Ed panicked and asked. "Please tell me you didn't call Winry! She'll kill me!" Roy arched an eyebrow and said. "I'm pretty sure you have to call her and there are some other people that are here to see you." "Who came to see me?" Roy moved out of the way to reveal the entire team here, including Monroe which Ed and Al were not happy about that but Ed sucked it up and put on a smile for the team. "What're you guys doing here?" "What do you mean? Here to see you chief." "Yeah why wouldn't we?" "Second Lieutenant Breda is correct Edward we were worried about you." "That's right Ed, we care about you. We look out for each other." "Yes Edward, we help our own." "Yes Fullmetal we do."

Ed mentally groaned at that, knowing full well that he didn't mean that. Monroe had tried to turn his brother against him a month before they went to help with the paperwork that day and Al had told him that he was an alchemist as well. He even showed him, he also said that they will expose him for what he really was and that he'll pay for hurting the colonel. Monroe was definitely surprised when Al had threatened him to expose him for what he just said, everyone knew that Al was a horrible liar and didn't lie about certain things. So Monroe would've gotten in allot of trouble for just trying to turn Al against Ed because the brothers were very protective of each other. They started discussing what happened. "The guy definitely was skilled and he had a unique accent as well, before he destroyed my automail I managed to cut his sleeve and saw a tattoo an his wrist. It looked something like this."

Ed held up a picture of a terribly drawn snake that No one really got and looked disturbed by it. Monroe asked. "So a tattoo of a worm?" Ed glared at him darkly as everyone sweat dropped, Roy took it and looked through it. "A snake tattoo with a wings Huh? Sounds familiar." Hawkeye looked at him and asked. "How so sir?" "The winged serpents. It's an organization of assassins and Mercenaries coming together for work. They mostly take small jobs, like stealing or killing criminals that got off easily because of their status but they follow an oath. Never kill without evidence, never kill in front of children and never kill children. This organization is full of honor and justice." "What happens if one of them breaks the rules Colonel?" "They receive punishment and are banished from the organization." "What's the punishment?" "They get scarred the same way they killed their victims." They shiver at that and Ed said. "Sound like a pretty tight organization. How do you know about it Colonel?" "I hired one of them to find evidence against a state alchemist."

They all looked at the colonel surprised and Al asked. "Why'd you do that Colonel?" "Because that state alchemist had murdered and raped Ishvalan children for seer entertainment and turning them into slaves, something the organization despise. That's why I wanted evidence against this alchemist because I had met someone with the tattoo mention about the group, so I called that person and they helped me put that man into prison. That's how I know about them." Everyone had a shiver down their spine as Ed looked at Roy. "So does this mean I'll need a bodyguard?" "Yes Fullmetal it's mandatory for someone in your state."

Ed had a look of dread on his face and said. "Great. Let me guess, your gonna send Major Armstrong aren't you." Roy shook his head and said. "Not this time I'm afraid, Major Armstrong is on a mission so I guess you'll have to wait until he comes back to go to see your mechanic. So until then you stay here until he gets back, so that mean no missions until we get this guy." Ed groans and throws his head back. "This is so unfair." "Life rarely is kid but think of this way, you'll actually be getting some rest and letting your body heal normally instead of jumping at the chance to leave." Ed glared at him as he just grins at him, it was actually funny because of the patch of fur on his head looking at Ed but he didn't say anything when they heard a familiar voice. "I heard the Fullmetal alchemist was hurt but I didn't think it was true so I came to see it for myself."

Everyone turned to the door and saw Führer king Bradley at the doorway. Everyone panicked and did a salute as Chiko hid in Roy's hair. The Führer gave a wave of his hand and said. "At ease I'm just here for a little visit is all. Here, I brought you melon Fullmetal." He places a basket with a melon in it on the table as the stared at it in surprise. "Uh, thank you sir. What brings you here?" "From what I've been told by the guards that someone is after you, is that true?" "Yes sir. Someone hired an assassin to take out Fullmetal, he's gonna stay here for the time being until he's healed and we can get him a bodyguard." "Mhm, well when Fullmetal's healed how about you guard him colonel." Everyone gets surprised at this and look at the colonel who is equally surprised. Monroe looked at him and asked. "Uh sir are you sure that's a good idea? I mean the colonel is busy and all, maybe I can do it? It'll give me a chance to get to know the boys."

Roy, Chiko, Ed and Al freeze at that, this was Monroe's chance to hurt Ed if the Führer agreed but to their relief he said. "I'm sorry Private Monroe but this is a job for state alchemist and you are not a state alchemist besides I feel bad for making you work when your mother died, I sincerely didn't know about it." Roy's eyes widened at that, how'd he know about that. He glanced Ed and Al to see them equally surprised, that didn't make sense. Who told the Führer about Monroe's mom? "So do you agree colonel?" "Ah, yes sir. I agree." "Good, well I better be off now. Bye." They all saluted and when he left, Ed groaned. "Great. Now I have to deal with 24/7 now." Roy looks at him with a smirk and said. "You know you love me." Ed just made a grossed out face and stuck his tongue out saying bleh as Roy laughed. "Come on Ed don't see it as a bad thing, there's also something good coming from this." Ed looked at him and asked. "Like what?" "Well you get to spend more time with Chiko and when we see your mechanic she'd be less mad at you because most of her anger will be directed at me. Isn't that great?"

Ed and Al sweat drop at Roy's smile of glee and said. "That's not something to be happy of colonel." "Yeah, Winry has a tendency to be violent so maybe should ease off it." Roy rolled his eyes and shook his head saying. "I'll be fine, I've dealt with worse things." "Like what?" Roy smiles and put his hand under his chin saying. "Like the time when Hawkeye was in a bad mood and she shot at me for not doing my work, I dealt with that like any scared man would." Ed snickered and asked. "How'd you do that? Did you cry and pee you pants?" "Nope, I simple said sorry and did my work for an entire week without complaining until Hawkeye felt better. Isn't that great?" Havoc jumped in and said. "It's not great! During Hawkeyes bad weeks is horrible! She nearly hit me when I didn't share my chocolate." Hawkeye glanced at him and said. "I needed more then you and it barely grazed you." Havoc muttered something like 'devil woman' and went to get something to drink. Breda, Falman, Fury and Monroe went with him as Hawkeye and Roy stayed with the brothers.

Roy looked at them and said. "I guess when you can be released you guys can stay with me. I spoke with the doctor before coming in here, he said you can be released tomorrow and in a couple of weeks for train travel." "Finally! Where's the papers?!?" "Hold on, I said tomorrow. They still want to keep you under watch for anything new and you are not to rough house until your stitches come out Ed." "Fine whatever." "Good, Lieutenant? I trust you to bring any work for me to do at my house tomorrow, seeing as though I'm guarding Fullmetal until we get this guy." "Consider it done sir." "Thank you, I'm gonna get something to drink. Lieutenant stay here with the boys. I know your not an alchemist but it would be appreciated." 'Even if you hate me.' "Yes sir." Roy grabbed Chiko out of his hair and said. "You stay here Chiko and help guard Edward, your smallness will help create an advantage for Hawkeye for her because your hard to notice. Can you do that?" Chiko nodded and did a salute, Roy blushed and smiled at that. "At ease soldier, I'm gonna go." Roy leaves as Chiko waves at him while the others watched him leave.

Ed and Al was worried about him because of Monroe, Ed looked at Al and nodded to him. Al nodded back and left to go with the colonel, Hawkeye raised an eyebrow at that but didn't say anything and watched Ed feed Chiko a grape. After awhile Al and Roy came back but Roy had a bruise on his cheek. Hawkeye looked at him concerned and asked. "Colonel what happened?" "Oh! Uh, I startled Alphonse and smacked me by accident I'm fine." She looked at Al for confirmation and he nodded, Hawkeye looks at Roy and says. "Let me take a look at it sir." Roy nodded and she looked at it, Ed looked at Al and he shook his head silently saying that he'll tell him later. Ed nodded and looked at Roy, he looked more tired then before and looked like he had his confidence taken away. Ed looked at Chiko, who finished his grape and got an idea.

When Hawkeye was done with Roy, Al went came up to him and said. "I'm sorry sir for hurting you, so as an apology I have something for you." Roy looked at Al's hand and saw Chiko holding a grape out to him with a smile. Roy blushed and took Chiko saying. "Awww my little Chiko. You are so Cute!" Ed, Al, and Hawkeye smile at Roy as he gush over his pet, after awhile they left for home and Ed looked at Al asking. "What really happened to him Al?" "(Sighs) In the hallway I saw the colonel and Monroe talking, then I saw Monroe hurting the Colonel so much that he coughed up blood. I mean I knew that Monroe was hurting the colonel so much but I never thought that it hurt that bad." "He's a good actor that's for sure, according to the colonel Monroe's mother did die when he joined but he never told the Führer about it." "I guess he didn't want to cause a fuss Huh?" "Yep but at least colonel is assigned to protecting me and not Monroe. I'm okay with spending time with the colonel but I will complain about him taking care of us instead." "You really care about the colonel Huh?" Ed blushes and says angrily. "No! I just rather have someone I trust other then that know it all brat that thinks he's better then everyone is all to it! Nothing more." "Sure brother of course." "Yes that's it!" For once Al was glad not to have a face because Ed would've asked what he was smiling about.

Al knew that Ed cared about the colonel, he was just to stubborn about it. At Roy's place, his cheek was bandaged as he dried off Chiko. He had a distracted look on his face that he didn't notice that Chikos fur was dry. Chiko looked up and gave squeak breaking Roy out of his thoughts, he looked down and said while taking the towel off. "Oh! Sorry Chiko." When the towel was off it revealed that Chikos fur was staticky. "I'm sorry Chiko, are you okay?" Chiko nodded and pointed to Roy as if asking the same thing. "I'm okay, I just have allot on my mind right now." Chiko gave a concerned squeak and touched Roy's hand giving him a slight shock. Roy flinched but rubbed his finger against Chiko's cheek and said. "I really am lucky to have you and those boys. Their such good boys." Chiko gave a squeak in agreement and nodded. "Let's get to bed, shall we?" Chiko nodded and they went to bed.

The reason why Roy was so down was because Monroe had said some things that made him question things. What if it was his fault that Hughes was gone? Tears raised up in his eyes and tears went down his face, he held in a sob as to not wake Chiko up but it escaped. More tears went down his face and he whispered. "I'm so sorry hughes, this is all my fault. If I hadn't gotten you into this then none of this would've happened if you didn't know me." He let out another sob but stopped when he felt something on his head. Chiko had gotten into Roy's head and yawned, he snuggled into Roy's hair and fell asleep with a smile. Roy's tears stopped and he went to sleep as Chiko glowed again making him smile as well.

Ed and Al were waiting for the train as Roy and Chiko got some food for the train. Ed groaned when the train finally came and looked around for Roy. "Oh good the trains here." "Yeah, took them long enough to get here. What took you so long anyway?" Ed's eyes widened to see Roy with three bento boxes, a sack of snacks and a bun in his mouth with Chiko on his shoulder eating a piece of the bun. "S'rry the're wat a lin' an' 'ad to wai'." "Don't talk with your mouth full colonel." "He' I wa' hungry and my hand' ar' full." "Here let me help you colonel." Al took the bentos from Roy and he took the bun saying. "Thank you Al, let's get going." They all walk into the train as Roy and Chiko eat the bun. Ed looks at them and asks. "What're you eating anyway?" "Red bean bun. It's the day me and Chiko met so me and him are eating the thing that I gave him this day."

Ed and Al smile at that seeing how strong Roy and Chiko's bond is. They sat in their sits and sat down, Ed and Al faced each other while Roy sat behind them reading. As the train started moving after an hour Ed looked at Roy and asked. "Is it okay if I have one?" "Go ahead. If you need me I'm gonna get some take a nap." "Goodnight Colonel." "Night." Roy yawned and laid down on his side, he used his arms as a pillow and fell asleep with Chiko sleeping in his hair.

After an hour Ed and Al were playing cards, Al looked at Ed and asked. "How's the Colonel and Chiko brother?" "Not sure, let me check." Ed turned around and saw Roy and Chiko snoozing away, it was honestly adorable. Chiko suddenly yawned and rubbed his eyes, he looked at Ed and waved. Ed smiled and waved back, suddenly Chiko froze and ran down Roy's arm to hide very scared. Ed and Al looked surprised and Ed asked. "What was that about?" "Excuse me?"

Ed and Al looked and saw two men standing in front of them. "Sorry to bother you but have you seen this creature anywhere?" The held up a picture of Chiko with a little girl holding him. "Our bosses daughter lost her pet a year ago and it's been dearly missed, so have you seen it." Ed looked at the photo and saw that Chiko looked very scared in the photo, unlike he is now. All smiling and happy, no he looks scared and unhappy in the photo. Ed looked at them and said. "No sorry but I haven't seen it at all. Who did it belong to?" "General YU's daughter sir, tell us if you've seen it at all." "Right." They leave and go to the other cart, they check on Chiko to see that Roy woke up and was hiding Chiko behind his hand to comfort him.

Roy looked at them and said darkly. "General YU, is gonna pay for hurting Chiko." Ed and Al nodded in agreement, nobody traumatizes family and gets away with it.

Ed, Al, Roy and Chiko were walking up the trail to the Rockbell residence. Roy was holding Chiko in his hands while he cried, it broke Roy's heart to see him cry. Roy stops next to a tree and says to Ed and Al. "I'm gonna sit here and try to calm him down, he's still upset." "No problem colonel, I'm gonna tell Winry when she's done yelling at me about Chiko. Granny too. They'll know to be gentle with Chiko." Roy smiles at them and nods. "Thank you." Roy sits down on the tree and comforts Chiko, Ed and Al continue to the house very worried about Chiko. When they got there they saw Winry sitting on the porch with Den, she looked up at them and smiled. "Ed! Al! Hey!" "Hey Winry!" Al said happily while Ed just waved at her, she noticed Ed's arm gone and her expression darkened. "Edward, what happened to your arm?" "It got shattered to pieces." "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG IT TOOK TO BUILD THAT!?!?" "A long time, I'm sorry." "DAMN RIGHT YOUR-wait what?"

Winry looks at ed and notices the look on his face, then asks. "Ed is everything okay?" "I'm just worried about Chiko." "Who's that?" "Your gonna have to come and see once the colonel calms him down." "Colonel Mustang is here?" "Yeah, he's been ordered by the Führer to guard brother while they search for the one who hurt him." "You were hurt Ed?" "Yeah but don't worry the colonels been taking care of us. He let us stay with him even if I said no." "Where is he anyway?" Ed and Al point to the tree and Winry sees Roy under it with something in his hands. "What's he holding? It looks like a piece of fuzz." "That's Chiko, the colonels not sure what kind of animal he is but he kinda looks like a mouse of sorts." "What happened to him?" "The colonel or Chiko?" "Actually both. The colonel looks like he's been beaten." "Chiko had a panic attack on the train and the colonels calming him down. As for that, we better discuss this with Granny inside." Winry nods and they head inside to tell them what happened over the year.

They all sat at the table as Ed and Al explained about what Monroe has been doing to the colonel and why he's doing it. "But the thing is the colonel doesn't remember anyone named Monroe in his unit." "And this kid keeps telling him that he killed his father?" "Yeah and the colonel remembers the people he killed during the war, it's odd." "So this Monroe kid has a thing against state alchemist?" "Not just State alchemist Winry, Alchemist all the together. When I told him that I was a alchemist he immediately stopped trying to turn me against brother." "Yeah and the day at the hospital the colonel left Chiko with me and Monroe managed to hurt him, even said something that made him down but he's getting better and that's thanks to Chiko." "I'm glad the colonels feeling better but what do you mean by manage to hurt? Hasn't he always been hurting him." Al shook him head and said. "Not since Chikos been around, Monroe's to scared to be around him now." Winry smiled at that when the door opened and they all looked at it to see Roy standing there with Chiko in his hands.

He smiled sheepishly and said. "Sorry it took so long, Chiko wasn't ready yet." "It's okay colonel, Ed and Al were just explaining everything." "That's good, Chiko? Do you want to say hello?" Chiko peaks out of his hand that's covering him and gives a tiny wave. Winry blushes and said squealing. "Awwww! He's so cute!" "I know right." Chiko was still hiding because he wasn't ready to come out yet but they understood, Chiko was scared and they wanted him to be comfortable.

After awhile Roy fell asleep on the cot with Chiko hiding under him asleep. Winry started working on Ed automail as Al went to chop some wood. Ed brought the blanket close to Roy's chin as he didn't have a blanket and looked cold, Pinako looks at him and says. "You know you don't have to take care of him, that's not your responsibility." "I know, it's just my way of saying thank you for helping me and Al find the philosophers stone. He's took care of me and I just want to say thank you, when I saw him that day after two months granny he wasn't himself. I thought it was because of Hughes and his work but apparently it was something else. That day we saw Monroe's work and he looked horrible, he even had an infected wound that made him cough up blood and very weak. Seeing him like that was horrible, it made me realize that he's human. That wasn't supposed to be." Ed sat at the table and continued. "It surprised me that the untouchable flame alchemist can be hurt and weak like a human. It honestly scared me when I realized that he changed because of this new kid, me and Al agreed to help the colonel with this and we will prove his innocence to his team and prove that Monroe is evil. During our time away from the colonel we were worried that he'd get even hurt worse but when we came back he honestly looked better both physically and mentally and that's all because of Chiko. Seeing him back to normal like that, teasing me and being sarcastic brought a smile on my face."

Pinako took a whiff of her pipe as Ed sipped his tea and blew it out saying. "You know Ed i think you grew some the last time i saw you." Ed jumped at that and choked on his tea.

I got the untouchable flame alchemist from Selvow's forgiveness book, check it out its really good.

To be continued