Well, chapter 10 and it's pretty short, sorry! Chapters from here on out will be their usual length, but I felt this chapter was a bit necessary even if a bit boring since Sheska is pretty important. Also, most of this is from a 3rd person POV of Linor, but some chapters later down the line will have 3rd person POV of other people, so look forward to that! I will announce it at the beginning of the chapter and it will be coming soon, so just a heads up!
mothedman: Yes I started tearing up too! Just wait though...
The last couple days, Hughes and Linor worked diligently on replicating the Scar files that Eastern Command had copies of. One would think such an elusive and mysterious man wouldn't have such a large file, but along with his case was all the information on the crime scenes, autopsies, and victim files as well. Currently, the duo had just finished replicating all of Scar's personal information and killings and was moving onto the crime scene data. The two were in Hughes' office, surrounded by scattered papers that had nothing to do with what they were working on, and Linor curiously picked up one of the sheets and read it over.
"Hughes," The woman called, finally dropping all formalities after several dozen corrections in the last 48 hours. "What are all these documents for?" She asked once she heard his pen stop scribbling.
"I'm trying to get some sort of progress done on the other files that were lost." He replied with a sigh, finally setting his pen down and rolling back in his chair dramatically. Taking off his glasses and resting an arm over his eyes, he lolled his head back. "Sometimes I think it's more trouble than it's worth- we have bits and pieces here in Command but completing an entire case file is seeming damn near impossible." Now holding several papers that were all from separate files, Linor looked up to Hughes.
"I could try to help," She offered, "We should be able to get Scar's case done in…" Counting her free days on her finger, Linor mumbled quietly under her breath. "Two days for the crime scenes, two for the autopsies, and two for the victim files…" Having a few extra fingers up, Linor rubbed her neck. "I have a few extra days if we can bang this out." Hughes gave his helper a grateful yet stressed smile.
"I appreciate it, Linor, but we're missing so much information, I doubt we'd be able to get anything important done." Shooting a sympathetic look toward the man, Linor noticed how exhausted he looked. Placing the folder on top of a mess of scattered sheets, Linor stood from the couch she was settled on and stretched.
"Why don't we take a break," She suggested, "We've been at it all morning and it's time for lunch." The woman pointed to the clock on Hughes' office wall and he looked up at it, putting on his glasses.
"Well look at that," He mumbled, obviously not realizing how long the duo had been working. "I suppose we should get some lunch." He agreed, pushing out of his chair and mimicking Linor's stretch. "Let's go out," He suggested, Linor agreeing and all too willing to get out of Central Command as the duo had been cooped up in the building for a good part of the last two days. Leaving the messy office, they headed down the hall and noticed two soldiers standing guard outside of the Command Library. "Second Lieutenant Ross, Sergeant Brosh, what are you two doing here?" Maes asked curiously. Immediately after hearing his voice, the two snapped into a salute.
"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes!" Ross greeted formally, "We are currently under the jurisdiction of guarding the Fullmetal Alchemist, sir." Suddenly very excited, Hughes boasted a big grin while Linor donned the opposite.
"So, the Elric brothers are in there?" He asked boisterously, though before either soldier could reply, Hughes burst through the door, dragging a protesting Linor along with him. Eyes already on the visitors, Linor ripped her grip away from her captor as he energetically approached the Elrics. "Yo!" Hughes greeted loudly, slamming his hands on the table the boys sat at. "What gives, Ed? I told you to give me a shout the next time you made it to Central." He joked. Linor remembered Hughes telling her the Elrics were in Central, but she was surprised to hear they hadn't once visited Hughes since they arrived.
"Oh, er, something urgent came up. Sorry," Ed stuttered, a gloved hand scratching the back of his head.
"It's just as well, I've been busy too," Hughes replied, stepping to the side and finally bringing attention to Linor.
"Major Ziegler!" Alphonse addressed, sounding a bit shocked and excited at the same time.
"Hello, Alphonse," Linor greeted sheepishly, "It's been a while, you're looking much better." She remarked, the metal suit nodding.
"Yes, brother did a great job putting me back together, I feel as good as new." The younger sibling praised, Linor muttering a 'that's good to hear' before her shaded eyes then wandered to the silent Ed. The child stared up at the woman, his gaze not so much angry as disappointed.
"Hello, Ed," Linor mumbled, the boy simply grunting in return. Before the silence got too uncomfortable, Hughes tried to lighten the mood.
"It looks like you boys have been busy," He pointed out, seeing all the books that were strewn across the library table. "We've had a lot of cases to deal with ourselves." Pulling out the chair across from Ed, Hughes sat down. "All our case records were stored in the stacks at the Central Library. Trying to work without them hasn't been a picnic, let me tell ya. We've been trying our best to recreate the documents we lost, but Eastern Command only has so much information." As if realizing something, the Elrics went silent and shifted their gaze to the quiet bystander next to Alphonse. When the geeky-looking woman realized what the boys were thinking, she let out a wail loud enough to scare Linor.
"Hey Lieutenant Colonel, I think I got exactly the person you guys are looking for." Ed boasted with a grin.
"Well I have read the military's criminal case records and I do remember them all." The stranger drawled, Linor shocked at how casual the woman sounded and mumbling amazed praises under her breath.
"That's all I needed to hear, Lady. You're hired!" Hughes shouted, "My office pays well, so don't worry!" Looking as if she were about to cry, the young woman clenched her fists excitedly.
"Oh uh, you're saying you want me-? Oh, thank you so much!" She sputtered, giving the Elrics a grateful smile. "I'll have faith just like you told me to! Thank you, thank you!" The woman wailed as Hughes gripped her by the back of the collar and began dragging her out of the library.
"C'mon now, right to work!" Hughes cooed, making Linor's jaw drop.
"Wai- Lieutenant Colonel Hughes! What about lunch!" Linor shouted.
"Did someone call me? Huh? Did you hear that?" He shouted back, Linor dropping her head with a sigh as he marched down the hall back to his office. Turning to give the boys one last wave, Linor gave the Elrics a coy smile.
"It was nice seeing you again, Alphonse… Edward," She said, softly adding the latter's name as his eyes seemed to bore into hers past the shades. After getting a goodbye from Alphonse, Linor turned to leave and heard a faint;
"It was nice seeing you too, Major." From Edward. A relieved smile graced the woman's face which she turned to show Ed before running to catch up with Hughes.