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I do not own FMA, nor do I wish to.

For anyone reading on a mobile device that has a broken 'Review' option; story ID is : 11778669

General rating.

italics are inside thoughts.

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It had taken four years but finally Ed and Al had found the steps they needed to take to put Al back into his body, they'd also found a place that was secure and large enough to complete the work. Ed had painted the transmutation circle on the ground and they'd gathered all the parts they needed to begin, Ed just had one more thing to do before they started.

He had to call Mustang. They'd both decided that they needed someone to come by afterward in case anything went wrong; if any more monsters or homunculi appeared from the gate they couldn't let them wander around causing trouble. And 'trouble' was putting it lightly.

It would take about forty minutes for Mustang and Hawkeye to get to this location from the Office, thirty if Mustang was driving. Hopefully they wouldn't need that time. The gate was unpredictable but all their other 'transactions' had been fairly quick so they should be able to wrap this up shortly. And, if everything went right then Ed would need help getting Al to a hospital.

He found a payphone and dialed the office, dispatch put him through and Mustang grabbed the line,

"Ed? What's happening? You were supposed to be here this morning with a report of what you'd found on your last mission. Are you ok-"

The concern he could hear in the General's voice bothered him and he cut him off, "We're fine. We found a way to get Al back into his body."

"What-"

"We're starting in a minute, we've already drawn the circle. If you leave soon you should arrive as we finish up and from what I saw last time I was at the gate Al will need to get to the hospital."

"ED! DON'T START WITHOU-"

"We'll be under laboratory 5."

Ed hung up on him. No time for doubts now.

He headed back into the cleared out basement of the lab and met up with Al who was doing one last round verifying the circle. Time to get Al's body back.

The line went dead and Mustang freaked out. That little brat! He was going to get himself and his little brother killed. He needed to get to lab 5 immediately. Gathering his team they took off, Mustang was driving.

He entered the basement of lab 5 filled with worry, the gloves were on, firearm ready. His eyes landed on two figures; they were breathing! Relief swept through him and he hurried over to check vitals. Hawkeye was already surveying the room with the team to check for any monsters the gate might have sent after them. Al was closer, and although he seemed extremely malnourished and weak, he was breathing and his heartbeat was steady.

Ed was a different matter, the automail on his arm had been destroyed taking some of the port with it, blood was pouring out and while he was breathing, it was erratic and shallow. Mustang wrapped his coat around the shoulder and while applying pressure, lifted Fullmetal into his arms to carry him out of the building. Havoc and Breda could take care of Alphonse and they'd brought several cars to the lab not knowing who would need to go where.

He barked an order to his Lieutenant, "Falman, hospital, you're driving." There was no way he was removing pressure from the wound or releasing his charge until there were multiple doctors ready to help.

Falman got them to the hospital in ten minutes and at the sight of their dress blues several doctors surrounded them. Mustang handed Ed over to the assembled team of medics and followed them into the operating room; they weren't going to be able to dismiss a General.

Mustang tuned out their hurried instructions to each other and focused on Ed's face from his vantage point near the foot of the room. He'd already lost enough blood to drain him of colour and though the general didn't like admitting it to himself, he was actually scared for the boy.

It wasn't long but eventually the voices in the room started making their way into his head again, "Put her on the IV." … "She's got a steady pulse."

A doctor appeared in front of him, "Sir, her heart is strong and her shoulder has been wrapped. The wound has been sealed without damaging the nerves and we're confident her automail can be reattached. We're taking her to intensive care if you'd like to follow."

Mustang snapped out of his thoughts for a moment and nodded. Something they were saying wasn't making sense but he was still too worried about Ed's health to process it so he followed them to the room.

He found a visitor's chair when he entered the room and from there he watched as they placed their patient on the bed and hooked up the life support systems required. As he watched Ed breathe it occurred to him that some of the bandages on his chest were a little excessive. Why would they need to bandage his whole chest for a shoulder wound? And what was with the extra padding… his brain stopped, then started again as all the words from the operating room came tumbling to the forefront of his thoughts. her heart… she's got… her automail...

FullMetal is woman? Had the gate done this as some sort of trade off?

His thoughts were interrupted when Hawkeye entered the room. "Sir, Alphonse has been put in the short term care ward. He's steady and asking for Ed but the staff aren't going to let him leave his room, I was hoping you could report while I stay here." She looked at the expression on his face. "Or give me the specifics and I'll pass them on."

Mustang gestured toward the hospital bed, "She's stable but weak. I'm sure we can get Alphonse in here tomorrow."

"Yes sir!" she saluted and turned to leave.

Mustang knew his friend, he'd known her for a very long time and was able to tell when she was shocked or startled even though she tried hard to hide it. This time though, this time she was neither, which could only mean one thing.

His voice stopped her on the way out, "you knew."

She was facing away from him but he saw her head bow slightly, "yes sir."

He sighed, he wasn't really mad at her, he could have been but it wouldn't change anything. "It's ok Riza." he was still a bit hurt about being left out though, "It wasn't your secret, and at least Ed had someone to confide in."

"Sir. She does not know I know. And since her and Alphonse seemed intent on keeping it a secret, I did not believe it was my place to tell."

She waited a moment, but when she heard no further questions she left to give Al the news. It was clear that Mustang was going to need some time to think.

The General didn't leave the room all through the night and morning found him still awake keeping an ear on Ed's vitals. Ed hadn't moved but her colour had returned and she seemed to be breathing normally. It wasn't until the orderly's shift change that she awoke shouting Al's name.

Mustang jumped from his chair to stop her from getting out of bed.

"It's ok Ed. Al is alive. He's doing great. He's just getting some rest, his body is very weak." Her eyes were wild and unfocused as she shouted for Al again. "Fullmetal! Focus! Al is alive!"

That got her, her eyes locked onto his, nervous but hopeful. "He's back? He's in his body?"

"Yes Ed. He'll be by in a bit to see you."

She fell back on the bed crying in relief. Her arm covered her face as if to hide the tears but the shaking was still present in her voice. "Can you get him? I need to see him."

Mustang nodded at the orderly and she left.

"Ed?"

"Mmm?"
"You need a shirt."

The arm slowly moved away from her face and she looked at Mustang with wide eyes, only now realising that she wasn't wearing a hospital gown and that the bandages were all that was keeping her chest from being exposed. He held out a top that Hawkeye had grabbed from the hospital shop and helped her put it on.

She was clearly unsettled as he helped her with the shirt and wouldn't look him in the eye, she opened and closed her mouth several times as if trying to find the right words.

"It's ok Ed." Mustang cut off anything she was about to say, "Be happy. Your mission is complete. Al has been returned to his original body and aside from some malnutrition, seems to be happy and healthy."

She let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding.
"I would still like to talk to you though. I've spent the entire night replaying every conversation we've ever had and it's changed a lot of the context-"

He didn't get to finish. Al was pushed into the room on a wheelchair followed by Hawkeye and the rest of his team. He silently thanked his first lieutenant for keeping them out all night so he could be alone with his thoughts. There had been a lot to go through and while he knew it was selfish, it wasn't like they were missing anything, Ed had slept the entire time.

The room had erupted into chaos. Congratulations were in order and his crew had a million questions for the female Ed. Apparently Alphonse had been shouting about his sister Edaline in his sleep and while he seemed a bit embarrassed that he gave up her secret, their goal was now accomplished and secrets were no longer needed.