Mija: dont cry too much for Al, he's got a big part in the story!

Dreamie: yep, story's finnished. 35 (short) chapters. I update every day i can get to the computer. btw, thanks to everyone for the comments! i love comments!

Finding the Catch: Distribution of Mistakes

"Is he really here?" came a familiar voice from the doorway. Ed stopped his pacing of Winry's living room and turned to face the yet to be visible voice.

"I don't think he really knows how he got here," Winry's voice said quietly. "But I told him Alphonse was just on some military business a few towns away. You don't think he-"

"Alphonse never arrived there. His body was found in Ishbal by some government relief workers."

He heard Winry's muffled cry through the walls.

"His body?" Edward called out, alarmed, rushing into the kitchen, coming face to face with Riza Hawkeye. "What do you mean? Is Al okay?"

Riza brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face, her eyes quickly taking in the sight of the boy she had not seen in six years. Before she could ask any questions, she had to settle his fears. "Al is being taken to a hospital in East City," she said swiftly. "I just spoke to our contacts in Ishbal. General Mustang has already ordered an investigation." She gazed at him, taking in his unusual clothes and his familiar gold hair and eyes. "Welcome home, Edward," she said then.

He nodded. "Hello, Lieutenant," he responded.

"It's General now, but you can call me Riza, you know," she said gently. "We're both adults."

"What's wrong with Al?" he demanded. "What was my brother doing in Ishbal?"

Riza put her hand to her forehead and sighed. "I don't know any more than what I just told you," she said, resignedly. "As soon as any information comes in, I'll tell you."

"I'll make us some tea," Winry offered hollowly, silently putting the kettle on the stove.

Ed saw the worry etched clearly in her face. "You can sit down, Winry, I'll do it," he offered, and watched her sit gratefully down in one of the chairs.

Thank God Alphonse hadn't disappeared, was the thought echoing through everyone's mind.

There was another knock on the door, and Edward set the lid on the kettle and pushed aside Winry's yellow curtains to look out the window. His heart skipped a beat. "It's Roy," he said, surprised. He didn't turn around to see Riza flinch, wasting no time in opening the door for him.

A large black patch covered Roy's eye and the upper side of his face, but with that exception and a bit more decoration on his uniform, he looked much the same as Ed remembered.

"Fullmetal," he said, his remaining eye gleaming sharply.

"Did you hear anything about Alphonse?" Ed demanded, trying to head off any sarcastic comments that might have been forthcoming.He moved aside, motioning for Roy to come in.

He shook his head grimly. "He's being transported to a hospital in East City. He's in a coma. That's all." He nodded distractedly towards Winry and Riza. "Ladies, hello."

"Hello, sir," Riza said tightly, looking pointedly away.

Winry glanced at her sympathetically.

Both Hawkeye and Mustang were Generals now? But that meant that she wasn't working under him any more. If they were both Generals, they probably weren't even working together any more. Edward was acutely aware of the tensions between the two, and wondered if Roy could tell that something was wrong between himself and Winry.

"Miss Rockbell," Roy began, his tone professional, "If Alphonse said anything at all to you that might-"

But Winry was shaking her head miserably. "He told me he was on a routine investigation and would be back in a few days. I had no reason not to believe him," she said sadly.

"Was there anything in his behavior before he left that might have indicated-"

"No, there was nothing, sir," Winry assured him.

The General turned his piercing, one eyed gaze on Edward at last, and said, "Then the answer, I believe, lies with you, Fullmetal."

"I want to go to East City," Ed said intensely, his eyes bright. "I want to see my brother."

"That is not an answer."

"Of course you can."

Mustang and Hawkeye both responded at the same time, then turned and glared at eachother. Edward turned to face Hawkeye. "What time does the next train leave?" he demanded.

"In four hours. I've already arranged everything; a car is coming to take us to the station," she assured him, her voice strong and authoritative, not really matching the pained expression behind her eyes. She twisted the teacup around in her hands.

"If you go to East City, Fullmetal," Roy warned, "The military will be waiting for you."

Riza banged her cup down on the table harder than she meant to and shot a dangerous look in his direction. "What have you done?" she demanded, accusations thick in her voice.

Roy threw up his hands, exasperated. "Nothing," he said haughtily. "The rumors of his return spread fast, and the President ordered an investigation." He turned to Ed. "If you're not dead, Fullmetal, which I can see that you're not, the military considers you a deserter."

"I don't care," Ed said darkly. "I want to see my brother."

The man lowered his voice. "I know you do," he said quietly. "But what it is the two of you did to see each other again? You were gone," Roy said firmly. "We left no stone unturned. You were dead, there was no other way Alphonse could have been restored. You can tell me what happened. I'll keep your secret, like I always have."

Ed clutched his head, struck by the blinding pain that seized his brain and began pressing in like a vice.