Protect Me

Written by: Luna

Chapter 15 – Journey

Disclaimer – I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist, yet any new characters that I have created to fit the story are mine, and part of Protect Me. Thank you!

Author's Note – Haven't had one of these in a while, have I? grins We are rounding up to the end. Yes, I know, it's going to be very sad when it's over. I hate finishing a fanfic because I spend so long writing it that I hate letting it go. Well, I still have a few more chapters after this, so I'm not done yet. Hope ya'll continue to like it and I am loving the reviews! Much appreciation! Thanx!

Edward couldn't believe what he had heard. Could Roze possibly be able to take him to where Sid was hiding? To where his brother and Winry were? But he also didn't want her to go with him because she might end up getting hurt.

"Roze, could you tell me where you think he would be? Point me in a direction."

Roze stared down at her hands folded in her lap and was silent for a while.

Ed was just about to ask her again when she looked up with determination in her eyes and spoke in a firm voice. "I'm coming with you."

He immediately protested, telling her it would be too dangerous for her to come along.

"I don't care. I've known Sid my whole life and I just cannot believe he would change so much. I want to see him with my own eyes." Roze kept her eyes locked on Ed. Tears had started to form at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

After a while, Ed let his head fall in defeat. "I don't think I can really stop you, Roze, but you have to be careful. Just because you knew Sid back then, doesn't mean you know him now. He's not the same guy you grew up with." He tried to keep the contempt out of his voice when talking about the man, because now he knew that Roze's feelings were involved. And for some reason this made him want to curse Sid even more.

It was well into the night now and everyone had pretty much cleared the streets, going into their homes. The numerous stars shown brightly above the two as the minutes passed by. Roze kept silent. Her stubbornness was shown in her eyes as she kept her gaze level, yet nodded in agreement.

Ed stood up and looked down at Roze who stayed sitting. He reached out his hand to her and spoke. "We're leaving tonight."

Kyle sat outside the rocky formation that led down underground, the crisp night air blowing through his hair. He was leaning back against the rock wall looking straight ahead in deep thought, as he casually flipped a dagger in the air a few inches and catching it again. He was getting pretty tired of being told what to do and what not to do. This whole thing had been Kane's idea from the start, saying that they could use the money and still have a little fun in the process. It had sounded good to him at first, but now he was just annoyed with the whole situation. He kept his temper in check, though, somehow, because he didn't want to lose the position and then have Kane angry with him. He didn't want that, he thought, as his frown deepened. But, damn it, why couldn't he do as he pleased with the girl? This was the only thing that he couldn't get off his mind. He should be able to have her. What good was she to Sid anyway? All he wanted was the boy. He's the only one he ever did anything to anyway. He gritted his teeth in a growl as he threw the knife into the ground, causing it to stick straight up between his feet. He looked at it and the yanked it back up, starting to toss it again. He didn't know how much longer he could stand. This time he thrust the dagger into the ground with his own hand, forcing it to pierce the earth. He just needed the right opportunity. Then he wouldn't care what anybody did or said.

Daybreak came, giving off a faint glow on the horizon of the desert.

"Ah!" Roze exclaimed as she fell to the ground.

Edward turned around quickly and ran back to the young woman. "Roze, are you alright?" He asked worriedly.

She looked up at him from her position on the ground and shook her head. "No, Ed, I have to rest. Just for a few minutes. I can't walk any further."

Ed walked to the other side of her and took a seat on the ground, stretching his legs out and sighing. "Yeah, I guess you're right. We have been walking all night." He looked over to her as she rested her head on her arms. "I guess I've been having a one-track mind and haven't even thought about resting."

Roze looked at him with tired eyes.

"I just want to get to Alphonse and Winry as soon as possible. I'm sorry."

She gave a tiny smile and shook her head. "No, Ed. Don't apologize. I know how you must be feeling. I was going to go your pace for as long as I could before I said anything. I know that this is important." Her eyes closed slowly and she fell silent.

Ed knew she had fallen asleep and was afraid to wake her. He was exhausted himself and he begun to think. He knew that when they got to their destination that he would more than likely be fighting, and he couldn't very well give his best on as little sleep as he had been giving himself.

They were in the middle of the desert and the temperature was still cool from the night. The sun was just now beginning to rise, so he fell back and closed his eyes as well. He would only sleep for a couple of hours because he knew he couldn't stop for long.

Roze had said the place Sid might be at was an underground cave several miles out of Golden Vale. The spot was very close to where Liore used to be.

Ed had put an extended hold on his hotel room for when he got back to town. He had to pay more for it, of course, but he felt better knowing he had a place to go back to after he got his brother and Winry back. Failure wasn't even in his train of thought for when he got there. He knew he was going to see his brother again. They were both going to be there and they would be all right. He just knew it.

It was three and a half hours later when Ed's eyes flickered open, and he rolled over to his side as he sat up. It took him just a moment to recognize where he was before he stood up fully and went over to wake Roze.

"Roze, come on. We need to get moving." He said as he shook her shoulder gently.

Roze woke easily and raised herself up, nodding in agreement as she rubbed one of her eyes with the side of her hand. "Ok. Let's go."

He helped her to her feet and they began at their steady pace once again.

"We should be there soon." Roze informed as she came up beside Ed.

Ed looked over and nodded. "Good."

The two carried on in silence for a while before the quiet was broken by Roze.

"Ed?"

"Hm?"

Roze paused before she continued. "I don't know if I should even bring this up, but I've been wanting to ask."

Ed looked over at her as they kept walking.

"Well…how have you guys been doing?" She looked down at the moving ground in front of her. "I mean with what you guys were searching for. Were you ever able to find the Philosopher's Stone?"

The question caused Ed to stop in his tracks as his eyes widened. She didn't know?

"Ed?" Roze asked as she stopped also and came back to him.

"Roze. Don't you know about the Stone? How it was created?"

She looked at him puzzled. "No. Does this mean that you were able to find it after all this time of searching?"

Ed remained silent as he thought whether or not to tell her the truth about the Stone. What good would it do to her if she were told about the Philosopher's Stone and its connection to Liore…her home. No. He shouldn't tell her. She didn't need to know the awful truth.

"Y…yeah. We found it." Ed answered as he resumed walking.

Roze watched him in confusion, wondering what had been so shocking to him. She ran to catch up, falling into pace beside him once again. She wasn't expecting anything further, but was surprised when Ed continued talking.

"Al got his body back." He said with a small smile, but it faded as he remembered the time it took for his brother to heal afterwards.

"He did?" Roze asked in happiness.

"Yeah, but it was really hard for him for about a year. Thankfully the transmutation was successful, but it did have its consequences. Al was hurt very badly and he could have died from the wounds." His eyes twitched in memory. "I was able to get him to Winry's house and they took care of him. He's doing fine now." He paused and growled in anger. "At least he was doing well, until this man came out of nowhere and took him and Winry too. Now I don't know what to expect. I just hope he's okay."

Roze remained silent, as she couldn't think of anything to say about the fact that Sid had been the one to taken her friends. How could he?

Silence fell upon them again as they continued walking. The sun was high above them now and it was beginning to get hot.

After a while, Roze looked out in front of her and saw a blurry object in the distance. "That's it. Up ahead. That's the place!"

The young alchemist focused on what she was pointing at and grinned over at her. He had found it! He was there. Ed looked back straight ahead and his grin disappeared, leaving an expression of determination and anger. You better be prepared Sid. You're not winning this one again.