I'm back and ready to update. Sorry I'm a day late, been really busy. Thanks to everyone who's been reading my story. I haven't gotten around to reply to all the comments individually yet but I will soon in later chapters. I tried making this chapter a little longer then the others. Sometimes its hard to tell how long they are when your typing them on Microsoft Works. They appear shorter when I change the format. (But the word count is higher)

I would like to give a special thanks to my Beta. He says I'm getting better with my punctuation and grammar. (Shitty education system)

Warning: This chapter contains actual SI scenes. If this bothers you in anyway please don't read. Thank you.

Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or any of the characters. They belong to Hiromu Arakawa, i just borrow them and use them for my entertainment.

So with out further adieu …

Chapter 4 - Lying eyes

Ed awoke, sitting quickly he made an attempt to regain his bearings. In a matter of minutes the days events rushed back and he remembered where he was. Getting to his feet he walked over to Mustangs desk turning on the lamp sitting on top while pulling out his pocket watch to check the time. "6:15" he said out loud. He never intended on staying that long at headquarters, after all he still had to fine Al. Shoving his watch back into his front pocket he made a beeline for the door but the memory of something that happened earlier that day stopped him in his tracks.

"What's going on that your not telling me? I don't like being kept in the dark Colonel." Ed said approaching Mustang. As he did so Roy slipped a file into the top drawer of his desk. "Its nothing you need to worry about Fullmetal, just remain in central and take another week or two vacation" Mustang then went back to his paper work, letting the boy stand there thinking about what he had just be told.

"But Colonel …" Ed started but then was cut off " That's all Edward." Mustang motioned for Ed to leave his office. "Roy tell me what's …" Ed stared being ever so bold in using the Colonel's first name but again Mustang cut him off "That's all Fullmetal, you are dismissed" with that Ed turned around and stormed out of Mustangs office slamming the door behind him causing the fogged glass window to raddled. He stormed by Hawkeye causing a few papers to fly off her desk on his way out.

Coming back to reality, Ed turned around and made his way to Mustangs desk. "He was hiding something." Stepping behind the desk he took a seat and opened up the drawer seeing the folder Mustang had slid in there earlier

"I will bet big bucks and say that this folder the Colonel was trying so hard to hide has something to do with the kidnapping" Pulling the folder from the drawer, he placed it on top of the desk and opened it. There were reports of a few other missing Alchemist, none of which Ed recognized. As he lifted the reports into his hands a few picture fell from the pages, setting the reports down Ed took the pictures in his hands, the photos were of a few old abandoned warehouses located in central. 'These all look like places the kidnappers would likely uses as a hideout' he thought to himself 'but I bet the Colonel has already sent men to investigate, so it would do me no good to…' something shiny caught Ed's attention pulling him away from his thought process. He moved a few of the papers in the desk to get a clear view of what it was, Ed took in a shaky breath, and leaned back in the chair.

Ed had calmed himself down before, from the point of wanting to cut, but now all the feelings rushed back, he sat there looking at the box cutter in the desk. He shut his eyes trying to direct his thoughts somewhere else, but the more he tried the more he felt the feeling building up inside of him. He quickly reach into the drawer and took the box cutter into his auto-mail hand. "Just this once" he told himself aloud "I wont do it ever again, I just need it this once" he laid the box cutter on his leg as he rolled up his left sleeve revealing his flesh arm, looking down at his arm seeing the many scars from past cuts, he picked the box cutter up again and brought the blade to his skin. Pressing the blade down on the top of his arm with a considerable amount of force, he began to drag the blade down towards his hand. Removing the blade when he felt that the cut was long enough, he set the box cutter on the desk as he turned his attention back to his arm. A thin line of blood began to trickle out, making the cut stand out even more. After a few minutes the blood started to flow out of it a little bit faster and Ed leaned back in the chair once again and closed his eyes.

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Roy had spent a few hours with Hughes going over the Mercury Alchemist past residences to see if anything struck a cord, when nothing set off an alarm Hughes had suggested that he and a few other go investigate the houses to see if anything turned up, Roy just nodded and began putting the files back where they belonged. Making his way back to his office he passed Hawkeye in the hall, she had finished with her paper work and was taking it to be filed.

"Sir, I took the liberty and grabbed your finished paper work from your desk, I'll have it filed accordingly" she stated with a smile "Oh and you have a sleeping guest in your office" she informed him. He arched his brow in curiosity "Who might that be?" Hawkeye gave a quick salute and as she was walking away she called out "Mr. Elric, sir" she turned the corner leaving Mustang standing there with a dumbfounded look on his face, at least no one was around to see it.

Mustang reached his office door a few minutes later, hearing no commotion inside he suspected that Ed was still asleep. He opened the door quietly to find the older Elric sitting in his chair with his eyes closed. Shutting for door he made his way over to the desk, Ed's eyes jolted open at the sound of the door closing, looking wide eyed at the Colonel, he remembered his cut arm and hurried to pull his sleeve down to hid the wound. 'Guess I wasn't quiet enough' Roy thought "What are you doing at my desk Fullmetal? Is there something I can do for you?" Ed still had that deer caught in the headlights look on his face and that confused Roy a little. Roy knew he was intimidating but he never knew how much until now. The box cutter on his desk caught his eye. 'Blood' he thought as he focused on it ' why is there blood …' at that moment his heart stopped in his chest and his intimidating gaze was being cast back on Ed who was now making his way for the door with out saying a word. "Hold it right there Fullmetal."

Ed froze in his tracks, he could feel Mustangs cold stare. The blonde wanted to make a break for it. The young Alchemist moved his hand to open the door once more, hoping he could get out of the office. Where he would go didn't matter as long as he was far away from here, far away from him. Ed started to pull at the door when he felt a strong hand on his shoulder, that hand spun him around and slammed him up against his only exit. "Just what the hell is going on here Fullmetal" Mustang looked down on him and Ed was shocked to see the expression he had on his face. It wasn't the usual look he always wore, and that smirk of his was no where to be seen, he looked sincerely worried. "Let me go" Ed shouted trying to shake free of Roy's hold. His voice rang out laced with the terror he felt.

He had been caught and he was scared. Mustang let loose on his grip, his mind flashed with thoughts from the war, hearing the sheer terror in Ed's voice stunned him. He never in a million years would think he would hear that come from Fullmetal.

Given this leeway Ed wasted no time, he reached for the door knob once more and pulled the door open just enough so he could escape. Roy realized what happened and thru the door open all the way, bolting down the hall after Ed. Roy wanted nothing more then to protect the Elric brothers, even though the feeling wasn't on display for all to see. Finally Mustang caught up with Edward, grabbing him by the back of his jacket, he launched him in the completely opposite direction in which he was running. Quickly gathering the young Alchemist in his arms he proceeded to carry the struggling boy back to his office. Once back in his office he placed Ed on the couch and returned to the door to close it. Ed brought his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. Mustang sat between the door and the boy. Ed's breathing was heavy and he looked as if he was going to breakdown any moment and cry.

"You're going to tell me what's going on Fullmetal, and you're going to tell me now!" Mustang said in a stern voice.

There was a pissed yet terrified look on Ed's face. "What do you care? Its not your problem." he shot back. Roy was fed up, he took hold of Ed's arm pushing up the sleeve revealing the fresh wound and many scars. Mustang took in a shaky breath before he started to speak.

"Explain this Fullmetal, I want to know." Ed pulled his arm out of Roy's grip, turning his face away from the older Alchemist "Its no big deal." Mustang sighed, at least Ed is answering him. "Why would you do that Edward?" Ed turned to face him. Its very rare that Ed hears his real name coming from Mustang "I … umm" Ed trails off, not really sure what to say. Mustang walks over to the desk and picks up the box cutter. "Edward, what would cause you to do this?" Mustang sat on the couch next to Ed holding the blade in his hand. "Are you trying to kill yourself?" Mustang had never handled a situation quiet like this one, so he wasn't sure what to think. "No" Ed shouted "Then why?" Mustang continued. Ed lowered his gaze to the floor no longer looking at Mustang "I …I don't know, it helps me to relax I guess." Mustang sat quiet for a minute taking in everything "When did you start doing this?" he finally asked Ed.

Ed shook his head "Its been a few years, I cant remember how long"

Mustang stood up and walked back over to his desk taking a medicine box from the bottom drawer. Setting the box on the table in front of the couch he sat back down. "Ed, your going to stop this" He said as he opened the box and took out a small bottle of alcohol, cotton balls and gauze "Do you under stand?" Ed nodded his head as Mustang took his arm with his hand and started cleaning the wound. Confirming that Ed completely understood, Roy asked again "Do you understand me, Fullmetal?"

Ed looked up with an annoyed look on his face but Mustang didn't care, he wanted a vocal confirmation this time and Ed knew that "Yes I heard you" he snapped "and besides, I can stop when ever I want" Mustang put the cotton ball on the table "I sure hope so for your sake and your brothers" Mustang stopped talking when he heard his office door open and turned around to see who it was. Ed tried pulling his arm away from Mustang but the Colonel only tightened his grip. Hughes walked in closing the door behind him, then turning his attention to the two Alchemist sitting on the couch.

As he approached them he saw the bloody box cutter on the desk "Is everything ok in here?" Hughes questioned in a worried tone as his gaze shifted from the blade to Ed's injured arm. Mustang continued to bandage Ed's arm "The situation is …" he trailed off a little bit and Ed looked at him wide eyed 'Is he going to tell Hughes everything?' he thought to himself 'No he cant.'

Mustang sighed as he found his words again "everything's fine, it was just an accident" Ed let out a sigh of relief, he never really expected Mustang to lie or cover up for him especially when it came to Hughes. "Did you find anything at Dennis's old residence?" Mustang added changing the subject. "That's why I came" Hughes stated "come on" he motioned for Roy to follow him as he left the office. Mustang had just finished bandaging up Ed's arm. Pulling his sleeve back down Edward stood up to leave "I should let you get to work" Mustang stood carrying the first aid box back to his desk "Where do you think your going?" Ed whipped around now looking at Mustang "I'm going to look for my brother, where else would I go?" Setting the box back in the drawer he closed it, then picked up his jacket and headed for the door as well.

"You might be interested in what Hughes has found at the Dennis residence, seeing as how he's the Alchemist who kidnapped Al." Ed's eyes went wide and he just stared as the Colonel passed by him.

"Besides I'm not letting you out of my sight until we finish our conversation" Mustang stated holding the door open for Ed to exit

"I thought we were finished" Ed shot back as he left the office, and went into the hall where Hughes was waiting

"Not by a long shot" Mustang replied. The three made their way out of Headquarters and down the steps where Hughes had a car waiting for them.

-sighs- That was the end of chapter 4. -hides behind a bolder- Please don't throw things at me. -shouts- I'M REALLY SORRY ED. Hope this one was a bit more entertaining then the rest. Poor Ed. I know he's not as unstable as I make him out to be. So all you Ed fans don't hurt me.

Until the next chapter, ADIOS