Yes, I've finally finished chapter 8. After losing the whole chapter caused by a computer error, I've completed it and its ready to be posted online. I would like to thank you guys for being patient and I'm sorry it took so long. The fic was finished last night or you could say early this morning, but i was to tired to actually post it then. So i hope you guys like it. Please Read and Review.
Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or the FMA character's. If you decide to sue Winry will never let you hear the end of it.
Chapter 8 - Predictable
When Al and Mustang finally got Ed to the hospital, the doctors took the blonde away immediately. Rushing him to intensive care. They flushed out the bad chemicals that Dennis had put into the boys body. The youngest Elric and the Colonel were ushered in to the waiting room, once Ed was taken. Both waiting patiently for any new developments.
The doctor walked into the waiting room. It didn't take him long to spot the huge suit of armor and the dark haired man that brought the blonde boy in a few hours ago. The doctor made his way over to where the pair sat, never taking his eyes off Al. Mustang glanced up as the doctor stopped in front of them. The medical man was very young for his profession. He had sandy blonde hair and hazel eyes. His shoulders were adorned with a white doctors jacket, and under he wore aqua colored medical scrubs. Mustang could see the man was baffled by the youngest Elric beside him. Glancing at the doctors name badge Roy stood up, now blocking the other mans view, and offered his hand.
"Dr. Jackson, I am Colonel Roy Mustang, how is Full- I mean Edward?" Snapping back to reality, the doctor quickly took Mustangs offered hand and smiled politely.
Fumbling with the papers on the clip board, the doctor soon came to Ed's file. "Mr. Elric is fine. He does need a lot of rest, I might add, so we will be keeping him here for a few days. The toxins injected into his body wasn't strong enough to do serious damage, but it did contribute a great deal of strain." Giving the Colonel a look over, Dr. Jackson smiled. "It appears you are a bit ruffed up yourself. Why did you deny treatment? Where only here to help." Mustang's arrogant smirk spread across his face. "I assure you Doctor, these are merely scratches nothing to be worried about. Something this trivial can be dealt with in the confines of my home. So there is no need to waste your time." The doctor shrugged his shoulders and handed Mustang the medical forms that needed to be filled out, before taking his leave. Al watched the Colonel as he was writing.
'What does he mean by trivial' Al thought. Mustang look pretty beat up and on top of that, warn out. His dark hair, which was usually tamed, had gone wild. The top portion of his uniform had been completely removed on the walk and discarded carelessly. It had been torn and ripped beyond repair. Leaving Mustang in a white under shirt, that was stained with his own blood, and the remainder of his uniform. More blood was smeared over scratches on his face, which had attracted a fair about of dirt.
'Wasn't the Colonel coming with us to the hospital so he could get checked out too?' At least that's what Al remembered hearing.
Al's thoughts were interrupted when Dr. Jackson returned for the paper work. He then escorted them to the room Edward was staying in. It wasn't a far walk and soon they reached the room. There was a label next to the door that read Edward Elric. A post-it was stuck under his name that read: "C.P." Stopping at the room the doctor turned to leave. "Excuse me Dr. Jackson, sir" Al said. The doctor turned to face the boy. "Yes?" he questioned. Al then pointed over to the bright green post-it. "What does C.P stand for?" Dr. Jackson stared at him for a moment, then let out a chuckle. "It means Combative Patient." Al let out a sigh while Mustang did the complete opposite, he burst out laughing. Fullmetal is the only person he knew that would fight someone who was trying to take care of him. "You see, since Mr. Elric has regained consciousness he has refused the mandatory IV. Well that was until a few minutes ago" The Doctor himself was now laughing. "Brother hates needles, what changed his mind?" Al asked curiously.
"We brought him in some food from the cafeteria" Dr. Jackson ripped the post-it off the wall and headed down the hall. Al just shook his head "Oh brother."
Al opened the hospital room door, quietly and looked back at Mustang. "I'm going to go in first and see if he is ok". Roy understood that he wanted to talk to his brother privately so he waited out side. Al made his way in and closed the door behind him. Ed was sitting in a bed, wearing a hospital gown. A tray of food laid in front of him completely devoured. The blonde sat staring out the window just to the right of his bed. The armored Elric stood by the door for a few minutes before reaching his hand up to move the curtain. That was separating him from Ed. "Brother, how are you doing" Al asked. Ed's gaze shifted to Al. The blonde leaned back on a big fluffy pillow that was propped up behind him. "This place isn't half bad" Ed said smiling at his younger brother. "The food is pretty good, and this bed is really comfortable. You have people wading on you hand a foot. I think I like it here." Al shook his head. "Sure brother that's why you were fighting with the doctors, and causing a big fuss over an IV."
Ed's brow narrowed and his mouth formed a frown. Waving his hand back and forth to dismiss the insult, Ed grabbed a cup of water from the tray. "So how long do I have to stay here?" Ed questioned. Al took a seat next to the bed "About two or three days." Ed's eyes widened in shock. "What …" he shouted. "I don't want to stay here that long."
If Al could smile, his face would be stretched into the biggest grin in history. "Oh but brother" Al's tone was a deviant one. "I thought you liked it here, the food is just great, and the beds are SO comfortable. If I were you I'd take advantage of this opportunity" Al said mockingly. Ed sent a scowl towards his brother. "The food taste like it was dug out of the trash and the bed is as hard as a rock, I'm outta here" Ed confessed pushing the covers off of his legs and shifting to get off the bed. Once his legs were supporting all his weight he attempted to leave but only succeeded in being formally introduced to a hard hospital floor. Al rushed to his knees to help his brother up. Picking him up into his arms, he placed the blonde back onto the bed.
"What the hells wrong with me" Ed yelled.
Al sat back down once he was sure Ed wasn't going to move. "You don't remember?" Al asked. Ed just shook his head. The room was silent for a few minutes. The noise of the door opening seemed to echo. In strolled Mustang with his trademark smirk plastered on his face.
"Well Fullmetal, your finally awake" the older man said. Ed looked up at Mustang. He just stared at him for a few minutes. 'What the hell' Ed thought. He wasn't sure if the man before him was Roy Mustang. Taking in the Colonels appearance Ed was about to decide that this man was an imposter when Roy moved towards the bed.
"Well that seems like a waste." Mustang said. Ed and Al both looking at him in confusion. "Why would they allow a boy this small to occupy a bed this big. The kiddy ward would have suited you just fine." Before Roy could take a breath, to continue his insults, Ed was at the end of the bed.
"Who are you calling a super midget that would get lost in a king sized bed and not be able to find his way out come morning?" Ed shouted, breathing heavily as a result. "Brother nobody said that. Now calm down you need to get some rest. That's what Dr. Jackson told us" Al reasoned. As he finished his sentence the doctor made his way into the room. "Your friend is right." Dr. Jackson began. Having heard the conversation from outside the room. "Your body has been depleted of energy while trying to fight the drug that had been injected into your body. After some time and a lot of rest, you should be back to normal." Jackson said with a smile.
"So when will I be able to leave, doc?" the blonde boy questioned. Dr. Jackson looked at his chart, flipping though a few pages. "You will remain here at least 3 days for rest and observation . After that time you may be checked out." A frown appeared on Ed's face "Can Al stay here to?" The doctor walked over to the bed and checked Ed's bandages. "Who's Al?" Ed pointed over to the armor sitting in the chair beside the bed. "Well I'm not sure that…" the doctor began but Ed cut him off "He's my brother, and he has no where else to go if he cant stay here with me" Ed stated. Dr. Jackson sighed as he nodded his head. "Sure, he can stay," When Dr. Jackson was satisfied that Ed's wounds were properly re-bandaged he took a light from his pocket and began to check Ed's eyes. "Do you remember anything that happened?" The doctor questioned. Ed shook his head "Bits and pieces" the blonde stated. "I remember looking for my brother, and then I was in the doorway to my room at the barracks" Ed took in a deep breath while searching his thoughts. "Then I woke up here."
Ed peered up at the doctor from his bed. While Ed was telling the doctor what he remembered , Dr. Jackson has begun writing some things down on the clipboard in his hands. Leaving Ed wondering what he was writing. Before Ed could question the doctor, there was a noise in the hall that caught everyone's attention. Mustang cracked the door a little and looked out. He saw Hughes kneeling over a pile of pictures that lay on the floor. Mustangs eyes shifted to a beautiful yet annoyed looking nurse who was storming away from Hughes. As the nurse passed the room Roy hear her muttering things he couldn't quite make out. Mustang turned to the others in the room, who were looking at him desperately, pleading with there expressions for Roy to spill about the events in the hall. Mustang just laughed "Looks like Ed has a visitor." The Colonel opened the door a little wider "Maes" he called out. Hughes looked up as he gathered the last of the pictures and sorted them neatly.
"Roy, there you are. I've been looking everywhere for you" the man in glasses stated as he headed to the room.
The doctor had returned to checking Ed. He check his pulse and listened to his heart, then wrote the results onto the chart on the clip board. "That's all for now Ed. I'll leave you to your visitors" Dr. Jackson smiled. As Hughes entered the hospital room the doctor nodded to him in a welcoming manner before exiting.
"Ed how's it going? Are you feeling better?" Hughes greeted. Then the man laid all the photo's on Ed's bed, and before Ed had a chance to answer his questions, Hughes was shoving pictures of his daughter Elicia in older Elric's face.
"This is my baby on her very first tricycle. I was so proud of her, she rides it so well." Hughes stated, then quickly jumping to another picture. "Look at this one, she made daddy a sandwich for lunch all by herself. I have to admit it was the best sandwich ever, but don't tell my wife. Here's a picture of when she fell asleep while I was reading her a bedtime story" Hughes paused momentarily to take a quick breath. "You know she asks about you and Al all the time. She calls you boys her big brothers, isn't she a bundle of divine cuteness."
Ed sighed and leaned back on the pillows behind him. Mustang took advantage of Hughes distraction and slipped out of the room. He looked around a little for Dr. Jackson, and found him at the nurse station. "May I have a word with you?" Mustang asked the doctor. Dr. Jackson signed the paper in front of him and stood, making his way to Mustang. "How can I help you?" the doctor asked politely. "The situation with Edward Elric is this" Mustang began. "His brother was kidnapped by a group of Alchemists to lure Ed to them. The man who did this is still on the lose, and I feel that Ed and Al's safety is at risk." Mustang stated. "I would like to post a military guard at Ed's room until he is released." Dr. Jackson sighed taking in all the information. "Wouldn't the armored man be a suitable guard for Mr. Elric?" The doctor questioned.
"The armored man, as you put it, is Ed's younger brother." Mustang informed him. The doctor looked at him with a baffled expression. "Oh I see." Dr. Jackson relied. "Then I'll allow the guard that you requested. Will that be all?" Mustang nodded. "Yes, thank you." With that Roy turned and headed back to Ed's room.
Hughes finished showing his pile of pictures to the Elric brothers and now had them neatly tucked away in his jacket pocket. "You are looking a lot better now Ed" Hughes said with a smile. "You really did a number on Mustang though. Its good that the fight ended when it did." Hughes hadn't noticed Al's waving arms or his 'shushing' motions. "Who knows what would have happened if it lasted any longer." The look on Ed's face was what quieted Maes after a few minutes. Mustang had just reached the door to Ed's room and entered. Everyone was frozen in place. No one said a word.
Mustang looked to Hughes, who had a hurt expression plastered on his face. Then he glanced over to Alphonse but the armored boy didn't look up, he kept his gaze on the hospital floor. "What's happened?" Mustang questioned. Ed was still sitting on the bed staring blankly out the window, he looked as if he was going to cry. The blonde turned his head and focused his attention on Mustang, taking in the Colonels appearance once more. 'I did that to him?' Ed wondered to himself, as if questioning his subconscious would cause him to remember the events. No one had answered Mustangs question and that was starting to bother him. It was apparent something had happened while he was gone. He was the highest ranking officer in the room, he felt that someone should speak up and inform him. Hughes took a few steps closer to the hospital bed Ed occupied, resting his hand on the boys head in an unspoken apology. Then he headed out, taking Mustang by the arm and forcing him to follow. The two men left the room, letting the door close behind them.
"What happened?" Mustang questioned again. Hughes sighed, while removing his glasses to wipe them clean of smudges.
"Ed didn't remember what happened, did he?" It was more of a statement then a question. Hughes put his glasses back on and looked at Mustang.
The Colonel suddenly knew what had happened. "No Maes, he didn't remember anything."
---
"Brother, are you ok?" Al asked. Ed's focus was now on his bedding and the blonde didn't look up. "Did I really do that to him?" Ed questioned. He knew the answer already but he needed to hear someone say it. "The injuries Mustang has now, did I do that?" Ed's eyes were beginning to tear up.
"Yes" Al said, his voice was full of sorrow. He hated seeing his brother in pain, whether it was physical, emotional or something else entirely. "But he's not hurt brother, those marks, he said they were trivial. Besides you always threatened to beat his face into the ground now you finally lived up to it" Al said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.
A tear rolled down Ed's cheek. "You know it was just threats Al. He's done some much for us, even though he is a bastard at times, he's one of the few people who's actually helped us when we needed it." Ed sobbed. He hated feeling weak, used, and most of all, he hated feeling powerless. He had been controlled by Dennis, forced to hurt a person he secretly admired, and he hated Dennis for it. No matter how much he said he hated Mustang, the truth was he didn't but he'd never admit it. He didn't like being sent on missions or having to follow orders but he respected Mustang for allowing him to search for the Philosophers Stone.
Ed leaned back on his pillows once again. He's body felt worn down. The tears weren't falling any longer and he looked as if he was going to pass out.
"Get some rest brother, I'll be here when you wake up." Al said reassuringly to the blonde. A faint smile stretched across Ed's reddened face, then he allowed his eyes to slip shut. He had fallen into a deep sleep in a matter of minutes. Al stood heading for the door, glancing at the clock on the way out. '6:23PM' Al thought. 'Brother will be hungry when he wakes up.' Al decided to look for the Colonel while Ed was sleeping.
As Al exited the room, he quickly took a look up and down the hall. Seeing Mustang and Hughes standing at the end of the hall, just left of Ed's room, both holding a drink. Al made his way over to them.
"How's Ed?" Hughes asked just as Al reached them. "He's doing better, he's asleep now" Al replied. "He feels really bad about what he did." Alphonse looked over at Mustang. "Tell him not to worry about it. Its not his fault." Mustang stated, quickly taking a drink of his coffee. Al lowered his head "It might be better coming from you, Colonel." Al looked around a little. "By the way, where's the cafeteria? I'm sure brother will be hungry when he wakes up, so I thought I'd get some food for him." A nurse that happened to over here Al's question while walking by stopped to give him directions. "Why not take him down there instead, if that's allowed" Hughes chimed in, while looking at the nurse for approval. "Yes, that's fine. I'll get you a wheel chair for when your ready." Smiling sweetly she went down the hall to where they kept the chairs.
"Well I should be going." Hughes informed the other two. "Its getting dark and I cant be late for dinner. See you guys later. Give Ed my best wishes" Hughes finished as he headed down the hall to the main entrance. Mustang and Al returned to the hospital room, after the wheel chair was delivered to them, waiting for Ed to wake up. Mustang read a magazine swiped from the waiting room, while Al was writing a letter to Winry because he had promised her he would write more often. He didn't plan on telling her anything about what happened recently because he didn't want her to worry and Ed would yell at him for doing so. Every once in a while Al would look up at Ed making sure he was ok.
---
When Ed woke up, Al was sitting in the room finishing up his letter. Ed was surprised to see Mustang was still there as well. Alphonse informed Ed that they were going to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Although Ed protested the use of the wheel chair, Al had just picked him up and dropped him in it. As Al wheeled the blonde down the hall, with a quiet Colonel following closely, a few nurses stopped them to ask how Ed was doing and to state how adorable he was. The compliments caused Ed to turn a bright shade of red, and the young nurses just giggled.
Finally making it to the cafeteria, Al took Ed's and Mustang's order and went to retrieve the food. Ed tried to not make eye contact with Mustang, it seemed to Ed that Mustang had something to say but wasn't sure how to put it in words. Ed began to tap his Auto-mail fingers on the table. The awkwardness was making Ed uncomfortable.
"Do you mind" The Colonel said, gesturing to Ed's tapping. Ed stopped, and put his hand in his lap. "Sorry" Ed said. Mustang continued to stare at him and it was making him feel more uncomfortable them before. "What?" Ed asked finally, not being able to take the scrutiny. Mustang then said something even he hadn't expected himself to say.
"Its ok you know."
Ed just looked at him in shock. Then Mustang continued "I don't hold it against you. So you don't have to worry about me being mad. It was something out of your control, so don't worry about it."
Ed felt himself relax a little. He was happy to hear Mustang say that, but on the other hand Mustang had confirmed what Ed hated. That he was indeed not in control.
"I am sorry you know" Ed said. "Out of all the times I wanted to kick your bastard ass, I never would have thought I would feel sorry about actually doing it. Maybe it just had something to do with being controlled by someone else." Ed stated. "I know I hurt you and I'm really sorry"
Mustang tried to suppress a laugh but failed.
"What's so funny?" Ed questioned with a confused look on his face. "The funny thing is that you think you beat me." Mustang spat out. Ed gritted his teeth together. "Why you pompous ass-hole" Ed yelled. "You're the one who looks trashed not me. So yeah I beat you to the ground" Ed stated, his breathing now picking up pace.
"Believe what you want Fullmetal" Mustang said with a smirk. "But I assure you I wouldn't be beaten by a short, snot-nosed pipsqueak." Ed jumped from his wheel chair and onto the table.
"Who are you calling a slimy tiny bug that escapes the wrath of a shoe because he's so small that he fits in the grooves and can't get squashed?" Ed yelled, while flailing his arms in the air, causing a big scene. Mustang just laughed at the short-tempered boy who was now giving him an evil glare, daring him to reply with the wrong answer.
Al heard the commotion from the salad bar, where he was getting what Mustang requested. "Look's like brother is feeling better" Al said quietly. He just laughed while shaking his head and the sight across the room.
Ed settled back into his wheel chair. Mustang just sat there with a smug look on his face. It appeared that Ed would be strong enough to walk on his own now, the rest must have done him some good. Ed was still glaring at Mustang from the corner of his eye. "You're a complete bastard" Ed said coldly to him. "Just for that I'm not telling you what information I found out while in Dennis's custody." Ed crossed his arms, pouting like a child. Mustang schooled his features. "What did you find out Ed?" Mustang questioned in a stern voice deciding to play along with the blondes game. Ed turned and stuck his tongue out at the older man. "I'm not telling you, asshole." Although he did intend to tell Mustang eventually he wanted to see The Flame Alchemist squirm.
"I order you to tell me, Fullmetal" Mustang spat. Ed just shook his head. "Edward" Mustang said. Again Ed just shook his head. "You have to apologies for calling me short." Ed said. The blonde was a sadist when it came to Mustang, and he planed to add insult to injury.
Mustang gritted his teeth together, because he knew Ed was going to stick to his guns. No matter how much he interrogated the boy he wouldn't get anything out of him without apologizing. "Fine." Mustang said. "I'm sorry." Ed just stared at him waiting for him to finish. Mustang let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry for calling you short." The older man said trying to sound as sincere as possible. Ed laughed. "Your forgiven." A few seconds passed while Ed tried remembering in detail what happened. Mustang allowed the silence waiting for the important information Ed had to offer.
"Dennis told me he was going to attack headquarters. Attack you." Ed finally stated. Al had just returned to the table as Ed started informing Mustang about what happened. Telling him everything that came to mind.
"You wouldn't happen to know when this is going to take place, do you?" Mustang questioned. Ed just shook his head. "I guess he didn't want all the details to his plan reviled." Ed said sadly. He actually wished he had more information to give. Finally they all began eating, reflecting on the information Ed just dished out. Mustang knew one thing for sure, Ed might need more protection then he thought at first.
Thank you for reading Chapter 8 - Predictable. I hope you guys like the chapter. More is on the way I can promise you that. So I expect you guys to continue reading, pretty please. And for all those who have read and reviewed -HUG- Thank you so much I really appreciate the comments and the support. You reviews are the best and deserve a truck load of cookies. -Truck dumps off a load of cookies on your doorstep- See ya soon.
Adios.