Tai: Ah, sorry about that. For some reason it wouldn't change the chapter when I tried to put the real one up. Anyway, hopefully it doesn't happen again.

Now, I know I said I'd update in 3 to 5 days, but because of all the wonderful reviews, I decided to put it up today. I would also like to apologise to Deceptress, I should've remembered it was you who told me about the array on Riza's back.

Ah oh yea, Tai won't be heard from until the next chapter I think, maybe not even then. I really need to re-read what I've already written. I can remember she's not in this chapter though.

Umm lets see, I think that's all. Oh, I still need name idea's for Roy's puppy, otherwise she will end up being called 'pup'. No particular reason I'm just not feeling that creative for names at the moment.

Also, just wondering something, in about the 5th episode in the anime, Riza was introduced as "Major Liza Hawkeye" so I'm wondering, did she get demoted at some stage? And as always there will be a random question at the bottom of this chapter. Just something I'm kinda concerned about and it is very odd.

Disclaimer: Last I checked, Fullmetal Alchemist belnoged to someone else, ain't that a bugger?


Chapter 8: Disease

Continuing down the hallway, Riza grabbed a sandwich and sat down to eat. After devouring the first half she was joined by Lieutenant Ross, who looked rather concerned. "Hey, you feeling alright?" Maria asked, sitting down opposite Riza. "Hmm? Yea, I'm fine." Riza sighed, looking at the table. "You sure?" Maria pushed, "You look rather sad and extremely pale." Riza folded her arms onto the table, looking up at her companion.

"I feel a little dizzy, but that's probably because I haven't eaten all day." She replied, laying her head on her arms. "Why don't you go home?" Maria suggested, taking a bite out of her own sandwich, "You may not of gotten completely over your cold. I can tell the colonel you're still feeling unwell." Riza sighed, closing her eyes a little. "I just needed something to eat, I'll be fine."

"Okay, just promise me that if you feel any worse, you'll tell the colonel and go home." Maria compromised. Riza lifted her head. "Alright, I promise." She sighed, "I'll see you later, alright?" "Alright." Maria replied, watching as her friend left the cafeteria.

Maybe I should follow Maria's advice and go home. No, I've already missed too much work as it is, I need to stay. Gods, my head's spinning and hurting, not a great combo. Maybe I should go home, I'll tell the colonel once I get to his office, and it's not that far away. I'll tell him I don't think I'm completely over my cold, he'll understand.

Everything seems blurry, but I know I'm not that far away from the office. I know I can make it; I'll just have to lean against the wall to find my way.

Roy, who was still sitting in his office, heard the footsteps in the hallway and looked up. Everything else was quiet, apart from the small noises Riza was making. He looked her over; she was leaning against the wall, and was extremely pale. All in all, she didn't look very well.

Becoming worried, he stood up and walked slowly towards her. Riza continued down the hallway and stopped at the corner. She knew the office was straight ahead, but it was clear she didn't know if she could make it. He kept his eyes on her, and moved directly across from her. She was leaning heavily against the wall, panting slightly.

He took a few moments to look her over properly. Her faced was pale apart from her cheeks which were flushed. Her eyes were almost closed and she looked like she would throw up any minute. "Lieutenant, are you feeling alright?" he asked, moving forward so there was barely a meter between them.

Riza stood up as straight as she could. "I'm fine sir." She replied weakly. She took a step forward and lost her balance. Luckily Roy was quick enough to catch her. She looked up at him through half lidded eyes before collapsing completely. "Hawkeye." Roy asked, looking extremely worried about his ill subordinate. "Hawkeye, come on, wake up girl." He moved her gently so he could kneel down and have better use of his hands. "Riza wake up." He pleaded, but she was completely knocked out, meaning nothing he said could get through.

Footsteps and talking forced him to take his eyes off of her. "Sir, what happened?" Falman asked, quickening his pace. "Not sure." Mustang replied. "She was stumbling down the hall and reached the corner. I asked her how she was, she said she was fine and then collapsed." "Man, I guess she's not completely over that cold yet." Havoc concluded. "Havoc, go get a doctor." Roy instructed, picking Riza's limp body up bridal-style. "Falman, go get a bowl of water and a cloth, now." Both men nodded and scurried off to do their tasks.

Roy carried Riza into the office and lay her down on the couch. He sighed, "You shouldn't of come to work if you weren't feeling well." He carefully unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it off her, leaving her in her pants and black shirt. He stood and draped the jacket over the back of one of the chairs before returning to her side. Stroking a few loose pieces of hair out of her face, he reached behind her head and unclipped her hair, running his hand gently through it. She was still panting slightly, but looked a little more comfortable than she had before.

Falman returned with the war and cloth, handing them to Roy. "I wonder why she came to work, she must've known she wasn't over that cold completely." Falman sighed, pulling two chairs over to the couch. "I'm not sure." Roy replied, making the cloth damp and placing it on Riza's forehead. "Did you happen to see Havoc on your way back?" Falman shook his head. "No sir, I think he's gone over to the hospital wing to find a doctor or someone who can tell us what's wrong with her." "What's wrong with who?" Furey questioned, entering the room with Breda. "Hawkeye collapsed in the hallway." Mustang informed them, not moving from his spot on the floor next to the couch.

"Wow, never thought she'd be one to come to work when she's still ill." Breda sighed. "Why don't you three help Havoc locate a doctor?" Mustang suggested, turning to look at the other three men. Falman looked at his superior officer closely. He'd never seen the colonel acting this way, not even for a brief moment. "Yes sir." Falman, Breda and Furey chorused, leaving the room. Roy once again returned to watching Hawkeye. She looked exhausted and her breaths were still only short pants. He slowly ran his thumb over her cheek, before sighing and looking at the ground. Riza opened her eyes a little. "Sir?" she whispered, so quietly he almost didn't hear it.

"You're awake." He smiled, looking up at her. Riza nodded slightly, before sitting bolt upright. She started coughing violently, making Roy jump. He moved quickly to the end of the couch, not knowing what to do. A doctor rushed into the room quickly, obviously worried about the young woman. As the coughing subsided, Riza lay back slowly, completely out of breath. "Colonel, would you be able to move her into a sitting position for me?" the doctor asked, looking at him. Roy nodded and carefully moved Riza so her back was against the side of the armrest.

"This may be easier if you wait outside." He mentioned, looking at the colonel. Roy once again nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind him. "How is she?" Havoc asked, looking up at the other man. "She had a coughing fit a few seconds ago, doctors checking her out now." Roy sighed, leaning against a wall. The five men sat in silence until…

"Roy! Have you seen my new picture of Elysia yet?" Maes arrived, holding more pictures of Elysia in her new skirt. "She looks so adorable in her-" "Not now Maes." Roy growled, glaring at the older man. Hughes froze. "What's going on?" "Hawkeye collapsed in the hall, doctors in checking her out now." Falman informed him. "Wow, so what happened exactly?" he questioned, pulling a chair away from one of the desks in the next room.

"She was walking down the hallway." Roy told his friend, "She wasn't herself though, she was leaning against the wall, stumbling slightly. I got up and she reached the corner and started leaning completely on the wall. I asked if she was okay and she told me she was fine." He sighed. "She took a step forward and next thing I know I'm stopping her from hitting the ground." He looked at the ground. "Wow, sounds pretty rough," Hughes agreed, looking at his feet.

The six men turned their heads as they heard the office door open. "Well, she's completely exhausted." The doctor informed them. "It's clear she hasn't eaten for a little while, a few day perhaps, and she's suffering a rather nasty cold." Roy looked the doctor over. "Anything we can do to help her?" he questioned, he hated seeing her like that, it wasn't normal, not for Hawkeye. "Well, she needs to rest more, and have something to eat. Otherwise, she won't get any better." The doctor sighed. "I suggest one of you keeps an eye on her, for a few days at least. Until she's feeling 100 again, she needs to stay away from work as well."

"Okay, thank you doctor." Roy sighed, relieved. She wasn't dying, but she was still unwell. Roy walked into the room, followed by the rest of the men. Riza was sitting up against the couch now, but had a tight grip on the back on it and still looked likely to throw up any second. She sat looking straight ahead; obviously trying to keep the small amount of lunch she'd eaten down. "Hawkeye, doctor said someone needs to keep an eye on you for a few days, to make sure you're alright." Roy told her, sitting in one of the chairs next to the couch. "Are there any family members you want us to call?" "No" she croaked out, not moving once.

The men looked at one another. "Is there anyone you want us to call to look after you?" Maes asked, hoping the answer would be yes. "No." she repeated, hanging her head a little. "Look if you don't have any family members you want to look after you, you'll be moving in with me until you're feeling better." Roy growled. He wasn't going to let her get worse.

"I'll be fine." She replied, her voice still extremely weak. "Bullshit, you're moving in with me or Hughes until you're better, understood. Now make your choice." Roy ordered. Riza sighed, as much as she hated being dependant on anyone, he was right. She was in no condition to look after herself, she'd barely made it down the hallway. "Fine, you win. I'll move in with you until I'm feeling better. " Roy smiled, having her alone with him was something he'd always wanted. "Right, Falman, take Hawkeye home and help her get what she needs. Furey, go with him." Roy stood, "Then bring her round to my place, I'll go ahead now to get a room set up." Both men nodded and watched Mustang leave the room. "Well, you ready to go?" Furey asked, looking at Riza.

She rolled her eyes and carefully swung her legs over the side of the couch. Using the wall for support, she stood up, her legs still a little shaky. Falman moved beside her and looked at her, before whispering something to Furey. Riza looked at the two men, confused. "She's not going to like that." Furey warned, as Falman shook his head in response, before putting one arm behind Riza's back and the other under her knees, picking her up bridal style. "Put. Me. Down." Riza growled as Falman carried her out of the room. Furey shook his head and followed, hoping he wouldn't have to explain why Falman had picked her up.

"It's about time those two moved in together, though it could be under better circumstances." Hughes smiled. "You said it, how long do you think before they finally get together?" Havoc asked, turning to Breda and Maes. Hughes smiled, "Ten bucks says 1week." "Nah, it'll take longer than that, I say 4weeks." Breda smirked. "You're both wrong, I think they'll be together in 2weeks." Havoc smirked. The three men agreed and left, each hoping they'd win.


Tai: Yea I know, Thursday still isn't finished. Lets see, hopefully I didn't leave anything out at the top. Umm, oh it'll probably take me 4 or more chapters to get the together. And you now know why I had to get rid of Riza.

Random question time! (Love reading the answers to these!)
How often do you think Roy changes his sheets and dusts the house?