Chapter Five

Author's Note: Hey, if you are wondering what Ed looks like I have drawn a picture for yall! Here's the link: Here: Type in your URL/address engine "www." then paste: deviantart. com/deviation/31584905 ------ MAKE SURE NO SPACES BETWEEN "DOT" AND "COM"

(sorry for the confusing directions but you can't post other sites on here, so I had to find a way around it. Enjoy!)

"You're my little angel." Maes kissed his daughter on the head. It was around eight in the morning and Alicia was still sleeping. He looked down at his first born and quietly stepped out of the room to meet his wife in the hallway.

Maes was greeted with tender arms and a kiss on his neck. "I'm so glad you're ok…" Gracia said, running her hands through his hair and gazing into his gentle eyes.

"Of course I am. There isn't a force alive that can snatch me away from my family…" Maes reassured his wife with an embracing hug.

"I know honey, but sometimes… I …" Gracia's voice wavered. "Something deep inside me…" She looked up to her husband, tears forming. They stood for a while, her face against his chest, his chin on her head. Gracia listen to the soothing rhythmic beat of Maes' heart. No matter what happened the Hughes' would be one, always and forever. They were interrupted by the chilling articulation of the telephone ring. With a sigh Maes broke away from his wife and answered the phone.

"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes speaking… Really!… Your place? Got it… be there in a minute Roy." He hung the receiver up and turned back to his wife. "Something has happened to Edward and I have to help Mustang out."

"Oh, I hope he's alright." Gracia said, the look of concern returning. Maes straightened his shirt collar, kissed his wife on the cheek and headed toward the door. As he exited he glanced back at her. No matter what…

Roy stepped out of the phone booth and looked down at Fullmetal, who was sitting on the curb, wrapped up in his tattered red cloak breathing hard.

"Do you think you can make it a few blocks?" Roy asked.

Ed slowly stood up, his knees wobbled a bit and he stumbled backward. Mustang strode forward and caught him.

"I guess not." The Colonel gently lifted the boy from the ground.

"I don't need you to… carry me." Ed tried to struggle, but was too weak, so he settled for pouting.

Roy smirked. At least he's still got his spunk. For his two automail limbs he was very light and looked somewhat, if possible, smaller. People were finally beginning to populate the street. Roy glanced at Fullmetal in his arms and saw his unbooted foot, or paw. It was long, tan and had a deep gash across the top. "You might want to cover that." he said, nodding to the paw.

Ed pulled his pant leg over it and his hood began to fall back, revealing large pointed ears. He growled in frustration of his predicament and quickly covered them. Finally, after ten minutes of walking and stares, Roy reached the steps to his small house. Setting Edward down, he unlocked the door and pushed it open. Mustang tried to help Fullmetal stand up, but got his hand slapped away.

"I can do it." Ed half-walked, half-tumbled into Roy's living room. He lay face flat on the floor, chest heaving irregularly. Mustang shut the door behind him and looked down at his wounded subordinate. He thought at first his breathing was uneven because of injury, but then heard subtle sobs escaping the young alchemist. Roy knelt besides him and tried to get him off the floor.

"No! Leave me!" Ed coughed and spat blood on Roy's carpet. He stretched forth his left hand and tried to rub it out, when he looked at his hand. The glove was ripped and furred fingers replaced his skin. He balled it into a fist and yelled. Long black claws sprouted at the tips and had dug into his palm.

"Let me help you to a chair." Mustang began to guide Fullmetal to a recliner next to the sofa. There was a knock on the door. Ed's coat hood had slid off again and his ears perked up at the noise. After setting him in the seat, Mustang went to the door.

"Who is it?" he asked.

A familiar voice shouted their name on the other side and Roy opened the door. Lieutenant Colonel Hughes entered the room. "I know you like me Roy, but jeez can't I spend some time with my…" Maes' eyes had landed on the figure sitting in the reclining chair. It wore a red coat, black under jacket and pants, the same exact attire of Edward Elric, it even had the same hair style, but something was different. The owner had two large pointed furry ears sticking out at the sides of it's head. It had a big paw for a foot and a long striped tail. And the face… the face was uncanny to that of the Fullmetal Alchemist, except for the eyes. Instead of two golden irises they were different colors. One green and one blue.

"Edward…?" Maes asked stepping closer to get a better look. Ed was staring at his chest.

"I'm going to get some medicine and bandages." Roy left for a moment and returned with a large white case and a bottle of tablets. "Now, Fullmetal, tell us what's hurt and we'll dress it for you."

Ed wiped away a tear and looked up at Roy with some terror in his eyes. "I.. I don't want anyone to see at me…" he said wrapping his tail around him and covering himself with his coat.

"To help you heal, we must…" He stepped closer to Edward.

"No! I don't want any help! I- I have to fix this myself!" Ed jumped to the top of the cushioned chair. Maes and Roy went to grab him, but he fell back knocking his head into the wall.

The strong odor of menthol entered Edward's nose. He could hear voices around him. His eyes flittered open and took a moment to adjust to the light.

"He's waking." said a female voice.

"We still have to dress his back." said another.

Finally, everything came into view and Ed saw Hawkeye rubbing something on his chest. (which was not covered in fur) She was applying a menthol substance that burned after a minute or two of application. He looked down to see Mustang wrapping his foot/paw with a bandage and he remembered what had happened.

"Stop it! You can't see me like this!" He yelled and kicked at Roy, flexing his clawed foot and scratching him on his bare forearm. Hawkeye pressed two pressure points on Ed and he involuntarily relaxed. Roy stood up and stared down at Ed.

"You are doing yourself no good resisting, now settle down and turn on your stomach." Hawkeye commanded. Ed huffed and did as he was told. Down the center of his back was a stripe of soft striped fur, but a few inches below the shoulder blades was a large bruise shaped like a boot print. The First Lieutenant gently touched the spot which made Ed tense up.

"I'm going to have to thank the Colonel for that one." He said bitterly.

A pang of guilt struck Mustang deeply and he left the room. As Ed laid on his stomach he closed his eyes and exercised his other senses. In the background he could smell fresh hibiscus and chamomile leaves being crushed. He heard the voices of Hughes and Roy talking low.

"…you know your putting your job on the line." said Maes.

"Yeah, but I'm not going to let him get sent to a lab… He's my responsibility."

"…You're a tough character Roy, and a good friend. They are still young and need someone to care about them, especially in his current state… that's the role you must play."

"I know… I will help him Maes, I promise…"

The guilt rebounded to Ed as he heard their conversation. He knew Mustang was trying to help it was just… He didn't need another barrier between him and his goal. He was almost on track when this happened… A new smell entered his nasal cavity. It was of a familiar metal… steel. There was also the smell of cat and the faint odor of …blood. Dried blood… his blood. But it wasn't of anything in this room. It was outside. It was…

"Al…?" Ed's voice was ragged and hoarse. He began to get up.

There was a knock on the door. Mustang appeared from the kitchen and approached the door. "Who is it?" A muffled voice answered and Mustang unlocked the two locks. The door nearly flew off the hinges as a large suit of armor burst in through the frame.

"Brother!" Al sprang forward and almost knocked Ed off his feet. They hugged for a minute.

"Where were you? What… happened?" Al asked as he really saw his brother.

Following Al came: Havoc, Breda, Furey and Falman. They all stared at Ed, speechless.

Ed began to back away from everyone, feeling cornered. Maes entered the stuffed room with a mug of hot tea.

"Ed, we are going to need you to tell us exactly what happened yesterday so we can catch this guy and possibly find a way to reverse what was done." Hughes said approaching the oldest Elric and handing him the tea. Ed stared at the cup for a second, taking in the smell of chamomile and then he took a big gulp. Rolling the liquid in his mouth he could taste a hint of something else, a non-herbal substance. He glared at Maes, who just backed away and smiled. Feeling he had no other way out, Ed sat at the furthest corner of the sofa. At this sign, everyone relaxed somewhat and found a comfortable spot to sit and listen. Everyone, but Mustang, he stood in the back, in the shadow.