Transplantations, Story 3

Rating: G

Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine, and I have no permission to write about them. As usual. It's not a living. sigh

Series Summary: Stories wherein characters from other universes are integrated into the FMA universe.

Chapter Summary: Ed and Al learn something very interesting about their family history...

Notes: It'll make more sense if you're familiar with the Holmes stories, but it should still be readable either way. Though let me just say right now that Watson's not like he's portrayed in the movies and such. In fact, I think he's a saint for putting up with Holmes for so long. Would you deal so well with a druggie roommate who shot up the walls and faked his own death without telling you-- twice? Hence the last line, and the distribution of heritages.

As quick background for those who don't know, Moriarty was a brilliant mathematician and leader of a vast London crime syndicate, who killed Sherlock Holmes by dragging them both over the edge of the Reichenbach Falls. Or so the world thought for a few years...

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3. Dr. John H. Watson

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"Excuse me. I'm looking for Edward Elric?"

Ed turned around to see a kindly-looking older man, hair going gray, slightly stout but vaguely formidible.

"Yes?" he replied.

"Ah, you're him?"

"I guess that'd depend on why you're asking, but-- yeah."

"Excellent. And this is your brother?" The man blinked up at Alphonse. "Quite tall for your age, aren't you?"

"Um, it's a long story," said Al. "I'm Al. Why were you looking for us?"

"Ah." The man coughed. "My name is Dr. John Watson. I was looking for you because-- well. I don't suppose I have as good a reason as I'd like."

"Your name sounds familiar," Al noticed. "Where have I heard it before? Have we met?"

"No, I-- I suppose you've read some of those stories I've written-- good, that will help things tremendously."

"Those detective stories, yeah!" Ed realized. "About that guy, years back. Yeah, I remember! We used to read 'em on weekends when Mom told us not to study so much, remember?"

"That's right!" Al said. "But then why are you here?"

Watson coughed, shuffling around, slightly embarassed. "Well-- as it happens-- I was tracing the family tree of James Moriarty-- you'll recognise the name?"

"That mathematics professor who tried to kill Mr. Holmes?" Al remembered. "The one with the vast and subtle empire of crime."

"Yeah, that's the one," Ed said. "Wait-- and you came to us? You mean Dad, right? That would explain a lot."

"Er, no, actually-- as it happens-- I'd been tracing a younger sister of the Professor's, and-- it really means nothing, genetics and lineage, no matter what Holmes might like to say--"

Ed paled. "You're saying our mother--!"

"I didn't even know those stories were real!" Al cried.

"No wonder she didn't like us reading them!" Ed realized.

"But I'm sure it's no reflection on you two," Watson hastily reassured them. "You seem like wonderful children, I assure you, and--"

Colonel Mustang opened the door of his office. "Fullme-- oh, hello, Dr. Watson, what are you doing here?"

Ed gaped for a moment. "You KNOW him!"

Mustang shrugged. "Not particularly well-- he was acquainted very closely with my mother's cousin, I believe, and we've met a couple of times. What brings you here, Dr. Watson?"

Ed gaped at him for a little longer, then put his hand over his eyes.

"Er, just a little research. Roy, isn't it? Lovely to see you're doing so well."

"Thank you," Roy said. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"No, not really," Watson said, "just passing through."

"Well, I'll be in my office, then. Fullmetal, I'd like your report sometime today, if you'd be so kind..."

The door closed, and Ed peeked out through his fingers. "He's related to Sherlock Holmes!"

Watson shrugged helplessly. "I'm sorry to bring all this up, I was just making sure-- well. I couldn't find any information on Trisha Moriarty, and I was afraid she might have brought her sons up with the desire to extract revenge. But apparently she'd put the past behind her, as you didn't even know... I am sorry."

"That's... that's all right," said Al, sounding slightly stunned. "We'll, um, call you if we suddenly develop any wild desires to... take over the world, or whatever."

"I'm positive you won't," Watson reassured. "You seem like remarkable young men."

"Come on, Fullmetal," Roy's voice was heard, "time is quite 'short'..."

Ed clenched his fists. "I dunno," he said, "I do at times have a sudden deep desire to shove the nearest Holmes into a waterfall..."

Watson chuckled as he headed for the exit. "My dear boy, then half the world's a Moriarty..."

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