1Chapter Eight

"I don't know where to take you, Ed," Winry said as she cut the sled's engine at the edge of town. Alphonse wasn't far behind them. She hadn't been able to go too fast since Ed's grip on her had weakened as they'd traveled.

Ed wearily lifted his throbbing head from where it had been resting on her shoulder. "We have to stop Sabrin."

"And you have a bad concussion and two limbs ready to fall off," Winry reminded him sharply. "You're in no condition to fight. I could take you to our house but Sabrin might have a crony waiting and there isn't a phone.

"Phone?" Ed's brow knit. "Oh...yeah, we should call Hughes or Colonel Shit because at least part of the military was involved here."

"Yes , Brother," Al said, catching up with them. "Last time with Yoki, when we handled it ourselves, the Colonel got mad you."

"I know, follow proper procedures." Ed sighed.

"Let's go to the clinic. They'll have taken care of Halia there and I'd like to check on her, too," Winry said. "And there's a phone. I doubt Leatherby and the others will try to go back to the clinic in the daylight when there are a lot of people around. Besides, we have to take care of you, Ed. You're a mess."

He smiled wanly. "Sounds like a plan but we still have to deal with Sabrin."

"Leave that to me," Alphonse said, sounding too grim for a man so young.

"No Al, you can't," Ed protested, trying to move but he couldn't.

"Brother, I can do this," Al insisted.

"I...okay, but first I'll need your help to get into the clinic, Al. All my strength is gone," Ed said, thinking frantically, trying to come up with a better plan than letting his little brother go into battle for him. Maybe if Al thought Ed was too weak to move, he could sneak off.

"Of course, Brother."

Winry drove them into town. Ed swallowed his pride and let Al carry him into the clinic. Ed really did feel horrible but he wasn't about to let that stop him. The clinic bustled with Halia's nurses, frantic over their injured boss and the fact that they couldn't find Sheriff Leatherby or Lieutenant Dance to report the attack to; little did they know. Al stowed Ed on top of an exam table.

"Al, think there's enough phone line to get a phone into here so I can talk to Hughes?" Ed hoped the answer was no so he could sneak out while Al went to make a call.

"I don't think so," Al said, looking around for a phone. "I'll call Mr. Hughes and the Colonel for you."

"Thanks, Al." Ed watched his brother head for Halia's office. Now he had to get rid of Winry. "Winry, why don't you check on Halia?"

Winry bobbed her head. "I will after I take care of you."

Ed gritted his teeth to swallow back his 'damn' and submitted to her care. Winry's touch was surprisingly gentle as she cleansed his wounds. His strength was beginning to fail him so he wished she'd hurry. Ed clapped his hand to what was left of the metal hand and fused his battered leg into one solid mass.

Winry wrinkled her nose at the further alteration of her work. "What was that for?"

"In case I have to use the restroom again. It's embarrassing having to be helped," Ed said with complete honesty. "At least now I don't have to worry about my leg snapping in two."

"Good thought," she said, continuing to bandage him up.

Ed wished she'd hurry so he'd have time to escape before Al came back or his strength utterly deserted him. He didn't get his wish.

"Brother, I spoke to the Colonel," Al said excitedly. "He's sending troops immediately from the nearest town possible and he's coming with Major Armstrong."

"Oh, hell no! Al, how could you let him do that!" Ed growled, trying to think of anything worse than Mustang showing up and he couldn't.

"I don't see how I could stop him," Al replied tartly.

"What's wrong?" Winry paused in her nursing to look at the brothers. "It's a good thing two more alchemists are coming, isn't it?"

"No." Ed sighed. He could picture Mustang's smug face. "Mustang will take one look at me and gloat."

"No, he won't, Brother. He sounded very concerned," Al replied, placatingly.

"I'm sure he is. There!" Winry gave Ed a satisfied look. "I think I finally have you all bandaged up."

"Thanks, Winry." Ed touched his throbbing head. "Why don't you check on Halia? I'll be fine."

"Okay. You lie still and I'll be right back," Winry said, gently patting his arm, then headed off to another clinic room to check on the battered doctor.

Ed made a face then held his stomach. Al put a hand on his shoulder. "Brother, Are you all right?"

"No, I'm really queasy. I should have asked Winry for some ginger tea before she left. I'm sure Halia has to have some." Ed looked up at his brother, hoping nothing but sincerity was showing in his eyes. "Al, could you ask Winry where it might be and make me some?"

"Of course, Brother. It won't take long." Al sounded relieved to be able to help.

"Thanks, Al." Ed waited until he couldn't hear Al clanking then swung off the exam table. His flesh leg felt wobbly and his stomach lurched. Ed left a thin stream of bile trickling down the porcelain exam room sink before making his escape.

It hurt his back trying to swing his frozen leg but determination prodded Ed on. He couldn't allow his kid brother to face the danger Sabrin represented. It was his fault they were here. Ed had to protect Winry and Al. He couldn't wait for Mustang's reinforcements. Sabrin could escape anywhere in the world and start all over again and that was unacceptable.

Luckily the Dew Drop Inn was only a few blocks away. Ed skidded on the ice twice. That would be all he needed, a fall to break one of his living bones. Opening the door to the tavern, he was surprised to see Sabrin behind the bar as if nothing unusual had happened. Ed remembered she thought Leatherby had cut him into meat pies by now. Sabrin's face darkened when she saw him and Ed was glad the inn was empty.

"If you're here, I'll assume you've already taken care of Leatherby and Dance." Sabrin sighed. "If you were going to live long enough to use words of wisdom, I'd tell you to be careful not to partner with idiots."

"I'll keep that in mind." Ed lifted his arm to clap, hearing the servos whining in protest. It wouldn't much longer before the automail gave way entirely.

Sabrin's hand slapped against the bar and the wood shot out at him like mad thorns. Ed could barely dodge. His locked leg didn't respond like he expected, pitching him to the floor. Fire shot through his abused hip. The breath whooshed out of him. "What a pity, there you are on a wooden floor, my realm." Her hand hit the bar again and spikes shot up from the floor. Ed rolled, the twisted flooring nearly hitting his vitals. She had to have an array carved on the back of her bar.

"Damn it," he hissed, the spikes having impaled him through the shoulder and thigh, luckily the automail versions of them. "Winry is going to kill me for this."

Sabrin leaned over the bar, grinning at him. "You won't have to worry about it. You're caught like a fox in a trap. All I have to do is finish you and skin you out." She leered as her hand reached for her array.

Swallowing hard, Ed tried to get his hands together, knowing he wouldn't be fast enough.