Illusion of Bluebird

By Gozilla

A/N: Thanks a lot to all who you have read and / or left a review! Hope you will enjoy this chapter.

Credits: Please refer to the previous two chapters. Again, many thanks to the BBI team, kier and h2oblue! You are the best!

Summary: (Spoiler to Bluebird's Illusion and the TV series) The Elric brothers had finally found the philosopher's stone and Al was finally restored. But there was something wrong with Al's body. Would Ed find the solution in time?

Disclaimer: I don't own anything and I don't have anything. So don't sue me!

Please excuse my poor English. -

Reviews are most welcomed!

Enjoy!

Chapter 3 – Panic

-Next morning-

Edward woke to the bright morning sunlight. Still completely exhausted, he opened his eyes reluctantly. He looked around for a while before he realised that he was at his home, sleeping on his own bed. He could not quite remember how he had came home, changed clothes and gotten to bed.

Instinctively, he turned to look to his right where his brother's bed was. Instead of the large armour-suit, he saw a youth with golden hair sleeping peacefully.

'Is it a dream?' Edward could not help but to think that. He could not remember how many times he had woken up to find that it was only a dream. He was afraid that it was just another illusive dream.

Using all his strength, Edward struggled to get up and knelt beside Al's bed He put his left hand onto his brother's face. He sighed deeply in relief as he felt Al's body heat and steady heartbeats. He collapsed and sank onto the floor in exhaustion.

Suddenly, a sound from downstairs alerted Edward; he took a quick look at Al's sleeping face. Knowing that Al would be defenseless against any attack, Edward got up and transmuted the forearm shield of his automail arm into a blade. Stars danced in front of his eyes as his body protested against the intense movement and use of alchemical power.

But he would not back away. Edward knelt in front of Al's bed and faced the door, his arm blade placed across his chest in a defensive posture. He tensed as the footsteps approached the room.

"Ed?" came a familiar voice.

It was Hawkeye, with a tray of food and drinks in her hands.

Edward sighed in relief as he knew there was no immediate threat. The tension alleviated, he collapsed onto the floor.

"Ed!" Hawkeye hurried to put down the tray and helped Edward to lie on his bed, "You should stay in bed. You are still too weak to move around. Don't worry, you and Al are safe here."

"Why... why are you here?" Edward looked at Hawkeye, deeply worried, "You know... you know... about Al? Then the Colonel must also... What... what are you going to do with us?"

Having the military to know about his successful human transmutation was the last thing Edward would want. He did not know what the military would do to his brother. Edward's mind raced to think of any possible way to get his brother out of the hands of the military.

He tried to get up from the bed, only to fall back as his limbs were too weak to support him. He hated himself for being so weak and, most importantly, unable to protect his brother in such a time of need.

"Stay still, Ed, you are hurting yourself!" Hawkeye gently pushed Edward down to the bed, preventing him from falling off the bed.

"No!" Edward shouted in desperation, struggling against Hawkeye's hold, "I won't let you hand Al to the military! I am taking him away! Leave us alone!"

Not knowing where the energy came from, Edward pushed Hawkeye away. Hawkeye lost her balance and bumped into the tray she just put down, causing the contents of the tray to fall to the floor noisily.

"Niisan..." Al woke up at the noise, confused and disoriented, "What... what is... going on?"

"Al..." Edward struggled to reach Al's bedside, stars dancing in front of his eyes and darkness threatening to overcome him again, "Don't worry, I will get you out of here. You will be safe."

"Calm down, Ed!" Hawkeye shouted, her hands on Edward's shoulders, trying to calm him, "No one is going to harm any of you! Please calm down!"

"You are not taking him away!" Edward said breathlessly, "I won't let you!"

Hawkeye looked at Edward, who was struggling weakly but desperately against her hold. Narrowing her eyes in determination, she slapped Edward inhis face.

Shocked, Edward stopped struggling; the pain radiating from his slowly swelling face seemed to have lessened his confusion.

"We are trying to help you and your brother, Ed." Hawkeye said in an authoritative voice, "the General is sorting out things in the military in order to make sure no one will question the change of your brother's 'outfit'. He sent me here to look after you two."

"We are here to help you, Ed." Hawkeye said in a gentle voice, "But first, you have to trust us."

Edward looked at Hawkeye's eyes in disbelief. He always had a feeling that, behind the harsh words and teasing face, Mustang had been standing by them. But he had never expected that, in order to protect them, the Flame Alchemist would give up such a golden opportunity to gain another promotion by providing a successful real-life case of human transmutation.

"Can I trust you and Mustang?"

Hawkeye gave Edward a silent but confident nod.

Edward felt as if his whole body had became liquid as he relaxed. With no strength left, he gave up to the welcoming darkness.

-Three days later-

Mustang got off the car and told the driver to come back to pick him up in an hour. He watched the car drove away before walking to the house's door.

He knocked three times rhythmically and waited patiently. After a while, the door opened and Hawkeye looked behind her boss cautiously.

"No worries." Mustang said in a leisurely tone, "I have settled everything in the military. The brothers can walk into the Central military buildings without anyone asking any questions."

Hawkeye smiled and Mustang walked into the house.

"How are they?"

"Al is getting better." Hawkeye said as she walked upstairs, "He has been helping me around the house in the past two days."

"But Ed is still very weak." Hawkeye continued as they entered the brothers' room.

Inside the room, Edward was deep in slumber while Al knelt besidehis's bedside, using a clean damp cloth to wash Edward's face. Hearing the sound of footsteps, Al turned to look at the visitors. He was surprised to see Mustang.

"Good morning, General Mustang." Al said cheerfully.

"Good morning, Alphonse." Mustang smiled slightly, glad to see that the brothers had finally achieved what they had been working so hard for. He then turned to look at the older brother.

Mustang frowned slightly as he saw Edward's pale, sleeping face. It was far from being healthy, not to mention the dark eyebags which lingered beneath Edward's eyes.

"Niisan." Al gently shook Edward's shoulder, "Niisan, wake up. The General is here to see you."

Edward stirred in response to Al's call. But it took him a few moments before he opened his eyes. He looked at his brother with a confused, questioning look, as if asking his younger brother why he was waking him.

"General Mustang is here." Al repeated, gently helping his brother to sit up.

Edward blinked in surprise as he finally recognised the person standing in front of him. A thousand conflicting thoughts ran across Edward's mind. He still did not trust the military, but he believed Hawkeye's words.

Mustang smirked as he enjoyed the confused look on the young state alchemist's face.

"So, Fullmetal." Mustang said, "When are you planning to end your holidays? We have a lot of work waiting for you to do."

"Work?" Edward asked weakly.

"Of course, you are a Colonel now." Mustang smirked, "You have plenty of work waiting for you. Due to your deep knowledge in alchemy, the President has assigned you to be a senior investigator of the alchemy crime investigation team reporting directly under the President's Office."

"What?" Edward frowned in annoyance. He never liked to work for the military, let alone working so closely under the hierarchy.

"But General," Al interrupted, sensing his brother's distress, "Niisan needs more time to recover. I am sure you would understand."

"I understand." Mustang smiled, "I am giving you two more weeks to rest. After that, you will start working. Understand?"

Edward was silent.

"I take it as a yes." Mustang smirked as he walked out of the room, "As I have said before, don't even think about running away."

Edward was speechless. Mustang always seemed to be able to see through his mind, which was one of the many reasons Edward hated him so much.

"Stay calm, niisan." Knowing his brother well, Al whispered as he gently held onto Edward's shoulder, with a bitter smile on his face.

Edward looked at Al. His anger disappeared when he thought about the future ofhis younger brother. He would not allow Al to live a life as a fugitive.

Edward smiled back, decision made.

End of Chapter 3

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