Chapter Seven

It had been an exceptionally hard week in Rush Valley. Monday the town realized that a body had been dumped the night before. That Thursday, Shana Carter, a cute brunette, only 15 years old went missing after being sent to the market alone to grab some eggs. The errand should have taken ten minutes at the most, and a family member grew worried and went to investigate, a carton of broken eggs found near a side alley and no trace of the girl. The local authorities had been warned and the papers had printed it the next day.

By Sunday evening, the body of the second girl that had disappeared was found, much in the same condition as the first in an alley on the other side of town from where she had disappeared. By this point, the local authorities were strongly recommending a curfew and urging business to close earlier. An urgent message was also sent to Central Headquarters, begging for help with this serial kidnapper and killer with a depraved and brutal streak.

A certain raven-haired State Alchemist took interest and was granted the case. He sat at his desk, carefully reviewing the file, the details, the women missing and dead. He studied names and faces, method of death…

"They died horribly." Came a soft voice from over his shoulder.

Roy grunted in agreement, knowing it was his Lieutenant reading the file over his shoulder. "It appears our suspect likes young, pretty girls and he likes to keep them chained up and starved. Looks like he likes to beat them and take advantage of them. The first body- Marlene Jonston, had died of dehydration and blood loss from her several injuries while the second body, Anita Marshall was severely dehydrated but appears to have died from a concussive head wound." Colonel Roy Mustang closed the file with a sigh.

"She wasn't one of them?" Riza asked softly.

"No. But I'm sure it will be proper motivation to find this bastard, and quickly." Roy muttered darkly. "Havoc!" Roy barked suddenly. A tousled blonde-haired man sat up, startled from his slouched position at his desk. He pushed his chair back and staggered to Roy's open office door.

"Yes sir?" He asked casually, blinking from his hangover in the bright light from Roy's office window.

"Get me Elric. And tell him to hurry. It's important." Roy barked out, his face serious.

Jean Havoc straightened even further and saluted. "Yes sir." He quickly disappeared towards the dorms where Ed was most likely still sleeping after spending most of the previous day and night in the library. When he reached Edward's assigned room, he didn't bother knocking, that little twerp could sleep through a war. He threw the door open, and Al looked up from his spot on the floor and the thick tome in his lap.

"Ah! Second Lieutenant! What are you doing here?" Al asked in his hollow, tinny voice.

Havoc jerked his thumb in the direction of the lightly snoring blonde sprawled across the couch, not having even bothered going to bed, his shirt rucked up and hand on his belly, a thick book open on his chest. Havoc seized the back of the couch and tilted it so Ed's sleeping form was flung to the floor. "Mustang told me to get the shrimp."

Ed immediately burst from the floor, practically frothing at the mouth. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL YOU NEED A MAGNIFYING GLASS TO SEE ME?!" Ed seethed, his hair and clothes rumpled and dark bags under his eyes.

Havoc, used to Fullmetal's antics watched him calmly. "The Colonel needs you in his office."

Ed stopped huffing and puffing and paused to run his hands down his face and then over his messy hair. "What does Colonel Bastard want this time?" He grumbled.

Havoc lit up a cigarette despite Ed's glare and shrugged. "I don't know, but he looked pretty serious and told you to hurry."

Ed continued his muttering but stuffed his feet into his boots and donned his iconic red jacket. "Come on Al, let's go." Ed grumbled as he threw open the door and started making his way towards the Colonel's office, Havoc and Al following behind him.

Once they made it to Mustang's office, Havoc was dismissed. "That will be all Second Lieutenant."

Edward flopped into the chair facing the Colonel and folded his arms across his chest, fixing Mustang with a baleful glare. Roy placed both elbows on his desk, laced his hands together and rested his chin on top, meeting Edwards's gaze with his own, onyx stare. There was a long pause of quiet as the two stared each other down, Riza behind Roy and Al behind Ed.

Roy finally broke the silence by reaching into a desk drawer and dropping a heavy stack of files on his desktop. "I have a case for you." Ed just continued to blink at him lazily. Roy withdrew four pictures and laid them out in front of the languid teen before him. Four young, pretty teen girl faces peered up at Edward from Roy's polished mahogany desk.

Edward finally leaned forward and disinterestedly examined the photos. "So?" He finally spoke.

"These girls were all kidnapped over the last several weeks." Edward merely raised an eyebrow, waiting for Roy to get to the point and why he should care. Mustang pulled back the last two images closer to himself and spreading the first two further apart on his desk closer to the Full Metal Alchemist. Below the two pictures that had been pushed towards Ed, Roy carefully and methodically placed several additional photographs below each girl's picture.

The suit of armor behind Ed gasped and a gagging sound emerged from the blonde teens throat and the color drained from his face. The photographs showed horrific scenes of violence. It was hard to reconcile the smiling faces above with the mutilated bodies below. Each girl was an emaciated corpse with sunken and deeply bruised facial features, their clothing torn and strained with mud and blood, every bare inch of flesh littered in cuts, scratches, and bruises in different stages of healing.

Roy studied the boy's reaction stoically before speaking. "This is what happened to the first two of the kidnapped girls. Their bodies were found in back alleys. They had been starved, brutally beaten and raped." Ed flinched as if he had been struck.

"Do-"Ed's voice came out as a dry croak. He cleared his throat and moistened his chapped lips. "Do you this this might have something to do with the Philosophers Stone?"

Roy's dark eyes stared at him unblinkingly. "No. This torture, violation and death don't seem consistent with other's attempts at making a stone. No, this is just another monster that needs to be stopped before more innocent girls are taken and brutalized."

Ed was still pale, and the usual arrogance was lacking when he spoke. "If it's not related to the stone, why send me? Someone else can handle this."

"Brother!" Al shouted in shocked reproach.

Riza shifted slightly behind Roy, but that was the only movement from that side of the desk. After a moment, the seriousness left Mustang and he shrugged indifferently. "I just thought you might be eager to stop this person due to your personal ties." The Colonel began gathering the photographs in a dismissive manner, but his words struck a chord with Ed. He gripped the arms of his chair and sat forward.

"What personal ties?" He snapped in agitation.

"Didn't I tell you earlier? These girls are from Rush Valley." Roy said, leveling his gaze with Edward.

"Brother! Winry!" Al shouted with urgency.

Edward did not need his brothers warning, his mechanics beautiful but stubborn face had instantly formed in his mind, and he felt his chest clench with anxiety. "Give me the file." He managed to get out, snatching at the stack of manilla folders Mustang was sliding across the desk towards the frantic teen.

Roy's voice softened as Ed began thumbing through the reports. "If you need anything Full Metal, you know we're just a phone call away."

Ed's head snapped up and his fierce look softened for a moment. "Thanks Colonel." With that, Ed stood clutching the folder and turned to leave, Al on his heels.

Two days later, Ed was carrying his small suitcase with Ed following him through the relatively empty streets of Rush Valley. They had just left the police station where they had checked in and gathered more reports to pour over.

"It's so quiet." Al said softly as he followed his brother, peering around.

"Probably because of this." Ed said gesturing at a flyer posted on the wall of the building they were passing.

Al bent to read it. "Curfew? But that doesn't start till dark."

Ed looked around, eyes narrowed. "Makes sense. Those girls didn't disappear at night, it was broad daylight. Not worth the risk, the only people you see out and about are men or much older women."

"I hope Winry is okay." Al worried aloud.

Edward felt the familiar twist in his stomach but brushed off the feeling for nonchalance to reassure his little brother. "She's fine Al. She always carries that damn wrench, and you know how good she is with that thing." Ed muttered, rubbing his forehead in remembered pain.

"I'm sure you're right brother."

They had finally made it to Mr. Garfiel's Automail Shop and Ed was eager to see his mechanics familiar face and ease the anxiety he still felt. Edward pushed open the door and strode inside. Mr. Garfiel was busy talking with a customer from behind the counter and as he scanned the front room, he saw no trace of Winry. Before he could make it much further into the shop, a young man, probably just a little older than himself approached with a friendly smile.

"Can I help you?"

Ed looked him up and down with a baleful expression. "No. I'm just looking for someone."

"Who are you looking for?" He asked, ever determined to be polite and helpful.

"Our friend Winry." Al explained, impatient with his brother's testosterone fueled posturing.

The young man ran his gaze over Alphonse and recognition seemed to spark across his face. "You must be Edward and Alphonse! Winry's told me all about you."

Ed looked startled, but Al persisted. "That's us. Is she here?"

The young man shook his head. "No. When surgeries aren't scheduled, she works from home." He leaned in almost conspiratorially. "Safer that way, you know?" He said quietly.

"Thanks." Ed said dismissively and turned to leave.

"Wait! Do you need someone to show you how to get there?"

Ed didn't bother to turn around just waved a hand over his head dismissively. "We know the way." They left the shop, the bell over the door jangling once again.

Winry was deeply absorbed on the fabrication process of Mr. Nealson's new knee. The sun from the windows across the room felt warm against the bare skin of her shoulders and lower back and provided lighting with which she could work by, manipulating tiny screws and several small wires. She was just working on lining up a tiny screw and balancing the tip of a tiny screw driver as she threaded it into the joint. She was just tightening the screw when a loud pounding came from her front door, startling her out of her deep concentration and making her drop her screwdriver. She bent to pick it up when the banging started again.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming!" She shouted in irritation.

The banging continued as she shuffled across the thick carpet of the living room and down the long hallway. "I'm coming!" She shouted again, right before she pulled the door open, revealing a smirking blonde teenager holding a suitcase and a large body of armor standing behind him and waving.

"Hi Winry!" Al chirped from behind his older brother.

"Ed! Al!" Winry called as she launched herself forward, throwing her arms around Edward's shoulders. She must have caught him off guard, for he dropped his suitcase and then slowly returned her hug. She pulled back and hugged the big, hollow suit of armor. "Alphonse! It's been too long since I've seen you guys!" A suspicious look crossed the mechanics face and she whipped around and seized Ed's right, gloved wrist, and yanked up the sleeve of his red jacket and the black one below. "What have you done to my automail now?" She demanded gruffly examining his metal limb.

Edward jerked his arm back indignantly. "I haven't done anything to my automail!" He said defensively.

Winry became subdued as she stood in the doorway again. "Are you here for the…?" She trailed off, unable to finish.

"The kidnappings and murders. Yeah. Mustang assigned me the case." Ed said bluntly in a dispassionate tone.

Winry gave him a wavering smile. "Well, I'm glad you guys are here, come in. Are you hungry?"

Ed grinned, falling into a familiar pattern put him more at ease. "Starving." Ed said, following her down the hall, Al clunking behind him and closing the door behind them all. Ed dropped his suitcase near the kitchen table and collapsed into a chair, finally relaxing, and peeling off his white gloves and red jacket.

Winry paced the kitchen, pulling dishes from the fridge and arranging a plate of leftovers for Edward. "Coffee?" She questioned, looking over her shoulder. "You look like you could use it."

Ed looked up from his slouched place at the table and gave her a weary smile. "Sounds great."

She put the plate before the exhausted teen and set the coffee to percolate. "How have things been lately?" Winry asked lamely, trying to fill the silence that lay heavy in the kitchen.

"Complicated." Al said on a sigh.

"The usual." Ed said at the same time.

Winry sighed, getting exactly what she expected, nothing. "Any new leads on getting your bodies back?"

Ed froze, his fork halfway to his mouth and his color drained ever so slightly before he continued eating as if what she said hadn't affected him. "Some." He said elusively.

"We've hit… a complication. We're seeing if we can find an alternative." Al explained without giving anything away.

The coffee had stopped brewing, so Winry pulled down two mugs filling both with coffee and adding sugar to hers before setting Ed's before him where he continued steadily eating and she sat across from him, silently holding her mug, sipping from it occasionally and inspecting both brothers.

"We, uh, we went to Mr. Garfiel's first. We were told you were working from home unless you had surgeries."

Winry met Al's gaze with a warm smile. "Mr. Garfiel thought it would be for the best, and that it would be safer this way. I do a lot of work from home anyways, so I'm only really needed for the surgeries."

"Your gearhead obsession better not keep me up all night." Ed grouched, thinking of the work bench situated in the guest room.

Winry must have been thinking the same thing. "I moved my work bench to the living room. When you're done there, you can see what I've been working on."

Ed shrugged indifferently. "Whatever. Probably just more grease monkey junk."

"Well sorry not everyone is an alchemy freak like you!" She shouted in frustration.

Despite only being a suit of armor, Al looked rather alarmed. "I'd be happy to see what you've been working on Winry!" He called to try to diffuse the tension.

The sound of the front door being jostled caught everyone's attention. Ed was out of his chair and positioned himself where the kitchen met the hallway, bracing himself for whatever was coming through the door. His fist clenched and the front door began to slowly swing open.

"Winry! I'm back!" Called a male voice, followed by the young man from the automail shop. He and Ed exchanged startled, wide-eyed looks before the young man broke out in a smile. "I see you did know your way to Winry's after all."

Ed spun on Winry as she stood from the table, gathering Ed's empty plate and mug, seeming unperturbed by the unexpected intrusion. "Who's this?" He asked in annoyance, jerking a thumb over his shoulder, indicating the young man approaching the kitchen.

"Oh, sorry!" The young man said affably. Ed eyed him in disdain as he came closer, and it became painfully evident he was much taller than Edward. "I meant to introduce myself at the shop, but you left so quickly. I'm Jered, a friend of Winry's." he said, holding out his hand.

Ed dragged his eyes up and down the ruggedly handsome young man and begrudgingly offered his hand in return. As they shook, Jered's eyes widened.

"Automail hand?" He asked in awe, staring at their clasped hands.

Ed pulled back, feeling awkward and unsure. "Er, ya…"

"Not just a hand. His whole right arm, all the way to the shoulder." Winry bragged.

"Woah…"

"And his left leg from above the knee."

"That's a lot. I have an automail leg myself. But mine's the left." Jered confided to Ed with something akin to excitement.

Oh no. There were two automail freaks. Ed thought as he watched their increasingly excited exchange.

"I designed the whole thing myself with the best state-of-the-art materials." Winry boasted.

Jered pulled a messenger bag from behind his back and handed it off to Ed's mechanic. "I brought you more parts. The ones you asked for and some more for Garfiel's next client. There's a surgery tomorrow, so we'll go together in the morning, and you can bring that shoulder joint you were working on for Mrs. Bennet."

"Sounds good." Winry said, taking the messenger bag with her to the living room where her work bench now resided.

Ed had been only half listening to their exchange, having scrounged up his mug and more coffee and sat at the table, quietly observing. He watched Jered watch Winry as she left with the parts he had given her. He seemed to shake himself a bit before he turned and flashed Ed and Al a smile.

"I'm going to go get cleaned up and changed." He announced and went down the hall to the guest room.

As soon as Jered had disappeared, Ed had sputtered on his coffee, spraying some onto the table and choking as Al pounded his brother on the back, then went to get a towel to clean up the mess. "Brother, are you alright?" Al asked with concern.

"He lives here?!" Ed managed to sputter, wiping his face with the sleeve of his black jacket.

"Uh…" Al's response was an unintelligible stunned sound.

Ed found himself stomping into the living room after Winry. "Hey!" He called as soon as he came around the corner. Winry had been sorting parts on a large work bench in the far corner of the living room, but turned, looking at Ed fuming as he stomped towards her with curiosity.

"What?" Winry had grown up with Ed, she was usually unphased by his mood swings.

"Who's that and why does he live here?" He hissed, cornering the blonde between himself, the bench, and the wall.

"What's it to you?" She snapped back. Winry didn't like being told what she could and couldn't do.

"The whole reason I'm here is because some random guy is going around, kidnapping, raping, beating, and killing girls just like you!" He fumed, pointing in her face.

"So shouldn't it be safer if Jered is living here?" Winry argued.

"Not if you don't know who he is!"

"I do know who he is!"

"How could you possibly know?!" Ed shouted in her face.

Winry took a deep breath and sat back from where she had been leaning forward aggressively, much like Ed still was. Her stare was cold like her tone. "I live a life whether you're here or not."

The words hit Ed like a sucker punch. He opened his mouth to argue, but no sound came out.

"Jered is my friend and my coworker. I trust him because he's been there for me. He watches out for me. He's a good friend. I know who he is." Her voice had become quieter until the last was said softly and she closed her eyes as if tired.

"Winry…" Ed said softly. "I just want to make sure you're safe."

Her blue eyes opened and flashed dangerously. "Like you really care." She scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest, and glaring at him. "You only show up when you need me as your mechanic. You just show up on my doorstep whenever you break something and expect me to fix it, no questions asked. No letters, no phone calls, nothing."

"I don't visit more often or send letters because I have a lot of bad and dangerous people after me. I could lead them home to you, or to Granny or even Den for Christ's sake Winry!" Ed ran a hand through his hair in obvious frustration.

"Bad people are already here, hurting others whether you led them here or not. Whether you're here or not…"

"I'm-I'm sorry. But I'm here now. I'm here to stop whoever's doing this."

Winry's glower softened. "I know."

Ed took a step back, dropping his defenses and letting out a deep breath. "So Jerry is staying in the guest room?" He asked petulantly.

"Jered and yes."

"Damn him." He hissed and Winry looked at him in surprise. "Now I'm stuck sleeping on the couch." He pouted and Winry chuckled.

"Sorry."

"No you're not." He grumped.

Sarahplainntall here! Sorry for the long delay in updates. I've been kind of stuck with this part, because I'm really eager to get to the exciting bits! But the boys finally made an appearance, I hope you all enjoyed that! Plus, I was busy studying for a test to become a certified veterinary nurse, so, LOTS of studying, put I passed! Ya! Anywho, thanks for reading, following, favoriting and reviewing. You guys are great.