Alphonse was completely frozen. He just stared at the phone with his red, soulfire eyes, unsure of what to do. What had he done? He did not want to talk to the Rockbells about Edward being dead, which he wasn't. He didn't want to talk about the possibility of him being dead either.

"Brother... What do I do? I know you can't be dead. You just can't be..." Alphonse turned away from the phone that stood on the small stand and walked away from it. Later, he promised himself. He'd tell the Rockbells about Edward's disappearance later.

Alphonse dropped down onto Edward's bed, making it creak and picked up a book. He could read for awhile and then, surely, Edward would stroll in his automail a wreak and say something like: "Al, what are you doing moping about on my bed?!" or "The Colonel is a nightmare to spend time with! I just want to throw him off a cliff!"

Alphonse sighed fondly. He tried to get caught up in the book, so that the world could right itself while he waited. Slowly, all sense of time left him.


Hughes climbed off of the train, searching the station for a familiar face. He came upon two. They were Hawkeye's and Havoc's and faces.

They were standing out of the way of the milling crowds. "Riza, Jean, hey," Hughes called with so little emotion behind his words.

"Hey." Havoc waved dully.

"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes," Hawkeye addressed with a nod and salute.

"You know that that isn't necessary." Riza nodded and dropped the salute.

"Thank you for coming here," Riza started.

"Of course I would." Hughes ran a hand through his hair. "Do you have any leads yet?" Hughes asked hopefully.

"We've been suspended from the case. It's why I called you. We need to find who did this, and we can't do it without help." Riza was scowling. "I know that the rules also apply to you but you might be able to pull some strings to get onto the case."

"You know I'll try. I want whoever did this to meet justice." Hughes's face was dark and conflicted. Hawkeye felt horrible for calling him to come help. He may have been the one to announce that he was coming, but that didn't mean she wasn't planning to ask. She had needed the help and he could help.

"The car's this way. Thank you by the way." Hawkeye beckoned in the direction of the car.

"Of course, we're going to get the Bastard who did this. I won't rest until we do." He looked down and closed his eyes with a sigh. They all made their way towards the car in a newfound silence, climbing in and making their way towards Eastern Command.

The silence was heavy, but no one attempted to lift it. They just sat in the vehicle trying to think of ways to right the wrongs. At least, ways that they hadn't already thought of.


Edward's jaw was sore from trying to work the gag out. They handkerchief was just making him sick as he thought that the psychopath's saliva was in it. The Colonel's was too, but that was different because the Colonel wasn't a pure psychopath like that freak.

A cough came from the Colonel's direction.

"Hmm?" Edward attempted and failed to speak.

"I'm fine... Fullmetal, I should be asking if you're okay. He hasn't messed with me as much as you. Just nod or shake your head." Edward nodded. Mustang knew that he was probably lying about what he was feeling. "Please, tell me the truth. I know that you're not okay."

Edward hissed through the gag. He glared at Mustang.

"If you're mad at me, I understand." Edward's face melted, and he shook his head.

"Hmmgmmnhg" Roy was hoping that maybe Edward would be mad. That would make this feel less fake because surely this wasn't real. He knew it was, but it almost couldn't be. How could someone enjoy torturing a kid like that? It was so sick, but unfortunately it was their reality. They just had to wait for the team to find them. They had to be looking. They would find them. They were his team, and they were an efficient team.

Roy heard a grunt of pain from Edward's direction. He frowned and sighed. "Edward, I'm going to get you out of this. You have my word. I won't let one of my subordinates go through this. I won't break my promise."

Edward looked shocked. His eyes were betraying him. He looked almost... Thankful. For what, Roy wasn't sure.


Edward was happy in a way. He also wanted to smack the Colonel for catching him off guard. It was great to know that the Colonel wasn't giving up on him. It hurt as he tried to think of how long that would last, though. When would the Colonel realise his mistake and give up on caring? On wanting to help...

The pulsing pain returned, and Edward hissed a little. He readjusted himself, groaning at the stiff feeling in his shoulder. It was definitely not good for it to be supporting his weight like it was. He moved a little weight off of the limb. The relief was immediate. Though, it wasn't great. There wasn't much relief at all. Just that tiny bit of relief, but it was enough to be so much more comfortable.

"Fullmetal," Mustang started. Edward turned to look at his commanding officer. "I'm sorry we're in this situation. I shouldn't have been so slow to react."

"Hmmmh?" Edward attempted to say something but failed.

"Don't try talking. You can't, so don't waste the time, but if you want to know, I walked into a trap. There was a wall and before I could react someone had hit me over the head." Mustang was being unnaturally forthcoming. Did he think that they would die? Of course he did. He was saying all this as a distraction from the obvious fact that they were going to die. Maybe not by Jace's hands, but anyone who was willing to buy a human being, from that man especially, was probably just as crazy, if not more so.

Edward was upset about all he would lose. Alphonse...

That was a reminder that he had left his little brother to wait for him. He would have to keep waiting forever, and he could do it because Edward wouldn't be able to get him back to normal again. He would be physically able to wait forever. He wouldn't need sleep, food, exercise, or anything a human being would normally need. He would forever be a suit of armour.

Edward had to fight back tears. There was no way in hell that he going to cry in front of the Colonel. No way.

He wanted to cry, though. For everything he'd lose. Most of all, for Alphonse. He didn't, though. He would suffer through like always.


"Sir, I am trying to be respectful of your rank and position but the rules still apply." Icy-blue eyes meet Hughes's own hazel-like green eyes.

"Those rules are often overlooked for investigative purposes," Hughes "informed" the head of investigations for Eastern command.

"I know but Colonel Mustang's team is directly related to the..." The man seemed to remember that he was talking to one of the victim's dear friends. "The late Colonel Mustang and Major Elric."

"Lieutenant Colonel Meyer, I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about me. I'm not directly related to Mustang in any way. We're friends, but not on paper, if you know what I mean." Hughes intentionally made their relationship out to be more that of acquaintances. "You could use me on your team. I wouldn't have my rank or position if I wasn't good at what I did, so do we have a deal?"

The Lieutenant Colonel, Meyer, nodded his understanding. "No credit," He started quietly. His confidence grew slightly. "You can't take any credit."

Maes smirked. It worked. "I'm not in it for credit. I want to find out who did this."

Meyer offered his hand as a gesture of acceptance. "Good, very good..."


"Riza, it worked." The woman looked at Maes with relief in her face. "Now, because of the fact that I can't be tracked by any names or labels on paper unlike your crew, we do this with the utmost secrecy. Showing you evidence or files from a case you've been suspended from can have my job. I don't really care about that as long as we get the people who did this, but I need the job to get the information." Hughes was aware that Riza knew the dangers of them getting caught. Maes wouldn't be the only one out of the job. He was giving her a minute to let it sink in and let her commit herself. She didn't need it though. She was already committed.

"I'm aware, sir. We won't let anything slip...," Hawkeye paused. "Sir, Alphonse was hoping to help. Is there any reason why he shouldn't?" Secretly, Hawkeye hoped he's say "yes".

"If he won't let his emotions rule, then, it's fine. Now that brings me to a question." His face showed the warmth and care of a father. "How is he taking this?"

"He was in denial at first because there isn't the solid proof of a body. I don't know about now, but Edward was the last bit of family he had left. He wouldn't be taking it that well so it's understandable."

Hughes looked down, muttering, "He's just a kid." He looked back up at Riza. "Hawkeye, is it okay if I go to see him?" Riza nodded.

"I can take you whenever you want," Hawkeye offered.

"Actually, I want to go alone."

"Of course, Sir."

"Just Maes," Hughes reminded. "I wasn't even giving an order. It was a request." Riza nodded again then asked Maes for a pen and paper. He gave her the two items, both things he always had on his person. She wrote out a few things handing The note to Maes.

"Their phone number and room number," Hawkeye informed. "Al was at their dorm last I knew, but I don't know where he is now."

"Thank you. And have the team meet at my hotel room at eight tonight."

"What hotel, and what room?" Hawkeye asked slightly confused.

"I haven't gotten that far yet. I'll call you when I find out. I'm gonna go now." He waved the page with the room number on it to show her what he meant. "Thanks."


This probably would gave been a really long chapter, but I'm getting a migraine.

The good news is that you probably won't have to long to wait for the next chapter!