Disclaimer: I don't own FMA.

After one night at Briggs, and to keep up my act as 'Mary', I prepared myself to visit the Elrics who spent the night in their cell after being dragged away by Buccaneer.

The rooms were very plain and empty, and since all the other rooms were filled men, excluding Armstrong's, I got my very own room to myself.

I changed into some warm underclothes before pulling on my uniform and dusting it off. I looked at my hair in a small compact mirror I had brought in my suitcase only to find that over night the ends of my hair curled outward. I had wavy hair to begin with, so it wasn't surprising. In fact, it looked even better.

After applying some Chapstick to my lips in order to prevent the skin from cracking, I finger combed through my hair to get some small knots out of it before smoothing out my uniform. With one last glance in the mirror, I threw it gently on my messy bed and walked out of the room, closing the door behind me.

This is where the hard part came in. I didn't want to acknowledge my disastrous sense of direction in front of Armstrong, I didn't ask for a map. And so, with my limited memory of places, I started off, trying hard to remember how I had arrived at my room.

After about an hour of wandering, I stumbled into the cafeteria, where everyone was having breakfast. Putting a smile on my face, I courageously walked into the room, glancing around in search for Falman.

I got a lot of approving looks as I tried to inconspicuously walk through the cafeteria, which I guessed to be because I had helped apprehend Sloth. Now that I thought about it, the homunculi would be really pissed... Oh well, sucks for them, I thought, I'm not going to let them control me anymore. I still need my revenge, after all.

Because I was thinking to hard, I knocked into someone. I stepped back, surprised.

"I'm sorry." I apologized, looking up at the person. And to my surprise, guess who it is? Falman!

"It's fine. Are you looking for someone, Major?" Falman asked. Yes, I had informed them I was a major, because of course, that's what the good stars on my uniform represented. I just hid the fact I was a state alchemist, because then I'd be identified as the 'Cold Blood' Alchemist, and thus, be recognized by not only the Elrics, but Falman too. That'd ruin my plans, so hiding was fine for now.

"Well, since I haven't been here for long... I don't really know my way around." I said sheepishly, but Falman nodded.

"I can show you around, if you'd like." He offered, "I'm finished here, anyway."

"Really? That'd be great." I accepted his offer.

And so, we began touring the fort, while I was earnestly trying to remember where everything was before giving up and secretly sketching a map.

I had told him I wanted to meet the Elrics, and Falman showed me to them. While I got ready to open the door and walking into the hallway of cells, Falman excused himself, having other things to take care of.

Shrugging, I tucked the map into a pocket on the inside of my uniform next to the one where my pocket watch was concealed.

I know it was stupid to carry my state alchemist watch around, but I didn't feel safe leaving it in my room. Besides, I had taped a picture of my parents, brother, Emma, Katya and myself in it, and if it was found, then my whole facade would be discovered. So I decided to hang onto it.

Taking a deep breath, I paused for a moment as my hand touched the door handle. After composing myself, I opened the door and walked in, only to find a few guys were crowded around the Elric's cell. A grin made its way to my face as I noticed the a few of the soldiers talking to them. I was almost certain in a few moments, one of them would offer Edward the coffee drink to cheat him out of his money.

And yes, after a moment of remaining inconspicuous, I heard Ed protest because of that very same reason. So, I pulled on my 'Mary' act as I strode up to them.

"Here," I said, flicking a silver coin, a hundred cens coin, up, and it was snatched out of the air quickly by, who I recognized as one of the automail mechanics that worked at Briggs, dressed casually with the addition of an unbuttoned white lab coat.

I walked up to stand in front of the cell next to the soldiers, attracting everyone's gaze.

"You don't have to-" I heard Al's voice, and gave him a cute, crooked smile, which I never usually did.

"It's my thanks for helping out." I grinned, straightening my posture and tucking my side bangs out of my face to reveal my blind eye. The brothers seemed a bit surprised, but the soldiers didn't really react.

"You were there too... Weren't you?" Ed asked me, referring to the Sloth incident. I nodded.

"Without her, we probably wouldn't have been able to subdue that monster." The mechanic said, making me shrug.

"I wouldn't underestimate General Armstrong... I wouldn't be surprised if she defeated the giant herself if you couldn't do anything else," I joked, making the soldiers crack up.

The soldiers excused themselves after joking with me a bit, leaving Ed and Al alone with me. As I turned to look at Ed, I felt my heartbeat pound painfully in my chest, but I just shook it off and smiled. I had been coping for so long that little things like this didn't outwardly affect me anymore, so that I wouldn't cry anymore.

"You there. You're the Fullmetal Alchemist, right?" I asked, catching Ed's gaze. My heart throbbed again, but I pressured myself to not make myself look cowardly.

"Yeah..." Ed said, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. I laughed.

"You're wondering how I knew it was you, and not your brother?" I said, making Ed's eyes widen in surprise. "Yes, I am a mind reader." I laughed more as Ed's surprise grew. "And, to answer your previous question, I knew because the people who told me about you said you were a shortie."

"I AM NOT SHORT!" Ed ranted, making my double over laughing as he continued to rant. I felt like listening to Ed rant at me was the most wonderful sound in the world, like he had never broken my heart.

"They also told me to deliberately call you short and if it pisses you off, then I'm not mistaken." I said after Ed had calmed down. He sighed in irritation.

"Everyone does that deliberately..." He trailed off, his face sobering as he zoned out, thinking about something apparently depressing. Al brought him to his senses when he asked me a question.

"I don't mean to be rude... But how old are you?" Al asked, and I could tell he was kind of embarrassed, but curious as well. I laughed.

"I'm seventeen," I lied, rolling my eyes playfully. "I seem older, don't I? I feel old, with people already mistaking me to be an adult." I added as I saw Al look shocked. In the first place, I had a mature body to begin with, and was the average height a woman of my stature should be, so with the whole voice change and scars obscuring part of my face, I must look like an entirely different person to them.

"I'm sorry..." Al said, and I shook my head.

"I'm just kidding! But looking older had is advantages..." I grinned mischievously, laughing as Ed looked at me in horror, while Al looked dumbstruck.

"So what rank are you?" Ed asked curiously, getting over his horror.

"I'm a major, same as you." I winked, making Ed's cheeks redden slightly. I reached out into the cell and snatched Ed's cup of coffee, which he had barely started, and took a quick sip before handing it back to him.

"Mm, nothing like coffee in the morning. Finish that up, you'll need the energy." I said, making Ed blush. I turned away slightly so they wouldn't see my face turn red with embarrassment. An indirect kiss! Lynette, you're here to get along with them, not seduce Ed! I scolded myself. It's not seduction. You couldn't seduce anybody if you tried. All you're doing is fooling yourself, the voice in my head, Truth, said. If that's correct, I will continue to fool myself to be able to protect them, I thought, even if my relationship was a temporary illusion, my love isn't. So I'm going to keep this up a while longer. Truth was silent.

"Good work yesterday. You both helped out a lot, not to mention you saved some lives." I said, cooling my face down. "That creature yesterday... Do you know what it was?" I asked. And so, my plan is being launched into action.

As Lynette, I had lost the Elric's trust, and lost access to the Elric brother's help, along with the other people on their side. As Lynette, I had done things for the homunculi and betrayed the brothers. As Lynette, I was a failure.

So, as "Mary", I planned to start all over again. To gain their trust as "Mary", and to reset our relationship so I could gain access to their information and help. As "Mary", I planned to become their friend again. And so, as "Mary", I had to go through everything again, find out about it as if I didn't know it before. And thankfully, as "Mary", I was perceptive.

When the Elric brothers didn't reply, I narrowed my eyes at them.

"He was gigantic with inhuman strength, had the ability to heal a lot faster than a human, and had a tattoo of an ouroboros dragon on his back. But, on the other hand, he had the same bodily composition as an average human." I frowned thoughtfully as the brothers stared at me.

"I may not be much of an alchemist, but I'm smart enough to know that if my plan had worked, then the creature was made of the same stuff I am. And, to fasten up the healing process, that should have tired him out, considering the fact that a lot of energy is used to heal yourself, well, when you don't waste time trying to think of how that was even possible. The ouroboros, the symbol of a dragon eating its tail... There are legends about it, but as for why he had the tattoo, I don't know... As for the inhuman size and strength, I got nothing for that either..." I looked back and forth between the shocked brothers. I gave them a serious look. "When it comes to the big things, I pay attention to the small details. Because, if you haven't noticed, the small details can be the most dangerous. What's happening here?" I asked calmly. The Elric brothers remained silent.

"If you're not going to say anything, I understand. But I have a feeling that you and this creature are connected somehow, and I'm not going to give up." I grinned at them with a determined glint in my eye. They were still silent, and it was starting to annoy me.

"Okay, moving off the apparently touchy subject, do you guys know what time it is?" I asked, resisting the urge to pull out my military watch to check. Ed shrugged, and I looked around until I spotted a clock hanging from the wall. My eyes widened as I gasped.

"What? What is it?" Al asked. I looked at them in surprise.

"I've already been up for a few hours, and it's only seven in the morning! I think the world got messed up, because I'm more likely to wake up at seven at night then in the morning..." I said, yawning. Ed rolled his eyes.

"You don't seem like a very complex person, and yet..." He trailed off, remembering my detailed observation.

"What, saying I'm an idiot?" I raised an eyebrow, "... You're only noticing my personality, my brains have nothing to do with that." I said, a smile growing on my face, "But that's why I'm an interesting person. People say I seem like an idiot, but since I'm actually a very complex person, I keep people on their toes." I said cheerfully, making Al and Ed sweat drop. Ed decided to cautiously start to sip his coffee, making me resist the urge to turn my goofy smile into a devious smirk. Glancing back at the clock, I pursed my lips. Armstrong had requested that I would meet with her at eight o'clock, and I remember I had been fussing last night because I was afraid I'd be late, but now that it was all of a sudden seven thirty, I decided I would have to get going. Looking back at Ed and Al, I gave them a crooked smile.

"I guess I have to get going. Even if I'm visiting, I still have work to do, so I guess I'll see you guys again soon." I said.

"Bye." Both brothers said, waving slightly with their handcuffed hands. I walked past their cage, but before I was out of earshot, I paused right in front of the door.

"Oh, and I do wonder why your brother's armor is hollow, Edward Elric." I heard Ed spit out the coffee in his mouth, and I turned my head to look at their cell, where they sat, staring at me in shock.

I smirked and winked, teasingly blowing them a kiss as I happily skipped out of the room, and down the hallway.

/

My walk slowed as I reached my room. I opened the door, walked in and closed it behind me. I turned around, and leaned backwards so my back rested on the door.

Despite the smile that remained on my face, tears fell from my eyes. I took a shaky breath as my throat choked up with sobs.

"Truth, you are right," I whispered, "I'm fooling myself. But being broken with this, can I move on? I just want to enjoy time with them... Please..." My knees gave out on me, and I slid down to the floor, my smile melting into a desperate expression.

"Please... Can you just let this pathetic excuse for a girl spent one moment with the people she loves?" I begged softly.

"One moment."

Hey guys! I really don't have much to say about this chapter. I cried while writing this chapter. Poor Lynette, or, should I say, "Mary".

Funny thing is, while I was writing the sad part of this chapter on my iPod, I was contacted by a group of Korean idols I am a fan of via iPod. I was hyperventilating so much that I had to cut the chapter short because in my state of fangirling I wasn't able to revert back to my sober mood.

Sorry!

Anyway, my lovely readers, please review~

Thanks!