Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is not owned by me, but by Hiromi Arakawa. I only own my OC!

Chapter 4: Everyone Needs a Hospital

A/N

I know I've updated twice in a day recently and I forgot to tell you all that I don't update on Wednesdays! Whoops. Also, please don't expect 2 chapters a day, mmrh! It takes a long time to write these stuff, and I honestly don't even know how I cranked 2 chapters a day, lol.

Anyway – this chapter should be longer than the last few, as we're ACTUALLY FOLLOWING THE WHOLE MANGA NOW! I started with it a little bit last chapter and then ran off of it with Melissa meeting Scar on accident, whoop- but, we're full-on following the plot now, I swear!

Also- THANK YOU, TO THOSE WHO'VE SENT ME REVIEWS! They're appreciated, and the last one made me cry

But- this is getting long. I'll let y'all read. Enjoy Chapter 4, where literally all the characters are in hospitals! I'm not trying to kill them all, I swear-

Love,

alinalee

Melissa's eyes opened slowly, her head pounding. Where am I? The alchemist woke up to a white wall, an IV in her arm, laying down on a bed-

Oh. She was in the hospital.

It had been a long time since the teen had been on the receiving end of any medical ward, but she shrugged it off.

The pain had only lasted an hour. It was only that mister's fault his injuries were severe enough that she couldn't handle. Oh—that reminded Melissa – I never got that man's name, either...

Well, some things can't be helped. Just as she was sitting up and pulling off the itchy bed covers to get up, the door opened.

In entered Maes Hughes, a somber look on his face. "You really made me worry, kiddo," he frowned, locking eyes with Melissa as he crossed over to her, grasping her shoulders tightly.

"I know that whatever made you pass out was your alchemy... but for a time there, you almost-" he choked up, before recomposing himself. "Mel, you almost died."

"That means I went overboard, then..." she muttered, thinking abysmally as Maes looked shocked at her answer.

"Overboard? Overboard? You, Melissa Hughes, almost died due to your alchemy that – God forbid – no one except you knows how it works – and all you say is that you went overboard?" Maes' voice at the end had peaked, his glasses glinting in fury.

"Dad," the alchemist weakly began as she sat up. "let me explain to you my alchemy, then."

Her father gave her no answer, instead only crossing his arms and sitting on a nearby chair in defeat.

"You see, I can still do transmutations like other alchemists you know... but my specialty is healing alchemy, and it didn't originate from Amestris. Healing alchemy, as far as any alchemist knows, is rare. Only for the simple understanding that, in alchemy, the law is equivalent exchange. To transmute something, something of equal value must be lost, or something along the lines of such.

"But my specialty didn't show up overnight. The first time I had used any sort of healing alchemy was when I was eleven years of age... before I met you, I had been practicing alchemy still. It takes years of practice to develop any sort of specialty.

"Regardless, that's not about my alchemy. The point is, I learned. Like all alchemists, you need a teacher. You cannot just self-teach yourself alchemy and expect to become a genius overnight – no matter how much of a prodigy you are. My teacher, I had met on accident. Though, nonetheless, he taught me.

"He taught me for 6 months. We re-expressed the understanding of alchemy, and he began teaching me about the center of alchemy... the dragon's pulse. Well, to put it bluntly, it took me awhile to master that concept. But, nonetheless, 4 months on, I had understood. I had successfully conjured something out of alchemy using my teacher's way of alchemy. I was overjoyed.

"Now, we spent the last 2 months developing my specialty, which my teacher had mentioned seemed like healing. As he had said it was rare, he warned me of the rule of equivalent exchange. And, now, once again, we are probably back to where we started, to where you wanted to know... and what does equivalent exchange have to do with my alchemy, Dad? The furrow in your brows tells me you're frustrated.

"Don't worry – I'll explain to the best of my ability. I explained to you earlier the concept of equivalent exchange – so what does it have to do with my specialty? Well... let's think about this from a common sense perspective. Healing, curing, fixing a human body... would take the reconstruction of cells, bones, blood pressure, the specific amount in grams of the amount of iron, potassium, and other materials. Something of equal value must be lost.

"Equivalent exchange. In order for me to heal someone's bones, cells, blood pressure, whatever you may think of... I have to give away something in return, do I not? That is what equivalent exchange means.

"You're getting it, I can see by the look on your face," she paused, locking eye contact with her father before preparing a deep breath. "I've never really told anyone the specifics of my specialty and its drawbacks... but I'll be straightforward so you understand."

"The equivalent exchange of my healing alchemy is for me to endure the pain I heal for one hour as their wounds heal. That, is what I have learned, is my price for using my alchemy."

"Let me tell you something!" Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes announced, his voice exuberant. "My daughter's gonna be three years old!"

The recipient to Maes' exclamation just so happened to be Maes' best friend, Colonel Roy Mustang, and he did not look amused as he looked at the phone with disdain. "Lieutenant Colonel Hughes..."

"I'm at work right now." he spoke coldly as his office members looked toward the alchemist on the phone with listening ears.

"What a coincidence – I am too!" Maes responded, dismissive of his current work affairs. "Yeah, every day I just think to myself how lucky I am to have such cute daughters! They grow up so fast."

"Okay, okay, I get it! So stop calling me every time you brag about your daughters. And quit using the military's private line!"

Maes had the balls to look offended. "I'm not just proud of Elicia, I'm proud of Mel and my wife too!"

"I wonder if there's a way to incinerate someone over the phone... care to help me find out, Hughes?" Roy asked, his face scrunched up in annoyance.

"Woah, I'm shaking in my boots Mr. Flame Alchemist." Maes paused, his voice taking a more serious tone as he continued. "Speaking of alchemists, what's going on with Scar?"

"He's still at large. The explosion was so large, numerous bodies have turned up. It's possible that he might be among those that were found dead. Wouldn't that be a relief. There haven't been any reports of sightings in the East Area since the incident, so the majority opinion is that he's dead."

"So, will the Elric brothers' bodyguards be dismissed?"

"They're still In Central. I'll leave it to whoever's in charge there to decide."

"Yeah, about that..." the glasses on Maes' face gleamed as he continued. "The guys from command and who were responsible for managing the state alchemists have been killed off. They're a little short-staffed in that position right now."

"Hm..."

Maes smiled. "Sounds like Colonel Mustang's invitation to Central might come sooner than expected."

Mustang re-adjusted himself as he regripped the phone in interest. "Central, huh? That doesn't sound so bad."

"But watch out. You'll make a lot of enemies if you join the military command at your age." the Lieutenant Colonel commented seriously, a tinge of worry making itself clear in his tone.

"I'm prepared for everything." Mustang dismissed him.

"Make sure that you have as many people around you as possible that understand you and support you. So..." Maes paused, a more teasing tone in his voice as he continued. "hurry up and get a wife!"

"WILL YOU SHUT UP?!" Mustang roared.

"Oh. One more thing, Roy," Maes commented, right before Mustang slammed the phone down on the stand.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for helping Mel out with her injuries in East City."

"It was nothing, Lieutenant Colonel Hughes." and with that, Roy still slammed the phone in annoyance, ending the conversation.

"Colonel, please be gentler when hanging up the phone." Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye chided.

"Yeah, yeah!" he huffed.

"Yes, yes, I'm healed and fine!" Melissa said annoyingly while grasping the clipboard in her hands tighter.

"Fine," Second Lieutenant Maria Ross sighed, instead opting for ruffling the girl's hair, making her flustered. "if you're fine, then you can get to work. There's a patient in the room over there that needs medical assistance."

"Sounds good to me, then," Melissa waved off the Lieutenant with a cheery smile as she began walking her way over to the door, knocking twice.

"Hello? Are you awake? I'm here to check over your vitals," she asked, patiently waiting outside the door.

"Come in!" a female voice exclaimed, which made Melissa open the door – to something she didn't really expect. "I'm almost done with connecting this dweeb's automail, and then you're free to do your checkup."

"Sounds good to me," the brunette smiled, standing off into the corner as the blonde girl looked at the other blonde – wait, is that - with a scowl.

"You didn't drink your milk." she scowled, which made the state alchemist stiffen.

The room became silent as the two blondes had a staredown, which finally caused the injured blonde to finally speak with distaste. "...I hate milk."

The automail girl held her hands up to her head in defeat. "That's why you're always gonna be the size of a pea!"

"Shut up!" the other screamed back, just as annoyed. "I'm not gonna drink some opaque white liquid that was secreted by a cow!"

Melissa, who had been silent up until now, let out an amused chuckle. "Now you're just being impatient."

"Shut up!" he huffed at her, irked.

"In order to regain your stamina, you need nutrients!" automail girl.

"Fine! Then I'll just get my nutrients from some other source than milk!" alchemist.

"That's why you never get any taller!" automail girl.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" alchemist, again...

"Well, technically," Melissa inputted with a small smile. "Milk is not a nutritionally complete food source."

This made the two stop, looking at the girl with shocked looks on their faces.

"Well," the girl huffed, annoyed. "I'm done with this guy's automail. You can look him over."

"Sounds good! Who are you, by the way? Just so I don't not know your name of a friend of my patient, over here-" Melissa jabbed her hand over to the alchemist boy, who still looked mildly annoyed.

"Oh! I'm Winry Rockbell, Ed's automail mechanic."

"Ed?" Melissa asked, her head tilted in confusion.

"I'm Ed. Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist!" the boy in the hospital bed spoke proudly, showing the other alchemist his state watch. "And over there is Alphonse, my younger brother!" the suit of armor, which Melissa had noted was silent, made no move to identify that his name was called.

"I think we've met before," Melissa commented, which took Alphonse out of his stupor as he looked at the girl in confusion. "at Central? You," she pointed to an injured Ed with a dry smile. "had been screaming about finally making it to Central."

"You probably did," Winry replied sarcastically with a small smile. "They're always traveling, after all. Never staying in one place for too long."

"Sounds right," Melissa replied, as the two girls began needlessly chatting.

"Hm?" Ed still looked confused at the alchemist, as she began pulling out a piece of chalk from her doctor's coat while she had been talking to Winry about dogs. "Is that chalk?"

"Yes, it is," she commented as she began forming her transmutation circle on the floor, focusing on the circles as she continued talking. "I'm an alchemist too, just like you two brothers."

The girl clapped her hands, looking at the duo once more before starting the transmutation. "Melisssa Hughes, at your service."

Blue alchemical energy began sparkling as Winry ducked outside the room in a confused daze, not wanting to get caught in the middle of the alchemical transmutation.

The brunette paused, looking over her work. "Aaaaaand... done! Jeez," she stretched, wincing. "that hurts, Edward."

"Call me Ed," he answered her bluntly, looking over his wounds. "That's some cool alchemy! Did you see that, Alphon-"

Ed had looked up to where Alphonse had currently been, frowning at the sight of the missing suit of armor.

He frowned, muttering to himself. "Al's... been acting strange, lately."

"Strange?" Melissa inquired, looking at Edward worriedly.

"Yeah," he confirmed, looking down again. "he doesn't talk much, but it's like he's lost in his own thoughts."

"Ah," she muttered, calmly debating things over as she looked over the alchemist's bandages. The room was silent as she did her work, both of them debating over what could be wrong with Alphonse Elric.

"Hey, Ed!" an overly familiar voice shouted, loudly opening the door with a slam, looking at the room. "And Mel, too?"

Ed had been thrown off his bed as Melissa helped him up with a sheepish grin. "Hey, dad, don't kill my patient," she dryly commented.

"So..." Maes put a finger to his chin, concerned. "you hooked up with my daughter now, didn't you?"

"Your DAUGHTER?" Ed sputtered, flailing. "AND SHE'S JUST MY DOCTOR!"

Melissa looked at the young boy, who was still screaming at the floor in unique desperation. "IF I SAY ONE THING, HE SAYS SOMETHING ELSE!"

"Your wounds will open if you don't watch it," Maes spoke, looking at Ed disdainfully.

"So," Ed looked at Melissa with an odd look on his face. "this guy's your dad?"

"Well," she looked at her father with a small smile on her face. "I'm adopted. But yes, he's my father. Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes, indeed."

Ed looked at Melissa's father with a look on his face, making the connection. "Isn't there some work you should be doing?"

"Hehehe..." the Lieutenant snickered, which made both teens deadpan. "I have the afternoon off!"

"Hm... I thought you said that the investigations division has been so busy lately that you can't get time off?" Well, way to speak what I literally just thought, Ed, Melissa looked at the two with a small smile.

"Don't worry!" Maes exclaimed. "I made Sheska work overtime!"

"You're an evil, evil man." Ed deadpanned, looking at the Lieutenant Colonel with an annoyed look.

"It's true that I wanted to see how you were doing on my time off, but there's one other reason I dropped by," Maes commented, holding up a finger. "I just got some news about the Scar Incident."

Why does this 'Incident' keep showing up? And why don't I know what's going on! Melissa shook her head, her mind throbbing.

"Your bodyguards are going to be dismissed soon."

"Really?!" Ed exclaimed, smiling brightly. "All right! I can finally get these annoying chaperones off my back!"

Melissa giggled at the boy's hilarious banter as the two soldiers outside looked peeved.

"Hey! That's harsh." Brosch asked, a irked smile on his face.

Ross, though, looked pissed. "What do you think would have happened to you if we hadn't been around?"

Melissa laughed now, everyone looking at her at the outburst. "Uhhh... I'm just gonna go find Winry," she announced awkwardly, quickly dismissing herself as she left the room.

My God, I need to control my laughter... that was embarrassing! she chided herself mentally as she walked around the hallway, luckily finding Winry quickly on a nearby bench, her luggage in hand.

"Oh, hey, Melissa!" Winry exclaimed with a smile as the teen sat down beside her, smiling too.

"Hey, Winry. What's all the luggage for?"

"Most of it's my automail tools and stuff," she started, looking off into the sky in thought as she continued. "and some of it's my clothes and belongings since Ed called me out here to Central in a rush."

"Of course he did," Melissa commented, which made them both laugh. "So, do you have a place to stay then? It's too late to catch a train."

"No, not yet." Melissa frowned at this, thinking while she continued. "Might just ask Ed to lodge me somewhere, though. He has the connections."

"Well, Winry," the blonde looked at Melissa questionably as she continued. "you can always stay with me and my family. I'm sure they'd love to have you!"

"Really?" she asked, her hands no longer moving as the two girls met eye contact.

"Yes, really. You'll fit in just fine!"

The end of another chapter! I ended this one kinda early because I wanted to start the next chapter with Elicia's birthday, to make it special ;)

Anyway, hope you enjoyed!

Love,

alinalee