Okay, finally after a good ten minutes of figuring out how to fix my story's chapter arrangement everything is finished. And for all that trouble you get the next chapter!

I'm sorry I haven't been on as much, I really didn't have the inspiration to write until just a few days ago. I'll try to update this story more, since the inspiration is flowing, hell I'm most likely going to be working on the third chapter later today.

Anyway this story was more than deserving of an update, it's been two years since it was published (going on three now actually). I'll try to update my profile with some more information regarding this story, ongoing stories, and even future stories if the time permits.

Also, to those who have read "Snow's Silence" and are worried about me. I'm way better than I was at that point, though there are still ups and downs. There will also be more information on that on my profile.

Hope you all like this chapter and know that I love you all!

3

Chapter 2

Colonel Mustang sat next to Al in the small, partially vacant, waiting room. The only other occupant was an older woman reading in the corner, glancing up at the hospital doors from time to time with a worried look. The colonel let out a small sigh and continued to stare at his hands, which were fidgeting in his lap.

Sure, Ed had been hurt before and been admitted to the hospital. Never though had Al sounded so worried and scared over the phone. From what Mustang knew this was the worst injury since the failed transmutation. He remembered hearing Al's terrified voice over the phone and, with a brief word to his crew; he had rushed to the hospital.

The forms were short and Mustang didn't think them necessary, but he had filled them out regardless. He hadn't even fully looked over them and, like with most of his work, had signed only because he had needed to.

His train of thought was interrupted by the hospital doors opening. A man in his mid-thirties with cropped brown hair emerged. He beckoned to the older woman, who was up in an instant. They talked briefly and in quiet tones, but whatever he said seemed to calm the woman. He then began to walk away with the woman following close behind and then they were gone, swallowed up by the doors.

"Colonel?" A small voice sounded at his right. Mustang turned to look at Al, who was staring at the swinging doors. His body was ridged and tense as though he were ready to bolt after the two.

"Yes Alphonse?" The colonel said in a calm voice while continuing to look at the armor for any kind of movement. There was none.

"Do you think brother will be okay?" He asked and Mustang let out a sigh.

"I'm not sure; you still haven't told me the full story other than 'he fell'." Alphonse finally turned to look at him, his soulful eyes full of pain.

"Well he was chasing this man who stole this woman's purse that had her mother's necklace in it. Ed told me to stay with her while he chased the man into an abandoned building across the street. A few minutes later I heard a loud crash and people were gathering around the alley. He screamed, I haven't heard him scream like that since the night we tried to bring mom back…I ran over and he was lying in the alley…" Al shivered at the memory, as though that scream was playing back in his ears. As he finished his story he lowered his head and clenched his fists as though he were fighting to hold back tears. The colonel held back the urge to hug the poor child in front of him; instead he laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Edward's tough, I'm sure he can pull through this. If he can handle automail surgery he can handle this fall." He said, hoping his voice had sounded confident. Deep down he had his doubts and was just as worried as the younger brother.

"You're right, Ed's tough." The armor's voice echoed, though not fully convinced.

Before Mustang could say any more the same man walked out from behind the doors. He looked into the waiting room and motioned for them both to come closer. Al was up at once, running to the man faster than any normal human in armor could have. Mustang followed a little slower, feeling anxiety and dread creep up his spine. He stopped and stood next to Al, waiting for the man to speak.

"Edward is in stable condition but we've moved him to intensive care to keep an eye on him. We took x-rays and found the source of the internal bleeding. He'll need surgery sometime tomorrow to fix his fractured hip, but we can go into detail about that procedure when he's awake. Other than stop the bleeding we've done all we could do given his condition." The man paused and then continued.

"His right leg is broken as well as a few of his ribs. One rib punctured his lung but the wound is small enough to heal on its own with some time. We also put his shoulder back into place and, while there was no bleeding, his head took quite a beating. I'm surprised he didn't fracture his skull though judging by the swelling in his brain he more than likely has a concussion. We can only assume from the x-ray that it is severe and if the swelling doesn't go down we may need to do surgery. We won't know how severe it is until he wakes up." Again the man paused, this time letting out a small breath to signify that he was done.

"Do you have any idea how the concussion will affect him?" Mustang asked, to which the man shook his head.

"Concussions can be tricky; it really depends on the person. There could be little to no symptoms or there could be permanent damage. We can only assume from past cases that there could be anywhere from some dizziness to temporary blindness. In most of the cases we've seen the patient forgets most of what happened to cause the accident, the memories could return within a few weeks to a few months. With a concussion this severe though he could never get them back, he could also have lost more memories than that. There can also be personality changes that can either be temporary or permanent, we really can't know for sure until he wakes up though." Al was shaking and the colonel was silent. For a few moments the only sounds was the sound of metal knocking against metal. Then Al broke the silence.

"Can we go back and see him now?" Alphonse asked in a small voice. The man's expression softened and he put a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"He's asleep now, we don't know when he'll wake up," The man spoke gently. "But you two can go back and stay as long as you need to." The man then turned around and lead the two of them through the doors.