I want to apologize for how long I've taken to upload this chapter. At the end of October a very great friend of ours died suddenly and we were all in shock. We don't really know what happened, because they didn't do an autopsy, but they said it was "aortic separation". Everyone who knew him is still upset and we've been helping his widow and children cope with the loss.

I was just about to start writing again when my 18 year old cat, Simba, got very sick. In the end we had to put him down and I was devastated. This cat that I grew up with, who knew me so well and had watched me grow up, just dead. He was purring up until the end, almost like he knew he wouldn't be in pain anymore. I'm going to stop there before I start crying.

Then another friend died a few weeks ago suddenly, we weren't as close as we were with Terry but we felt upset about his loss. I think this chapter should be dedicated to those who I've lost in the time of this post. I actually channeled some of my emotions into this chapter, used some of the new experiences to add a little more depth to the chapter. I think my writing style has changed and for the better.

So, in honor of my good friends Terry and Pete, who now rock on together in heaven, and to Simba who is sitting at their side, I present this chapter.

Thank you for reading, and see you in the next chapter.

Chapter 6

Al and the colonel were sitting on different sides of the room, both anxious to get any word of new developments. They had sat together in silence in the twenty or so minutes that the nurses had taken Ed away. Mustang knew he should probably be trying to comfort Alphonse but he didn't know what he could say that would help. Besides, the younger brother was staring at the ground, hands folded together almost as though he were praying. Al hadn't even uttered a sound in almost the half hour they had waited. As soon as the nurses had left he had went and sat in the chair that faced the door in a far corner.

Mustang looked back down at the floor, holding back a sigh of frustration. Some kind of role model he was when he couldn't even muster up the courage to try to talk to Al. As he was beating himself up over how useless he was, the sound of armor shifting broke him from his thoughts.

"This isn't fair." When the colonel looked up, shocked by the sudden words, he could see Alphonse's soulful gaze looking right at him.

"What isn't?" He asked cautiously, hoping the boy wasn't frustrated at him.

"What's happening to Ed. Why does he have to suffer when the only thing he tried to do was help?" Al's voice was quiet and so full of pain that Mustang felt as though his heart would crack.

"Life is rarely fair." He responded, remembering all those times during the war when he had seen the injustice of the world. "It's just part of being alive."

Al was silent for a moment, his eyes never leaving the colonel's. Eventually the boy looked away, the armor rattling as he began to shake.

"But what if brother will never see again?" The younger brother kept his head low with his gaze fixated on the ground. "How would we continue to look for the stone? How could he travel if he couldn't see?"

"His sight will return," Mustang said confidently. "Parts of his brain are injured and they will heal with time, just like any other injury. There is nothing physically wrong with his eyes."

"How can you be so sure?" Al asked, once again returning his gaze to the colonel.

"Because even the doctors said it would return. They never once mentioned that he would never see again." He held his head high, hoping that he had sounded confident enough to soothe Alphonse. To his relief the armor nodded, his shaking slowly easing.

"I still can't help but be worried." He sighed and his shoulders sagged.

"I am too." Mustang said reluctantly, causing Al to snap his head up in surprise. "Though I'm very sure he'll be alright in the end," He added hastily.

"I'm still surprised you're here." Alphonse whispered and the colonel flinched. "I thought you and Ed didn't like each other."

He sighed, relieved that there was no hostility in the younger brother's voice. "It's true that your brother can be stubborn and too cocky in his abilities, but I can see past it. I can see how much he cares for you, how he never hesitates to go out of his way to help others."

Al remained silent as he continued. "I was like that at his age, so determined to do the right thing even if it meant I had to pay the price. And then the Ishvalan war happened." He lowered his head and years of bitterness he had tormented himself with crept into his voice. "I killed so many innocent people, women, children, and the elderly. I didn't do it to defend myself or my ideals. I did it because I was following orders, to kill anyone they told me to."

"Those in the military call me a hero, others can see past it, to the monster I really am." He finally looked back up at Al, knowing he would see no hatred and judgement written on his face. "And then I met you two," His voice softening. "I saw Edward's potential, saw the fire in his eyes when all others could see was a broken child. I saw that you boys needed a purpose and I wanted to give you one. I looked at Edward and saw a younger version of myself. Call me selfish, but I wanted to help him become a better man than I, as a way to atone for my sins. You two brought me back from my self-loathing and gave me a reason to continue…"

He stopped, too overwhelmed with emotion to continue. The whole time Alphonse had sat quietly, as though he too were overwhelmed. The colonel just hoped the younger brother understood; that he didn't resent him for what he was and what he had done. At last, Al spoke.

"I-I always liked to think of you as a kind of father." He said sheepishly, looking away in embarrassment as he continued. "Our father left so long ago that I can't even remember what he was like. But when you came to us and asked Ed to join the military I hoped that you would-I mean…I thought…" He cut off as though he were flustered, twitching and jerking like he was uncomfortable. For once in the longest time he felt almost content in a way. Mustang stood and crossed the room till he was standing in front of Al.

"That means a lot to me Alphonse." He said gently, causing the younger brother to duck his head in embarrassment. The colonel placed a reassuring hand onto the boy's shoulder, even though he knew he wouldn't feel the touch. "There's no need to be embarrassed. I'm here to help and I hope that you two will feel comfortable enough in the future to confide in me."

Al looked up with hope blazing in his eyes. He made a small noise as though he wanted to say more when he was cut off by commotion outside the room.

Mustang whipped his head around as he saw a group of nurses wheeling Edward back into the room, their expressions unreadable. As they moved everything back into place the head nurse walked in. She walked past the others and stood in front of Mustang. He turned to face her fully and heard Al stand up beside him.

"The surgery went well." The nurse said, triumph glowing in her eyes. "Since we caught it early enough there wasn't too much damage. Though because he'll be weak for some time we've put off the hip surgery to another day, he should be asleep the rest of the night because of the medications." She stopped and waited for their response.

"Thank you." Mustang said as Al slipped past him to his brother's side. The other nurses seemed to be done with their work and they left the room. The head nurse watched them leave before turning her attention back to the colonel.

"If he does happen to wake in the night from the pain don't hesitate to tell us." She dipped her head and turned, walking confidently from the room.

"Colonel," Al spoke from where he knelt beside Ed. "It's dark out and today must have been stressful for you. You should get some rest and I'll watch over brother."

Mustang opened his mouth, ready to disagree when the younger brother fixed him with a steady stare. He sighed in defeat as he turned to look out the window. The sun had indeed set and a nearby street lamp illuminated the sidewalk.

"Alright," He said, walking over to the chair Al had previously occupied and sitting down. "Wake me if anything happens."

Al nodded and the colonel slowly closed his eyes, letting himself be dragged into the depths of sleep.