I first want to apologize for not uploading this sooner. I've just been busy and kept putting it off. I'm not very motivated right now to work on this, or anything really. I'll try my hardest to fix that though.

So, anyway, this chapter was almost done when I stopped working on it. I eventually went back and finished it up, the first half had been done for a month by then. I like how this one turned out actually and hope you like it too.

I also finally got around to making that Facebook page for my work. If anyone is interested in checking it out it's TheTrueMistclaw on FB. If you do then thanks for the views!

Also, thank you for all the follows, favorites, and comments, they really make my day.

Hope you enjoy the chapter and see you in the next one!

Chapter 7

"Colonel…Colonel, wake up." Mustang just barely heard the soft voice over the sound of metal hitting metal. He groaned as whomever was trying to rouse him began to gently shake his shoulder. This continued for a few more seconds until he finally opened his eyes. The room he was in was dimly lit and he could see that a large shape knelt in front of him.

"What?" Mustang growled, still not fully aware of his surroundings or why he was being awoken. The shape in front of him flinched and removed its hands from his shoulders.

"I'm sorry I woke you, colonel." He recognized the voice as Alphonse's. Memories of the day before began to flood through his mind and he remembered where he was. The realization hit him as he watched Al shrink away from him, seemingly scared of the colonel's wrath.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you Alphonse. You just woke me up so suddenly and I forgot where I was for a moment." His soft voice seemed to calm the boy, who began to straighten himself up. As Al stood up he caught a glimpse out the window to the sidewalk that was bathed in the pale light of early morning.

"I wanted to ask if you could keep an eye on brother while I talk to the new head nurse that just arrived." Mustang looked back at Alphonse, suddenly worried.

"He's alright isn't he?" He was about to get up and rush to the injured boy's side when Al began to talk quickly.

"Brother is fine. He slept through the night like the nurse said. I think he's beginning to wake up though and I hope he's not in pain." The younger brother was beginning to fidget as he spoke. "I just wanted to talk to the new nurse and tell her, myself, what is going on."

"I understand." The colonel silenced him before he could continue. He looked at Al with warmth in his gaze. "Go talk to the nurse, I'll take care of things here."

"Thank you, colonel." Al bowed his head and began to turn and leave the room.

"Alphonse." Mustang called quietly, as to not disturb Ed. The boy turned his head as he stood before the doorway.

"Yes colonel?" He asked, sounding a little tense.

"You can just call me Mustang for the time being." The colonel watched Al's shoulders relax, his soulful eyes seeming to glow brighter.

"Yes Mustang, thank you." And with that he left the room, leaving the door slightly open.

Mustang sat in the darkened room, listening to the sound of Al's footsteps growing fainter. He could hear Ed's heart monitor gently beeping, his rasping breaths echoing around the room. He stood up and walked over to the bed, looking at the unconscious boy before him.

Ed's eyes were closed, his brow furrowing as though he was having a bad dream. In the small crack of light streaming from the door he could see a thin sheen of sweat covering the boy's forehead. A few stray strands of blond hair were stuck to his face. As Mustang sat down in the chair next to the bed he began to lean forward to brush the hair to the side. When his hand gently touched Ed's skin he began to stir.

"Al?" Edward whispered softly, his eyes opening slightly as his dilated pupils began to move. When the boy realized he could not see anything his breath came in quick, shallow, gasps.

"Edward, it's the colonel." Mustang moved his hand away from his face, placing it over Ed's flesh arm. "Alphonse is still here, he's just talking to a nurse."

Ed seemed to calm and he looked towards the colonel with dull eyes. "So it wasn't a dream then." He whispered sadly, blinking and moving his gaze to the ceiling.

"I'm sorry." Mustang said gently, moving his hand so that it was resting on Ed's forehead once more. The boy leaned into the touch and let out a sigh.

"That feels good…" He whispered, closing his eyes as he spoke. Mustang was surprised at how warm Ed felt but pushed the thought aside.

"Glad to be of any help." Mustang said with a hint of humor in his voice. Ed opened his eyes once more and tried to look at him, but he gave up with a sad sigh.

"I wish I could just see you, to know that this isn't just another nightmare. Everything is just dark now." Mustang felt his heart crack at the pure sadness in Edward's voice. The boy moved his head so that one side of his face was resting in the colonel's palm. "It's nice to feel some warmth though. My dreams are always so cold."

"What are your dreams about?" Mustang asked quietly, hoping that he could rationally tell Ed that his dreams were just that: dreams.

"Just darkness," Ed shuttered, his eyes widening as he continued. "I'm usually alone, surrounded by nothing. It's always so cold…" He stopped as though he were reliving the nightmare.

"It's alright," Mustang whispered, placing his other hand gently on the boy's shoulder. Ed raised his flesh hand up until he grabbed the colonel's sleeve, digging his fingers deeply into the fabric.

"Sometimes I start to feel like I'm falling." Edward continued, his voice shaking. "I'm just falling into nothing for what seems like forever. Then I hit the ground, hard. It feels like every part of me is broken. I can hear people talking around me but I can't see them or understand what they're saying."

Mustang felt a chill run down his spine. Ed was dreaming about what had actually happened to him before he lost his vision. He tried to stay calm as he ran his hand up and down the boy's arm. "It's just a nightmare; just remember that you're right here."

Edward didn't seem to hear him, his eyes seemed to be gazing at something that only he could see. "Then the dream starts over again. There's no sound, no colors, just nothing."

"Edward." Mustang interrupted gently. The boy's head snapped so that he was facing the colonel once again. "They're just dreams. You may see nothing but darkness but remember the world around you."

Ed closed his eyes at this and let out a sad sigh. "But I don't even know where I am or how I got here. How can I imagine something I've never seen?"

"How about we start with the last thing you can remember." The colonel coaxed gently. "Tell me what you could see."

"Al and I were going to report to you." He started hesitantly, as if he wasn't too sure. "It was sunny, and we were by the outskirts of Central. I can remember seeing Al's armor gleaming in the light out of the corner of my eye."

"Go on, what did you feel?" Mustang asked, wary of Edward remembering the accident that haunted his dreams.

"There was a breeze; I could feel it blowing against me. It felt good in the heat." Ed continued on, seeming to get more confident in the accuracy of his memories. "I could feel the colder areas of shade where a taller building blocked the sunlight."

"Good, so when you start having one of those dreams remember that." He wanted Ed to stop thinking about the moments that led to his accident. In the shattered state of mind he was in the colonel knew the boy wouldn't take it well.

"There was a girl there too," Edward continued, unaware of how rigid Mustang's hand felt as he tensed up. "Then…"

"It's okay if you can't remember." He hoped his voice sounded calm and reassuring despite the growing dread he felt inside.

Thankfully Ed seemed to ease at this, relaxing against Mustang's palm. He began to reach towards him with his left hand, straining against the IV. The colonel gently grabbed it with his free hand before the boy accidently ripped the needle out.

"I'm glad you're here." Edward whispered, seemingly worn out from trying to think back to before the accident. "I love Al, but it's great to feel warmth instead of cold metal against my skin. Don't tell Al that though, please?"

"I won't." Mustang said gently, he didn't want Al to hear his brother's admission either. Ed's eyes began to close, his body slowly going limp as he fell back to sleep. The boy didn't seem as tense as before, as though he was unconsciously remembering the colonel's advice.

"How is he?" Mustang jumped when he heard Al's voice from the doorway, looking up from Ed's peaceful form. He must have been so focused on the older brother that he hadn't even heard Alphonse's approach.

"He's doing fine; he woke up for a little bit after having a bad dream. I calmed him down though." The colonel answered.

"Did he say if he was in any pain?" Al asked.

"He didn't mention it; I don't think he was though." Mustang ended with a yawn, suddenly remembering how tired he was as well. Al walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You can go back to sleep now." Alphonse said gently. "I'll watch over him for the time being."

"Okay, thanks Alphonse." He said as he stood up, returning to his chair that was a few feet away.

"Oh, and Mustang?" Al asked as the colonel leaned back in his chair, trying to get comfortable.

"Yes Alphonse?" He asked as he raised his head to look at him. The boy's eyes seemed to glow with humor.

"You can just call me Al."