Edward felt the vibrations from the vehicle as they sped along the pavement. He was in a great deal of pain. Now that he didn't have drugs pumping into his system non-stop, he was feeling more pain. It was also the way he sat and probably the moving around he was doing. He watched as the city moved past his window. It was quiet. Of course, it was, but it felt so unnatural. Even after a whole week in complete silence, Edward couldn't stand the quiet atmosphere. He hated sitting in the silence and knowing it wasn't really quiet.

Edward Looked away from the window to Alphonse at his side. He was sitting there glancing at Edward every few seconds. Alphonse likely was trying not to make it obvious that he was watching Edward with every chance that came. Edward knew, however that Alphonse was watching him. He was trying to keep an eye on Edward. What was the reason? Edward kept asking himself. Does he think I'm unable to even breathe without his hand to guild me? Am I that invalid? Edward shivered.

Alphonse's hand touched his shoulder, reminding him of the numb feeling that had taken over earlier. It had stolen his breath when he had found himself in a dream so terrifying and vivid. A dream that wouldn't allow him to wake up.

Edward Looked up at his younger brother. "A- Al?"

Alphonse cocked his head a little to the side. His helmet didn't show expression so it was hard to read what his brother was thinking.

Edward guessed that he must have looked lost and confused, because Alphonse gently took his hand and held it palm up. He didn't say anything as he glanced up at Alphonse from his hand.

Alphonse pressed his over-sized finger against Edward's soft fleshy palm. He began tracing over it in a pattern that was familiar. The feeling was on the verge of being ticklish. It took a moment for Edward's brain to process that they were letters from the Alphabet. Alphonse poked the centre of Edward's hand as if to say, "look here." He began with an easily identifiable uppercase "A".

"Is it 'A'?" Edward asked. He was answered with a nod. The next letter confused Edward. It was strange. "Umm... 'B'?"

Alphones's helmet went side to side, indicating that he had been wrong. The letter was repeated against his palm. This time Edward was more sure of himself. "'R'?" He asked. Alphonse nodded; to Edward's relief. He was right, so he had, A-R... Edward frowned. "Are you spelling the word 'are'?"

Alphonse nodded again. Next came the letter "Y".

"'Y'?" Alphonse nodded again. He produced with another letter.

"'O'?" Alphonse nodded as Edward gave his answer. He was about to proceed with the next letter, but Edward stopped him.

It didn't take long for Edward to understand the question. "'Are you okay'?"

Alphonse nodded, motioning with his hands to Edward.

"I'm fine, Al."

Alphonse shook his head. He started writing into Edward's palm again.

Edward gave Alphonse a confused look as he repeated the same letter again. "Is it- umm- is it 'T'?" Alphonse nodded, making Edward feel stupid for not knowing at first.

They kept at it at a slow pace as Edward realised how time consuming even spelling out one word was. To add to the "T", they had "R, U, T, H, F, U, L, L, and, Y". To be completely honest, though, Edward knew what was coming after he had gotten to the second "T".

"I'm really fine," Edward said, a bit annoyed and showing it. He wasn't as patient today as he was most days with Alphonse. He didn't want to talk about it. He just wanted to be left alone with his thoughts, but that was really just a lie to his own face.

Alphonse pulled back as if he had been burned, which was a physical impossibility.

Edward felt like he should say something, but didn't really know what to say. He squished himself into the door of the car, feeling the icy crawls of pain. Should he tell Alphonse that he was sorry? He was, but he didn't want to say it because then Alphonse would wonder of he was really okay.

He was really okay. At least, that's what he was telling himself.

"Colonel Mustang?" Alphonse asked from the back seat.

The Colonel glanced back through the rear view mirror as Maes Hughes turned in his seat. They both saw the boy squishing himself against the car door, which looked unbearably uncomfortable for Edward with the knowledge of his broken ribs, burned back, and the deep gash in his right side, which was the very side being pressed into the car door.

Hughes turned further, leaning back and placing a hand on Edward's knee. Edward turned away from the window slowly. He met eyes with Hughes. His eyes looked like a golden voids with an empty depression deep inside them. "Are you okay, Ed?"

Annoyance flashed in his eyes the moment he realised what Hughes had asked. "I'm fine. Stop asking me if I'm okay. I said I was okay! I said I was fine! Listen to me the first time! You're not deaf! That's me!"

There was a tense, awkward silence in the air. It was sad, but Hughes almost thought that that might have been the most Edward has said at once all week. He hadn't wanted to talk. Not even to Alphonse. Though, he was more open with Alphonse than the others.

Roy wondered what he should say or do to help Edward. It was up to him to take care of him while they waited another week for Edward's bruises to fade and his slashed side to knit itself further together. His wounds wouldn't be completely better in a week, honestly he probably wouldn't be much better at all. His bruises should be gone like the small cuts that had previously covered Edward's person.

He would be going home to have his automail fixed by his mechanic. Roy was ignorant of Edward and Alphonse's plan past this point. He didn't think Edward would give up on returning his brother to normal, but he still didn't know what the plan was. He wasn't part of that. He was only planning on watching out for the Elrics while they stayed with him. He would only be intruding if he tried to invade further into their lives. Had he not already ruined Edward's life? The answer to that was obvious. Edward's deafness was like a harsh slap to the face because it was his fault. He had sent Edward out on that mission. Edward could have died instead of just losing his hearing. If he had died, he would have left Alphonse all alone. So, now, as he played those words of Edward's through his head, he couldn't help but find another meaning behind them. An accusation. He was accusing Roy of taking it from him. His hearing. Edward was the only one who understood what it was like to sit in silence quieter than if everything was still.

Roy made a decision that he wasn't sure about. He pulled the car over to the side of the road and put it in park. Hughes immediately was unbuckled and was out of the car. He went to open Edward's door only to find it locked.

"Please, open up, Ed!" He knocked on the glass, knowing Edward wouldn't hear him but it was worth the try to catch the boy's eye. Edward ignored the act. He was focused solely on the back of Hughes' seat.

Alphonse reached past Edward, unlocking the door but also holding onto his brother. Edward was leaning heavily on the car door, and if they weren't careful Edward would surely topple out of the car and onto the ground.

Hughes opened the door and grabbed Edward's propped up shoulder.

It was so light and quiet that Hughes wasn't sure if he had really hear it at all.

"Please, don't touch me... please." It was so unlike Edward. "It hurts..." His eyes were screwed shut, maybe, against the pain, or, maybe, so that he could ignore people efficiently.

"Tell me where it hurts," Hughes said, knowing full well that Edward couldn't read his lips with his eyes closed. Alphonse started writing something into Edward's palm.

"Everything. I want to lie down. My head..." Edward trailed off at the end.

Maes Hughes put his hand to Edward's head and gently messaged various areas of his forehead.

"Hey, Roy, concussions can cause changes in one's attitude, correct?"

That was something the doctor had said.

"Don't worry if he seems somewhat out of character in the upcoming weeks. Concussions can do that to a person. Seeing as Major Elric has not slept well, or at least upon what we've gathered, the concussion will take longer than usual to heal. In an environment that is less stressful on his body he is more likely to be at rest, though."

"Yeah, Doctor Wise mentioned that." Hughes nodded and continued messaging the boy's forehead.

"Roy, I think we just need to go to your place and let him lie down." Roy was feeling awkward. He couldn't leave his best friend doing everything for Edward because then what happens when Hughes wasn't there? Maes couldn't sacrifice all his time on helping Roy take care of two boys that he was in charge of. From here on, it was his responsibility. He needed to take responsibility for watching out for Edward. He couldn't help the the horrible pit of dread that had made its home in his twisted, clenched stomach. He remembered the pie visit with Hughes. He was being selfish not to agree to that, but Edward seriously didn't need more of "Roy's help". But it was true that this wasn't supposed to be easy. This was supposed to free him of the guilt that had only grown worse and more suffocating since day one of this nightmare. It might hurt both parties, but it was all for their own good. Still, Roy knew he couldn't be that open with Edward. Not because he couldn't trust Edward. He just didn't want- He felt nearly sick at the thought of showing Edward, out of all of his subordinates, his own weaknesses.

Roy started up the car again. Hughes made sure that Alphonse had Edward away from the door as he shut it and climbed back into the passenger seat.

They set off once again. This time, though, Edward was messaging his forehead with his flesh hand while winching at the pain caused by his burns as his arm bent to reach his head. Alphonse sort of wondered what had set Edward off so suddenly. He couldn't have freaked out like that for no reason, right? Was it really something to do with his concussion?

Roy's house stood in the near distance, therefore ending the eventful ride to the relief of everyone. Unfortunately, they all knew that it wouldn't get much better going inside.

A/N: So, I've wanted to do this for awhile. This is a proper apology to everyone reading this story. When I first started, I hadn't read the manga or watched either anime in awhile because of school so everything is really disorderly timeline wise and also just the setting in general. I just wanted to say I'm really sorry. I won't go back and change the story, though. I just wanted you to know that I understand that it's not right. And I will try to have it more right from now on.

Thanks for all the response!

-UNAU/IME