Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Chapter two

Ed's head was pounding. He was sitting, maybe in a car. It sounded like a car.

He opened his eyes sluggishly. Definitely a car.

What happened?

Ed tried moving, but he couldn't get his limbs to listen. His face was leaning against the passenger side window. It was dark outside. He looked to his right, trying to get a view of the driver when he realised something.

No. What the hell?!

He tried desperately to remember what had happened. When that had happened.

Where the hell is my hair?!

All he could remember was lying on that cave floor as some creepy doctor guy stuck another syringe into his neck and after that, everything turned black.

But why was he still alive? Why did they fucking shave his head? They said they were going to kill him. That they'd cut him into pieces.

Ed looked over at the driver. It was Colonel Fredricks. And he did not look happy. He was clearly stressed and was clutching the steering wheel with all his might. Ed hated that all he could do was watch. He couldn't move, he couldn't make a sound, just watch, hoping to get some eye contact so that someone would explain to him just what the hell was going on.

Ed stared at Fredricks for about five minutes until he finally got some reaction from the man. As a result, he turned the steering wheel sharply before righting the car again. "You're awake!"

Ed just stared at him. Fredricks was definitely outside his comfort zone. He was sweating and chewing his lip. "I expect you have some questions."

Ed felt like hitting him. Of course he had questions!

"I'm sorry about the drug, but I couldn't have you waking up before I got to explain everything. The drug will wear off in an hour or two."

Ed blinked at him to get him to continue.

"Your superior is lying in the backseat, he's unconscious. You were attacked about twenty-four hours ago and we're on our way to the General's house. The others, except for the doctor, believe you to be dead. I got the job of dropping you off. I smuggled you out with the help from the doctor. You're going to have to go into hiding once we reach East. I'm dropping you off with a friend of mine. He's military too. He'll look after you."

Fredricks didn't say anything else, and Ed felt himself getting impatient. Once Ed had regained control of his arms and legs, he turned around to see Mustang lying in the backseat. He put his hands on top of his head only to feel the dread multiply. He was fucking bald. Nothing was left. He was sixteen and bald. He hadn't even been bald when he was born. "JUST WHERE THE HELL IS MY HAIR!?"

Fredricks swerved again at the outburst.

"The box," the man said stiffly, looking like he wanted to gag.

Ed looked curiously down at the box by his feet. He hadn't noticed it before now. He leaned down and opened it, suddenly realising why Fredricks acted like he did. Inside the box was a perfect replica of Ed's face, except for the missing eyes and teeth. And his hair was hanging on to the bloody head as if it originally belonged to it. There was also a lot of blood inside the box. "What the hell is this?!" Ed was disgusted and the smell was nauseating.

"Like I said, they think you're dead." Fredricks sighed while Ed turned the face away from him and then closed the box again. "Lucky for you, the doctor's been dabbling in biological alchemy for years and was able to put that together using some of the limbs that we cut off the other soldiers. He also took some blood from you so that the tests will say that it's you."

Ed felt a sudden urge to just grab Mustang and get the hell out of the car. These people were sick. Ed had a feeling that it wasn't an option however, especially since there were apparently a lot of soldiers in on this. Ed needed to know what was going on here. "Why am I still alive?"

"Listen, I know we may not agree on our view of Ishbalans, but I agreed to hurting a few soldiers to put the blame on those scum for the greater good. I never agreed to killing kids. I'm not that bad."

"You think it's okay to cut off people's limbs so that you can keep oppressing an innocent group of people?!"

"Like I said, I know we don't agree."

"What are you going to do with the head?" Ed asked, dreading the answer.

"We're going to dump Mustang off at his home and leave the head there for him to find with a note warning him to stay out of Ishbal."

"The hell you will! I'm not gonna do that to him!" Ed felt anger surge through him. After everything that had happened with Hughes, Ed wasn't going to put him through losing one of his subordinates. He wasn't going to put Al through losing his brother just after he finally got his body back.

"You don't have a choice, kid. We're everywhere. There are eyes and ears everywhere. If you're not dead, they're just going to take your brother and this time we may not be so lucky."

"YOU BASTARD! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MY BROTHER!"

"I'm just saying it as it is. Or they'll take one of his other subordinates. We can't have Mustang giving Ishbal back."

"SO YOU'D BE FINE KILLING THE OTHERS?! IT'S JUST BECAUSE I'M A KID?! YOU SELF-RIGHTEOUS BASTARD!" Ed had half a mind to beat the guy to a pulp, but if he was right, then Ed would be putting Al's life at risk.

"Shut your mouth! I saved your life! I'm saving your life as we speak!" Fredricks was getting impatient which meant that his nervousness was returning. "You should be thanking me! If anybody knew what I was doing, I'd be dead!"

"You're asking me to thank you for breaking the hearts of everyone that I care about?!"

Fredricks went quiet after that.

"Just how many are there of you?"

"About a hundred. You'll never beat us, kid. Just get yourself a new life. Start anew. Edward Elric is dead as of now."

Ed didn't know what to say. He kept imagining what this would mean for his family and friends. Mustang would probably be sick when he saw the head. Then there was the rest of the team. And Winry. He wasn't supposed to make her cry. Not Granny either.

And Al. His dear little brother. Al would be devastated. Ed was supposed to pay him back for all the years he had lost in that hollow body. He never wanted one of the first things that Al would feel was the death of his older brother. Al was easily emotional these days, he had five years of feelings to catch up on after all. He was so unused to emotional pain and tears, he cried about almost everything. He even shed tears of joy just because he felt it when a wasp stung him. When Al had been told about their father's death, he had nearly been broken by it. Ed didn't want to put him through it, but he couldn't let anyone know that he was still alive. Not when it meant the death of his family and friends.

Dammit!

Ed felt tears welling at the corners of his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away.

This wasn't fair. Not to anyone. Things were supposed to be fine and happy now. Not this mess.

Ed stared out of the passenger side window for the rest of the trip until they pulled up into Mustang's driveway.

They got out of the car and Ed stopped Fredricks when he moved to carry Mustang. "You can take the head thing, but you're not laying your filthy hands in the General." Fact was, the man repulsed him and Ed wanted to say goodbye to the General in a proper way.

"Your choice, kid. Just dump him on his bed." Fredricks seemed a lot more gathered and Ed had a nasty feeling that this man was much too used to doing stuff like this. It made Ed's skin crawl just to be near him. He may have saved his life, but the man was still twisted. "And remove his outer clothes, he's supposed to think all this was just a dream."

Ed dragged Mustang out of the car before he lifted him up on his shoulder. He waited for Fredricks to unlock the door before he carried the man upstairs and into his bedroom and carefully lay him down on his bed. He then removed the shoes, socks, trousers, jacket and shirt, leaving the man in his undershirt and boxers.

Ed then pulled the covers over him and watched the sleeping form. Ed was going to miss him. He was going to miss everyone, but he was at least going to have one proper goodbye. Ed sat down on the bed and then let himself lie down on Mustang's chest, letting frustrated, grieving tears run down his cheeks as he hugged him. "I'm sorry for doing this to you. Please take care of Al for me. He's gonna need you more than ever now, so don't you dare pull that same crap you did with Hughes and just try to burn these people. I know you're really a softie so you'd better let Al see that side all the time from now on instead of that bastardly stuff. And take care of the rest of the team. And yourself. Don't you dare let yourself fall to pieces over this, because I lost my fucking hair to keep the others safe."

Ed sighed deeply, hugging him tighter. "And thank you for these last few months. Thank you for caring about me and Al and letting me stay with you while he was in the hospital. Thank you for everything. No matter what you may have told me and Al in the hospital, you have been a great Dad these last few months. I'm sorry that this is my way to repay you. I guess I'm being a lousy son, just giving you extra work like this, but don't you dare leave Al alone. You two are gonna need each other to get through this, so it's your job as our honorary father to make sure that your remaining son doesn't fall to pieces."

Ed kissed his cheek. "Take care, Dad."

Then Ed stood up, wiped away his tears and went out of the room, not knowing what his life had in store for him.

Although he knew one thing: he may stay dead to keep his friends and family safe, but there was no way in hell that he was gonna let these bastards get away with his murder.