"I have reason to believe that Riza has moved. Since we're not the best in the investigations department, I want you to find her."

And Havoc was off the line.

Riza sat in a cab with her small suitcase of survival necessities and the clothing on her back. This was it. This was her opportunity for a new life. Not that she'd chosen to change her life at all; it was all forced on her before she could think of what to do next.

Without the Colonel what use am I? What can I do now that everything I've worked for is gone? Her thoughts plagued her mind. Riza had always worked hard for Mustang. She put everything she had into her job, and gave everything she could for the sake of his dream. The fact that it was all gone now, that one kid could take away everything; it was painful.

But the worst of it was that the kid had ben Edward, of all people. Edward was always the sunshine in the office- not that he meant to be.

He'd been a sarcastic little jerk.

To anybody outside of the small team of men in Roy's office, Edward was just a pain-in-the-ass kid with a short complex and a shitty attitude.

But to the team, he and his brother were always a delight. They'd come into the office, the younger making polite chatter with the men and informing them on their journey (since Edward was too much of an ass to do so himself). The older would be loud and disrespectful, causing the Colonel major headaches, but all the more entertaining to watch for the team. He'd make sarcastic remarks, and Mustang would retort them so accurately the kid would get increasingly frustrated. It was like a dysfunctional family in the office.

That's what it was: a family. No matter how irritating the kid would be, fighting with the Colonel and causing trouble in the office, it had always been comforting. It made everything in the office more relaxed, humoring the men and giving Riza an excuse to intimidate her colleagues.

And, everyone would think about the brothers when they were gone.

Roy would remark on how thankful he was to have some peace. This easily translated to father-like protectiveness in Hawkeye's mind. The men would make bets on how much of a smartass Ed would be in when he returned, most taking the safest bet of '10/10'. (Aka, another temper tantrum).

The Colonel had trusted them; he'd let them seek the stone without a critical eye. He'd never doubted them, even though they were kids. All the men were silently impressed by the Fullmetal Alchemist, who was able to break Roy's strict rule over the office.

They all hoped the two would achieve the goal they set out for; they all believed in the kids. And though the Colonel himself wouldn't admit it, he loved the boys.

And yet... the boy who'd been a hero of Amestris, family to the team and a thorn in the Colonel's side was a killer.

Riza's family had been shattered.

Havoc didn't need to hear another word from Armstrong before he was on the go in search of files on Riza Hawkeye. He was power walking from the military phones, on his way to the library where he'd meet a trustworthy bookworm.

"Schezka!" he hollered upon entering the library, only earning him a few librarians' shh noises and irritated glances from researching alchemists. He sent them an apologetic look while scratching the back of his blonde head. In truth, he didn't give two craps about what they thought of his behavior: He needed Schezka's help.

A black-haired woman with a stern looking face approached Havoc coldly; "How may I help you, sir." She said with attitude on the last syllable. She's kind of hot...but also kind of frightening. Sort of like Riza. Havoc thought to himself, scanning the woman's body up and down. Although he wanted to hit on her, he would have to resist because there was a situation he had to deal with first.

"I'm looking for Schezka."

"Hm, and why might that be?"

This is going to be tougher than I thought, thought Jean with dismay. He'd hoped he wouldn't have to lie to such an attractive woman, but he just might be forced to if she wanted to know exactly what he wanted with Schezka. He racked his brainless mind for a sufficient lie that he could play off for his loud entrance, but found nothing. He searched the room for clues; anything that could keep him from uttering a word about wanting secret files on Riza Hawkeye. He couldn't let people know he was searching for her; they'd take him for a stalker!

He managed to stutter an "I'm j-just wondering if she'd like to go on a date with me tonight...so if I could maybe talk to her in private...?"

Man, this feels so WRONG. This hot girl is like, right in front of me yet I'm 'hitting' on Schezka! Havoc couldn't help but feel a bit guilty for "losing his chance" (HAH!) but he had to. For Riza's sake.

The woman eyed him suspiciously, then strut to the front desk to fish out Schezka among her books. "Schezka!" She called, "There's a man who wants to date you, do you know him?"

There was a *thump* when the book-worm fell off what must have been a pile of books.

...

"You better go find her!"

"So...about the file..?" Havoc sat on the library floor beside Schezka, whom he'd spent at least ten minutes digging out of her book pile. Luckily, she only had a bruised head...and ego when she'd learned that Havoc was lying about the date he mentioned.

"Well, that is a secret file and I don't know if I can find it for you...especially because of my partner over there." She nodded her head toward the strict woman, a nervous look on her face. "She's really cautious about who goes through the files, so I don't know-"

Havoc stopped listening once he heard that she couldn't get the files for him. He hoped he could be in there, then out. This was only the first step to finding Riza, and he didn't know if it would work at this point. Schezka didn't seem so sure about the files, and he didn't know if he could ask her to just write them out for him...that would be even more illegal than just reading the files. They could both lose their jobs.

Jean sighed with a crestfallen look on his face. "Alright then, but do you know anything about where Riza Hawkeye might be right now?"

Schezka put her hands to her chin in thought, then looked back at Havoc. "I know she left the military...why are you trying to find her?"

Havoc shook his head, as though to try to hide the obvious reason. He needs her to solve the murder case. Schezka knew it when she saw him. They both looked down with uncertainty of what to say next.

"Well if you're looking for her file, I can't give you anything. She's left, and the only records we'll have on her location is her old room number. I'm guessing you wanted to know the number so you could find out when she checked out and possibly look through her calls to find out if she's using public transportation to go to a certain direction to a certain town, is that right..?" Schezka was stupidly rambling, but she was completely right about what she said. Havoc glared at her in a way to convey he had a reason for not just telling her in the first place.

Nobody can know what they were doing...getting into her business like this was stalker-ish and could ruin a reputation as well as get him arrested.

She covered her mouth with wide eyes, just hoping she didn't give his plan away to everyone in the library.

"I don't know where she is, and I don't know who to ask," stated Havoc, "But you sit with her at lunch break. Who's that girl you guys sit with?"

"Rebecca! Yeah, Rebecca is Riza's best friend, and just so happens to be one of mine too. She might know where Riza's gone!"

Havoc grinned, happy that he found out something about the case. "Good, what's her number?"

"So you're telling me you know where she is?"

"Yes, dim wit, that's what I've been saying!" Rebecca was frustrated with this man's interest in her friend, as well as his stupidity and lack of ability to understand her point.

"So...where is she? Can you give me a street number and stuff?"

She sighed, angry that all the hot guys seemed to be into her best friend. "Yeah. Why do you need to know, Havoc? It's not like she's into you, I mean if you're going to hit on her after Roy died, I swear someone's going to be hitting you but in a TOTALLY different way!"

"No, it's not like that!"

Rebecca smiled at the turn of events. He's playing right into my game.

"Then you're single, right Jean..?" She said flirtatiously.

"Uh, yeah...about Riza-"

"I'll tell you, hon, under one condition."

Havoc became suddenly nervous, not liking the conversation change. Rebecca seemed to have that effect on him. He was never comfortable around her.

"Y-yeah, what's the condition?"

"You have to go on a date with me. Tomorrow night, six o'clock. Meet me at The Blue Dolphin on 6th street, 'kay?"

"Uh..."

Then she hung up. Havoc mentally slapped himself, knowing if he got caught up with Rebecca, he'd never find Riza.

When Armstrong received a call from Havoc that night, he was eager to pick up the phone, hoping that he found some information on Riza's whereabouts.

"Hello, Havoc!" Armstrong boomed his voice through the telephone line, "How was the investigation? Did you find the file?"

Armstrong flexed his muscles with excitement, liking the way they convulsed beneath his military jacket. (Ew.)

"No, but Schezka has a minor concussion and I'm going on a date with Rebecca tomorrow."

With that, Jean hung up the phone. Armstrong was left with many questions.

Edward sat in his cell, a blank look on his face and before a tray full of food. He didn't bother to take a bite of the grimy bread, nor the cold soup the guards left him. He understood many of them were war buddies with Roy, and thought that perhaps they poisoned the food they fed him.

"Eat." One demanded, scoffing when Edward's gaze fell to his feet.

"Don't think I'm going to be nice to you just because you're a kid, or the Fullmetal Alchemist. The military lost all respect for you the day you committed murder, Elric."

He still didn't budge, not wanting to eat the poisoned food. That would be taking the easy way out of his crime by dying.

The guard became frustrated, raising his voice at the kid; "Okay, I'm going to count down from five, and if that food isn't gone I'm coming into your cell."

5...

Edward didn't move, not caring about the consequences

4...

He turned his head away from the food, ignoring the grumble in his stomach, and acknowledging the fact that starvation would be a more torturous way to die.

3...

There was really no point in living, anyway. Especially him...he deserved to die.

2...

He and himself...they both deserved to die.

1...

An eye for an eye, a life for a life.

The guard fumbled with the keys, until he was inside of the cell with a gun in his hand. Knowing shooting the kid would have him in the same cell, he held it for self defense in case the alchemist pulled a move. That would be difficult with the handcuffs, though.

Standing beside Edward, he thrust a foot into his side, demanding that the teen eat the food he'd been provided.

When Edward sat still, taking the abuse as punishment, the man kicked him again, remarking that the least he could do after his crime is to follow the rules of prison.

And still, no progression toward the tray.

So a few more guards decided to join the game of anger...

And Edward was the punching bag.