See disclaimer in Chapter One

I walked into the hospital with determination guiding my every step. The train ride had been unbearably long, and annoying as hell, but a necessary evil in order to travel to Dublith to see Winry. I found myself on autopilot as I stopped in front of the nurse's station, flashed my State Alchemist Watch, and demanded Winry's room number. I watched the young nurse scramble to look up the room, intimidated by my only barely conscious scowl. As soon as the number was spoken, I silently headed in the direction towards Winry's room, leaving Al behind to deal with pleasantries.

**FMAB**

I stopped in front of the door that bore the numbers of Winry's assigned room. I silently stared at the door wondering how my life - Winry's life - had come to this; that is, bouncing in and out of hospital rooms. (Mostly me of course.) As I began to wallow in my newfound guilt, I remembered Lieutenant Hawkeye's words of advice.

"Don't blame yourself, it wasn't your fault. You can't protect Winry and try to find a way to get your bodies back at the same time. Just be strong for her, she's going to need you."

I shook off the guilty feeling that was trying to consume me, and squared my shoulders. For all the times Winry has been strong for me, I owe it to her to do the same in return.

I didn't want to scare her, so I made sure my footsteps were heavy enough not to catch her by surprise. I approached the bed, but was startled to see that she wasn't there. I heard a rumbling sound, and I looked over to the right side of the bed to see Winry curling up against the heater that occupied the corner of the room. I pushed down the murderous rage I had for the bastard that did this: that made Winry so damn afraid and so…. broken. Now was not the time for that. Winry needed me, and I needed to be strong for her.

I opened my mouth and forced my brain to think, so I could say something. Anything.

"I'm here." I managed to say.

Well, good job Ed! I thought. That was brilliant! Just-

My thoughts were interrupted by Winry who quickly latched onto me, hugging me like a security blanket. Tears soaked into my red coat as she clung to my shoulders, her voice so quiet I could barely hear her say "Th-thank you…" It took my brain a second to connect but I wrapped my arms around her in a protective embrace as I guided her back down to the floor, sitting down next to her.

There was a bruise on her neck that looked like the shape of a thumb. Her right eye sported another bruise, and so did the left side of her jaw. Her nose and mouth had been bleeding; I could still see the reddish stains on her skin where the blood had trickled. Her arms were hurt, too, with one large bruise around her right upper arm and one around her left forearm. Both of them looked vaguely like handprints. A bruise was sitting on her left shin, and she was shivering in fear and pain.

I touched my forehead to hers, just like we used to do when we were little kids, and whispered, "No one will hurt you again. I will always protect you. Always."

**FMAB**

I was so focused on Winry that I barely heard the clinking of Al's armor enter the room. I felt my face flush red with embarrassment as Al attempted to locate Winry, but that only made me pull her closer to me. I could put up with Al's teasing later, it didn't matter to me. I kept my eyes locked on Winry's face, not caring if Al found us this way.

"Brother, did you find Winry? Is she okay?" Al asked.

I heard him clink over to the right side of the bed, figuring out that this was the only place we could be in the modestly sized hospital room.

"Oh."

I had the feeling if Al could, he would be sheepishly smiling at us, knowing that he probably walked in on something that didn't involve him.

"I-I think I heard Teacher calling for me, so, uh, yeah. Bye Winry." Al hastily made his awkward retreat, his clinking armor echoing as he exited the room.

Her face lit up briefly, a small, shy smile appearing on her lips before vanishing just as quickly as it came, leaving only the lingering bruises that never should have been put there in the first place. I clenched my right fist, the steel automail prosthetic straining against the pressure I put into the quietly shaking arm. Someone did this to her. Some bastard...someone did THIS to Winry. She can't even smile! And for that, they're going to pay!

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-warehouseluver13