"What?!" Mustang slammed his hands on his desk as he stood urgently, "What do they want now?"
Riza's face didn't change in the slightest as she spoke, "What they came for last time, sir."
Mustang let his hands slide of the desk's surface as he turned around to face the window. He propped his arm above him on the glass pane as he stared through the concrete below.
"Why must they make things so difficult?" Mustang sighed, "She can't handle that right now, especially Havoc."
Riza's face softened under sad pressure behind him but she didn't speak.
"It's only been two weeks," Mustang's voice sounded in worry for the events ahead, "our first priority is to protect the White Alchemist. They are not going to take her."
/\/\/\/\/\/\
River sat quietly beside Havoc holding the fork with a blob of mashed potatoes hovering in front of his face.
"Please sweetheart," River brushed the back of her hand against Havoc's jaw line, "Eat this, you can't function well with an empty stomach all day."
Havoc leaned his head into her hand with out a retort but avoided looking into her eyes. He hadn't spoken very much the passed two weeks and he barely ate anything. Mustang was giving him a month and a half to grieve; which was very generous of him but River worried that it would be too soon. At least she had time to accept fate and learn to overcome such a powerful emotion but he had been clueless and struck down by cruel fate itself. She held no ill-will or blame towards him but she missed the Havoc that would smile.
"Hey," River smiled sweetly like she always did when she wanted to lift the mood, "can you smile for me?"
Havoc sighed, she couldn't be trying this again. It didn't work the last couple times she tried and it wasn't going to happen this time.
"Come on," River poked his cheek, "you can do it. I love your smile, do it for me?"
Havoc picked up the fork and took the bite of potatoes on it without a word.
River gave up; at least he was eating. That day really broke him. She learned well not to use past tense sentences with certain subjects with Havoc in earshot. If he heard something like, "used to" or "like before" he would die inside and retreat into the dorm they used to share. They didn't now because neither of them could sleep in that room since Kino died.
River kissed his cheek since he didn't really kiss back when she kissed his lips. "I'll be right back, okay?"
He looked up at her face as she stood, "Where are you going?" Havoc asked and held her wrist. Since Kino died, Havoc and River hardly separated because they were lonely without the other. This was the only positive River could see so far during these days of mourning.
She smiled her gentle smile, "To see Riza, she looks like she swallowed a bug."
Havoc looked over across the room where River had nodded towards; Riza was there. She held coffee in her hand but was sort of glaring at it with her hand at her mouth, just being contemplative. Havoc almost smiled at River's analogy; if you used your imagination a little bit, it kind of did look like Hawkeye swallowed something.
He sighed and let her go, "Hurry, okay?" Havoc pleaded as she slowly walked away.
Havoc's blue eyes reminded River of Kino's and she could help but smile for him. The warmth from Havoc's hand on her wrist began to cool as she traveled farther away from his presence. She instinctively wrapped her arms around her torso as the emptiness began to chill her insides and she put on her best smile.
"Riza," River greeted and the blonde looked up at her urgently as if a string had roughly jerked her chin up.
"River," she smiled warily, "how are you?"
"Alright," River shrugged.
"Havoc?" River asked, since Havoc never spoke to her because he had no reason to.
"Still down but is getting better," River smiled, "I'll bet he'll being smiling again in no time."
Riza nodded but her heart sank for River; everyday this young woman would this when people asked about Havoc.
"Is something wrong?" River asked, her smile dim now.
Riza blinked a couple of times; she'd forgotten how perceptive River was. She sighed, she wasn't given in orders to keep this confidential but Mustang probably wouldn't like her telling River what was going on. She and Havoc were going through enough stress.
"Come on," River encouraged with a light smile, "you can tell me, right?"
Riza hated being uncertain, she would have to ask General Mustang first. "The General will want his coffee." She finally said before she excused herself and headed down the hallway.
River watched her back as it disappeared behind the corner. She sighed and hurried back to Havoc, slowly loosening her hold on her own torso.
Havoc greeted her like an angel, reaching out his hand with relief in his eyes. She set her hand softly in his and sat down gracefully.
"I love you, River," Havoc kissed her gently, "no matter my behavior; please know that I love you more than anything."
"I love you too, Jean," River smiled and brought his hand to her cheek, "thank you."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"Good question," Mustang rubbed his temples as the coffee steamed contentedly in front of him.
Riza sat down in a chair next to his desk. "It's a matter of priorities: do we let them figure it out or do we tell them now and give them the anxiety of the following days."
Mustang almost laughed in dark humor. He thought for a moment but his mind drifted to two weeks ago. River knew all along that on that day, Kino would be gone from their lives forever but Havoc had no idea, no suspicion and now he was going through serious recovery. Maybe it was best to be prepared even if anxiety and anticipation were your constant companions.
"You can tell her," Mustang finally broke the silence. He explained his thought process to her and she nodded in agreement.
"How's Havoc?" Mustang asked out of habit now really. He really worried about his healing; getting hurt was one thing but healing sometimes was the most painful process. Now they were headed into a battle.
"Well," Riza brushed a wrinkle in her clothing smooth, "quoting River, 'He'll be smiling in no time'."
Mustang blew at his bangs roughly, "She still has that same hope, doesn't she?"
"I believe her," Riza said strictly.
"Are the Elric brothers on their way back?" Mustang asked and changed the subject.
"Sirkis called this morning to tell us that he's hot on their trail but there's been no confrontation yet."
Mustang stuck his finger in the coffee, still too hot.
/\/\/\/\/\/\
Sirkis sat on the train in civilian clothes staring out the window. His face was serene but his leg refused to hold still. He was in a hurry to find the Elric brothers so he could return to Eastern Command.
What was wrong with the military lately? Why was this disease hitting his sect more than the others? This was going to be a mess all because of General Crofter. Sirkis, thankfully, was a help to Mustang through knowing all of Crofter's plans so Eastern Command would be prepared.
The train slowed a great deal as he thought over this and he immediately stood in front of the doors. He waited five long minutes before they finally opened.
Please still be in town, brothers.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"River, Havoc," Riza nodded to them respectfully as they had all met in the hallway near Mustang's office, "you two need to be informed about what's about to happen."
Havoc and River exchanged glances and braced themselves for bad news.
"What's going on, Hawkeye?" Havoc made his question sound like a threat but Riza took no offense; instead she turned to the White Alchemist.
"Western Command is after you again, River." Riza stated flatly. "They're going to extremes bringing all their men with them."
Havoc's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Western Command isn't too big; we out number them four to one."
"Lieutenant, this could turn into a civil war." Riza glared.
"I know," Havoc stared strictly back, "but as long as the Generals keep their cool, there won't be any fatalities."
"That's not the worst part," Riza closed her eyes and desperation was easy to read in the creases of her frown, "They've got Central command on their side. The Fuhrur wants the White Alchemist in his custody."
At that news, Havoc finally broke his stubbornness and let out a rough sigh. He ran his fingers through his hair before they flexed.
"Jean-" River began to sooth him but he hit the wall behind him.
"Why can't they leave us alone?!" Havoc roared, "Why doesn't Crofter and the Fuhrur just go die?! Just leave us alone!"
"Havoc!" Mustang shouted over him, "I understand your feelings but-"
"Shut up! Don't tell me what to do and you could never understand what a pain in the a- - this is!" Havoc yelled in Mustang's face.
"Listen, Lieutenant! This is not about you! We need to focus-" Mustang grabbed the collar of his shirt.
"Just leave us alone!" Havoc screamed and shoved Mustang against the wall.
River slipped in between them and embraced Havoc's rib cage.
"No! Please don't!" River cried but Havoc was still tense, "Please Jean, don't do this! Kino wouldn't want you doing this! Please stop!"
Havoc shut his eyes tightly and turned away from Mustang. He took sharp quick breaths as he fought for control.
River cried into his shirt as she felt Havoc's body slowly change its motives from destruction to inner control.
Her hand slid over his abs and she looked to his closed face. "I feel the same, Jean, I really do but I know this will be over soon. Think like Kino would, everything will be okay…" River brought her hand up and turned his face to hers; he opened his eyes to her tearful orbs, "…it'll be okay because this will end soon. Have faith in something for once."
Havoc inhaled deeply to rest the choking in his throat and he embraced River's small form. He held her tightly and buried his face in the swoop of her neck. He was ashamed but he was still angry. He was hurt more than anything and he knew River was too. She did so much for him and he didn't want to lose her or the comfort she gave.
A phone rang in the distance in Mustang's office and he and Riza headed there in a hurry.
"Please forgive me," Havoc whispered, "I'm so sorry, this is so hard."
"I know, Jean," River smiled weakly through her tears, "just hang on."
"I love you," he whispered softer and kissed her neck.
"I love you too." She sighed as she stroked his hair.
/\/\
Mustang sighed with relief as he set the phone down. "Sirkis found the boys and they're on their way."
Riza relaxed, "Good,"
Mustang nodded, "We have backup now."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Yay! Another chap bites the dust! Or paper…What E'r! R&R pwetty pwease!