A/N: Geez I've been waiting for so long to get to this chapter, after now things will be all downhill into the climax! A BOO A YA

Soldier's Mindset

"You know Mustang you shouldn't be using your subordinate like this," Warren said looking at the Colonel threateningly.

"I wouldn't say using Doctor." Mustang said, "Hawkeye is the only person I would ever trust this to." Then he added with his trademark smirk "And besides subordinates are there to help their superiors." Warren felt even more dislike for this Colonel more than before; something about his air seemed totally fake.

During the Ishbal rebellion he had treated many soldiers. Many had the same story, small town kid who joined the military since they had no hope of being a professional. Since he was about ten years older than these kids, he was there for consoling. Many a time the weak would question their purpose and give up but Warren always tried to pull them out of the darkness they had fallen into. He had seen Mustang a few times, but the few times he saw the Colonel he was a secluded solider. Maybe it was the fact that he was a State Alchemist and other privates saw them as human weapons, freaks.

It had been many years since the Ishbal Rebellion and of course those who had survived had changed, but Mustang seemed too had changed too much. They were now at the train station in Eureka where some of the staff at the fort would say farewell to the Colonel they had been harboring for the last few days. Mustang had asked that Warren to come and talk to him before he said goodbye. Now they were talking at the top of the platform stairs out of ears reach from any military officials.

"You're sure she will be all well soon?" Roy asked scratching the back of his head nonchalantly.

"Well she is all well now, it's just I don't know how long it will take her to get back in top condition. The thing is I don't know what her top condition is, or how she normally is mentally. Lately she seems like she's looking for someone to take orders from. Not to mention one day when I went along on a walk with her and the two boys, the younger boy stumbled and scabbed his knee. Riza first told him to suck it up and then of course apologized." Warren said smiling at the memory "Is she usually like that?"

"Yes, unfortunately she has no tolerance for weaklings." Mustang said also with a smile. "Or at least, used to not." The sound of the train arriving into the station stopped their conversation from going any further. "Well Doctor," Roy said extending his hand, "I hope to see you soon."

Warren shook the hand timidly and watched The Colonel, say goodbye to all of the soldiers there. Warren had presumed that Riza would be there but since Geoffrey wasn't there the Doctor wondered how she would get there. He was answered by the sounds of running footsteps.

"Has he left yet?" he heard Riza's panting voice say from bottom the platform stairs.

Warren turned around and plastered on a bright smile, "Good time for a run Eh Hawkeye?"

She started walking up the stairs and stopped at the step below Warren, and stared up at him face her eyes pleading. Riza said evenly "Where." Her voice seemed more stoic than usual.

He stepped aside and bowed flourishing his hand. She walked by, as he watched her go she marched over to the group of military officials. Here she looked so formal compared to the Riza he knew, shoulders square, even steps and a perfect salute.

Riza said something to Mustang, and he smiled slightly and said something back to her quietly. Warren took a few steps into earshot.

"Sir I don't care what you do or don't need me for!" Warren heard Riza exclaim, he had never heard her exclaim with so much emotion. Warren was still trying to find out what to define this conversation as, a lover's quarrel? No, that wasn't quite right; it was most defiantly not a fight between coworkers. It had a different air about it; he could defiantly tell that Riza cared more about Mustang than a subordinate should. As for Mustang, he had no idea on how he felt for Riza.

"Hawkeye," the Colonel said sternly, his eyes cold. "You are out of line." At these words Riza took a step backward lowering her head. Roy continued "Now for the last time, you are to stay here in Eureka, and that's an order."

Warren saw Riza wipe her face quickly before snapping into a salute, "Yes, sir."

"Good," he said and then turned his attention to the military officers as if nothing had happened. "Like I said before I am very happy to have stayed here at Eureka and hope to return on good terms." Mustang shook hands with everyone as Warren walked up next to Riza. She was still frozen in her salute.

"Are you ok—," He said dropping in mid sentence. Her eyes were open wide looking at the spot where Mustang hade been standing and he could tell she was biting her lip trying not to lose it. He looked up at Mustang, with hateful eyes.

The Colonel was getting on the train and he glanced back to the frozen Lieutenant and glaring doctor. When he looked at Riza he winced, his expression changed from ice to pity. Was it pity or remorse? Warren saw a different side of Roy Mustang. Mustang waved goodbye one last time before disappearing into the train.

Warren stopped pondering Mustang for a moment to notice that Riza was still saluting air, but her eyes were following the train.

Warren placed a firm hand on Hawkeye's right arm and forced it down slowly. "Hawkeye are you okay?" He said in a concerned voice.

"Right," she said her voice shaking and then turned on her heel and started walking briskly off the platform and down the main street. The military officers watched her go and started whispering things.

The doctor mumbled to himself, "Right?" that didn't even answer his question. He started off down the street trying to catch up to Riza. By the time he had reached her she was on a country road heading towards the Smith's house. "Riza wait up!" he said jogging.

She quickened up her pace, "Go away," she said coldly.

"Hey, Riza you can't ignore me," Warren said concerned as he reached for her hand.

When he grasped her hand, she spun around and glared at him with watery eyes, "Don't touch me," she said in a frustrated tone. "What is with you anyway?" Warren took a shocked step backward releasing her. "Don't you have a life!" she raised her heartless tone with every sentence. "What did I do to deserve this, this treatment?" she spat out the word "I was the perfect soldier! I did everything for the good of the state, the people and," she stopped screaming and lowered her voice to a mere whisper "most of all I did everything for the Colonel." She paused a second and returned to her spiteful tone. "Now you're silent," she turned around and started walking back down the road.

"Riza," he said in a low tone and shouted at her, "You have to stop suppressing and enclosing yourself!"

She shook her heard vigorously and walked away from him faster, "I have no idea what you're talking about!" As fate would have it her ankle collapsed from under her and she fell to the ground. The two froze in silence and shock for a second but Warren was the first to talk.

"What is with me? Why do I follow you around? Those are hard questions to answer" He started unsurely walking over to the spot Riza was sitting "But I can answer them simply," he knelt down to her eyelevel. "Riza, I see you as my friend and I hope you see me the same way."

Warren paused for a moment and took a deep breath "and just to let you know, in case you have never had a real friend before. Friends care for each other, take care of each other and stick together. Riza Hawkeye even though I've only known you for six months I think I have gained a friend I will have for the rest of my life. What do you think?"

"I don't know what to say." She said looking at the ground.

"Here I'll give you a hint. This may seem stupid but, Riza Hawkeye will you be my friend?" She looked back up with her slightly crooked smile and slowly nodded. "All right with that taken care of," he said hopping up and continued extravagantly, "Now since I see that my friend is down in the dirt, quite literally" he added. "I will extend a helping hand to…" Riza ignored the rambling Doctor and got up by herself, walked past him and his extended hand.

"Please tone it down Warren." She said returning to her regular tone.

Warren grinned and trotted up next to Riza, cheerfully saying "So now what?"

"What do you mean?" she said looking strait ahead down the road.

"Well you had a plan up to six months and now that those six months are over with I think you need to devise a new schedule, at least that's what I think you would do." He said shrugging.

"A plan?" she paused and thought for a second, "No matter how much my new found friend comforts me I still can't ignore what the Colonel said to me. Instead of letting it get to me" she started in a determined tone "I'm going to make sure it won't happen again, that I will never be left behind again, ever. I've been weak lately, maybe not lately, for the last two years I haven't been in top condition. So instead of mopping waiting for him to take me away from here I will do it myself. I will work so hard that if he won't take me back to Central I will make him."

"So how are you going to work?" Warren said, sad that Riza was playing into Mustang's plan.

"There is a fort here, and I can work there, improving my shot, physical condition and regain my soldier's mindset" she looked away from Warren at the setting sun saying in a confident tone, "And then Mustang will have no choice but to let me go back with him."

Warren frowned slightly at her but he had no choice but to try to add to her confidence, "I don't doubt you can one bit."

She turned back to him her eyes full of hope. "Thank you," she said bowing.

He patted her head affectionately "Any time. Boy I am hungry," he said changing the subject, "I think I will enjoy a home cooked meal by Molly Smith." He rubbed his stomach with a stupid grin plastered on his face.

"Free loader."

A/N: No I did not die.

No I am not dieing.

Nor will I die anytime soon…I hope.

But I have been extremely, extremely, extremely busy. You really do not want to know how much has been going on in my life since the last chapter and I am way too tired to explain. You'll just have to guess. Sorry.

Thanks to the reviews! Please don't think I am not continuing this story. I will update at least once a week on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. And I plan on finishing this story by Halloween so maybe on some weeks I will double-update. Then I will take a few weeks of to work on the next story of this series and then have updates everyday for the first week then go back to the once a week updates. Then after that is done (new years) I will finish the series with the last story and I still don't know how long that will be yet. I think I should get a series name… I'll think on it.

Just to let you know this chapter was originally called That's an order but I decided to call it Soldiers mindset because this is the major turning point in the story before the climax

O well, Adios!