Riza stood, rigid at the door while Gracia sat politely in a waiting chair that would have been extremely uncomfortable if she had taken the time to worry about it. But her thoughts were on her daughter. Elysia and Roy paced sightlessly through the waiting room, each lost in their own thoughts and worries as they waited for news of Edward. Elysia, still in her blood stained dress, had refused any contact or words from anyone. Even her own mother who had brought her a change of clothes.
"Has anyone sent word to Alphonse or Winry?" Gracia asked quietly looking up at Riza knowing she would not get any answers from the pacers.
"Yes," Riza answered clearly. "I phoned them and arranged for escorts to pick them up at the train station once they arrive in Central."
Gracia had been scared to break the silence but it was too much to bear. She looked at her daughter and saw that none of the conversation seemed to have affected her. In fact, Elysia looked more pale and strained then she did before. This was the very reason she didn't want Elysia to have anything to do with Edward. She cared for Edward and was just as worried as everyone else but she hated to see her daughter going through this. She had stayed away from Central for a reason. To be as far away from the military as possible. She didn't want to risk her daughter falling in love with an officer. But it happened. And not with just any officer but a General. A General in the favor of the Fuhrer and with an enemy list just as long. Gracia hated herself for these thoughts but she didn't want her daughter to go through what she had when she lost her husband.
As she sat in the stifling waiting room her thoughts became more and more traitorous. She began to hate Roy for his stupid ambition, for allowing a boy to become a State Alchemist at such a young age. To have gotten her own husband worked up in his schemes to become Fuhrer that he risked his life for it and for allowing, no begging, Edward to stay in the military as his top General. She might have approved more of Edward if he was a private citizen but not as a military officer.
Look at her! Just look at her!" Gracia thought over and over as she watched her daughter pacing. She should not have to go through this! She should not have seen what she saw! Gracia's thoughts were working her into a frenzy and she could feel her hands clench and her body shake.
Riza happened to look up and saw a change in Gracia and just as she was about to walk towards her the door across from her opened and a doctor appeared. Everyone looked over at the doctor and stopped dead in their tracks zeroing in on him as if they were birds of prey and he a tiny morsel to devour. Before he could be bombarded with questions, Riza reached the doctor and spoke first.
"How is the General?" She asked calmly with no trace of emotion.
"He made it through surgery just fine," the doctor started.
Elysia, not realizing she was holding her breath, exhaled. Her heart began beating faster in relief. She had been pacing, repeating the words in her head over and over again, "Please let him live, Please let him live, Please let him live..." She knew he had lost a lot of blood as she looked down at her stained dress when she had paced around the waiting room. She had ignored any comfort from her mother so she wouldn't be distracted, hoping that the repeated chants would help him.
"He has lost a lot of blood," the doctor continued tiredly, "and we managed to stop the bleeding. It was a difficult surgery. The shot through his abdomen went straight through. The one in the chest struck a rib bone fracturing it but it kept the bullet from hitting his heart. He'll be very week as he recovers and he'll have to stay here for a while for observation. We don't want an infection to set in. Colonel Havoc also informed me that the General sustained a head wound while in Xing and it wasn't properly treated at the time so there's that we need to monitor too." The doctor paused for a moment removing his glasses to rub his eyes.
"We removed his automail to keep him from straining too much as he recovers. He may not be too happy about it and it would probably be best that his automail mechanic be around to reinstall his limbs. So if an infection doesn't set in he should recover quickly as long as he gets the rest he needs."
"His mechanic has already been notified of the situation and will be here in a couple of days. Can he have visitors?" Riza asked.
"Maybe tomorrow," the doctor said. "He needs rest now. A lot of rest, without any disruptions." The doctor looked pointedly at the Fuhrer with that last statement.
The Fuhrer stiffened, seeming to have taken offense to the doctor's last words but before he could say anything, Riza intervened.
"I will need to know where the General's room will be to post a security squad, relieving the Colonel," Riza said officially.
"Yes, of course," the doctor said glad he didn't have to face off with the Fuhrer regarding his remark. "I'll send in the orderly to give you the details once he's settled. Now, if nobody minds, I'm going to make sure the General is situated comfortably." The doctor left the quiet room.
Before the Fuhrer could erupt in protests for Riza's intervening during the entire conversation with the doctor she turned to Gracia.
"Mrs. Hughes, you should head home," Riza continued. "Sir," she said looking at the Fuhrer before he could interrupt. "Would you be so kind as to escort Mrs. Hughes home? She looks tired and could use a friend."
The Fuhrer noticed that Riza had left out "provide an escort" knowing Riza meant for him to do so personally.
"Yes, I will," the Fuhrer said looking at Riza curiously wondering what she had in mind. Then walking over to Gracia he held his arm out for her to take. Gracia looked up at the Fuhrer, then to Riza and finally at her daughter. She was confused and taken off guard by these strange turn of events. She had expected pandemonium and demands to see Edward whether he needed the rest or not. And she wanted to know what her daughter was feeling. Elysia had not said a word and had not moved from her spot and Gracia had noted how Riza had made no mention of how Elysia would get home.
"Gracia," the Fuhrer said prompting her to take his arm. Looking up in into his eyes she realized that they were both being dismissed for her daughter's sake. That Riza wanted to be alone with Elysia because she knew Elysia did not want to be near anyone else. Especially those who had been so adamant with their disapproval of her and Edward. Gracia took the Fuhrer's arm and allowed herself to be led out of the waiting room.
"I'll see that Elysia has an escort home as well," Riza said as the Fuhrer and Gracia left the room.
Once the door closed behind her mother and the Fuhrer, Elysia snapped.
"I'm not going anywhere until I've seen Edward!" She demanded.
"I know," Riza answered calmly. "But did you really want to see him with your mother and the Fuhrer looking over."
"No," Elysia said quietly as she realized what Riza had done for her. The fury that had risen within her disappeared suddenly leaving her with nothing to support herself with and she collapsed on one of the hard chairs crying. She felt Riza lift her and allowed her to cry onto her shoulder.
"I don't know what I would have done if he died," Elysia wailed amongst her sobs of relief. "I tried to hold it in. I tried to hold back in front of them. I know they don't want Edward and me to be together but it's none of their business!" She said looking up at Riza.
"I know," Riza said handing her a handkerchief to dry her eyes. "They just want the best for you. And you should know that the Fuhrer will always be in your business."
"My mother too," Elysia said as she angrily dried her eyes thinking of the two of them and how they had joined forces to attack her feelings about Edward. Both had made it very clear that they did not want Elysia to have anything to do with Edward by forcing her to spend those evenings with Jol.
"You do understand why they interfered?" Riza asked.
"Yes," Elysia answered begrudgingly. "They did not want me to go through something like this."
"Of course it didn't give them any right to interfere," Riza added to soothe Elysia.
"I thought I could handle something like this. I told myself that I would have to expect that something horrible could happen to Edward in the military. I accepted it. But it was so different having to see it actually happen. I thought he's been through the worse, what more could possibly happen. And I saw him falling to the ground, then lying there losing all that blood, I promised I would never leave him. I held a gun to that man. I was ready to kill him for hurting Edward. I knew at that moment, that no matter what he does, I will still be there for him. I won't let this or my mother and Roy keep us apart."
Elysia sighed. She was tired and worn out emotionally. All she wanted was just to see that Edward was really alright with her own eyes then lie down and sleep.
As if reading her thoughts, Riza said, "Now, why don't you change your clothes. We'll go to the General's room then we'll find you someplace to rest."
Elysia nodded her approval. "Thank you, Riza," she said smiling gratefully.