~~Chapter Six~~

The white hospital room made me feel lonely as I sat next to my brother. I had his hand clasped in mine tightly, not leaving his side even for a second. The damn bastard-

A startled beep from the monitor stopped me from thinking. Apparently I had been squeezing Al's hand harder at my angry thoughts. I loosened my hold on his hand, leaning back against the chair I was sitting in. I looked to the white ceiling, a million thoughts flowing through my head.

That damn bastard had broken Al's spine. The doctors said I was the one who saved his life, not letting anyone touch him until help got there. I was the one who stopped the break from immobilizing him permanently. They said he was going to walk again, that was a promise. That was a giant relief on me, but I still had to worry about him. I just got his body back, and now I was endangering him once again. If he couldn't walk, then he was just going to have to stay with Winry and help her. I was not going to force him to come along until his health was perfect. I was not going to push him ever again.

Just then a small whisper came from his lips. "Ed, where are we?" I looked to his face, seeing giant gold eyes stare at the ceiling in confusion. He then looked to me, worry in his eyes.

"The hospital. We took you here right after Envy… attacked you." I stroked the back of his hand reassuringly with my thumb. He winced then, and I stopped immediately. "Al?"

"He… I just remembered that's all." I sighed with relief, studying his face for something more. He looked back, waiting for me to say something. I looked at him with confusion then.

"What?"

"Well, what did I break? Is it serious? Will I be able to go on our journey again soon?" His anxious voice made my heart hurt. I sighed, shaking my head slightly.

"Al, he broke your spine. You won't be able to walk for at least three months, and you know I can't wait that long. You know Envy won't. They said that the only reason you weren't paralyzed was because I didn't let anyone touch you. They said I saved you, but I have a hard time believing that…" I trailed off, mentally cursing myself once more. "If I really saved you, it would be me with that break, not you. If I-"

"Ed. Stop it. Now." Al met my eyes with a fierce scolding in them. I stopped immediately, shocked at his tone.

"You saved me, that's enough. I understand you can't wait, and I know that hurts you. But I also know you need to do this, so do it. I can spend the time with Winry, protecting her if someone tries anything. If anything, you just helped all of us Ed, but more importantly, you helped protect Winry. Stop with the guilt and just move on. I'll be fine."

I looked to him with thanks and sincerity. He nodded, as if saying it was no big deal. I squeezed his hand a bit tighter.

"You care for her too." Al gave me a look of shock, then realizing what I had meant.

"Not as much as May. Speaking of which, where is that crazy girl. Did she return to Xing last month?" I smiled, trying to hide it. He eyes me, then catching on that there was something I was hiding.

"What aren't you telling me brother?" I just shrugged, getting up and heading towards the door. "Brother!" I laughed, sticking my head out.

On the chair next to the door was the anxious teenage May. Her long black hair fell to her waist in luscious waves, Shao May tucked neatly into them on her shoulder. Seeing me, she leapt to her feet and ran into the room.

"Al!" She screamed his name, running to his side. Shock was all over his face, but to make it even better, she cupped his face and started kissing him everywhere.

"May! What are you-"

She cut him off by kissing him passionately on the lips. I smiled, sitting back down on the chair.

"How dare you get yourself hurt! Don't you ever worry me like that again! You hear me?" She was now just randomly stroking his face, a few tears falling down her cheeks. Al smiled, giving her a small laugh.

"Yeah, I got it May." She leaned in again, kissing him on the lips. "May!" Al scolded her as he looked in my direction pointedly. She giggled, taking a seat at the foot of his bed.

"Al, I can help you heal. If you want me too, I can make it so you don't have to wait for the break to heal. You could go be with Winry right now, save the time." She gave him a girlish smile, another small giggle escaping her lips. I saw Al looking at her with such love, I now understood about what he said about Winry and I. You could see when a person loved someone, you really could.

"Brother, should I?" Al looked to me, question in his burning gold eyes.

"It's up to you Al. I personally want you to, but not just so you can go to be with Winry. I don't want you to be in pain, so I vote yes." I gave him a smile, laughing when he gave me an irritated sigh.

"Thank you for your decision help there Brother." I laughed, looking to May. She was already getting up to stand next to Al. "Fine, do it."

"Maybe we should tell someone we are healing him with Alchemy? Otherwise they may never let him out." May giggled, nodding. I stood, going to go get a doctor. A few minutes later, I came back with the doctor. He asked us a few questions about this method, then gave us his approval, going to go get the release forms.

Once he was gone, May and I helped Al turn over onto his stomach. Once there, he groaned in pain, telling May to get it over with. I stepped back, letting her do whatever she had too. She stuck her daggers into the sheets, forming a transmutation circle around Al. And with that, she healed him.

The blue light came from the transmutation circle, a groan coming from Al. A few seconds later, we heard a crack as something snapped into place. Al clenched his fist around the sheets, biting his lip so as not to shout. I looked to him with a worried expression. Once she was done, May took her daggers out and stepped back. She helped Al up gently, keeping her arm ever present on his waist.

"Jeez, May you could have told me it was going to hurt so much." May kissed his cheek, murmuring an apology. Al smiled to her, wrapping his other arm around her shoulder. I stood, going next to him, ready to help if he needed it.

"Thank you May. You're a miracle." I backed away instinctively, knowing this was going to get romantic any second.

Al leaned down a bit, kissing her on the lips. May's knees buckled, causing him to catch her and crush her closer. Not wanting to see any more, I covered my eyes with my hand. I cleared my throat loudly. I peeked to see Al pulling away with a laugh.

"Sorry Brother." May stroked Shao May, trying to get out of making any comment. I just laughed, looking to Al.

"You can stand, but can you walk?" May moved aside, keeping hold of only Al's hand. Al took a step forward, only to have his knees buckle under him. May caught him, holding him against her with a bit f a struggle. I rushed to his side, helping him back up as well. Once up, we both set him down on the bed. He let out a groan of pain.

"No not yet." He rubbed his back, lying down to try and get the pain away.

"You'll get there eventually, don't worry." I gave him a reassuring smile, knowing my brother could power through anything these days.