A/N: Hello

I am actually getting this typed and posted a lot faster than I expected! I have no idea how long I can keep up the fast posting, but hopefully I can get chapter 4 to you soon!

Once again, all previous warnings and disclaimers aply. Thank you for reading, and please let me know what you think so far! ^_^

Chapter 3

Edward's head snapped in the direction of the voice, shooting a death glare at the intruders, mainly Mustang. He helped his newly restored brother into a sitting position and held in such a way as if he were trying to protect him from some great threat that had just arrived to take him away.

"What are you doing here, Colonel bastard?" Ed asked suspiciously.

"It's General now, Fullmetal, and I came to see what kind of trouble you're causing this time." Ed just gave an unenthused grunt at his correction of his rank. Before Ed could give any further reply, he felt a tender hand touch his forehead.

"Nii-san, you're bleeding!" Al said with wide, worried eyes as he examined the cut on Ed's forehead.

"What…?" Ed turned back to look at his worried brother's face as Al withdrew his hand covered in blood. "Oh, don't worry Al, it's nothing. I'm fine." Ed said with a reassuring smile. Al however, was not convinced, over the years Ed had become a pro at being able to lie about his own well-being to others, but Al knew him better than anyone and could see through the well practiced act.

"No nii-san… there's too much… Why is there so much blood everywhere?" Al asked taking in his surroundings for the first time. Ed didn't answer; he just looked away, which scared Al even more. "What happened?" His eyes grew even wider as panic flooded through his body. "Equivalent Exchange, of course you would have to give up something… What did you have to exchange to pull my body from the gate!?" Al was shouting at this point, terrified for his brother. He couldn't see anything obvious missing; he still had his remaining arm and leg, but there was just so much blood. He knew from their teacher that the gate could take more than just limbs from people as payment for human transmutation and opening the gate.

"Calm down Al, really I'm fine." Al could see it now; there was pain in his brother's eyes and he looked extremely pale. He hid it well, but it was still there. He really was hurt, but the blood covered them both to the point where it was impossible to pinpoint exactly where the source was.

"Still, just to be on the safe side, I think both of you should be taken to the hospital and be seen by a doctor. All of that blood had to come from somewhere." Mustang said with that commanding tone that he loved to use so much.

"Fine… Then will you leave us alone, General bastard?" Ed asked turning his head back over to glare at Mustang again.

"Fine…" Mustang replied deciding to let Ed get away with his comment this time. He then turned and started walking back up the stairs, Hawkeye right behind him.

"Ready Al?" Ed smiled and Al nodded back to his brother. Ed went to stand, starting first with his right leg, but as soon as he put pressure on his automail leg he fell back down onto the hard stone floor, trying his best not to shout from the pain.

"Nii-san!" Al yelled as he heard Mustang and Hawkeye hurry back down the stairs.

"What happened?!" It was Hawkeye who spoke.

"Nii-san, what's wrong with your automail?!"

"Nothing Al…" he responded quietly.

"Don't lie to me! Something's obviously wrong if you can't even stand up! Now tell me!" Al shouted at him. Surprised by Al's outburst, Ed stared into his desperate eyes for a moment before hanging his head low and moving his hands away from where he had been trying to hide the immense amount of blood seeping through his black pants where the automail connected to his skin. Al gave a small gasp as he finally saw where all the blood was coming from. "Nii-san, what about your arm?" He asked as he quickly went to remove Ed's black jacket so that he could see the automail port. It too was covered in blood; if possible, Al thought it looked like it was even worse than his brother's leg. Al closed his eyes. How could his brother not tell him he was in so much pain?

"Ok, we have to get you to the hospital now. No arguing, Fullmetal." Mustang said firmly. Ed nodded slowly. He didn't like the idea of going to the hospital, but he could see that he had no choice now.

"Hey, Lt. Hawkeye…" Ed called softly.

"Don't worry, I'll contact Ms. Rockbell and see if she can come and take a look at your automail." Hawkeye said with a smile before Ed could even finish asking her. Ed smiled back.

"Thank you."

Suddenly, Ed felt someone harshly grab his left arm and pull him up into a very painful standing position. He quickly shifted his weight so that he was, for the most part, only putting pressure on his right leg.

"What do you think you're doing now?!" Ed glared at Mustang as he positioned Ed's good arm around his shoulders so that Ed was forced to rely on him for support.

"I'm actually trying to help you. It wouldn't kill you to be more appreciative. But if you don't want my help then feel free to go on ahead up the stairs and out to the car."

Damn it! He's right… I hate it when he's right… especially right now! Ed thought angrily, however he said nothing and simply gave a nod in response. That was pretty much what Mustang had expected. Ed never did like having to ask for any kind of help, he always wanted to just handle everything on his own.

Slowly Mustang helped Ed across the room and up the stairs as Hawkeye went to go help Alphonse. When they were outside and to the car, Hawkeye and Alphonse still inside, Mustang decided that it was as good a time as any other to bring up what had happened in the basement.

"So, are you going to tell me what happened down there or am I going to have to start guessing?" Mustang asked as Ed painfully crawled into the backseat of the car, Mustang still leaning on the open car door staring down at him. Ed had been really hoping that for once in his life Mustang would just mind his own damn business and not ask any questions, but he knew that hell would have to freeze over before that could ever happen.

"Isn't it obvious? We got Al's body back… End of story." Ed shrugged and looked away.

"Yes, but what did you have to do in order to get it back… It is equally obvious from the condition that you're in that it was anything but easy." Mustang pried.

"Does it really matter? It worked! I'm going to be fine, believe me, I've been through worse!" Ed said lightly. Mustang however was not convinced by his overly optimistic tone. His eyes darkened somewhat as he said something else. "More importantly than that though, Al is ok. He's no longer trapped in that lifeless, unfeeling metal body I put him in. For the first time in my life, I feel like I did something right. I finally was able to fix my terrible mistake… I'm just sorry that it took me so long…" Ed trailed off.

"You can't keep blame yourself forever, Ed." Mustang interjected quietly.

"How can I not? Throughout all of the years that we spent searching for a way to get his body back I was always terrified that he blamed me; that he hated me. Maybe now I can begin to make it up to him… somehow…" Ed's head was low as he just stared down at the floorboard of the car.

"Well, from where I was standing, it sure didn't look like he hated you… In fact, quite the opposite."

Ed's head shot up quickly as he gave Mustang a look that warned him to back down.

"What the hell is that suppose to mean?!" Ed yelled at him. Mustang smirked.

"What I mean, Fullmetal, is that kiss… it looked a little too intense for it to be considered just a friendly kiss between brothers."

Ed clenched his fist together trying desperately to refrain from punching Mustang.

"You bastard… I swear if you make a big deal out of that or tell anyone…"

"And why do you think I'd tell anyone?" Mustang asked rather amused.

"How am I supposed to know why you do any of things you do!? Look, this isn't just about me! If you open your big mouth about this, and this gets outs, who knows what would happen! I don't want Al to have to go through any of that. That's the last thing we need right now."

"Hey, don't blame me if things go badly! I'm not the one in love with my brother…" Ed couldn't hold back anymore. He launched a punch, with his left hand since the other hurt still, straight at Mustang's face. Mustang was easily able to dodge, and he just smiled down at the infuriated alchemist.

"Don't you ever say that again! You have no idea what you're talking about! It was nothing!" Ed yelled at him furiously. Mustang was far from convinced, however he decided to let it go for now because he heard footsteps behind. Hawkeye and Alphonse emerged from the building, Hawkeye helping Al walk to the car. He still looked pretty shaky. Al now was wearing a pair of jeans and a simple white shirt, neither of which were stained with blood; a big improvement in Mustang's opinion. He closed the door of the car, slammed really, that he had been leaning on and walked to the front passenger seat, not yet getting in.

"Well Alphonse, how do feel?" Mustang asked with a smile.

"Ok for the most part! My head is hurting somewhat, but at least that's something! I'm just glad to be able to feel anything at this point, even if it is pain, but really it isn't that bad."

Yes, that's definitely Alphonse… Mustang thought to himself as he listened to his cheerful response. It was the same voice that had come from the empty suit of armor, except now it didn't have that hollow, metallic ring to it.

"Ok, well let's see what the doctor can do about your head to make it feel better." Mustang replied. Al nodded and Hawkeye helped him to the other side of the car so he could get into the backseat beside his brother. Mustang and Hawkeye got in too with Hawkeye in the driver's seat. As Hawkeye started driving to the hospital, Ed, who was looking out the window lost in thought, felt Al touch his left arm very gently. He looked over and saw Al running his hand down his arm, feeling the soft, tingling touch. Al seemed to be very focused on what he was doing; he was just staring down as he ran his hand down Ed's arm. He then picked up Ed's hand and seemed to be examining it closely, his own hands running across Ed's fingers and intertwining them. Ed watched him, unsure really of what he was doing.

"Al?" He finally asked quietly, getting his younger brother's attention. Al's bronze eyes peered into Ed's golden ones. Al smiled then reluctantly let go of Ed's hand.

"Sorry nii-san… it's just been a long time since I could feel anything and well…" His voice trailed off and he looked away. Ed smiled, understanding now.

"Yes, it has… I'm sorry that I couldn't get your body back any sooner, Al." Ed said with a sad look in his eyes. He reached out and gently ran his hand along the side of Al's face. Al leaned into the simple touch and smiled at him happily.

"It's ok, nii-san! I'm fine now! We just have to get you all fixed up now."

"Don't worry about me; I've got the best automail mechanic around!" They both laughed, and then Ed cringed as he thought about the damage and repairs that his automail may need… and the inevitable wrench that was sure to be thrown at him for being so reckless. "Although… she's not going to be very happy when she gets here and sees the damage… Maybe she'll be too excited about seeing you that she'll forget to be mad at me!"

"Maybe…" Al thought for a moment. "So how bad is it really? I can tell that it must hurt pretty badly, so that must mean that a lot of stress was put on the ports… plus all the blood." Ed sighed knowing he couldn't get out of answering this time. He rubbed the back of his neck thinking of what he should tell him.

"I don't know… I guess we'll just have to see what Winry and the doctor say." He smiled trying to reassure Al, and failing. Hawkeye then pulled up to the entrance of the hospital.

I hate hospitals… Ed thought miserably, glaring at the offensive building before him.