Alphonse moved carefully along, trying to figure out how they were going to stop Ferguson. Although the Colonel hadn't planned on stopping him, Al had seen too much and wasn't going to let him continue to hurt people. Moving through the main part of the lab where they had ended up before, he looked for something that could destroy his work. Any alchemist that had put this much into his research, would be devastated if anything was to happen to it. There was a low humming he noticed the first time he was here and followed the sound carefully. Behind one of the far walls was a smaller room where the sound was coming from.

"This looks like a bunch of generators." It gave him an idea that would at the very least help them get away.

oOoOo

After passing door after door, Mustang made it outside of room thirty two. The sign for the room threw him off as it was cleaner then any of the other signs on the way here. He could feel the cooler air from inside passing through the crack between the doors. Pushing them open he took in the whole room. The neatness seemed so out of place from the rest of the building. The next thing he recognized were two objects sitting on one of the main tables. The automail limbs were just inanimate objects by themselves. It seemed somewhat odd seeing them unattached from their owner. He heard a groan to his left from behind a room divider. Walking around the metal and fabric wall, he instantly noticed the blond strapped down. Once more his anger seemed to leave him, sizzling into concern just like before.

"Jeez, Ed. Why'd you have to go and be so stupid?" He hurried over just as Edward turned to look up at him. It was obvious he was in pain although nothing was visible. Being too weak to struggle anymore, he squinted up and gritted his teeth. Roy started to unbuckle the leather straps. "Are you going to be okay?" Edward carefully shifted his weight, his muscles protested from the movement. Once he was sitting up all the way, he brought his hand up to his head. There was a layer of cold sweat and he wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. He was shaking uncontrollably but finally nodded back.

"Y..yeah." Feeling somewhat indignant, he hung his head ashamed that the Colonel had to come rescue him. Roy glanced around finally spotting Ed's clothes off to the side. He handed them to him only to realize he couldn't really do anything without his metal limbs. He'd never realized how incapacitated Fullmetal was.

He hurried back to retrieve the automail. The limbs were heavier then he anticipated. He honestly felt out of his element when it came to this kind of thing. Never dealing with Ed and his automail like this had him lost. Heading back over, he held one in each hand.

"So which one first?" Ed raised his hand and shook it back and forth.

"Give me a minute, you can't just force them in one after the other. Besides I don't know if I'm up for it just yet." A frown formed on Roy's face, showing how unsure he was. Edward took several deep breaths and closed his eyes. As much as he was already aching, he really wasn't looking forward to any additional pain right now. "Okay, ready." He reached for his leg and in one swift movement pushed it into the port. It clicked in place. The nerves jolted and brought the limb to life as Ed bit back an agonizing yelp. He tilted his head back, trying to get past the agony. Finally he released the breath he was holding. "I...I'll get the arm later. That's all I can take right now." Mustang stared at him with a dumb look on his face. This really was out of his element. "Colonel? Can I get some privacy?"

"Yeah, sure." Roy shook his head back and forth, bringing himself away from his thoughts. Standing on the other side of the curtained wall, his mind wondered again. The Fullmetal Alchemist never really made the pain of his, well his condition public. Sure he assumed it was an inconvenience at best but nothing like this. He could only figure Ed didn't want any sympathy or for anyone to go easy on him.

"So do you know where Al is?" Edward's voice was slightly muffled as he tried to pull his shirt on. Roy placed the metal arm down and let out a yawn. Regaining some professionalism, he crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head, cracking his neck.

"He's also looking for you. We split up."

"Oh..um okay." A smile tugged at the corner of Roy's mouth.

"You don't have to worry, he's fine. Ferguson didn't get a chance to do anything to him." There were a couple seconds of silence before Edward's voice came out in a quiet tone.

"Thanks." He came into view completely dressed and limping slightly. The Colonel made a face, remembering he was still angry.

"Don't forget, you're still in trouble for this. Al was the main reason I didn't want you coming out here. Ferguson could have dissected you for all I cared. But Alphonse, he's just a by-standard of your stupidity. It's not really fair that he's shackled to you." It was probably one of the first times Roy felt he had the authority to lecture Edward and for once Ed actually took it with no argument back. The Fullmetal Alchemist stood there with his head down, hair shadowing his features as he just listened. He knew the Colonel had every right, he had been reckless and could have gotten Al killed.

"You're right...I was really stupid. Sorry." The Flame Alchemist's dark eyes went wide, shocked at the response. His demeanor shifted as he scratched the back of his head and didn't know what to say next. It almost seemed like the conversation was not between a colonel and subordinate but friends. Had Ed ever been that? Maybe one day he could see him as such. One day when he grew up more. For now though, he was still a kid that needed watched over even if he was obnoxiously too smart for his own good. Roy let out a sigh and walked over to the blond who was still staring at the floor and clenching his fist at his side. He placed his hand on his head and smiled, getting Ed to glance up at him.

"Come on, it's not your fault that you're so short tempered and reckless." He let out a laugh and messed up Ed's hair slightly. Edward let out a growl and pulled his head away.

"What's that suppose to mean?" The question simply caused the Colonel to laugh even more.

"Let's get going. I doubt you want to stay here any longer then we have to. And here, till you're able to put your arm back in." Roy handed Ed Riza's gun. "At least this way you'll be able to defend yourself." Edward reluctantly took it and stuffed it into the back of his pants at the waist.