Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist. All rights belong to their respective owners.

Part 6

The snow was building outside, the large flakes carried along the invisible tufts of the slowly strengthening wind.

"WHAT?"

"You heard me! You see the snow, don't you? No way am I letting you go out there!"

"But yesterday, you said—"

"I'm perfectly aware of what I said, but I also didn't know it was going to snow. So, no, you may not go out, but you may roam around inside if you like."

Ed gritted his teeth, hating to sound whiny, but convinced himself it was better to act like a child than to have people suspect who he was. Still, he hated being cooped up and the oncoming snow only disrupted his plans more.

I have to get out of here… Ed was trying to come up with some counter-argument, but he kept getting thrown off by the nurse's stare… Where have I seen that face before? He was entirely sure it reminded him of someone…

"Well? Will you please just stay put? I'll be honest: I want to get out of here just as much as you, but I still have to stay and help. I can't do that if I have to be worried about you running off too, Edward." The nurse relaxed her stance but did not move from her position blocking the door. It wasn't exactly necessary, since Ed looked like he was ready to fall over anyway, but his determination hadn't died… and Clara knew enough about him to know his determination would win every time.

However, the shock of recognition in his eyes told her that she'd just let him know too much.

"How do you… wait… CLARA?" Ed's voice rose a bit, causing a few of the nurses to look their way with puzzled glances.

"Now, now, no need to shout," she said gently as she took him gently by the shoulder and placed her finger gently but firmly over his mouth. "After all, we have other patients here too. So how about it? I'll get your clothes and we can walk around inside for awhile if you like."

Ed couldn't move for a moment, but soon shook himself out of his stupor. Obviously, Psiren had a reason for being here, and if she hadn't told anyone, then he wouldn't ask. However, she must have known and not told anyone who he was… But why?

Nodding, Ed agreed, and Clara was back soon with his clothes. After he'd changed, the two left the room, Clara's hand gently behind Ed should he need help.

Soon, the two were out of the room and exploring more of the other areas. These areas were in chillier parts of the building; therefore, they were empty to prevent the patients from getting more ill. As soon as they were out of earshot of the others, Ed began.

"So… Psiren. I mean, Clara, what are you doing here?" Ed's voice sounded rough from his coughing, but it also sounded wary. Apparently, he still didn't trust her from last time.

Letting out a small sigh, she responded. "Well, the truth is, Aquroya is no longer the tourist hotspot. It's drowned." Though Ed had known that, it still made him sad to hear. Clara continued. "After it sunk, I was out of a job essentially." Here she smirked in his direction. "During my time as Psiren, I took on many… personas, as you well know." Ed narrowed his eyes in irritation, which earned him a chuckle. "Anyway, I learned I really enjoyed my time as a nurse… I enjoy helping people. When I heard about the people of Xenotime and their city of gold, I hoped I might be able to do something similar as I had with Aquroya. However, I soon learned that many of the inhabitants around here were very sick. Coming here, I learned it had been bad a while ago, with an unexplained cough going around, and no apparent cure. Since some sort of event a few years ago, which no one would tell me about, it's gotten worse. So now it's become some sort of epidemic. That's why I took up a job as a nurse here. If only I knew more about it…"

At this point, she looked at Ed pointedly, knowing he would know. After all, she'd been the one who pointed him in this direction. She hadn't known all the details at the time, only that they'd been working on the components behind a Philosopher's stone at the time.

Ed grimaced, and felt an uncomfortable clenching in his stomach, unrelated to his current illness. He avoided looking at Clara, but decided he owed her as much as an answer for her help.

"Yeah… well, Al and I took your advice and headed out here to investigate. Turns out, they were working on something called "red water", a toxic substance that had been causing illness in the town. They were trying to use it to restore their town's reputation as the gold mining town." Clara nodded, but didn't say anything. Understanding, Ed continued. "Well, while we were here, we managed to get rid of the red water, and the person making it… at least, that's what we thought."

"So… you haven't told anyone who you are. Why? Wouldn't they recognize you?"

"No. The first time we came, there were two other boys, Russell and Fletcher Tringham, who claimed they were the Elric brothers. They were the ones trying to develop the red stone. Apparently, it was something their father had done… and died trying to undo." Clara wanted to ask, but figured that was all Ed knew regarding the boys' history.

"Wait… did you say Tringham? I heard about those two! They were helping… what was his name? Some land baron with a project. I'd heard about two other boys who came and caused trouble by pretending to be the Elric brothers. That was you two?"

"Yeah, except we weren't pretending." Ed angrily rubbed his cheek, reflecting on the nasty hit Russell had given him that night, while Clara giggled at the sight.

"Well then, you said you helped? How'd you manage to get rid of the red water?"

"Actually, we all ended up working together. Apparently, Mugiar, that land baron you mentioned, knew that Russell and Fletcher weren't really the Elric brothers, and was just using them." Ed paused, silently trying to catch his breath from walking so much. "Anyway, we'd been fighting him when the mines collapsed where he'd been producing the red water. After that, we used the plants to drain the excess, and then released them through the alchemic process back into the air. We thought we'd taken care of it…" Ed trailed off, now worried to think it had been his fault.

Turning, Ed expressed his worry to the woman beside him. "Clara… do you think it's my fault then? I mean, I thought we'd taken care of it, but maybe… maybe there was something we missed… that means-!" Ed was getting worked up, and Clara gently put her hand on him to try and calm him.

"Edward, it doesn't mean it was your fault. You and I know the people had been sick before you ever came. I've heard there were deaths because of it. You don't know whether this is just a delayed reaction or not."

Ed wanted to respond, but was cut short by a sudden and violent coughing fit. Whipping out her cloth, Clara readily held it under the boy's mouth as he coughed.

More blood… this isn't good. Clara's thoughts were distracted, so she nearly missed what the boy said next.

"Thanks… every time I've tried to tell someone about it, no one's listened. So thanks." With that, he slumped in her arms, exhausted from the effort.

Smiling sadly, she whispered to the unconscious boy, "You're welcome, Ed. Now I just need to know why you need out of here so badly…" Shaking her head, she gently picked up the boy and brought him back to the sick room.

On her way, she had a thought. Maybe it's something to do with that Colonel…