Disclaimer: I do not own FMA at all. Although I sometimes wish I did...

A/N: This chapter takes place in Amestris, right after the events of Chapter 2. Enjoy the cliffhanger, too! -snickers- And also, please review. I'd appreciate it.

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Winry followed the General obediently to the examining room, whilst looking at all the people around her. Some were typing up reports on typewriters, while others were walking around with small clipboards... apparently taking notes on other people.

Are all these people aiding in getting Ed and Al back? The light blonde pondered, taking in a last look at them all as she walked into the examining room. If they are, that's great. They might find them faster that way...

"Um, Winry? Hello?" she saw a hand waving back and forth.

"Wh—What? Oh. Sorry, Roy..." she sighed, snapping out of her trance. Roy led her over to a long table labeled ∞. Infinity? Why in the world...?

"Winry. I've brought you here, because we—or rather First Lieutenant Hawkeye—found some blood that had come out of the Gate. It was enough to match the amount most humans have inside of them. As you see," he pointed over to a few scientists, "these men are figuring out who this blood belongs to. If we come up with no match, it will be someone who isn't from Amestris. If we do, we'll know who. Don't worry. I'm positive it won't be Edward or Alphonse." The raven-haired man smiled over at Winry, trying to encourage her. But Winry still had her doubts.

No. It can't be them... no! But, Edward. He can't die. I need him!! I moved here just for him and Al. And... Aunt Pinako asked me to keep a watch on this place, just for the sake of those guys. They can't die on us!

"Winry Rockbell?" a female voice asked. The auto mail mechanic looked up from the ground and saw a blonde woman in a military uniform looking down at her quizzically.

"Ah, um... yes. Are you First Lieutenant Hawkeye?" Winry said, smiling at the older woman. But before she heard a verbal answer, she felt warm arms encircle her body, and a head resting upon her shoulder. So, this was Riza Hawkeye. Winry couldn't believe that she had almost forgotten about her. But, she hadn't seen her in over a year and a half now, so it was very probable.

"Yes, I am. You don't remember me, Winry?" Riza asked, withdrawing from the one-sided hug. By all accounts, Winry had had a reason not to hug back. She hadn't really known who it was at first!

"Um... at first I didn't. But now, I do. Don't worry. So... are those men—have they found anything yet?" the blonde said, glancing over at the five scientists who were all huddled around a blood sample. Roy was over there with them, reading a document they had just typed up. His eyes showed no remorse, but instead, his eyes lit up like fire.

"Dammit! How can this—this can't be right! Loa died! No... This isn't right!" the General yelled, slamming the paper back down on the desk.

Riza and Winry were taken aback by what Roy had just said. They both had guessed who this Loa was—Winry had heard about him from Ed, and Riza had learned through some military files. He was a chimera—a dead one at that, along with Dorchet.

"Roy? Do you mean that Loa? You know... the bull chimera?" Riza asked, walking over to the dark haired man.

Roy turned towards Riza and nodded sadly. "They even showed me that some of his blood... wasn't exactly like a normal human beings. I don't know. He's supposed to be dead! But—it is right. There is no other possible explanation. At least... it isn't Fullmetal or Alphonse's blood. That means they're still alive, hopefully."

"Hopefully?!" Winry interjected, looking as if she were about to cry. "They can't die! They just can't!" She slammed her fist down onto the table, unable to control her sudden outburst of anger.

The couple looked over at Winry, and both came over to her. Again, Riza was the only one who touched her shoulder in a sign of compassion, but Roy said the words.

"Winry... you can't let yourself get worried like this. It's not good for your health—mental and physical. ... Wow. I'm sounding paternal now... sorry. Lieutenant, do your mushy stuff or whatever you females do to comfort each other. I have to go and look at those papers again..." the General said, leaving the two women alone. Winry felt her cheeks grow to a shade of hot pink; not because of them being alone, but from pure and total embarrassment. She had never meant to act like this in front of adults, and especially not ones who knew Ed and Al so well.

"... Well, it seems as if the big macho General couldn't handle all of this," the Lieutenant said, laughing. She pulled out some chairs for her and Winry, and invited her to sit down across from her. Swallowing hard, the young woman obeyed and sat down.

"Winry? Come on, look at me..." Riza said, patting Winry's hand somewhat affectionately. Sighing, Winry looked up at the woman, silently wishing she could just disappear from this place.

"Ok. That's better. Now, I know that you miss those two very much, but... you have to face the facts. There are a total of one hundred and fifty people working down here each and every day—all of them doing odd jobs in order to help in any way to get those two alchemists back home. You can see that, can't you?"

Winry nodded, although she still couldn't get those thoughts out of her mind. Every day they got stronger, more profound. Nothing could stop the invasion of them.

Why doesn't anyone understand? I've known them both since I was a toddler. They were my two best friends. Al... Even though he was in a suit of armor for a few years, I still remember him as vivid as ever when he was younger, and none of them know. Such a sweet boy. Not at all like Edward. Ah, Edward... oh no. Oh, no!

Tears were welling up in her eyes now, and she felt a sob rise up in her throat. She had to get it out, even if it was in a feeble whisper. In any case, only Riza would hear it.

"But... you don't understand, Lieutenant. I—I love... Edward Elric..."