A/N: Wow! Thanks for all the reviews people! So, here's the next chapter. I'm sorry, this had to be done. I'm terribly mean and awful and sorry but the plot bunnies made me do it and you never refuse a plot bunny...they're rabid...

Looks Bad Luck's Bad

Pounding. His heart was pounding his head mercilessly with its every rhythmic thump. It woke him from an uneasy unconsciousness bile rising fast in his throat. Maes lurched sideways falling hard from the bench he hadn't been aware he was sprawled, on his back, upon barely in time to keep from choking as he began heaving violently. He kept his eyes clenched shut watery tears escaping defiantly as his head felt as if it exploded. The pressure, the pressure unbearable, and the room spun uncontrollably around him.

"Oh great! The pond scum is making a mess all over the floor!" someone nearby shouted over him. The moment his stomach finally gave out Hughes felt someone grab him by the collar of his jacket and drag him backwards until he was propped against a cold hard wall. He felt a cool glass cup shoved into his shaking hands.

"Drink that, not that I care about your comfort, but I don't want you vomiting everywhere again" Hughes downed it obediently trying to get his hands to still, feeling horribly woozy. Then set the glass beside him and held his head.

"Hey newbie, you're the one that hit the scumbag that hard come clean this up!" another voice bellowed from across the room followed by indistinct groaning and complaining. Maes sat still and quiet afraid to move for fear of his nausea reawakening unsure where he was and struggled to think what had happened.

He didn't recognize any of the voices that chattered around him and though he hadn't opened his eyes yet the building felt unfamiliar to him. He let several minutes pass before, timidly, he blinked a few times the light stabbing his eyes painfully like white hot knives as he blinked more and more until his eyes adjusted. Mostly. He could tell by how long it took and how much it hurt that he was concussed. He stared up at the group of officers in the room. All of them staring down on him like he were a vile creature.

"Where am I? What happened?" fuzzy disjointed images flashed through his mind but he couldn't make sense of them.

"Idiot scumbag tries to sexually assault that poor boy and doesn't even bother to remember" one of the men sneered spitting at him. Hughes grimaced but otherwise ignored the glob of spit that landed on his calf. Now he remembered. He'd left Ed for a few minutes, he couldn't remember why, and when he'd come back he'd been gone. He'd barely been able to stop the attack before it went too far.

"No, that's not what happened. My name is Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes and I was out with State Alchemist Edward Elric when that man attacked Ed and I stopped him" Hughes explained staring at his bloodied knuckles curling and stretching his fingers hissing at the pain that shot through them wondering if he'd broken a few bones. He'd certainly been hitting hard enough. His eyes widened suddenly noticing that his ankle was cuffed to a pipe in the wall and his wrists were cuffed together. When had that happened?

"Honestly Hughes, you may be telling the truth about your identity but I would think filth like you with the resources of the military could figure out a better cover story for your dirty habit. I mean honestly, that small boy a State Alchemist? Ridiculous! He didn't even have the pocket watch signifying certification" the oldest of the officers berated him sharply. Someone grabbed his chin yanking his head side to side peeling one eyelid open followed by the other, the world blurring like watercolor paint, before he could formulate a response.

"The scum is slightly concussed but he'll be fine. Get him processed" the senior officer declared dropping his grip swiftly.

The next twenty minutes were a blur of confusion as he was seemingly tossed from person to person answering any question he was asked, denying the accusations against him, and demanding he get to make his rightful phone call. The foremost thought in his mind was Ed, so bloodied and insensible when he'd been taken, alone with his attacker claiming to be his father and being believed. He had to call and get someone trustworthy to the hospital and Edward to protect him. Finally the officers relented and gave him a quick phone call, more to get him to shut up about it than because it was his right, before throwing him into the general holding cell.

"Hello Havoc, this is Maes…Ed's in trouble"

0o0o0o0o0

Drifting. Floating. Sinking. Crashing. Waves of pain and fire shredding through his skull like a riptide. He fought against it as he was dragged down, down, ever so far down beneath the waves of pain. Pressure. Pushing. Crushing. Squeezing. Building. Stop. It had to stop. Someone make it stop. Fire at his head forcing him under, agony at his back forcing him up. Sick. He was going to be sick. Vile burning, terrible flavor suddenly filled his mouth, his throat, it was everywhere choking him.

"Hurry flip…side…choke…" the voices were floating over him like clouds above the crashing waves. Had they always been there? Hands. Hands were all over him, his shoulders, his hips, his legs, holding him, moving him, there were more than he could even keep track of as everything swirled together even with his eyes closed. Knives shredded through his back, the muscles locking, arching his back and squirming to escape the agony with a moan.

"No, you need to lie still boy" some voice admonished from somewhere above him, hands clamping down hard on him, holding him still, pressing something uncomfortable and cold over his mouth and nose, and scrubbing painfully at the side of his face.

No. No he couldn't be still. It hurt. Fire, burning, pounding, shredding. It tore him apart and he had to escape it. Danger. There was danger. His disoriented mind focused suddenly on the uncomfortable cold that was pressing down against his mouth and nose. He tried to push it away but it wouldn't budge. More voices floated over him but he didn't pay any attention as he pushed harder the exertion leaving him exhausted and out of breath. He coughed harshly head cracking and splintering. Air. He couldn't get enough air. They were smothering him! Panic surged through him like a flood as he fought to kick and punch.

"Quick get the soft restraints before he hurts himself!" Someone so very far away shouted. He couldn't move. His arms and legs wouldn't respond. Something soft yet hard pulled against him each time he tried to move fueling his fear like oil to a flame. Everything blurred and fell away. Something hot and wet was streaking down his face but he didn't notice as he jerked and bucked with the last of his strength to get away.

"It's ok boy, just calm down, you're going to be alright, you'll be with your father again soon" a strange voice tried to soothe him.

Hohenheim is here? Then he knew no more.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

James Patterson rubbed two fingers against his temple willing the ache to go away as he sat there, stitched and bandaged, listening to some hospital doctor listing his injuries. He felt like he was in shock just from not being under arrest or beaten to death yet. This was the closest he'd ever cut it. The throbbing through his body told him that he'd definitely received a beating but he found himself surprised that that man, what had his name been? Oh yes, he'd caught his first name was Maes, had stopped the thrashing before killing him. That Maes guy had definitely done his fair amount of damage though. Cracked cheek bone, black eye, broken nose, split lip, other fleshy splits and more bruises than he could count. They were slapping band-aids and ice packs on him then releasing him though he was fully expected to choose to stay with his 'son' until the boy was released.

That was a big dilemma for him. What to do about the boy? The officers and the hospital staff all thought he was the child's father. It had been sheer luck that he hadn't fully lost consciousness after Maes had struck him down, but rather severely stunned for a while. When his senses had returned to him he'd had the brilliance not to reveal himself as awake spying the man fussing in a panic over the child. He kept quiet and still letting himself recover from the unexpected attack watching and waiting for the moment to strike. He would have to strike now. There was no way the man hadn't gotten a good thorough look at his appearance. He would have to be killed. He was about to make his move when the cop pulled up and to his delight was young and stupid. Convincing him that he was the father and victim had been easier than crushing the grass beneath his feet.

"Sir, we're done treating your son. He's got a severe concussion and heavy blood loss but his condition is stable. He appears to have been given a drug which probably knocked him out for a few minutes at most but it poses no danger to him. Also with this severe of a concussion we would like to run some tests for skull fractures an…" the nurse began.

"No" he interrupted sharply mind reeling for a plan even as he spoke.

"N-no?" she blinked dumbly at him.

"We have to leave now. We have to go home" he amended quickly trying not to look suspicious. The woman shrugged.

"Alright then, we'll get the discharge papers" he nearly gaped at her feeling like the rug had been pulled out from under his feet. He'd expected a fight from the staff insisting the boy stay for observation and tests like standard, and necessary in this case, and had a plethora of arguments against staying yet she gave in without question.

They left him so he could redress and collect his things. He paused to gaze at the silver pocket watch before pocketing it wondering which alchemist the boy had stolen it from. Ten minutes later he found himself with the blod boy in his arms, the child not even having stirred from sleep in the slightest as he lifted him out of bed, and waited in front of the hospital for their taxi. His heart was pounding with the thrill. He shouldn't be doing this but he was. He'd never brought a victim home before and he had to hold the boy in his lap during the drive to hide his excitement from the driver.

Just as the taxi left the hospital Jean Havoc arrived.

A/N: I feel so mean...reviews? Pretty Pretty PRETTY PLEASE! Oh yeah, and new chapter tomorrow for ya!