"I found some more books that might help us," McGee says, stacking ten books next to Edward's seat. "I mean, they're mostly..fantasy.. but maybe. I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for, anyway.."
Edward nods. "Thanks." He pauses in his reading, and looks up at the new books, pulling them down to flip through a few.
McGee sits next to him, grabbing one to scan to the page he'd taken notice in earlier. He shows it to Edward, who reads it intently for a minute before shaking his hand and waving McGee off.
With a sigh, McGee closes the book and looks at the piles of books around them. There must be fifty here, but still, nothing has caught Edward's attention. He looks at the blonde, watching with interest.
Ed looks up, spots McGee, and frowns. "What?"
"Ah-ah.. will-will you teach me some more? Alchemy, you know?"
After considering this for a few moments while staring at McGee-and analyzing the man, who he figures is fairly harmless, for his naivety and childish curiosity-he smiles a little. "Sure. I'll teach you more."
"DiNozzo?"
"Yeah Boss?"
"Where is Edward?"
Tony, who had been heading toward Abby's lab, for lack of any other leads or anything.. interesting.. to do, had been stopped by Gibbs, with Mustang still in tow. "He went to the library. McGee went with him."
"Have you heard from McGee?"
"Uh, no, I haven't." At the look he gets from Gibbs, Tony nods and pulls out his phone. "But I'll call him now."
"Good." Gibbs awaits the news, but gains an impatient look as Tony waits for the ringing to end and McGee to pick up.. but only gets voicemail.
"He's not answering his phone." Tony looks up at Gibbs worriedly.
"Let's go." He spins around, Tony trotting after Gibbs, Mustang pulling up the rear. On the way out, Ziva is snagged to go along.
Only after arriving to the library to find it empty of his agent and the alchemist from Amestris, Gibbs' cell phone rings.. McGee. "McGee, where are you?"
"I'm with Edward. We're at my place, he's teaching me more alchemy. I saw DiNozzo called.. sorry I forgot to check in, I was.. busy.."
"You know the rule. We're at the library because you didn't pick up your phone."
"S-sorry, boss.. Will you come over?"
Gibbs sighs. "We'll be there soon."
Upon entering McGee's door, Gibbs' first image is a strange one. There's a bowl of water on the table, a book, paper and pencils. There stands a black-haired Edward and a red-haired McGee. He stares at the two, who look up in return.
"Oh.. I get it now! McGee is Irish!" Tony begins speaking with an Irish accent. "I always knew y'were, what with the name! Y'just needed the hair t'fit!"
Ziva can't help but smile. "Why did you dye your hair?"
"It's alchemy!" McGee says, and points to the bowl. "You put your hair in here, do the transmutation, and change it to any color you want!" He grins, and Tony points to Ziva.
"Can you make her blonde?"
"Tony! What would make you think I WANT to be blonde?"
"Aw, c'mon, we can change you right back! Can't we?" He faces Edward, who nods, and changes his hair back to golden with a clap of his hands.
"Wonderful, instant hair dye. Want to go back to work now, McGee?" His voice hints at irritation and impatience, but he manages to hide the subtle amusement of a red-haired McGee.
"Ah, y-yeah, boss." He picks up the book, which had been an empty journal, but Edward had been making notes in it.
Edward follows as he trots after the others, but stops when he sees Roy outside. "Why are you here?" He narrows his eyes, obvious contempt in his voice.
"To track you, of course. We have to return some time, don't we?"
"How the hell are we when we don't know how?" Ed fumes, hands forming into fists. "I didn't see enough of the circle, and then your stupid ass falls right in! Now we're both stuck here until somone comes for us, and who knows if they will! You're such a stupid bastard!" He growls, feeling ready to punch Mustang, but shows at least a bit of maturity, save the outburst, by just walking around Mustang and heading for the van. They couldn't all fit in the car, now, could they?
"Because, Fullmetal, I have the diagram for the circle right here." Roy pulls out a paper from his pocket, unfolds it, and waves it around.
Edward whips around, spots it, and his eyes widen. At first, a flash of excited hope appears on his face; immedately followed by rage. "YOU LIED EARLIER? WHY THE HELL'D YOU DO THAT!"
"I wanted to learn if this world would be a threat first." Mustang seems disinterested, but inside, he's enjoying pissing off Edward. Gibbs picks up on this vibe, and watches Mustang out of the corner of his eye.
"Can we frickin' GO now?" Ed reaches for the paper, but Mustang holds it over his head, just out of Ed's reach.
"Soon. Not just yet." He hands the paper to Edward, who takes it, committing it to memory as he heads for the van.
"Why not yet?" Ed asks as everyone arrives inside and buckles up.
"I've been asked to demonstrate," Mustang replies, grinning smugly.
"Oh god, again?" Ed groans. "I hope you have somewhere wide and open for him to show you," Ed says to Gibbs, who's driving. "He likes to make a mess of things."
"A football field should do, right boss?" Tony speaks up. "We're not far from it, either."
"Works for me." Gibbs heads for the football field, and it's pretty silent the rest of the way.
After arrival, Mustang heads out into the middle of the field, with the agents standing not far from them. "Fullmetal, get over here. I want a target."
"What? Are you crazy?" Ed crosses his arms, staying with the agents. "No frickin' way do I want to do this again!"
"Stop being such a baby, Ed. Are you really that afraid of me?"
Ed's years of maturing are nonexistant as he growls and stomps out to face across from Mustang. "Nobody's afraid of you, Mustang." He pulls off his red coat and tosses it to the ground. "I can beat you any day."
"Just like you beat me last time, huh?"
"I DID beat you last time!"
"No, you were saved when the Fuhrer appeared. Let's get moving, Fullmetal!" Roy snaps his fingers, a crackle of red appears, and an explosion suddenly appears right where Edward is.
The team gasps at this, Gibbs shading his eyes, Tony jumping and having a bad flashback to when he was nearly blown to bits; Ziva's memory flashing back to training, and McGee just being startled like crazy. As they watch, Edward stumbles back, then takes a quick run to his left, away from the agents. Another explosion appears right behind him; he just manages to dodge out of the way, clapping his hands and sending them to the ground-an explosion knocks him away just as a mound of dirt knocks Mustang off his feet.
"This is why you are not learning his alchemy, Ziva," Gibbs explains, motioning as Edward takes this moment of Mustang's downed state to send a barrage of dirt missiles and using the plants in the ground to shoot up and yank off Mustang's gloves. Ed runs forward, clapping his hands and forming his automail blade. He's pissed, but he wouldn't kill Mustang; only get the bastard to stop attacking him!
As Edward's almost in attack range, Mustang manages to get a spare glove from his pocket. A snap later and Edward is blown back again, and just as quickly, Ed jumps up-but in haste, he mistakenly runs towards the agents, rather than away. Some realize what's going on and manage to get out of the way, but three people are hit in the next blast-Ed, Gibbs and Ziva. Mustang immedately ceases his attack, running forward to be sure nobody's injured.
"Boss! Are you okay? Ziva!" Tony and McGee return to their teammates, finding an unconscious Ziva with her head on Ed's arm-most likely the source of the unconsciousness. Edward is awake, and sits up right away. One thing is sure from this boy; he takes a lickin' and keeps on kickin'.
Gibbs groans and sits up to check on Ziva and Edward, but feels a searing pain in his arm. The flames had ripped right through his left sleeve, leaving a three-inch-long singe on his arm. He checks on Ziva, and finds her fine, aside from being unconscious. "Damn. Colonel! Where the hell did you learn your aim?"
Just as Mustang gets close enough, Ed swings a well-placed punch, his metal fist landing in Mustang's stomach. "I TOLD you we shouldn't do this! Stupid bastard," he grumbles, helping Tony to lift Ziva up while McGee checks Gibbs' arm, though, of course, Gibbs is more focused on Ziva.
"Agent Gibbs, I'm sorry-I noticed just after I snapped, where your agents were." Mustang looks down at Ziva, who McGee is checking now.
"She'll be fine, Boss, just a hit on the head. No concussion, I don't think."
Gibbs sighs. "Ya don't think? Or ya know?"
"Ah, right. No, she should be.. she's waking up." McGee steps back as Ziva opens her eyes, groaning and muttering something in her native tongue.
"Time to send those time travelers back," Tony comments, looking at Ed and Roy. "Was nice havin' you here, but I don't think our world is ready, yet, for your alchemy."
"Agreed. Shall we, Fullmetal?"
"'Bout damn time!" Ed grumbles and claps his hands, putting them to the field, turning the grass black where the circle design is. He makes a large circle and nods. "There."
McGee stares at the circle in awe. [I have got to practice. Too bad I can't learn more,] he thinks to himself with a frown.
Ed gets ready to activate the circle; but pauses, turning to face the agents. "Ah.. thanks. For everything." His eyes glance up at Gibbs, connecting with the older man's.
Gibbs nods and gets his famous half-smile. "Stay out of trouble." He watches as Ed nods, grins, turns around and activates the circle. They all stare as the circle lights up, the center melts away into a spinning vortex, and Edward and Mustang run forward and leap in. The vortex disappeares afterwards, leaving no sign of the two; just a halfway-erased transmutation circle.
The team looks at the empty, quiet field. "They're gone." Tony states the obvious, but everyone is still quiet, so he speaks up again. "Think they'll ever come back?"
"Probably not," Gibbs answers, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Yeah, his family's on the other side, not here." McGee.
"I'm gonna head back," Tony announces. "Ziva, can you walk on your own?"
Ziva, now standing, nods. "It was just a bump. I am fine now." She follows Tony to the van, with Gibbs turning and heading back.
"C'mon, McGee."
"Uh, you go ahead, Boss. I'm gonna hang out here a little while longer."
Gibbs raises a brow, but gives a small shrug. "See you tomorrow."
They head off, leaving McGee alone. He walks into the center of the circle, studying what he can of the lines; but, nestled down in the grass, is a folded-up piece of paper.. with the drawing of the portal circle. He looks around and pockets it to file it with his alchemy notes later. He hopes Edward will return soon, so that he can learn more.