Chapter 3
Zip.
Dayna had just finished packing her backpack, the whole time, not saying a word to anyone. Al and Roy stood behind her as she finished.
"You don't have to do this. I'll send someone else"
"No"
"Dayna, I'll go. You can stay here with Brother"
"I said no!" she yelled, turning around. Her eyes were still red and puffy from before. She had an angry look on her face as she said it.
"I already said that I wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. I want to go, I'm doing this for him and no one is going to stop me"
Dayna stood up straight and fixed her clothes and hair. She picked up her backpack from on top of the bed and put it on her back. She headed towards the door where she passed Al and Roy in the doorway, keeping her head down, she said,
"Al? I know that you want to do this for Ed, but I want you to do something for me"
"What is it?"
"I want you to stay here and keep an eye on Ed. He needs your strength with him more than ever right now. You can help him and keep him safe until I get back. Can you do that for me?"
Al looked down into her face and looked into her emerald eyes. Al finally knew the real reason she wanted to go, Ed had saved her life back in her hometown and she wanted to repay him. He acknowledged this and nodded in acceptance.
"Alright. I'll stay here and keep an eye on Brother, in case something happens"
Dayna walked down the hall when she heard footsteps coming from behind her. She turned to see Roy running down the hall after her. He stopped short of her and tried to catch his breath.
"Colonel? Is something wrong?"
"Are you sure that you want to do this? I can send someone else,"
"I know that you are trying to protect me and I know that Ed and Al would do the same, but I have to do this. Now I have to go, I don't have a lot of time now to find the flower and get it back in time for Ed"
Roy looked at her and smiled,
"I guess that nothing I say will change your mind"
"Nope"
Dayna was about to turn when Roy tapped her on the shoulder.
"Here, I got you a ticket for the train to Pineal. In a few hours, I'll send someone to wait for you there to bring you back"
Dayna took the ticket from his hand and smiled. Roy turned around and headed down the hallway when he felt a pair of arms wrap around him. He looked down to see Dayna hugging him.
"Don't worry, I'll be back in no time"
She let go of him and hurried down the hallway.
**
Dayna got on the train that was head for Pineal. In her bag were a map of the area and a picture of the orchid that she traced earlier.
She sat down in her seat as the train started to move. She took out the picture of the orchid and looked at it, going over the facts and descriptions over in her head. She put the drawing away and took off the chocker that she wore around her neck. It was a present from Ed that he had specially made for her when she became a State Alchemist.
She rubbed her thumb over the insignia that was on the front, a winged snake on a cross, and opened it up. Inside were small pictures- one with her, Ed and Al when they first became a team, one with them when they went to the beach, a faded picture of her mother that she saved from her house fire and one with just Ed eating a shish kabob.
She loved that picture.
As she looked at the tiny picture, a tear ran down her face. She wiped it away and closed her locket and put it back around her neck. Dayna turned to look out her window to see the scenery pass by. She could still see Ed in the hospital; hooked up to life support and she turned away and shook her head.
'I must stay strong. Al, Roy and especially Ed are counting on me and I can't let them down. I will get the orchid back in time and save you. I promise. Ed…. I'm doing it for you'.