A/N: Where has the summer gone? I bring you this chapter while stuffing books in boxes ready for my journey back to uni. I swear I spend half my life packing.

Thank you so much for all the reviews!

Chapter 16

Death was not what she had expected. For a while there had been nothing and she had floated effortlessly within the nothingness. It was pleasant. It was as if she was free, unable to make her mind worry or function in anyway. There was just a blank existence where everything was hazy and unfocused. Then it all changed. Everything became slowly sharper, more prominent. There was a light, a harsh damaging light that burnt through her eye sockets and flooded her aching bones. That was what was so strange about dying. Nowhere had it ever been said that it hurt. Wasn't all the hurt, the pain, the worry supposed to disappear? She had no dissolutions of a paradise of eternal glory. Her past dictated that she had no business being there. But this constant ache in her head and limbs was slightly disconcerting. However the headache could possibly be contributed to this incessant humming that seemed to be in the background.

"... Five days..." the humming as becoming sharper, just as everything else. Voices? What were voices doing here? At first she thought she was mistaken, but the haze was slowly lifting, allowing her to distinguish a few words. Why were there people talking in death? Were they angels?

"Riza...RIZA!!" No not angels. Angels do not shriek. There was a prickling sensation behind her eyes now, one that she hadn't noticed before. Somewhere, in the back of her mind, her body knew how to solve it, even though her mind had not really caught up yet. So slowly and carefully, she opened her eyes. The haze was gone in almost an instant, forcing her to blink rapidly. White walls met her gaze, matching perfectly with the white bed linen that seemed to be covering her. This was strangely familiar. Suddenly, as if someone had switched on a bright light, everything clicked into place.

She wasn't dead. She was in hospital.

Riza's hooded eyes took in the state of everything in a moment. It was day, the light shining in through the curtains, dazzlingly bright in the pale coloured room. She was hooked up to a machine that was monitoring her steady heart beat. That seemed to be in her favour. Riza twisted her head to the side, ignoring the agonising ache that the movement caused. In the corner of the room was a figure, slumped over in a chair, looking completely dead to the world.

Roy. He was here, with her. In the hospital. That didn't make any sense. As far as she remembered, he didn't care for her anymore. So why was he here?

"Riza!" Before she even had a chance to brace herself in order to perform the agonising task of moving her neck, a familiar face moved into view.

"Hey sweetie, how are you feeling?" Roxy asked, her eyes alight with concern. Riza stared back for a moment. The question had completely flawed her. How was she feeling? It was a simple question, but there was no answer to it. Everything hurt, her muscles, her head, even her eyes. She was 

confused. One minute she had been sure with every fibre of her being that she was dead, the next she was in a hospital room and very much alive. Roy was with her, even though he didn't love her, yet she still loved him more than anything. That agony was even worse than the physical pain. She also wasn't exactly sure of the events leading up to her hospitalisation. Vague images of a locked, dark room came to mind, intermingled with an alley way. Everything was jumbled, out of order and wasn't making any sense. Yet Roxy was still waiting for an answer. Riza didn't know what to say. So she said that first thing that came to mind.

"Ouch." She whispered.

"So, are you going to explain now?" Riza asked her companions. Roxy, Marguerite, Havoc and Maes exchanged a glance.

"I'll go." Roxy stated. Riza continued to wait patiently until her friend began speaking.

"I assume you know that it was that freak Jessica who kidnapped you?" she asked. Riza nodded, her memories of the incident slowly making their way to the surface of her mind. She pushed them back in order to concentrate of the explanation.

"Well, Marguerite and I told you that we knew her, and we were right. She called herself Crystal; she was one of the girls we worked with." Riza frowned suddenly, a memory suddenly coming back to light.

"I remember her." She muttered. Roxy nodded.

"Yup, the blonde girl who ran into you in the dressing room. She was always strange. She insisted on wearing a blonde wig and blue outfit constantly, and barely spoke to the rest of us. She was always muttering to herself, commenting on how her appearance wasn't exactly perfect. We just assumed she was self absorbed. Turns out it was something different..." Roxy trailed off and Hughes jumped in.

"We searched her apartment after we apprehended her. She was obsessed with you, Hawkeye. She had photographs of you, diaries that followed your every move, a list of addresses of your close friends and relatives. She was even practicing your signature. She fully intended to become you in every way." Riza shuddered at the news. It was exceptionally creepy to think that someone she had trusted had been secretly documenting every step of her life. She felt violated; sickened by the idea that someone would have gone to such lengths to become her. But another thought also dominated her mind. Why would anyone want to be her? She turned her attention back to Roxy, who was speaking again.

"Crystal... Jessica... whatever, she always had a delivery of white roses sent to her dressing room. We always thought she must have had a rich admirer, as they are rather expensive. But after Roy mentioned that you had been receiving mysterious flowers, we put two and two together." Havoc then decided to speak.

"Luckily Jessica was no criminal mastermind. She took you to the kennels, which was one of the first places that we searched for you. She seemed to have been pushed over the edge for some reason, as she was frantic and hadn't planned it through." Riza looked up.

"What did she do to me?" She asked.

"She used chloroform to knock you out and then injected you with animal tranquilizers. She didn't give you a high enough dosage to kill you, but it impaired your movement enough so that you were almost helpless." Riza nodded, remembering all too well how difficult it had been to move.

"Where is Jessica now?" she asked.

"She just got discharged from the hospital and is now awaiting try for murder, kidnapping and attempted murder. We guess she's going to plea insanity, but either way, she's not going to be around the general public for a long time." Hughes assured her. Part of that sentence caused Riza's face to pale.

"Murder?" she questioned. Hughes's eyes softened.

"Adrian Childs was found stabbed to death after we found you. She's already confessed to the murder." Riza closed her eyes as pain flooded through her. Adrian. Another life that was on her hands. She cursed herself for not realising the threat that Jessica had posed to them all. She had put her fellow officers in danger due to her miss calculations. She couldn't believe how stupid she had been.

"Don't worry Rizzy; I smacked her up good for ya." Roxy stated cheerfully. Riza's eyes snapped up to her friend, her horror obvious in her face.

"You were there?" she cried. Roxy nodded, slightly taken aback by the intensity of Riza's stare.

"What possessed you to do that? You shouldn't have put yourself in so much danger!" Riza couldn't believe how stupid Roxanne had been. Roxy stared down at her indignantly.

"She called me a WHORE!" Roxy exclaimed loudly, causing Marguerite to shush her, sending a concerned glance towards the corner. Riza followed her stare to see that Roy was still slumped in his chair in a blissful slumber. It was unnatural. She frowned.

"What have you done to him?" She asked Maes. Hughes grinned.

"Just gave him a drink that's all. Don't worry about it Hawkeye. He's barely slept in five days; he was starting to look like a zombie. He'll be up in a few minutes." He assured her. As if hearing the words, Roy stirred and muttered something, before turning over. Riza sighed once before nodding at Hughes. Although she hardly approved of him slipping things into Roy's drink, it was obvious that he needed sleep.

"Well, I need to be getting back to work. Good to see you awake Hawkeye." Hughes stated with a wave. Havoc stood as well.

"I need to get back too. Get well soon, alright? Or we're never gonna get any work done." He stated cheerfully. Riza grinned at him.

"That office had better be in perfect shape when I get back to work, Havoc." She warned. Havoc saluted.

"Yes Ma'am." He replied before turning on his heel and leaving the room. Riza sighed and leaned back on her pillows. She was so tired.

"We'll leave you to rest." Marguerite stated, leaning in and hugging Riza tightly. She moved away and Roxy leaned in for a hug. As she did so, she whispered to her

"I know you think he doesn't love you, but I'll tell you this. He's not left your side since we found you. Do you really think that someone who doesn't care would do that?" She drew away and winked at Riza before turning and leaving the room. Riza sighed and closed her eyes for a moment, running Roxanne's words through her mind. There were many reasons why Roy could be there. Simply caring for his subordinate? Possibly because he knew she didn't have anyone else? Because he cared for, but didn't love her in the same way he once had done?

"Riza?" she turned her aching neck and her eyes met his onyx gaze. He smiled and made his way over to her bedside, automatically taking her hand in his. She smiled, revelling in his touch. She wasn't sure how long it was going to last.

"How are you?" he whispered, his other hand stroking the hair out of her eyes. She smiled and the sweet gesture.

"Tired and sore. But I'll be alright." She reassured him. He nodded, his eyes searching her for any evidence that what she said was false. Finding none, he managed a smile in return.

"I don't think you're going to have to be in here for much longer. Although you are going to have to take it easy for a while." He stated gentle. Riza grimaced. She didn't do taking things easy. She had a job and responsibilities that could not be performed if she simply stayed at home and put her feet up. Roy chuckled lightly.

"I can practically see you thinking of an argument in your head Riza, but this time it's not going to work. You need looking after for a while." Her eyes widened at his choice of words. What was he talking about? Roy gazed down at the hand he was holding for a moment, before looking up at her.

"I want to take care of you. If you want me to." His voice was almost inaudible as he uttered the sentence. Riza felt her heart soar at his words. She smiled.

"I would like that. But it's only while I get my strength back. Don't get any ideas." She stated sternly. Roy laughed and bent his head, leaving a chaste kiss on her lips.

"I wouldn't dream of it my love." He replied. Riza smiled at the familiar endearment, but it soon turned into a yawn.

"Sleep now Riza." Roy whispered, getting up and moving towards the chair once more.

"Where do you think you're going?" Riza muttered s she closed her eyes, exhaustion clouding her vision. The last thing she remembered as she succumbed to slumber was the feel of Roy's arms around her, just as they were meant to be.

A/N: Last chapter should hopefully be up within the next few days. That is if I don't fall down the stairs carrying boxes.

Please review.