Equivalent Exchange

Chapter Summary: The beginning of Edward's vampirism, and the unraveling of what happened.

& to my reviewers, Rose, Henai, and Konekko Hoshi - Thank You! Love yah~

Chapter 3 - Sick

~AL~

State Military's hospital section, Room 303, 7:12am

Al had just informed the doctor looking after Edward, that he was finally awake, they told Al they'll be there in a few and that Al should stay with his brother until they do.

Alphonse walked into the hospital room and saw that Ed was hiding under the bed covers.

"Brother! Whats wrong!? What are doing?" Al said startled when he walked into the room only to find a lump under the covers.

"Al? Shut the curtains!"

"Why? It's so nice out brother an-"

"Please Al! I... I um... have a headache."

Alphonse went across the room. "Okay..."

Al shut the curtains and then sat in the chair next to Ed's bed. Ed's head popped out from beneath the covers once the light was gone. His hair was now a mess from the lack of a braid and the static of his bed sheets. Ed smiled at his brother,

"Thanks Al"

Al knew there was something his brother wasn't telling him. But he decided to ignore it for now.

"The doctors said they will be here in a couple minutes." Al casually stated as he smiled back.

~ED~

'I feel so sick. What just happened with the sunlight? Why am I scared of it? I must be so sick that I'm seeing things, that the sun only burnt me in my head... But I remember what happened the night, it is so blurry though. Plus what I remember can't be true... Can it? How can it be? Vampires aren't real? But that night my attacker had fangs and bit me and.. and now with the sunlight! I should tell them, Al, the docters and the military. I'll go crazy thinking of a way to solve this alone, and right now so much thinking won't do me any good.'

"Al, can you bring Mustang in here with the doctors? I want to tell you all something, and I think it'd be best to just say it now instead of later..."

"...Brother?"

"Please Al. I'll explain to everyone, once everyone is here."

"Why won't you just tell me what is happening brother! ...I'm sorry, I'm worried about you brother, you've been unconscious for weeks and now your awake but you won't tell me why you acting so different! I know you just woke up and it's normal to be so quiet, but even so, why are you doing this? Just tell me what's wrong like you always do nii-san."

"I'm sorry Al. Its not that... I mean... Well I can't put the pieces together. I don't know if what I remember is real, or not real. I'll need the military's help."

"...OK ...I'll be right back brother."

o.O.0.o.O.0.o.O.0.o.O.0.

Alphonse was only gone for 10 minutes and came back with Ed's doctor, Hawkeye and Mustang.

"Glad to see you awake Ed."

"You scared us all Fullmetal"

While the doctors did some check-ups, Edward explained to them all what he remembered. He told them that he was waiting outside for his brother, then he saw Roy Mustang, and started talking to him for a bit then..." Ed broke off, he realized he didn't know how to continue.

"Mr. Elric? Do you forgot it?" The doctor asked, after a few seconds of silence. He was in the process of examining Ed while he spoke. Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye stood side by side at the end of the bed, and Al was once again sitting in Ed's bedside chair.

"No, it's not that. Just after that "Mustang" distracted me, and- a-nd when I looked back, someone different was in Mustang's place."

"Fullmetal, that it wasn't me, I never saw you that day, except for when Havoc and I..."

"I know that Colonel Bastard! I mean the person changed his appearance completely, It was like alchemy but something like that isn't possible with alchemy! It sounds crazy, he looked like a monster, he had fangs and red eyes. After that I- I think he bit me"

Ed said rubbing his neck. He was expecting everyone to call him crazy. Ed look down at hie bed, to avoid weird looks.

"Like a vampire?" Roy suddenly said to Ed. Ed looked up at him and he slowly nodded his head,

"Riza, inform Fuher Bradley of this."

"Sir, you don't ac-"

"Just go."

"...Yes sir."

With that Riza Hawkeye left. Roy looked serious while everyone else was confused.

"Colonel, do you think vampires are real?" Al asked, it was the first time he spoke since everyone had entered the room.

"No, but they could. I've heard about this before, I don't believe they exist, but the higher ranks were told in to inform the Fuhrer for cases like these. I don't understand why he keeps a record of these kinds of things... But he likes to keep track of it, he told me more then once to pass on any information like this ASAP. When I asked him why, he told me that there is so much I don't know."

"What? You're saying it may have actually happened? I've been asleep for 2 weeks... Maybe this is only a dream, you don't know- I could be crazy for God's sake!" Ed yelled staring at Mustang, he never wanted the Fuhrer to get involved in this.

"B-but, even so, why would a vampire go after brother?!" Al questioned shocked, completely ignoring Ed.

"Either way, it's easier to solve this by telling Fuhrer, a secret won't stay a secret for long with him. Fullmetal in someway you were attacked, vampire or not, we have Alphonse to prove that, and I'm not the only one who wants to find out who."

"It doesn't seem like he harmed you, Edward Elric. You don't have a scratch on you, I'd say you're lucky, you heal fast. Though your pulse is still rapidly decreased and I'll have to keep you here for a couple more days. For now I suggest something to eat." The doctor stated when he finished examining Ed.

"Okay."

"Thank you doctor."

The doctor smiled and left the room.

"Explain what you know, Bastard!"

Roy and Al turned to look at Ed with shock from his sudden anger.

"I told you already Fullmetal! And I don't know anything else."

"Dammit."

"Brother! Calm down, why are you mad? What wrong?"

"I'm sorry."

"Your probably just hungry Edward. You haven't eaten in two weeks... I'll get you breakfast, nii-san. I need to call Winry too, she's been worried sick, and I told her to stay in Resembool. I promised that I'll call her when you woke up."

"Ugh. She has to come here. She'll kill me for getting in danger again."

Alphonse sighed and turned toward the door, as Edward continued to mutter about the mechanic hurting him.

Just as Al was about to step out of the room, Hawkeye stood in the door way, causing Al to walk right into her.

"Ah! Oh, Lt. Hawkeye! Sorry!"

Al grabbed Riza's arm before she could fall. Once she regained her balance she looked at Al.

"Thank you Alphonse."

Al smiled and walked out of the room. Leaving Ed, Mustang and Hawkeye alone in the hospital room.

Hawkeye looked at Roy,

"I'm sorry, Sir. You have paperwork to finish."

"What? No, that can wait. I should stay here, my sub-"

Riza cleared her throat and glared at Roy, "No, sir."

"Alright. I'll come back later Fullmetal."

As Roy got up to leave, Riza handed Edward a letter. Then left with Roy.

The room was empty now. Edward looked at the letter, Bradley.

'What? Why would the Fuhrer give me a letter?'

Edward didn't give it much thought though and started to open the letter. He found a simple white paper with only one sentence on it. He read:

The Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric, I would like for you to come to my office immediately. As I would like to speak with you.

Fuhrer Bradley

'What?'

Edward reread the note a few times then got up to leave.

Thanks for reading~