I do not own FMA or claim too.

I hope you enjoy reading.

Chapter 21

Deadline

Two months have passed since Ed and Alphonse had their encounter with Bosely and his two kids. Many buildings have been destroyed and fighting amongst the military and rebels has heated up. Lt. Colonel Thomas has gone missing since his trip up to the north. General Mustang is back in Central trying to get to a conclusion in this war. Certain lower class residential streets have gone empty as the enemy has increased their collection for the stone.

Lt. Havoc is getting ready to make his trip to Resembool. The surgeries to his shoulder have healed enough so he can be fitted with a new arm. Many hours of treatment were required to repair the damage left on him from his attack.

"Damn, and here I thought I would be taking a nice long vacation."

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm only going since I have not fully recovered and the General won't use me on the front lines anymore."

Lt. Hawkeye is there helping Havoc get packed in the hospital. Her hand is still in a cast from the explosion that almost took the life of herself and her husband. They are both dressed in civilian clothes and carrying what little weapons they can.

"Come on, you will be back to fighting in no time."

"I don't trust him to let me fight once I am healed. He will be too concerned with our family to do such a thing."

"I guess Mustang is getting pretty soft in his old age."

The two leave the hospital and get into a car heading to the train station. Once they arrive at the train station some of their friends are there to see them off. Armstong, Breda, Fallman and Mustang have all showed up. They help Havoc out of the car and give him a proper farewell. Hawkeye says her goodbyes and walks up to her husband for a private good bye.

"I better not get a single report that you have been in a fight."

"Roy, we have been over this. I will do nothing as long as nothing happens. I will escort him to Winry and make sure the beginning of his surgery is successful."

"You forgot the most important aspect of this mission."

"I know, stay safe and try to relax."

"I'll see you back here soon. I love you Riza."

"I love you too."

They have a short kiss and hug and she leaves him to get onto the train. They take a seat onto the train and wave to their friends outside. As the train starts to move Havoc lays back in his seat and closes his eyes. So much time off has zapped him of his energy. Riza grabs a book from her bag and starts to read. Soon they will be in Resembool seeing the familiar faces of the Rockbells.

Meanwhile back at Central HQ, Ed and Al are on the phones talking to contacts across the country trying to find a single lead to the whereabouts of their uncle. Thomas apparently made it into the country when a routine stop went wrong. About a dozen men where there and subdued the Lt. Colonel. He was last seen being thrown into a panel truck with an armed escort.

A month ago the command post at Rush Valley received a package with no address on it. All that was written on the outside was the name Elric and inside was a note saying "Time is running out." Inside the package was the left leg of Thomas. After a short investigation no leads were turned up there on where it came from. Ed hangs up the phone and walks over to Al.

"Ok, we haven't come up with a single clue on Bosely or Thomas. I think we need a new plan of attack."

"Ed, the search team has been out there for almost two months. No one has seen a thing. We don't know where to start."

"I would tear down this city if I knew it would find him. I really don't want to give them what they want but I will not let him die.

They leave the phones and go out into the hall. As they start to walk they notice soldiers running toward the front of the building. Ed stops one of them to explain what has happened. "Sir, it's Bosely he is at the front gate saying he has surrendered." Ed and Al run toward the gate to see dozens of armed men all pointing their rifles at Bosely. They instruct him to lay down with his hands on head. He complies with every request. Soldiers place cuffs on him and get him to his feet. Bosely has a smirk on his face that sends shivers up Ed's spine. They walk him up to Major Elric and his smile never leaves him.

"You know kid the time I gave you has run out."

"Are you that stupid to get yourself caught just to tell me that?"

"I won't be here long. I'm here as a messenger."

They escort Bosely inside and Ed and Al look at each other wondering what Bosely meant by that he won't be here long. Bosely always has a plan and he would never allow himself to be captured without an escape plan.

Havoc and Hawkeye arrive in Resembool late at night. There is a car waiting for them as requested by General Mustang. They get unloaded and start their drive.

"I wonder if Pinako is still awake."

"I don't know. You have had more experience with them then I have. I just hope they got a nice comfortable bed. Those damn hospital beds were a killer on my back."

"Don't give them a hard time. This is family to Ed and Al and Winry is off limits."

"Can't I at least flirt with her? I had the nurses before."

"No, now you better behave or this will be a vacation from hell for you."

They pull up to the house and all the lights are turned off. Once they park the car Hawkeye notices the door is wide open. The living room window is shattered and Riza jumps out the car. She grabs her side arm and yells for Winry and Pinako. She slowly goes up the porch holding her pistol tightly in her hand. Once she enters the house everything is trashed. Furniture is broken and thrown, tools lay scattered, and no sign of the Rockbells. Riza yells their names and hears a small moan coming from the second floor.

Her heart starts pounding harder and she runs up the stairs stepping over the debris. Pinako is seen unconscious in Winrys room bruised and bloody on the floor. Riza kneels down on the floor and tends to her wounds. Pinako opens her eyes and sees the familiar face looking down on her.

"Are you alright? What happened here?"

"You have to find them."

"They took Winry?"

"Please, call Ed and Al and find them."

Pinako closes her eyes and passes out. She lays her down on the floor and gets up to find a phone. The furniture in the room is also trashed but a section of the room catches Riza eye. A small blanket is draped on the rail of a wooden crib. Riza starts to shake runs downstairs to find the phone. Havoc made his way into the house with a gun drawn.

"Havoc find the damn phone we need to call Roy."

"Where is everybody?"

"Call Roy! They took Winry and a baby."

They both search for the phone frantically throwing everything around. Riza finds one and thankfully it has a dial tone. Her hand is still shaking as she has no idea on how to tell Mustang about this. Havoc goes upstairs and starts to treat Pinako.

Mustangs phone starts ringing and Fallman answers.

"Fallman here. Hold on, he's not here at the moment. What?"