I'm trying to be better about this whole "updating in a semi-regular manner" thing. I have something of a daily schedule to my life for the first time in almost a year, so that should help. To the flood of new readers: welcome! I hope you like it, and leave me a nice little review. Just send one yelling at me for the lack of updates. They help, I swear.

Welcome to Serenity: Chapter Four

Faithless

Moments after Shepard Book walked into the infirmary, Ed began to scowl. Alphonse rolled his eyes at his brother's behavior. He didn't blame Ed for being wary of clergymen, he felt that way himself, but the elder Elric had a disdain for people who trusted in a higher power that bordered on contempt.

"I was just coming to check on how you were feeling, Alphonse," the Shepard ignored the steely glare sent his way, coming to sit down in a chair next to the bed.

"Much better," Al replied, "You have an excellent doctor. And some very good pain-killers."

Book chuckled and inclined his head to Edward, who was seated on a counter top where he had cleared a space among the medical equipment. "And you, Edward? How are you feeling?"

"I wasn't injured, so I'm doing fine." His tone was stiff and curt.

"I was referring to the experience you just went through. Must have been hard on both of you. We can often feel helpless or guilty when something happens to someone we love."

Ed's snort of derision set off warning bells in Al's head. His temper was flaring up. What a surprise. "Well why don't you recite a couple of comforting verses from the Bible so that God can help me get through this difficult time of spiritual and emotional turmoil? Maybe after that we can all hold hands and sing about hypocrisy and bigotry, but pretend it's about loving everyone?" Al sat up, ready to admonish his brother, but the Shepard spoke first.

He was so calm, sitting there in his chair. "That was not what I meant, and I think you know it. You made your views on my faith clear the moment you met me; not in so many words, but I've been doing this long enough to know what those looks mean. I was not offering my services as a Shepard, I do not believe in forcing my beliefs upon unwilling ears. I just thought that both or either of you boys might want someone to talk to, and I happen to be a good listener."

"Sorry, but I don't really feel in a sharing mood." Ed snarled.

"Brother! He's just trying to be helpful!"

"Well he can help by minding his own goddamn business!" An automail fist slammed into the countertop before Ed jumped down and wrenched open the door. "I don't want the help of someone foolish enough to believe in something as ridiculous as a benevolent god." With that he stomped out.

Alphonse sighed. That had escalated quickly, even for Ed. The Shepard hadn't done anything to set him off in such a manner. "I'm so sorry about that. He's got a short temper and quite a few strong opinions, but I don't know where that outburst came from."

Book gave Al a comforting pat on the leg. "It's not the first time I've gotten a reaction like that." The brown creases in his aging face shifted into a rueful smile. "My presence can make some people feel like they have to defend their decision to not believe."

"That still doesn't excuse him from acting like a jerk." He shifted his position against the headboard of the sickbed, taking care to support his right shoulder in the move. The tight, white bandages wrapped neatly around his shoulder up to the neck, and across the chest just under his arm. A tense moment had passed between the brothers when they first realized how reminiscent it was to the night the two of them tried to bring their mother back to life. In that moment he'd relived the horror of sitting inside a metal husk, devoid of all physical sensation, looking down at the bandaged form of his broken brother. His eyes had seemed so lifeless in that moment, the only sign of life the shallow breaths puffing out of his pain-wracked body.

But now he was thinking about it again. Alphonse shook his head to clear away the sobering remembrance. The Shepard waited for him to come back from his sudden withdrawal. "Anyway, thank you for checking on us. It's very kind of you."

"You are most welcome. Two boys on their own, and on such a dangerous planet- who would not show a little human concern?"

"It's been just the two of us for so long, I'm afraid you'll find us both a little reluctant to receive assistance." Ed had taken months, even years, to warm up and trust their friends back home. Relying on strangers? Al wasn't even that trusting.

"You have no family?"

"Just my brother. Our father… disappeared before I could even walk, and our mother died when I was nine. We left our home and haven't looked back since."

The concern and sympathy on Book's face seemed genuine. "You two are very brave. Your brother's agitation makes more sense. It's hard when you have to grow up fast." The way he said that- Al knew the spoke from experience.

"It's a bit more complicated than that." A whole heaping lot more complicated was more like it. "We've had some bad experiences with religious fanatics. Really we've had a lot of bad experiences with people in general. After enough of it, we started to think we were the only people we could trust. I know that there are good people out there, and try to see the best in everyone, but Ed- for him the only things he can trust are me and cold, hard science."

"Ah." Book nodded in understanding. "He wants proof before he believes. There are many people like that these days."

"Even if he had proof, it wouldn't do any good. If Ed knew for sure that God was real he'd probably try to fight Him." The idea was almost comical, but it was true. "That's just how he is."

"And do you agree with him?"

Alphonse thought about it for a moment. "Well I'm not as angry as he is. It's like he took it upon himself to be angry for the both of us. And while I don't see why any person would just believe in something so strongly without any proof, without questioning, I respect their decision. But yes, I share his views on the futility of religion."

"Ah." That was all he said. Al waited for him to say something else, not really knowing how to continue from there. The silence stretched on for a few minutes before the Shepard spoke. "I am sorry for making your brother feel uncomfortable. You look like you could use some rest, so I'll leave you to it." Another tight smiled graced his countenance before making his exit.

After only a minute in solitude, Ed slunk back in. The glance he gave Al showed that his anger had faded, replaced with apologetic embarrassment.

"mmmsrry."

"You'll have to speak up, brother. I didn't hear that."

"I said I'm sorry! I let him get under my skin and I was rude. There! Happy?" The alchemist pouted and rubbed at the port in shoulder where flesh met metal, a vulnerable gesture.

"I'd be happy if you'd managed to sit there and be pleasant. Okay not pleasant, that's impossible, but at least cut back on the sarcasm." They both laughed at that.

"You know it isn't me you should be apologizing to."

"Well you can be damn sure I'm not apologizing to that nosy old man!"

Al groaned. "You are impossible!"

Their bickering soon turned into yawns and gentle teasing. Al didn't even worry about dreaming when he slipped into the arms of sleep.