Behind Closed Doors

Summary: Children have been disappearing all over Central City for the past few months. When Roy is put on the case, his worst nightmare becomes a reality he'd rather not live... especially when Edward disappears. (Parental Relationship)

Warnings: Torture, pain, possibly gruesome descriptions and lots of angst… and slight possibility of Male x Male implications…

Authors Note: Ok Thanks to everyone who expressed their lovely opinions in the form of a review! But you shouldn't have… Really; My head is way too big as it is without your awesome ego boosts! Hehe. Well to make up for such a short chapter last time I'm updating earlier than planned. No I don't have a schedule really but it sounded good anyway… tee hee.

Oh! And FYI; Pei-Ling is a made up country and doesn't really exist in the world of FMA; 'tis my own creation.

Anyways Enjoy!

P.S! A few updates have been made to this chapter... the big USTO leader is no longer called 'The Boss' because that's what Havoc, Breda and Fuery call Edward, I got confused myself with this so all has been changed... also I changed the 'we' to 'I' in Riza's statement at the end of 'Section 3'... You'll see why next chapter...

Ch6; Of Searches and Failures…

The train station was packed for some reason. Parents stood around the platform waiting for their trains while trying to entertain their bored and moody children, bags and belongings strewn around their respective owners. The din was enough to stir one crazy what with the hissing of steam from the engines and the whistles that always accompanied a train station anyway.

Alphonse winced as he exited the carriage carrying his little son as he went. The boy was sleeping peacefully on his shoulder as though the station was as quiet as his crib come bedtime. That was definitely an 'Edward-trait'; being able to sleep through such a racket… It was little traits like this that earned him the nickname Ed Jr. and ever since it just stuck. The boy was so much like his uncle it was weird; he was outgoing, adventurous, curious and investigative in the most dangerous possible way. He even resembled the older boy too; golden locks of hair, that childish cheeky grin, the handsome innocent smile… But what was even scarier were his eyes; they were a brilliant golden brown which, when in the right light, looked so much like Edward's it was uncanny. The trio often joked about who's son the kid really was…

"We must be the only family with children coming in to Central City." Winry noted as she hefted her small suitcase off the carriage behind her. Alphonse shifted the weight of the changing bag on his other shoulder as he bent down to pick up the handle of his holdall. Worry etched his brow as he thought of his brother.

"Yeah, but something seems off. There's a lot of pent up panic in the air." Indeed the atmosphere was thick with tension but considering the news from last night, this should be the opposite reaction. His brother was like a hero figure; after having 'returned' from the dead, successfully performing a human transmutation on none other than his little brother and then saving the world from another world's hatred and violence before returning a few years later through a portal that defies all logic, you'd think the people would have more faith in the boy. So this was the reasoning Alphonse had surmised for there being a problem that they were unaware of. And he could probably bet his life that his brother was right in the middle of it.

"Al, could you hold onto this, I need to use the Ladies room." He gave her a smile and nodded before placing his holdall on the floor next to him and gently swapping his little boy onto his other shoulder; the kid was getting heavy. Winry left her suitcase by his side and disappeared into the Women's Toilet. It was atleast 20 minutes before he saw her again, a scared look upon her face. Something was wrong.

Instantly, Alphonse was by her side asking if she was ok, and what had happened. For a moment she couldn't speak but when she did, his heart all but leapt out of his chest. She looked up fearfully into his eyes, tears brimming and threatening to fall at a moments notice. The look she gave him told him exactly who she thinking of and her next words sent ice-cold tentacles down his spine; spikes of fear finding root in his gut.

"He's gone…"

Pei-Ling; 'City of Freedom'… and hefty prices. And what a busy, upstate, snooty place it was. That was a problem for Col. Roy Mustang; he hated snootiness with a passion. The other problem was its sheer size; an entire city enclosed in a large bowl beneath a breathtaking mountain range with large walls protecting its open face from invasion or intruders and inner walls separating different districts and societies. It was built like a fortress.

A fortress with many hiding holes and shadows to disappear into… Finding Edward in here would be hard but not impossible.

Oh yes, Roy Mustang had several debtors in this city and he was ready to cash in. He'd already visited two of them; one couldn't provide anything while the other informed him of a highly decorated General who might know something about the Underground Secret Trade Organisation, more commonly known as the USTO. Of course this General was also one of Roy's debtors. Things were looking up for the moment, but Fate always played a cruel game.

His smirk faded. Those were Edward's words. Words like those seemed to hang around in people's minds and soon enough they find themselves using the phrases themselves; like now. A frown found his brow as he sat in the coach, on his way to see this General. It was very possible that he'd never see Edward alive again now. He had to stay indifferent about it but try as he might, he just couldn't stop worrying. The boy was part of his little family now, how could he just keep a straight face and continue on as though nothing had happened?

He couldn't. That was why he was here…

Alphonse stormed into the Military Headquarters with a force that even Maj. Armstrong couldn't compete with (see end of chapter). All inhabitants knew instantly who it was; they'd been expecting this for a few hours now but still managed to wince away from the glowering Earth-Moving Alchemist.

"Where is he?" His voice was barely a whisper. He didn't trust himself just yet to say anything any louder, trying to so desperately to keep his emotions in check. It was a lost battle to begin with.

"Al…" Riza tried as she stepped forward but Alphonse flipped.

"Where is he?!" His yell was agonisingly painful to hear. Her heart almost leapt out of her throat; He crumbled to the floor in a heap of sobs. She could only guess the torment that was running through the young boy's head.

"Al, we tried to get him back, I'm sorry…" She tried to calm him down, tried defending their actions but the boy was not so forgiving when upset like he was. His head snapped up at breakneck speed and his scowl managed to freeze everyone in the room. His eyes were streaming, his face red and his expression like that of someone who'd just lost everything he held dear to him all at once.

"'Sorry' won't bring him back! 'Sorry' won't find him safe and alive! 'Sorry' only means you've made a mistake!" His words were true and they hit each and every person in the building like a ten tonne boulder. "I'm going to find him and if I don't, that bastard Colonel better pray something else finds him before I do!" He meant it. He meant every word and made sure they knew it before storming out of the building and disappearing down the street.

"Riza, are you ok?" Her vision doubled, she was still feeling woozy from her battering in the cavern ad swayed on the spot just as Jean (Havoc) steadied her. He led her to her seat while Heymans (Breda) fetched a glass of water.

"Gods Havoc, I screwed up big this time…"

The Underground Secret Trade Organisation (USTO) was the safest bet to get away scot free. But it didn't come cheap. Everyone had a unique payment to make dependant upon why they were wanted and where they needed to go. From these two bits of information the USTO Members could calculate the amount of protection and effort that would be needed to counteract the measures the pursuers of their client and the fuel, transportation and border affairs their client might face while under their protection. And then there were options for the client to make; 'Unprotected' cover, 'Limited Protection' cover or 'Complete Protection' cover.

'Unprotected' meant the client would take care of himself and the USTO need only cover his tracks until he was out of the country, any transportation was up to the client to sort. 'Limited Protection' meant the client would receive a handful of bodyguards who'd help him across the maximum of three borders. Then there was 'Complete Protection' and as one would guess it was maximum security for the client until he reached his destination safe and sound.

Of course Derry had an agreement all of his own. He knew the owner of the USTO and was very good friends with him, so if he needed to get away it was maximum security at all times with no added costs except for a few labourers here or there. It wasn't what you knew these days it was who you knew.

"Derry! What brings you here so early? You can't be finished already?" Speak of the devil. Derry turned, a look of forced cheer on his face making his annoyance noticeable. "Oh dear, my friend you look most upset. What happened?" The big man put a hand round his shoulders and led the man to the couch in his office.

"The damn military is what happened, and my daughter finding something expensive again." He replied taking the glass tumbler of whiskey from the guy and drinking a large gulp to help soothe his nerves. The military wasn't the only thing annoying him; the damn kid had woken up not long ago and was creating havoc. Five escape attempts in the space of half an hour. Tricky little sod, he was out now though with a few new bruises to boot.

"Oh? So the rumours are true? You found something expensive?" The fat man sat down opposite him and swirled his tumbler casually in his large beefy hand. Derry sighed; the rumours were moving faster these days.

"Yes, I've managed to do the impossible it seems." At this the large man sat up and paid more attention. "It seems the hunter has become the hunted and the caught." Derry left it hanging for as long as possible before the big man became impatient.

"Well man come on what did you catch?!" Both men smiled evilly, one in anticipation, the other in suspense. Then Derry spoke;

"I, my friend, managed to catch me a Fullmetal Alchemist." And the shocked face was well worth it. He could feel his spirits lifting already, his friend always knew how to cheer him up even if he didn't know he was doing it.

"The Fullmetal Alchemist? I don't believe it!" The big man had gone completely still.

"Heh, believe it. He's more trouble than he's worth!" The man suddenly locked eyes with him, a determined snarl on his face. Derry frowned.

"Where is he? I owe him a few debts." A few debts? So this kid had pissed off his friend too. Who hadn't he pissed off?! And in the mood he was in just then, he'd feel better too if he saw the kid take a few rounds, but then his goods would be damaged and he'd have to take the time to fix him up again before he could sell the bastard.

He took a sip of his whiskey in deep thought. Then again, the boy was worth a lot of money and he could see that an early sale might find him less of what he was actually worth. Maybe a few rounds with the big guy's boys would do him and the kid some form of good… or bad depending on which way you looked at it.

"Sector C, holding base 53, heavily guarded and heavily sedated. He's tried five escape attempts already and three groups have tried stealing him away." He growled at the memory. "Caught one guy red handed about to rape the boy in his sleep. I don't sell used goods; that's just my policy otherwise I wouldn't have stopped the bugger. I'm not taking any chances." The big man grunted in agreement. His mood had soured dramatically. Derry couldn't blame him; a repeat offender was locked away in his territory and he was just a few paces away from exacting revenge, he'd be sour too.

"Will you allow me to repay him for his… efforts." The fat man also had a policy; he wouldn't touch that which he was transporting and protecting on behalf of his clients. But the mere thought of having a hated enemy on his grounds in such a vulnerable state… it was just too tantalisingly tempting. Derry smiled, revenge was a dish best served cold and brutal, and his lower ribs were still throbbing from the kick back in Central City.

Maybe a few rounds would ease him up for the long journey home…

"Be as generous as you feel, my friend…"

(End of Chapter) Grief and sudden loss will do numerous things to different people and in my quest to make this as real as possible without deferring too much from the Anime series, I have made it so that Alphonse exerts his emotions in a manner that would normally suit his older brother Edward. Subconsciously this helps him deal with the loss and at the same time motivates him to find his brother too.