Ross woke up gasping. She couldn't remember where she was, or what had happened. Last night's events came rushing back to her and she felt a prickling in her eyes. She was unable to protect Edward. He had been kidnapped because of her.
"Second Lieutenant Ross, are you okay?" Ross turned to see the Fuhrer, his assistant Hawkeye, Al, and Brosh surrounding her bed. Ross nodded. She had a slight headache, but other than that she was perfectly fine. Al wasn't looking at her. He kept wringing his hands, or running his finers through his hair, nervous twitches signs of his anxiety. He knew what had happened. Ross had failed to protect his brother, and now Ed was in danger because of her. Ross felt like shit.
"I... I...," Ross started to cry. Mustang and Hawkeye looked at her with surprise. Brosh immediately went to her side, hugging her for comfort. "I'm sorry, Al. I failed at protecting Ed! He's been kidnapped and it's all my fault! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Ross' body shook with sobs. She had seen what had become of the two alchemists they had managed to rescue. She feared Ed would end up the same, and it was all her fault. Al blinked hard; now was not the time to cry.
"Second Lieutenant Ross, I need you to tell us what happened last night. We need to know what you saw last night, it may give us clues as to who this person is and where they might have taken Ed," Fuhrer Mustang said sternly. Ross' witness account could lead them to this criminal's arrest. Ross nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Last night I escorted Ed to a cafe to grab something to eat. We were walking back to the library, and I had asked Ed about his automail, why he still had it, when a hand shot out from the shadows and striked me from behind, knocking me out. I came to and I saw Ed with his arm blade, looking around for our attacker. I saw someone behind him and I reached for my gun. I managed to warn Ed but the person had him in a headlock and she placed something that looked like a rag over his nose and mouth. I could tell he was struggling, but after a while he collapsed, knocked out. I aimed my gun at the person but my vision was swimming from the hit I took earlier. The attacker moved so fast, they managed to kick my gun out of my hand and then they smothered me with the same rag they had used on Edward, and before I passed out I saw her pick up Ed and walk away." Al and the others let the information sink in. It was Fuhrer Mustang that realized something first, his eyes widening.
"Wait a minute, did you say 'her'?" Ross nodded. Although her vision had been blurry, she was positive the attacker had been a woman. She could tell from her outline that the person was a woman, and when she spoke she had a very feminine voice. Mustang seemed to be turning all of this over in his mind.
"The kidnapper could be Lust, she was fast with those wicked sharp nails of hers, and she has the motive to make a philosopher's stone...," Mustang thought out loud.
"Except we killed Lust, along with the other homunculus," Al interjected. Mustang nodded. That much was true. He needed more clues, something like hair (that was too much to ask for) or tracks leading somewhere. He needed something solid to build on.
"We'll have to search the scene for more clues." Mustang left, saluting to his officers, and Hawkeye followed after him. Al turned to Ross. She seemed to be alright, but he could tell there was a heavy weight of guilt resting on her shoulders. Al walked over to her and gave her a hug. Ross was speechless, but after a moment she hugged him back.
"Don't worry, Second Lieutenant Ross, we'll find him. It's okay," Al heard himself say, though he wasn't sure if he was reassuring himself or Second Lieutenant Ross.