Hey guys! Sorry I took so long to update, I kinda got stuck halfway through this chapter and it took me a while before I could finish it. I also want to thank FortuneFishing and Le Confidant for reviewing! Thanks it means a lot to me! It took me a while to remember this, but in case any of you out there were wondering I DO NOT OWN FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. Everything and everyone belongs to their respective owners! Enjoy and please review! -C

"You're gonna... WHAT?!" Ed couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Gabrielle smiled, knowing his reaction would be so dramatic. Gabrielle stood from her chair, stretching her stiff limbs. She wondered how long it would take before Ed would calm down so she could start her interrogation. She needed information, and Ed, being the famous state alchemist that he was, would most certainly possess some invaluable knowledge.

"Well, now that you know what I'm planning, it seems obvious that I have no intentions of letting you live. I wouldn't want you running your mouth to your little friends at Central Command. I think for now though I'll leave you to collect your thoughts. Tomorrow we will begin the interrogation. I expect you to-"

"I already told you, I'd just as soon die than answer any of your damn questions," Ed growled. Like hell he was about to help this psychotic bitch with anything. He just needed to hold out for a few days, he had no doubt Mustang and Al were already tracking him down. Gabrielle smirked.

"Oh, I had really hoped you would have decided to cooperate. If that's how you're going to be, I guess I'll just have to do this the hard way." Gabrielle's image flickered lightly, making Ed blink. Was he imagining that? Suddenly she wasn't in front of him anymore, instead she now stood beside him, her hands on the wall next to his neck. "I have my ways of making men talk, Edward. Don't think for a second that you won't do what I say, because I will prove you wrong. You may have a strong will and spirit, but I assure you, by the time I'm through with you you will be broken beyond repair..." Gabrielle whispered into his ear. Ed shivered, her voice sending chills racing down his spine. Her laugh echoed throughout the warehouse, but she was no longer anywhere to be seen. Ed was by himself again. He was shaking. How the hell was he going to survive this?

Al jumped out of bed, gasping for breath, shivering as his bare feet touched the cold tile floor. He had a horrible knot twisting in his stomach, but he wasn't sure why. He remembered his nightmare, hearing screams echoing around in a darkness he couldn't escape. He felt like the darkness had been pressing against him, flooding his lungs, drowning him, slowly, until he reached a hand up and broke through the surface. That's when he woke up, the rush of oxygen in his lungs reminding him that he was still alive, that it was just a dream. Al walked over to the couch and leaned against the back of it, his racing heart slowing down to a gentler beat. A fierce knock on his door made Al jump. He lost his balance and fell over the couch, his head hanging as his back rested on the cushions. His door opened slowly and Al felt his heart leap into his throat. What if the woman who had kidnapped Ed had come back for him too? A face peeked through the small opening and Al made a noise between a squeak and a gasp. The face belonged to Hawkeye. Al breathed a sigh of relief.

"Can I come in?"

"Yes," Al choked out. He still felt like he had something stuck in his throat. Hawkeye stepped inside and her eyebrow shot up when she saw his current position.

"What are you doing upside down on the couch like that?" Al was temporarily confused as to what she was talking about, and then he remembered he had fallen over the couch. Al quickly scrambled into a normal sitting position. Hawkeye straightened herself.

"Al, Fuhrer Mustang has requested you join him for breakfast today to discuss about the kidnapping case." Al nodded.

"Just give me a moment to change and we can be on our way."

Al and Hawkeye walked in silence to the Fuhrer's office. Neither had much to say, and in all honesty, there was not much to be said anyways. Al felt like the pity that radiated from all the other adults around him was drowning him, just like the darkness in his dream. Hawkeye was no exception. She felt the need to say something comforting, but she didn't know what should be said in a situation like this. She tried her best to just stay focused on the mission itself, rescuing Edward. Al stole a glance at Hawkeye. She had always been the person who spoke for the sake of speaking. Silence was something she could deal with, like if she were in a sniper mission. In that situation stealth was absolute key, and usually meant life or death; however she despised awkward silence. Al noticed the internal conflict written on her face, and he decided to end this now. Or at the least end this with Hawkeye.

"Don't." Hawkeye was startled from her thoughts, sending Al a surprised look, not entirely sure of what he was talking about. He walked stifly, trying to look mature, but the look did not suit him well.

"Don't try to say anything sympathetic or comforting. It's annoying. I'm not a child anymore, I'm eighteen, an adult, I don't need your suffocating pity or your looks of non-vicarious pain. Stop it." Hawkeye stopped walking altogether. She was absolutely and completely stunned. She had never heard Al sound so... indignant. His face was slightly red and she could see his anger in his set jaw. Hawkeye was at a loss for words. Al, on the other hand, felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He had confronted at least one person about how he truly felt to the way everyone was treating him. He could now concentrate entirely on finding Ed.

After Al's outburst, the pair walked in silence. He looked over at Hawkeye out of the corner of his eyes, noticing her stiff posture as they made their way to the Fuhrer's office. Al started to feel guilty about his actions. There had been no need for him to be so rude to Hawkeye, she had just been trying to help by consoling him when possible. That didn't mean he hadn't caught her staring at him with a pained or condoling look once in a while, nor did it change the fact that he would pick up bits and pieces of conversations between her and Mustang, always about him and the pain of losing his brother. What did they know?

They had finally arrived at the door leading to the Fuhrer's office. Al hesitated. He needed to make amends.

"Ms. Hawkeye, I-"

"No, Alphonse, call me Riza. And you have absolutely nothing to apologize for. You had every right to speak your mind, and I agree that I am in fault for treating you like a child. I know you've grown, and that you can handle things more maturely and responsibly. I should be the one apologizing, I knew better than to act like you are still fourteen. I'm sorry." Al closed his mouth, which had been hanging slightly open during Hawkeye's speech. Al swallowed and nodded.

"Thank you, Riza, for understanding. The only true reason that I had snapped at you like that was because it was weighing me down, and I just needed to let it all out." Hawkeye smiled.

"Come on Al, we have work to do." Hawkeye stepped into the Fuhrer's office and stopped short. A small sound of surprise escaped her lips at the sight before her. This was bad.

"What's wrong?" Al moved around Hawkeye to see what had surprised her. What he saw made his jaw drop. Sitting with the Fuhrer and drinking tea was none other than a beautiful young woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes. She had a mechanic's toolbox beside her feet and her smile lit up the whole room when she saw Al.

"W-winry?" Al wasn't sure if he had gone crazy or if his brother's mechanic really was drinking tea in front of him, with the Fuhrer no less. "What are you doing here?"

P.S. I just figured out how to add all these line breaks and stuff in the editing thing for the chapters! I feel really stupid... -C