A/N: set just after Hayate's adoption. Breda's opinion of the occurrence...I hope you like!

Suppressed Memories

The events of the previous day had left Breda….high and dry, to say the least. It took much coaxing from his alarm clock to wake him up this morning, and the first thing he felt was the hangover the alcohol gave him. Breda foggily remembered feeling the urge to drink some horrible memory away, but he couldn't quite remember what it was…

He rolled out of bed; he had to get to work. He squinted at the day calendar on his desk. Friday. Well, at least he got tomorrow off. He hurriedly grabbed a sandwich and dashed out the door, tucking in his uniform shirt as he ran to Head Quarters.

What was it he had tried to forget? The second lieutenant had succeeded in purging his mind of the dreadful memory, but now what he'd forgotten was irking him; like some unheeded warning.

He made it to the office on time—early, even. Hawkeye had yet to come in. Fuery was also there, but the second lieutenant rarely associated with the newbie. He still had two much to learn. Why, yesterday, the boy had brought in a dog!

Realization hit Breda in the gut. That was why he had a hangover! He'd wanted to get the image of the beast out of his mind.

Oh well, that day has passed. It's out of my hair now…

Or so he thought.

The few minutes before six hundred hours passed slowly. Breda stuffed the remains of his sandwich into his mouth (no food or drink on military head quarters). Fuery had attempted to speak with his colleague, to no avail.

Eventually, Havoc shuffled in, looking as out of place as he would in a library. The smell of tobacco soon followed him. Falman was punctual, entering the office precisely one minute before the clock stuck six. Half an hour later, Mustang scuffed in, looking as if he'd left his mind at home.

"Has anyone seen R—First Lieutenant Hawkeye?" the Lt. Colonel asked as he entered the room, quickly realizing it was devoid of his favorite female subordinate.

An hour later, people began to wonder if she would be coming in to work today. It was unlike her to be late; even less like her not to call when she would be absent. Mustang began to worry.

At nine o'clock, the male soldiers were almost in a panic. Not only would they get no work done without their taskmaster, but they were concerned for her health. Roy was about to dismiss everyone early when the door to the office creaked open.

In marched Riza Hawkeye. She bore no sign of injury, and seemed to be in perfect health. She caught the men eying her curiously. However, she was more than accustomed to working around male colleagues and ignored this fact, choosing instead to focus on the matter of explaining her tardiness to her commanding officer. She spoke in hushed tones with the flame alchemist, though Havoc could've sworn he heard "obedience training" mentioned.

Breda suddenly noticed what was wrong with Hawkeye's entrance (other than her tardiness). She'd left the door open—a most un-Hawkeyeish thing to do. Set on rectifying this flaw, Breda walked to the door, intent on closing it.

A harsh command from the lieutenant stopped him. She ordered, "Hayate-gou!"

In marched a small black and white mutt; the same dog Fuery had brought in the previous morning. Breda paled, fearful of his proximity to the animal. The dog trotted past, bearing himself with a manner similar to Riza's, if more friendly. It almost pranced, walking proudly towards its owner. Mustang stood from his desk.

"Gentlemen! I would like to announce the newest member of our team: Black Hayate. Any complaints, you can talk with the Lieutenant," the would-be-Fuhrer announced.

Breda decided that he should get over his fear of dogs—it was that, find another job, or face Hawkeye and her pistol.

A/N: I'm sorry it took so long for me to update. I kinda lost track of time...-sweatdrops-

please review!