Chapter Ten: Face Down

A/N: Remember I told you all that I'd explain chapter nine's title in case nobody understood? I named the chapter after Edo's ability to teleport. It kind-of reminded me of Nightcrawler from X-Men. Y'kno, the one blue guy. (I wrote this chapter before the X-Men Origins movie, in case you were wondering. I was just lazy and didn't post...) This chapter takes place in a hospital a couple days after the fight between Kimbly and Al. Chapter title is a song by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Not much to do with the chapter contents, but the name kind-of struck me as a good one.

Al had seen hospitals before. He had been in so many it was hard to count how many exactly. But it was never for him. No. It had always been for Ed. So being there in a white bed with thin sheets, with nurses flocking over him, giving him drugs, and bandaging him up was indeed a new experience.

The pain inflicted upon his body by the Crimson Alchemist was just as sharp as the moment of infliction, but once the drugs kicked in, he was able to bear it without howling. He finally understood what it was like for Ed for all those years. Although he couldn't see why Edward didn't like the pretty nurses making him feel better. He normally would scare them off by yelling at them, then bandage himself up- if he was conscience that is.

It had been nearly a week since the fight that landed him in the overly sterile building, and already Al was itching to get up and go for round two. He often ranted (although not as violently as when his older brother would rant) to Winry about how he let Edward down, and healed or not, he had to go after Kimbly. His main excuse was "He's got mom!". But the rant always ended the same. Winry would shake her head, say he was stupid if he though he could take Kimbly on his condition, and then she would leave to go get a drink from the fountain or to go for a walk. Al would give a final curse, then sink back against the bed, downhearted, but not beaten.

Winry, as she took her walk, thought with a smile at first that Al was beginning to act just like his older brother. But after contemplating this for a while, she realized that Al turning into another Edward was a bad thing. He would be just as stubborn, get hurt just as much, and he would always blame himself for everything. The old friend of the Elric brother would sigh and confirm to herself that Edward's stubbornness was the reason that they could never date. They would end up killing each other. How Roy was able to stand it, she had no idea.

That day, exactly a week after the fight that Roy showed up at the hospital after receiving a call from the young Rockbell. Winry met Roy, Hughes, Hawkeye, and Havoc down in the main lobby, and they followed her up to Al's room. Needless to say, Al wasn't exactly happy to have to see them in the condition he was in.

When they all walked into the room, Al immediately noted Hawkeye. "Lieutenant Hawkeye! It's good to see you're alright!"

Aside from looking a little on the tired side, the lady lieutenant had no scratches or bruises. "I wish I could say the same Alphonse. I've heard that there's been a lot of trouble lately."

Before Roy or one of his subordinates could get in a word, the young alchemist blurted out, "I'm sorry!"

Roy sighed. Winry was right, Al was practically turning into Ed. "You don't have to apologize for anything Alphonse. But I would like to know who did this to you."

"It was Zolf Kimbly!" Al cried out. If the door wasn't closed, Havoc had no doubt that a nurse would have ran in to see what the commotion was all about.

Roy and Hughes, who had worked beside the mad man paled visibly. "Crimson?" Roy croaked.

Hughes sighed, and looked at Al with worry. "But Al, Kimbly has been dead ever since-"

"Liore. I know," Al stated. "But somehow Archer brought him back, and now he's under Edo's control."

"Shit!" Havoc cursed. "It was bad enough that Edo had homunculus powers and those other men, but now Kimbly too?!"

Al lowered his head. "But now..."

"Now what?" Roy asked gently and with confusion. It didn't make sense. Why would Kimbly just attack Al like that?

"Kimbly...he took mother," Al told them, much to everyone's surprise. "He dug her up. And now Edo plans to bring her back again."

Hawkeye snarled in disgust. "That monster."

"Can't he just let her go?" Havoc asked. "Why does Edo want to bring her back?"

Roy's eyes widened in realization. "Do you all remember how homunculi are made?"

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances before silently electing Hughes to say it. "Sure...They're the product of a failed human transmutation. Why?"

Roy began pacing the room, his hand on his chin. If he was right, this could make Edo more dangerous and unstable than ever.

"Alphonse, you said that your brother developed alternate personalities once your mother died, correct?" the colonel questioned.

"Right...?"

"He was born out of a desire to resurrect your mom, therefore, that is his goal in life," Roy stated. He was totally shocked that they hadn't pieced this together before. "He shares a younger Ed's need of bringing back his mom. That's all he thinks about. He wants to bring her back..."

"But why?" Al asked. "I mean, it's not like she knows who Edo is. When she died, Ed and I were still little, and neither of us were anyone but ourselves. She won't know who he is. She'll only know Edward Elric, her real son. Not Edo."

Roy was stuck for an answer. "I...don't know."

"We'll just have to ask him ourselves," Hawkeye said sternly. "Do you know where Kimbly was taking her?"

Al nodded. "He said, 'I'm staying up north at a laboratory. If you want to try and stop me, feel free; I feel like having a bit of fun'. That's what he told me. Do you know where he's talking about Colonel?"

Roy frowned. A laboratory? Did he mean like Lab Five where Barry was? He wasn't aware of any labs up north, but then again, he never looked too much into it.

"I'll have to look it up," Roy said. "I don't recall there being a military lab up north..."

Havoc suddenly gasped. "Hey, wouldn't Armstrong's sister know? I mean, she is located up north at the Barracks, isn't she?"

Each head turned to look at Havoc. He actually had a brain after all! "Havoc," Roy said, his voice laced with disbelief, "you're a genius!"

Havoc smirked and swelled with unchecked pride. "I do have my moments, Sir."

"Alright!" the colonel snapped, drawing his men to attention. "I want one of you to get in contact with Armstrong's sister. Get some good directions up to the Barrics. Then one of you needs to do a little research into what the hell kind of Labs are up in the North area. Am I clear?"

"Crystal, Sir," Hawkeye said with a salute. "I'll research the Labs."

"Guess that leaves me with talkin' with Armstrong's sis," Havoc stated.

Hughes raised his hand. "Uh, what do I do Mustang?"

Roy grinned, making Hughes worry slightly. "You get to come shopping with me. Everyone is gonna need winter gear..."

"Oh joy."