Author's Note: Sorry this one took longer than the last couple chapters guys! I hope it was worth the wait! And I apologize for any errors in the story, I only very quickly glanced through it to get it up as soon as I could. So if you find anything, don't be shy and please let me know so I can correct it. Thank you! Enjoy!

Update: A person was kind enough to point out some very obvious errors of mine already, and I fixed them; but if you catch anymore, I will appreciate you letting me know!

Winry sat solitary by the window; her eyes glazed with worry as she stared blankly at the outside world. Her yellow hair was pulled up into a sloppy ponytail, and her clothes were rumpled from multiple uses with no wash. Her face was expressionless, and the dark circles beneath her eyes highlighted her lack of sleep. She had been this way for nearly five days; ever since Al was taken from her home.

"Winry, you should really consider cleaning up a bit. The boys wouldn't want to see you like this when they get back." Granny suggested gently.

"It's been almost five days..." Winry stated emotionlessly.

"You know how those boys like to walk everywhere; I'm sure they're already on their way home. And you know what? I bet they're expecting me to have a nice warm dinner prepared for them when they arrive!" she encouraged.

"What if Ed never even caught up with whoever took Al? He won't even know where to look..."

"I'm sure Colonel Mustang and Lieutenant Hawkeye caught up to Ed and are helping him in any way they can. And on top of that, Hughes and everyone else are back at Central searching for Al as well. So don't worry Winry, we'll see them again soon."

"And I am here to finish fixing your house and protect you Miss Winry!" Armstrong's voice boomed.

Winry turned her head towards the major and gave a weak smile before looking out at the darkening sky, "I miss them Granny."

"I know you do dear. But they'll find their way back, they always do."

She went silent for a moment; unsure if she should voice her concerns to Granny or not. "Granny, what if it's different this time?"

"It won't be. They'll be here safe before you know it. I promise." Pinako assured her granddaughter as she gave her a comforting hug.

Winry felt the warmth of Granny leave her; and out of the corner of her eye, she saw her head towards the kitchen and begin to slowly rummage around; searching for something to cook. She also heard the major ask if Granny needed assistance; but of course she assured him she was perfectly capable of cooking a meal; and it was the least she could do in thanks to him for fixing up their house. At the thought of food, her stomach grumbled; but she didn't feel hungry, so she ignored what her body told her she needed and succumbed to what her mind and emotions told her she didn't need.

Still looking out the window, Winry wondered where Ed and Al could possibly be.

Darkness had finally fallen upon the city as Roy and his subordinates approached it. The stars began to glimmer more dimly as the city lights reached their full capacity; and Roy noticed that it was a rather quiet night for a Friday in Central, and that wasn't the norm. While trying to figure out what the possible reason could be for such an abnormally quiet Friday night, the familiar voice if Edward interrupted his thinking process.

"Does it seem...quiet to you Mustang?" he asked suspiciously.

First glancing at Riza to see if she thought the same as them, and she did, he looked back to Ed; "Yes. It's eerily quiet...I don't like it."

"Sir, do we still head to Central Command?"

"Well it's our best bet at finding out what's going on right?" he answered Hawkeye.

"Right."

Turning his head back to his left side, and then slightly downwards, he asked the blonde teen, "Is that alright with you Fullmetal?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "It makes the most sense."

"Good. Then we'll head to the command center, and if it doesn't look safe there, we'll figure out somewhere else to go."

Ed grunted in agreement, and Hawkeye nodded here. With that, the group made their way inconspicuously into the city towards Central Command. Roy kept an ear out for any of the typical city bustle of the evening, but heard nothing except for the occasional rustle of litter blowing in the wind. On his exterior, Roy kept alert, ready to be aware of any possible danger that could seem to happen at any moment; but on the inside, Roy was relieved to be doing something right by Edward. Ed had seemed satisfied with the current plan, and that pleased Roy. The last time he had suggested a plan to Edward, he had run away from him in an angry dash. The dark-haired man wasn't going to let that happen again; not if he could help it. Roy would not be the cause of pain or unhappiness in the teen's life ever again.

Central Command was in view not long after arriving to the city, and the group came to a halt. Roy examined the building with wary dark eyes; but it looked like it usually did, quiet with two guards posted at the entrance.

"It looks safe enough." Ed said quietly.

"Yeah," he paused giving one last sweep with his eyes of the area, "let's go."

Roy and his pair of subordinates approached the entrance and the sentries posted in front of it. He could see the initial tension in the guards' bodies as their group first headed towards them; but the tension quickly vanished from their faces once they recognized who Roy was. The guards saluted the trio, and they moved aside to let them through. Walking up the familiar path, Roy instantly felt more at ease than he had in days. This made him chuckle inwardly to himself because he thought it was ironic that he felt comfortable at work of all places. Regardless, he was grateful for the familiar surroundings; and by the looks of it, Edward and Hawkeye seemed more relaxed as well.

Deciding it was best to head to his office first, that's where Roy, Ed, and Riza went first. Upon reaching the room, they were greeted by happy, familiar, faces. Havoc, Fuery, Breda, and Falman were all present, and when Roy and his pair entered the room, they all wore priceless expressions of being caught off guard. The sight made Roy even smile. He knew that, he, and the other two needed this. Needed to see their group of friends and comrades after being gone for what seemed like a months.

"How are you all doing?" Roy smirked.

There was a short pause before a burst of voices erupted from the other four men in the room.

"That good huh?" he answered the jumble of voices, laughing.

Once the colonel spoke again, they all quieted down, looked at one another, and answered, "yes sir!"

"It's good to see you all alive and well," Havoc replied, "and I think I speak for all of us when I say that." he half smirked; cigarette in mouth.

"It's good to see you all too. Surprisingly enough, I actually kinda missed you all!" he joked.

Looking around the room once more, he realized that Hughes wasn't present, "where's Hughes?"

And just when Havoc was about to answer Roy's inquiry, he heard yet another familiar voice: "Roy! You finally made it back! That took you long enough! And Edward! Nice to see you're in good shape!" When Maes said that, Roy noticed him glance in his direction, as if looking for a reaction to Edward's well-being. But it didn't last more than a split second before he started to blabber on again, "And Riza, as always, a pleasure to see you!" he finished smiling.

Roy smiled at his friend's always loud entrance, "Nice to see you too Hughes."

"You three must be starving!" Maes stated.

"A bit." the dark haired man admitted.

"Fuery! Can you please go get some good and drink for your superiors?"

"Of course, I'll be right back." Fuery told them all as he left the room.

With all the greetings out of the way, Roy's warm and inviting expression morphed into one of weariness, knowing he would now have to see what was going on here in the city, and if Hughes had uncovered any news on Alphonse.

"Hughes, I have two questions for you."

"Okay, what's the first one?"

"First, what is going on here? Why is there absolutely no one out and about in the city? It's the weekend for goodness sake!"

"Oh yes, that. Well while you three were essentially AWOL for nearly a week, we had a few incidents of our own."

When Hughes paused, Roy looked at him expectantly for more details.

"You can ease up a bit Roy, it's nothing us military dogs can't handle." he paused again, and then finally began to explain the necessary details, "three nights ago, a group of men came into the city guns ablaze. They were hard to catch because they were in a vehicle when they decided to go on their shooting spree. Luckily, no one was killed, just a few injuries. So that's why the streets are empty. We've ordered everyone to stay inside for their own safety until we catch the maniacs." he finished.

"Are these attacks related to Alphonse's kidnappers?" Ed asked Hughes quietly.

"Not that we've discovered. I'm sorry Ed, we haven't been able to dig anything up on the people who took your brother." he answered the teen regretfully.

"It's okay Hughes..."

Roy looked sorrowfully at Ed as the blonde's facial expression went from hopeful to disappointment with a mix of all too familiar worry. Once again he felt the familiar urge to comfort the teen, but he knew he couldn't; not here, not now, and probably not ever. He clenched his gloved fists in frustration; he felt so helpless right now, and he, Colonel Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist, never, ever, felt helpless like he did right now. Being inside his head for a few moments, Roy unknowingly lost control of his mask for a second, and he knew that he had done so immediately after the fact because Hughes was giving him that look again.

He bit back the urge to question Hughes about it right here and now, and instead averted his eyes to anywhere else in the room that didn't contain Maes, or Edward for that matter. As he continued to avoid eye contact with just about everyone in the room, his friend spoke again.

"I take it that was similar to your second question Roy?" Maes spoke again, glancing at Ed, then looked to Roy.

"Oh. Yes. It was." he answered monotone.

Hughes nodded and then turned at the sound of the door. Roy looked to where Hughes was looking and saw Fuery walk back in with a giant tray of food.

"Who's ready for dinner?" he asked smirking.

Ed looked at the tray carrying the variety of food; knowing all too well at how hungry he was. But for one if the first times in his life, the thought of having to eat right now made him sick to his stomach. The renewed feelings if doubt and worry about his little brother crept back up inside of him and made him stiffen his body and not want to eat; he just couldn't do it at the moment.

"Fullmetal, aren't you going to get something to eat? I would think you would have been the first one at that tray." Roy teased gently.

"I'll eat in a bit." was his only response.

Ed ignored the flash of concern in Mustang's eyes; any other time it would have ignited a spark of hope inside him, but not right now. He didn't want to think of the dark haired man. The colonel shouldn't be a top priority at the moment; Al was.

After mulling through his thoughts for a bit, he decided it best to eat; regardless if he actually felt like it or not. He filled up a plate, and took it with him to the farthest chair in the room; wanting nothing but to be alone. He wanted to leave again; to go and find Al. But he knew he couldn't, none of his comrades would let him; not without joining him at least.

Continuing to mope in the corner, Ed sat in silence and forced down the food he didn't want to eat.

Roy continued to glance at Edward with pain in his eyes. He couldn't bear to see the young man act this way. It was so far from the bright-eyed fiery teen he was so accustomed to. Sighing, he forced down his last bites of his much needed meal, and began to stand up. Just as he did, Hughes intercepted him and beckoned for him to follow.
Roy grunted his understanding and placed his empt plate on the table beside him before following his friend.

The pair didn't travel far as Hughes stopped only halfway down the hall from Roy's office.

"What's this about Maes?"

"How are you doing?" his friend asked in an almost completely serious tone.

"I'm good."

"Are you really Roy?"

"Why wouldn't I be Hughes?" Roy asked slightly irritated.

"You know why."

Roy held his friend's gaze; not wanting to give in and surrender. But he knew if he continued to hold his ground, his eyes would betray him and Hughes would get what he was looking for.

"Roy. I see the way you look at him. Don't tell me you don't care for him as more than a friend or a comrade."

Knowing if he spoke, his voice would confirm Hughes's suspicions. But if he continued to look him in the eyes, his own would give him away as well. So Roy did what he couldn't manage at the moment, and looked down at his feet. His dark bangs his face, and Roy could still feel Maes's gaze burning at him.

"You don't have to admit it if you don't want to, or even can't right now. Just please don't lie to me. But I know you won't, and aren't, so thank you for at least doing your best right now."

Roy nodded hearing the words, and Hughes continued to talk.

"We'll find Alphonse, don't worry Roy. You'll see Ed's smile again. I can see how much it pains you to see him in this state." he paused, "can you promise me something?"

"What?" he asked weakly.

"Promise you'll be safe and make rational decisions, even if the situation involves Edward."

"I promise Hughes. Now may I go back? Or do you have anything else to add?"

"Just one question."

"Go on."

"So you don't have any information on Al's kidnappers either?"

"No. No sign of them anywhere. We do believe however that they took the main road here to Central, not the countryside one we took. But that's all we have discovered." Roy responded.

"Well, it's a start I suppose. Tell you what? You three rest up tonight, and we'll start investigating again tomorrow?" Hughes suggested a little more lightly.

"Sounds good Hughes, please let Fullmetal and the lieutenant know too, I'm off to home." Roy requested and informed him.

"Will do. Get some good rest Roy, see you here tomorrow morning."

Roy nodded, and promptly turned around and headed down the corridor, passing his office. He was out the front doors before he knew it, and walking down the street into the frigid night air on his way home.