Yup, it's the next chapter! Enjoy!

Winry awoke with a start. The soft morning light was filtering through the closed curtains. She was still in the chair beside Edward's bed, and someone had covered her with a blanket. Probably granny, thought Winry. Winry rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked over to Ed's bed. She jumped to see him sitting up, his head grasped in his one hand. He hadn't noticed that she had woken up. Ed's amber eyes were filled with sadness, and his face looked so… lost. Winry hadn't seen him like this since his mother died.

"Ed?" she said softly. He jumped and raised his head from his hand to look at her. He looked like he was struggling to recognise her again, but then his eyes cleared once more.

"Hey Win." He murmured, his voice hoarse from lack of use. "How long have I been out?" he asked, clearing his throat.

"Just the night." She said. Ed closed his eyes briefly. Then tried to get up. As he swung his legs over the edge of the bed he let out a gasp of pain, and his hand flew to his wound on his stomach. He looked down at the bandages wrapped around him.

"Oh," he sighed. Winry's eyes filled with tears.

"Oh Ed," she sobbed, "What happened to you?" Ed looked up, startled by her tears.

"Winry, don't cry! It doesn't hurt that much! See?" he removed his hand from the bandages. Winry coughed angrily.

"Edward, you idiot! You've been missing for over a month, we were all worried sick! Then you just turn up in the state you're in and act like it doesn't matter!" she ranted. She waited for Ed to make his usual comeback, but it never came. Instead he just looked sad. His eyes lowered from her face to the floor.

"I'm sorry I made you worry Winry." He said softly "I…" he broke off and looked out the window. There was the sound of a car door slamming. Ed looked back at Winry.

"Who's that?" He questioned. Winry thought for a moment.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, "Al called General Mustang last night, and he insisted on coming out." There was the sound of voices from outside. "And it sounds like he bought Hughes with him." She finished. Ed sighed and a shadow of his old smile caught Winry off guard. She blushed.

"Just what I need. Stupid General Sarcasm coming to chew my ear of about danger!" he moaned. He looked at Winry, concerned.

"Hey Win, are you O.K? You look hot," he said, reaching out his hand.

"Eh?" Winry's eyes widened. Whaaat?! She thought, misinterpreting his words.

"Your face. It's pink." He said placing a hand on her forehead.

"Oh!" Winry said blushing harder as she realised what he meant. She was Blushing!

"Oh, ahaha" she laughed loudly. "It's just, um… too hot in here! Yeah… Haha!" Ed looked at her strangely.

"Winry your so strange sometimes!" he laughed, a flicker of pain crossing his face as he strained his wound. Winry smiled. At least she had made him laugh. Then she realised what he had said.

"HEY! I am NOT strange!" she scowled, and then tapped him playfully on the head with her wrench. Ed just grinned at her. They fell silent and the room became serious again. Ed sighed, the sadness taking root on his face again. Winry knew that even after the physical pain went away, Edward would be battling with his mental pain for a while. Whatever he had been through must have been terrible for him to show his emotion like this. She decided to go straight to it.

"Ed, what happened?" she said gently, but with stubbornness to her voice. Ed's tortured expression told her that she wasn't going to get a straight answer.

"I… I can't remember. Not totally… What I do remember isn't of any use. All I know is it was…. Horrible… but I don't know why…" Ed's expression of intense pain was almost unbearable. He let out a cry filled with pain and frustration. "I know it was terrible… but… but my mind… it just won't let me…" Ed's voice broke. Winry looked at him with shock. She hadn't seen Ed upset for nearly six years. He wasn't crying. He wasn't that far gone… yet. But she knew, for Ed to be this… broken, he had to be going through hell.

"Ed…" Winry began, but was cut off by the door opening. Al, Roy, Hughes and Pinako all trooped in. Ed struggled back into a sitting position and gave a mild smile.

"Well aren't I the popular one?" he muttered, with only a hint of his old confidence. Winry was still in shock from her conversation with Ed. Al breathed a sigh of relief to see his brother looking more alert. Roy and Hughes stepped further into the room.

"Trust you to give us all the run around, and then turn up a wreck FullMetal!" Roy said grinning arrogantly as usual. Ed just looked at Roy and sighed.

"Sorry… I just…" Ed broke off, looking frustrated. The room fell into a stunned silence. Ed never apologised for anything, nor did he ever ignore a dig from Roy. Roy looked shocked at Edward's response, and Hughes looked grim. Al walked over to the bedside.

"Brother? How are you feeling now?" he asked tentatively. Ed looked up at his younger brother and managed an encouraging smile.

"I'm fine, Al. Don't worry about me. Wounds like these heal quick." He said softly. Winry knew that Al was also referring to Ed's mental state, but kept quiet anyway. Roy tried again.

"So, FullMetal, are you going to tell us what happened to you?" he asked studying Ed carefully. Ed flinched, but recovered himself quickly.

"I don't really remember much right now," He said quietly, his face impassive. "Maybe I hit my head or something." Again, Roy looked uncomfortable at Ed's lack of… personality. Hughes suddenly stepped out from behind Roy, his usual grin hitched on his face.

"Well guys, I reckon we've tired Ed out enough now! You should get some more rest Ed." He said lightly. Winry knew what he was doing, and was grateful. Hughes could tell that Ed wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, and was getting rid of everyone the easiest way possible. Hughes dragged of a protesting Roy, and Pinako and Al left quietly behind them. Ed flopped back onto his pillows looking exhausted. Winry smiled at him, and then rose from her chair.

"Well Ed, I guess I'll leave you to get some sleep." She said, smiling at him before moving towards the door.

"Win?" Ed's voice followed her.

"Yeah?" she turned, Her hand on the handle. Ed smiled weakly.

"Thanks for watching over me…" he said quietly before closing his eyes. Winry's eyes filled with tears as she closed the door behind her. I'll always watch over you Ed she thought, always…

Ed's not been having a very good time lately has he? I'm so mean to him! This was a long chapter compared to the others… Please Review, next chap will be up soon!