"Dad, please, let me go with you," Little Ed begged his father as Al hurriedly threw clothes into a suitcase.

"No," Al said, shaking his head with disapproval. He rarely had to be strict with Little Ed but he felt guilty enough leaving his family alone; he didn't want to bring his son along not knowing what would happen while he helped Edward get Elysia and his son back.

Al turned to Little Ed and placed his hands on his son's shoulders, "I need you here to help your mother. I don't want the twins to think they can get away with anything while I'm away."

"Okay," Little Ed nodded, understanding he would be more helpful to his father by not arguing and staying home. "I hope you and Uncle Ed find Aunt Elysia."

"Me too," Al said then checked his watch. After he got off the phone with Mustang he called the train station. The train to East City was ready to depart and he had to beg Gloria's father to hold it for him. He didn't want to delay the train any longer; not for the passengers sake but for his brother's. He finished packing, locked his suitcase and headed out of the room with Little Ed trailing.

"You remember how to activate the circles I set up around the house?" He questioned Little Ed as they went downstairs.

"Of course."

"Good. General Ross from eastern headquarters will be sending troops but it'll take time for them to get here. In the meantime I want you to keep a close eye on everyone. I don't anticipate you having to use the circles..."

"I don't understand why you asked for soldiers to come here," Little Ed interrupted. He heard overheard everything his father had said over the phone.

"It's just a precaution while I'm gone."

"A precaution for what?" His son asked worriedly. His father was usually very patient. But while he was on the phone he was very direct and to the point; almost demanding. Little Ed had never seen that side of his dad before and it frightened him.

Al stopped before heading down to the basement and turned to reassure Little Ed. "I don't believe anything is going to happen while I'm gone but I'm not taking any chances. You're in charge now and you must do what I would normally do; which is protecting everyone. Can you do this for me?"

Little Ed nodded confidently though his eyes were wide with worry but Al knew he could trust his son. "Good, now wait here. Do not follow me. I'll just be a minute," and he disappeared into the dark basement.

A couple minutes later he returned and took his suitcase from Little Ed and hurried over to his in-laws. Gloria was used to Al rushing off to help with emergencies but was even more understanding when she learned it concerned Edward and Elysia. Al said his good byes to the rest of the children and ran to the train station.

While Al made his way to Central, the military was busy searching for two missing persons and a person of interest.

The descriptions for Russell Tringum, Elysia Hughes-Elric and Richard Latour were sent to the four main headquarters then relayed to the different outposts, bases and forts throughout Amestris. Check points were established on all roads out of Central and every vehicle was to be searched. All train stations throughout Amestris were put on the alert of two missing persons and the likely suspect. There was a stop on all trains leaving Central and were only allowed to leave after each and every car was searched along with any standing unused at the station. The park was searched thoroughly and Investigations conducted interviews but there were zero leads. It was the same when Edward's neighbors were interviewed; nothing suspicious, no strangers, nothing out of the ordinary.

Edward's and Gracia's townhouses were also searched thoroughly for anyone suspicious or wire taps. Their homes were clean but Edward couldn't go back. Instead he stayed with Havoc, along with Gracia and Erika. The Erika Latour stayed with Rebecca Catalina. She was kept updated with search activities but never by Edward. He had too much time on his hands while he waited for Al to arrive. He wasn't allowed to leave and he couldn't tear himself away from his daughter. While he endured the wait, his resentment towards the older Erika grew despite his efforts.

He hated the wait. He hated the inactivity. He hated being stuck with Lin - who Mustang and Havoc insisted stay close - and hated being surrounded by several guards who Riza Hawkeye handpicked and trusted the most.

Edward felt trapped and useless; his non-existent patience worn thin. Three days later, when he saw his brother step off the train, Edward felt some relief and almost rushed over to hug Al. But he restrained himself. They were two grown men; not little boys anymore and he was irritated to be literally under house arrest while he waited for Al... who was late...

"It's about fucking time," Edward griped when he approached his brother.

"Is that any way to talk to me after rushing here to be with you?"

"I have more than enough babysitters. I should be out there looking for that asshole, Russell."

Al couldn't blame his brother for being irritable. If his wife was abducted and someone made him stay in one place he'd be just as angry as Edward was. The rudeness was a way for him to deal with the worry and fear for his wife and son's safety. Looking at his older brother Al could see the impatience was due to more than just waiting; the dark circles under his eyes and the pale complexion showed that Edward hadn't slept much and probably hadn't eaten much either since they last talked. It angered Al to see Edward like that.

"Now," Edward continued, "will you tell me what you refused to over the phone?"

"When we won't be overheard," which is what Al did once he and Edward were settled in the towncar with Havoc at the wheel that was to take them to headquarters. Edward made the guards stay behind to watch over his daughter and Gracia.

"Why didn't you tell me about Briggs?!" Edward exclaimed, unable to believe Al would hold back information that important from him. "I could have been there already! We could have concentrated the search there..."

"I didn't want you going without me and Mustang did concentrate the search there."

"I think I'm capable of doing things myself. I'm upset and worried, not incompetent!"

"Think about it Edward. Taking Elysia and your son, do you really think Russell is going to leave it at that," Al argued back. "From the way Fletcher talked, Russell hasn't gotten over the fact he was transferred and you rose through the ranks so quickly. He'll want to gloat and rub it in your face that he has them and will probably want you to do something to get them back."

"So."

"So! I don't want you to make that decision on your own. You're not going to do this alone anymore."

"Fine time for you to decide to be my brother," Edward fumed.

"Take that back, Edward. I know you're angry but don't take this out on me like that."

"I know what this is, Al. You're trying to make up for me going alone to fight in the war."

"You are the most stubborn person..." Al paused to calm down. "You need to let people help you. I want to get Elysia and your son..."

"... Richard," Edward said quietly. "His name is Richard."

"Then I want to get Elysia and Richard back just as much as you do. I've known Elysia as long as you have and Richard is my nephew."

"I know, Al," Edward said apologetically, "I'm scared I'll never see Elysia again and that I'll never get to meet Richard..."

Al closed his eyes and sighed, ashamed for being so defensive when his brother attacked him when he knew the cause of Edward's anger.

"I don't want to think the worse but I'm afraid that when I see them again they won't be..." Edward turned away and looked out the window, trying to maintain a facade of calm with his mouth firmly set in a straight line, his face still as a statue but Al saw the anguish in his eyes.

"They must be so scared," he added a minute later when he was sure he wasn't about to break down. "That fucker had no business... if he wanted to get back at me he should have just come to face me like a man," he continued, his voice rising with true anger. "He was always a weasel. Using my name in Xenotine, then signing up for the war... did you know he requested to be placed under my command when he joined?" He asked turning back to look at Al who shook his head. "I thought Mustang did it just to piss me off but Russell made the request when he became a State Alchemist. The bastard probably thought I'd let him ride my coattails, that he'd have it easy; wouldn't have to earn his own way. He was always watching me and Erika when we were together. Jean never trusted him. I did for some reason until I finally came to my senses... and now he's probably more dangerous than ever if he's hosting Greed..."

"Hosting Greed!" Al asked in shock. This was news to him. "What are you talking about?"

Edward smirked. It was sardonic and twisted. "You trusted the one man you shouldn't have."

"Tell me, Edward," Al demanded.

"Our fabulous Fuhrer kept Envy alive while the Great Emperor of Xing kept Greed. Both homunculi have been taken. When I went to look for Elysia in the park, all I found were her art supplies and on the canvas she was working on was the sign of the Ouroboros. A note was left in Richard's room for me. We don't know for sure if Russell is hosting Greed. For all we know it could be Envy."

Al shook his head in disgust. "I thought we were done with those things."

"Me too."

"I wonder why our father never sensed the homunculi," Al thought out loud, trying to digest this new turn of events.

"It's not like he's ever around," Edward said derisively. "Besides, Mustang had his own traps set up around Envy underground and Greed was underground in Xing too. It's not likely Hohenheim would have noticed."

"So you suspect Russell had something to do with the missing homunculi?"

Edward nodded.

"But how would he have known they existed? We didn't even know."

Edward shrugged like he didn't even care about that anymore. "Mustang admitted to allowing only a handful of others to know about Envy. It's not like it matters now. They're loose."

"I guess not," Al agreed. "But how did Russell find Richard? How would he have known you had a son?"

"He went looking for Erika. The note said he went to look up an old friend." Edward dug in his pocket and produced the rumpled note and gave to Al to read. "He discovered Richard by accident," he added, disgusted. "My son was minding his own business, going about his life when that crazy psycho came and destroyed it..."

Al handed the note back after he read it but Edward didn't take it so he put it in his pocket. "Edward, I'm so sorry this is happening."

"It's my fault..."

"No, it's not!" Al said angrily. "It's not your fault Russell didn't grow up and get over his petty jealousy..."

"I held him back..."

"I wasn't there but I know you and you wouldn't do that. You would have treated him as you would everyone else and he was expecting you to be his friend, not his commanding officer."

"I know you're right but I still can't help but feel it's my fault; that I could have prevented this somehow."

"You have to stop this. You can't always take the blame. You can't control other people's actions."

"I know," Edward said miserably, looking back out the window, watching the cars pass in the opposite direction but not seeing anything. "I am glad you're here," he added, turning back to face Al. "The only person I could trust these past three days has been Havoc. It's good to have someone else I can trust and depend on."

"You know I'll always be here for you, Brother."

Edward smiled gratefully.