Edward sat in the back of a covered ambulance trying to decide on what he should really be thinking about. He had allowed a medic to give him a quick examination. He barely noticed when medic was done and said his vitals were normal but he should still see a doctor. When the medic moved on to Fletcher, he looked to his right. Lin was lying on a stretcher, still unconscious. Opposite him Fletcher Tringum was sitting up, having his vitals taken. He didn't look too good. Too much time spent in the Gate without food and water had taken its toll on him.

Richard sat across from Edward, keeping a careful eye on his father like he was afraid Edward would disappear into thin air. Brigadier General Miles was trying to persuade Edward to return to Briggs along with Al, who was standing outside looking expectantly him.

"Sir," Miles began again. "I strongly urge you to return to Briggs for proper medical attention."

"I'm fine."

"Edward, he's right," Al said. "I know the Gate set things in order but still, you should have a doctor..."

"I said I'm fine."

Edward was unusually calm yet insistent. It unnerved Al. He explained everything that had happened when he was within the Gate. Edward listened. He didn't interrupt or ask questions when Al was done. He was keeping whatever he was thinking or feeling to himself and it worried Al.

"Look," Al continued. "Miles will stay here and wait for Mustang and Jean. We'll get word to you when they return."

It was too late to cover up his mistake. Edward glared at him. "You think I'm going to just leave you here so you can run off behind my back."

"No, that's not it," Al fumbled even though it was exactly what he wanted to do. But he hadn't forgotten recent events. "Besides," he continued with more confidence and a touch of indignation, "who was the one who ran off on their own to face Russell?"

"I don't want to get into this, Al," Edward said angrily but his heart wasn't in it. He was in turmoil but he wasn't about to let anyone see it... or at least see how much it was affecting him.

He felt he should feel and express some concern for Mustang and Havoc after what Al told him. But he was still reeling from the loss of his automail... and alchemy.

He wasn't sure if he'd lost the ability to use alchemy. Al said they would have to use the Xing alchemists' technique and he and his brother had been practicing for years. They'd even managed it without a transmutation circle. He had no doubt in his ability... just the Gate's word. Al seemed sure they could use Xing's form of alchemy but he hadn't demonstrated it and that made Edward nervous.

He knew he could easily erase his doubts. All he had to do was put his hands together or draw a simple transmutation circle.

But he didn't.

He was scared that nothing would happen. And if nothing happened… where would that leave him? It was his alchemy and his automail that made him the Fullmetal Alchemist. He already lost one piece of his identity. He didn't think he could handle losing another. He was still a General; but a General of the military that was led by someone who had lied to him for almost twenty years.

"General?"

The sound of his military title spoken out loud broke him free from the shackles of his thoughts. "What?" He asked looking confused and distracted.

Miles shot a brief, worried glance at Al before repeating himself. "What are your orders, General Elric? You outrank me so you are in charge here. We will do whatever you see fit."

"Send a platoon to follow Mustang..."

"Excuse me, sir," Miles interrupted nervously. "But I've already told you the Fuhrer left orders that we were not to follow him."

Edward felt his face redden, embarrassed that he hadn't been paying attention. It wasn't like him to dress down a subordinate for his own mistakes but he was on edge. "Then what the hell are you asking me for if you have all the answers?!"

After a minute of uncomfortable silence, Al cleared his throat and spoke up. "Well, I'm not part of the military so I don't have to follow Mustang's orders so I'll..."

"No you won't," Edward snapped. "I'm pulling rank on you as your older brother. I may not have been the greatest but I can still do something about it."

"But..."

"Don't argue with me," Edward continued feeling the urge to act like a General now. "Miles send fifty men to the end of the tunnel. Have them set up a new relay station if the one there was destroyed by the homunculi. I want two squads in the forest at the Amestris-Drachma border to welcome the Fuhrer and Brigadier General Havoc back and to..."

"But, Edward," Al interrupted. "What if they...?"

"We will wait. You did say all the homunculi must be returned before Amestrian alchemists lost their use of alchemy. Envy could still be alive so Mustang can take care of himself."

"But we don't know if Envy is still alive. That's why I think I should..."

"Don't make me do to you what you did to me, Alphonse," Edward threatened liking the idea of a little payback after being trapped in the tunnel waiting anxiously alone.

Al hesitated a bit but he wasn't done trying to argue his point; though he knew Edward was not joking. "But how do we know we can use alchemy? The Gate could be lying about it all."

"Want to test me?" Edward asked menacingly with a hint of a restrained smile. At least he knew now that Al was just as unsure as he was. He also noted that neither one of them, once again, did not attempt to perform alchemy; embarrassed that if the Gate had lied to them they would look like fools when their attempt failed. But sooner or later they'd have to find out.

"Maybe some other time," Al said backing down.

"Good. Now, we will wait to give the Fuhrer the time he needs. If he's not back in twenty four hours then we'll..."

"We?" Al asked glancing at his brother skeptically, making a point of glancing at Edward's weak arm and leg.

Edward ignored him though knew it wasn't without reason and went on. "I'll send you, Al, along with the fifty..."

"I'd like to go as well, sir," Miles interrupted.

"Can I finish my fucking orders?!"

"Yes, sir," Miles said sheepishly but there was a hint of an amused sparkle in his red eyes.

"Thank you," Edward grumbled irritably. "Miles, you, along with my idiot brother," Al scowled but kept silent, "will take fifty men," he continued, "and wait at the end of the tunnel, repair or reestablish communications and recover the bodies of the men we've lost."

"Yes, sir," Miles said quietly when he was sure Edward was done. Any amusement he was feeling was completely gone. He quickly left to make preparations to carry out Edward's orders.

Al moved to leave but Edward caught him by the sleeve. "Promise me you will wait the twenty four hours before going after Mustang and Jean."

Al remained silent scaring Edward.

"Promise me, Alphonse," he insisted looking deep into his brother's eyes to convey his concern. "It's almost over. I don't want to hear you went looking for those two and ended up caught by some random Drachman patrol. You'd be in their country without a pass and they may mistake you for me."

Al blushed. He hadn't thought about that. "Okay, I promise."

"Thank you," Edward said with a sigh of relief and let Al go. But just to be sure he ordered Miles to notify him immediately if his brother broke the promise. After Miles and Al set off back through the tunnel, Edward was helped out of the ambulance so Lin and Fletcher could be taken to Briggs. Russell was sitting quietly in a jeep with armed guards, their guns pointed straight at his head. But he didn't resist or attempt to explain or apologize for his actions. Nobody would have listened anyways.

Edward had confidence Mustang would set out to accomplish the destruction of the rest of the homunculi. He felt they were no longer in danger so he didn't bother to send Richard back to Briggs. Edward knew his son would have refused anyway or else pulled the same stunt. Plus, he wanted company. After watching the dust die down from the truck that held Russell, bound for a Briggs holding cell and a guarantee Elysia would be told he was alright, Edward settled down for the wait.

He hated waiting but he wasn't able to do much else. To keep his mind occupied he had Richard talk to him. He needed the distraction but after an hour he could see how exhausted his son was and didn't force him to continue. As Richard dozed, his head dropping onto Edward's shoulder, he was left with his thoughts once again. He wished he could get some sleep too but it was impossible. He stared at his hands. He almost put them together but stopped. He felt foolish for being so scared to try.

So much had happened. So much had changed. He made himself focus on how he would deal with those changes instead of pouting over them. It wasn't the end of the world. His wife and son were safe and that was more important to him than alchemy. Then, once he got word that Mustang and Havoc had returned in one piece, he could move on past the ordeal of the last few days. He didn't think he'd want anything to do with alchemy anyways once it was over so what did it matter? But it did he realized.

There was going to be a lot of explaining to do to all the State Alchemists around the country. Edward smirked, satisfied that the burden would be placed upon Mustang's shoulders to handle the mess. He still hadn't quite forgiven the Fuhrer for keeping Envy and Greed secret from him. He felt Mustang had so far gotten off easy. But taking care of the aftermath of Al's arrangement with the Gate would be enough punishment for the Fuhrer, Edward thought. Finally, after getting confirmation from the repaired radio that Al and Miles were in the midst of recovery efforts while awaiting the return of the Fuhrer, he fell asleep.