A/N: I am sorry for the wait. Please excuse errors, I am exhausted. Proofreading will come later.

Chapter 8

Roy eyed the IV in his arm with extreme distaste. This was unnecessary and he told Hughes so. Honestly, there was no reason to be here, he could go home and drink water if that is what everyone wanted.

"Would you actually go home and drink water and rest?" Maes asked with a raised eyebrow.

Roy went quiet. They both knew that he wouldn't. Not with Edward freshly admitted to the hospital. Not when these next few hours were so important in determining how much of a recovery Edward was going to make.

When they had moved Edward from the car, the boy didn't protest the unfamiliar doctors and nurses who prodded and began checking his vitals. The trip had exhausted him and he was now too weak to put up any kind of resistance. It was unnerving to see Ed like that. Still and practically limp as they moved him onto a stretcher. He looked dead already and Roy's stomach dropped at the thought.

Ed had been situated in a room that was down on the other side of the hall from Roy. There, he was put on oxygen again and his injuries were assessed by the doctor on staff. He had already been given antibiotics and painkillers. At the Colonel's request, they had held off on the morphine. As long as Edward was able to remain calm, they wouldn't sedate him or load him with that painkiller here.

Roy hoped he didn't panic and punch any of the nurses on staff. It was bad enough that Ed was known as that boy who always ripped out his IV and escaped out the windows.

"I should check on him…" Roy began getting out of bed, looking to see if his IV pole had wheels. It didn't. He would have to drag it into the other room. Edward wasn't too far away, he could manage it.

"Roy, no. Stop." Hughes set a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Just stop. Enough. Al is with him. There's nothing else for you to do right now."

"I can't just…" Roy made a vague gesture to the hospital bed and then to the entire room.

"Look," Hughes adjusted his glasses with his free hand. "He's not going to die."

"You don't know that." Mustang shook off Hughes' hand in irritation. "You can't know that. His leg…"

"If he loses the leg…" Hughes fought to keep the grimace off of his face. "Ed will adapt. He's strong."

"It will be my fault, Hughes."

"It won't."

Maes sat down heavily in the chair, watching as his friend grimaced uncomfortably. He realized that Roy must have still been fighting off a headache. The room fell silent as Mustang breathed through the stabbing pains in his skull. Exhaustion had found the Colonel again, and it was overcoming him.

"You should go back to work," Roy said through clenched teeth. And he hated how drained and weak his voice sounded, as if he was much younger man on the verge of tears. He was just so tired.

"No, I'm going to stay here for a little while longer."

"You'll get in trouble. It won't look good." Roy took a deep, steadying breath.

"I don't care. They can suspend us both."

Roy smirked slightly and leaned his head farther back against the pillows, trying to relieve some of the tension that was causing pain in his shoulders.

"Let other people take care of things for now. Just rest." Hughes said softly. Mustang didn't want to admit it, but in that moment, he was relieved to let go, even if it was only for a little while.

"Let me know, if you hear anything about Edward."

"Of course."

Roy was asleep within moments.


Roy had only been kept for one full night before he was deemed healthy enough to return home to continue resting. However, home turned out to be an uncomfortable chair in Edward's hospital room. Ed's breathing seemed to be improving finally, though he still needed to wear an oxygen mask most of the time. Edward seemed to be able to deal with it, but the Colonel wasn't sure if that was because he had Al at his side or if the boy was just completely exhausted at this point. Mustang managed to stay by Edward's bedside for a little over a day before Hughes intervened to take him home. Maes might not have been successful in his endeavor, if he hadn't brought reinforcements. Hawkeye had been dealing with paperwork and ridiculous accusations from the Western offices for days and she was not someone to be ignored or taken lightly, especially if she was found to be in a less than pleasant mood. She had walked quietly into Edward's hospital room with Hughes and then she just stared pointedly at the Colonel. After a moment of silence, Mustang got up from his chair and followed her out into the hallway.

"Traitor," Roy muttered to Maes as he walked past. Hughes smiled sadly and shook his head.

"I told you to take it easy," Maes defended. Once they were out in the hallway, Hughes moved away from the door and struck up a conversation with Alphonse. Al was looking nervous, but he calmed quickly, telling Maes about Edward's condition. However, irritated sounding voices drifted in from outside the door and Alphonse lost his train of thought.

"Is Colonel in trouble?" Al asked in a hushed voice. Hughes actually laughed at that.

"He's going to go home for a night and get himself cleaned up."

"Oh, alright." Al said quietly.

"I'm going to stay instead. Is that all right?"

Al visibly perked up at this suggestion. "Of course! I mean, if it's alright with your family. I don't mind at all. It's… nice to see familiar faces."

"Al," Maes started and he made sure Alphonse was looking at him before he continued. "I think you might be one of the bravest people I know."

Alphonse made a small choking type noise and looked embarrassed. "N-not really!" the boy spluttered. "I haven't done anything. I just did what I had to do."

"Roy told me about some of it. You were all by yourself, in an unfamiliar place and you saved Edward."

"Brother would have done the same for me… he has done the same for me."

"Well, I'm proud of you."

Al rubbed the back of his head and looked flustered.

"That's- I didn't….It's… Thank you." Al stammered.

Hughes smiled. He could never adequately express how proud and grateful he was for Alphonse's endurance, but he would try.


The afternoon would have passed quietly, if Edward hadn't had a nightmare. One moment the room was peaceful and the next Ed was kicking, struggling and screaming. He was suddenly so desperately clawing at the oxygen mask that Hughes had yanked it away before he could think of the consequences. Edward struggled for breath, his chest making loud rattling noises as he inhaled and inhaled and choked. Ed's eyes were wild and unfocused. Maes was speaking, telling him it was all right, that he needed to calm down. Then Alphonse finally got a hold of both of his brother's wrists and Ed's attention finally snapped to Al's face.

"Brother! You're alright. You're alright now. It was just a dream. You should put your oxygen mask back on, see? It's just a mask." Al had hesitantly let go of one wrist and was now attempting to show Edward that the mask was safe. "Here, we won't strap it around your head, it will just be loose, alright?"

"Cloth." Ed choked out suddenly, and Al shook his head.

"It's not. It's an oxygen mask. It's to help, remember?"

Ed stared with an uneasy expression, but remained calm as Al maneuvered the mask back in place, he didn't fasten it around his brother's head and, instead, held it gently in place. Edward focused on Alphonse as his brother continued to talk calmly throughout the process.

"You were just dreaming, brother," Al whispered quietly, "We're in the hospital in Central and you still have a fever, but it's getting better." Alphonse's gentle assurances kept up until Edward's eyes drifted closed once more. Unable to grow tired, Alphonse continued to hold the mask steadily in place. The boy glanced up to see Maes smiling at him.

"One of the bravest," Hughes whispered with a proud grin. Al would have blushed at the praise if he could.


It was the third night that Edward was staying in the hospital when the Colonel was permitted to return to his side once again. Hawkeye had made sure that Roy had slept, eaten and showered before he was allowed back at the hospital. Mustang thought it was all unnecessary, but the Lieutenant never left room for argument. While she basically held him hostage in his own home, she had provided him with information about what had happened while he was away. Though Roy had been put on a temporary suspension, it didn't seem like anyone in Central was too interested in forcing him to stay away for long. It was merely an act to appease Brigadier General Hasling, and keep him from pursuing the issue. However, the officials at the Western offices were insisting on further action and a meeting had been arranged with Roy and a western representative to meet with a few higher ranking officers in Central. It was all being kept pretty informal, but Mustang knew that his presence at any kind of disciplinary hearing wouldn't look good for his military career. He would have to worry about all of that later though, at the moment he had much more pressing matters that called for his attention.

He was sitting in a chair watching Edward breathe and attempting to keep up a strained conversation with Alphonse. The oxygen mask had been removed for a time, the doctor was intent on seeing how well Edward did without it for a few hours. Ed was scheduled for surgery in the morning that would remove dead skin around his wound. The debridement would rid Edward of any unhealthy skin and, if successful, it would mean that Edward would not lose his leg. There was also talk of an abscess that had developed under Edward's skin that would be drained of pus. The anticipation of the procedure gave the room a sort of nervous energy that wouldn't allow its occupants to rest easy. The doctor was optimistic about his recovery, but the wound debridement sounded awful and the anxiety from the impeding surgery filled the air until it was stifling. The fact was that if this wasn't successful, if this didn't work, amputation was the most likely outcome. And that idea clung to the air, making the atmosphere thick and unpleasant.

Roy was staring vacantly, watching Ed's chest rise and fall, when Edward's eyes fluttered open unexpectedly.

"How are you feeling?" Roy asked after a moment. The boy gave the Colonel a cursory glance, but didn't seem to be able to focus on him.

"Al?" Ed rasped.

"Here, I'm here," Al's large form hunkered worriedly over the hospital bed.

"Sorry," Ed forced out, his voice sounded rough, but he wasn't coughing yet.

"Sorry, for what, Ed?" Al asked hesitantly. He wanted Edward to rest, but he wanted to know what was wearing on his brother's mind. Ed had never really told Alphonse all the details of being held captive months ago, instead Al had gathered information from what Ed said during his nightmares. It was unpleasant and Alphonse just wanted Edward to talk to him honestly, but Al knew it was still too much sometimes for his brother.

"Scaring you."

"It wasn't your fault," Al responded quickly.

"I fell in the river."

"On accident."

"… I fell because I was being stupid." Edward was blinking hard, struggling to bring the world into focus. His voice sounded stronger than it had been in a while, but the effort it took was draining him.

"You weren't being stupid, I shouldn't have grabbed your shoulder and scared you."

"I was stupid, like before. Scared over nothing… just water. Useless…"

"Ed, you're not…"

"When they take the leg, I will be even more useless, you could do better without me, you should-"

"Shut up, Edward." The words came before Al could stop them. He was suddenly so angry and he actually tremored slightly from the force of it. "You don't get to decide what I should do." Al hissed.

"Al…" Edward seemed to realize he had made mistake, but Alphonse was already too upset with him.

"No, listen. We haven't come all this way, just so you can send me away. I know you're sick and you're hurt and the other doctor gave you morphine before, so maybe that's why you're acting like a jerk now, but just stop it."

Edward just stared with wide eyes, unable to respond before Al turned and stomped over to the side of the room where he sat down with a huff. He was angry enough to want space, but still too traumatized to leave Ed's side completely.

Mustang realized he felt worried at the argument, but he no longer felt like an intruder on the brothers' fights and interactions. A few months ago, Roy would have become uncomfortable and probably left the room at the brothers' argument, feeling like an outsider, but now… now he felt like he somehow belonged there.

"Your brother's right, Edward," Mustang finally said.

"That I'm a jerk?" Ed asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, maybe. But what I mean is that you need to stop. Stop thinking so much right now. Just concentrate on getting better. You're improving a great deal… So just rest now. We'll talk about everything else later."

"After surgery."

"Yes." Because Roy couldn't talk about the possibility of Edward losing the leg or Edward going through withdrawal or Edward nearly dying… it was all too much. Right now, he needed to concentrate on the present.

"You almost sound… optimistic…" Edward's eyes started to drift closed again, he could never stay awake for very long anymore.

"I must be spending too much time with Hughes."

Edward's lips quirked into a smile before his face smoothed out and he slowly fell back into sleep.

Mustang sighed deeply. He had a long night ahead of him.


Roy was pacing and swearing in the waiting area. He had become so manic looking that the nurses were now giving him frightened looks.

"Sit down, Roy," Maes said for the tenth time. Mustang ignored him and Hughes sighed. It was too early for this. Edward had gone into his procedure very early in the morning and Hughes had arrived just in time to see Ed being carted away. About an hour had passed and Mustang had paced the whole time. Maes was going to let him do as he pleased, but his anxiety was disturbing everyone else. Al was sitting very still in the corner and Hughes had given the boy some space. Maes believed that Alphonse would come sit by him once the boy had finished working through whatever personal, emotional turmoil that he was putting himself through currently. However, Roy's actions were almost frantic looking and Hughes thought he was probably worrying Al a little bit.

"Roy," Maes hissed, "they're going to think something is wrong with you. Stop swearing at the floor and sit down."

For the first time, Mustang looked up and saw that there were several hospital staff members staring at him from down the hallway. Roy then hesitantly took a seat in the chair next to Hughes. Maes let out a sigh of relief.

"Have you slept?" Hughes asked immediately. Mustang folded his arms and nodded slightly. "Last night. Did you sleep last night though?"

Roy remained still and quiet, a frown forming on his face.

"Did you eat this morning? Or last night?"

"Yes," Mustang answered curtly. There was a beat before Hughes turned to look at Alphonse.

"Al, is he lying to me?" Maes called across the room, startling Alphonse out of his brooding.

"Maes…" Roy said in a warning tone. Al glanced up for the first time in a long time, looking uncomfortable at being pulled into the conversation.

"Oh… I don't… um… the Colonel… he… um…"

"All right, we're going to the horrible cafeteria to get food," Maes stood and stretched his back. "We'll be back quick. Are you going to be all right for a little while, Al?"

"I'll be alright," Alphonse said quietly.

Roy was being pulled back onto his feet before he could protest.

"I'm not hungry," Mustang hissed as Hughes dragged him down the hall.

"Well, I'm not feeling hungry either, but it's better than just sitting around and waiting."

"Hughes," and there was a vulnerable honesty in Roy's tone that his friend didn't hear often, "I can't eat anything. I won't be able to keep it down."

Maes turned that thought over in his mind. Roy must be feeling awful if he was actually admitting to some of it.

"Coffee?" Hughes asked. Maybe he could sneak some kind of pastry into Roy's hand as well. Something would hopefully be better than nothing.

"Fine," Roy agreed and Maes smiled. It was better than nothing.


"I called brother a jerk," Al whispered. Hughes hummed, but didn't speak. They had returned from their coffee run and were now all sitting in the waiting area in a small semi-circle. Alphonse had moved closer to them, taking a place beside Maes. Time was passing by slowly, as it usually did in hospital waiting rooms.

"You said that I was… brave, but I'm really not. I shouldn't have said that to him," Al lamented softly.

"You've had a hard few weeks. Don't beat yourself up over it," Hughes quickly replied.

"You weren't wrong though," Roy muttered.

"Roy," Maes said in exasperation.

"Edward was being difficult," Mustang defended himself.

"Brother was just scared," Al said in a hushed voice, as if he was sharing a secret with the two men. Hughes was about to reply something comforting when all three of them were alerted to the sound of approaching footsteps. For a brief moment, they went absolutely still. It was the doctor walking closer, his footsteps sounding too loud for the anxious atmosphere. Mustang stood to meet the man. There was a moment of incredible tension that descended on them all. For a moment, Hughes stopped breathing.


Edward was back in his hospital room, sleeping off the anesthetic. The oxygen mask was back in place, strapped securely around his golden head. The smell of antiseptic was strong in the room and it permeated the small room and its occupants.

The doctor had said that they had successfully removed the dead skin from Edward's leg and drained away the pus that had built up.

As long as he continued to receive antibiotics, the doctor believed he would be fine.

Edward would keep his leg.

A great tension had lifted off of Mustang's shoulders and, as he sat in the uncomfortable chair at Edward's bedside, he realized he was breathing easier than he had in weeks.

Upon hearing the news, Alphonse had cried in relief and Hughes had hugged him as best as he could.

The two of them were speaking quietly now, making plans for Edward's recovery. It seemed to be assumed that the boy would stay with Roy again. In light of how clingy Al had been to Ed lately, Mustang had agreed to allow them both to stay with him.

There were things that the Colonel still had to do, but in that moment, watching Edward breath in and out, Roy didn't think anything else really mattered. He thought about all of the fear and uncertainty that he had felt in the last few weeks… in the last few months. Looking after Edward… caring about Edward, it was going to be the end of him, he was sure of it.

Gently, with more tenderness than he thought he was capable of, Roy brushed the hair away from Edward's forehead and let his hand rest on top of the boy's head.

It was fine. It was a burden he would gladly bear.

To be continued…


A/N: So this took so much longer than it was supposed to. Over a month. I am sorry. School has been really awful. Also, I got a little stuck in the beginning of this chapter. Please know that I am not a medical person and I do research, but I can only do so much before I feel like my head is going to explode. Did you guys know that old fashioned oxygen masks were ugly and kind of terrifying looking? These are things I know now.

Also, if you follow me on Archive you may have read that, personally, I wasn't doing well. I still am a bit off lately, but I'm better than I was a few weeks back. There was probably about two weeks there where my depression was pretty bad. I don't want to go into details, but just know that it wasn't good.

Anyway, I think there are only two chapters left of this. We're not going to be going into details of Ed's morphine withdrawal again, I already went there once.

Thank you everyone for your continued support.