A/N: I have no excuses. I just got burnt out on this series. I really needed the break. However, I was determined to not just leave it there. Sorry for the wait. Please excuse mistakes. It's super late.

Chapter 9

Edward was kept in the hospital for one week after his procedure. This meant he went through his initial withdrawal while under the care of different nurses and doctors. Ed was constantly being monitored, so nobody had to worry about dehydration or any of his vitals dipping below normal. However, Edward had the reputation of being one of the worst patients and he continued to exceed the negative expectations. He was moody and uncooperative nearly the entire time. Alphonse and the Colonel apologized for him again and again.

Ed was still having nightmares, but they were never as bad as before and Al was able to calm him down quickly when he woke up in a panic.

"You're not hearing him, are you?" Mustang asked Ed quietly one day, when Alphonse had stepped out to request an extra blanket for his brother. It really wasn't long ago that Edward had been convinced that he was losing his mind because he still heard Warren Pace's voice.

Edward had glanced nervously around the room, making sure Al hadn't returned without him noticing.

"No," Ed whispered. "Only when I sleep sometimes."

Roy nodded. He was going to leave it at that, but Edward continued talking.

"I dream about Kaleb and Sam more now. Sometimes, it's like, I see them walking in front of me and I yell at them, but they can't hear me." Edward shrugged. "That's it. They're not as awful as the dreams before, but they are... vivid. It's stupid."

"It's not stupid, it's understandable."

"I don't want to understand them. I want them to stop," Ed bit out. "I really wish they hadn't given me morphine." Edward was tapping his fingers on the mattress in irritation and Roy wanted him to stop, but he assumed the boy needed the small outlet for his emotions.

"They did what they had to. The dose was small. It shouldn't be as bad."

"You're not the one that has to go through it," Edward snapped.

"Good to see the mood swings have already started," Roy said absently.

"I'm not having mood swings. Anyone would be annoyed. I want to get out of here! I want to go home!"

"You'll be able to go back to Risembool when you are healed."

"No, not there. I meant… not there. I mean back. Not home. Just your... house."

Edward looked embarrassed for the slip up and Mustang was surprised at the feeling of contentment he felt underneath his own awkwardness.

"Oh," Roy said simply. "Well, I already said you and Al can both stay when you get out. It should really only be another week at the most. You're withdrawal symptoms will be better by then."

Edward groaned, which made him go into a coughing fit. Though he was doing better, Edward really wasn't up to having lengthy conversations.

Roy gave him a cup of water to sip when he was done.

"Go back to sleep, Edward. You need to rest."

Edward took as deep of a breath as he dared and exhaled it slowly. He then settled back down in his bed and shut his eyes with a soft sigh.

"Mustang," Ed said sleepily. Roy made a noise to let him know he was listening. "Don't let me punch anyone else when I wake up."

"Everyone is learning to dodge."

Ed muttered something that Roy couldn't make out and then slipped into sleep.

Mustang sighed deeply. Edward would be over the worst part of it soon and he would stay right there to make sure Ed pulled through again. Roy settled in for a long wait.


Despite the Colonel and Al telling him to wait, Edward got out of the car on his own, balancing on his crutches.

"Hold on," Roy said as he got out of the car to assist Edward, but Ed was already resolutely moving away from the car, nearly tripping over his own crutches on the sidewalk.

"Brother," Al called as he carefully removed himself from the front seat of the vehicle. Alphonse barely fit in the passenger side and he was trying not to damage the car in any way. Edward ignored them both and used one crutch to shut the car door behind him.

"Be careful," Mustang finally said, resignedly. After being on bed rest for the most part of the past few weeks, Ed was now going to do as much as he could on his own.

"I'm being careful," Ed grumbled as he wobbled up the path toward Mustang's home.

Ed hesitated at the porch steps briefly, but then hobbled up them. The action looked like it hurt, but Edward was determined to get inside the house on his own. The hospital had insisted on wheeling him out in a wheelchair to the Colonel's car and he was still frustrated with the implication that he needed that much assistance. Al was soon there, following close behind his brother. He had one arm extended to catch Ed if he fell. Roy finally slammed his car door and then followed the two boys, observing them quietly.

Once they were inside, Edward began to move towards the couch.

"No, you'll have to go upstairs," Roy said.

"Stairs. Seriously?" Ed was already sweating from the exertion of climbing up the porch steps. His irritation overruled his pride as he lifted up a crutch and pointed it at the Colonel. "Do you know how hard it is to use these with stairs?"

"I'm going to need the room and you need rest. It will be quieter upstairs. Al or I can carry you."

"I don't need to be carried!" Ed got about three steps up before he angrily tossed one of the crutches and then called for Al.

Al jumped to help Ed, carefully lifting his brother into his arms. Mustang followed them up the steps. Once they were at the top, Al turned around in a small circle, not sure which way he was going.

"Colonel's ugly room is that one," Ed pointed. Roy sidestepped them both and started down the other way.

"No, bring him here, Alphonse."

"What?" Ed asked, but before he could form another question, Mustang opened the door to the storage room… except it wasn't a storage room anymore.

"Is... Did you make a guest room?" Ed was shocked. There was a bed, a dresser and even a small desk with a familiar fiery skull lamp sitting atop it.

"Well, I figured it would be better than you sleeping on my couch."

"You made me a guest room."

"There's not a lot of space, Al. I couldn't fit a second bed in here, but I figured you wouldn't really use it anyway."

"Oh, I'm fine! Don't worry about me!"

There was a pause while Edward still stared at the room in disbelief.

"Right. Well, I have some things to do. Let me know if you need any-."

"Thank you," Ed said sincerely, shaking off the initial shock.

Roy nodded.

"Just let me know if you need anything." The Colonel then turned and made his way quickly downstairs.

"That was kind of him," Al commented as he set Edward down on the bed. Ed made a noncommittal noise. Colonel was many things. He was a bastard and an asshole, but he was also surprisingly patient at times and, yes, he was kind.

Edward gently put a pillow under his hurt leg and then stretched out slowly. He didn't want to admit it, but moving from the hospital had been exhausting. His chest still hurt and his leg was still very sore, but his withdrawal symptoms had tapered off. He was just left feeling worn out and he wanted nothing more than to sleep for a while.

"Brother, did you make this lamp?"

Ed glanced over at the object in question. He smirked slightly at the sight of it.

"It's a long story, Al."


Hawkeye was the first to arrive. Then Havoc and Falman. When Hughes showed up, he only gave them all a cursory nod, before heading upstairs to check on Edward.

They waited for his return to start their meeting. It wasn't an official meeting. The Colonel wasn't allowed to have those right now. If anyone asked, it was just a gathering among friends. A gathering with a lot of paperwork and planning involved.

"Your meeting with the western office representative is going to be moderated by three generals who don't have anything against you. There is no reason for it to go badly," Hughes said.

"Well, there really is nothing for them to hold against you. They could say you acted against orders, leaving Central like you did, but you went as a private citizen. You didn't form a search team or use your military connections in any way. If anything, you just went over there to pick up your subordinate." Havoc said with a shrug. "You just avoided some of the formal paperwork of requesting to leave. Nothing we haven't done before."

"The Colonel may need to prove that he had cause to go. We have enough evidence against the Western offices to do that." Falman had organized a neat stack of papers that detailed all correspondences and evidence that the Western command had not taken the necessary steps to find the Fullmetal Alchemist.

"Roy," Maes' tone had softened, "did you tell Edward about this meeting?"

"I did not. It's nothing for him to worry about."

"They're going to claim he and Al damaged their land and he did break that nurse's jaw. They will use it against him and you."

"Fullmetal will pay for the medical expenses for the nurse. As for their river, there is still no proof."

There was the sound of footsteps on the stairs and they all went still at once. Mustang turned to see Alphonse making his way down slowly. The boy managed to look sheepish.

"Sorry, I was just getting some water for Ed."

"That's fine, Alphonse," Roy responded quickly, turning back to the papers set before him on his coffee table.

Al retrieved the water from the kitchen in a hurry and went back upstairs. There was a moment of quiet where they waited for Al to be out of earshot. Though without actually ears, Roy wondered how good Al's hearing was.

"Well, Ed will probably know about it now. I'm sure Al heard some of this," Hughes muttered.

"I think it is time for us to call it a night," Hawkeye rose from her seat. "The meeting is early tomorrow and it would be best to get some rest."

They soon all filed out of the house, Havoc promising he would be there early to keep an eye on the Elric brothers while Roy was away.

Right before they left, Hughes gave Mustang a serious look.

"I can't go in with you tomorrow, but I will be right outside the whole time."

"I know, Hughes. I will see you in the morning."

Maes nodded and headed out the door. Once he was alone, Mustang sighed. This was going to be tedious and he was dreading it.

He glanced at the stairs thoughtfully before heading up. He could hear Al talking quickly and Edward's irritated tone drifting down to him. At the sound of his footsteps, they both went silent.

He opened the door to the guest room with a casual air.

"You're due for painkillers again."

"I'm fine," Ed answered automatically, "Mustang, are you in trouble?"

So Alphonse had already told him. Great.

"It's not something you need to worry about."

"But it's because of me! I should be the one in trouble."

"It is not because of you. Look, there are people who don't like me. This is between me and them. This is not your fault. Now, take your pills and get some sleep. Havoc will be staying with you tomorrow."

"Colonel..."

"Take your painkillers and get some sleep, Edward." Roy handed the bottle of pills to Al before leaving to his own room. Having Al there meant that Roy didn't have to worry so much about taking care of Ed. It meant he could actually get some sleep...

Mustang lay awake for a long time after that. He listened to the sounds of the house and the shuffling noises that meant Al was up and moving around. It was just after midnight when he heard the screaming.

In a way, he had been expecting it. Ed was still recovering and Roy could tell that the boy still had nightmares quite frequently, even if Edward wouldn't admit to it.

"Brother, breathe," Alphonse was saying when Roy entered the room. Ed, however, was gasping desperately, not seeming to be able to pull in any oxygen.

Seeing that Edward wasn't acting violent or lashing out, Roy moved to his bedside.

"Edward, you're alright. Just keep breathing."

"Chest hurts..." Ed confessed, "Can't catch… my breath."

"You're still recovering from the pneumonia. It's not going to be easy. This is why you were on oxygen before. Just stay calm, keep trying."

Edward shook his head and tears began to form in the corners of his eyes from fear and the exertion.

"No, stay calm. Here, sit up." Roy reached forward and pulled him into a sitting position. He adjusted the pillow behind Ed to support him better. Mustang stayed close, letting one hand rest on Edward's back. He could almost feel Edward's lungs struggling to fully expand.

"Breathe with me. See? In and out. Your chest is moving, there is air moving into your lungs. Just calm down."

Several minutes passed by until Edward's breathing started to even out. Ed was staring down at his hands, he kept clenching and unclenching his fists in time with his breaths. Eventually, Edward looked up, glancing at the Colonel and then away again.

"I don't know what happened. I haven't panicked like that in awhile."

"Did you have a nightmare?"

Ed slowly nodded, but he didn't elaborate. Roy sighed. Edward had nightmares while he was in the hospital, but there had been a supply of oxygen nearby and Ed was just too exhausted to stay awake for very long afterwards.

"Ed, what needs to be done? Is there anything you feel like you need to do?"

Last time, Ed had ran off to that shack in the woods and then he had visited the cemetery and that had helped to dispel his personal demons. But now...

"I don't know," Ed replied. "Maybe there's nothing this time."

They all sat together for a long time after that. Edward just breathing slowly in though his nose and out his mouth. Ed eventually started to fall back to sleep. He curled up in the bed again, letting his eyes fall shut. He was still recovering from the whole ordeal. Staying awake for too long was just tiring. Mustang moved to the desk chair where he sat and watched Edward just breathe. He stayed until he was convinced that the boy was sleeping peacefully. Alphonse quietly thanked him and the Colonel only nodded. The sun was threatening to rise by the time Roy went back to his own room.

So much for getting rest.


Brigadier General Bradlin, Brigadier General Lohris and Major General Hunter sat along the impressive table. Colonel Mustang stood at attention, while Colonel Barrows from West City spoke. Roy was the picture of calm and indifference as that idiot made a case against him. Mustang discreetly bit the inside of his cheek as listened to accusations of Mustang's team inhibiting the investigation.

When it was finally his turn to speak, Roy smiled at the assembly of generals.

"My team did everything to assist the Western office's investigation. Edward Elric was believed to be missing three days after he left Central, however, Colonel Barrows took an additional five days to confirm and form a search party."

"The Fullmetal Alchemist is a loose cannon. Known for disappearing without warning." Barrows interrupted. "We had heard that he hasn't been on active duty for some time-"

"Your intel is incorrect. Fullmetal was on leave, recovering from injuries sustained after he caught a serial killer. He returned to active duty weeks ago. He does his job, which is more than I can say about the search party you formed."

"We were searching a large, rural area and then we were delayed by a change in the river's course. An event that we believe was caused by the Fullmetal Alchemist. The extensive flooding in the area put us behind schedule."

"Changing a river's course can be solved by any respectable alchemist. If your river was put off course it would be easy enough to fix with alchemy. If the West doesn't have any capable alchemists, I'm sure Central can send someone to fix your river. In a few days, Fullmetal could go himself."

"The river has already been taken care of."

"Strange. I thought it was an ongoing issue. Considering how it stunted your investigation for nearly a week."

"There were other factors..."

"Edward was staying at a home near that river for days before he was moved to a hospital. If your investigations department had put in a notice at all hospitals in the area, then you would have learned his location before I did."

"You cannot tell me how to do my job, Mustang."

"You didn't do anything!" Roy's calm mask slipped completely. "Did you even actually look for him? In your report you said you went to his last known location and you dealt with a river flooding. There is nothing about what area you searched and for how long…" Mustang drew in a deep breath. "You didn't even look for him. A missing State Alchemist. If it was one of your men, if your man was missing near Central, my team would have found him. At the very least, we would have acted like we gave a shit."

"Colonel Mustang," Major General Hunter finally spoke. "That is enough." The older man then turned to Colonel Barrows.

"Colonel, why was there a lapse of five days before your search party was formed?"

"There was paperwork. We had to confirm that he was actually missing from the area. We followed all of the standard processes."

The Major General clicked his tongue and then fell silent. He narrowed his eyes, drawing his grey, bushy eyebrows together. "The Fullmetal Alchemist is popular among the people." Major General Hunter twisted up one corner of his mouth on his aged face. "Despite being known as... destructive, he is well known and well liked. He has an image that the military could use more of." Hunter nodded briefly at Mustang before continuing. "Even with all of that aside, if Edward Elric had been injured more gravely, he would have died before there was even a team assembled to look for him. That is not acceptable. We will be sending a letter to Brigadier General Hasling and your office will be under review."

Hunter then turned toward Mustang, ignoring Barrows' sputter of indignation.

"Colonel Mustang, you acted without permission. However, given that you acted while you were on sick leave, the military does not see fit to rebuke you for acting on your own personal time. Your suspension will be lifted in three days."

"Sir!" Colonel Barrows protested.

"Enough, Barrows! You should be grateful to Colonel Mustang for not pursuing the matter against you. Tell the Brigadier General to expect an inspection of the West City command in the coming weeks. You are both dismissed."

With a salute, Roy left the room, not bothering to look back to see Colonel Barrows still stammering in disbelief. Mustang was immediately met by Hughes, who had been casually leaning against a wall in the hallway. On the other side of the hall, there were two men who Roy didn't recognize. Going by the dirty looks they both threw at him, he knew that they were from West City.

"How did it go?" Hughes asked.

Roy lifted his arms out to the sides. "I survive another day. I should be returning to work soon."

Roy was doing his best not to smile smugly. It would have been poor form, but he was feeling lighter than he had in weeks. Everything was beginning to fall back into place again. They both turned to leave, but found themselves face to face with Colonel Barrows and his two lackeys. After a moment of staring at each other Roy sidestepped and moved past them. Hughes followed closely behind without a word.

They had only walked a few feet when Colonel Barrows spoke up.

"You keep that boy around because he's talented and his skill makes you look good… but I have to wonder why anyone would keep a child on their team. Rumor has it that the Fullmetal Alchemist is staying with you now. I guess screwing secretaries and whores in this city aren't enough for you anymore. "

For a split second, Roy just turned and stared, because there was no possible way that this man was insinuating what it sounded like.

The next instant, Mustang was filled with a rage that he had never felt before and he lunged forward, intent on violently pummeling this piece of filth into the floor.

"You son of a bitch!"

Edward almost died because of this man and now he was spouting atrocious accusations, Roy's vision seemed to tunnel as he reached to grab the man's jacket. He raised his fist, he was going to break his damn nose. Roy's momentum was abruptly stopped by Maes, wrapping both his arms around his friend's frame.

"Don't!" Maes hissed. With a great deal of force, Hughes pushed Mustang to the side, but Roy fought back, he would not stop until he had wrung Colonel Barrows' neck. Maes shoved Roy again, hard enough to make him stumble backwards. Then, with no hesitation, Hughes turned and belted Barrows across the face. Barrows, who had just been staring with an annoying, amused expression on his face, was so startled that he tripped over his own feet trying to distance himself from Maes. He landed on his backside in an unflattering heap as blood dripped onto the floor from his broken lip. Furious, he looked up at Roy and Maes, but Hughes was already dragging Mustang down the hallway.

"Y-You'll be put on suspension!" Barrows shouted as blood dribbled down his chin.

"Great!" Hughes called back over his shoulder. "I could use the vacation."

A barrage of swear words followed them as they turned the corner, but Maes ignored them.

"Why didn't you let me hit him?" Mustang grumbled. Indeed he was still fighting his friend's grip, intent on returning and beating the man into oblivion.

"You don't need- Roy, stop struggling- you don't need anything else hanging over you."

"You should have let me hit him, Maes, after what he said about Edward..." Mustang finally managed to twist out of Hughes' grip, but the fight had left him as he turned to speak to Hughes directly.

"You're not the only one who wants to protect Edward. I look out for him and you. Both of you," Hughes motioned with his hand, stopping when he saw the blood on his own knuckles.

"Is your hand all right?" Roy asked after a moment.

"It's fine. I don't think it's my blood."

"I wish you would have broken his damn jaw."

"Some other time, maybe." Both men then continued walking down the hallway, the sounds of Colonel Barrows swearing still echoing throughout the building.

"Hughes…"

"Hmmm?"

"Thank you."

Maes grinned widely.


When Roy and Maes drove up, Edward and Alphonse were both sitting on the porch steps waiting for them. Due to Al's frame, the two boys barely fit there, side by side. Havoc walked down the path to meet them, an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth.

"How'd it go?"

"It went fine. How was he?" Roy asked with a nod towards Ed.

"He was fine. Woke up after you left in a bit of a panic, but he settled down pretty fast."

"Did he take his pain pills? Sometimes he refuses."

"Yes, he took them when he woke up."

"Did he eat?"

"Yeah, he had oatmeal."

Hughes suddenly laughed and Roy turned to him with an irritated look.

"What's so funny?"

"Sorry, Roy. You just sound like me after I have to leave Elicia with a babysitter."

"He's been worried about you," Havoc cut in before Roy could respond. "I mean, he didn't say it exactly, but he kept asking about you and your meeting. And I have lunch on the stove, but he wanted to wait for you."

Roy frowned.

"He didn't need to worry." Mustang began walking toward Edward. "You shouldn't be out here. It's too cold for your lungs."

Ed scowled. "I can't just sit inside all day. I get bored."

"You're supposed to be resting. Resting is boring. Do you need me to carry you inside?"

Ed huffed in indignation and he grabbed his crutches that he had been put to the side.

"So your meeting went fine?" Al asked hesitantly.

"It went fine." No need to tell them about the fight afterwards.

Alphonse let out a sound of relief.

"You were gone for a long time," Ed commented as he limped into the house.

"That's my fault," Hughes spoke up from behind them. "I had to go fill out a report before we left. Just some paperwork stuff."

Ed seemed content with the information as he moved into the kitchen to take a place at the table. He didn't ask anything else and Roy was relieved.

Soon they were all sitting around the table eating a stew that Havoc had made. Roy didn't actually own more than three bowls and they had to transmute a plate into one so that everyone could eat at the same time.

"Who only owns three bowls?" Edward asked, rolling his eyes.

"Honestly, I'm surprised he owned three," Hughes smirked.

"I don't usually need more than one," Roy muttered.

"Guess you'll have to get used to needing more," Maes smiled. Mustang looked over at Edward who had started eating his stew with gusto. Al told him to slow down, but Ed carried on as though he hadn't heard him.

"Guess I will," Roy said after a moment.


A/N: Just the epilogue after this. I will try to finish it in the next few weeks. Also, while I was taking a break, I started writing Voltron fics. If anyone is a fan of that, they are over on ao3, under the username Bandity. Thank you fro reading.