Author's note: I put Hughes here just to satisfy one of my reviewers. I nearly forgot to add him, but luckily I found some way to put him there:)

Disclaimer: NO! I don't own FMA! Stop asking meeee! –bangs head on table-

Chapter Seven: Worry

"WHAT? How do you know?" Al screeched as Winry's words sunk in.

Winry handed the note to Al and waited for his reaction. She was still too shocked to reply to Al's questions. Al grabbed the note and read it carefully.

"Oh no. No. NO! This is all my fault! Brother warned me about this! How could I have been so stupid?"

Al dropped down the floor crushing the note between his fingers. He knew that the alchemist might have gone after them. He was warned. But he still left to buy food. But how could the intruder gotten inside without waking Winry? He locked all the doors and sealed all the windows. Suddenly he saw a silver key in Winry's hand.

"Winry where did you get that key?"

Winry looked down and saw that she was still holding the key that she had found on top of the note. She finally had enough time to recover from the shock and replied,

"I found it on top of the note. Why?"

Al took the key from Winry's hand and stared at it for a whole straight minute. He was sure of it. The way the key was designed and the scratches all over the key were all familiar.

"It's because it's my key. How did it get there? I thought I lost it…GASP!"

"The man who opened the door for me when I was carrying Ed! That was the alchemist! He never returned the key! I can't believe I could have been so stupid. It's definitely all my fault that Ed was –"

"AL! Now isn't the time to be playing the blame game! We have to go and find Ed before that man hurts him! C'mon get up and let's call for help!"

Al looked up at Winry. He knew that she was worried about Ed by just looking into her eyes; they were watery and serious. He slowly got up to his feet and stared into her eyes. She meant what she said.

"Okay. You're right now is not the time to be scolding myself. We have to save Ed. I'll go call Colonel Mustang"

I'm sure the Colonel will be worried about Ed. Ed you better behave yourself this time! I don't want you to get hurt…

Al walked over to the phone and dialed the numbers for Mustang's office.

Ring ring…ring ring…

"Hello? Who is this?" a female voice answered

"It's Alphonse. I need to speak with the Colonel immediately."

"Uh… Okay. I'll put you through."

Lieutenant Hawkeye looked at the phone suspiciously. Alphonse never sounded like this unless something was up with Edward. She would find out eventually, and put the call to Mustang's desk.

"Sir! You have a call from Alphonse Elric. It sounds serious."

"Hello? Alphonse? What's wrong?

Mustang listened to Al as he told him about Ed's kidnapping. Hawkeye watched Mustang's expressions grow more and more angry, she also watched him jump out of his chair after a minute suddenly as he listened to Al.

"WHAT! How could Ed have been kidnapped? He knows how to protect himself even if you're not arou— gasp… right I forgot he was sick. Well what does he want from us?"

Mustang sat back down and was silent for a minute.

"Okay. We'll get the alchemists and trade them for Ed. Right now keeping Ed alive is more important than two more rouge alchemists. We'll find him. Just pray that your brother behaves himself."

Dear God, I hope he is too sick to act like his usual self. If not he's in trouble.

"Don't worry Alphonse I promise we'll get your brother back."

Mustang put down the phone and immediately called the security over at the jail. He requested that the three alchemists that were captured to be brought to him as soon as possible. As soon as he hung up Lieutenant Hawkeye came in. She looked at his expression and walked right up to his desk and said,

"Don't worry sir. I'm sure Edward will be fine, even if he's sick he still is strong."

"I hope your right. Thanks. "

"Oh right. Sir please do not forget that lieutenant colonel Hughes is arriving soon. He was supposed to investigate what those alchemists were up to in that factory. "

"Okay good. Pick him up and inform him about Ed's situation. We could use his help. I'll begin informing everyone else and begin the search."

"Yes sir!"

…

Back at the dorms Winry and Al sat there in silence. They both didn't know what to do in this situation. They couldn't go and look for Ed since East city is too big to search in time. And they both had to wait for the phone call that was coming tomorrow. All they could do was wait.

But they just couldn't do that.

"I'm going and try help out the Colonel with the other two alchemists. Just in case they cause trouble or try to escape. We wouldn't want brother's exchange to go on without the alchemists… Will you be okay here?"

"Yeah…"

It was a good thing that Al was leaving. Winry needed time to think. Though she was used to waiting for Ed she wasn't used to knowing that he could be in harm's way. All she could do was wait. All she could ever do was wait. But why? Why couldn't she go and try looking for Ed? Why couldn't she be helpful?

I care about Ed so much. I want to be there when he really needs me. I know everybody would say that he does need me because of his automail. But I'm not the only automail mechanic there is. I'm his friend and I can't do anything to help him. All I can do is hope that nothing happens to him and wait.

Finally the tears fell down from her eyes as she thought about Ed. She went into his bedroom and sat on his bed and cried. She cried at her uselessness and she cried for Ed.

Please come back to me safely…

In the alleys of east city was man wearing a large brown coat heading for an abandoned house in the outskirts of the city. While carrying a sleeping young man in his arms.

Author's note:Yay finally up to the torture next chapter!