Note: Thank you again for the reviews, they are really motivating:)

Kame-tan: thank you again;)

TailsMoon: of course I won't tell you, you will see :D

Alchemist of Steel: as you see Roy doesn't trust him either :)

Manga-animelove: I also really find the interactions between the three of them quite fascinating :)

orangevbnin: thank you, I try to maintain that, because I find their characters good and interesting as they are :)

wishfulliving89: I am really happy about your opinion, thank you :)

russletringhamlover: I couldn't find a book with this title:( But even if I had found it by Google I am sure that I couldn't have put my hands on it in Hungary… But good luck with your book. Then I won't share my really pessimistic view on book publishing with you :)

Useless

"You will drink that, Fullmetal. All of it." Roy eyed the brat strictly who looked at the mug of tea with such disgust as if it had been some shit. He glared at Roy angrily but he obeyed and sipped into the liquid. His face showed distaste and after a moment he spat it out onto the floor.

"This is the most awful tea I have ever tasted" he grimaced dramatically. "It's really horrible" he put down the mug on the night stand. "I won't drink it."

"You will. The doctor recommended this because it will help with your fever and pain."

"I don't want it."

"Don't be so childish. Drink it or I will force it down your throat."

"You wouldn't dare…" Roy glared at him threateningly.

"Just try me, Fullmetal. My patience is wearing down."

"Hey, I'm a sick man."

"That's why you will drink that." He stepped closer menacingly and the brat watched him scowling. As he nearly reached the mug, the kid suddenly grabbed it and spilt its whole content on the floor.

"You little…"

"I will make another, sir. And you will drink that Edward" Fullmetal shivered from Hawkeye's tone. Or maybe from the fever? No it had to be Hawkeye's power of persuasion.

"You will obey her, understood?" he didn't answer, but after some minutes when the lieutenant came back the brat drank the tea without a comment, only a grimace signaled his discomfort. "You will be such a hen-pecked husband, Fullmetal."

"What did you say, you bastard?" his face became bright red and his shouting ended up with another coughing fit.

"You are clearly afraid of women…"

"That's not true! I only obeyed her because otherwise she would have forced me. And I can't beat a woman. It wouldn't be… wouldn't be right. You are the one who is afraid of Hawkeye. You admitted it before." Roy looked at the brat murderous as the lieutenant raised her eyebrows.

"You are such a gentleman, Edward" she smiled at the boy. "But of course you could never beat me. I am a soldier, not some defenseless little girl you have to protect" then she turned to Roy with a mocking expression. He showed his back to her and stated annoyed:

"That's hilarious. I have never said such a thing. Now sleep, Fullmetal. You need to rest." The brat just scoffed and turned away.

Roy leaned closer to the warm body next to him. She was soft and appealing and he threw off the blanket between them. His fingers played with the long and fuzzy hair. His arms hugged her waist and slipped down to the legs. He looked in her beautiful brown eyes and felt her hot breath on his face. She kissed him tenderly and he leaned into it keenly. It was wet and passionate. After they broke apart her tongue started to play on his face, and he touched her face. It was a bit strange but he enjoyed it anyway. He started to undress her, played with her bra, but suddenly she backed away from him. He shivered from the loss of her warmth and touch. He followed her but before he could have hugged her again and imprisoned her body forever with his love, he felt a jump on his chest. He moaned at the sensation, as something heavy and hairy sat on him. "If you want that way baby then I am ready…" he murmured as the tongue licked his face again. He fondled her hair and then her face… Wait… where was her face? He just felt fur everywhere. He opened his eyes and came face to face with… with a monster? He let out a restrained scream and backed away pushing away the body from him and fell out form the bed during the process. He hit his back quite painfully and the body landed on him a second later. In the darkness he didn't see clearly what it was, but it was obviously wasn't a beautiful woman. He was about to get on his gloves which he always kept with himself when somebody switched on the lamp. After a moment blindness he came face to face with Black Hayate. He stared at the dog blankly while he was licking his face to clean.

"Sir?" Hawkeye sounded flabbergasted.

"I'm okay, Hawkeye. But would you mind call him back? It's a bit awkward situation" and he couldn't move as he was pinched between the dog and the floor.

"Of course, sir" she pulled out a gun suddenly and he flinched surprised. But to his relief the dog jumped off him immediately and sat down obediently before the lieutenant. "Good dog, at ease!" the dog lay down and looked at Hawkeye with puppy eyes. Roy finally dragged himself up, back into his bed. He really hoped that Hawkeye will never mention this incident to anyone. It would destroy his reputation. Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist was floored by a dog. It sounded really pitiful.

"Fine, lieutenant, I want to sleep now. Please don't let anyone into my bed. You could be an only exception if you were cold or…" the lamp was turned down suddenly.

"I always sleep with my gun under my pillow sir."

"It's dangerous. What if it goes off accidentally? If you were scared at night you could always come and…" he heard the sound of the trigger so he gulped and shut up. He was sure that Hawkeye could shoot him even in the dark. Right now she didn't seem to be in a humorous mood.

"I'm not scared, sir. But I got used to it because of the perverts who wanted to share my bed."

"How many of them were shot down?"

"You would be the eleventh, sir." Roy gulped again audibly. Hawkeye really didn't understand that he was only joking.

"Fine, I think ten is a really good number. Now I need to use the bathroom." So he crawled himself out of the bed, thinking about that he undoubtedly needed a bath after the lot of dog drool, which met with his face. That was the only thing he disliked about the dogs. Their drooling habit was really disgusting.

Roy took a quick shower. He was really tired and wanted to go back to sleep. He wasn't really sure what was real and what was dream during the previous incident so he also washed his teeth for safety's sake and changed his pajama. He came out from the bathroom already half asleep. He went straight forward toward their room and on the way he went past Fullmetal's room and stopped midway during a step. He heard some noise from the brat's room. He hesitated for a moment about what to do. Should he go in and check on the boy? He didn't think that he could be in any kind of danger, but perhaps he was in pain, or he needed something. The damn brat was sick so he depended on them for a while. But on the other hand he was sure that Fullmetal would kill him if he perturbed his sleep. After a moment his curiosity won and he silently opened the door and put on his gloves. He sparked a little fire just to see better. Fullmetal was in his bed, which wasn't a surprise, but he looked really restless as he was tossing in the bed violently. He went closer and so he could hear the boy's mumbling. He murmured "Al" or "Mother" and "No" or "Please" repeatedly with some other incoherent words. His face was flushed and sweaty, he was kicking around himself barely missing Roy's face as he bent over him.

"Fullmetal" he carefully touched his shoulder to avoid alarming him. The boy didn't react in anyway so he grabbed him a bit firmer. "Fullmetal. You are only dreaming." His automail leg got into contact with Roy's ribs and he was pushed against the wall. It was a really hurtful collision, his ribs hurt like a bitch and he was sure that his back became really bruised after the repeated abuse. "Okay, Fullmetal, you went too far. You attacked your superior, so I won't be gentle with you" he hissed angrily and stood up and walked beside the boy again. This time he shook him forcefully and the kid's eyelid opened immediately and filled with blind panic. He sat up and at the same time transformed his automail into a sword. "Actually, you don't want to kill me, right Fullmetal?" he asked in an impassive voice and with an expressionless face. He raised his little flame to help the brat to recognize him easier.

"Just you, Bastard?" the boy muttered then lay back into the bad. He panted heavily as if he had finished some miles of running and he was also coughing harshly.

"Are you okay Fullmetal? You were shouting so loudly that you could have woken up the whole house" fine, it wasn't entirely true but the kid didn't know that. Edward turned away from him and said nothing. "Did you dream about the day you and Al tried to resurrect your mother?" still wasn't any answer. "Not you are the only one who has nightmares Fullmetal. You just mustn't let them bother you." Suddenly the boy turned toward him. His eyes were bright with fever, his hair stuck to his head and he looked much younger than usually.

"Do you also…?" he didn't finished the question but Roy was sure what he wanted to know. In any other cases he was surely hadn't answered to this question, at least he hadn't answered honestly. But the kid was sick; he needed to rest to get better as soon as possible, which was essential for the success of their mission. So if Fullmetal would go back faster to sleep if he became reassured that he wasn't the only person in the world who was haunted by nightmares then he accepted his fate. He had to answer honestly.

"Yes I also have nightmares sometimes, Fullmetal. Even the bests aren't exceptions from every rule. But of course I can handle this problem as a man. If you will grow…"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL THAT YOU COULD LOSE HIM IN THE BLANKET?" Roy was taken aback for a moment then he broke into a smile.

"It's not my fault that you are a midget Fullmetal"

"WHO…" he started to cough so Roy intervened soothingly, before the brat could have started to shout again.

"Go to sleep Fullmetal. You need to rest. Do you want a lullaby?" he grinned cruelly.

"Hell, no!"

"Why? I heard that kids need a lullaby after a nightmare."

"GET OUT OF MY ROOM! IMMEDIATELY!" he continued coughing and Roy shook his head.

"You shouldn't be shouting and aggravating your state."

"Shut up and disappear!" he sat up and glared at him menacingly.

"Fine, fine, I always notice if I am not wanted. But you should calm down. The stress doesn't help you get better. Think about the mission a bit." He turned away smirking, as Fullmetal's face became murderous. "Sleep well and dream with sexy ladies, Fullmetal." And he left before the retort. After he reached his bed he just collapsed into it and slept the whole night without any dream.

Ed looked out of his window sleepily. He still felt like crap. His head was pounding, his limbs were aching and he had to cough a lot and that irritated his throat. His chest hurt as well and his arms trembled if he tried to raise them. He felt really exhausted even though he had slept a lot. To make his mood even worse the Colonel Bastard appeared in his room with a grin and a bowl in his hand.

"I have finished your lunch. Look, it's a yummy soup" he baby-talked in a really annoying voice. He really wished to hit him but he felt too tired to raise his arm or even to move an inch.

"I am not a toddler, you know, Bastard. I will knock out your teeth if you continue talking with me this way. You would be much less charming that way." He smirked evilly.

"Ugh" the man flinched at that. "You are surely in a really bad mood. But you should appreciate that I cooked a meal. Me. I have never made a soup before…"

"Thank you, Bastard, but now I am really not hungry. But we could use it as a rat poison it must be really useful."

"You are really a rude brat, Fullmetal. But you don't have a choice. You must eat something, because you didn't consume anything yesterday, neither today. And I don't think that you could digest anything heavy."

"Then order something from a restaurant. I won't eat that" he looked disgusted at the liquid in the bowl. There were some unidentified decomposed things in the seemingly boiled water.

"Remember brat: we are poor. Do you know what that means?" Ed glared at him but the coughing kept him from yelling. "We don't have money to eating out."

"And what about the pizza previously?"

"It was cheaper then a funeral." Ed's mouth twitched but he stopped himself. He couldn't find any of the bastard's comment funny. It would just bust his ego further.

"By the way, where is Hawkeye?" the Colonel just looked at him smirking.

"Naturally she is at work. Somebody must do that as well, don't you think?" Ed rolled his eyes at this. "She is in the flower shop contacting with Hughes and the others. She left me to care for you" he shot him a wicked smile and Ed really didn't like that. "You will eat this."

"No, I prefer the starvation."

"Come on, you even ate Hawkeye's food. This can't be worse, am I right?"

"Yes it could. I won't repeat myself. Have you tasted it?"

"Of course not. I want to survive." Ed glared at the Bastard angrily then suddenly smiled at him sweetly.

"I will eat that, if you had a mouthful of it before my eyes and you could keep it down."

"This is blackmailing! You are such a naughty child."

"No, this is an equivalent exchange. And you also need the nutrients, don't you?" he smirked cruelly and the Bastard looked murderous.

"I have another offer: you eat it and I won't burn you into cinder."

"You wouldn't dare." Edward grinned confidently. "What would you do without me? Remember you need a child now. How could you find another kid who wouldn't run away from your charming personality? Let alone who would willingly face a murderer?" Ed really enjoyed himself as he was teasing the Colonel. The man had bullied him so much that it was high time for revenge. "Now what about my offer?"

"Fine, then starve to death, Fullmetal" and the man stormed out of his room leaving behind a very satisfied Edward.

Roy watched the kid thoughtfully. He woke up again around ten minutes ago and he looked totally exhausted. But at the same time it seemed that the brat didn't want to go back sleeping. He sat up and tried to move to the most uncomfortable position. Did he have another nightmare? It wouldn't have been really surprising. The kid had a fever and that could do silly things with even the adults. And the boy had already had nightmares before his sickness. Roy knew that somehow he had to distract Fullmetal, if he wanted him to go back sleeping. Rest was important for recovery. And time was essential in their mission. And besides, there could be very few things that were more irritating then a tired brat. But what could he do? What could get the boy's attention and at the same time wore him enough to prevent him dreaming anything? He always got women if he wanted to distract himself or did some work. Fullmetal was too young to do anything with women and besides Hawkeye would kill him if he tainted the boy. So the only choice remained was work. He pulled out the photos which he always kept with himself to remind himself about the goal: to prevent any other murder, to save as many as he could. And of course to get a promotion. He opened the door fully and stepped in the brat's room.

"Hey, Fullmetal" the kid looked at him annoyed. "While you are useless you could look at the photos and watch the array more closely. Maybe we could get know more about the culprit's alchemy." He gave the photos to the boy who glared at him angrily but took them anyway. He waited hesitantly a moment before he looked at them. His face became paler and his arms started to shake. It was really a bad sign. "Are you okay, Fullmetal? You look shaken." The brat didn't answer, only watched the photos warily.

"Is there any bigger photos? I need to look more closely on the arrays."

"Yes I have some and also one or two photos closely from the arrays. I bring them in." he turned around to go for them, but the coughing sound coming from Fullmetal stopped him. "Do you need some water, or tea? Any painkiller?" The coughing turned into a retching sound and Roy spinned around just to look as Fullmetal vomit on the floor. "Ouch, disgusting." The kid wiped his mouth with trembling hand and his eyes reflected great discomfort. He went back beside him and touched his forehead. "Your temperature rose again" he shook his head. "You won't get better until you can rest more. What does keep you from sleeping, Fullmetal?"

"I need to puke."

"It's not a funny joke, Fullmetal" he glared back at the insolent child irritated.

"It's not a…" he started to cough again and Roy jumped away in the last second before he vomited on the floor again.

"Fine, we are going to the bathroom, Fullmetal. You dare to puke on me and I will strangle you. I won't even bother with taking my gloves out" his answer was only some groaning as he helped the boy up to his feet and maneuvered him into the bathroom. The brat immediately bent over the toilet and vomited into it. "Come on, Fullmetal. You didn't even eat this much. What can you still throw up?" the brat hair nearly got into the toilet so he caught it before the brat could have gelled it with some yummy vomit. It was really disgusting. He was happy that he ate before this ordeal. His appetite would have surely disappeared.

"Just shut up, Bastard. I assure you that I don't do this on purpose." Fullmetal looked greenish, his eyes watered from fever and he hunched with defeat. He coughed again and spat some sputum into the toilet and he put his left hand on his chest wincing. His face was sweaty and he took short breaths. His state really didn't seem to have improved a bit, moreover it looked worse.

"Can I get from that disgusting tea again?"

"Are you in great pain?" he couldn't imagine other reason why would Edward willingly drink that tea unless his pain became really unbearable. "I will bring it in and some painkillers too. You look like you really need it" to his surprise the brat didn't protest and he hurried out to boil some water and put the herbs into it. Even in the kitchen he heard the continuation of the wet coughing. He rushed into the bathroom as soon as the tea was ready and gave the mug to the boy. Edward's hands were shaking so much that he splat out a bit before Roy steadied the mug and helped him.

"Will you be able to take down it and the medicine?" he asked a bit concerned. If he would vomit immediately then it wouldn't be in any use.

"As long as you won't show me those pictures again I can" murmured Fullmetal not too coherently. Roy looked back at him surprised. The photos? Of course they were horrible. No one would look at them happily. But Edward became sick because of them? No he was already very sick and surely he couldn't endure as much as usually. "Did you puke because of the blood?" the brat shook his head. "Because of the cruelty? Their injuries?" he denied these again. "Then why? You saw more horrible things in person, Fullmetal."

"I… they remind me of her…" the boy choked as he sipped some tea.

"Who?" looked Roy at him a bit perplexed. The brat looked flustered. Maybe he was delusional?

"Her…Nina… I couldn't save her. I couldn't save a little girl" he turned away from him so he didn't see his face, but now Roy remembered how devastated the kid was after that incident. Of course these children reminded him about that monstrosity. He shouldn't have showed him the photos while he was in such a bad condition. No, maybe he shouldn't have showed him at all.

"Be assured, Fullmetal that I don't want you to vomit on me. So I go and put those photos away. You can take a look at them when you will get better. Now, wash your face. No, you should take a bath. Can you do it yourself, or…" the boy turned back with a dumbfounded face.

"No way in hell!" He shouted. "Get out, immediately!" Roy smirked at him.

"Are you sure? You seem to be really weak, and children shouldn't be ashamed to…" the boy's face was so red that Roy was sure that he could have boiled an egg on it.

"I will vomit on your face if I have to watch it for any minute longer" Roy winced at this.

"Fine, I will let you alone. Just shout if you need something." And he fled before the brat could have kept his promise.

Roy watched with a smirk the sulking Fullmetal. The brat was really couldn't do anything with his free time. After the first three days when he had a really high fever and wasn't really aware of his surroundings for long periods, the kid became much better and it became more and more difficult to keep him in the bed. For example Roy had to threaten him with chaining him to the bed if he couldn't rest on his free will.

"So remember Fullmetal that if you come out of the bed while we are gone you will regret it. And I will know if you disobeyed." The brat just rolled his eyes and scowled angrily so Roy followed Hawkeye out of the flat smirking.

"Are you sure that it's a good idea to leave him alone, sir?"

"Don't call me that outside the flat, darling" Hawkeye looked back at him dispassionately. "He will be fine. And he wouldn't dare to disobey me." The lieutenant raised her eyebrows at this and she was clearly doubtful. Why did she think that he couldn't discipline a rude brat? "And if he dares to do anything then he will pay for it." His face became evil. He had some really nasty revenge plan on his mind.

"So Hughes what happened?" asked Roy his friend who looked really aghast. His goofy smile was nowhere to seen and he was serious which was a rare sight. He didn't even show him any picture from his baby girl. The man sighed at the question then brought out some photos.

"We have a new victim." Roy's blood started to boil at this. He grabbed the photos and looked at them. There was a boy on them. Blood was everywhere around him, but at least he didn't seem to be mutilated. "According to the experts he was killed on Monday. He was stabbed and cut 21 times; his main arteries were damaged but none of his organs. He bled to death." Roy felt as if his brain had been beaten with something at this. The murder happened on Monday, when Fullmetal fell out from the mission. When they met with that mechanic… It couldn't be a coincidence.

"Have you found out anything about that Charles, Hughes?" his friend nodded and started to explain.

"Yes. His full name is Charles Patterson. He is thirty-two years old. He worked as a physics teacher until two years ago when he was fired because he hit three of his students." Roy clenched his fingers at this. So the man showed violence against children before. "He was fired but wasn't sentenced into prison, because other children testified that he tried to protect a boy who was abused by his peers. I looked into his profile and he was an outcast as a child and he was in a hospital several times because other children beat him into pulp."

"So it could be a revenge against children who are similar to the ones who embittered his childhood. Falman, make some investigation about the dead boys. Try to find out that whether they were bullies or abused ones."

"Yes, sir." Falman left with a bouquet made by Hawkeye who now also looked thoughtful. Perhaps her thoughts were the same as Roy's. What could have happened if they hadn't run after Fullmetal? Maybe this Charles was the culprit and he would have attacked the brat instead of the dead boy. And then they could have caught him.

"Now Patterson works as a mechanic for three schools and has a little workshop. He lives alone doesn't have a child of his own. Should we interrogate him?"

"No, we shouldn't tell him that we suspect him. Havoc, I want you to follow him everywhere and keep an eye on him. Bring Fuery with you and never lose the sight of him."

"Yes, Colonel" the man said with a cigarette in his mouth. "How is the chief?"

"He is better now. But don't tell him that we have another victim." The blond became perplexed at this.

"You don't want him feet guilty. How thoughtful of you, Roy" Hughes said satisfied.

"It's not that. I just don't want him to do something stupid and dangerous again." Hughes just grinned maniacally and didn't seem to believe Roy's words. Damn that man, he could be really annoying. "Now go, Havoc and give your reports through Hughes." He saluted and left with a rose. He would have looked really romantic if he hadn't been Havoc.

"And me? What should I do until Edward will become better?"

"Try to get more information about the man and about the victims as well and keep your eyes and ears open about anything that could be useful."

"Of course, Roy. I will come tomorrow too." Suddenly he broke into a great smile "Have I show you the newest photo of my little angel?" Roy just groaned, turned away from him and asked Hawkeye to show him how to make a bouquet.

So now I have a bad news to you. Next week it won't be a new chapter. I have some problems with my computer, so it will go to a service next week. That's why I won't be able to write anything. It will be horrible for me... But in the next chappie Ed will recover and return into action so we can look forward to it :)