Note: Sorry for the wait, I couldn't finish this faster because I am barely at home nowadays. And it just became longer and longer and I thought a lot about where I should end this:)

And I got much more reviews after the last chapter. Maybe I should have left more cliffhangers:) I am just joking:) But great-great thanks to you:

manga-animelove, Phoenix07, Mad-eye-93, orangevbnin, deathwolfkitten, RenCC123, Lazy Gaga, Jiuriana-Chan, 10-iz4, Soleil Avec la Pluie, Shally, wishfulliving89, Maei13

ShallyElric: sorry, sorry, I hope you survived somehow

Anonymous: I also like those stories which are complex. That's why I write adding everything into the story:) Sometimes I also tend to overdo it:) And I never can choose genre;)

floutistvivi: I always thank my reviewers here:)

russletringhamlover: sorry but I don't plan a sequel, only an epilogue. I think I reached with the story what I wanted:) Instead of maybe I will write another story ...

Raqueel: hehe , nice intuition, but you didn't believe it:)

GrilledPeanutButter: Oh, thank you for the cookies:D Send me them somehow :D

I hope I didn't miss out anyone.

And I am so glad that I managed to surprise most of you :D

Companions

When Ed came around the first thing he realized was that his right arm disappeared. The next thing was that his left leg too. He opened his eyes and a room swayed before him. Where was he and why? His memories were a bit jumbled at the moment. But he lay on the floor on his stomach that was sure. He tried to sit up and he succeeded with a lot of effort.

"I see, you are finally up, Edward" he turned toward the voice and he came face to face with Sheeper, the headmaster of the school. And finally he remembered Liam, the tea and the last sentence of the man. He was the murderer and Ed was before him totally useless and vulnerable. And the man was an alchemist. It was a trouble.
"I waited for you. I didn't want to start this without you" then the man kneeled down and a bright light enlightened the room as his palms touched the transmutation circle which Ed finally came aware of. Than he felt a sudden pain in his left arm as something pinned it down to the floor with palm up. Ed watched wide eyed as his own blood made a strong tie around his flesh arm, becoming denser and bounding him down. So his presumption was right. But it wasn't a consolidating thought.
"Sorry that I cut you without asking you first, but I didn't want you to leave. And besides we have to get rid of that filthy blood of yours. It's unforgivable to a child to have such a soiled blood" Ed rolled his eyes. This man was a lunatic. But a dangerous one. He was an alchemist and at the moment Ed couldn't use any alchemy. He was in a real trouble this time and he didn't know how he will get out of it. It was too similar to the case of Barry the Chopper. But this time his opponent was even more dangerous. And Al wasn't here to help him. Shit, he was really done for. Ed gritted his teeth. No, he couldn't give up. Al needed him. He had a promise to fulfill. Until then he couldn't die. He tried to break the tie, but it was too hard, and he wasn't strong enough. It just pinched him harder to the floor. No he won't be able to escape alone without help. But, what time could it be? The Colonel will come for him at two o'clock. He had come to the headmaster's office around twelve thirty. How much time could have passed? He looked around to see if there was any clock in the room but he couldn't see one. But he had to stall for time. He had to make the man speak as much as he could.

"Why are you doing this? I don't understand" the man's eyes gleamed maniacally. He came closer with his knife. Ed couldn't move his leg to be able to kick him so he could only watch him motionless as he bent above him.

"As I said before, Edward, children should be clean. They are the ones who are still pure. The only ones who could be the angels of God. And if their blood became filthy it has to be cleaned. This is the only way to let the child rejoin God and his angels again" and he cut Ed at his upper torso. Ed shouted angrily. He hoped that someone might hear him. The school wasn't empty when he came here. And Havoc and the others were watching him. But they were outside. There was no chance that they could hear him. Shit.

"How could be bleeding to death means purification? If you spill the dirty water out it won't become clear" he knew that there wasn't any sense in trying to reason with a madman. But he had to play for time. He didn't have another hope.

"But if I let out the dirty blood, then the body will be clean. It could maintain the pure soul. It can become an angel" the headmaster's voice was totally rabid. He really believed in those nonsenses.

"That's why you made those boys bleed to death?" the man laughed hysterically.

"There are too many filthy children on the world. Too many of them became soiled by the evil. The first one was a little thief. I saw him stole an old lady's wallet. He was soiled beyond repair. When I ran after him and demanded him to give back the wallet he just laughed at me and attacked me. He was just like that evil. Just as soiled and rotted as that one…" the man's face became full with hate. Maybe it was the key to everything that happened.

"Like who?" he asked firmly. He wanted answers and he needed time.

"Like that little evil, that killed her" Ed didn't really understand. The man snapped his palms against the transmutation circle again and blood roped emerged from Ed's new wound. It pained like hell and he shouted unashamedly. He wanted to be heard.

"Killed who?" he asked as soon as he got breath again.

"My wife. That little devil killed her. He was soiled form the moment of is birth. He always did evil. He thought that it was just a game. He hurt others and laughed at them. But she always defended him. He was her little brother after all. She said that deep inside he was an angel. But he was a corrupted angel. And I acted too late" he cut Ed again, this time on his stomach. It wasn't too deep, but it hurt like bitch. Ed screamed agonized. It was bad. But no one seemed to hear him. So maybe a long time passed. And then Mustang will come soon. He had to.

"What happened?" Ed panted difficultly. He needed time. He had to make the headmaster speak.

"He thought it was a good joke. He always pulled pranks. I thought them evil, but she always laughed and defended him. But it was too much. He sawed the leg of her chair. He thought it was a good joke: she will fall and then laugh with him. She fell indeed. But she never laughed again. She hit her head against the wall and died two days after. The little evil said he was sorry. He was sorry!" the headmaster laughed hysterically and Ed's head hurt from the high pitched voice. It was such a fatal coincidence. A bad joke that came into a disaster. A bad decision that broke lives. It was a bit familiar.

"What did you do to him?" the man continued to laugh but his voice became sadistic.

"The boy was an evil. A scar on the world's face. He had to be vanished. His blood was so full with filth that it was thicker than anything I have seen since. He died with the pain I felt, and with the pain which Liam felt. With all the pain he caused" the man cut again, this time on Ed' left arm, just above the blood rope. He didn't use alchemy anymore. He didn't need to. Ed was already pinched to the floor and he also became weaker and weaker from the blood loss.

"And what did the other boys do?" he groaned. He couldn't give up. Al needed him. He made a big mistake. A huge mistake that broke Al's life. But he could repair it until he was alive. He couldn't die. He just couldn't.

"The second was a really mean boy. He was just like him. He always teased and bullied others. I saw him many times as he hurt the weaker children. I had to clean him from the filth. I had to stop him before it became too late. The third one pushed away his little sister just before me. He always pushed Liam against the wall or against the floor. He hated my poor little son. He hated and envied him because Liam was pure unlike him" Ed had to cut him off.

"That's why you always punish him, no? Because he is so pure to you" he remarked sarcastically. This time the headmaster didn't even bothered with the knife. He hit Ed with his bare hand and Ed's head flied backwards powerless against the floor. He was too weak to even try to remain in his sitting position. So now he lay there panting. His face was burning with pain and he also hit the back of his head. But at least it seemed his nose didn't break.

"Shut up, you little monster! You have no idea! Liam is a good boy now, but he needs discipline. I can't let him to be corrupted by the sins. He has to remain pure" the man was seething with anger and he went next to Ed. He pointed his knife menacingly at him. "Do you want me to cut down all of your toes and fingers? But no, you have too few already" he laughed. "You are the worst of all. The kid who joined the army, which is more evil than anything. The kid who is full with the need of power and violence. The kid who wants to kill others. You are the worst of all! And I became very happy when Mustang informed me that you are on this case. You came here. And I wanted to clean you every time I saw you. But I had to wait. If I didn't want to fail then I had to wait. And I couldn't afford to be arrested or killed. Liam needs me. So I had to be careful. But it is my perfect chance. No one will know what happened. I will clean this world from you and it won't be the end!" Ed chuckled weakly.

"How? How do you think you can come through if you would kill me in your own office? And my companions know that I am here. Mustang will kill you and you won't be able to continue your stupid killing spree" the headmaster kicked him hard and Ed groaned.

"Just shut up you little worm. I thought this all out thoughtfully. Your little companions saw me left this building around a bit more than half an hour before, just after you fell asleep. I left with Liam and we went home. But don't worry they will catch their culprit. There is a man who they didn't see leave. They will find him in the school. And the cause will be cleared" the headmaster shouted victoriously. Ed eyes widened and he wanted to ask who will be this person, but the man suddenly cut him again this time twice and quickly on his chest. "I wanted to give this role to Smalt, but that asshole became too suspicious. He saw me with the fourth brat. He was a thief like the first one. And he was also part of a band that terrorized the streets. Smalt had caught him before when he had broken into this school and vandalized the building. I couldn't do anything then before the teachers but later I searched for him. Unfortunately Smalt remembered the case and he saw me near the murder scene that day. So after that he followed me everywhere and every time. It was annoying!" Sheeper shouted and at the same time he trampled on Ed's chest. It hurt like hell as he put weight on his new wounds and Ed screamed with agony.

"You son of a bitch" he roared and tried to move in vain. "I will so kill you!" but the man just laughed and kicked him forcefully. Ed moaned and started to feel hopeless. Now, two o'clock seemed to be far away. How could he manage to live so far?

"And who will be this sucker?" the man continued to laugh.

"It was far too easy. Your dear Colonel already has a culprit. I will just give him what he wants. Patterson has also started to be annoying. He nearly saw me when I killed the last one. He is such a hero! He always roams on the streets to try to protect those evils. He is the worst. And then I wanted you to be the one who find the corpse. It was my signal to you that you are the next. But that two hoaxes stopped you unfortunately. It's a pity, because it was also a present for you. The brat was the part of the band that attacked you before" Ed eyes grew wider. The man had watched him. Of course he knew from the beginning who Ed was. All the acting was totally needless. It was such an unfortunate coincidence that the Colonel had chosen this school for his cover. No, it couldn't be a coincidence.

"How did you achieve that we came to this school?" his voice was hoarse with the pain. The man kneeled beside him, but Ed couldn't even move a muscle.

"It was easy. Patterson has a friend in the army. We talked a lot about the case. We were both worried because the students of this school" he chuckled darkly and pointed his knife on Ed's stomach. "Don't be afraid. I will do it slow. No deep wounds. The blood has to be cleaned out slowly" and he made another long but swallow cut but Ed didn't scream again. It was pointless. He won't entertain Sheeper anymore! The man put down the knife watching him. "You know what. It's boring. I think we can start the main part. I got every evil a present. I got one for you too" it wasn't an enthralling statement.

"But you still hasn't told me how you managed to get us here" Ed groaned impatiently.

"Patterson told me that the army is investigating about the case. The fourth brat was the student of this school. But he hardly attended any class. But your Colonel gladly swallowed the bait. I left that brat in front your base intentionally and he knew this. I wanted him to come here after he got know which school the brat attended. I wanted to see the opponent who tries to stop me doing my blessed duty. But he did better. He brought you here. I am so grateful" during his speech he walked to the cupboard and opened it.
"Now look at what I have for you" and he pulled out a lash. Ed winced as he looked at it. What the heck did that monster want to do?
"I used stones, mutilation, knife, kicks and punches. But I have something more fitting for you. You know I was a state alchemist once. Of course I changed my name after I left the army so no one could find me. It was a very bad experience. I started in the army as a regular soldier. I studied alchemy before, but I failed on my state alchemist test. But next year I succeeded. But before that I was a in a boot camp. I don't think you were in any kind of military training. They were hard. They became much more softer since, but then they were border to cruel. And I was in the worst one. Our training officer was sentenced to death not long after our training because he tortured his own soldiers. He was a very sick man. Only God helped me to survive there. And this was his favorite equipment of discipline. I think it's fit you. Don't you agree?" he came next to Ed and he ceased the alchemy. Not that it really mattered. Ed couldn't move even an inch. The headmaster rolled him onto his stomach. His wounds hurt and the room swayed.
"You became like a lamb so soon. I thought you are a more difficult one. But I think there have already lot of filth left you. Don't be afraid. It won't last long" he stepped backward. Edward turned his face toward him just to see him brandish the lash. He heard the whoosh and then felt the burn in his back. He screamed as it tore his flesh. He had to… had to stall for more time… he had to…

"Where... where is Charles?" he whispered with much difficulty. But he succeeded even for a moment. The man stopped the next brandish.

"He is in the next room. I sedated him. He will come around after I left the school. And your companions won't even ask questions. He is the only one who they haven't seen to leave. He can say what he wants, they won't believe him. And I will be far away then. You know there is bunker under the school with a tunnel and exit a bit down in the next street. It was built during the last war which endangered this city. This school was then one of the biggest schools and also a shelter for kids. And the builders wanted an emergency exit for the children. Of course your Colonel asked me for the map of this school but I gave him a revised one. This is my secret passage. That's where I came back here and where I will leave" he finished and brandished his lash. Ed sat his teeth as he braced himself for the next hit. Where the hell was that stupid Colonel?

Roy just finished his report to General Grunman when Havoc stormed into the store. He looked up a bit annoyed and a bit worried.

"Has something happened, Havoc?" the man stepped closer as he answered.

"Nothing serious, Colonel. But Major Hughes said that you would like to know that the school ended sooner today. It seems that they had some kind of sport day and the children left not long ago" Roy stared at him. They agreed with Fullmetal on two o'clock, but if the school were closed then the boy had to come out from it. "Hughes said something about you had promised the boss, you will bring him shopping, chief" Roy nodded.

"Yes. It's just our luck. But why didn't the headmaster inform me? I asked him to tell me about every school event. That moron" he stood up. "I am leaving, Hawkeye. Stay for a while then you can go home. We will meet there. Havoc, you go back to the others and tell them that they are not required until night. Fullmetal will be with me" and he rushed out form the shop. He hurried toward the school, which wasn't far away. His mind was around the strange request of Fullmetal and around this whole mission. He got know more about the brat than he wanted to, but it was a good thing. It was easier to help somebody who you know better. He just hoped that Fullmetal didn't plan some mischief this time. He will strangle him if he did.

When Roy arrived to the school he was surprised that he didn't find Fullmetal outside as he expected. How could the boy stay there if the school was closed? And why? Somehow he had a bad feeling about this. It was strange. He rushed toward the door and it was closed. He didn't think about it too much and kicked it in. It wasn't a good door anyway. It could be easily broken in. And he wasn't in a patient mood. Something was off and he wanted to find Edward as soon as he could. But where could he be in the school? He was always in the library. But where was the library? Wait! Edward had told him something about the noise. Yes, he had said that he couldn't read in the library, because during mealtimes there was too much noise. Because the library was just above the canteen! And he had seen the canteen from outside. So he rushed toward that direction and when he found the stairs he ran up on them. He arrived to the library's door and tried to open it, but it was closed. Where could Edward be? Could he have gone home? No he wouldn't have done something that stupid. He knew that Roy will come for him. Maybe he was still in the school? Where could he find him? He hadn't seen him in the canteen. The headmaster's office? It was the only place he knew where was so he hurried that way. It was worth a check out.

His bad feelings were increasing as he was rushing through the corridors. He was now sure that something was wrong. Fullmetal would have waited for him in front of the school. He would have complained a lot about it but he wouldn't have hidden somewhere. He arrived to the door and he heard noises from inside. He was about to knock when a scream pierced through his ears. It was Edward. He didn't hesitate even for a moment. He put on his glove and kicked in the door. What he saw inside nearly made him sick. Edward was lying on the floor in the middle of a blood puddle. He had only two limbs and he was deathly pale. His eyes were partly closed and full of pain. The headmaster was standing above him with a lash and now he turned toward the door. Surprise was clearly on his face. Roy didn't have the time to assess the scene more. Fullmetal was seriously injured and that was enough. He fired towards the man wit alchemy but Sheeper dodged easily. The headmaster stepped toward him, jumped forwards and clapped on the floor. Water splashed on him and he couldn't avoid it. His glove became wet too and before he could have done anything a massive water wave hit him and smashed him against the wall. Then something hard hit him on the head and he fell on the floor. The man was before him with some kind of staff. It hurt like hell and that maniac hit him again this time on his chest. He had to break one or two of his ribs this time.

"It's lucky that I was prepared for visitors too. I was especially aware for you, Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist. You don't have any chance against me and my water" he laughed like a lunatic and meanwhile Roy was searching in his pockets for a second glove. Maybe it hadn't become wet. But a transmutation circle became activated and he was grabbed roughly and smashed against the wall again. He couldn't move from the pressure and something like a rope attached him to the wall as the water was attacking his face as well, surrounded him like some shell. He couldn't breath. He couldn't escape. It seemed that he will suffocate here. But no, he couldn't panic! Edward needed him! It had to be a way to do something.

Ed watched surprised as the Colonel kicked his way into the room. Was it already two o'clock? Was he so lucky? But then he watched in horror as the headmaster rapidly got into the winner position. The Colonel was too slow and he became useless from the water. He had to do something. He had to! But how? He was also useless without his arm. He couldn't do any alchemy. And he couldn't fight because he was so weak from the blood loss. Where was his damn arm? He looked around frantically and finally he saw it. It wasn't too far away from him. At least if it had been a normal case then it wouldn't have been. But he was so weak that it seemed as if it had been on the other side of the world. He tried to crawl toward it, but with only one arm and leg it wasn't easy. And he was so ridiculously weak and tired. And his body was aching terribly. But he had to move. Slowly and haltingly he managed to reach the arm and grabbed it. Somehow he sat up with a muffled wince, but luckily the headmaster was too occupied with the Colonel to hear it. Ed reattached his arm with a low whimper. It hurt like hell, but his whole body was like it had been on fire. He couldn't hesitate or stop to gather some power. The Colonel was choking from the water and Ed had to do something. He clapped his hands and transmuted the floor into some piles and one of them hit the headmaster. Sheeper fell backwards and his shoulder was pierced by the pile. The water finally disappeared and the Colonel got free. He coughed painfully and tried to keep his balance. The headmaster recovered fast but Ed transmutated again and destroyed the man's transmutation circles. The man stood up but he didn't have the chance to attack because the Colonel tackled him. Both of them fell onto the floor and Mustang punched the other hard at his nose. He didn't try to get a dry glove, instead he used just physical violence. But maybe it was better this way. It seemed more effective as the Colonel was clearly stronger than the other man. Mustang hit the headmaster violently and tossed him against the floor. The man seemed to loose his conscious and the Colonel continued to hit him until that really happened. But Ed felt himself relieved only when he rapidly roped the man's arms together. Sheeper was finally harmless. The headmaster, the lunatic murderer was finally harmless. Only then Ed let himself to fell backward and lay down. He was very tired, he felt his eyes closing. But the Colonel suddenly appeared next to him and gently shook him.

"You can't sleep yet, Ed. Please remain conscious" his voice was clearly worried as he was softly looking for injuries. Ed just groaned and felt himself more and more out. It was a long day and he really wanted to sleep. And besides everything hurt so it would have been so much better to just let himself asleep. But that stupid Colonel didn't let him. He shook him gently but it caused pain nevertheless. Didn't he see that he was injured? Why didn't he let him rest a bit?

"It hurt" he murmured complaining, hoping that the man would stop this nonsense. "Stop" he groaned as the Colonel started to peel him out of his bloody T-shirt.

"Sorry, Ed. I must see what he has done to you" Ed tried to open his eyes but everything was too blurry.

"Stop, let me be" he asked tiredly. "I am cold" the man didn't pay any attention and stripped him. Ed heard a hiss when the T-shirt was finally gone.

"Shit. How should I move you? You are bleeding heavily" the Colonel seemed like talking to himself.

"Hmm tired" Ed mumbled as he started to loose awareness.

Roy watched helplessly as Edward started to loose his consciousness. The brat saved his ass before and now he dared to faint on him!

"Edward!" he tried to bring him back to awareness, but in vain. It wasn't really surprising considering the kid's state. Roy nearly fainted when he finally got rid of that blood-soaked t-shirt and looked on the boy's torso. It was all bloody with fresh wounds which were caused by knife. There were also bruises on him and wounds on his arm and stomach too. There had to be wounds on his back too considering that the lunatic had been just hitting him there with a lash when Roy had arrived. The boy looked like hell with his pale face and blue lips. He lost too much blood already and Roy didn't dare to move him without some first-aid. Those wounds were bleeding constantly and with movements the flowing would have only become more fast. He couldn't let this happen. But there wasn't any bandage with him. So Roy threw away his jacket and tore his shirt off himself and then into pieces. The shirt was wet and wasn't really helping but he pressed the material against Edward's chest anyway.

"Ed, Ed… please open your eyes for me" the boy's eyes twitched for a moment as if Edward would have really tried to obey. But he couldn't succeed. "Ed, please. Do this for Al. You can't leave him, remember? He needs you" the boy finally opened his golden eyes which were clouded by pain. "You must press this against your wounds, Ed. I will carry you out, but you must press this against your wounds. Do you understand?" the boy's flesh arm was raised up hesitantly and was put on his chest. He didn't press it enough, but it couldn't be helped. Roy gripped Ed's shoulders and legs gently and lifted him with so much care as he could. The boy whimpered anyway and Roy watched helplessly as the cloth fell to the floor and blood was slowly soaking him as well. He didn't have time for sightseeing! He had to hurry! He finally moved towards the door with the motionless Fullmetal in his arms. He just arrived outside the corridor when he heard an excited shouting.

"Colonel? Boss?" Havoc turned towards them as he arrived from the stairs. He was followed by Hughes, Fuery and Breda. They were equally breathless as they stopped abruptly when they saw the pair of Roy and Edward. "Wha..a…"

"We don't have time!" Roy shouted angrily. "Havoc run and start the car! Hughes, there has to be a first-aid kit somewhere try to find it! Breda, Fuery, the murderer is in the headmaster's office. Arrest him and make sure that he can't use his arms. He is a dangerous alchemist" Roy panted as he ran as fast as he could with the weight of Fullmetal. It was a bit lucky that the boy was without his automail leg. He was easier to be carried that way. Fortunately his subordinates knew their job and everybody jumped into work recovering from the shock. Roy followed Havoc as fast as he could and after few minutes which were felt like hours they arrived to the car. Havoc was already behind the steer wheel. Roy gently laid Ed on the back seats, pressed himself next to him and tried to put pressure on the wounds. Havoc looked backward for orders.

"Wait a minute for Hughes" they needed bandages. There wasn't any hospital nearby. Fortunately Hughes was already running toward them with a box in his hands. He gave it to Roy and shut the car's door. "Go, go, go" Roy shouted as he opened the box and hurriedly got out some bandages and tried to fix the boy as much as he could in a minute in a moving car. The boy was breathing heavily, his cheeks were paler than before and his face was sweaty. Everything was red with blood nearby even Roy was, but he didn't pay any attention to this detail. The boy was dying and he had to keep him alive somehow.

"Don't give up yet, Fullmetal! Remember Al! He needs you. We caught the murderer. You even saved my sorry ass, so I have to return the favor. If you die now I would be indebted forever towards you. It would be really disturbing. You can't do that to me" the brat moved a bit and he tried to open his eyes once more. He succeeded only half way but it was enough. Now Roy knew that the boy was still with them and he will be fine. After all he was the Fullmetal Alchemist; they couldn't get rid of him easily. "Where is Falman?" Roy asked Havoc, who was annoyingly silent.

"We sent him to fetch Hawkeye. We knew that something was off. You were in the school for too long, Colonel" Roy nodded absentmindly. "Is the boss okay, sir?" the man's voice was shaking a bit. It contained the same terror as Roy felt in himself. They had never seen Fullmetal this beaten up before. Even after their failed transmutation the boy looked healthier.

"So much blood" Roy murmured with a heavy heart. "I arrived nearly too late."

" 'cause 're lazy" a very weak voice put in. Roy looked at the boy with awe. He didn't think that the boy could hear him.

"Just to inform you I was there half an hour earlier then we had agreed on" he tried to smirk but he couldn't change nor his worried expression neither his anxious voice. "I was just nearly too late to save your life, moron" the boy didn't answer and Roy thought that he lost his consciousness. It wouldn't have been surprising considering how much blood he lost. But a minute later he opened his eyes half-way again. He didn't really see with them but it indicated that the boy hadn't fainted.

"I saved you" he whispered tiredly. "Be more grateful… Bastard" Roy couldn't help but chuckled at this.

"Yeah, but I saved you first. You couldn't do anything before my arrival" the boy just grimaced a bit.

"Whatever" he stopped for a moment gathering his strength to continue. Roy should have stopped him but he was morbidly fascinated by the brat's will. "I saved you too… we are even" Roy smiled again at this.

"Deal, shrimp" the boy jerked at this a bit.

"Hey!" he whimpered reproachfully. Of course he couldn't give Roy his usual rant. He was barely alive, Roy reminded himself. He shouldn't have tired him more. "So cold" Ed muttered and Roy was pitied that he forgot his jacket in the school.

"Sh, we are nearly at the hospital. Just hold on a bit more."

"Don't wanna" Ed complained. He still didn't want to give up his objection against doctors. It was somewhere humorous. But this time he really needed medical attention. Roy saw that the bandages have already become red with blood. How could so much blood come out from such a little body? It was a real mystery for Roy. Suddenly Havoc stopped the car and Roy was already opening the door and then grabbed Fullmetal as carefully as he could. Havoc was already out, running toward the hospital and shouting for help. When Roy arrived to the entrance with the boy, a doctor and a nurses were already coming towards them and two men with a stretcher behind them. Roy put Edward down onto that and followed the staff towards the surgery. But a nurse stopped him there.

"Sorry, sir but you can't go in there. We will do everything for your son" and she disappeared before he could have protested. He just stood there for a minute staring at the door until Havoc grabbed him and dragged him toward the benches.

"Sit down, sir. You look like ready to faint too. Are you injured, Colonel?" At first Roy couldn't even comprehend the question then he shook his head a bit hesitantly.

"I don't think so" he murmured. He didn't feel any pain so he couldn't have any serious injury.

"But you are bleeding, sir" Roy looked at himself and he was really all bloody.

"It's Fullmetal's blood. I don't know how could so much blood come out from such a tiny body. Come on, he doesn't even have four limbs!" Havoc just stared at him with worry. It was unsettling. "I am fine really" he tried to assure him.

"But you have an injury, sir. Your head is bleeding" Roy touched his head and a pain hit him as he tapped a wound on it. Yes, that bastard had hit him on the head. And by the way now he was thinking about it he realized that his ribs were aching too.

"It's not serious" he tried to reassure his subordinate who looked at him like he could have dropped down dead in any minute.

"Every head injuries could be serious, chief" Havoc objected. "Hey" he stood up. "We need a doctor here. He has a head injury" Havoc shouted and a nurse rushed forwards them in a minute. She sat down next to Roy, looked at his head and softly fingered it.

"Ouch" Roy resisted with a wince.

"Please try to follow my finger, sir" she asked and she moved her finger before his eyes. "He is reacting slowly. He must have a concussion. I will fetch a doctor and a bed" she stood up and ran away somewhere. Roy didn't really give any mind to her. She came back some minutes later. "Please follow me" Roy stood up a bit hesitantly. Now he had a terrible headache and felt dizzy a bit. But Havoc helped him immediately. He grabbed his arm and didn't even let him until they arrived to the bed where Roy flopped down unceremoniously. A doctor came in too and looked him up and down.

"Are you the father of the boy, who is in the surgery now?" he asked sympathetically.

"I am…no… yes I am" after all now he was Ed's father, during this mission. Okay, technically it was ended, but he didn't want to explain the situation to the doctor.

"He was in a really bad shape" the doctor said pitying. "What happened?" he sat down next to the bed and looked into Roy's face scrutinizing.

"A lunatic attacked us" Roy answered honestly. "We are lucky that we survived" he added.

"Please follow my finger" Roy obeyed. "Do you feel dizzy or nausea?"

"Yes and no. What about Edward? Do you know something about him?" he asked worrying as the doctor softly poked his wound. "Ouch"

"Sorry. I didn't see him since he was brought into the surgery. But we have great doctors. They will help him. Have you lost your consciousness even for a moment?"

"No. I am fine" the doctor just hummed at this and turned toward the nurse. "Bring some bandage, antiseptic, anesthetic, needle and thread" the nurse obeyed and the doctor continued. "I must stitch it. It will hurt a bit. Besides you have a concussion, but you will be fine in some days" Roy nodded but it only hurt his head more. "Do you have other injuries too?"

"Only my ribs" the doctor poked him gently with a serious expression. "Ouch" Roy complained.

"At least two of them are broken. You will have to move carefully. It will be painful" he just shrugged. He could live with that.

"Roy!" Hughes stormed into the room with a desperate expression when the doctor was still working on his head. Hawkeye was on his heels with Falman. "How is Ed?" he asked while the lieutenant left him in the door and rushed next to Roy.

"Are you injured, sir?"

"Don't worry, madam. He will be fine" the doctor answered as he finished bandaging his wound. "He will need some rest, but he will be fine. But for the boy, he is still in the surgery. We don't know anything yet. Now the wound will be fine. We will have to change the bandage later. Now rest a bit. We will inform you as soon as your son come out from the surgery" and he left them.

"What happened? So Sheeper was the murderer? But why?" Hughes asked with disgust.

"I don't know the answers. When I arrived he was hitting Ed with a lash. I didn't ask questions" Roy answered with disdain. The memory still bothered him.

"But he knew from the beginning who we are. This is a disaster" Hawkeye added. "How could he manage to bring us to his school? Is there a traitor, or…?"

"No. I chose that school because the kid that was found before the base had attended that school. The bastard manipulated me" he should have killed that monster. No one would have missed him. They discussed the case until a nurse stormed into the room with a serious expression. Everyone turned towards her. Roy felt his heart was beating like crazy.

"The surgery ended. The boy will recover fully. We will bring him here to the empty bed, next to his father in ten minutes" she left and Roy heard that everyone let out a relieved sigh. The brat will survive. He wasn't Fullmetal for nothing after all.

When Ed came around he was in a white room. Where was he? He didn't die, did he? He just couldn't. But no, as the surroundings started to slowly make some sense he realized that he was in a hospital room. Not again! He hated hospitals. And he wasn't even alone in the room. They dared to put him into the same room with other patients. If he was really unlucky then his roommate had to be some whining kid with an overenthusiastic mother. He turned toward the other bed slowly. He was in lot of pain despite the numb feeling which indicated that he got some painkillers. He got back his leg, so he was intact again which relieved him a bit. When he managed to turned onto his side he laid his eyes on the other patient and he realized surprised that it was the Colonel. In a green hospital pajama and soundly sleeping. His face was pale and there was a white bandage on his head. Did he get some injuries during the fight with the headmaster? He wanted to ask him but in the same time he knew that the man needed his sleep. So he just stared at him trying to estimate the extent of his injuries and remember the happenings of their fight and what happened after that. Everything was so blurry. Somehow he had gotten his arm back and had used alchemy to save the Colonel. And after that the man had made Sheeper harmless. And after that… after that Ed had fainted for sure, because he couldn't really remember anything except the worried voice of the Colonel and some whispering about Al. Was he brought here by car? The Colonel started to stir as if he had felt that someone was watching him. He opened his eyes and looked back right at Ed. First he seemed sleepy and didn't really register the boy then he suddenly sat up.

"Ouch" he winced before he turned toward him again "Ed? Fullmetal, you are up?" his voice was relieved and Ed tried to answer, but his voice was hoarse.

"Yeah. Are you okay, Colonel?" he barely heard himself but the Colonel had to hear it because he chuckled at him.

"You know, Fullmetal you nearly died this time. You shouldn't worry about others. Especially not about me. I am the famous Flame Alchemist for reason" Ed just shrugged a bit irritated.

"If I remember correctly you couldn't really use your flames. And I asked you because of that turban on your head" the man chuckled again.

"I am fine, Edward" he emphasized it before he asked. "And how are you? Honestly" Ed thought about it for a minute. How was he really?

"Feel like shit" the Colonel stood up suddenly with a painful expression and walked next to him. "Are you sure you can stand up, Colonel?" Ed asked him.

"Of course. I am okay, just a bit tired" he sat down on Ed's bed next to him. "Are your wounds aching? You got a lot of painkillers" he put his hand on Ed's forehead.

"That's why I said I don't need shots. They have no use" Ed murmured. "I just feel myself numb and dizzy from them" he shook the hand down from his head.

"You don't have a fever at least. Do you need me to call a doctor here?" Ed protested immediately.

"Of course not" the man looked at him scrutinizing. "How long was I out?"

"The clash between us and that monster happened yesterday afternoon. You were out for more than a day. And you should rest more. You lost lot of blood" than the door opened and a nurse poked her head in. She broke into a smile when she saw that Ed was up.

"Oh, Mister Mustang, your son is finally up" she came in and didn't pay any attention to Ed's dumbfounded face. "How are you dear?" she came next to them watching him closely.

"He is in pain" Mustang's voice was somehow accusing.

"I don't need any shot" Ed stated immediately. "And I want this IV removed" he commanded.

"But you need that sweetie. It's some liquid. You are very dehydrated" she explained patiently. "I will ask the doctor whether I could give you more painkillers" the Colonel nodded at this approvingly.

"Don't let him suffer more than he has to" he asked the nurse and Ed noted surprised that he didn't even try to flirt with her despite she was a really beautiful one.

"Is he okay?" Ed pointed at the man a bit worried. "He is acting unlike himself" the nurse just smiled at him warmly.

"Don't worry darling. Your daddy is fine. He just has a little concussion and two broken ribs. But with some sleep he will be fine" Ed was ready to explode. He wasn't darling, nor sweetie and absolutely not dear. And Mustang wasn't his dad. Why didn't the man correct her? She knew his real name. The mission was ended. Then why? "Now try to rest a bit, both of you" she left with a smile and Ed was ready to scream.

"They thought that you are my son when we came in. I didn't have the energy to correct them. And it would be really pointless to do it now. Besides this question is really unimportant. At least we can share the room and you didn't get some strangers for your roommates" the man was scary as he was able to read Ed's thoughts.

"Fine" he shrugged at the explanation.

"That's all? You looked ready to explode before" the Colonel smirked.

"As you said it doesn't really matter. I survived the attack of a serial killer lunatic alchemist. I think I will survive that too if some stupid nurses and doctors think that you are my father" the man smiled again.

"I wasn't really worried about you. But I was a bit skeptical about the hospital stuff's survival" Ed just rolled his eyes.

"I wouldn't kill harmless civilians just for fun" the man ruffled his hair still smiling.

"Of course you wouldn't. Now rest a bit, Ed. You will need to gather energy as soon as possible. Remember: we will even have to buy those sweets. And Al is already on his way towards here. So you have to recover fast" Ed just smirked confidently.

"I will be onto action again before you, Colonel" the man stood up smiling this time not with his usual smirk but with a warm and genuine smile.

"I don't have any doubts about this, Fullmetal. So I must rest too to get enough energy to be able to handle a hyperactive pint-sized alchemist" Ed took a great breath and then he exploded:

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL THAT YOU CAN LOOSE HIM BETWEEN THE PINS?" he coughed a bit after his outbreak but after that he found himself laughing together with the Colonel who suddenly didn't seem to be that pale and exhausted as before.

So the mission was ended. I hope you liked this story. If you did, or if you didn't please tell me what you think. It would help me with the future stories. By the way I think I didn't tell you, but this was my fist ever fanfiction:) And first ever story I write in English:) I am really glad that this many people read it. Thank you. And there will be a short (or knowing myself not so short…) epilogue. I will say goodbye then:)