His name was Stewart Rivers. Although he had never openly opposed the military, it was in his small town where several raw metals went missing. Any State Alchemist could look at the list of materials and know they were alchemic resources. Since there wasn't another alchemist for miles he was the only likely suspect.

"Don't they have cops to deal with this kind of thing," Edward muttered under his breath. Al quietly followed behind him as they headed for the address he had written down.

"Hopefully this won't take too long. Although I don't know what they want you to do if he's guilty." They stopped at one particular house and Edward knocked loudly on the front door.

"Yeah it's not like I've got handcuffs or some holding cell in my pocket." He pulled out his watch for identification. The door was only opened for only a second or two before the man on the other side noticed the watch in Ed's hand and slammed the door closed again.

"Hey!" Ed angrily knocked on the door again.

"I guess he doesn't want to talk to us."

"Hell if I care." Ed was not in the mood to be deterred from their plans any further. Clapping, he pressed his hands against the door, forcing it opened. The inside of the house was dark and there was no sign of the man who had just so recently slammed the door. Ed didn't get very far when Alphonse heard some noise in the back. Glancing around the corner he noticed Rivers jumping over the fence in the backyard.

"Brother, he's getting away." Ed rushed out of the house.

"Al, you go down that street in case he doubles back to the front. I'll go after him." His patients were wearing thin as he hurried to the fence. Deciding he was not about to jump it, he clapped his hands again, going through it instead. He did the same to a brick wall in the next yard as well. Nothing was going to get in his way.

OoOo

What Al didn't seem to understand was how much Ed just wanted to find May. Ever since they decided to find another way to get their bodies back, he felt like they had lost momentum. The trail hadn't just gone cold, it was none existent. Then there was the military watching their every move and threatening Winry. Things just kept getting more and more complicated. Now he was stuck sitting here by himself like he had time to waste. All this thinking was making his head hurt and he leaned back on the pillow. Rubbing his forehead, he realized he felt hot.

"This is so stupid..." He dropped his hand at his side and closed his eyes. Several minutes went by before he thought he heard the door open and he forced his eyes open. "Al?" The nurse leaned over him, feeling his forehead. She called for someone but he found himself not caring. Before he knew it there were several more people in the room but no Alphonse. 'Guess I really made him mad.'

oOoOo

It was like chasing a shadow as Ed turned another corner only to stop short at another wall. He had been all over the back alleys and side streets but for some reason could not catch Rivers. He always seemed to be two steps ahead.

"Dammit, where'd he go?" He punched the wall with his metal fist. Turning around he couldn't help but wonder where Alphonse was. Before he had a chance to figure out his next move he heard Al yell somewhere nearby. Moving quickly, he clapped his hands and pressed them to the ground. As the alchemy came to life, the ground under his feet shot him upward. Landing on a nearby roof he hurried in the direction he heard Alphonse from. Making it over several roof tops, Ed finally spotted Al standing against a wall. Rivers had a weapon and was closing in on the cornered armor.

A/N-you know how it works, get me enough reviews I post the next chapter faster. :)