Chapter 2: Reassignment

Hawkeye stood outside the door patiently until her commanding officer finally appeared. She quickly saluted him.

"Fullmetal will be out momentarily, please escort him to the car," Mustang commanded.

"Yes sir," she responded.

Riza watched as Roy walked pass her. He had pain etched across his features. He departed down the corridor and glanced back once at Ed's room. He would never admit that he was worried, but the whole situation troubled him. No matter what the blond alchemist was involved in he always managed to escape, but this time he could have lost his life.

Inside the room Ed was sitting up on the bed slightly hunched over. He knew he had to leave, but he wasn't ready to leave yet. He wanted to get as far away from the hospital as possible, but he still needed to time to just remember in silence without everyone questioning him and expecting him to know all the answers. The longer he sat there and waited the more real it all felt. His back ached and he tried to bend his left arm behind him and winced as it brushed against the bruise. Damn it all, why were his memories gone, or nearly gone. He faintly remembered bits and pieces, but nothing whole. Like his memory was a blurry dream without all the gory details which led him to this fate.

All he wanted at that moment was the answer to one question and then everything else could wait. Or never be answered for all he cared. He just wanted Alphonse, to know where he was and if he was alright. Al would never leave his side no matter what and if he had been sitting in the hospital for three weeks then Alphonse could be anywhere in Amestris, or somewhere else.

Ed tried to focus as he was lost in a thought. A thought he almost remembered. He was looking into golden eyes, his own maybe. And the person had golden hair to match. They looked so much alike, but at the same time not alike at all. Some of their physical features were shared while their pain differed in so many ways. But still Ed remembered this person. He hated him or should hate him, maybe even feel sorry for him. A single word was present in his mind

... homunculus..

But why did a homunculus look like him. Ed started to feel dizzy as visions of blood, his blood flooded through his mind like a river of death and sorrow. He had lost too much blood to still be alive right now, but somehow he was. How was he okay? Maybe Al escaped. No, he wouldn't have left Ed behind. His head was starting to hurt. He didn't want to think of any alternatives, like the blood being Al's... no the blood was definitely his, it had to be. Al was a suit of armor after all.

In the midst of all his brooding a nurse, not the same one as before, came in and left his discharge papers beside him along with some clothes. He figured Mustang must have brought them. At least he wouldn't have to leave dressed in a hospital gown, he was sure his other clothes were in horrible condition. They were in a tied bag on the floor.

Well… he had to get moving sometime.

Ed managed to get his pants on by himself, but the shirt was a whole other issue. After a few painful attempts and with some help from the nurse, even though he protested, he was dressed and ready to head back into reality. As he emerged from the room Riza greeted him with a solemn smile.

"Hello Edward," she said kindly.

"Lieutenant," he greeted in response.

He followed her as she guided the way to the car. He kept his head hung low and trudged behind her at a slightly slower pace. This was going to be torture… riding in a car with Mustang all the way to Central. He wasn't sure which hospital he was at and hopefully it wasn't far. Why did Mustang have to go looking for him again? He would have woken up eventually and found his way back, but no Mustang just had to play the hero. This was going to be the most painful thing he ever did. He wanted to bet it felt worse than whatever caused the giant piercing ache through his chest.

They sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity, maybe two eternities. Ed's eyes were glued to the window. He was slumped to the side and had his elbow propped on the window and rested his chin in his hand. He watched the landscape as the car continued its way to Central. He guessed the hospital was in a small town not far from Central because before he knew it they were on familiar streets. Ed yawned, he was bored and his limbs were starting to ache, especially his right shoulder and the flesh part of his left leg, right above where the screws set everything in place. He wished he was still asleep in that hospital bed, he forgot how sore his body was and the morphine took the edge off. Usually Ed would sleep on long rides, but this one was different. Hawkeye was driving and Mustang decided to keep Ed company in the back seat. Only Ed's old disheveled clothes in a bag separated them from each other.

"Something wrong Fullmetal?" came the voice of his superior.

"Nope, nothing at all," he deadpanned.

"Well let's talk. What's on your mind?" Roy pushed trying to make a conversation.

"Are we there yet?" Ed asked trying to avoid the interrogation.

"Fullmetal, we're going to have to talk eventually. We are partners now."

"I already have a partner," Ed retorted.

Ed was done talking. Mustang could just fuck off for once and leave him alone. The Colonel just loved to see him like this. Weak and pathetic. That damn bastard was always up on his high horse. Ed didn't want to make small talk he wanted was his brother… wherever he was. He wanted to get Al and get him back in his rightful body then take off and move someplace far away from Amestris, the place just caused problems. He took his eyes off the window and finally looked over at the Colonel. Ed was surprised when he saw remorse in Roy's eyes. He was about to speak, but his concentration was broken as the car stopped and the door was opened. Finally the painful car ride was over. As he went to take his first step out of the car he was grabbed and forced into a bone crushing hug.

"Oh Edward Elric! I was so worried about you! I swore to myself I wouldn't stop searching until you were found and now you have finally returned!" Alex Louis Armstrong bellowed out.

"Major… you're hurting… me. I... can't... brea.." Ed choked.

"Easy Armstrong, we just got him from the hospital. We don't want to put him back in there," Mustang said.

Now there was a thought. Just keep hugging Armstrong, maybe Ed would pass out and wake up in another three weeks. The blond alchemist hoped.

"Edward I hope you weren't injured too badly," Armstrong said as he released Ed.

Ed winced as he stumbled once he was placed back on the ground. His bruise was throbbing ferociously now, but he decided to tuck that pain away for later and deal with it when he was alone.

He rubbed the back of his head and smiled, "no I'm fine seriously, just need to see my mechanic to find out why my automail feels messed up. Probably just needs some adjustments. So I'm gunna go give her a call," Ed said casually as he turned to enter the building.

When he was out of hearing range Major Armstrong turned to Mustang.

"Where's Alphonse Elric?" he asked.

"We don't know, but I think Ed does. I just need to get him to talk," Mustang chimed as he headed into Central Command with his officers following behind him.

Roy headed for his office. He was greeted by his subordinates as he entered.

"Good to see you back sir," Fuery greeted.

"It's nice to see all of you too. It's going to get rowdy in here soon so everyone be prepared," he said as he made his way to his desk.

Falman and Havoc exchanged puzzled glances with each other, but just continued in their work.

Breda raised his eyebrow, "What's going on sir?"

"The Fullmetal Alchemist has returned and probably won't be happy with his new orders," Mustang almost hesitated on the last word. He regained his composure, leaned forward on his desk, and smiled, "we all know how hot tempered he can be when things don't go his way."

Riza shook her head, "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into sir."

Down the hall Ed was desperately trying to get a hold of Winry on the phone. He had dialed her number a few times, and every time it went to an automated greeting. Of all the times for her not answer the phone.

"Answer dammit!" he yelled into the receiver as he tried dialing for the third time.

He slammed the phone down multiple times. Until the phone sat slightly crooked on the receiver. He was startled to see an officer behind him when he turned around. How long had he been there for.

"Excuse me, Fullmetal Alchemist, but this is a letter from the Colonel about your reassignment."

"Reassignment… what reassignment?" he asked as he grabbed the letter.

His fingers twitched as he read the words on the paper. His blood was boiling deep within his body. He could feel his rage building up… what kind of sick joke was this. Of all the cruel and unusual things to put him through this had to be the worst form of torture imaginable. The Ishvalan War was nothing compared to what was in store for him. If this was idea of Mustang's version of partnership he had another thing coming. Ed would never submit to this kind of degrading humiliation. Could he even do this? What gave him the authority to? He clenched the reassignment notice tight in his hand as he stormed down the hall and to the Colonel's office. He opened the door which made a satisfying bang as it hit a filing cabinet. He paced himself as he made his way to Mustang's desk and slammed his fists down onto the desk. His automail arm made a satisfying dent into the mahogany desk. He took a deep breath before directed all his anger at Mustang.

"What kind of fucking reassignment is this?!" he spat.

"I'm surprised at your control Fullmetal, I think bets were place as to how hard you'd punch me," Mustang smirked before turning serious, "those," he gestured by pointing to the crumpled paper in Ed's flesh hand, "are your new orders."

"Are you fucking kidding me with this nonsense. You're crazy if you think I'm going to fucking live with you bastard."

"It's not a joke Fullmetal, you need supervision. A lot of it apparently. And you clearly can't manage on your own so I suggest you calm down, it's not the end of the world."

"Fuck this," he said as ripped the letter and let the pieces fall onto Roy's desk and began walking away.

"Are you defying your commanding officer?" asked the Colonel very modestly.

"Call it what you want. What you're asking me to do is ridiculous. I'll stay in the same room I always stay in," he said as reached the door.

"You no longer have access to that room. Like I told you in the hospital. You're going to need my help and if you don't like it then quit."

Ed turned and looked at Mustang. Why the fuck was he doing this to him. Why couldn't he ever just back down and leave him alone. It finally dawned on Ed that there were other people sitting in the room. Now he looked like a complete ass. Was this Mustangs plan all along, to torture him in front of everyone and mock him on his ability to take care of himself and his brother, shallow bastard.

"What are you talking about?" Ed asked.

"As it states in your reassignment you will be joining me at my home. You will live there where I can keep a careful watch over you while we look for your brother. Until you are older and not a liability to the military this is the way things are going to be around here. The orders are final by me, Colonel Mustang, the soon to be Fuhrer of Amestris."

This was going to be a nightmare.

-LunaMaye