Draped in Wires
by. Poisoned Scarlet

Theme 040: Precious Cargo

She sat miserably next to the toilet bowl, her stomach churning as she took in controlled breaths. She knew Garfiel would not be back for a few hours, perhaps not until the next day, and Paninya had moved out long ago in her ambition to become independent.

She knew eating out in the restaurant would mix up her stomach! She rubbed her belly, groaning when another wave of nausea hit her. She had felt bad while eating the dinner with Paninya and a few other friends and now she regretted not rejecting the food in the first place. Her stomach was rolling and cramping and her head was pounding and heavy. She felt like death and she knew she probably looked like it, too; she had always been the type to look sicker than she actually was.

This is the last time I ever eat Aerugian food with a stomach ache, she inwardly vowed, leaning over the bowel to heave out another mouthful of food. She guessed she had vomited out the last bits of food, as her stomach automatically settled.

She felt weak and exhausted but it was an improvement from feeling pained and nauseous.

In all, it had been nearly a year since she and Ed had begun their relationship. But it had only been a few times that they had dared to say the loaded 'L' word, as well. She had said it first, of course, and had only been relieved to hear his rather choked up "me, too".

She noticed they only said it over the phone, something she found amusing since when they met up every two to three weeks all they ever did was drown in physical affection.

No...I don't think I could do anything like that right now, she groaned, slowly making her way back to her bed. Working as an in-house employee for Garfiel had proved to be the best thing she could do, as the man was seriously contemplating letting her inherit his business so it could continue to thrive. She had been more than flattered when he had suggested it but she had firmly mentioned that she was willing to open up her own shop within the years – once she had settled down enough.

A couple more years? She thought, rather disappointingly. Ugh, I can open up a shop here in Rush Valley right now if the rent wasn't so high! She had amassed enough money to be able to pay four months consecutively but the trouble was finding a shop that also had a built-in house just like Atelier's Garfiel had.

They're all sold out, she thought, inhaling her sheets fresh scent. She had been on the hinge of unconsciousness when the shrill ring of the phone startled her. Her stomach gave a warning roll and she was quick to cautiously slide off the bed and pad into the hall.

"Hello, Atelier Garfiel, Winry Rockbell speaking." She cleared her hoarse throat.

"Win? Whoa, you sound really bad... did I call at a bad time?"

"Edward?" She said, face brightening. "What's the occasion? It's almost going to be ten here..."

"Oh, uh, I was just calling to tell you I can go to Rush Valley this Friday...you told me to call you beforehand or else you'd make me kiss your wrench." He sounded bitter about that.

She laughed. "This Friday? Okay, I can squeeze you in."

"Are you okay?"

Of course that would be the first thing he asked her! She was rather sick from the food. "Yes, Ed, I just ate some really bad Aerugian food. I've been puking since I came home today..."

"Are you sure you're alright? Maybe you should go see a doctor to check that out! I hear you can contract exotic diseases from imported food."

"It's a restaurant, Ed, I doubt their food is poisonous!"

"Still!" He insisted. "You better have seen a doctor, Win, by the time I get there or I'll take you there myself!"

"I'm fine! The food just went down bad!" She argued.

"Winry."

She scoffed. "I'm not going to waste money going to the doctor when I can diagnose myself. I'll tell you now, as Dr. Rockbell, that I am perfectly fine aside from mild food poisoning."

"I'm afraid I can't accept that, Dr. Rockbell, for your diagnosis is biased," was his mock-formal reply.

"On what grounds?" She challenged, with a small smile

"On the grounds that you ARE Dr. Rockbell. Go see a real doc, Win."

"Are you implying I'm not a real doctor?" Winry snapped, a scowl marring her face. It was surprising how quick it took her to switch mood. She felt like beating him up for the joke but he seemed to have missed the hostile note in her words, thankfully.

"No, I'm implying you don't count in this situation. Crap, it's late and Mustang's already here to give me my nightly lift. Go see a doctor, I'm serious. I don't want this to escalate anymore than it already has."

"But, Ed—!"

"Please?"

At the sound of his pleading note, Winry caved. She was honestly letting him cut too many corners with her. "Fine. Don't do anything rash like come and visit me tomorrow or something. I'll call you back the instant I get back from the clinic!"

"I'll hold you up on that. Take care, bye Win."

"Bye, Ed, I love you." She smiled, twisting the phone cord around her finger.

"Right back at you." The phone went dead.

Winry rubbed her stomach.

The nausea was coming back with every second awake.

She drug herself back to bed. She hoped she wasn't running a fever when the sheets became too hot against her body, and she hoped this was only a simple stomach bug as she fell into a restless sleep.