I cannot apologize enough for taking a month to update. I'm sorry, I hope it doesn't happen again.

So, the last preview for this chapter probably made it seem uber dramatic but I feel like you guys might find the actual situation anti-climatic xD

Um. Think that's all I have to say for now.

Thank you to all who reviewed! I did (and do) read all of them, they mean so much to me! Thanks! :D

Enjoy! c:

I let out a long sigh as I locked the door to my office, signalling the end of another long week at work. It was the weekend now, and I couldn't wait to just go home and relax.

Edward had said he was going to go around the town with Havoc for a bit today and that if he wasn't home when I got off work, that I shouldn't worry.

So I still was slightly iffy on the whole Havoc spending time with Ed situation, but I felt fairly confident that Havoc understood not to be so irresponsible with the teen.

Edward was spending a lot of time with Jean. It was good to see him in higher spirits nowadays, laughing and joining in conversations now. I had gotten used to the fact that Edward would now always reek of cigarettes due to his exposure to them with Havoc. The first time Ed came home smelling like that, I had questioned him because I was afraid that he was smoking himself. He assured me that it was just second-hand smoke. Nothing to worry about.

It seemed Havoc was almost always at my house now. I'd say the two blonde's were now best friends.

Ed had tried to talk to Al, but the younger Elric wouldn't take to it. In a brief conversation, he revealed that he was going to Resembool. I think Ed took this harder than he let on. He pretends it doesn't bother him, but I don't believe him. His brother was the last family he had, and he left him. Well, I don't think it's really as drastic as all that. Al probably just wanted some space and time to think. I really don't know.

I had stopped at the market and picked up some groceries before continuing on my way home.

Upon arriving at my house, I saw that Havoc and Ed were sitting on the front steps. They seemed to not notice my arrival, so when the slam of a car door resounded Ed jumped a little, his eyes widening as I approached, and he was twisting the bottom of his shoe on the pavement.

"How was your day?" I asked.

Ed gave a noncommittal shrug while Havoc replied,

"Good. And yours?"

"Long. And boring."

There was a slight pause where Ed wouldn't meet my eye.

I glanced at my watch. 6 p.m.

"Are you two hungry?"

This was met by two eager nods.

I smiled a little as I made my way past them and into the front hall.

Okay, so they were acting a little weird, but it's no big deal, right?

I began making a dinner of stew – Edward's favourite.

Just as I was cutting up some vegetables to put into the broth, the two blondes came bouncing into the house, laughter filling the silence.

They came into the kitchen, and when Ed's eyes flicked between the pot on the stove and the vegetables being cut up, his face lit up.

"Stew tonight – fuck yeah." He exclaimed as he pulled himself up onto the counter to sit.

Havoc was looking around in the fridge for something to drink.

"Hey, Jean, can you get me something to drink?" Ed asked.

"What do you want?"

"Anything."

"Just tell me what you want."

"But I don't care."

"If you don't tell me something, I'm not getting you anything."

Ed sighed.

"Fine. Can I have some…" Ed trailed off, pausing to think.

"Milk?" I suggested, a smirk plastered to my face.

Ed pulled a face.

"Very funny. Um… I guess I'm fine with just water."

Soon enough, the stew was finished and the three of us were seated around the table, eating the food in a comfortable silence.

-Line Break-

It was the next morning, and after I had showered and gotten dressed I knocked on Ed's door to get him up for work.

"Ed, wake up, you have work."

No response.

I cracked open the door to find the blonde cocooned into the blankets, barely visible except for a peek of blonde hair sticking out.

"Ed. Come on, you have to get up now."

He grumbled incoherently.

I opened the door wider, and as I was walking towards his bed to shake him awake something on his desk caught my eye.

I stopped in my tracks, staring at the little box.

Was…was that a pack of cigarettes…?

I walked a little closer to the item to find that it indeed was a package of cigarettes.

Only one person would give Ed cigarettes.

Havoc.

In a firm voice, I said one last time,

"Ed. Get up." Before walking out of the room, slamming the door shut behind me.

It was a quiet drive to work. Ed was still half asleep, and my mind was a little too preoccupied.

I wanted to talk to Ed about it, but I was still angry at Havoc for giving the teen the cigarettes in the first place. I decided it was better to deal with my anger and Havoc before trying to talk to the troubled teen.

We walked into the office, greeted by a chorus of 'good morning sir's and 'morning Fullmetal's.

Instead of going straight to my office, I made my way over to Havoc's desk. Ed, who normally went straight to Jean's work area, stopped and watched me, confused. So were the other subordinates, apparently, because it became very silent and still in the work atmosphere by the time I reached Havoc's desk.

"I need to talk to you."

Havoc look startled, if not confused.

"O-Okay, sir."

"Outside. Now."

Havoc slowly stood up from his desk, clearly nervous.

I turned and led the way out of the office, fully aware that all eyes were carefully watching us.

Once in the hall, Havoc stopped.

"What's up-"

I brushed past him, signalling for him to follow me.

I led him out onto the front steps of the military building. Most workers were already inside having started their day of work. It was just me and Havoc.

I was silent for a moment, looking Jean in the eyes with an icy stare.

He gulped.

"Did you give Edward cigarettes?" I asked, my voice dangerously low and even.

His eyes widened a little, caught off guard.

"Wha- No, um, I mean… Maybe?"

I stared at him.

"Okay, so I did. Is it really that bad?"

"Is it that bad? Oh no. Not at all. Giving the depressed, self-medicating, suicidal teenager cigarettes is not by any means bad, Jean."

Havoc looked overwhelmed. He slowly sat on the steps, taking in what I just told him.

"D-depressed…? Suicidal? Edward?"

I stared at him, letting the look on my face answer his question.

"Why?" I questioned.

"Why what?"

"Why did you give him cigarettes?"

Havoc averted his gaze.

"Well… Um, I noticed that he seemed a little on edge all the time, and that he had a habit of biting his nails, and… and fidgeting with his hands, and whenever I smoked around him he would stare at the cigarette in some sort of…fascination? I don't know, he asked if he could try one and I let him, and I told him that I thought it might be good for him because he just seemed so strained all the time and stressed and… It seemed to help him, okay? I just wanted him to be happier."

"You wanted him to be happier as he develops cancer. Yeah, okay."

Havoc scoffed.

"Look, he seems more relaxed and generally happier now, so it's not a bad thing for him to be smoking. There are worse things he could be doing."

"You mean like slitting his own wrists?"

Havoc seemed perturbed by my forwardness.

"Y…you mean he… he did that?"

I sighed. I shouldn't be the one telling Havoc all this. If Ed wanted him to know, he would've told Jean himself.

"Yeah, he did. But if you want to know more, you should talk to Ed about it. Not me."

"So… If smoking is working to stop him from… from hurting himself, then it's not a problem is it?"

I couldn't take it anymore. Something inside me snapped and all control I had over my anger was unleashed.

"You idiot! It's going to kill him!" I shouted, enraged at the blonde's idiocy.

Jean, caught off guard, exclaimed in defense,

"I didn't know, I swear! I just wanted to help!"

"Yeah, well, what a great help you've been." My voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"Roy, calm down, it isn't the end of the world. I can fix this - I swear. It's not like he's addicted yet or anything… I think…"

"You can fix this? No, you've done enough. Just please. Leave."

Sure, it's a work day, but as his commanding officer I could order him to take a day off.

"I have every right to be here, I just want to help. Please."

"No. I'm done with your 'helping'. Leave, before I say or do something I might regret."

If he kept pushing it, I don't know if I'd be able to keep my anger slightly in check. I didn't want to end up firing a perfectly good subordinate.

"O-okay, okay. I get it. You're pissed. You have every right to be, just please - don't send me away. I promise it won't happen again, I'm just trying to help, okay? Can you let me do that?"

"I'm sorry. But I can't. Please. Just go."

I sighed as I watched the retreating figure.

Sure, I was harsh, but I had to be. Was I the only one left who paid attention to the kid? The only one who looked out for his well-being?

So it's a little shorter than I would have liked, but I hope it satisfies your need for an update. Again, sorry I took so long.

To be honest, I want to wrap up this story soon. I don't have the same motivation to write it anymore, but I can't just not finish it and so I'll still give you a guys a proper ending, don't worry :D

Also, on a side note, I know that some people who read stories like this often have dealt with or are currently dealing with self-harm or depression, that type of thing, in their own life. If any of you readers are going through something like this, I just want you guys to know that if you need someone to talk to I'm here, even if you've never reviewed or anything, you can PM me or leave a review, whatever. I know what it's like, and I'll do my best to help you guys out or just hear you out kind of thing. I just felt that I should address that, so yeah...

Now that that's out of the way, let me know what you guys think? Also, since I'm looking to resolve the story soon, you might want to tell me certain points of interest you want to see resolved/dealt with, because I don't want to leave anything out that you guys want to read :D

Thanks for reading!

-HazelEyes8D