A/N: Wow, that took longer than expected. Sorry, this is a short chapter. But I do quite like it mainly because one of my favourite characters is finally introduced! Well, I hope you enjoy :)

I still don't own FMA.

Approximately a week later, in the Eastern Command Center, the sun rose on a beautiful, sunny, peaceful morning. Yes, a very peaceful…

"Again, Sergeant Cobbler? This is the third time I've caught you letting someone onto these premises!" the Major barked. "What are your orders, soldier?"

Sergeant Aislinn Cobbler straightened into an impressive salute and shouted in an award-deserving tone, "Sir, I am to guard the premises, sir, and forbid all entry, except to those with clearance!"

Major George Patton drew himself upward, his magnificent, luxurious mustache bristling with barely contained rage. "And does this," the Major pointed at the Private cowering in the corner, "look like someone with clearance?"

"No sir!" Sergeant Cobbler barked.

The Major's rotund face turned an unhealthy shade of purple. "Wha…? This… this is preposterous! The nerve!" he spluttered with all his wounded dignity.

"He had a summons from Brigadier-General Mustang, sir" Sergeant Cobbler explained, taking pity on her superior officer who clearly suffered from high blood pressure.

"What?" Major Patton stormed towards the hapless messenger, ripping the missive from the poor boy's hands. "Hmm…" The Major made pensive noises that sounded suspiciously like a horde of angry bees as he read the letter. "Well, I'll be. It's a transfer for you, young Cobbler."

"Me sir?" Sergeant Cobbler looked shocked. "Where to?"

"To Central command. You've been reassigned to Brigadier-General Mustang's team. Well, I'll be damned…"The Major look absolutely confounded.

"When am I to report in, sir?" the Sergeant pressed.

"Your official duties start at the beginning of next week. They gave you enough time to finish whatever paperwork or assignments you have left."

"Yes sir!" Sergeant Cobbler threw yet another impressive salute and then proceeded to vacate her post.

"Where do you think you're going, soldier?" the Major roared, fixing the young officer with a glare/

"To go finish my paperwork, sir"

The Major continued to stare at the girl who simply looked puzzled under his scrutiny. Finally, he sighed. "Off you go then."

"Right away, sir!" Cobbler flashed him a grin and continued on her way.

"And Cobbler…"

The young woman turned around.

"Good luck, lass!"

Sergeant Aislinn Cobbler grinned again and gave her officer a jaunty wave as she walked briskly back to the office.

"Oi, Cobbler! Where's your salute? I'm still your C.O., you hear?"

Edward shifted from leg to leg as he waited at the train station. The last week had been hellish. True to his word, Mustang had hired a private car to drive Ed around when investigating. Ed had quite enjoyed the experience and had no complaints whatsoever about the driver. However…

* Flashback to 1 ½ weeks ago *

Edward lay on his bed in the dormitory, gazed absent-mindedly at the ceiling. After a lot of arguing, name-calling, and minor brawling, Ed had finally convinced Mustang to hand over Captain Broadstone's case notes on the gang case. After Ed had once again agreed to an escort-cum-bodyguard and not wearing his red coat around, Mustang had grudgingly passed over the large file folder. Captain Broadstone's notes had been amazingly detailed – he had identified almost every single member of both the observed gangs, pointing out those who posed a greater threat than the rest. But, however detailed the Captain's notes were, they did nothing to help identify his killer. So now Ed lay in his room, simply contemplating and reviewing all the facts. He was slipping into a pseudo-sleep daze when the door to his room burst open. Startled, Ed leaped off the bed, only to be swept into a spine-crushing stranglehold that could only belong to one person.

"Edward Elric! It has been too long since we have last met. How much you have grown! Come, leap into my embrace!" his assailant boomed.

"Can't… breathe…" Ed wheezed. Hastily, but gently, Edward was placed back on the ground. "Major… Armstrong… what are you doing here?" Ed asked as he panted, struggling to regain his breath.

"The Brigadier-General has assigned me to be your escort" Armstrong exclaimed joyfully.

Edward nearly spat out the water he had just drunk. "What?"

"Fear not, Edward Elric! I, Alex Louis Armstrong, the Strong Arm Alchemist, shall ascertain your safety with my life!"

Armstrong let loose a barrage of sparkles that did just as much damage as the earlier hug. Ed silently cursed his former commanding officer to die in a million painful ways as he dodged yet another hug from his overenthusiastic friend.

*End Flashback *

After one week of enduring Armstrong's shining, stripping, muscle-obsessed personality, Ed was ready to explode. He stormed into Mustang's temporary office in Central and demanded a replacement. Mustang took one look into Edward's bloodshot eyes and promised to get a replacement as soon as possible. Which is why Edward now stood at the train station, waiting for an hour delayed train. It did not help his temper to see Major Armstrong standing not-so-subtly behind him, looking like a twinkling tank of muscle. Ed signed with relief as a train pulled into the station. It was about time; he could not wait to be rid of his overbearing shadow. He impatiently scanned the disembarking passengers, looking for the familiar blue uniform. Ah, there! Ed picked out the form of a girl, maybe in her early twenties, with golden-red hair coiled into a loose bun at the base of her neck. She had nothing but the uniform she wore and a small duffel bag. As she spotted him (or the mountain behind him), a brilliant smile spread across her freckled face, exposing a shining set of white teeth.

"Major Armstrong and Major Elric, I presume? Sergeant Aislinn Cobbler reporting for duty" she stated jovially as she trotted towards them. She struck a quick, smart salute when she stopped before them.

"Just Edward, Sergeant. Even Ed is fine." Edward extended a hand forward and was met with a surprisingly firm handshake.

"Call me Cobbler, Edward. I'm only called Sergeant when I'm getting chewed out by my former C.O" Cobbler replied with a grin.

"You're one of Patton's batches, aren't you?" Major Armstrong mused, stroking his impressively groomed mustache.

Cobbler nodded. "Yes sir. Old Patton trained me from when I was just a sprout. He's an old geezer with a heart of gold, that one."

Armstrong twinkled in approval. "Welcome to Central, young one. You will fit nicely into the team" he boomed happily. "Come! We will take you to the office."

Sergeant Cobbler stood nervously in front of Brigadier-General Mustang's desk, waiting as he scanned through her military history record. Behind her, Mustang's team was hard at work, sorting through paperwork, fixing up their C.O.'s messes.

"What have you heard about your assignment?"

Cobbler looked around for a couple of seconds, and, with a start, realized Mustang was addressing her. "Sir!" Cobbler jumped into a salute, startling Sergeant Fuery so badly that he spilt coffee down his front. "I haven't heard anything, sir. Absolutely nothing, sir. Zip, sir!"

Mustang chuckled a little at the girl's over-the-top reaction. "Easy there, Sergeant. I won't bite."

Lieutenant Hawkeye shot Mustang a disapproving glance that spoke volumes.

"Please call me Cobbler, sir, if you don't mind. Major Patton only called me Sergeant when he was reprimanding me. I've developed an aversion to my title" Cobbler requested a little sheepishly.

"Alright, Cobbler. But I'd rather call you Aislinn; what a pretty…"

Mustang trailed off as Lieutenant Hawkeye rose from her seat. All eyes fixed nervously on the Lieutenant as she plodded towards the main desk. Breaths hitched as she leaned forward, looking straight into Mustang's rapidly blinking and shifting eyes.

"Sergeant Cobbler's assignment, sir" she stated quietly, laying the file in front of him. Mustang, seeing a lifeline, grabbed the file and began to rummage through it.

"Er, right. Cobbler, here are your assigned duties. You are to accompany and aid Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, during his investigations of his apparent stalker and the increased gang activity. You will also be assigned as Fullmetal's permanent bodyguard until further notice or you are relieved of your duties. Any questions?" Mustang commanded, all of his previous charisma returned.

"Just one, sir. Am I required to stay in uniform while accompanying the Fullmetal Alchemist?" Cobbler queried.

"No. Think of this as a plainclothes assignment. Understood?"

"Yes sir!" Cobbler struck a salute. "Permission to change into civilian clothing and proceed?"

"Go ahead." Mustang waved a careless hand, in a manner resembling a wet handkerchief flopping pathetically in the rain.

Cobbler nodded sharply, murmured a quick thanks to Lieutenant Hawkeye and then strode briskly out of the room.

"She's a bit young" Hawkeye stated casually, gathering up the assignment file.

Mustang smiled grimly. "You haven't seen her rep sheet. That kid's got more than enough to look after Fullmetal. Plus, she has an additional advantage." He gave Hawkeye a pointed look.

For the first time that day, Riza Hawkeye's mask slipped, showing her surprise. "You don't mean…"

"Yep" Mustang settled back in his chair smugly, arms crossed comfortably behind his head. "Fullmetal's in good hands."

A/N: I should be able to get another chapter out soon. Until then!

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