Here is the third chapter! I'm sorry it's so late! I'm currently suffering from severe procrastination and laziness. Please read and review!

Tobias and Rachel got out of the car. The wind was still and the sky a clearbright blue.

"Sir, what are we doing here?" Rachel asked, putting her hair into a braid.

"I'm trying something my father used to do," he replied taking a target out of the back seat of the car.

"I see why you bought that on the way here now," she said as she watched him set the target up far away from them. "You're trying your father's flame alchemy."

Tobias nodded. "That woman that came by earlier gave me my fathers gloves. She used to work for my dad."

She nodded. "I see."

Tobias put on the gloves and examined them on his hands. A perfect fit. "They're almost soft," he commented. He put his hand up, aimed toward the target, and snapped.

Tobias shielded his eyes from the bright red light. A huge fire burst beside the target. Tobias cursed under his breath. He looked over at Rachel. "How was that?"

"Well, you got a flame out of it," she replied uncovering her own body from cowering.

He chuckled. "True, but I think I'm going to have to control it a bit more…" he trailed off lost in thought.

"How are you going to do that?" she inquired standing straight again.

"I don't know much about alchemy," Tobias answered, "but I think if I keep experimenting with it, something will turn out clear." He raised his arm again and aimed at the target more carefully. "Now that I know what these can do, I won't have to shield my eyes." He snapped again, this time keeping his arm steady, and watched as the flame engulfed the target. "Perfect," Tobias said with a smile.

"Good job, sir," Rachel said encouragingly. "You actually hit it this time."

He turned to her smugly. "Not bad for a second try."

Rachel shook her head. "Not bad at all."

Tobias and Rachel were out at the field for quite some time. It was not until the sun was setting that Tobias finally stopped for the day. Sweat was pouring down his face. He had taken off his military jacket and given it to Rachel to hold while he continued practicing. Black burn spots covered the side of the hill. (He had gotten bored with just hitting the incinerated target). Tobias looked at them proudly. "I believe I've done pretty well for the first day," he said walking toward Rachel.

She stopped leaning on the side of the car and handed him his coat. "Congratulations," she replied. "Colonel," Rachel said after walking around to sit in the passenger seat.

"Yes?" he asked turning the car on and pulling away from the burnt countryside.

"Do you know anything else about alchemy? Other than what you were doing today?"

Tobias shook his head. "No. My father's research notes were all taken away when they arrested him and my mother." He sighed. "I don't know if they burned them or kept them in the archive library."

Rachel stared at his face. She noticed how his black hair went past the middle of his ears and wondered if they ever tickled. The curve of his mouth was etched into an almost straight line, a sign of concentration. His eyebrows furrowed in a look of frustration. Sweat still glistened on his temples. His brown eyes were turning black as the sun went down and disappeared as the night grew on. Rachel laughed lightly to herself.

Tobias glanced at her for a moment. "What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing," she replied pushing the loosened hair back from her face. "I'm just thinking of all the work that wasn't done today." The little white lie came easily enough.

"You mean the paperwork? Oh, screw the paperwork," Tobias said with a groan. "More important things had to be done today."

"Yes, I suppose alchemy is more important than that."

Tobias thought she was being sarcastic. "Because it is," he replied.

"I'm not disagreeing with you, sir."

"Good."

They drove on in silence. Rachel stared at the road ahead of them. In the distance she could see the lights of the city. "Sir, you never did tell me why you had the sudden urge to learn alchemy."

"Well," Tobias said scratching his head, "let's just say I was enlightened this morning."

"How so?"

"I was given the idea that if I were to learn alchemy and become a State Alchemist, I could have better access to research behind my parents' execution. Even being at the rank I am now, I am not fully allowed to everything." He sighed. "This is the best lead I've had in over a year, Lieutenant."

She stared at him again. His face held a different expression this time. Confidence and hope burned in his eyes. His mouth in a curve. His hair stuck out in the place he had scratched his head. He also seemed to have straightened his back.

"Let me help you," Rachel blurted.

Tobias looked at her in disbelief. "What?" Suddenly, Tobias had to turn the steering wheel to avoid hitting a tree on the side of the road. "Sorry," he apologized under his breath. He stopped the car and shut off the engine.

"Did I say something wrong?" she asked quietly.

"Say it again."

She hesitated. "Let me help you," she repeated. "Let me help you clear your name."

"You do realize the situation you're trying to get yourself in right?" Tobias asked her seriously. "What do you think you could do? Justbecause you are my subordinate, you do not have to help me. What I could do to clear my family'sname could get illegal, if it has to be. Or at least the attention of the military higher ups."

"The least I could do is be emotional support!" Rachel said crossing her arms. "Hell, I'm even a damn good listener if you haven't noticed. You don't have anyone else helping you right?" She paused. "It's been two years, Tobias. You can't do this on your own. You need me. You need my help."

Tobias looked her over and sighed. "Obviously you don't have any intentions of backing down I see. The problem is not what could happen to either of us, but whether I will let you help me."

"I don't see why you wouldn't. Is there something you have against me helping? How much have you accomplished on your own? You and I both know it isn't much," Rachel retorted.

"You know what? Fine. Help me if you want," Tobias said throwing up his hands. He started the engine of the car. "If things get ugly, get out as soon as you can. I don't care if you have to leave the country. Erase any evidence that you were ever involved with this."

Rachel nodded. "Yes, sir," she said with a salute. Tobias turned from her and pulled away from the side of the road. Rachel smiled to herself, victorious.

And that concludes chapter three. Again, sorry for the wait. I felt like I could use this chapter to try and deepen Tobias and Rachel's relationship. What did you think? Write a review and thanks for reading!