When Ed heard a garbled voice and the heavy darkness receded, he knew he was waking. Furrowing his brows and opening his eyes in a squint, he only saw a meaningless blob of gray. After a few seconds, though, his sight cleared and he could see the large being that stood over him.

"Brother!" Al exclaimed.

Ed's eyes widened and he tried to pull himself away but his bandages restricted movement. Once he remembered why he had them, the pain returned to him suddenly and he cried out from the spasm and the fear. Alphonse tilted his helmet then stepped forward and reached out. "Brother-"

"No, don't! Please don't, Al, I'm sorry!"

"Brother, what's wrong? Why are you sorry?"

"What do mean, you…" Ed frowned at his brother's bright eyes. Like normal. Well if this was Al, where was he last night? He put down the hand he'd subconsciously held up in self-defense. "Do you remember last night?"

"We went to bed after we finished the day's job, we were so tired. I looked up from ruminating this morning and they said you were here. The question is, what do you remember?"

Ed closed his eyes. He knew it couldn't have really been Al, no way. He'd love to spare his brother the knowledge of what happened, but they had to figure it out soon.

"Al… something's going on. I woke up and your eyes were dark, like your soul gone or something. You didn't speak, and I couldn't because you covered my mouth. You kept me quiet and took me down to the cellar. Once you got me there, you… or whatever it was… well, did this." He gestured down to his broken body with a slight nod.

"No, brother, I didn't do it! Or at least, I don't remember it… are you sure it was me?"

Edward shuddered. "Yeah, I'm sure. I asked why you were doing it and you said it was because you wanted me to suffer. I thought you were punishing me for what happened with Mom."

"I don't blame you, and even if I did, I could never hurt you on purpose! Brother, you've got to believe me."

"I believe you, Al. I thought something was off, and I didn't want to think you could do something like that. But it sounded like you, and you were so angry."

Al stepped forward to comfort him but Ed flinched. Both brothers' hearts broke. "I-I'm sorry, Al, it's just… hard."

The younger brother lowered his head. "What did I do that was so awful?"

Ed closed his eyes and could see the armor over him, hurting him like it was the easiest task, like he enjoyed it. Those dark eyes, his cold steel body, they way he could crush him and throw him like a rag doll-

"It wasn't you. Alphonse, look at me." Al looked up at his big brother's bruised face. "We'll figure it out. Together."

When they'd sat in each other's company for a while, Roy and Hawkeye walked through the doorway.

"The Fullmetal Alchemist, lying in bed pouting like a child. Just what kind of trouble did you get yourself into this time?"

Ed glared at the Lieutenant Colonel as he walked to his bedside.

"You really did it this time, Elric. Now we're down a soldier and we've got a suspect that could be anyone in the unit, so we've doubled patrols and everyone's moaning and groaning to me. On top of all this, you left this mess on my hands and then passed out. So let's review. I've got stressed soldiers, a wounded kid, and no answers to it all. Care to explain?"

Ed glanced at Al, then stared at the foot of his bed. Roy sighed. "I saw your medical report. You were tortured. It's amazing you survived, that you found help in time. In your state, you couldn't have run very far. Where were you held? Who did this? Unless you're protecting them... it was someone you knew after all."

"Shut up, Mustang, you don't know what you're talking about. I can handle it."

"Oh really? Because you didn't handle it too well last night. Don't forget, I'm the one that got you here. Just tell me what I'm dealing with. You are in no position to argue."

"Let me handle this. Just, just get out! You can't help me, this is my problem."

Roy shook his head disdainfully. "It's not my well-being I'm worried about." He left.

Hawkeye paused before following. "Keep in mind that you're a child. He just wants to help, and don't deny the fact that you need it, or at least did when you were hurt." She let a split-second of concern show in her eyes. "Don't do anything you'll regret."