Disclaimer: Legendarily Quiet does not own Fullmetal Alchemist.
Edward didn't even need to open his eyes to know he was in a hospital yet again. He felt the metal railing of the hospital bed against his left hand, and the scent that only hospitals had was all around him. The annoying beeping of machines could be heard as well, tracking his heart rate and blood pressure and broadcasting it for everyone to see.
The strange thing though, was that Edward wasn't in any pain. Normally his injuries always reminded him of their presence the moment he woke up, unless he was drugged. But his thoughts were clear and he felt perfectly fine. For whatever reason Al had brought him to the hospital for, it was perfectly false. Ed would have to tell him off later.
Ed cracked open his eyelids, blinking quickly in the bright light. Yup, he was definitely in the hospital. He could recognize those white walls, white floors, and white sheets anywhere. He wondered for the millionth time why they wouldn't at least just paint the walls red.
Red was such a badass colour, always helping him to get fired up and giving him the energy he needed to execute his amazing ass-kicking techniques. Red was perfectly suitable for a hospital; patients needed that extra boost in order to beat down their illnesses or injuries faster! He asked the doctors about it every time, but they never listened. Maybe they just didn't like the fact that red went so well with the colour of blood.
Edward glanced around the room; he was all alone. Where was Al? The person who brought him to the hospital for no reason should at least have the decency to stick around. Oh well, he had had a good nap, at least.
Edward sat up and swung his legs off the bed. He found that he was dressed in unfashionable hospital attire. He would have to find his clothes before he got out of here. Ed stuck his feet into some conveniently placed hospital slippers and started to shuffle towards the door.
He had to stop though when he realized he that was still attached to the beeping machines. Ed ripped the wires off him without a second thought. Almost immediately after he did that a nurse walked in. Whoa, did they have some kind of psychic power? Ed recalled that they always got mad at him when he tried to leave early.
The nurse gave a small start of surprise when she saw Edward standing up, the wires still clutched in his hand. "Oh! Mr. Elric, you're awake!"
Edward grinned back at her. "Yup, and I'm feeling as fit as a fiddle! May I have my clothes back?" Maybe if he smiled a lot and acted really polite they would let him leave right away this time.
His hope was short lived.
"Not so fast sir!" the nurse said playfully. "We have to do a few check-ups and then your guardian will come to sign you out."
Edward simply sighed and trudged back to his hospital bed. So much for getting out early. At least Al would probably come see him soon. And Mustang would drop by to sign him out as well. He was looking forward to seeing his superior again.
Wait a second, did he just say he was looking forward to seeing Mustang?!
Edward paled with disgust and sat shock still on his bed. Maybe he did need to have an examination after all.
"I have some interesting news for you, Colonel," the doctor said to Roy.
Roy gulped. He had been in the hospital with Hawkeye and Alphonse all night. He had ordered Havoc to go home and get some rest. He had ordered Hawkeye to go home as well, but she refused to leave his side. Between sitting in Fullmetal's room, staring at the boy and wishing he'd wake up, and pacing the waiting room, he was exhausted. He himself had only gone home once to freshen up and get something to eat, at Hawkeye's insistence.
"What is it, Doctor?" Roy hoped against all hope that the doctor was not lying and the news was simply interesting and not bad.
Alphonse had stopped wringing his hands in worry and now sat very still, anxious to hear the news about his brother. Hawkeye had stepped out to grab some coffee and a bagel and was therefore not present to hear the news.
"Mr. Elric has no physical injuries."
Well, that was to be expected. Roy had deduced as much last night just by looking at the boy.
"Get on with it, Doctor," he snapped. He was out of patience and wanted to know what was up with Fullmetal now!
"We found two injection marks on his left arm," the doctor said hurriedly. "The first injection has long since worn off and we don't know what it was, but it's out of his system."
"Brother went unconscious right after he was injected when we were fighting that woman," Al supplied.
"So the first one was probably just to knock him out," Roy said.
The doctor nodded. "We have no clue as to the effects of the second one though. We've never encountered anything like it. We took a blood sample and it's currently being analyzed, but so far all we have been able to figure out is that it affects the brain in some way."
"How is this interesting news? This is terrible! My brother been injected with some unknown drug and we have no idea how it is going to affect him when he wakes up!" Alphonse said, voice growing close to hysteria.
The doctor blanched, and took a step backwards. Roy got a feeling that worse was to come.
"W-well, that's n-n-not actually w-what was so interesting," the doctor stammered.
Roy fought hard to contain his composure. This doctor was just trying to make things difficult, wasn't he?
"Even though he was only given a small dosage, the effects look like they're going to be long-lasting, maybe even permanent."
Horrified silence ensued in the waiting room. Hawkeye chose that moment to walk in. Her eyes flickered between Roy, Alphonse, and the doctor. Her brow creased with worry. She didn't say anything though, and came to stand beside the colonel.
"We've sent a sample of it to the lab and they're currently working to find a counter to it. This may take a while though, since they don't know what it is that they are supposed to be countering," the doctor finally said.
Roy stood there, not saying anything. He suddenly felt anger swell up inside him. Who was that woman, to think she could just kidnap his subordinate and inject him with a foreign substance? She was going to pay.
But even stronger than his anger at the criminal was his worry for Fullmetal. Who knew what he would he be like when he woke up, if he even woke up at all?
A nurse suddenly came running up to the somber group. "Doctor, Edward Elric is awake," she said. Without another word, the entire group rushed over to Edward Elric's room.
Mustang stood just outside of Fullmetal's room with Hawkeye. Alphonse and the doctor had all but shoved them to the side in their haste to greet Edward. The colonel warily peeked in. Fullmetal was sitting up in bed, conversing with Al while the doctor examined him. Roy and Riza slipped into the room quietly.
"How are you feeling, Brother?" Alphonse asked timidly.
Edward rolled his eyes, looking completely like himself. "I'm fine Al. Seriously; there was no reason at all for me to come here! You worry too much."
Edward glanced around the room. When he caught sight of the colonel, a range of emotions played across his face. Happiness and joy quickly turned into confusion and anger, finally to be replaced with Fullmetal's usual irritated expression that said he would prefer it if the colonel wasn't present.
"Ah, look who decided to show up. Are you ready to get me out of here, Colonel Bastard?"
Roy studied his youngest subordinate; Fullmetal looked healthy enough to him. Still . . . it was better to be safe than sorry.
The doctor spoke up before he could say anything. "I advise that Edward stay here until further notice."
What the hell? Edward couldn't believe it. He felt perfectly fine, dammit! What made these people think he needed to stay in a damn hospital?!
He turned to Mustang, eyes pleading. If anyone could help him, Mustang could!
Wait a minute.
Edward wrenched his gaze away from Mustang and turned to glare at his own clenched fists. What in the world possessed him to think he could turn to Colonel Bastard of all people? Something was seriously wrong here.
Hmm, maybe being in Central was making him a bit crazy. That's right, the sooner he continued his search with Alphonse, the sooner his mind would return to normal.
Edward raised his head to glare at everyone in the room, but was shocked to find that the Colonel had crossed the room and was now in front of him.
"Fullmetal," he said, looking down at him, "I order you to stay here until the doctor sees fit to release you."
Was this some kind of sick joke? Ed glared at the Colonel, but those charcoal black eyes were unyielding.
It was a gaze that could easily be that of a stern parent – and it was directed at him!
Edward snarled, surprising everyone in the room. "Could someone at least tell me why they think it's necessary for me to be here?"
All eyes travelled to Roy, and he knew it was his responsibility to tell Fullmetal the bad news . . . or not. Edward would most certainly furious if he knew that they technically didn't know what was wrong with him.
But what was odd was that Edward wasn't asking any questions. Yes, he was asking to be released, but he had yet to mention his capture. Roy thought the boy would've been bursting to be released so he could go hunt down his crazy kidnapper. But his impatience was just the usual. Ed didn't have amnesia, did he?
"How much do you remember?"
Edward stopped glaring at this sudden question. He seemed confused. "Uh, I remember . . . everything?"
Alphonse looked like he was about to say something, but Roy silenced him with a look. Edward saw the exchange and his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"There's something you're not telling me," he said slowly, looking around at everyone in the room.
The thirteen year old's fiery stare was very intimidating, and the doctor and nurse quickly scurried out of the room, leaving the situation to be resolved by the two soldiers and the suit of armour.
Making a quick decision – for good or for bad – the colonel launched into an explanation. "I sent you after a criminal who was using alchemy to steal from hardware stores. You and your brother engaged him in combat last night. You were close to apprehending him, but he had a surprise move and knocked you out. Alphonse quickly took action though, and he is now in custody."
Edward looked at Alphonse, who quickly nodded in confirmation.
Ed shrugged. "Well, if you say so. But that still doesn't explain why you want me to stay in this hellhole."
"Brother!" Al scolded.
Well, at least there were no medical personnel around to be offended by that comment.
Edward couldn't stay at the hospital without being notified of his condition, and he couldn't exactly be left to wander around when they didn't know how the drug would make him act. This was a dilemma indeed.
"Sir, might I suggest something?" Hawkeye spoke quietly, so as not to be heard over the sound of the now bickering brothers.
"Certainly Lieutenant, let's take this outside." The colonel and Hawkeye started walking out of the room.
"Hey, get back here!" Edward suddenly shouted. "You still haven't told me why I have to stay!"
Edward leaped out of his bed and was across the room in seconds. He stood in the doorway, blocking Mustang and Hawkeye's exit.
"I feel perfectly fine! You better tell me the truth right –"
Fullmetal never got to finish his demand as his knees suddenly buckled and he fell to the floor.
Lest: Oh so are you going to post a chapter every day?
L.Q: No . . . after this one, maybe every other day. It all depends on how fast I write.
Lest: The next one better be soon!
L.Q: . . . But you don't need to read the next one; you already know what happens. In fact, you know everything that I know . . .
Lest: I said it for the benefit of the readers!
L.Q: Ah, I see.
Lest: By the way, thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, favourited, followed, and read! I thought L.Q would pass out when she realized that someone actually bothered to click on her story.
L.Q: I thought I would pass out too. Reviews certainly make the world go 'round.