It was a long walk from the train station at Resembool to Rockbell Automail. Alphonse's feet crunched dully on the dead grass along the road, Ed a slight weight on his back. Edward grunted softly in the back of his throat as every grating step sent a jolt of agony through his entire body. The patch-job that small town doctor had given him had amounted to little as every movement he made caused his bent port to grind against his bone. He thanked his dubious luck that the nerve connections hadn't been damaged, or the pain would have been tenfold. At least the man had done something for him; his fever was gone. Now there was nothing to dull the pain other than some mild painkillers. He had put up very minimal fight when Alphonse suggested he carried him. The discomfort had been getting worse and worse with every day that passed, and in the final stretch, Edward was reaching his limit.
"We are almost there," Alphonse said. "How are you doing?"
Edward didn't deign that with a response. He merely shifted against Al's back stoically. Instead, to distract himself from the pain, he voices something that had been bothering him since they left the last town.
"What do you think that woman wanted with Marcoh?" He had been thinking about it hard since they had left Marcoh's house. Edward found it very disturbing that she had been involved in another incident involving the possible death of an alchemist.
Alphonse considered a moment. "I have no idea. Probably the same thing she wanted from Tucker."
The blond looked to the side, using Al's helmet to block the cold wind somewhat. "The Crystal Alchemist and the Sewing Life Alchemist…just what was their connection? We thought in Central that she had been there to save Alex from Tucker, but what if that wasn't the case? What if she had been after Tucker for some reason?"
"I don't know…for all we know, it could just be a personal grudge."
"A grudge killing two high profile alchemists? I don't think so."
"Well, we don't know that Marcoh is dead. Just missing."
Edward frowned. "The blood in his room seems to indicate otherwise."
"And besides," Alphonse said, ignoring Ed's comment, "Scar is killing alchemists for a grudge."
"…I guess that's true."
"Do you think Scar and that woman are somehow connected?"
"I seriously hope not." Ed paused. "No, they can't be. Scar wanted Alex dead, and that woman seems to have an unhealthy fascination in him. Also, Scar definitely wants me dead, and I don't seem to hold any interest to her. I think we are dealing with two very different motivations."
Armstrong, who had been listening silently the whole while, spoke up. "Who is this woman you keep referring to?"
Edward startled slightly, as if he had forgotten the major was there. He pursed his lips and considered the man striding beside them. "I'm not sure, exactly. I can't say we even know what she looks like. Only Alex has seen her."
"She's the woman who Alex says is responsible for the death of Shou Tucker," Al said. "We also found similar marks in Marcoh's bedroom."
"Hm…And that's all you know?"
"Well," Al tilted his head, "we do know that she is very beautiful and has a tattoo on her chest. Also, she gave Alex–"
"Al." Ed interrupted softly. He was beginning to think that they were telling the major a little too much. The less the military knew about Alex, the better. The only person he somewhat trusted in the military was Mustang, though he hated to admit it, and he wasn't even comfortable to speak of it to him.
"I see…" Armstrong said, as if not noticing the withholding of information. "I'm afraid that I can't add much to help you other than that the two were known to dabble in bio-alchemy. Even then, their research wasn't similar enough to connect them per-se. You have a difficult mystery it seems."
"Are you going to tell the military about Marcoh?" Al asked.
Armstrong shook his head. "No. I simply saw an empty house of a small town physician. I believe that is the business of the police, not the military."
"But wasn't he a deserter? Isn't that military business?" Ed said, a bit bemused.
Armstrong glanced at him with his piercing blue eyes and then looked forward. "There were many alchemists who could not deal with the outcome of the war that left the military. Marcoh did not have that option. He was too valuable. So he deserted. If he is found by the military, he will be executed."
Edward was about to say something, but held it back, taking in the older major's serious expression. Then, "You feel sympathy for him."
Armstrong closed his eyes briefly but did not respond. They walked in silence for several more minutes, only the rustle of the grass and Alphonse's solid footsteps to be heard. Edward glanced discreetly at the man traveling beside them and frowned in thought. Despite Armstrong's usual exuberant demeanor, Edward felt that he learned a new facet to the man. And maybe felt a bit of respect for him for defending Marcoh against his orders. Just a little.
"Ed, there it is," Al said a while later.
Edward slumped in relief when, sure enough, the Rockbell house was visible over the next rise. His ordeal was almost over. He gulped. The next part was going to be the most painful of all…
As they got closer, Ed could see a girl walk out of the house. Al waved with a small laugh. It was unmistakably Winry. Her long blond hair fluttered in the wind and she lifted a hand to hold back the few strands that weren't trapped by her headband. The other arm was wrapped about herself, fending off the cold in her light work uniform. Ed held back a slight blush. She had gotten taller again, and even prettier since he last saw her.
Edward grimaced, then steeled himself and waved to her. She lifted a hand but did not run up to meet them. He couldn't yet see her expression yet, but something felt a little…off.
"Huh, that's weird. Usually she would have thrown at least one wrench in my direction," Ed mumbled. The closer they got, the more Ed didn't like the tense line of her shoulders, or the grim look on her pretty face.
They stopped in front of the porch. Winry gave them a small smile. "Hi, Ed, Al." She frowned. "Is there something wrong with your leg, Ed? Is that why Al is carrying you?" She looked at Edward, only sparing a brief glance at their large military escort.
"Em, yeah," Ed said, laughing a bit nervously. "I kind of…broke it."
Winry narrowed her eyes with a deep frown, almost as if she had expected him to say something like that. She looked so grim, Ed was beginning to worry something had happened.
"Winry? Is something wrong?" Al asked, his voice concerned. He looked around. "Where is Aunty Pinako?"
For a brief moment, a flash of fear surged through Edward. Had something happened to Pinako?
Seeing the expression on Edward's face, Winry lifted her hands and gave him a small smile. "She's around here somewhere. I think she may have just stepped out to go to the market."
Al sighed in relief. "Oh, that's good. Then what's wrong? Are you feeling alright?" As the adrenaline faded and Edward calmed down, he began to examine the girl more closely. She had slight shadows under her eyes and her fair brow was uncharacteristically furrowed, as if she had been worrying about something.
Winry remained silent for a second, and then glanced at Edward. She flashed a smile. "It's nothing. Let me take a look at your leg first, then we can talk." She gestured the three inside and walked into the house.
With a worried exchange of glances, the two brothers followed her inside. Armstrong held back. "If you two don't mind, I will remain out here until Miss Pinako returns."
Ed gave a distracted nod, and the two left him on the porch.
Alphonse followed Winry into the living room and carefully set his brother on the couch. Winry watched, her face going through a range of expressions before falling blank.
"Um…Ed? Where is your leg?" She was staring at his temporary prosthetic.
Carefully, Edward settled back onto the couch and warily watched his old friend and mechanic. "I told you, I broke it." He watched her hands for any kind of twitching. If she went for a wrench, he swore he would throw himself out a window.
Winry's expression did not change. She looked up slightly. "Um..Ed? Where is your arm?"
Ed began to sweat a bit under the collar. "I…kind of broke that too."
The girl looked up at Al, her expression still scarily blank. Al shifted nervously. "I have them." He opened the front hinge of his armor and pulled out a box. He placed it on the table.
Carefully, Winry opened it and peered inside. Her face contorted and she turned the box over, dumping the scattered pieces of Edward's automail onto the table and floor.
She turned to Edward with a beatific smile. Ed flinched back badly. "Oh, Edward? I thought you said you broke it, not shattered it into a million pieces." Her teeth were gritted together, making her sweet tone sound strained.
Edward gulped audibly and lifted a placating hand. "It wasn't my fault! You see, there was this guy and I had to fight him and things got a little out of hand!"
Her shoulders began to shake and Ed rambled on quickly. "I really didn't have a choice, he kind of attacked us–Oh but it wasn't that bad really–" Ed backtracked quickly, trying to downplay it. Winry twitched and he sat back with a meep, expecting an explosion.
It never came. But what did scared Edward even more.
Winry walked around the table and leaned over Edward, giving him a fierce hug. Edward stared over her shoulder, completely bewildered. "Winry?" She was shaking against him and he put his one hand around her tense shoulders.
Winry reached out, and without letting go of Edward, placed her hand on Alphonse's armor and gripped it fiercely.
Her voice shook and she hid her face. "I don't see you for a year and you get into fights and who knows what and come back to me in pieces? And you get into so much trouble you need a bodyguard? Just what have you three been getting into?"
Edward tensed and pulled back, looking into her face. Her eyes were red, but she was holding back her tears. "How did you know we needed bodyguards?"
Winry shook her head. "Later. Did you get hurt?"
Ed hesitated, then nodded. She stepped back and he gingerly rolled up his pant leg, revealing the damaged port. Winry's jaw dropped when she saw the damage.
"EDWARD ELRIC!" She shouted. "How long have you been walking around like this?! Couldn't someone in Central have removed this for you!?"
Ed grimaced at her screeching tone. He set his jaw in a stubborn line. "There was no way I was going to let anyone but you and Pinako tamper with my automail."
The fuming girl's eyes widened. "You idiot! Do you have any idea what that metal is doing to you? The port could have been rebuilt and reattached!"
"I don't trust anyone else!" Ed's sudden shout rang through the room, cutting off the girl's rant.
Winry's voice stuck in her throat, not sure exactly how to respond to that. Silence hung in the room for a moment as her feelings conflicted. Should she be extremely flattered or just extremely in awe of his stupidity? The exasperated young woman supposed she shouldn't be surprised. It was just so Edward to be concerned about something like that when his leg was literally about to fall off. She sighed deeply, taking a calming breath and letting go of her anger. "Idiot." The boy looked away stubbornly. "Come on, let's get you to the operating room."
"Joy," the unrepentant teen grumbled as Winry and Alphonse supported him on either side.
Winry guided them to the operating room, thinking furiously. She had never seen a port so badly damaged, and she wouldn't be surprised if she really did have to rebuild it from scratch. Her heart went out to Edward. The young mechanic would have to remove it from his bone and muscle and then reattach the new equipment to his nerves. It was going to be incredibly painful, almost as painful as the first time he had the port attached three years ago. She hoped Pinako would return soon so the old woman could take charge of this. Winry didn't have nearly enough training to do this kind of surgery on her own.
"You do realize," Winry said as she guided Edward down on the cot, "that I won't be able to attach the new leg until this is healed."
Edward grimaced. "I was afraid of that."
"Yeah, well, next time don't get this badly hurt," she snapped.
"How long do you think it will take," Alphonse said from his seat on the other side of the cot.
The young woman placed her hands on her slim hips and leaned back. "Well, I'll have to rebuild both the arm, leg and port, so…about a week with me and grandma working all day and night."
"A week?!" Ed exclaimed. "We don't have that kind of time!" Winry bristled in anger at his tone, and opened her mouth to retort, when she was interrupted.
"Four days," a voice came from the side and the arguing teens looked over to find Pinako standing in the doorway, her small stature hardly filling the space. "We can rebuild them in four days."
Even as Winry felt relief at her grandmother's appearance, apprehension gripped her at her words. "Four days!? Are you insane?"
"Hush girl, I know what I'm talking about," Pinako snapped. The old woman looked over at Edward. "Wow, shorty, it looks like you've done a number on yourself this time."
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SHORT–ouch!" Ed held his head as he received a sharp hit on the head from the old woman.
"Quit complaining, you damn brat." Her voice softened and she smiled slightly. "Welcome home."
Edward and Alphonse exchanged a glance. Both boys felt warmth touch them at her words. "…Yeah," Al said softly.
Pinako examined the damaged leg carefully, poking at the inflamed flesh and jagged metal with gentle prods. She pulled back and gripped her ever present pipe. "Winry," she said sharply.
"Yes ma'am," the girl snapped to attention at her commanding voice.
"Get ready. This is going to be a long night."
o-0-o
Alphonse stepped outside into the quiet winter afternoon, softly closing the front door behind him. He had been thrown out under no uncertain terms after Edward had been put under for the procedure.
He nodded to Armstrong and sat on a bench with a clank. The boy clenched his hands into fists and stared down at them. It was times like these that he did not envy Edward his flesh body. And yet even as he had that thought he wished desperately that he could go in there and bear some of Edward's pain for him, even if it is just a little. He shouldn't be suffering like this. It wasn't fair.
"How is he," Armstrong asked softly from the bench where he sat.
Alphonse stared out into the empty countryside, a light brown in the winter months. "They are beginning the operation now," he responded just as quietly.
The major nodded and folded his arms across his considerable chest, looking out as well. "Will he recover completely?"
"Yes, he'll be alright. They'll take care of him." Alphonse spoke with conviction, but inside he was roiling with turmoil. He hated to see his brother beaten down like that. With bitterness, he thought about how he could do nothing to help. He felt useless. And frustrated. It reminded him vividly of how badly his older brother was hurt when they tried to bring their mother back, and he shuddered at the resurfaced memories.
They sat for a couple of hours in silence, both painfully aware of the battle that was going on inside. Alphonse continued to remind himself that Edward was not dying. His life was in no danger. But no matter how he tried to reassure himself, he couldn't shake off the fear.
Armstrong suddenly stood, breaking Alphonse out of his thoughts.
"Major?"
"Someone is coming down the road," Armstrong said.
Alphonse stood as well and stared down the dirt road leading to the station. Sure enough, two figures were walking towards them, one tall and one slightly shorter. It was a bit hard to make out because of the sun shining behind them, so Alphonse could barely see their faces.
"Wait, is that…"
"It's Alex," Armstrong exclaimed.
First disbelief, then excitement surged within Alphonse and he jumped off the porch, waving wildly. His armor clanked as he waved his arm vigorously, feeling elated despite the current circumstances. He was back! Alex had come back to them! After days of separation and anxiety, their wayward brother had returned.
Hi! Me again. Yeah, I have a little more time to write now that it's the holidays, so yay! I understand that a great deal of you are taking your final exams right now, so sorry for spamming your inbox, but you know, got to write them while I can.
So Winry got the low down from Russel last chapter and she is very worried. But wait, Alex is back? Just what happened to him?!
Next chapter: Edward recovers, we see a reunion, and then there is a lot of bush beating on all parties. Erm, beating around the bush. Yeah.
Thanks to those of you that have taken the time to R and R despite your busy schedules! I really appreciate it!
Continued AN for those that care…
I've decided to break this into three books but leave them in the same story. I'm going to call them:
Substitute Soul Trilogy
Book 1: Deliverance
Book 2: Divergence
Book 3: Dissonance
I might change my mind again, but that's the plan for now. I'm going to go back to chapter one and put the first title in there and then give a thorough recap at the end of book one before starting the next one. Then I'll continue to post in the same story under the title of book 2. Make sense? I hope that's an acceptable compromise for everyone.
Toodles!