I'm back with another chapter! I hoped y'all enjoyed the last chapter! I really appreciate the readers and I'm glad you're interested! I really enjoyed making this chapter and I'm honestly surprised by the direction this fic has taken. I worried a little about the plot twist, but I think it'll be fine. I had a lightbulb moment when I thought this up and laughed evil. I thought it made a lot of sense when I thought it over.

Please leave a comment and tell me what you think about the direction this story took. I would really like to know what all of you think. I really enjoy reading reviews so don't be shy! I'll also link my AO3 down below If you want to check out the story on there! Anyways enjoy!

Update: If you'd like to check out my AO3 then hit the link in my profile. Idk how to link it at the bottom lol.

Al didn't have a heart in his current body. He knew that if he had one, then he would be able to feel it shatter when he held Ed's head down. It hurt him beyond comprehension as he watched the consciousness fade away from Ed's eyes. His metaphorical heart cracked further as Ed's golden eyes rolled back in his head and his body spasmed, a last effort of defiance before total unconsciousness took over.

Al and the team sat silently for a good ten minutes before anyone moved. He released his hold on Ed's head and everyone else released their grip on his arms and legs. It was unsettling seeing Ed laying there, face down on the pavement. He brushed away the hair that had fallen in front of Ed's face. The guilt began to slowly overwhelm him.

"Check his vitals, make sure he's ok and unconscious," Mustang ordered Havoc.

Al backed away to let Havoc take over and he walked to Mustang's side.

"I wish he wouldn't have fought us. I really didn't want Havoc to have to drug him." He sighed.

Mustang looked at him sympathetically. "You saw how desperate he was, Alphonse. He wasn't going to listen to reason. I'm just glad that we cornered him as quickly as we did."

Al nodded, he knew this had been the only way to keep Ed from getting himself killed. It didn't make him feel any better. Ed was going to be very angry when he woke up. He was rarely angry for real, but when he was, it was best to stay out of his way. He just hoped that Ed wouldn't try to distance himself when he woke up.

Al shook his head. He was being ridiculous, wasn't he? Ed would be mad for a while, yes, but he would never distance himself from him. Even their longest fights hadn't entirely been that long. Either he or Ed would eventually come crawling back, asking the other for forgiveness and be forgiven wholeheartedly.

He was being selfish, he knew he was. The more he thought, the more the guilt eased up. This was the right thing to do. Ed would see that one day.

"Alphonse, you alright?" Mustang patted his metal arm.

He nodded. "Just thinking about what you said."

"What conclusion did you come to?"

"You're right. This probably was for the best." He admits. Mustang nods.

"How'd you get here so fast? I didn't see you until you were making the transmutation circle. I thought you weren't going to be directly involved" Mustang was very curious.

That was true, he wasn't originally planning on witnessing the plan in action. He thought he wouldn't have been able to go through with it. That was until he told Winry what was going on before he left. He shuddered. He had never seen her so angry.

"Let's just say you don't want to see the wrath of Winry Rockbell." He groaned.

Mustang shuddered. "That bad, huh?"

He nodded. "She doesn't agree with this. She's going to be meeting me at HQ with him." He told Mustang.

Mustang nodded. "That's fine. I imagine she'll be able to calm him down when he wakes up?"

He knew what Mustang meant. He knew that he meant the nightmares that could possibly come along with the drug and calming his anger. It still hurt though. Hurt knowing that this was one of the times where he wouldn't be able to calm him down.

'Yeah. I think so."

"Good." Mustang turned his attention to Havoc, who was still checking on Ed's unconscious form.

"Is he stable and good to go?" He called. Havoc nodded.

Mustang then turned back to Al. "You remember what I told you to do?"

Al nodded. He would take Ed back to HQ and place handcuffs that made it impossible for alchemy to be performed. He would then wait for Mustang and the team while they took down the killer.

"Alright then. He's fine. You can go ahead and take him back. Just be careful. We shouldn't be too long."

"Yes, sir." Al nodded. Havoc scooped up Ed's limp form and placed him in Al's arms.

"The drug should last around a few hours. If he suffers any side effects, there's treatment in the infirmary,"

Al knew where to go. He would be fine in the case something bad happened.

"I hope to not take too long with Anamala. I hope to be back by 2 or 3 AM." Mustang gave Al one last look before turning to his team and briefing them.

He started making his way away from them. He turns around and catches this leaving, Mustang in the front. He feels a little worried about letting them go alone. He huffs a metallic sigh. They were all trained soldiers. They would be fine, right?

Roy creeps quietly down the alley of twelfth street. Hawkeye follows closely behind him, followed by the rest of the team. He looks around the corner and motions to his team that it's safe.

Roy holds his breath when they come to the street intersecting Twelfth street and Susana. A few street lights illuminated the darkness. The normally bustling street looked desolate and unsettling in the darkness.

He turns to Hawkeye and she returns his gaze. She's nervous just like he is. He turns to the rest of the team. The normally stoic looking Havoc looked apprehensive, his posture stiff. Roy quickly looked at his watch. It was time.

He looked around. Anyone could have been watching them from the shadows. His dark eyes scanned and he saw it! A shadow traveling towards them from the other side of the unlit street. His heart froze as the shadow came closer to the light of the pole, finally appearing under the light.

Roy froze in absolute horror. This man Could not have been Damian Anamala. The man's distinct ice-blue eyes, dark hair, and sharp cheekbones spoke true to that. He had seen Anamala's picture in his daughter's death report. This man was a Drachman. What was a Drachman doing in Amestris?

Drachman's were cruel people. They beat their prisoners until inches away from death to get information. They would kill their prisoners anyway, leaving them to decompose out in the snow for the animals to pick at their bones. They were known to show no mercy on the battlefield.

The longer Roy stared at the man, the more horrified he felt. The man looked so hauntingly familiar but he could not place him. Had he seen him long ago? Perhaps that was the case.

"You look like you've seen a ghost, colonel Mustang." The man's heavy accent broke his thoughts.

"My apologies, I just never thought I would see a Drachman on Amestrian soil. Just thought that we Amestrian 'dogs' were unappealing to your people."

The man chuckled harshly. "That is true. I never thought I would be assigned to this hellhole."

Assigned? Why would a Drachman be 'assigned' to Amestris?

"Who are you? You can't be Damian Anamala. That is an Amestrian name. Tell me Drachman, who are you?"

The Drachman chuckled dangerously. "Ah, that name. I'm quite fond of it now. That disgusting name is what I chose when I snuck into this country," The Drachman placed his hands in his pockets and Roy tensed.

"The real Damian Anamala is dead. I killed his daughter and then him a month later."

"My real name is Kirsanov Petrovich. Captain Petrovich at your service."

Roy's blood froze. Kirsanov Petrovich, the most wanted criminal in Amestris. Now he remembered. He had sent Ed on a mission two years prior to catch the man and turn him into Amestrian custody. Ed had chased him throughout the country for three months. The manhunt ended in Petrovich escaping into Drachma with life-threatening wounds and Ed was left with having a broken arm, severe concussion, and severely broken ribs.

He felt even sicker knowing that he had tainted a dead man's name. How could someone sound so calm about killing an innocent person? The man had somehow also discovered every bit of information about Ed. This man was dangerous. He had to be careful.

It didn't make sense to Roy. Why would Amestris' most wanted criminal just waltz into the country that was looking for him and had a bounty on his head. Unless he was here for a reason. Why would he want Ed?

"Now, where is the Fullmetal Alchemist? I believe that I asked him to come alone."

"I didn't allow him. He is fourteen and very reckless." Roy said smoothly.

Petrovich's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Ah, but that was not the case two years ago. He was twelve, wasn't he? I imagine he is still very reckless, no?"

Roy fought back a chuckle. Well, Ed was still very reckless. That was the whole he reason they had knocked him out tonight.

"Yes, he's quite the troublemaker."

Petrovich's eyes kept their cold stare. "I specifically stated in the letter that bad things would happen if he did not come. I kill more women and wrote the note to gain his attention."

Roy tensed. The man was getting mad. He felt Hawkeye tense beside him.

"What was the letter for? What would you want with an Amestrian alchemist? A boy at that."

Petrovich shook his head. "I do not have the clearance to tell you. Let's just say. . . my people have taken a special interest in the boy. The way he uses alchemy is particularly interesting."

"Your ear is missing. Haven't you committed the taboo yourself? Why not just use you?"

"My dear Mustang, I have not had this alchemy long enough to know how to use it.

Roy snorted. The guy was crazy if he thought that Fullmetal would cooperate with Drachman's. Ed was loyal. He would never cooperate with another country.

The man glared at Roy, having taken offense to the snort. "I give you until Seven AM. Make him come here." The man threatened.

Roy was suddenly serious again. "What happens if he doesn't come?"

The man clicked his teeth and took a device out of his pocket. A detonator!

"I explode bomb. My friends take down soldiers from the inside and we take him by force."

Roy's blood chilled. That meant…

"Yes, Amestrian. The military is compromised." The man said gleefully. His ice-cold eyes stared daggers into Mustang.

"How many?" Roy snarled. His team was whispering amongst themselves.

"How many what, my dear colonel." The man was playing games now.

"How many spies!" Roy roared. Nobody was safe. This was so much bigger than just Ed.

The fuhrer would have to know. There would be a big controversy over this. There would be unrest once it reached the streets. People would turn wary, not knowing who to trust. The military would quickly go from a source of protection to a source of fear.

Petrovich's expression sickened him as he turned away from his thoughts. He seethed with hatred for the man and the spies invading his country.

"You said that you would give us until seven?"

Petrovich nodded. "Yes, or Central goes Kaboom! The man made a noise and lifted his arms for dramatic effect.

Roy turned to the team. Their gazes were horrified at the revelation.

"Sir, we can't do what he asks." Hawkeye grounds out, her eyes filled with anger.

"We have to. Its the only way." Roy turns back to the man.

"I'll do it. I'll bring him."

Petrovich's eyes lit up with glee. "You've made the right decision, Colonel Mustang. Seven and not a second later." The man cackled as he fled into the darkness.

Roy let his expression fall. The military was compromised, Central was close to being destroyed. All for the sake of one alchemist. Roy sank to his knees. This was a lot to take in.

Roy stared down the dark street. His obsidian eyes staring at nothing, while his mind raced with what to do. This was above him and he knew it. He felt Hawkeye touch his shoulder and he turned back to look at her. She was unsettled, he could tell by her eyes.

"We need to report this, colonel." She said, voice unusually quiet. He nodded and stood. They started the quiet walk back to HQ. He didn't know what he was going to tell Ed.

The whole of Amestris was at stake, but all Roy could think about was keeping Ed safe.

"...Ed...Ward..."

Someone was calling his name. He wanted to respond, why did his head feel so clouded?

"W...ake...up...Ed."

He felt someone touch his face, gentle fingers brushing back his hair. Ed grunted softly. The hand stopped and cupped his face. They were gentle, the hands. They were kind and caring, and felt very familiar.

"It's alright. Take your time. There's no rush." The voice traveled to his mind and his head suddenly felt clearer.

Winry.

Working up the effort, Ed peeled his eyelids open.

The world was blurry and his eyes didn't seem to want to focus on anything at the moment. He caught sight of her eyes before they slid shut again. Why did she look so anxious? Slowly, his thoughts and memories were returning to him.

He remembered the alley. Didn't he encounter Mustang? What had happened during that encounter? Was that why his mind was foggy and uncooperative?

Wait, why hadn't he met Anamala? Hadn't that been what he was supposed to be doing? He racked his slowly returning memories and finally the memory he had been searching for returned.

The memory of the fight came back to him vividly. The adrenaline. The terror when he realized that he had been effectively pinned. The anger came back too. A deep rage slowly filled him as he thought about Mustang.

He had trusted that bastard, and where had that gotten him? The man had wiped away years of slightly built trust and tiny bits of respect he may have had for the man. His team had gone along with it. Weren't they the people who wanted him to trust them more?

He couldn't trust Mustang anymore. The one thing that had been up to him to stop and the man had kept him from doing his job. More people were going to die now because of him. He should've been able to escape Mustang. His guilt at himself and his anger at Mustang rose as the minutes passed.

His eyes fluttered open again, finally focusing. His half-lidded eyes took Winry in. She was watching him with a worried smile on her face. Her hand came to touch his cheek and he leaned into it.

"Win." He breathed. He allowed his eyes to flutter shut. He tried to move his flesh hand to cover hers but it wouldn't move

He raised his head to look at his hands. His hands were held in a strange contraption. The contraption seemed to not let him pull his hands apart when he gave an experimental tug. He let out a harsh breath, struggling to control his anger. He had seen this before. It was used on prisoners and he was no prisoner.

"I'm sorry. I tried to convince Al that he didn't have to put those on. He only said that Mustang wanted those on you." Winry apologized.

He looked up at her, eyes softening. Her eyes were filled with tears. She didn't like seeing him like this, powerless and unable to do anything to escape.

"It's not your fault." He soothed. He smiled up at her. His head began to ache a little, an after effect of whatever drug he had been given. Her hand traveled down the back of the hand that the contraption left exposed.

His eyes squeezed shut when his headache spiked. Seriously, what had they given him?

"Did Al tell you what they gave me?" He finally spoke after the pain decreased.

"He told me ketamine."

Ed's eyes flew open. Ketamine! It was very easy to overdose on that. The bastard colonel was lucky he hadn't overdosed on in. The idiot probably hadn't been thinking at all in the first place.

"Does the bastard want to kill me?" He groaned. He turned serious at Winry's worried smile.

"He knew this was important to me Winry. For two years I've worked for this man and he never showed that he cared once about my wellbeing. The moment some murderer requests me, he does this. What the hell am I supposed to do? Thank him?"

Winry sighed. "Al claimed that Mustang believed you weren't thinking rationally, that you were being consumed by guilt and he would kill you if you met him."

"That's a load of absolute crap! That's all I thought about for a day, how to approach this guy! I had a plan of my own! Mustang didn't even ask what my plan was!" He yelled.

He squeezed his eyes shut as the headache spiked once again.

"Hey, you ok?" She asked worriedly, placing her hand on his forehead. She brushed his damp bangs away from his face.

"Yeah. Just a headache." He could feel exhaustion pulling at his lids. Winry was getting fuzzy again, his body still affected by the drug.

"You need to rest. We can talk more when you wake up.

"W-What time is it?" He slurred. Winry's hand was really comforting, nearly pulling his eyelids shut then in there.

"It's 3. He isn't back yet. I'll wake you when he gets here."

" 'm not tired." It seemed like his body was contradicted him as his eyes slid shut again. Well, he could afford a few hours of rest before he gave the bastard a good reaming.

"Yes, you are." She laughed. "I promise, I'll wake you up."

Winry pulled away and he immediately felt her loss.

"Stay." His voice a breathy whisper.

Winry's hand disappeared. He heard shifting and suddenly his arms were being lifted and she was fitting under them.

She laid down beside him, her head on his chest. His head turned into her shoulder.

He thought about Al as he faded into sleep. How his little brother was probably suffering from so much guilt. He didn't blame Al at all. He knew that his brother was easily manipulated in emotional situations. This was no different. He needed to let Winry know that Al shouldn't blame himself. He tried to sluggishly pull his thoughts together as what he believed was a slurred and barely audible version of his thoughts.

" 'ry 'ell Al 'ot his 'ault."

He was unconscious before he heard what she said.

It was nearly five in the morning when Winry woke Ed. He was broken from his dreamless sleep by her shaking him and her worried face looking down at him. He knew something was wrong immediately. Something had happened to Mustang, hadn't it? She wouldn't have looked so nervous.

"Al came by a few minutes ago. He wanted me to wake you. He said that Mustang returned and was coming to talk to you after he took care of a few things."

What could've happened at the meeting that had scared Mustang so badly? Ed sat up, body aching a little as he did. He motioned to the back of his head and Winry redid his braid for him to smooth it out.

"Did Al tell you what was wrong?"

"All he said was that Mustang had discovered Damian Anamala's true identity and national security or whatever was at stake."

Ed spun around to look at her, eyes wide. Matter of national security what the hell did that mean? Damian Anamala not being the man's true identity? What was going on? All he knew was that he better get words out of Mustang and it better be quick.

He was getting ready to say something to Winry when the door slid open. Mustang appeared in the doorway. The man's hair was disheveled and he was pale. The look in the man's obsidian eyes interested him the most. His eyes were cold and blank of all emotion.

His eyes glared daggers into Mustang. The man was going to answer for what he'd done to him.

"Miss Rockbell, may I speak with him alone?"

Winry stood up and smiled at him as she left the cell. Her face a conflicted.

'I'll be back as soon as the two of you are done talking.' She mouthed. He nodded quickly.

He turned his attention back to Mustang, anger, and hatred flaring up. What was the excuse going to be? 'Sorry Fullmetal. Didn't trust you.' That would've been something the man probably would've said.

"Well Colonel, why did you feel the need to drug me?" He snarled. Mustang's face remained in his blank look.

"Fullmetal, I did not think you were ready to handle that on your own. Especially after what I found."

He snarled, jumping to his feet to stand nose to nose with the man. Mustang refused to back down.

"What the hell is going on colonel, Al mentioned that this is a matter of national security. Just what did you find out?"

The statement managed to break the man of his passive face. A look of fear passed in the man's eyes. Ed was surprised. He had never seen Mustang surprised.

"Damian Anamala is not his real name. His real name is Kirsanov Petrovich. He is a Drachman spy."

Ed froze. Petrovich. He remembered the man. The man had nearly killed him in their final confrontation. He had never caught him. He was barely conscious when he had collapsed in the snow, nearly bleeding to death from his wounds.

"I could've met him and finally caught him! Mustang you don't understand what this meant to me! It was my responsibility!" He yelled.

"Fullmetal, you're reckless. You're fourteen. You should've never been placed on that mission in the first place. An older alchemist would've caught him."

"That's not my fault! He nearly killed me! You're missing the freaking point entirely! He killed all those innocents to come after me! I had a perfectly good plan. I swear, I'm not a kid Mustang!" Ed screamed.

Ed was shaking with rage. The man had the audacity to blame him for not catching the guy. The was a fight that Mustang was not going to win.

"Ed, the Drachman's want you so they can learn about your alchemy. I imagine they plan to use it for a way to take out Amestris. He told me that if you were not there by Seven then he'd blow up parts of Central and have some of his people on the inside take soldiers down and take you anyway! That is not something a kid can handle!" Mustang yelled.

Ed was slightly taken aback. They wanted him for his alchemy? He smirked internally, he could rock those bastards to their core. He would enjoy taking them down. So, this whole time a Drachman wanted him and were probably going to ship him off to Drachma? Well, if they wanted him then that was what they were going to get.

'I can give surrender to myself to them and take down whatever operation from the inside. This'll show people that I can hold my own. I'll be doing everyone a favor by doing this.'

"Ok, so let me meet him. What's the worst that can happen? I'm so much stronger now! They can't kill me because they need me!"

"No Ed. You're just a kid. I'll figure something else out. The fuhrer knows now. He's working on something to run the spies out of hiding. He wanted to meet at seven but we'll have a plan before then."

"No, I need to meet him. You said it yourself, lives are in danger. I'm a pro at saving lies. Its what I do for a living. I'll give myself up peacefully and take down whatever their operation is from the inside!"

He would show that bastard. He would show him that he was no kid and that he could handle the situation. Mustang was not going to keep him out of this.

Mustang was getting angry now. The kid wasn't understanding the gravity of the situation. The fuhrer had agreed, they couldn't give up Amestris' most valuable alchemist. It was something they simply weren't doing.

"Fullmetal, I don't know how many times it can be pounded into your skull. No. You're not doing this. You're clearly too naive to understand that you would be in over your head. End of discussion."

Rage he had never felt before burned in Ed's chest. He was going, whether he had to break out and knock out every member of Mustang's team to do so. Ed knew he was not worth all of the trouble to keep safe, so why was everyone working so hard to keep him safe?

"I'm no longer a kid, Mustang! I lost that privilege the day my mother died and when I put my brother in an unfeeling metal shell!" He screamed.

"Who's fault is that, exactly? If you had just accepted she was dead then maybe your brother wouldn't be trapped in a metal shell and you wouldn't have joined the military searching for a stone that probably isn't real!" Roy roared.

Roy knew he had said the wrong thing the moment those words came out of his mouth. Ed shrunk back, his expression a look of shock. So, the man had finally gotten off his chest what Ed had believed for the past two years. Everything was his fault. He had been waiting for someone to tell him that before he convinced himself that it wasn't his fault.

"Ed I一"

"Rot in hell," Ed whispered.

He knew what the man was saying was true. It just hurt knowing someone he thought he could trust with his wellbeing and secret had broken both of those the same day. It hurt, but he couldn't do anything about it. Right now he had to focus on getting out of here and getting to the Drachman.

Ed sat heavily on the bunk. His eyes refused to meet Mustang's, afraid to see what he would find. Mustang's eyes shone heavily with regret. He hadn't meant any of those things.

"Ed一"

"Go! Just go!" Ed yelled, voice cracking.

Hot tears filled his eyes but he quickly blinked them away. He was not going to cry in front of this bastard.

Roy stared at the boy a moment longer before sliding the door shut, leaving it unlocked for Winry to reenter.

Ed continued to stare at the ground, not even acknowledging Winry as she returned and sat beside him.

"I heard what happened." She said quietly.

"Yeah."

"Are. . . Are you alright?"

"No." That was something he would not have admitted if it had been anyone but her.

"Ed."

He looked up. He was surprised by what she had in her hands, a key, the key that would unlock the contraption on his hands.

"How did…" He trailed off. He knew what she was doing. She had heard everything and she was going to help him escape, even knowing the consequences.

"Win," He breathed, eyes widening.

"I don't agree with Mustang, Ed. You're older now. These guys should trust you. You're going to prove that by stoping whatever evil alchemic plans they may have."

He stared at him in wonder. His girlfriend, his beautiful girlfriend. She had so much faith in him. He had to push himself out of his self-loathing and push it to the side. He had Drachman's to take down from the inside.

"How do y'know they have evil alchemic plans? Maybe they just want to learn alchemy, using me as the blue print." He cracked a half-smile. Winry rolled her eyes.

"They must if they want you." She retorted. He cracked a half-smile and lowered his head. A lot was happening right now.

"Unlock them." He finally said. Winry pushed the key into the slot and disarmed the cuffs. Ed could feel the alchemic energy returning to him at once.

He rubbed his wrists, wincing at the slight ache. He was so grateful for Winry, he knew she must have had some reservations doing this.

He took her face in his hands and rested his forehead against hers.

"Win, are you sure? This could be a suicide mission."

After all, it could surely be one. He had heard the stories of what the Drachman's did to prisoners of war. He knew that he might leave the situation worse for wear. He was prepared for that, if it saved Amestris from Drachman alchemists with possible evil plans, then he was willing to do anything.

"I'm sure. I thought about it while the two of you talked." Her eyes shined with tears and he knew she was being brave for him.

He leaned in and kissed her deeply. He allowed himself to savor the kiss. It could be the last one for a very long time.

"Win I need you to know一"

"Don't say you might not come back, because I will beat you to death with a wrench."

He huffed a laughed. "I won't say goodbye then." He brushed her bangs away from her face.

He pulled her into a crushing hug. Why was it so hard to let go of her?

"I'll see you later. That's a promise. They won't break me win."

Winry's determined gaze filled him.

"Come back to me."

"I will."

He kissed her one last time, passionate enough to make Winry's knees tremble.

They parted and Ed made his way to the door.

"Cover me." He whispered. She nodded.

She pulled the door open quickly and looked both ways. She turned back and nodded. He quickly left his prison.

He turned to Winry, holding her gaze. He squeezed her hand one last before he pulled away.

"I love you." He smiled.

"I love you." He pulled away from her and all she wanted was him back.

He looked at her one last time before racing down the hallway, leaving Winry to wonder if he would truly be ok.