Chapter 19: So Close, Yet So Far

Mustang and Edward had spent the previous day mostly in silence after Maria's visit, and Edward had scoffed at Mustang's suggestion to get as much sleep as possible. Nonetheless, he had curled up next to Mustang and fallen asleep. Almost as soon as Maria left, Mustang realized one glaring issue in the plan.

Edward's Automail arm.

Mustang pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply. Edward mumbled in his sleep, shifting to nestle more closely to the warmth that Mustang provided in the chilly cell.

The empty space where Edward's arm should have been made Mustang's stomach clench. Mustang blinked, staring at the opposite wall. It was so glaringly obvious that the kid was still without his automail arm that Mustang couldn't believe he forgot to ask about it.

Nothing I can do about it right now.

Mustang cut off the train of thought and, sighing, allowed his mind to drift off.

Both alchemists dozed on and off throughout the day. But while he was awake, Mustang went over potential scenarios in his head over and over and over.

When Edward woke up, he quickly shifted into a sitting position, putting a few centimeters between him and Mustang. Mustang ignored the slight blush of embarrassment on Edward's face. While he was tempted to poke fun at Edward for the small distance he had put between them, Mustang honestly did not want to embarrass Edward further.

Edward, on the other hand, was still conflicted about the new slot Mustang occupied in his mind. His brows pinched together as he thought. Mustang had threatened to reveal his secret the day Edward received his title, but Edward had been ribbing the Colonel about treason. Edward blew his bangs out of his face.

Edward fumed. Mustang was always mentioning his height and otherwise throwing his weight around. He was a womanizer and a bastard. Yet, the man never made fun of him for any of the weaknesses Edward had shown during this mission. He was a constant presence when they were not being separated forcibly, and if he was honest, Mustang was a pretty consistent presence all the time.

Edward glanced at Mustang out of the corner of his eye and looked over when Mustang began to speak.

"I've been thinking, and we need to be prepared in case the plan with Logan, Casper, and Maria does not work."

Edward gave Mustang a sidelong glance, "Yeah? If it doesn't work, we just bust out of here."

Mustang snorted, "Remember the last time we just tried to 'bust out of here.'"

"Last time, we hadn't had food at all. This time, we have!"

Mustang stifled a sigh, "Have you looked at yourself… or me, for that matter? We've both lost weight, despite the recent food. I can barely keep my balance when I stand. It won't be easy."

"Doesn't change that we have to try!" Edward's tone was belligerent, and Mustang sighed.

"I am well aware, but the better we can coordinate without having to talk when the time comes, the better."

Edward fell silent for a moment, thinking over Mustang's words, "Yeah, yeah…" Edward's tone was resigned, and his expression petulant, pouting.

This time, Mustang had to stifle a laugh. Oh gosh, he is still just a kid, after all.

Mustang shook his head, dispersing the thought, "Well, first, I would ask if you could use alchemy, but given our exhaustion, it increases the chances of a rebound. So, I want to avoid that scenario. We know that the military is close by, but we cannot be sure when they will arrive. I'm thinking, if we can get out of here," Mustang looked down at the chain around each of their ankles, "that we should find a place to hide inside."

Edward thought, "Well, they might not expect that given the last time…"

"Yes, with the military close, they will hopefully move to cut us off from reaching them. It will also give us a chance to look for your arm."

Edward looked at Mustang, surprise written on his face.

Mustang's lips twitched into a smirk, "We didn't talk about it before, but if we can get it, it would be better to grab it while we have the chance, right?"

Edward smiled, determination flaring in his gaze, "Yep," He popped the 'p.'

The sound of someone at the door silenced both alchemists. They were not expecting anyone until the next morning when Logan came to help them escape. When Casper entered, holding a familiar small brass item, Mustang gave Casper a long and hard look.

"I thought Damien had the only key."

Casper smiled, "he did. I knew that we would need it if we went through with a plan to help you escape. So, I snagged it while he was out in Egmuridcu. I wasn't planning on giving you the key, but now that Damien found soldiers in the forest, he's paranoid. I want you to have it as backup, just in case something goes wrong on our end. If Logan brings it when he comes, it will take more time, and if you need to leave while we cause a distraction, well, it gives us that option, too."

Mustang nodded, thoughtful, "Thank you. We were discussing backup plans, and this makes things much easier."

Edward smirked beside him, and as Casper handed Mustang the key, he asked his own question.

"You know," Edward pipped up, "that Maria chick didn't mention anything about my arm back when she came this morning to plan."

Casper stared, nonplussed. His lips parted in a large 'O' as his gaze traveled to the empty automail port.

Casper bit the top of his thumb, pacing, and he spoke, "I know that the Drachma soldiers were with the group that brought you back here, Damien with them. I didn't see it in his room when I snagged the key…" Casper's voice tapered off.

"It would make the whole escape much easier," Edward looked at Casper expectantly.

"It would, but if Damien noted it was missing…"

"There are a lot of ifs," Mustang noted. "He'd only notice it was missing if it was in a place he checked often. Specifically, a place he would check between now and morning when we escape. Overall, having it, or having Logan bring it in the morning, will be better than Edward not having it."

"Yes, but I don't know where it is," Casper cocked his head and shook it, "And at the same time, if I go looking for it, it could make people suspicious."

Mustang gave Casper a long, hard look and then ceded, "We understand." Mustang looked over at Edward as Edward grumbled and glared at the floor. "The primary goal is to escape," Mustang looked back at Casper, "we can always look for it after the military comes."

Edward scoffed and muttered only loud enough for Mustang to hear, "Winry is gonna kill me."

"You didn't talk about it with Maria?" Casper looked confused.

"Well," Mustang grimaced, "I was so focused on the discussion with Maria about contacting my subordinates, and Edward here was devouring his food…."

Edward blushed, "Well, food is important, and I was hungry!"

Casper chuckled and shook his head as Mustang smirked. Edward's face grew red, and Mustang barely clasped a hand over Edward's mouth, effectively muffling the rant before he drew attention and exposed Casper's impromptu visit.

Irritated, Edward proceeded to try and bite Mustang as Mustang chastised him, "Don't make too much noise. We don't want to attract attention."

Edward grumbled, and Mustang kept his hand over Edward's mouth as Casper nodded, "You have the key now. Take care, in case I don't see you again. While I'll be around, I'll be doing my best to distract anyone who happens to be up and about. So, if all goes well, we won't see each other."

Mustang thanked him, and Casper left the room. Once he was gone, Mustang gave Edward a dubious look as Edward continued to squirm, "Are you done trying to bite me?"

Edward's muffled yell caused Mustang to sigh. Edward was furious, but Mustang's next question had him nodding, "You'll be quiet and not cause Damien to come checking as to why you're so loud in the middle of the night?"

Finally, Mustang removed his hand.

"What do you think you were doing?" Edward growled lowly.

"You were about to yell and bring the whole rabble of rebels down on us."

"I was not!" Edward leaned forward, his one hand smacking the ground, teeth bared.

Mustang pinched the bridge of his nose, "I'm not so young as to argue…."

"Who are you calling youn…?"

"I'm not calling you the "s" word, just noting your youth. Take it while you still have it."

"Yeah, you would know, old man."

Mustang shook his head and picked up the key, "Do you want to undo the locks now?"

Edward's response was immediate, "Yes!" Eyes lighting up expectantly.

Mustang gestured to the locks, "Well then, let's get rid of these and then get some rest before morning."

"Ha! Do you need to stretch and sleep before we make our daring escape?"

"You know I'm not that much older than you. I'm not even old enough to be your father."

Edward snorted, "Like I'd ever call you that." But Edward's face still stretched out in a grin as Mustang's hand shot out to ruffle Edward's hair.

"Hey! Just cause I'm a bit unbalanced from not having an arm…"

"Yeah, yeah." Mustang grinned.

For the first time since their capture, both alchemists felt a bit of relief as the tension drained out of them, even if for a moment. This time, some of the rebels were assisting them rather than hunting them, and with the military so close, it felt as though nothing could go wrong.

After more banter, Edward rested against the wall, exhausted, "You're a bastard, you know that, right?"

"You tell me all the time."

Edward was quiet for a moment, "Do you really want to make Amerstris into a democracy?"

Mustang looked over at Edward, and the seriousness of his face roused Edward enough to note the difference in Mustang's posture, "Yes."

Edward nodded, "Good."

Mustang stayed awake for a while after Edward fell asleep, readying his mind for the day ahead and hoping that all would go as planned.

Hours later, and after some rest, Mustang nudged Edward awake. "It's about time."

Edward yawned, "really? Already?"

Mustang smiled and shook his head, "Yeah, already."

Mustang held back the temptation to mention the amount of sleep Edward needed. After all, they both needed more sleep to conserve energy, but with Edward's stature and automail. Mustang's eyes skimmed Edward, and then he turned his attention to the door. Both could hear voices through it.

It took only moments for both Mustang and Edward to stiffen. If Logan were coming, he would not be making nearly as much noise or talking nearly as much as what they were hearing, muffled through the heavy door.

Edward's hand unconsciously gripped Mustang's sleeve, the sensation sending Mustang's newly acquired instincts into overdrive.

As soon as the feeling of fabric between his fingers registered with Edward, he almost let go. Remembering his earlier thoughts about Mustang, he decided to trust the man. He had been every bit the commanding officer, but Edward knew that Mustang protected his own. Mustang was as concerned as Edward would expect someone who was a friend or family should be.

He's better than that bastard. A flash of a figure disappearing through an open door flashed through his mind, and Edward glanced at Mustang.

Mustang sent Edward a grin, "We've got the key, and I'll get you out of here. I promise. You'll see your brother again."

Edward took a steadying breath in the face of a potentially ruined escape. If Edward couldn't have Al by his side, Mustang was a decent second-best. Both alchemists stood, using the wall as support and careful not to stand too quickly. They would have trouble enough overcoming the current situation as it was.

Edward glanced toward the space where his arm should have been but then turned to face the door as it opened.

Mustang's eyes narrowed briefly in worry but then hardened in determination as he, too, faced the threat entering the small cell.

Moments before, Damien stood outside the cell, surprised by Maria's presence so early in the morning after such a late night on scouting duty, setting off an alarm bell in his mind.

"I heard you outside, and I want to know why you're up making a racket." Maria scolded.

Damien's eyebrow cocked upwards.

Isacc came rushing up, voice loud, "You called?"

Damien sighed and, smiling as politely as he could, tried to placate her, "I'm sorry. Given our new knowledge, I thought it best to separate Mustang and Edward. I'll be moving the kid to another room farther back."

"Is that seriously necessary? I thought we agreed having him here meant more eyes to catch them if they tried anything, and it's not like you haven't taken the kid's arm. He can't do anything."

Damien smirked, "Well, true, but I was considering taking that leg of his as well."

Maria quickly hid her shock, but Damien continued. "I need a solid assurance the kid can't do anything, and an immobile hostage will work better against the military than he is now. Not to mention, leaving the automail leg with Mustang should give him all the warning he needs."

Maria sighed, "You know that we all help take care of them. It'll be more difficult if we have to go to separate rooms."

"Oh, we'll have to do more than go to separate rooms…" Damien intoned. "We don't use the whole facility, and while putting him in the basement again would be nice… I don't want him near where they were originally," Damien paused… "just in case. He'll be upstairs. No one goes up there much, but we'll need to start preparing to expand after we get over this next crisis. Between you, Casper, Jimmy, and myself, there are more than enough people to take them water a mere once a day."

Maria bit the inside of her lip, "Makes sense."

Damien nodded and turned to the door. Jimmy and Isacc flanking him.

To say that Damien and his two cronies were surprised when they discovered a very unchained Edward and Mustang in the room would have been an understatement.

Damien's hand flew to his pocket and the keyring, holding various copies of keys he needed. Drawing it out, he realized that the very key he would have used to unlock Edward was missing.

His eyes shot back up to Mustang, realization dawning on him.

Someone took the key yesterday while I was gone.

In less than a second, one face came to mind. One person who had been particularly disagreeable once they learned that Drachma was involved, who had been meeting with another two persons regularly and had been strangely quiet the last few days.

"Casper…" Damien hissed. That boiling sensation that had only been present when dealing with Mustang to this point now flared to life at the thought of Casper. He could feel Maria standing behind him just out of view in the hall as his mind quickly pieced together quickly all of their most recent actions – or at least, all of those of which he was aware.

Without glancing back, Damien addressed Mustang, "Once I take care of the two of you, I will ensure that he is taken care of as well…"

Mustang and Edward heard Damien, and they prepared themselves, even if they were still unsteady on their feet.

"Well, you won't be getting much of a chance for that," Mustang's voice rumbled.

Everything happened quickly. Isacc jerked forward, ready to subdue Edward. Damien dodged a sudden assault from Maria, and Jimmy lumbered for Mustang.

Logan stumbled along the path toward the clearing. If all had gone to plan on Hawkeye's side, and even if it had not, Logan was bound to run into someone whom he could inform of the failed extraction. The papers Maria gave to him felt heavy in his hand. Once he and Maria saw Damien and Jimmy moving toward Mustang and Edward's cell, Maria had shoved the documents they had stolen the night before into his hands, urging him to leave quickly.

"This was the backup plan after all," she whispered derisively. Then she quickly shoved him toward the front door, "I'll go see what Damien and Jimmy are doing. Let the military know that I'll be ready to inform them of anything I find once they get here."

Gasping for breath, Logan collapsed to his knees. In his haste, he had started out in a full sprint, but Yoxeqa was too far, and he had to stop to catch his breath. He felt more than saw the barrel of a gun pointed at his head and the flash of a blue uniform out of the corner of his eye.

Logan's heart rate picked up, and holding the documents up in one hand, he spoke clearly, if not a bit louder than usual, "Don't shoot! I'm here for Hawkeye! Damien interfered. You have to help. They're going to hurt them."

At his words, the military man did not move. Hawkeye, who, by now, had joined them, did.

Hawkeye knelt in front of the young man, "What happened?"

Logan, arms trembling, pushed himself up to see her better. "Just as we were about to go get Mustang and Edward out, we saw Damien and Jimmy going toward the cell where Mustang and Edward were being held. Maria told me to run to you and that she would try to find out what they were doing. She'll try to get all the information she can to help you when you get to the compound. I…" Logan hesitated, "I waited for a moment out of sight after Maria confronted them. I overheard Damien tell Maria they were going to move Edward. I ran as soon as I heard that. Damien hates Mustang. He probably figured out that Mustang would try to protect Edward but given their condition and Jimmy's size…" Logan panted, "there's no way Damien won't be successful, despite Casper giving them the key last night, just in case. You have to hurry."

The Major frowned at Hawkeye. Logan's ramblings raised serious questions in his mind. He had his orders from the General and Colonel but was displeased with the favor General Armstrong showed Hawkeye. However, he was well aware her sniper skills were invaluable, despite his opinion that she was a liability and compromised due to personal involvement.

Hawkeye straightened after Logan's rambling ended and faced the Major in a salute, "Permission to speak, Sir."

The Major merely nodded, and Hawkeye continued, "While our goal was to obtain the information from Logan here and present it to the general, and the completion of this mission is imperative, the new information about the rebels moving Mustang and Fullmetal could put the rest of the mission in jeopardy. I believe we should send a small contingent of scouts to inform the other teams."

The Major lifted his eyebrow and motioned for Hawkeye to pass the packet of papers to him.

Hawkeye complied, hiding her impatience. Once the Major had reviewed the papers, both eyes widened in surprise, and he directed his attention to Logan.

"How did you know to obtain these reports?"

Logan looked to Hawkeye, who nodded, giving him a knowing look.

"Lieutenant Hawkeye told me a little bit about what to look for."

Logan prayed his voice did not waiver as he spoke. Beyond the information on the compound, Maria had made the decision about what to grab based on their discussion.

The Major nodded, "Very well. While you initially would have been considered an enemy of the state, according to the decision of General Armstrong, if you fulfilled your end of the deal, you would be granted a pardon for your service to your nation."

Logan almost winced, still displeased with his role.

The Major continued, "One of the men will escort you back, and two will go to inform the other units. We will proceed to the compound to provide any backup necessary."

While the Major spoke, Furey stepped forward at Hawkeye's subtle prompting, volunteering to escort Logan back. The Major gave Hawkeye a suspicious glance but did not question it. Then, he sent two pairs of privates off to inform the other units the rebels were awake and moving Mustang and Edward. He then handed Furey the documents for the Colonel.

Once the others were off to fulfill their duties, the Major took the lead as the remaining soldiers moved toward the compound. If he were able to lead the team that saved Mustang and Fullmetal after discovering that the two were being moved, he would be commended. His decisive action would hopefully earn him a promotion, Hawkeye's preparation work regardless.

Mustang firmly shoved Damien, who stumbled over an unconscious Maria, and a moment later, Jimmy's hand shot out, catching Mustang under the chin and pressing him to the wall by his throat.

Mustang grabbed at Jimmy's arm but could not muster the strength to push him off between the fatigue and the firm hold restricting his airways.

Somewhere to the side, Edward gasped, arms shaking as he tried to push himself up. While Isacc had been relatively untrained, without his arm, Edward had struggled for several minutes against the taller man, both falling in their struggle. Despite their prone positions on the ground, Edward had finally landed a well-aimed blow to Isacc's chin, rendering the man unconscious.

Now that Edward was able to take stock of Mustang's situation, he realized that while Damien had rendered Maria unconscious, he had stumbled over her from what Edward assumed was a punch from Mustang, but that Mustang had left himself vulnerable to an attack from Jimmy in the process.

Desperate, Edward bit his thumb, scribbling a small transmutation circle on the floor in blood, and placed his fingers on the edge. Blue light crackled above the surface. Edward's vision tunneled, but he pushed through, forcing the alchemy to work, forcing the floor to contort and an alchemic hand to rush at the head of the man who was pinning Mustang to the wall.

When Mustang saw what Ed was doing, he kicked out with his leg. Jimmy avoided the kick as predicted, turning ever so slightly and allowing the alchemic hand to smack into the side of his head with a deadening thud. Jimmy's hands loosened, letting go of Mustang. Mustang slipped down the wall, gasping, and his feet hit the floor as Jimmy tried to regain his balance. Pressing against the wall, Mustang supported his weight and kicked out as hard as he could, hitting the same spot and causing Jimmy to crumple.

Mustang leaned against the wall, breathing hard, fighting off vertigo, and trying to focus on the now-standing Damien.

Edward heard Jimmy hit the floor, but his already blurry vision barely registered that Mustang was no longer being squished like jelly. He smirked as his vision went dark.

Mustang looked up in time to see Edward go completely limp but had to dodge an attack from Damien. Still using the wall as support, Mustang dodged another punch from Damien, who, in his anger, smacked his fist into the wall. The brief hesitation in response to the pain gave Mustang a chance to land a well-placed blow to Damien's nose. As Damien slumped to the floor, Mustang thanked all of his military training.

Turning to Edward once more, Mustang jerked forward, only to fall to his knees, his heart pounding from the exertion. Mustang crawled over, dizzy, breathing heavily, and sweat trickling down his brow.

When he reached Edward, Mustang quickly checked for a pulse and breathed a deep sigh of relief as he felt a steady, even if weak, thrum beneath his fingers.

He could hear voices from down the hall, and Mustang scanned the room. He grimaced at the sight of the unconscious Maria but, looking at Edward, made his decision. Mustang gathered all the strength he had left and, scooping Edward into his arms, stood.

His first steps were wobbly, but using Edward's weight, he propelled himself forward. Once out the door, he turned away from the voices and staggered down the hall. Down that hall, beyond the stairs leading to the basement room they had once been held in, he found another set of stairs.

Looking down at Edward, Mustang groaned internally, but the sound of Damien's voice calling for backup had Mustang stumbling up and out of sight. Once up, he found rows and rows of doors to his right. On the left, another hall, with fewer doors and another stairwell at the end. The shouts from the floor below grew louder. Taking another look in both directions, Mustang made a decision.

He turned right.

Mustang shifted his grip on the still unconscious alchemist as he pressed his back against a wall and tested a doorknob two doors down. To his great relief, it was unlocked. Mustang slipped inside. It was a bedroom. Mustang knelt by the bed and shoved Edward underneath.

Then, Mustang stood, using the bed as leverage, and went back to the door. Looking around, he noted no one was in the hall, but he could still hear the shouts from the floor below. They sounded closer. Staggering, his hand against the wall, the only thing keeping him upright, he moved back down the hall toward the stairwell. Just as he passed in front of the stairs, a group of rebels stopped below and looked up.

The rebels saw Mustang and began to charge up the steps. Mustang grimaced and looked up toward the door to the other stairwell, the one that had been to the left.

"Run, Edward. They saw me!"

Mustang, hoping they took him as bait and did not search the rooms behind him, lurched forward, out of sight of the rebels, now halfway up the steps.

He could hear their shouts.

"They're up here!"

"They're trying to get out the back!"

"Someone, head them off at the bottom of the back stairs!"

Mustang grinned and continued moving in the opposite direction from the bedroom where Edward was hidden. At the end of the hall, he hit the door to the stairs and slipped through as he heard the sound of running feet approaching. The only way to go was down, and Mustang prayed that he would not trip over his own feet.

Only a short time earlier, Casper had been loitering near the front entrance. While Sarah finished up her shift. It was going to be his job to ensure no one was in the hallway while Logan directed Mustang and Edward outside. Once they had left, Casper was to take over the morning shift and distract anyone who happened to be awake.

Much to Casper's dismay, he heard Maria talking to Damien and saw Logan run out the side entrance alone—papers clutched in his hand.

Casper cursed.

Thinking quickly, he noted that those on the next shift were up and in the mess getting food before they started their watch. Muffled shouts from down the hall, where Damien had obviously discovered a very freed Mustang and Edward, could be heard. While Casper would have preferred to help Mustang, the noise had caught the attention of those in the mess.

Casper entered the room and, in a loud voice, called out a good morning!

Casper's attempt to cover the noise from the cell as he chatted with the others worked only until Damien's voice was heard shouting for people to come.

"Wake up! Anyone who's up, get over here! The prisoner's got out again!"

Casper feigned his best look of surprise as the others in the mess hall looked first at the door and then at him.

"You heard the man!" Casper called over his shoulder as he turned, "Let's go!"

As Casper entered the hall, he saw that Damien's eyes immediately fell on him. But he also saw something else. Casper hesitated a moment, effectively stopping those behind him from entering the hall and seeing Mustang disappear up the steps behind Damien. Casper did his best to keep his eyes focused on Damien as he moved toward the man.

Damien growled, "Casper! Why did Flame have the key!"

"I have no idea, Damien, but now's not the time for this. We need to track them down. Did you see where they went? They didn't come this way."

A chilly clam fell over Damien, and Casper felt more than saw the others stiffen beside him at Damien's glare. Other rebels had poured out into the hall, and everyone, save Sarah, whose eyes were fixed on Casper, slowed to a halt, watching the two.

The few seconds Damien was quiet felt like an eternity. Then Damien, slowly, almost quietly, gave his orders.

"Fan out. Andrew, take a group and cover the back entrances, check the halls. Val, take another group to the second floor and search there. Janis, take two scouting groups and cover the outside. Send one group counterclockwise around the compound and the other clockwise. Casper and I will take point together."

Damien's eyes narrowed, and Casper, for all he was worth, stood his ground and did not break eye contact.

Everything moved around them, and Casper stifled a groan when Val shouted that he saw Mustang up the stairs. Andrew's group, which was down the east hall, heard the noise and turned around, but Damien shouted for them to split up and block off the stairwells. Casper gave an inward sigh of relief that they were close enough to the entrance for Janis and his team to be outside and out of hearing.

Damien motioned for Casper to follow, suspicion still behind every look, "What are you waiting for?"

As they passed his room, Damien paused only long enough to grab two guns and toss one to Casper. Then, purposefully running beside Casper, he led them to the closest back stairwell, where they were met with three rebels restraining an exhausted and unfocused Mustang. Both Val and Andrew smiled triumphantly as they pressed Mustang down onto the floor.

Damien smirked.

Casper closed his eyes, hiding a grimace.

Damien's next words sent a shiver through Casper and barely registered with Mustang.

"Take him outside."

Edward woke up underneath a bed and had to process how he made it there in the first place. The last thing he remembered was trying to do alchemy to save Mustang from being squished against a wall by Jimmy.

Using his elbows, Edward crawled out from under the bed. He couldn't do much more. Even this much movement caused vertigo to hit him like a train. But he persisted. Panting, Edward propped himself up against the wall under a window.

I can't believe doing alchemy knocked me out like that!

Edward groaned and took steadying breaths. Angry shouts from outside drew his attention. Using the wall as leverage, Edward slowly and painstakingly stood, propping himself up using the windowsill.

Outside, rebels surrounded a man kneeling on the ground, facing away from the compound, a gun pointed at his head.

Edward jerked, almost losing his footing.

Mustang!