Disclaimer: One of my readers suggested that I add a note saying that this story was inspired by an episode of Bones but I tried to put my own spin on it t make it different enough to be acceptable. I don't own FMA or the TV series Bones! This is just for fun.

The Grave Digger – Chapter 1

My brother and I have been through some tough times together. We've fought homunculi and bandits, alchemists and thieves… We've even been fighting ourselves. Our history isn't what you would call happy or easy…but no matter what, my brother kept us together. Even when I was being drawn into that gate, he pulled me back by sacrificing part of his own body and not just anyone would do that. Only my brother… He's always taken care of me, always understood me… at night, he would cover me with a blanket even though I can't feel cold, and he lies close to me when we have to sleep outside. He still treats me like a normal person and never like an empty suit of armor. He makes me feel… like I'm still human. I love my brother for that. No matter what he has to give up- his happiness, his comfort, his freedom… brother has always looked after me. But… I wasn't able to do the same for him. When he needed me, I wasn't able to do anything at all. Always being protected… I couldn't see just how deep my brother's pain was. He was suffering and fighting himself in his heart every day. He even hid when he was sick from me because he didn't want me to worry, didn't want to burden me. I wish he wouldn't do that…

I don't think of my brother of a burden just like he doesn't think of me as one, but for some reason, Ed thinks he is. I don't understand it…. I tried asking him about it, but he said he didn't want to talk about it. Does brother even know why he thinks that about himself? Or maybe… it's because he still blames himself for what happened to me… It was Ed's idea to bring mom back in the first place, but I went along with it. I wanted mom back, too… I could have stopped it, but Ed was certain he could do it. I believed in him, too, and neither of us could have ever imagined this would happen. Family is everything… and if he couldn't get mom back, he was determined to keep me with him. I think… Ed is afraid to be alone. What would have happened if he couldn't pull me back? What would Ed have done…? It scares me to even think of it. He's already tearing himself up- I don't want to think of how much worse he'd be. I don't want Brother to be alone… and I don't want to be alone, either. So we have to take care of each other and keep each other safe. I promise to protect my brother… I want to ease his pain and restore his body, and when we're both back to normal…. We can go home together. I truly believed that would become a reality… until…