Edward was back on the couch now, sleeping like a log with the help of the medicine. Alphonse was combing his large hands through Edward's hair. It reminded him that Edward was seriously there. He could touch him. He couldn't feel him, but he was there. He didn't care if he would never be able to feel again as long as Edward never left him again. It had hurt so much while still being the most numb Alphonse had ever felt in his life.

Alphonse understood that it wasn't going to ever be the same again unless Edward got his memories back. They would always be brothers, but they may never be as close as they were before. Alphonse refused to let Edward just become a stranger. He wasn't ever going to give up on Edward, even if Edward didn't know the first thing about him.

"Muhmmbbmmm," Edward slurred in his sleep, twitching slightly. He was kicking off the blanket that the Colonel had lain over him when he moved Edward from his arms to the couch. Edward's flesh hand unconsciously moved to his stomach, sliding under the white button-up that had been untucked long ago from his writhing. The shirt slid up with Edward's hand, exposing his stomach. Alphonse sighed at the normalcy. It was just like Brother to sleep with his stomach exposed like that.

"Alphonse," Hawkeye called to the boy. Alphonse turned. "We have come to a decision about getting Edward out. We have an idea, but we want to be sure it's fine with you."

"Of course! Anything, as long as it helps Brother." Alphonse was buzzing. This was better. It was coming together. They just needed Edward to recover fully. "What is it?!"

Roy came up behind Riza. "We want you to take him out in your armour," Roy answered.

"Why wouldn't that be fine with me? He's my big brother."

"We weren't sure how sensitive you were to letting someone in your armour," Hawkeye answered.

"I would do anything for Brother."

"You are taking him to my house with Hughes," Roy went on.

Hughes went past the others as they worked out a bit more of the plan with Alphonse. He had heard it as they talked, and if something changed they would tell him. He stopped by the couch and looked down at Edward. The boy was drowning in his own sweat. He had kicked off the blanket so the sticky wet flesh was very noticeable. "Oh, kid." Hughes sighed, laying his hand on Edward's cheek. The skin was much cooler now. Edward's breathing was visible and had been much stronger since Roy and he had brought Edward back. It wasn't like that again. "Guys."

The panic that set in Roy's and Riza's faces and Alphonse stance was heavy. It was so strong. The were getting the wrong idea. "Hughes, what is it? Is something wrong with Edward?" Roy said it, but they all thought it.

"No, no, Roy! You have it all wrong. I think Edward's fever broke," Hughes answered.

Relief filled them again. "I think it must have been awhile ago because his fever has dropped quite a bit."

If Alphonse could blush right now, he would be red out of embarrassment. "I guess someone who can feel should watch Brother. I'm not doing a good job of it."

"Alphonse, no, it's fine." Maes looked Alphonse in the eye. "You- I wouldn't have woken up when Edward couldn't breathe if not for you noticing. You did good."

"Uh- th- thank you, Mister Hughes." Alphonse was a little awkward at the praise, and it was a thing he wasn't exactly fond of remembering. It was still relieving that he had helped save Edward, though. He had been terrified, and thought that if he had just noticed earlier, Edward would have been fine.

Roy nodded, almost imperceptibly. He was just as relived that Alone had warned them. "Hughes, as you know, you'll take Alphonse to my house and help get Edward situated because I need to be here for when the Rockbells arrive." Roy shuddered at the thought. The Rockbells had already hated him. They must despise him now. It would be warranted. They deserved to be furious with him.

Hughes nodded. He picked up the blanket that Edward had kicked away and started drying the sweat that soaked the boy through.

"When should we go?" Alphonse asked. He was feeling much better after everything. If things went well they could get through this quickly.

"Soon," Roy answered. He thought for a minute. "It would be best to get him out before the others come in. Any time before then would be good. Headquarters won't be as crowded and fewer officers will see you leaving."

Alphonse nodded. "I don't mean to be rude, but wouldn't it be best to go now when the place is even more empty?"

"Yes and no. It might be better, but you also might get noticed more. With a little more traffic in the halls you are less noticeable because you aren't the only one there." Roy hoped that it made sense to the kid. He didn't want anyone to get curious about what was going on, and why Alphonse Elric was staying in the office through the night. Most would just assume Alphonse was still upset after the funeral, and the shooting that was being investigated, but there would also be those people who could talk about anything.

"Yeah, I guess, I understand now. Thank you, Colonel," Alphonse replied.

They stayed like that for awhile, awkwardly waiting for the right time.

Time passed so slowly until the clock showed that it was ten minutes until the team would be due.

Alphonse shot up. He was ready to get Edward somewhere that wasn't headquarters. It just seemed sort of uncomfortable here while Edward was sleeping. It may have been because Edward was normally filling the silence with his rants and loud presence, or it could be because headquarters was where Edward had died. Either one could have been what caused his anxiety. He just wanted to help, and now that Edward was recovering, it made him feel like he needed to do something to help.

Roy pulled Maes to the side and whispered to the man. "Hughes, take the boys now, and don't let anything happen to them."

"Roy, you know I wouldn't let anything happen to those kids," Hughes reminded.

Yeah, Roy, you're the only one who can't protect him. If he had been with one of the others and not you, he would have been fine.

It was true Edward wouldn't have died. The others wouldn't have let it happen. They wouldn't have failed Edward, and hurt Alphonse so much.

You are a disappointment to Alphonse because you couldn't save Edward so Edward had to do it himself. Now he doesn't remember his own brother.

Alphonse had every right. Edward had come back but was now not even able to recognise his brother.

It wouldn't have been like that if Roy hadn't let Edward die.

"I know." Whether Roy was talking to Hughes or his own torturous mind, he couldn't answer. It could have been either or both. "You better get going."

Hughes nodded. "Yeah," he replied as he rested his hand on Roy's shoulder. "And you know this isn't your fault."

Roy's mouth cracked open in surprise. He didn't see anything in lying at this point. He was about to ask how Hughes knew what he was thinking when his friend interrupted him.

"I've seen that look a thousand times. Long ago and still today." Hughes was too smart. He could read Roy like a book. "We'll get going now." Hughes left Roy to help Alphonse put Edward comfortably in the boy's armour while he continued sleeping.

Roy just watched them go, wondering whether to listen to the words from the voice inside his head or to his friend's words.

The office was quiet as the team pretended to work when they were all to anxious to actually work through it for real. That was before the door was thrown open, and Winry Rockbell came in a wrench in hand. At least it was in hand when she came in. It was hurled at Roy Mustang a second later with impeccable speed and accuracy. Roy picked up a book the moment she threw the wrench. He was nearly too slow to save himself from brain damage, but he had just managed to cover his head when the wrench made contact book.

"HOW COULD YOU?!! IT'S YOUR FAULT HE'S GONE!!!" Winry was angry but began sobbing loudly. Pinako stood behind the weeping girl. She was glaring up at Roy.

Roy lowered the book almost hesitantly, like he thought there might be another object hurled at him. He needed to clear this up quickly. "Please, let me explain-"

The tiny woman interrupted him while still glaring at him with a passion. "Explain? You're the reason that boy joined and now you're trying to explain yourself? We don't want to hear it from you, Colonel. It's bad enough that his body can't be buried in his own home with his mother."

"Please, Mrs. Rockbell, listen to me for a minute!" Pinako shook her head in a way that wasn't to say "no" exactly but to show her distaste for the Colonel. Winry stifled her tears. She looked up. Her eyes were red and puffy like she had been crying long hours before this meeting.

Riza stood, moving behind the two newcomers. She shut the door and locked it.

"What is the meaning of this?" Pinako questioned. She did not seem happy about this development.

Roy sighed. He stood and came around his desk, coming nearer to the woman. He was about to be killed by this old woman. He took in a deep breath. He should have stayed behind the safety of his sturdy wooden desk. He exhaled. "Edward's not dead." The room froze. The officers in the room knew that he wasn't dead, but they still froze. "Not anymore."

Sorry if everyone's OOC. I tried to keep them in character.

Thank you so much for the reviews! I love reading them so much!

-UNAU/IME