Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ A Trial of Sin ❯ What's Wrong With Me ( Chapter 8 )

A Trial of Sin

Chapter 8: What's Wrong With Me?

December 23, 2005

By CCD

 

A/N: I've decided that it would be better that I didn't answer questions at the beginning of my chapters so I mad a Forum through Fan Fiction.net that you can go up and ask me questions or you can put questions in the review and I will respond to these questions up there. You will find the link in my bio section on my author's page. Anyway Enjoy!

 

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Edward hated Hospitals. He really did. They reminded him of all the terrors that happened in the world. It was bad enough that he was almost there, but also that the Colonel had dragged him out of bed to get there.

“Couldn't we have waited till my appointment tomorrow?” Ed asked hoping the Colonel would have Lt. Havoc turn around and take them back to the house.

 

“No, you were coughing so bad that you couldn't breathe. Something's really wrong here and we're going to find out what it is so that we can get you back to health.”

 

“But…”

 

“Damn it Edward, don't argue with me. You wanted to know what was wrong with you earlier. Let's just get it over with and then worry about it later.”

 

Ed cringed. He had never heard the Colonel curse before and he doubt that it would be the last time. That wasn't what was bothering him though. He was having the same symptoms his mother had had before she passed away, what if it was the same disease. One that had no cure or any hope surrounding it…

 

His body chose that moment to send him into another violent coughing fit. He could vaguely hear Mustang tell Havoc to drive faster as he gasped and tried to take in air that wouldn't come into his body. It was too much for his body to handle as he tried to avoid the pain as he slipped into darkness.

 

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Ed woke up to voices in the room. He was a bit disoriented and his chest hurt. The young alchemist coughed catching the attention of the two people in the room.

 

“Edward, are you awake.”

 

He opened his eyes to see the Colonel was standing there with a doctor. The doctor took his leave as Mustang turned to look at his ward. Ed knew in an instant from looking at the Colonel's concerned face that something was seriously wrong.

 

“What's wrong with me, Roy?”

 

The Colonel was startled. Ed never called him by his first name. He had also never seen the Fullmetal Alchemist so sick before. Granted his attempt to kill himself could be seen as sick, but Roy didn't want to think about that at the moment. Mustang took a seat next to Ed.

 

“We don't know yet Ed, but the doctors are running tests and they should at least tell us something.”

 

At this Edward closed his eyes. Mustang knew the boy was in pain and needed more rest than what he had gotten.

 

“Go back to sleep Edward. I'll wake you as soon as we know something, I promise.”

 

A few moments later Edward was sound asleep. Roy leaned back in his chair and sighed. He had been extremely worried when he had woken to the sound of coughing and so he went to check on Edward. The boy's face was pale and he was having a hard time breathing. The Colonel had immediately tried to soothe the boy and then called Lt. Havoc to ask for a ride to the hospital. To make matters worse, the fits had gotten so bad that Ed had passed out from lack of air. Just how many nights had this same thing happen?

 

Mustang checked to make sure that the boy was still sleeping before hunting down some coffee. He needed a caffeine fix to stay awake a little longer and to calm his nerves. As he started to come out of the room he saw Hughes waling down the hall with two cups, a thermos, and a bag of doughnuts.

 

“Hey, I thought you could use some coffee and food,” Hughes said in greeting as he sat down and poured a cup of coffee for his weary friend.

The two of them were silent for a moment as the Colonel savored the taste of fresh coffee and the settling of his nerves. Hughes studied his friend for a moment before deciding to say something.

 

“Lt. Havoc called me, you know. He said you could use some support. What the hell happened Roy?”

 

“He was having a coughing fit and couldn't breathe Maes. He passed out on the way here. For a moment, I thought he was dying and there wasn't anything I could do.”

 

“Have the doctors found anything?”

 

“No, they're running some blood tests and if that doesn't work, then they'll try something else.”

”He'll pull through. If there's one thing I know about Ed is that he bounces back twice as hard from trials.”

 

“How much longer is he going to suffer? First he lost his mother and then he and Al lost so much trying to bring her back; then suffered from his trials in the military. Then he lost Al somehow and Hawkeye gave me a report that the brass wants to shut him up, and now this.”

”I know you're not religious Roy, but why don't you try having a little bit of faith in him. I know it's hard, but these trials have made him stronger over the years. In the end, everything will work out.”

 

“We don't know what's wrong with him. How do you know things will work out?”

 

“Even if it should turn out to be the worst, at least he won't suffer anymore and he'll be with both his mother and brother. I think that's all he wanted all this time is to have his family. After all Roy, when you got hurt as a child, whom did you go running to?”

 

“My mother,” the Colonel muttered under his breath.

 

“Exactly! A month ago, when Ed…”

 

“You don't have to tell me what happened, I know.”

 

Hughes sighed before continuing.

”At that time it seemed to be the only way to get to the two people that he knew he could lean on. I don't think he's ever thought about leaning on us before and now that he has no family left he finds himself doing so. You know maybe you should get in touch with Winry Rockbell and see if she'll come see Ed. I think he would like that.”

 

“I'll consider it. First and foremost we need to find out what's wrong with Ed.”

 

“And we will, Roy. Don't beat yourself up over this. He's in good hands, and if I know Ed, he'll pull through. For now, you just get some rest and be prepared to deal with the results and everything that comes with it. Leave it to the rest of us to support you from below and make sure you and Ed don't fall too far. We won't lose him, Roy. Trust me on this.”

 

The two friends were silent for a moment. Hughes picked up a donut and began to nibble on it while looking at his friend. Roy had let his mask slip a bit as he sipped his coffee. Hughes could see that his friend was worried and worn down. It was very rare that Hughes saw his friend like this and he knew if someone else came upon them, that mask would once again appear on Roy's face.

 

“Colonel Mustang,” the doctor said.

 

Hughes sighed. There went the mask.

 

“My name is Dr. Kamina. I wanted to update you on Edward's condition.”

 

Roy nodded as if to tell the Doctor to proceed.

 

“It seems that Edward was poisoned. It's a very slow acting poison that attacks the immune system bit by bit. I was looking over the records, and it seemed as if the doctors had some trouble getting Edward to eat and that he was under a lot of stress. Most likely that caused the poison to be a bit more active. We've given him something to flush it out of his system and reduce his fever. He should be fine, but we want to keep him here for a little while just to make sure.”

 

Mustang nodded before taking a big swig of coffee. Though his mask was back up, Hughes could tell that he was worried about Edward.

“Thank you Doctor,” Mustang said as he watched the doctor walk away.

 

The two of them were silent for a moment before Roy opened his mouth again.

“Hughes, I want you to look into this and see what you can find. He's been sick since before he came into my care and he won't say anything to me about what happened the day Alphonse died. I think you will be more successful at finding out what happened then I would.”

 

Hughes nodded before he turned to head back to headquarters.

 

“Hughes,”

 

He turned back to face his friend.

 

“Be careful and let me know anything you find out.”

 

“I will Roy. Take care of Edward.”

 

“I will.”