Ed was drifting in and out of a doze. Alphonse had managed, finally, to get him into a sitting position despite his unresponsive state, and had piled blankets around and on his form in an attempt to get him comfortable.

He had just slipped into another light sleep when there was a near silent knock at the door to their dorm. Silent enough that Edward, in his exhausted state, didn't even stir. When he was awake, he was sporadically coughing up more blood. It wasn't the puddle from before, but definitely still concerning.

Alphonse stood from his spot on a short stool that was usually in the corner of the dorm, but had been dragged over by Ed so that he could keep a better eye on him. He crossed the dorm on silent feet, and opened the door. He had expected only two people, Granny Pinako and Winry, but there was a third as well.

Tall, broad shouldered, golden eyed and blond haired. Wire framed glasses rested on the bridge of their nose.

"Dad..?" Alphonse said, voice quiet. "Dad! What are you doing here? I mean, not that you're not welcome, but we haven't seen you in ages and-!"

"I was passing through Central on some business and Pinako and Winry happened across me. I figured that, if possible, I could help." A frown creased his forehead. "Where's your brother?"

"Currently? As comfortable as I can make him on the floor. I couldn't lift him off of the floor because of his automail, and I didn't want to detach it because it would hurt him more..." He looked pained.

"I don't think he remembers anything about yesterday morning. When he's awake, he just... sits there, looking confused. I haven't brought up anything about the Colonel, though. I think right now its better he be confused while we get him better rather than...well, like he was last night."

"Colonel?" Hohenheim asked, a flash of recognition flaring in his eyes. "You couldn't perchance mean Colonel Mustang, would you?"

"Yeah. Did brother talk to you about him?" A moment later he sighed. "Probably complained a lot if he did."

"The understatement of the century. Now, what happened to the Colonel that you haven't mentioned?" A small glint of humour shone in his eyes at his own little inside joke.

"...he died. He got into a car crash and he..." Alphonse sighed, looking more downcast now than he had earlier, now that there were people who he could trust who could help him look after his brother.

Now that he had time to mourn the man who had looked after him and Edward since they had joined the military.

"He died on the table, while they were trying to stabilize him. Brother's been ether inconsolable or catatonic since." He finished a bit lamely.

Hohenheim looked troubled. The amused glint was absent from his eyes now. From what he had learned from Edward, Roy Mustang had been a valuable asset in the process of defeating Father and gus homunculi. This was some rather disturbing news.

--

Edward's dreams were odd, disturbing, and ever winding. They took turns in odd directions, plunged into the deepest depths of hell, and raised him up into the arms of delusioned peace. In one moment, he would know nothing of fear, of pain, of anger and sadness. The next, he was drowning in all of those and so much more. He couldn't claw his way to the top. He was drowning. He was sinking. And then he was flying. There was disorientation as he adjusted to this new dream, and then it was yanked away from him once again.

He stood on a fine line of gray. To his left, there was sheer blackness. To his right, stark white void. He was a circus freak, doing a balancing act for everyone and yet no one.

Ed could feel eyes watching him from every direction as he walked, treading the neutral line with ease.

He would never escape.

--

With the joint effort of Winry, Alphonse, and Hohenheim, they got the currently sleeping teen onto the bed. Blood was mopped up quickly, and automail quickly detached.

Edward only winced at the discomfort, too lost in his own feverish sleep to notice the sharp, electric pain that wasn't so much pain, as a feeling of sheer loss.

"This can't keep happening. His body can't keep functioning like this. He's starting to get exhausted far too easily, and whenever he let's that stupid mask of his down, you can tell he's running on pure sheer determination and nothing else. I don't think he knows that I notice this sort of stuff." Alphonse's voice was quiet, almost resigned. "His attacks just keep bringing him down."

"It'll be okay, Alphonse. Your brother is stubborn, but he knows he has his limits." Pinako muttered. "He likes to push them as far as he can, though. It's idiotic, yes, but it's who he is."

"That doesn't mean we should allow him to get himself killed, though!" Winry's voice betrayed the tears she was holding back. "This isn't healthy. He needs rest, not...not this!" A hand swept out towards Edward in emphasis.

It was then that Hohenheim spoke. "I know a spare bit of medical alchemy. I might, and it is a definite might, be able to help. It would hold a certain amount of risk, but..."

"But if it worked, brother would be better?"

"Yes, although I cannot ascertain as to how much."

"Do it, please."

"Alphonse-"

"No, Winry, Pinako. If this will help brother...we have to try."

There were two terse nods from the automail mechanics. "Should we leave?"

"It might be easier for you all that way, yes." Gold eyes bore into blue, gray, and polished brass.

There was little argument as the Rockbells and Alphonse left the dorm room, waiting anxiously outside.

Inside, Hohenheim considered Edward momentarily. There wasnt much he could do about his son's weakened heart, nor the missing organs or limbs. If there was one thing he could do, however, it would be to give his son's body the strength and energy needed to live and thrive and defeat the obstacles ahead.

"I'm sorry, my son..."

In Edward's dream, the world turned red, and the sound of screams filled his ears.

--1052 Words--
Two updates in less than twenty four hours? Yeah, I'm surprised too. Welp, here you go.