Roy yawned as he reached his apartment and locked the door behind him. Sometimes he wished he had a dog or something like Riza did but then he remembered the attention that a dog needed and thought nothing more of it. He took off his shoes and sat on the couch, wiggling his tired feet and laying his head back. He felt completely put out and exhausted. He hated feeling that way! He needed his energy back. He spotted the flyer that was on his table and sat up, picking it up and reading it for a second. Even thought it was suspicious, he wanted to feel like himself again and this product looked like it would definitely do the trick. He looked at the toll free number on the bottom of it and picked up the phone, calling for a sample.

************************

The next day as he was getting ready for work, he spilled coffee all over his one clean uniform that he had time to do and sighed, wishing things would just go his way for once. Luckily it was just the jacket and he could wear his black coat over his shirt with the bottom half of his uniform. He put his jacket on and opened the door, almost stepping on a package. He turned his head and picked it up, looking at it for a moment. He went back inside to open it up and smiled at the product he ordered last night. Well that was quick... he thought as he looked at the two bottles of pills.

He read the directions and decided that today should be the day to start on them considering it was in the morning time already and it said it was best to take on an empty stomach. All he had was coffee so he would be fine and he just had to take the other pills at lunch time and dinner when he had a meal. He was a disciplined man so doing this shouldn't be more than he could handle. He put the pill in his hand and got a glass of water, popping it into his mouth and swallowing it with a gulp of water.

*************************

Mustang got out of the car and stretched, feeling great! He smiled, smelling the dankness of the wet air of the oncoming storm and walked into headquarters.

"Good morning, Gretchen." He said to the receptionist at the front desk.

She gasped and looked up at Mustang as he gave her a friendly salute. She blinked in confusion at him, giving him a half hearted salute back to him. He was never this jolly in the morning. She remembered when she started working here that the girl she was to replace told her to never talk to Colonel Mustang in the morning or she would get a glare so fierce it would scar her for life. She blinked again but decided it was a good day.

Mustang went to his office, whistling happily as he opened the door.

"Morning, everyone. How did everyone's night go?"

His subordinates all looked at him with surprised expressions as he looked at them.

"What?"

"Colonel, are you feeling alright?" Havoc asked. "You're acting weird."

"Just because I'm not being a grouch today doesn't mean I'm weird, Havoc. Can't I be happy in the morning?"

"But that's just it, Colonel." Breda interjected. "You're never happy in the morning. Even if you had the best sleep of your life, you have never looked so... uh..."

"Enthused." Fuery added, pushing up his glasses.

"Yeah, that's the word." Breda said, pointing at Fuery.

"Well, today is a new day. I'm just full of energy so I feel good. Is it so much to wish your Colonel feel nice in the morning?" he said with his normal angered face.

"No, of course not!"

"Then stop worrying about my mood and get back to work. I'm going in here so don't bother me."

They all nodded and he went to his office. There was a pile of papers on one side of his desk and he sighed but knew he had to get to work. He put his jacket on the coat rack and went to his desk, pulling a paper from the top. He set to signing everything, humming along the way.

*********************

Riza walked in and noticed everyone was gathered in front of the Colonel's door. Her eye twitched but she walked in and went behind everyone.

"Is there a reason why everyone is over here and not doing their work?!"

They all yelled and turned to her.

"Sorry, Hawkeye, it's just that... the Colonel is humming and singing in there."

"You wanna run that by me again, soldier?" she asked, trying not to sound confused or surprised.

"That's right." Havoc said, cigarette hanging from his mouth. "He went in there and suddenly we heard him sing something loud and go back to work. He's been acting weird since he got in. Gretch, the cute receptionist downstairs, even told me he gave her a hardy 'hello' this morning."

Hawkeye narrowed her eyes but walked over to the door and opened it. To her astonishment, Roy was humming to himself and he even had half of the papers that he usually had on one side of the desk on the other side for them being signed.

"Colonel?"

Roy looked up at her and smiled.

"Yes, Lieutenant?"

"Sir, the men want to make sure you're alright." She said, standing erect and trying not to look at him.

"Why? I'm perfectly fine."

"In all honesty, sir, you're not. You're singing."

Roy blinked at her. "So."

"You don't sing, sir."

Mustang made a face and stood up, his hands on the desk.

"For your information, Hawkeye, I happen to like to sing. I just don't do it all the time. What is up with all of you?"

"We're wondering the same thing, sir."

Mustang sighed and walked around the desk.

"I'm going to lunch, if you want to join me. Or am I being too odd for that?"

Hawkeye lifted an eyebrow. "No, sir, that's not odd at all."

*********************

Mustang took the pill as he ate his lunch and Hawkeye narrowed her eyes at him.

"What's that for?"

"Hmm? Oh, the doctor prescribed it for me. It gives me a little energy during the day."

"Why do you need that?"

"So I can work, Hawkeye. Why do you keep getting on my case?"

"I'm just worried about you, Colonel."

"Well don't be..." Roy's stomach suddenly rumbled and he put his hand over it. "Must still be hungry. You want anything else?"

"No..."

Riza watched him as he walked back through the line to get more food. It was odd because he had never liked the food at headquarters but ate because it was free. Now he was getting a second plate? He sat back down and began to eat. Riza tried not to scrutinize him too much but it was getting odd.

Mustang ate, knowing Hawkeye was watching him when he suddenly felt queasy. He stopped eating, putting his fork down and got up slowly.

"Colonel?"

"I need to go to the restroom."

He walked quickly toward the men's restroom and went to a stall, falling to his knees and vomiting into the toilet. He vomited a couple more times before he felt ready to get up off the floor. He stood up but felt woozy and tried to grab onto something but couldn't, falling on the ground, cracking his head on the toilet.

**********************

"Man, I'm glad we ate that stuff on the train." Ed said, his hands behind his head. "I hate the cafeteria food here."

"I can't eat and even I think it looks pretty gross." Alphonse said beside him.

"Right? Hey, I have to use the bathroom, I'll be with you in a minute."

"Mm."

Edward opened the door to the bathroom and the first thing he saw was a military boot sticking out from under the first stall. He lifted an eyebrow but went to a urinal.

"Man, some people don't know how to not drink on the job." He said.

He washed his hands and was going to leave but noticed the hand that was also sticking out had gloves on... gloves like the colonel. He turned his head a little and used alchemy to unlock the door of the stall and gasped when he saw Roy on the ground.

"Hey! Colonel! Colonel!" he yelled, pulling him by the arm. "Wake up!"

Mustang moaned and his eyes fluttered open as his hand went to his head.

"Ugh, what happened?"

"I dunno. From that red mark on your forehead, it looks like you might have hit your head. You drunk?"

"No. Help me up."

Edward pulled him up and Mustang held onto the door for support. Edward didn't like the way he looked.

"Hey, you're pretty pale. Maybe you should go home?"

"Yeah... I think that would be best. Tell Hawkeye that's where I'm going."

"You need a lift? You can take the car that's waiting out there back home. You probably shouldn't drive."

"Sure. Thanks."

Edward followed behind him as he walked out and watched him as he went down the hall. He seemed different.

"Brother? Are you alright?"

"Yeah... Let's go."