Despite wanting to stay away, going almost three days without sleep took a toll on Roy and he fell asleep on the couch. Riza watched him, his face getting flushed even more and she worried a bad fever would set in. She worried more about the regression that he was doing and what would become of her beloved superior. She didn't want to tell the others about his plight because she knew he was a private person but he needed to be helped... Edward... Edward might be able to help. she thought, although the action of telling a fifteen year old kid about the problems of his superiors that weren't even related to him rubbed her the wrong way.

Roy mumbled something in his sleep and Riza walked over to check his temperature again. She wished she had a thermometer but she knew hr stubborn colonel wouldn't have had one in the house. "What use would I have for one when I'm hardly ever home? Besides, I never get sick." he would just tell her.

Since he looked like he was running a fever, she went to the phone to phone the doctor. She knew he would hate it and she hoped the doctor wouldn't be too observant and figure out whose house he was going to. Riza dialed the number and waited.

"Doctor Ross speaking."

"Hello, I'm sorry to call you at such an hour but I have a sick..." Riza looked at Roy again and made a face. "boy that needs some medical attention. I don't have a thermometer but he feels warm and he looks flushed."

"How old is he?"

"Fifteen, sixteen... He's not my child."

"Well, I don't make house calls at this hour but if you think he's got a fever, he should take an aspirin and place a cool rag on his forehead."

"And if there is no aspirin?"

"A cool rag should do."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"No problem. I hope he gets better. If not, call me and I will take a look at him."

"I will; thank you."

Riza hung up the phone and sighed. She had a feeling Roy had aspirin in the house since he was prone to headaches due to long hours at the office. She went to his bathroom and rummaged in his medicine cabinet for a moment when she found what she was looking for. She also saw the bottle of the energy pills that he had been taking and took them as well. She was going to look into them

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

"Hawkeye... Hawkeye... Hawkeye! Wake up!"

Riza opened her eyes and blinked, looking around. She realized she had fallen asleep on Roy's couch and cursed herself for being so lax. That and she was late for work. She would never hear the end of this from the others...

"Hawkeye, you fell asleep! You let me fall asleep! I'm younger!" someone yelled frantically beside her.

Riza blinked, trying to put everything together when she saw Roy in front of her. Well, it looked like him... It looked like the photos she'd seen of him when he was younger, before he joined the military.

"How could you do that?! I told you I can't fall asleep!" he yelled at her.

"Calm down, Colonel-"

"Calm down? CALM DOWN!? How the hell can I be calm when I look like Fullmetal?!" he yelled, his voice cracking. He growled and threw his hands in the air. "Damn it! I don't even sound like myself!"

He huffed and sat on the couch with his hands in his hair that was grown out longer than usual. It was a boy's style and even though it suited him, Riza knew that things really were serious. She kicked herself for not really believing him about the sleeping and sat up, leaning forward and putting her elbows on her knees.

"Hawkeye, what do I do?"

"Well, first off, we need to get that fever down. You're still flushed, sir."

"Damn the fever. I'll fucking melt away."

"Don't be... emotional." She said, picking her words carefully.

Roy glared at her from under his hands.

"I still know how to use a gun, Lieutenant."

Riza smirked a little as he sighed heavily, leaning over onto her shoulder.

"Maybe you're right about that fever... I'm not really feeling myself."

"I grabbed some aspirin for you. The doctor said this should bring the fever down... Now, about these pills..."

"There's nothing odd about them. The only thing it says that's strange is 'must not take with alchemically effected food or drink'; but why would I get in contact with anything like that?"

"Have you come in contact with anything odd?"

"The only thing that-" Roy stopped and snapped his fingers. "Dr. Striker! He's an expert in this field! He's- well, he's an expert."

"I don't think the military will care if you share this secret with me, Colonel."

Roy nodded. "The case that Fullmetal and I are working on involves age regression. The doctor wants to use it for the military as well as science involving diseases and such as well as a method of getting information out of prisoners of war. It's interesting..."

"Well, Edward said that the doctor has been trying to get a hold of you."

"Take me to headquarters."

"Colonel-"

"I'll find clothes."

"I meant that how do I explain you? Do you want me to tell them the truth?"

"No... I'm... I'm a nephew."

"They know you're an only child as well as I."

"But only you know that I was raised by my aunt. She had children as well... tell them I'm one of her grandchildren."

"Are you sure that will work-"

"Well we have to tell them something!" he snapped.

"I think we should just let them wonder... Edward will know though. He won't believe anything."

Roy nodded. "He's too damned smart sometimes. Fine... We'll just let them wonder and if they ask, we'll think of something."

"And... your clothes, sir?"

Roy looked at is very baggy clothes and sighed.

"Do what you have to."

Riza nodded and picked up the phone.

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

Riza drove to headquarters with Roy in the passenger seat, much to his chagrin. He pouted by the door but he dozed off at some point and Riza shook him a little. He blinked and Riza smiled.

"Don't fall asleep, Colonel... Um... sir?"

"Yeah?"

"What do I call you if you don't want them to know it's you?"

Roy didn't think of that. "Uh... Chris."

"Chris?"

"Christmas."

She nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Lieutenant Hawkeye." She looked up as Fuery ran down the stairs toward her. "I got those clothes you wanted... Um, why?"

"Don't ask questions." She said, taking his clothes. "Go back to the office."

He saluted. "Yes, sir."

He left and Riza opened the door to let Roy out. Roy felt like a complete idiot as he held up his too big pants and tried not to look like a child trying on his father's clothing. He rushed after Riza as they entered the headquarters and she handed him Fuery's clothing.

"Go change in there. I'm sure Fullmetal is nearby so I'll stall him for a bit."

Roy nodded and changed into Fuery's clothing. He was still a bit taller than him but the fit was better than his own clothing. He wanted to cry from the pitiful state he was in but he was Colonel Roy Mustang, he didn't cry. He looked in the mirror and made a face at his reflection. He didn't want to look like he did twenty years ago, even though he wanted to feel like he did. In all honesty though, he felt just as stiff and tired as he did when he was thirty-three.

He looked at his clothing and moved his mouth to the side.

"Doesn't he have civilian clothing?" he asked his reflection.

He had to admit that he looked good even at this age in a uniform. He wiggled his eyebrows at himself and smiled, knowing he could still woo the ladies. He thought for a second and thought about trying out his charm just once.

He walked out of the bathroom and saw Gretchen at the desk, Hawkeye nowhere in sight. He walked up to the desk and leaned against it. Gretchen looked up, startled.

"Oh, hello; how can I help you?"

Roy smirked.

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

Riza walked back from the office and found Roy talking to Gretchen using his most flirtatious looks and seemed to be using lines he usually used to pick up women. Riza saw red for a second but calmed herself and walked over to the two of them.

"So, anyway, my Uncle Roy let me come with him one day and-"

"Oh, Lieutenant Hawkeye!" Gretchen said, jumping.

Roy looked up at her as she calmly looked at him.

"Auntie Riza." Riza's look turned fierce as he grinned. "I was just telling Gretchen all about Uncle Roy."

"I didn't know the colonel was so great with kids. I didn't even know he had a nephew from his step brother."

"Odd, huh?" Roy said, smiling again.

"Come on, Chris and we'll wait for Uncle Roy in his office."

"Sure! Nice talking to you, Gretchen."

Roy hopped down from the desk and walked after Riza.

"Flirting in your state, Colonel?"

"It puts my mind at ease to know I am still attractive."

Hawkeye rolled her eyes as she walked into the office.

Jean looked up and smiled. "Hey, Hawkeye. Who's the kid?"

"Nephew of the colonel's. I somehow got stuck with him."

Jean laughed. "Leave it to him to shirk responsibility."

"Indeed."

"Oh, I needed to tell-"

"Not now, Havoc."

She led Roy into his office and they both sighed.

"Well, that worked." She said.

"I'll need to find the file on the Fountain of Youth serum so you can look over it. I have it in the drawer over here somewhere." He said, going to his desk.

"You should turn the light on, sir."

Riza went to the light and flipped it on when a grunt let out. The two looked over as Edward sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Took you long enough, Colonel Bastard." He looked at the two of them and blinked. "Oh, Hawkeye... Colonel?"

++++++++++++++++++++++

so the colonel took another regression and is a little younger than fullmetal. he seemed to be a tall guy so i made him a little taller than a normal teen. and roy wouldn't be roy without trying to flirt. so has edward seen through everything already? hmm...