The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies.

**********

"Kain! What are you doing here?" Aiden asked in complete shock at her friend's sudden appearance. She shot a quick glance behind him and felt air rush from her lungs as she noticed the door had closed behind him.

He couldn't believe his ears. She had to be lying! There was no way - not in a million years, Aiden could have been responsible for Hughes' death. It was unthinkable! He cast a quick look at Riza standing beside her. They wouldn't joke about death like that.

Kain shook his head and stepped back. Riza moved quickly and before he knew it she was blocking the exit. "You set him up to get killed?" he echoed. "Both of you?"

Aiden gripped the desk in front of her and stared at the man only to see his dark eyes staring back at her full of fear, horror, and anger. Damn it all! She set her jaw and kept her face impassive as he continued on, ire seeping into his tone.

He kept his head on a swivel and periodically looked back at Riza until he rounded on her. "The Colonel trusted both of you! I thought he was your friend! I thought Elicia looked up to you as an aunt! The Colonel trusted you to keep him safe and this is how you repay him? What? Was it because he was department head?" Kain growled, taking a few steps farther into the room.

Aiden was insanely thankful for the thick walls that wouldn't likely contain the sound of a gunshot but could very well muffle shouts to the point of the other room not hearing a thing.

Her eyes darkened dangerously and her lips pulled back into a sneer. "Don't ever accuse me of killing my friends for the sake of a fucking promotion."

Fuery scoffed. "There's no need when you already said so yourself."

Riza eyed the two warily. She could see the gears turning in their minds as they stared each other down and for a moment she hoped Aiden would clue in Fuery about the happenings, but they were in the middle of Central Headquarters and anyone could walk in or overhear if they weren't careful enough. There wasn't time to take any chances and judging by the look on her face, Aiden knew it too.

Aiden's gaze hardened and her mouth was set in a firm line until she spoke, her tone lilting with a danger that made Kain question if the voice came from her at all. "You won't tell anyone, Kain. Because if you do, then I'll have to resort to using less than honorable methods to keep your silence."

She smirked at the man but on the inside, she was dying. One too many people knew already and it was only fair that this was her punishment for dealing Riza into the game. She was the one who'd brought up the subject but Aiden was the one who named him. Out of context she could understand how he drew the conclusions he did but there wouldn't be any time to give him context. So painting herself in a bad light was her only choice.

Riza could know and Kain couldn't. One more ally knew the truth and another was to be turned away from her. That was her price.

He went to open his mouth and retort but Aiden cut him off. "Your mother and father just moved to Central, isn't that correct? To stay closer to you? I remember well how they welcome me when I visit."

"You stay away from them!"

"Oh, I will, so long as you stay quiet. But then again, I don't really need to threaten them, do I? All I need are just random citizens; a few women and children here and there and I know you'll keep quiet for their sake. Do we have an agreement, Sergeant Fuery?"

She watched as Kain's resolve to report she and Riza crumble into nothingness. His body shook and his fists were clenched as he stood rigid under her unwavering eyes. Aiden would've commended him for keeping a brave face in such a terrible situation like the one she was putting him in, however there was nothing she could do aside from stare and wait for an answer.

"Yes," he finally ground out.

"I'm glad you see it my way. Dismissed." Kain turned and headed for the door. Before Riza could open it Aiden called out, "Oh, and Sergeant, do your best not to let anything slip. If I so much as suspect you've reneged on our deal... they're gone."

The second the door closed Aiden's hardened face cracked and shattered before she fell back into her chair. The one time Kain didn't knock on the door or announce his presence when he walked in just had to end up being this one and because of it, she'd lost him from her favor, possibly forever. She ran a tired hand over her face and sighed deeply.

"Do you think it was wise to threaten him?" Riza asked.

"Wise? No. Essential? Yes. He would have gone blabbing."

"You didn't let him know the full truth."

"There's no time to fully explain it, especially not here of all places. Kain's being shipped South; I have my own set of informants aside from your team, they'll keep an eye on him." She shook out her right hand to get any feeling back, having clenched it too hard in her... discussion with Fuery. "Anyway, back on topic, is that all you wanted to say to me?"

Riza nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I suppose it was."

Aiden reached into her desk and retrieved a hair clip before tossing it to Riza. "That's yours, you left it here a few months ago. I think you left some books in Roy's office as well."

"I see." Riza nodded farewell and left Aiden's office for the last time.

The soft click of the door sounded and Aiden's form slipped as she slouched forward on the desk. She spent hours sitting in the swivel chair staring at nothing and Riza must have said something to her team because no one came in to check on her. When her mind finally snapped out of the trance she'd let herself tumble into, the afternoon sky was there to greet her just outside the window. Her stomach made itself known by loudly declaring its need for any sort of nourishment. Aiden ignored it and sluggishly began her paperwork as her stomach called out in protest.

It wasn't until the end of the day that she realized Alphonse and Edward didn't stop by as she'd suggested. However, she didn't dare look for the two when she knew they'd be under observation. Perhaps it was best that they'd skipped their appointment. She never found a chance to visit Roy, not that she really wanted to after the confrontation with Kain. Once more, it was better that Aiden and he weren't seen too often together; something they'd agreed upon before entering H.Q.. Priorities came first in the line of duty, especially with what they were involved in, but that didn't stop her from wanting to march over to his office, or wherever he was, and kiss the life from him.

Aiden groaned and buried her face in her hands, sighing deeply as her thoughts ran rampant and distracted her from her work. One night with him and she was absolutely done for. She sighed and focused on the last piece of paperwork that needed her attention for the day before signing the damn thing and dropping it on Sheska's empty desk on her way out. The team had already gone home for the day.

Almost a week had gone by without incident when she was suddenly overcome with paperwork galore. No doubt a move from Bradley to keep her busy. The further Aiden got in the work the more it seemed to multiply until she was left with a raging headache and too much information from files that didn't belong in her division in the first place but had been sent along anyway. Her work kept her too busy to find time to call Riza, or visit Roy or Jean who was still in the hospital.

To keep up appearances with the homunculi she started an investigation into Katy's disappearance. It would be suspicious if a commanding officer didn't look for their missing subordinate on a regular day, not to mention how it would look when she told Bradley she'd look for the alchemist. Not holding up her end of the bargain and not proving her worth would get her killed or at the very least demoted so someone else under their thumb could run Internal Investigations. Not that she wasn't already.

Nights at her apartment did sooth her as she focused her attention on her new cat and helped him acclimate to having a home rather than living on the streets. She was often distracted by the orange cat until she went to bed, figuring the next day would be better with a full night's sleep.

Oh how wrong she was.

"You're fucking joking."

Aiden was sitting in the main office and had gone through several stacks of paperwork when one file came across her desk that made her pause and curse loudly. Jack looked up from his own work while Sheska curiously ambled over and read the file. She too was shocked, if a little horrified.

"Oh dear," she said.

"What is it?" Jed asked through a mouthful of what Aiden knew was the Xingese version of Chinese takeout.

"They let Kimblee out of prison," Aiden answered numbly. Jed choked on his food while Jack glanced between his commanding officer and teammates.

"What's so bad about this guy?"

She turned to stare at her Lieutenant, as did the rest of the office. Had he not heard the stories of what Kimblee had done in Ishval all those years ago? She blinked twice and then it dawned on her why he had no clue who the crazy alchemist was. "Oh, right," she said, drawing out the words. "I forget you're one of our youngest. Well... several years ago, before the war ended, Solf J. Kimblee was known as the Crimson Alchemist who specialized in explosive alchemy. Needless to say, he was a key figure in the war."

She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms over her chest, thoughts stretching back to her memories of the Ishvalan War. "The first time I met him... we still had another few years until the end of the war and I hadn't met Roy or Maes or anyone aside from Kain, but he'd only just become my subordinate. Anyway, while his alchemy is powerful, Kimblee has always been a psychopath. He took pleasure in the lives he ended and the destruction he caused. Just before the end of the war, Kimblee attacked and killed several military officers to which he was arrested and stripped of his rank before sentenced to life in Central Prison.

"Why they're releasing him is beyond me; I can't fathom their reasons, but it's not our job to question why until we're given a case," she finished, rubbing the back of her neck. Jack grimaced at the information but nodded all the same. Then she shuffled the papers in the file, quickly skimming over the contents. "It says here he's needed to help track down Scar and a man sighted with him." Aiden peered closely at the file once more and handed it to Jedediah, "Looks like General Raven is heading up there tomorrow to follow up on Kimblee's progress. Send the message to our friends up North and notify them of the change, discreetly please."

"Yes ma'am." Jed rushed from the office, closing the door behind him.

Aiden's intense frown caught Jack's eye. He went to ask a question but she spoke first. "Kimblee was released over a week ago and that paperwork was just filed today. I want to know why it took so long for the information to reach us."

Of course, being the sort of file it was, there were no leads she or the team could find aside from the assumption that whoever sent it in neglected their work. They got word back from the North that their warning of General Raven's visit came only an hour before he did, which didn't give them much time to prepare, but they thanked them all the same. Among their reply was a subtle 'back off we can handle it' that didn't surprise her in the least. She knew how well the Northern soldiers could take care of unwanted visitors.

Maes was no help at all from his station in the woods, but that was to be expected from a person in witness protection. Aiden did find out about the dog he'd been smuggling around when she'd heard a loud bark over one of their phone calls which resulted in a drive over to meet the Border Collie he had named Echo. The dog took commands almost as well as Black Hayate and she was glad Maes had found someone to talk to other than herself because even she knew it got old quickly. At least with the responsibility of taking care of a dog, Maes didn't have to sit around doing nothing, which Aiden was ever thankful for.

At some point during a long week, Aiden was staring down Sebastian who had been inching a glass off the counter up until she shouted in alarm and jumped off the couch. From there they stared at one another until the phone went off, which scared the kitten and sent him careening off the counter and into the second bedroom. The glass, thankfully, was left undisturbed in the feline's hasty exit and Aiden put it in the sink as she answered the phone.

"Hello."

"Hello, milady! How are you on this fine after-work evening?"

Aiden smiled into the receiver. "I just had a stare-down with my cat because he was about to knock a glass off the counter. At work I've been swamped with paperwork and I still can't find a reason for Kimblee's sudden recovery in the North. Among other things."

"Sounds like you've had a rough couple of weeks."

"I've had worse. Now tell me, why are you calling so late at night?"

Roy laughed over the phone, though it sounded a little nervous. "Yeah, I sort of got drunk and bought a whole cartful of flowers. You wouldn't happen to be able to take a few off my hands, would you? You could consider it a belated birthday present."

Aiden paused momentarily. "Birthday?" she asked.

"November eighth was two weeks ago, give or take."

Her birthday had passed? Suddenly Aiden realized she'd been so busy with her paperwork, keeping track of the Elric brothers, staying in touch with Riza and Maes, and Kimblee's newfound freedom, that she'd forgotten her own birthday. Maybe it was time she cashed in some of her vacation days if she was so deep in her work.

"It was, wasn't it," she said. A smile formed on her face as she thought of how he remembered and she didn't. "Yeah, come by anytime with the flowers."

"Sure thing."

"Call up Riza and see if she wants some."

"I will."

Aiden went to hang up but she quickly brought the phone back to her ear. "Oh, and Roy?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you." Then she hung up.

On his end of the line, Roy frowned at the phone. He and Aiden hadn't had any time to talk about anything aside from work and passing along messages over lunch. It was important... although he wished they weren't in a silent war with the homunculi so he could - they could figure out what their next move was. Especially after that night. But there would - hopefully - be time for that conversation later.

At the moment however, he would take up her advice and call Hawkeye. His ex-subordinate sounded as off as Aiden when she picked up and he let himself joke with his friend as he thought up reasons behind her strange voice. He decided to take it up with her the next day.

When Aiden arrived at work and stumbled into her office half asleep she was greeted by a small bouquet of colorful flowers on her desk. A little note card innocently sat next to it. She raised an eyebrow before picking up the card and reading the inscription.

Happy belated birthday?

She quirked a grin and quickly alchemized a vase to put them in. They were set on the windowsill as she started work. Jed was the first to arrive, then came Sheska, and then of course, Jack.

"Ooh, flowers from a secret admirer?" he grinned.

"The word secret infers that I have no idea who sent them," Aiden replied blandly, sipping at the bitter coffee. Apparently it was Louis' turn to brew the coffee for the day.

"So does that mean you know who sent them and you have a boyfriend or secret lover you haven't told us about?" Jack sniffled and pretended to wipe away a stray tear. "They grow up so fast!"

"May I remind you I am not only your commanding officer, I am also seven years your senior, and you have as much luck with women as Jean Havoc does."

Jack pouted at his desk. "There's no need to get personal."

It wasn't until noon rolled around did a private she knew from Internal Affairs came rushing in with orders to investigate the disappearance of General Raven in the North. Specifically the Northern Wall of Briggs. The order came down from the Fuhrer himself that only Aiden would take the trip and speak with Kimblee and the Northern men.

Aiden nodded and clocked out for the day. She bumped into Major Armstrong in the hallway and quickly told him that she'd been summoned North and to let the Colonel know. He promised to send the message along.

The trip to the North was long and it steadily got colder the further the train headed. She eventually needed to dig through her suitcase and grab the thick black coat to warm her up, followed by a set of boots better suited for the winter and gloves. It was well past dark when her train entered the station and she briefly worried about finding a place to stay for the night when a familiar face drew her attention.

"Major Miles," Aiden greeted, "nice to see you again."

"Welcome back to the North, Lieutenant Colonel Wilson," he said.

"I wish it were under better terms."

They left the station and Aiden climbed in the back while Miles took to driving her to the fort. The ride was silent up until she pulled a file from her suitcase and began questioning the man in front of her.

"So tell me Major," Aiden said, flipping through the file she'd been given before leaving Central. "What were the circumstances surrounding General Raven's disappearance?"

"We assume he went missing while looking around the Fort. You and I know well how easy it is to get lost unless they know their way around."

"I remember. You didn't have any men escorting the General in case he got lost?"

"He was adamant he didn't need a detail assigned to him."

"And I suppose having a General set loose in the Fort without the proper necessities was preferable to what exactly?" Miles was quiet so she continued on. "Major, I know the rules and ongoings of Briggs well enough to know that General Armstrong wouldn't let even the Fuhrer go unaccompanied." She paused to consider her words. "Possibly, at least. But my point still stands."

Miles thought quickly and said, "You'll have to take up the security detail with General Armstrong." That would give them time to think of a plausible explanation.

Aiden sighed and flipped the file closed. She folded her arms across her chest and crossed one leg over the other. Neither party said a word for the rest of the trip.

**********

Sorry Kain, really. I didn't want it to play out this way, but it did. I hope you readers can forgive me.

Things are going to get wonky from here. Time is going to speed and slow a lot so bear with me. Hope you enjoyed!