Stand by You

XXV

"He's not home yet?" Colonel Mustang spoke on the phone. "I see. Yes, I'll meet him directly at Central Command. Yes, goodbye."

He hung up and turned to Lieutenant Hawkeye, his subordinate. "Let's go," he ordered.

"Yes, sir," she nodded as well.

He opened the door, revealing Dr. Knox who was watching and tending to Lan Fan in the other room. "What are you doing?" Dr. Knox asked Colonel.

Colonel smirked, "I'm figuring who is friend and who is foe."

"Jeez, what is it with all of you?" Dr. Knox sighed. "Your wounds aren't even healed yet, and you're looking to get into trouble again?"

"The Führer could be a Homunculus," Colonel reminded him of his goals. "I can't just take it easy. Besides...we just left the children back on the battlefield. If I don't act now, I'll be setting a bad example as an adult."

He left Dr. Knox standing at the doorway and got into the car with Lieutenant Hawkeye, driving both of them to Central Command. Colonel noticed that Lieutenant Hawkeye was smirking. "What's so funny?" He asked.

"Nothing," she replied. "I was just thinking, if Edward found out that you treated him like a child, he probably get angry."

"Just repeating what you said."

"I have to admit, this is unexpected, Colonel. You taking such bold action as this..."

"Like hell, it's bold. I'm just paving the way. Besides...belated though it may be, I'm thinking of heeding his warning."

Pulling up into and parking at Central Command, Lieutenant Hawkeye and Colonel Mustang got out of the car. "So are these the gates of glory or the entrance to Hell?" He asked, standing outside the building. "Lieutenant, you wait here. If anything happens to me, then at least you'll get out of here."

"No sir," she replied, causing Colonel to stop in his tracks.

"That's an order," he repeated, firmly.

"I cannot obey it," she stated.

"You sure are stubborn," he muttered.

"As you are well aware, sir," she smiled softly.

Colonel sighed, "All right. Wait here. I promise, I'm coming back."

"Yes, sir," she saluted. "Happy hunting!"

*~*~*~*~*~

"So, are you Colonel Roy Mustang?" A soldier named Raven, who was speaking to ColonelMustang. "I got a call from my wife a while ago."

"Lieutenant General Raven sir," Colonel puffed his chest out of false respect. "I've been so busy since I transferred here, so I apologize for not coming to pay my respects earlier and only doing so now, so late at night."

"No problem," Raven chuckled. "By the way, how is that old fox Grumman doing?"

"The same as always, sir," Colonel smiled, remembering all the losses he suffered during their many games of chess. "He said you were extremely sentimental and tended to your soldiers while throwing your own life in the line."

"What an affront!" Raven cried. "I was chosen to transfer to Central because of the compassion I had for my men?! That border-dwelling old coot has no business saying anything!" Remembering Colonel Mustang was in the room with him, Raven cooled off. "Pardon me," he apologized.

"Not at all," Colonel replied. "I'm fact, General Grumman said that if the General became irritated at that story, that were still jigs a man, and would be there if I needed you."