Soldier Keep On Marching On

Let's Get Down To Business

The train was off and the moment she couldn't see Edward, Aiden slumped to the right and lent against a lamppost. She took a deep breath and glanced up at Maes who had a worried expression on his face.

"You okay there Aiden?" he asked.

"Honestly? No. I think I'm sick due to exposure to the sewer and the rain, just like Roy predicted."

"Hmm. Well we'd better get you back to your hotel room."

No sooner had they gotten in the door had Aiden booked it to the bathroom and heaved up her breakfast. Maes grimaced and followed, patting her back in pity. Aiden sighed and sagged into the wall, a migraine began to work it's way to the front of her mind. She raised a hand and brushed away a few strands of hair.

"I hate it when he's right," Aiden mumbled.

"No you don't. You usually laugh and give a sarcastic comment," Maes corrected easily.

"Yeah," Aiden laughed. "I really do, don't I?"

"Sorry to have to leave you like this but I do need to go to work." And he really did sound sorry too.

Aiden nodded and waved her hand in a go motion. "Sure. Just don't forget about little old me, dying on the floor."

"You're being dramatic again."

"And if you don't leave you may catch what I have and bring it home to your girls. You don't want that, do you?"

In a flash Maes was gone from the bathroom and peeking around the doorway. He waved at her, "Bye Aiden!" Then he was out the door.

Aiden stared at the spot where her friend had just been. "Savage," she whispered.

It was funny how fast your friends would leave you behind. She began to laugh only for another wave of nausea to pass over her. Seconds later she was heaving up whatever contents was left in her stomach. Aiden could tell it would be a terribly long day.

Hours passed and Aiden dropped in and out of consciousness while she rested against the tub, which sat right next to the toilet. When she determined that she could move a little, Aiden stood up on wobbly legs and made her way out of the bathroom, past the living room, and into the adjoining kitchen. Her stomach flipped and flopped in protest of her movements, but otherwise stayed silent. Not without a false alarm that had Aiden leaning over the sink.

Aiden grimaced and grabbed the phone off its nearby hook, barely noticing her shaking hands as she dialed a number. The operator asked for a verification code when she told him to connect her to Central Command, and then to Jack Lee, her First Lieutenant.

"Lieutenant Colonel Wilson?" Jack asked, clearly surprised that he was receiving a call. Aiden never called whenever she was away, and if she did it'd only be to remind him to sign his papers at the bottom of the page, not the top. "Aren't you supposed to be in the East?"

Aiden laughed lightly, but she stopped when it jolted her stomach. She grimaced and held a hand to her stomach. "Ouch," she whispered. "Jack, I need to ask a favor of you. I know we all just got back from the North, but I need you to head to Resembool for me. Long story short, Scar attacked the Fullmetal Alchemist, the Flame Alchemist, and the Strong Arm Alchemist all in one day. We were all there and he escaped by blowing up the street and finding his way through the tunnels.

"Fullmetal and I were almost dropped into the sewers and the kids automail was destroyed. He's headed to Resembool with his brother and Armstrong as protection. I'm stuck at East Command because I have stuff here to do and I'm sick."

There was silence on the other end of the line as Jack slowly nodded, thinking the story through. "So I'm guessing the favor you need is me to go to Resembool for extra protection in case Scar comes back, is that right?"