Well, here's the last chapter of this short little tale. I hope you all have enjoyed the story thus far. I have enjoyed writing it so much! Thank you to everyone who has read, followed, favorited, and reviewed this story.

I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist. I only own my twisted serial killers and my plot.

Ed groaned as he tried to open his eyes. The temptation to sink back into the darkness that offered him rest was strong. If he stayed in the darkness, there wouldn't be any pain.

"I think he's waking up! Brother, can you hear me?"

Was that Al? Al wasn't here. He couldn't be. Knowing that Al was okay and out of that creep's clutches were his only sources of comfort.

However, something was off. He was lying on something soft. That couldn't be right. He had been lying a table before. The fact that he had actually groaned was odd as well. Before, he couldn't make a sound. He wasn't able to move at all. What happened?

He heard the sound of a door opening.

"Colonel, Haken's arrived at the prison. As you requested, Nathaniel Roe won't be made aware of his arrest yet."

Colonel? He was here too? That was a woman's voice, so that had to be Lieutenant Hawkeye. What were they all doing here?

"Thank you, Lieutenant," he heard Mustang respond.

Then he remembered.

"Everything's going to be okay, Ed. I've got you. You're safe."

It took Herculean effort, but he opened his eyes. Instead of seeing that creep looming over him, he was greeted with Al and the Colonel hovering over him instead. Lieutenant Hawkeye stood just behind Mustang. The room was a bright white color, so he deduced he was in East City's hospital.

"Brother, you're awake!" Al exclaimed.

"How are you feeling?" Mustang asked.

Ed glanced from the overjoyed suit of armor to the Colonel. The man actually looked concerned, but relieved.

He became aware of the dull ache in his stomach and back of his mouth. The bottom of his flesh foot still hurt slightly. He must have been given some sort of medication to reduce the pain. It did, but it unfortunately didn't take it all away. However, he didn't want to let anyone know he was in pain...or shaken up for that matter.

"I'm all right," he answered, his voice a bit raspy.

He tried to sit up. The pain must have been evident on his face because the corners of Mustang's mouth quirked into a frown. The Colonel and Al helped Ed sit up and lean back against the pillows. Mustang and Hawkeye moved to sit in the chairs next to Ed's bed,

"It's good to see you're okay, Edward," Hawkeye spoke up, "I know you probably have some questions."

Ed swallowed and nodded.

"Who was he?"

Mustang and Hawkeye glanced at each other.

"His name was Joseph Haken," the Colonel began, "He was the apprentice of the Dollmaker. Have either one of you boys heard of him?"

Both Elrics shook their heads. Mustang hadn't expected them to. They were so young when Nathaniel Roe went on his murder spree. He really didn't want to tell either one of the boys much about him. Hell, he wanted to forget the man even existed himself. However, he knew Ed would want to know what happened to him and why.

"Five years ago, he abducted fourteen teenagers, tortured them, and murdered them. He turned each of them into what he considers to be dolls. I helped track him down and arrest him. His execution is coming up in a few weeks, so his apprentice decided now would be a good time to make one last doll for his master to see."

Mustang could see the understanding formulating in Ed's eyes.

"That explains why he kept referring to me as a doll," the teen muttered. "So the apprentice or whatever went after me because you were the one that arrested the Dollmaker?"

Mustang nodded. His subordinate was a smart kid. It didn't take him long at all to figure that out. Ed looked a little relieved, but still uncomfortable.

"Why couldn't I move?"

"Roe sedated his victims with a neural inhibitor and muscle relaxant so they couldn't move," Hawkeye answered.

"Oh."

Ed glanced at his brother, then quickly looked away and bit his lip. Mustang's brow furrowed. Something was definitely bothering him, but he could tell the older Elric didn't want to ask or say anything in front of Al. The Colonel looked to his First Lieutenant. She seemed to have noticed the same thing. She nodded to him, following an unspoken request.

"Alphonse, why don't you come with me and we'll find Ed something to eat?" she suggested.

Al looked between her and his brother, unsure of what to do. He settled for going with Hawkeye, following her out of the room. Ed let out a shaky breath the second his brother was out the door. He refused to meet Mustang's gaze, staring down at his lap.

"You got him, right?"

The Colonel moved closer to the young alchemist. Ed finally looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Yes, Ed. We got him. Joseph Haken is in prison and will remain there for a very long time. He won't be able to touch you again."

Ed took another shaky breath and nodded. Mustang barely got a glimpse of his bottom lip trembling before the teen buried his face in his hands.

"I was so scared," Ed said, although it was slightly muffled by his hands, "I couldn't move. I couldn't fight him. I didn't know what he was going to do to me. I was so scared that I was going to die."

A few tears leaked past Ed's hands.

Someone might as well have stabbed the Colonel through the heart with a butcher knife. He didn't blame the kid at all for breaking down. He couldn't imagine how terrified he must have been. Haken made him feel defenseless and scared, and Mustang would never forget that. Ed shouldn't have had to suffer through that.

Hesitantly, he moved to sit on the bed next to his subordinate. He pulled Ed into a hug. He felt extremely awkward, but he didn't know what else to do to comfort the kid. The young alchemist stiffened at the sudden contact, but made no move to push him away.

"I'm so sorry this happened, Ed. I can assure you, Joseph Haken will pay for what he did to you."

That was one hundred percent the truth. The Colonel was going to do everything he could to make sure that man received the maximum punishment for torturing his subordinate.

Ed finally relaxed in the embrace. He hastily wiped the tears from his face, but more just kept coming.

"Sorry," he apologized with a shaky laugh, "I'll stop crying soon. I promise."

"You don't have to," Mustang whispered in his ear, "You're shaken up. That's completely understandable. Even the strongest of people are allowed to cry, Edward, especially after going through something like you just did. You're not weak. Al won't think so if he sees you cry. Hawkeye won't. No one on the team will. I sure as hell don't. I think you're one of the strongest people I've ever met."

Ed buried his face in Mustang's chest, unable to hold back his sobs. Those words meant more to him than the Colonel would ever understand.

Mustang let the young alchemist cry into his chest. He meant every word that he said, and he was glad Ed seemed to understand that. He rested his head on top of Ed's and his hold around the kid tightened.

"I can't believe I almost lost you."

He almost didn't realize he had said those words out loud, but it was true. He would have never been able to forgive himself if he hadn't found Ed in time. However, he didn't have to worry about that anymore.

Ed was in his arms and safe. In this moment, that's all that mattered to him. He wasn't sure how long the kid stayed in his embrace, but he would remain there for an eternity if that's what Ed needed.

Ed pulled away slightly, but not completely out of the hug. The tears had finally slowed down.

"Thanks for saving me, Colonel."

Mustang smiled down on the teen.

"Anytime."

Ed's eyes started to droop shut. The Colonel wasn't surprised. It had been a very long day for the boy. He gently let Ed out of the hug and lowered him back down against the pillow.

"Will you stay here with Al and I? Just for tonight?" Ed asked before he yawned.

"Of course."

In truth, he had been planning on doing so anyway. However, it felt nice to know that his youngest subordinate wanted him there.

His eyes darkened when his thoughts flickered to Roe. He didn't want to face the man again, but he knew he would have to. At least he would be able to face him knowing that his plan to have his subordinate murdered had failed.

He allowed a smirk to take over his face. There was no way he was going to let Roe get away with involving Ed like he did. He was going to make sure that man got what he deserved.

*the next day*

Nathaniel Roe eagerly awaited the arrival of Colonel Mustang. He genuinely smiled when the Colonel walked into the interrogation room. The man's face held a mixture of anger, confusion, and brokenness.

"Did you get my apprentice's little gift?"

Mustang said nothing as he sat down. A few moments of silence filled the room before the Colonel finally spoke up.

"Why was his appendix removed?"

Roe chuckled. He was more than happy to answer that for him.

"Eyes can be so beautiful, especially when filled with pain. Having one's appendix removed can be an excruciating procedure, but it won't necessarily kill you. Doing so allowed me to fill my doll's eyes with plenty of pain, but kept them alive until I was finished with them."

"Why were all of his teeth extracted?" Mustang asked next, his breath hitching at the end.

"Teeth aren't always perfect. Some are broken. Some are rotten. It was easier for me if I just got rid of them all."

Mustang buried his face in his hands, his body shaking. Roe couldn't believe the Colonel was sobbing in front of him.

"Why Edward?"

Roe almost didn't hear the question, but he was glad he did. The smile on his face turned almost demonic.

"I told you before, Colonel, you didn't let me finish my collection. When I heard that the Fullmetal Alchemist was under your command, I couldn't help myself." He paused and cocked his head to the side. "I've heard you care deeply for all of your men, but I've also heard about the legendary Flame and Fullmetal spats. I wasn't sure if you would take his death quite so hard, but I'm glad you are."

Mustang said nothing.

"How does it feel to know my apprentice is still out there? How does it feel to know there will be more victims, Colonel? This isn't ending at your subordinate. I hope-"

Roe abruptly stopped when the Colonel burst out laughing. Mustang removed his hands from his face, revealing that he had never been crying. He got up out of his chair and opened the door to the interrogation room. He was motioning to someone.

Roe froze as he saw Mustang's First Lieutenant bring Joseph in.

"It might interest you to know that we found Fullmetal last night," the Colonel began, "He's in the hospital right now. He has to remain there for a week due to his injuries, but he's okay other than that."

"I'm so sorry, Nathaniel," Joseph said as he bowed his head, ashamed to have failed his master.

Roe's disbelieving gaze shifted between Joseph and Mustang.

"Wait...but you…."

He couldn't even formulate a question. Mustang smirked and sat back down as Hawkeye led Joseph back out of the room. The man's face was absolutely priceless. It was obvious that he hadn't expected his plan to fail.

"I'm sorry if I deceived you earlier," Mustang said, not sounding apologetic in the slightest, "But I do have to thank you for finally answering some of our questions. We've already gotten quite a bit of information out of your apprentice. Those were the few questions that we didn't have answers to."

Roe looked down, unable to look the Colonel in the face any longer. Despite the lack of eye contact, Mustang continued.

"I've been thinking about why you warned me. I don't doubt that you wanted revenge, but I think you wanted me to know for sure that you were involved with my subordinate's abduction and murder. Well, I guess that's now attempted murder. I think you finally realized how close you are to death. Your execution is scheduled in a few weeks. I think you're scared."

Roe tensed. He finally looked Mustang in the eyes again. The cold glare in them was all he needed to see to confirm his suspicions.

"I think you told your apprentice to make another doll so you could go through another trial. I mean, why wouldn't you? You're the one who convinced him to do it. That would have delayed your execution. It honestly wasn't a bad plan, but I'm afraid it didn't work."

Roe's eyebrows shot up.

"What do you mean?" he asked. "There will still be a trial for the abduction and attempted murder of your subordinate."

The Colonel nodded and gave a noncommittal shrug.

"There will be for Joseph Haken. When he saw in the paper that you were about to be executed, he decided he would try to follow in your footsteps. He was your apprentice, after all. As far as I'm concerned, he worked alone and you didn't have any knowledge of his plans."

Rage flashed across Roe's face.

"You can't do that! I'm the one who told you that your subordinate was missing!" the killer roared.

Mustang leaned over the table, making sure he was mere inches away from the killer.

"It's your word against mine. Normally I wouldn't do such a thing, but you made one major mistake. You sent your apprentice after Edward Elric. That doesn't settle well with me at all."

He got up and headed toward the door. He grabbed the doorknob, but turned back one last time before turning it.

"It might also interest you to know I've been offered a position on the firing squad that's going to execute you. Initially, I was going to decline, but I think I'll take the offer after this little stunt you pulled."

The look of fear and despair that consumed Roe's face was so satisfying to see. With a smirk, he left the interrogation room.

*one week later*

"What the hell do you mean I have to stay here and help with paperwork?" Ed nearly yelled.

"Brother, please just do as he says."

Mustang rubbed his temples as Al tried to calm his enraged brother. From the sounds of it, Al was trying to reason with him, but Ed refused to hear him out.

"Fullmetal," he spoke up over the two bickering brothers, "You were just released from the hospital. There is no way I'm giving you a mission already. You need to rest and stay out of trouble. Even you can't find trouble in my office."

Ed's eyebrows rose.

"Is that a challenge?" he asked, mischief obvious in his tone.

Mustang's eyebrows rose as well, mimicking the teen's exactly.

"One that you're sure as hell not going to accept."

Ed took a deep breath. Even though it came across as bantering, he knew deep down that the Colonel was just worried. After almost falling victim to a serial killer, he didn't exactly blame his superior. He turned to head toward the outer office.

"Fine," he muttered.

Once outside Mustang's office, he moved to shut the door.

"Keep it open."

Ed gave the Colonel a confused look, but did as he said. Mustang smiled to himself as he saw Ed take some papers from Hawkeye and sit down.

At least with the door open, he could keep an eye on Ed and make one hundred percent sure he was safe. Even if it was only for a few days.

There it is! I really hope you guys liked the more light-hearted ending. I had so much fun writing this story, and I hope you all enjoyed reading it!

School is getting crazy, so I probably will not start any more multi-chapter fics for a few weeks. If I have time, I hope to post a oneshot or two. We'll see. As always, I am open to suggestions! Feel free to message me with some and I will write them when I have time. Anyways, I will see you all next story!

Until then,

alightintheshadows