When Ed woke, he wasn't sure he'd opened his eyes for a few seconds. The white ceiling temporarily dazzled his eyes and brought back the dull headache that persisted as he'd drifted in and out the past few...hours? Days? After a moment he found he could move his arms and rubbed his eyes. He heard people's loud footsteps in a nearby hallway, the rustling of sheets, the soft murmur of voices.

He pushed the hair off of his forehead. His spine ached but he managed to pull himself into a sitting position. Reflexively, he felt his scarred shoulder and let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding as he felt a flesh and blood arm. If this was another hallucination or dream, it would've been metal again. He wasn't in his own bed, instead he was on a cot between sheets that felt too crisp.

Ed looked around; there were four other beds in the room, but only his was occupied. The room looked vaguely familiar to him, and he realized he was in the antechamber of Resembool's town hall.

How…

"He's awake!" Winry appeared in the doorway, beaming, and nearly knocked Ed over with a hug. Teacher came in behind her, smiling gently.

"About time," she said as Winry fussed over Ed and felt his forehead.

"What…" he coughed. His throat felt ragged.

"You've been asleep for three days!" Winry thrust a glass of water into his hands, "Here, drink this."

"Why am I here?" he asked thickly.

"Uh...because you were sick?"

"Yeah, I know I was sick! But I mean - the house -"

"Mustang," Winry grinned, "He came with supplies and doctors and stuff. People who were especially sick were brought here. Closest thing we could convert to a hospital. Wait here, they'll want to know you're awake!" she dashed back out the door. Izumi came to sit on the end of Ed's bed.

"She looks tired. Like she does when she does an automail rush order," Ed said, rubbing his eyes.

"I don't think she slept since they brought you here," Teacher said quietly, "They were afraid the fever was going to set behind your eyes and cause you to go blind. She went between you and Granny and just about everyone else here, helping the doctors."

Ed was silent for a few moments.

"How is Granny?" he finally asked.

"She's woken up but they think it'll be a week before she's completely better," Teacher looked at him sideways, "How are you feeling?"

"Every inch of my body aches, now that you mention it," he stretched and winced, "And my head feels like it's going to explode. But otherwise, fantastic." Teacher chuckled, then placed a hand on Ed's shoulder,

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. You had us worried," she hesitated, "You had me worried." She pulled him into a hug, leaving Ed a little shocked at this unorthodox display of affection from his usually tough as nails teacher.

"Uh...thank you, Teacher."

"Fullmetal! Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence." Mustang strode into the room followed by Riza and Winry. He crossed his arms over his uniform, which Ed noticed had several more bars and badges since the last time he'd seen him.

"Oh great, Colonel Jackass," but he couldn't help the grin that spread across his face as he grasped Mustang's arm in greeting. Riza ruffled his hair and he made a good show of being annoyed, but was secretly pleased.

"I trust you're feeling better?" Mustang said.

"I think if I hear that question too many more times I'll kick whoever asks it."

"Sounds like he's back to normal," Winry smirked.

"But what about everyone else?" Ed asked, looking around, "Is everyone else getting better? What about the water main, was it contaminated? Has it been fixed yet?" He started to get up but Winry shoved him back down.

"Everyone is fine. You and Granny were among the last to get past the fever. It ran its course, and as for the water main…" Winry glanced to the door, "it's been taken care of."

Al entered, his steps slow and a little jerky but unaided by his crutch. He smiled sheepishly, "Hello, brother."

"Al! You...you fixed the water?"

"What, did you think I couldn't do it?" He drew up himself up indignantly.

"No - but I mean, that must've been really complicated and the amount of water combined with the- that must've - wow." He stared at his brother.

"It wasn't too hard," Al scratched the back of head, glancing out the window, glowing from the praise.

Mustang quickly turned discussion in another direction, filling Ed in on details he'd missed in the last few days until Riza rolled her eyes and reminded him that Edward didn't need a briefing on the subject since he wasn't the one who had to make the report and hurried him away to finish the paperwork he'd been putting off. Izumi went to go find Sig soon afterward.

"I should probably go see if the doctors need help," Winry got up but Ed caught her hand.

"Winry," he cleared his throat and felt his cheeks flush a little, "You...you are your parent's daughter in every way." She tilted her head, both curious and a little astonished. "I just mean -" he was very red now, "You're the kindest person and I know and - and yeah." He quickly let go of her hand and turned to look out the window. Al's mouth twitched as he tried to look anywhere but at the two of them.

Winry squinted at him, concerned, "Did that fever damage your brain after all?" She shook her head but then said, "Thank you, Ed. We'll go home soon." As soon as she was out of earshot, Al said,

"Real smooth."

"Don't laugh at me!" Ed said hotly.

"I wouldn't dream of it, brother," Al sniggered.

"I was just giving her a simple compliment!"

"Oh is that what that was? 'And yeah?' Maybe work on your delivery for next time."

Ed seethed silently as Al laughed.

"I see you didn't bring your crutch," Ed observed, mostly to change the subject.

"I don't need it as much now," Alphonse looked down at his legs.

"Did you really transmute the entire reservoir?" he asked seriously. Al nodded and fidgeted with his shirt sleeve. "Al...that's incredible. How?"

"You're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad? You practically saved the town!"

"No I didn't. I just thought that since...you know, you can't do alchemy anymore. I thought maybe…" He trailed off and looked down. Ed leaned forward and put a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Alphonse. I'm living with the consequences of my pride. When I had alchemy, I thought I was above being human; I was more than that. I relied on it for everything, I thought it held all the answers, I thought...and without it, I've been reminded that I was never anything more than human. It's enough to be human and if it isn't, I have to learn to make it enough. I'm not jealous, Al."

"You say that like you're trying to convince yourself," Al said quietly.

Ed ran a hand through his very messy hair, "Well, I'll work on it. I do mean it."

"Alright, brother."

"How'd you figure it out?" Ed asked, leaning forward slightly. Al recognized the excitement his eyes as one he saw every time his brother heard or saw something he didn't understand. But instead of explaining all the calculations and theories he'd puzzled out, Al simply said,

"People needed help. You needed help. I figured it was my turn to do the rescuing. And I'm glad you're ok." He wrapped his brother in a hug, and in his fever-weakened state, Ed could do nothing to stop him. Finally, Al let go.

"Can we go home now?"

"Let's." Al helped him stand and offered him a hand. Ed realized it was the same one he'd injured, but the bandages were gone and the shallow cuts were looking much better. He leaned on Al, feeling rather lightheaded.

"How much begging will it take Winry to make me an apple pie?" Ed asked as they moved out of the antechamber, through the main room, around the few occupied beds that were left.

"Probably not much if you pull the 'I almost died' card. Though I dunno, you seem to use that one a lot. Might not work anymore."

They made it to the door. Riza and Mustang were arguing outside, Sig and Izumi were walking arm in arm down the road. Winry looked up from where she was organizing medical supplies on the front steps and waved.

"Hey Al."

"What?"

"I think we're going to be ok." Riza shoved a stack of papers into Mustang's arms, who sighed dramatically, Sig leaned over and kissed his wife, Winry laughed at the sight of Den bounding down the road, splashing in the few puddles still left from the storm.

"You know something, Ed? I think I actually believe you."