Disclaimer: I don't own FMA… only Arturo.

Thicker than Rain

Chapter 1: Prologue

"The most important thing for us, is to save lives."

~ Rick Perry

~O~O~O~O~O~

((Flashback))

Tears filled his eyes as he carried the boy. The child's young face was contorted as fever consumed his tiny body. He writhed in agony, blindly reaching for his older guardian.

"Please help him!" the older boy yelled, looking around fervently, "PLEASE! He's really sick!"

He looked around, wide-eyed, as he ran down the street. The lights that surrounded them were dim as it rained, soaking both of them; chilling them both inside and out.

With a sharp turn of his head, he flung soaked hair out of his determined eyes as his sprint brought him to a local tavern…. It was the only window that was lit, and he didn't know where else to go.

Unable to let go of the younger boy, the pre-teen kicked at the door.

"HEY! OPEN UP!"

A husky woman with ornate jewelry opened the door, looking irritated at first, but then confused.

"What's this?" she asked.

Two young boys were the last thing she had been expecting when she opened the door.

"Please!" the pre-teen pleaded again, "He's really sick. He needs help. Don't worry about me… Just help him!"

Weakly, the older boy, consumed by his own sickness, slumped against the railing of the stoop, "Please…"

The woman took the younger child from the elder's arms and cradled him delicately. Her eyes widened; the boy was very hot to the touch.

With her free hand, she nudged the older boy into the tavern.

"Come on, honey… we need to take care of this fever…"

As soon as he got inside, the older boy's eyes spotted the fireplace and he instantly went to huddle beside it.

He shivered terribly, rubbing his arms and rocking back and forth.

The woman brought the younger of the two boys into a back room, taking care to lower the boy's rapidly increasing body temperature.

The preteen spotted this and reluctantly got up from his spot by the fireplace. He staggered into the back room, leaning on the doorframe.

"Wh-where is he?" the elder questioned, "What are you doing?"

The woman was dabbing the boy's forehead, arms and legs with alcohol; the pungent fumes permeating through the room.

"It's for the fever, boy." She said, her voice firm, "Now go sit back down by the fireplace before you hurt yourself, or break one of my barstools."

The pre-teen weakly shook his head, not wanting to leave the child's side.

The woman just sighed, shaking her head.

"Fine… do what you want." she said, "But he'll be fine, he's just tired."

The elder nodded, looking exhausted. His grip on the door frame slid down steadily as the boy's eyelids fought to stay open... his head bobbing up and down.

She picked up the younger boy and laid him down on a nearby couch, pulling a blanket over his small frame and sticking a pillow under his head.

The husky woman than made her way over to the other boy and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Listen boy, your brother is fine…" she said "Just get some sleep; you're trying to be strong, but you're going to get yourself into trouble. Stop being stupid and get some sleep."

The elder's head bobbed again, his exhaustion catching up with him.

"Thank you, ma'am…" he said weakly.

She smirked, "Call me Madame," she said, "Madame Christmas…"

The boy nodded, and then staggered over to the couch where the younger boy lay and collapsed at the foot of it, his arm slumped over the seat.

That's where he fell asleep.

She decided not to move him, but rather went outside to light a cigarette. She couldn't help but wonder what had happened to them, but it wasn't important…

All that mattered was that they needed her help and she'd take care of them as best as she could… after all, she had always been a woman looking out for any new adventures.