When Ed awoke, it was like oxygen to burning embers.

A fiery ache deep-set in his chest, each breath only further igniting the whispy tendrils of flame licking through his lungs. It was a bitter agony with no avail, as if the very air he breathed was acrid gas, destroying him from the inside out. Even if the idea was far-fetched, the pain certainly made it seem all the more plausible.

His head laid against a beating heart and a chest that rose and fell to a steady beat, taunting him with it's easy breaths when his own rattled and shook with every inhale.

He distantly remembered flashes of black hair and worried calls from a voice that trembled with deep familiarity and worry, and felt a twinge of embarrassment upon realizing he had fallen asleep next to his commanding officer, though he quickly shrugged it off. He was much too tired to care anyway, and the warmth of another wasn't entirely unwelcome when blankets weren't quite enough; even if it was Mustang.

The room was filled with the usual turbulence of a hospital, with quiet sputterings of nearby monitors and the murmurings of medical personnel just barely out of earshot, and now that he was awake, he wondered how it had been possible for him to have slept at all. The sounds clashed against each other in a melody similar to pots and pans beating together, and were equally grating against his nerves.

He shifted against the body he laid against, letting out a low croak that voiced his pain and general displeasure towards his current situation.

"Ed, you awake?" Called a familiar voice through his sleep clouded mind.

It was arduous work, but after a few tries he managed to pry his eyes open, wincing slightly at the sunlight pouring in through the window. He blinked upwards, revealing a disheveled Mustang looking down at him with a warm smile, his eyes squinted slightly with drowsiness. "Morning, kid. How are you feeling?"

Ed unraveled his arms from under his blankets, gingerly stretching over his head until a sharp pain stabbed through his chest. He quickly dropped his arms back down and wrapped them around his chest, sucking in a pained breath that turned into rumbling coughs that felt as if his lungs were filled with pins and needles that stabbed him with movement.

Mustang's eyes widened before he placed one hand against Ed's chest, the other against his back and began rubbing soothing circles into the tired muscles between his shoulder blades.

The agonizing hacks kept coming, like shards of broken glass tearing up the tender flesh inside his chest and fogging up the plastic of the oxygen mask he hadn't even realized he was wearing, and when he was finally sure that his head would explode under the pressure, it all stopped, leaving him wheezing and trembling slightly in Mustang's hold.

"Are you okay? Should I call a nurse?" He asked anxiously, looking down at him with wide and worried eyes.

He let out a small sigh- which to his dismay came out as more of a whimper as he gave a gentle shake of his head, letting his eyes fall closed.

Despite his denial of needing it, he felt the man turn slightly underneath him before quietly saying, "Get a nurse." To who he could only assume to be Hawkeye, who he hadn't even realized was still present.

Soft foot steps retreated into the hallway, before returning a minute later with another pair of shoes clicking against the tiles.

He opened his eyes to reveal Hawkeye greeting him with a gentle smile, alongside that nice nurse Andrew with the glasses who was giving him a similar look.

"Hey, kiddo. You gave everyone quite a scare last night, are you feeling any better?"

Had he? Oh, right- he had nearly suffocated the night before, alone in a hospital room where there would be no one to witness his death other than the birds that often perched on his windowsill.

He teetered his head indecisively in response to the man's question.

"Hm, not so good?" He crooned, rubbing the end of his stethoscope between his hands to warm the metal before tucking it under the blankets and laying it against his chest, listening with a furrowed brow for a moment before moving it against his back. "Can you take a deep breath for me?"

Ed complied, breathing in as deeply as he dared before letting it out with a few sharp coughs that nearly took the life out of him.

Andrew frowned, throwing the stethoscope over his shoulders while Mustang ran his hand in comforting circles over Ed's heaving chest.

"Bet that's uncomfortable, huh?"

Ed just let out a shuddering breath in response, looking at the man with eyes that said, 'you think?'

He must have gotten the message, as he chuckled light-heartedly, giving Ed a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

"Can you lift your arm up a bit for me? I want to get a look at your side."

Though it took him nearly all of his energy, he managed to raise his arm up a bit from his side, though it trembled with the effort. Then, there was a strong hand wrapping itself around his wrist, taking some of the strain out of holding his arm up. He jolted a bit at the touch, turning his head up to see Mustang looking down at him with a reassuring smile. He smiled back.

Andrew tugged down the edge of his blanket, showing the stitches in his side which appeared much better than they had the day before.

"I know it doesn't feel like it, but you are getting better." He said, gently prodding the surrounding skin. "That cough's pretty nasty, and it'll probably hang around for a while, but you should be able to go home soon if there aren't any further complications."

Ed visibly brightened at the mention of being able to go home.

"Really?" He asked, hope evident in his voice.

Andrew smiled, giving Ed a warm smile that held a hint of amusement.

"Sure, I'd say one more night should do it." He pulled the blankets back over Ed's side. "Then we'll send you home with some medicine and a few rules so you don't end up back here again."

Mustang eased Ed's arm back down to his side again, which he quickly pulled back under his blankets. Although his skin still bore the sallow colour of candle wax, he looked much less miserable then he had a few minutes prior.

"Finally." He sighed, closing his eyes with a relieved smile and dropping his head back to lay on Roy's chest. Roy smiled down at him and carded his hand through his hair. Ed initially tensed up at the touch, but quickly relaxed into it, letting out a contented sigh as he snuggled up under the blanket and closer to Roy.

Andrew smiled down at the two, scribbling a few things down on a clipboard before making to leave. He only stopped when Roy held up his free hand, silently asking him to wait.

'Thank you.' He mouthed, staying as quiet as possible to avoid disturbing Edward, who appeared to be seconds away from falling back to sleep.

Andrew nodded with a smile in response before quietly ducking out of the room, shutting the door behind him as gently as possible.

Just as Roy had expected, it was only a few minutes before Ed was snoring against his chest, and he couldn't help the fond smile that made it's way onto his face.

The rest of the day went pretty routinely, with Ed sleeping the majority of the time, even through meals. Although it was slightly unsettling to see the usually rambunctious and energetic boy so subdued, he was glad he was finally getting some much-needed rest.

Havoc and Hughes had visited in the early afternoon as well, having discovered a few more things about Stratton, though they proved to be pretty much insignificant. Ed hadn't even been aware of there presence, having slept through their entire two hour visit. He hadn't stirred once, even when Maes had snapped countless photos of the boy curled about against Roy's side, all while squealing with poorly repressed glee.

The nurses made their rounds, periodically checking up on Ed and his vital signs, temperature, and the works. He occasionally woke with all of the commotion, only having enough energy to grumble unintelligible words of displeasure before falling back into unconsciousness.

Roy ate, read, signed paperwork and even played a game of chess with Riza, never daring to leave Edward's side.

He of course knew logically that he'd have to move eventually, to shower or use the bathroom, to give Ed some space if he needed it, yet he found himself unable to move.

He never wanted to let Edward out of his sight ever again, no, not ever.

Not when he was left choking into an oxygen mask.

Not when his throat was covered in bandaids in the few areas where his nails had broken skin.

Not when every waking moment left him struggling to breathe.

Not when Roy had nearly lost him, all because of some stupid paperwork.

No, Roy didn't really feel like leaving Edward's side. Not yet.