A/N: I am SOOOO sorry for not updating sooner. I should be like three chapters past this by now, I'm sorry. School started a couple days ago and I can tell I'll be having a lot of homework each night so that'll cause a problem on how long I work on my stories ((oh, btw, I put what's going on in my life that might be postponing the updating in my profile)). I got the entire FMA series on DVD from ebay so now I know exactly what's going on. Thanks everyone so much for giving me info on Pride those months ago. x.x;;;

Sorry for not putting review responses this time. I got so many over the time from my last update it'd probably take up half the chapter. -sweatdrops-

DISCLAIMER: I do not own FMA.

Chapter seventeen / A True Friend

'This is so strange. We were keeping Ed home because it was his birthday … but now it's something much larger. The Fuhrer wants him dead. But … why?'

"Roy …? Are you okay? You've been staring off into space for the past ten minutes and blinked only about five times," came Ed's voice, soaked with concern.

Shaking out of his thoughts, Roy looked over at the blonde. "Yeah … I'm okay. I was just thinking," he murmured.

Sighing with relief, Ed nodded. "You scared me."

Roy quirked a brow, then chuckled. "Sorry."

-In Xenotime-

Russell was trying his best to keep himself busy; he didn't need to think about Fletcher again. He did anything to keep his mind preoccupied … unfortunately it never worked.

"I can't take this!" Russell practically screamed as he slammed down this pen. Sitting there doing research was making him go insane. "I can't do this anymore," he muttered. "Three days … it's been three days since I found out; and already I'm losing it. I'm even talking to myself. Damn it!"

-In Central-

"Where are you going, Sir?"

Maes rushed around his desk to grab his coat. "I'm going to Xenotime. I found a lead so I'm going to check it out."

"Shouldn't you tell Colonel Mustang about it first, Sir?" Sciezka squeaked.

"He doesn't need anything else to worry about. There's enough on his mind as it is."

The brunette nodded. Right as he was about to walk out the door, "Uh, Sir?"

"Yeah, Sciezka?" Hughes asked, turning around.

"Um, do you want me to work on any more case files while you're gone?" she inquired, praying for a 'no.'

"Huh? Oh … um …" Maes went into a thinking stance with his hand under his chin. "I don't think so. You can go ahead and go home when you finish the ones on your desk!" he answered with his usual grin.

Sighing with relief she smiled at the Brigadier General. "Have a safe trip, Sir!"

With a nod and grin, Maes was gone.

Sciezka turned back to her desk then froze. There was a mountain stack of files on the edge of her desk. Groaning, she sat down and began working.

This would take longer than last time.

-Next Morning in Xenotime-

'Well, if that wasn't the night from Hell, I don't know what is.'

Getting off the train, Maes rubbed the back of his neck.

'Weren't over-night trains supposed to be comfortable? Geez …'

Grabbing his luggage, the brunette headed to the closest hotel. It only took him a few minutes; it was seven blocks from the station.

After retrieving the key, Maes went down the hall and up the stairs. On the second floor, he went to room 213.

"Okay … now time for me to check up on a certain person. I hope no one at HQ finds out my 'lead' was empty," the Brigadier General mused to himself.

After locking the door, he slipped the key into his pocket as he made his way down the hallway to the stair well. Going down to the bottom floor, he nodded to the man at the desk as he walked out the front door. Constantly rubbing the back of his neck, Maes strode down the street; turning corners here and there when needed. Glancing at a paper in his hand, he looked up to find the matching address.

"Ah, here we go!"

Knocking on the door, Maes backed up a step and waited.

Nothing.

He knocked again; this time harder and waited again.

Nothing.

Frowning, the dark-haired man knocked once more. "Hello? Russell? It's Maes Hughes!"

After a moment, he could hear someone shuffling toward the door. The clicking of unlocking the door came next; then the entrance creaked open a few inches. Messy blonde hair and a grey eye greeted him.

"Oh … hey, Hughes. What brings you to Xenotime?" Russell's voice came raspy.

Blinking, the older man took a second before responding. "… I wanted to see if you were alright. The news about your brother must have been a shock. I'm sorry, Russell," the last part came as a whisper.

Nodding slightly, the Tringham moved aside so the Brigadier General could enter. "Sorry for the mess, I haven't been cleaning up in the last few days since I got back."

"That's perfecting understandable," Maes commented. "After losing someone, a lot of people lose interest in almost everything for a while."

Staring down at the floor, the blonde only muttered a quiet, "Hai …"

What came next was a definitely a shock to the young man. Hughes walked over and pulled Russell into a gentle yet tight and secure hug. At first, the blonde stiffened; but then relaxed under the touch. Returning the embrace, he buried his face in the nape of the older man's neck. In the complete silence of the house, a muffled sob echoed.

"It's okay, Russell. Just let it out," the man murmured while softly petting his hair.

"I-I miss him … so m-much."

"I know … I know."

"I … I don't know what I'll do without him. H-he was all that was important to me … without him, I don't have anything that keeps me here."

"You're going to be alright. I promise you that. You're strong, you'll make it through this. It won't be easy, but you'll have people here to help you through it … I'll be here to help you."

Pulling away slightly, Russell stared into hazel eyes ((A/N: I think Maes' eyes are hazel)). Blinking away tears the best his could, a small smile slowly graced his lips. "Thank you, Maes. You really are a true friend."

Said Maes grinned his all-too famous grin. "Yep! That's what I do!" Suddenly his face became serious. "I have no clue what it's like to go through what you are right now, but I will try my best. I can't stand to see people suffer."

Less then a second after that statement, Russell had re-buried his face in Maes' chest while hugging him. "Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me. Thank you … for saving me."

Unbeknownst to Maes, Russell meant that last statement quite literally … for underneath his long sleeve, was a wrapped wrist.