Getting permission to perform the endoscopy and preparing for it was one thing, but explaining the procedure to Ed was another matter entirely. Dr. Wilkes and Havoc were on both sides of the bed in case Ed tried to make a break for it when they told him.

"So basically, you're gonna shove a tube down my throat and poke at my insides looking for ulcers?" Ed asked for confirmation.

"Well, I wouldn't put it like that, but basically yes." Wilkes nodded.

"Hmm. Okay, we're done here." Ed stated as he ripped the sheets off his bed and tried to leap off the bed towards the Doctor, knowing full well that Jean could catch him. However, the old man was faster than he looked. He grabbed Ed by the waist and threw him back on the bed.

"Oh my son, it seems you've managed to wriggle out of the straps!" he panted.

"No, that nice nurse untied me." All three of them looked at the nurse in the doorway blushing behind her clipboard.

"I thought…it was inhumane…" she explained. Wilkes tightened Ed's straps and arched his back, a few groaning pops filled his ears.

"Loosening his straps IS inhumane…for everyone else!" Wilkes declared while ignoring the fierce glare he knew he was receiving. He rolled his shoulders until he heard more of the satisfying pops before turning to the boy again, waving a document in his face.

"Luckily for you kid, we don't need your permission; we had your guardian sign this consent form for you!" He held the paper still so Ed could read the signature

Roy Mustang

"What the hell? He's not my dad!" the boy declared. Wilkes shoved the document back in the folder and tapped it on Ed's head.

"Oops."

"MALPRACTICE!"

Ed was fidgeting in discomfort as they wheeled his bed into the procedure room.

Did that stupid doctor REALLY need to make these straps so tight? He asked himself. He managed to sneak a glimpse at his left wrist and saw that the strap gave his skin a slightly darker tint, making him wonder if he had a bruise. He tried to keep his mind on something else. However, just being in the hospital was bringing all his thoughts back to the issue at hand.

The smell of antiseptics was always present, and if he turned his head any which way, he would see people in all stages of illness and injury. It made him feel a bit guilty that he had a sore in his stomach, and he was being wheeled into surgery as all these people needed much more held than he did. Why did he have priority? Surely his pains were less severe than the old lady with a gash on her forehead.

They wheeled him into the room and briefly untied him to lift him into the other bed. Ed thought his room was in poor taste. He glanced around to see that the wallpaper had pink flowers in a continuous pattern all around him. It made him wish that he was back in his simply beige room. His attention was brought back to the people poking and prodding at him. He noticed that Dr. Wilkes was not present. Not that he missed him, but at least he knew who he was. He asked the younger-looking nurse where he was.

"Oh, he won't be doing the procedure. Our pediatric surgeon will be in charge." Ed groaned in humiliation. He was a solider for Pete's sake! His worries were realized when Dr. Sheila Benson burst in the room with a ridiculous smile on her face. Ed face was contorted in disgust as he observed her outfit. It was covered in clown stickers.

"Why hello, Edward, can I call you Edward?" Ed had formed his opinion of her before she even spoke, so he decided to make it a little harder for her.

"My name is Major Elric. I also go by Fullmetal. That's what you can call me." His gaze was directed to the attractive nurse. He was trying his damndest to avoid the surgeon and the hot chick seemed like the best way to go.

"Oh, do you like to pretend that you're a solider?"

"Who's pretending? Read my chart." Sheila curiously opened the folder and her eyes widened when she read his name.

Major Edward Elric; The Fullmetal Alchemist

"Oh…why are you strapped to the bed?"

"Because I just might hit you." He answered in all honesty.

She said nothing as she closed the chart. She was slightly embarrassed by talking to a solider so condescendingly. Ed had to cut her a little slack. After all, she did deal with small children all day. She talked quietly to one of the nurses and Ed heard the word 'Automail' amidst the mumbling. Benson walked over to him cautiously and asked to see his prosthetic limbs. He shrugged before she drew the sheets off of him. She held her hand to her mouth as she took in the sight. She brushed her fingers against his steel arm before she asked, "How long?"

"Since I was eleven, it was an accident."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It wasn't your fault." She took the hint and continued her work.

"Well, with automail this can be a little tricky. Full-…Honey, we need to adjust the anesthetic to compensate for your arm and leg, so if you feel pain we can give you more, but you need to tell us."

"How can I do that with a freakin' tube in my throat?"

"You can squeeze someone's hand and that person can tell us. Is there someone you'd want to be in here? Like one of those two men who brought you in? They're just outside."

Ed looked towards the door, and sure enough, Mustang and Havoc were both trying to look through the small window. She read his mind and started walking to the door. Ed snapped to attention just in time to shout,

"Havoc!"