Secrets -Chapter 10-

I tried with every last fiber of my being to struggle out of the beast's grasp. He wavered once he saw the small hand gun in Col. Mustang's hand.

"Get off of me you creep!" I screamed. With the last fiber of my strength I screamed for Colonel. "Help!" I screamed. "Help! Help…! Please, Roy-san, help me…"

Nothing, after that, all I saw was emptyness. A blank void replaced my memories of what happened after. All I remember after that was feeling the pressure of my body release and my father running.

"Riza, are you okay?" I heard.

My head was pounding. I tried to lift my body with my arms but felt a striking pain in my left shoulder. Exhausted, I laid back down. "Who is there?" I asked in a muffled tone. There was a slight quiver of fear in my voice. I was frightened, I didn't know who was near me, and to make me even more afraid; I couldn't move.

"Oh, you've come-to. I'm glad," I heard. It wasn't a normal whisper the person used. It was more like a coo. For some reason I could feel my face get hot, his voice was so soothing. I knew it from somewhere. However, I couldn't put a face or name to the voice.

When I closed my eyes I heard him again. "Riza, it's Roy. Are you feeling alright? Where do you hurt?" I could sense a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Roy," I coughed. "What are you doing here? Don't you have papers to do?" however much I wanted to thank him and hold him in my arms, I couldn't. He was only here to supervise me while I was sick.

"He must've gotten off of work to watch me," I thought. I tired again to get up and look at his face. It was without avail; pain shot threw my arm and without thinking I let a shriek escape from my mouth.

"Riza! Are you okay?" he asked. His strong hands reached around my back and gently pulled me up. The pain was still there. However, with his hands to guide me up I ignored the pain. I smiled at him to reassure him.

"I'm fine. My shoulder is in a little pain is all. Thank you Mustang, but you should be getting back to work," I urged him.

He looked at me with pain in his onyx eyes, "Riza, I was temporarily discharged from my station to--"

Every sense I had was suddenly awakened. "You were discharged?" I interposed. "Why would you do that? Do you realize what that will do!" I scolded.

Roy chuckled. "No, I was discharged temporarily. I'll be going back to my station after you're well. I don't think I'd trust anyone else with you as of now," he confessed.

I felt my face burn. "Thank you Colonel, but that was all quite unnecessary," my heart sank into my stomach as I said those words. I wanted to thank him from the bottom of my heart. I wanted to reach for him. However, what I wanted most of all was simply him. Nothing more, nothing less.

As my shoulder continued to throb Roy gently placed pillows behind me, "Here, this should do," he said smoothly. Discomfort must've been evident on my face as he struggled to readjust the pillows multiple times.

"It's fine, Colonel. This will do," I said.

"Riza," Roy's voice trailed off for a moment. His eyes darted about the room as if to chase a thought.

"Yes, Colonel?" I asked timidly. My breathing became shallower in anticipation and my hands grew clammy. Roy remained silent for what seemed like an eternity, trying to place the words that were seemingly on the tip of his tongue.

He looked at me solemnly once more, "It's nothing, never mind," he breathed.
"Nothing? Never mind?! You must be kidding me," I thought. Disappointment dripped into my soul as if from my IV. "Oh," I stated calmly. My heart was on fire, anger, agony, disappointment, sorrow, everything one could ever feel burst from my soul. Without warning I snapped at Roy, not a snap of a normal woman, but one of a woman in love. "I need my rest, please leave," was it.

His eyes… his eyes pierced into me and all the rage I felt had dissipated leaving anguish it's wake. Bowing slightly he got up from his bedside chair and left. The click of the door started the tears.

"I'm so sorry," I mumbled softly to myself. "So very sorry".

Hours passed before I heard from him again. I was restless and got up from my bed to walk around. The nurses said it was alright to move my legs, it's not like they were shot at. As I turned the door knob I looked down to see Roy sleeping on his heels next to my door. "Colonel, sir?" I nudged him so that he would wake.

Nothing.

"Colonel, sir," I said a little louder. Perhaps a harder nudge was in order.

Nothing.

I sighed. "Mustang," I said louder than the first time. "Mustang sir, you need to wake up," I paused as his eyes sluggishly opened only to close immediately after. Shaking him with my good arm he finally woke.

"Oh, I'm sorry Riza. I was trying to wait until you woke up and then I was going to keep you company," he yawned, "but I guess you beat me to it," he chuckled a little bit and stood up. "Should you be walking around?" he asked with a concerned tone.

"Mustang sir, it's not as if I was shot in my leg. I'm fine to be walking just so long that my shoulder isn't in pain. Well, too much pain," I said with an emphasis on the word 'pain'. Now that I had been standing for a little while my shoulder had begun to bother me. "Mustang, sir, I'm going to retire back to my room. You may join me if you like," I said as I turned around. Roy shot in front of me.

"Here, let me get the door for you," he said enthusiastically. I grinned in response and took his gentleman like offer.

As I sat down on my hospital bed Roy looked at me strangely. His look suggested that he wanted to say or do something, but didn't know what or how to do it.

"About earlier," he trailed off for a moment. "I'm…"

I looked at him quizzically. "Yes?" I asked.

"I'm," he looked up for a moment, "so sorry. For everything."