Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal or any of the related titles.

A/N: Hey all! I’m alive! So, this chapter is kind of a filler. It’s been so long, I’ve been trying to remember what I wanted to do with the story, and I had to go back to figure out what was happening in the first place. I’m going to do my best to pull it all together very soon, and I promise my updates will be much more frequent. However, I’m going to stop wasting your time right now so you can get to the chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 22: Going Back

“That was a close one,” Havoc said, making himself as comfortable upon the last train out of their nearest station that afternoon. “I vote we never do that again.”

Riza didn’t respond as he kicked his feet up onto the seat next to her, although she couldn’t help but agree wholeheartedly. With an escape attempt that insane, they could have easily died. It was a wonder they’d managed to make it to the train station undetected.

“If the Chief ever comes to me again, asking for a favor, make sure I say no…” Havoc continued. “I mean, no offense, Lieutenant, but I’m not putting my neck out there like that again. Who is he kidding? I can’t pull of being him. I just sit there and look badass. I don’t actually…”

“Shut up, Havoc…” Riza crossed her arms and glanced out the window.

Havoc glanced at her. Obviously something was bothering her, and he had a feeling it wasn’t just the fact she was disguised as her former Colonel.

“Is there something you wanna talk about, Lieutenant?” he ventured hesitantly.

“No,” she shot him down quickly.

Havoc frowned, pulling out a new cigarette and lighting it, taking a long drag. He followed her gaze out the window, but found that the silence between them was suffocating. He couldn’t travel like this. He needed to say something.

“Why do they think you murdered someone, Lieutenant?” he finally asked, eyeing her carefully.

Riza sighed heavily, her expression growing hard. “I don’t know,” she told him. “I didn’t kill anyone.”

“Well,” Havoc laughed a little bit, still puffing on his cigarette. “I don’t doubt that for a second. You’re not one to spontaneously murder someone without good reason. Did you even know the guy?”

Riza stared out the window, her gaze unchanging. “It was a woman, and yes I knew her. We worked together.”

Havoc cocked his head to the side. “But there are a bunch of people who work with you. It could have been any of them. They really can’t pin it on you if they-”

“They have enough evidence to pin me for it, Havoc,” she said sharply. “And believe me, if there was any way to change their minds I would have thought of it by now. Until something else comes up, I’m screwed and I have to stay in hiding. Now please,” she glanced back at him. “I’d rather we didn’t talk about this anymore.”

Havoc knew he wasn’t going to get any more of the story out of her. But he didn’t understand. How could they possibly have evidence to prove that she committed a murder she claimed she didn’t actually commit? There was something he was missing. Something he was certain she would have told the Colonel had he truly been there.

It was at that moment, he wished he hadn’t blown his cover. Now he’d never know what was going on.

And speaking of blowing his cover, “Hey Lieutenant,” he smirked as he caught her attention once more. “Can you answer a question for me? I’ve been dying to know for ages and now you can answer…”

Riza raised an eyebrow questioningly, still refusing to speak.

“Who’s a better kisser? Me or the Colonel?” he grinned, appearing a little too cocky for his own good.

Riza had completely forgotten about that. She had actually kissed Havoc. Even if it had been the Colonel, she’d never have forgiven herself for such an act. In fact, she felt the sudden need to clean her mouth as soon as possible.

“Speechless?” Havoc closed his eyes. “I knew it. I don’t know what it is with the rest of those girls. Must be out of their minds.”

“I’m sure it’s not the kissing that they like about the Colonel, Lieutenant…” Riza said off-handedly, a tone of distinct bitterness in her voice.

Havoc’s eyes flew open, and he stared for a moment before cringing. “You don’t think…no, he can’t…” he pouted, “It’s not like you’d know anyway.”

“Like I’d know about what?” Riza asked, not sure if he caught on to what she’d been implying before.

“The Colonel, and well…” Havoc gestured toward his crotch. Riza nearly leapt out of her seat, greatly disturbed by his implications.

“Lieutenant!” she gasped.

“What?” Havoc flicked his cigarette and turned his gaze back to the window. “You were the one who asked.”

Riza stood by the door, debating whether or not to go for a walk down the hall to clear her head. She didn’t want to be thinking about the Colonel or Havoc in such a manner. She’d been doing her best to rid herself of any and all recollection of Roy in that way.

She’d been failing miserably, of course, but she’d been trying!

“Unless…” Riza couldn’t see the suspicious look suddenly dawning on Havoc’s face. “Naw, that’s not possible…”

Riza didn’t even want to ask. She didn’t want to know what he was thinking. Nor did she want him to ask anything personal she knew she’d have a hard time denying.

“I mean, there were rumors for a while,” he continued vaguely. “I wasn’t entirely sure I believed them. And the Colonel was acting kind of funny when you weren’t returning. He was really hush-hush about the whole thing.”

“Havoc, don’t even…” Riza started.

“You were fucking the Colonel…” Havoc shook his head in disbelief. “Doin’ it like a couple of horny ass rabbits. I knew it. Didn’t want to believe it, but I knew it!”

“Jean Havoc!” Riza whirled around to face him, stunned by what she’d just heard. Her face turned bright red as he continued to stare at her accusingly.

“I can see it in your face!” Havoc rose to his feet. “That’s why you didn’t come back. Something happened between the two of you, and it got in the way of your work!”

“Havoc, please, shut up…” she returned to her seat quickly, trying her best to avoid his gaze.

“What happened? You find out he was screwing someone else?” Havoc stared at her, determined to get answers this time. “Was it the chick who died? Is that why they think you did it?”

“No, Havoc, it’s not…” she tried to drop the subject.

“Cause that would make sense. I mean, I could see you being the jealous type,” he continued. “And the fact that you carry a gun around at all times. I bet you even wore it while you were in bed with the-”

Havoc froze as Riza’s hand came in contact with his cheek, leaving a very large red mark. Her chest heaving and her face a darker shade of blush than had ever been seen before, Riza shook with anger. Havoc had been entirely out of line with his comments. Although her position was not much higher than his own, she did have some authority over him and he’d completely forgotten his place.

“I order you to stop,” Riza insisted, her hands clenching into fists.

Havoc slid back down into his seat and fell silent. Riza finally sat down as well, her eyes wandering back to the window. A heavy silence hung about them for a long period of time before Havoc dared to speak again.

“I’m sorry, Lieutenant,” he said quietly. “I didn’t mean to say anything like that.”

Riza didn’t say anything. She knew he was genuinely sorry, but she didn’t want to let him off that easily. It was none of the other officers’ business to know about her personal relationships.

“The Colonel has been doing whatever he can to avoid you, you know,” he told her. “Leaving quickly, when he finds out you’re going to be in the area. Sudden missions, he says. And then he sent me in his place with no real reason why.”

“It’s because he’s guilty as hell…”

Riza jumped at the sudden sound of another voice. They’d nearly completely forgotten that Ed had been with them. He had left moments before to inspect the rest of the train, but had returned without either of them knowing. Havoc had made Ed promise he wouldn’t tell Roy that he hadn’t managed to keep his disguise secret, though he didn’t seem to have been at all surprised when he found out.

“He knows what he did,” Ed said, flopping down onto the seat next to Havoc. “And he knows that someday he’s going to have to face you.”

Riza eyed him suspiciously. “How is it you know about all this, Edward?”

“Ha,” he crossed his arms. “You expect me to be stuck with you guys for that long and not sense the horrible sexual tension between the two of you? It’s actually quite disgusting.”

Riza didn’t say anything. She couldn’t help but agree that they’d been more than careless, especially when they’d been undercover with the boys. They should have been focusing more on the danger at hand than each other’s anatomies.

“What do you think he’s going to think when we get back and Hawkeye’s with us?” he directed this question at Havoc. “Not gonna be too pleased if you ask me.”

“I don’t intend on seeing the Colonel,” Riza said matter-of-factly. “He never needs to know that I’ve come back.”

“Well, where are you going to stay?” Havoc asked, finally realizing the dangerous position they’d just put themselves in. He and Ed wouldn’t be able to hide the Lieutenant for long. Roy would find out sooner or later. “Your apartment’s been rented out since you left.”

Riza hadn’t thought about that. She couldn’t stay with the boys, and staying with Havoc after their little encounter was completely out of the question. “I’ll find a motel,” she said. “I’ll stay there for a while.”

“But you’re wanted for murder,” Ed pointed out. Riza wasn’t sure how he’d found out about that either, but wasn’t going to ask. She still didn’t want to talk about it. “They’ll have put out a search for you, especially now that you’re on the run. You won’t be able to stay anywhere public.”

“You can stay with me,” Havoc offered.

Riza didn’t seem to have any other choice. Unless she wanted to make peace with the Colonel, she couldn’t stay with anyone else. And there would be no talking to the other officers without word getting back to Roy about her arrival in Central. She would have to stay with Havoc if they were going to make this work.

“Fine,” she gave in. “But there are going to be rules, you hear me?” She eyed him dangerously.

“Yes, ma’am!” Havoc saluted her professionally, though the grin on his face said something completely opposite.

Even Ed could tell that this was going to be a bad plan.

----

“Excuse me, who did you say you were again?” Roy asked, trying to understand the woman on the other end of the line. “Could you slow down a bit?”

She had called him just before he was about to leave the office that night, speaking very quickly and very quietly as if she were in some kind of danger.

“Are you Daniel Flowright?” she asked, finally, catching her breath.

Roy didn’t respond immediately. “No, Ma’am, I’m afraid you have the wrong -” he stopped, remembering the name he’d been assigned in the North. “Who is this?”

“Sir, my name is Rebecca Anne Flowright,” she explained. “I’ve been trying to find you since I met with your sons in the North not too long ago.”

“I’m sorry, Ma’am,” he said. “I don’t have any sons. You’re confusing me with someone else.”

“No!” she insisted, sounding quite frustrated. “I know that’s not your real name, Mr. Mustang! I know it’s not, just listen to me!”

Roy’s eyes widened. He had not said his name to her, nor had he revealed himself to anyone in the North while they were there. How did she know who he was?

“Mr. Mustang, did you or did you not don the name Daniel Flowright during your stay in the North?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered hesitantly. “Yes, I did.”

Rebecca held her breath for a moment before speaking. “Mr. Mustang, I’m sorry I have to be the one to tell you this, but I’m afraid the people you’re working for may be tied to a series of murders that occurred a couple years back.”

“What?” Roy didn’t understand what he was hearing. The names had been given to him and the others by higher ups in the military. The woman was clearly delusional. “Miss, I’m afraid you still might be quite mistaken.”

“I’m not mistaken, Mr. Mustang!” she cried out loudly. “Please, my Father’s name was Daniel Flowright, and he and my Mother Rowena were part of an ongoing investigation with something involving the military. I have reason to believe that they were murdered due to the information that they discovered while taking part in that investigation, and I’m afraid that you might be headed in the same direction! Sir, I beg that you’ll allow me to come speak to you in person.”

Roy didn’t know what to say. Rowena had been the name given to Riza, and he hadn’t made any mention of her during the entirety of the phone call, so there would have been no way the woman would have known about that. He couldn’t help but half-believe this seemingly crazy story.

“Please sir,” Rebecca begged. “Please, let me come to Central…”

Roy nodded. She had certainly piqued his curiosity and he was determined to find out the truth behind the mysterious Flowright family. “Yes,” he told her. “I’ll have military officials escort you here immediately.”

He heard her heave a sigh of relief, and he was sure a small cry followed. “Thank you, sir. Thank you.”

A/N: Okay, so believe me, there will be some Roy/Riza interaction sometime soon. And probably a few more memories, so there will definitely be some Royai moments, however brief they may be. I thank you all for being so patient with me. It’s been a really rough time for me lately, so writing’s definitely been very difficult, but I will try to update as soon as possible. Thank you all once again.