Those with Sparks in Their Eyes: A FMA(B) FanFic

Chapter Fourteen: The Call

After everyone left the next morning, including Ling, Lan Fan and Fu, I started my training as a mechanic. I learned fast, and under the supervision of Mr. Garfiel, started fixing other customer's automail. All I could remember from those past few days were the sounds of wrenches flying and the smiles and names of the people I've helped.
In particular, the children, sporting automail legs, arms, hands and feet, they marched into the shop with their parents for me to aid them. I loved seeing the joy on their innocent faces as I upgraded or repaired their automail. I held their hands as I attached the nerves, just as Winry had done to me.

"Are you gonna stay here forever?" One little girl asked me.

"I hope so. I'll always be around when you need me." I smiled.

I hadn't heard from Ed or Winry in the last few days. I assume they must be busy. I wasn't even entirely certain I would see Ed or Al again, but after a while Winry would come back to her job again. It'll be fun working with her; she's the only girl-friend I've had.

Things were going nearly perfectly. Until one morning, a strange thing happened which had a domino effect on seemingly everything else. A phone call.

"Leah?"

"Yeah. Ed, is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me." He seemed a bit reluctant to give his name.

"What have you been up to these last few days? Is your automail broken again?"

"What?-oh no. Listen, Al and I need your help with something. Get on a train to Central, and pack your weapons."

"What's going on? I have to work here, Ed, so I'm going to need an explanation."

"Just say it's family problems. I can't tell you much right now, but hurry."

"Ed-" I try. Before the word escapes my lips, he hangs up.

I trust Ed, so if he says something important, it must be. I quickly throw together a suitcase, packed with all my weapons as he instructed. Thank goodness they don't do bag checks often on the trains. At first I hesitate to tell Mr. Garfiel it's family matters, as I have no family left. All he would have to do is look up a record of me to see that. I pushed the thoughts out of my head. He isn't suspicious of me, and he would go out of his way to find files. Would he?

I don't have time to think about it, as I'm already on the train. I practically twiddle my thumbs the whole way there. It's never good when they can't tell you over the phone. I trust Ed, but does he trust me? Was he afraid if he told me at the shop, I would blurt it out to everyone?

When I step on to the platform I search among the other passengers for Ed or Al, or anyone really. As I pass through groups of people, I inhale some of the smoke from their cigarettes. Ugh, I hate smoke. I finally find Al, standing near the exit, waiting for me.
"It's good to see you"

"Good to see you, too Al."

"Let's go."
He practically drags me by the hand. Once we get out of the station, a soldier-a woman-with large brown eyes and blonde spiky hair tied back in a bun, is waiting for us beside a car.

"Leah, this is First Lieutenant Hawkeye. Lieutenant, this is Leah Sparks, a friend of ours."

"Nice to meet you, Lieutenant." I say.

"Nice to meet you too, Miss. Any friend of the Elric's is an ally of mine."

She extends her hand and I shake it.
We climb in the car, although the back is squishy with Al's armor. Hawkeye puts the car in drive and pulls out of the station, on the main road.