I had never been this desperate. I stared at the two bed room brick townhouse in the pouring rain, hating myself for what I was doing. But I didn't see any other choice. There was no telling how the Flock would react if they knew my secret, especially Fang. He'd be furious that we were in this mess, which is why he couldn't know.
I took a deep breath and knocked on the door, hearing faint sounds of movement on the inside. The door opened to reveal Jeb, my biological father standing in the doorway, obviously taking in my shivering frame and ragged appearance.
"Max!" I felt his arms wrap around me and drag me inside out of the freezing rain. Normally I'd spout a sarcastic remark, or even physically push him away, but I no longer had the energy.
Then I saw his face, full of shock and regret when he noticed that there was more of me than there used to be.
"I need your help." I said lamely, hearing no life in my own voice.
Jeb and I had not last parted on the best of terms…not that we ever did. None the less after noticing my condition and hearing the humility in my voice, he knew this was serious.
"You need a warm shower and food. We can talk later." He said, racing upstairs to grab clothes that would fit me and a clean towel, pointing me to the bathroom.
It'd almost been four months since I ran away from my mom's house in Arizona. I'd made it on my own so far, sleeping in shelters, caves, and abandoned houses. I scrounged whatever food I could find, which probably explained my frail frame despite the growing belly and the dark circles under my eyes. Apparently pregnant women don't sleep the best. Who knew?
I hadn't had a shower in almost a week. I stripped off my grungy clothes turning the hot water to a comfortable level. I stepped inside feeling the pounding water on my back and rubbed my swollen belly, feeling a sense of relief that I hadn't had in months.
"I might hate him, but he's all we have right now." I said to the baby in my stomach, bitter that I had to resort to this.
I felt like a brand new, but still pregnant person when I emerged from the shower in baggy oversized clothes. I sat at the empty seat at the dinner table, surveying the loads of food Jeb had piled on my plate.
"You need extra calories with your…condition." He smiled gently, though it seemed forced. Who could blame him? His genetically engineered freak of a daughter was pregnant.
"Look, this isn't permanent. I don't want to be here. I just need a couple of days and I'll be on my way." I explained coldly, taking a bite of my cheesy potatoes.
"And go where, Max? You need to settle somewhere, at least until the baby comes. You can stay here, in the spare bedroom. We'll manage the delivery and you'll be safe." Jeb said grandly, as if he were offering me my own Hawaiian paradise…treacherous backstabbing father not included. Oh wait, yes he is.
I laughed in his face.
"And I just hang out here waiting for Itex to come for me and the baby? Oh wait, they're after all of us now aren't they?" I asked bitterly, remembering Jeb's eagerness to help the last few times we'd seen him.
He'd pretended that he wanted to help us and be our friend. Really he was probably just trying to save his own hide.
"Don't pretend like you understand that situation, Max." He warned.
"It's true though, isn't it? You're hiding from them now too, aren't you?" I pushed, despite the tension that I could feel building like a shaken up two liter soda ready to explode.
"Enough! You think you've got it all figured out, don't you, Max? Itex can't hurt me! What's the worst they could do? Torture me? Kill me? Big deal. But there are things they can come after that are more important to me than my own life. You'll understand that soon enough." Jeb explained darkly.
Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, or maybe it was just instinct, but at that moment I understood. Jeb didn't care what happened to him as long as he protected the people he cared about. I could only imagine who those people are now that Ari was dead. I didn't think Jeb was capable of caring about anyone but himself.
"I'm sorry I reacted that way, but I'm tired of you always assuming the worst about me. I'm happy to have you here, and I would like to prove you wrong about me." He smiled weakly, knowing that I was never one for forgiveness.
"It's fine." I surrendered, too tired to argue or even care.
We continued eating in silence, both of us accepting the strange circumstances leading to our reunion.
"How far along?' Jeb asked, cutting his pork chop.
"Four months or so…maybe five." I answered, refusing to meet his gaze. It contained a mixture of pity and curiosity that completely disgusted me.
"Want to tell me what happened?"
"You explained the birds and bees to us. You figure it out." I laughed, answering his question in the driest tone I could manage.
He rolled his eyes, like I was known to do and sighed. "Fang?"
The fiery sarcastic side of me wanted to say "No Jeb, the mail man." But instead I just nodded guiltily, admitting my child's parentage for the first time. My best friend and love of my life was my child's father and I'd left him without a single goodbye. He had no clue and I intended to keep it that way.
"How's the Flock? Are they alright?"
"They're all well. Of course they were angry when you left, but they're strong kids. They've survived worse and time heals all wounds, supposedly." He shrugged. In other words they were still mad at me. He was trying to warn me, in case I went back. I had no intention of that though, and Jeb recognized it immediately.
"Max, you don't have to do this all on your own. I'll do whatever I can to help, as long as you allow me. And your mother…"
"No! Mom can't know about this!" I ordered, though Jeb held up a hand to silence me. I growled at the condescending gesture.
I could only imagine my mother's shame if she found out that I was pregnant. It was a look on her face I never wanted to see.
"Your mother wants to know you are safe. I think we can confirm that at least?" He asked , requesting my permission to tell my mom that I was okay.
I thought it over quickly, coming to a decision.
"You can tell Mom and the others that I'm okay. No mention of the baby though, and no telling them where we are." I bargained.
"Good. You don't know how much that will ease her mind."
"I'm starting to get an idea." I muttered, rubbing my stomach again.
"Max, I know we haven't had the best track record, but you need help and I'm in a position to help you. How about we agree to get along and make that happen?" He offered.
I recalled a series of moments from my childhood that were happy. I'd enjoyed living in the E-shaped house with the rest of the Flock. Aside from the time spent in cages and labs, the times we were free, we were happy. Jeb had helped with that.
"For now." I agreed reluctantly.