A/N: This is my first fic so if it isn't that good I'm sorry and please tell me.

I'm not quite sure where I am going with this. It just kind of came to me during one of my free periods.

Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride. I am not James Patterson, although I wouldn't mind his writing talent.

Max POV

"Max? Max." Iggy prodded me awake.

"What? My turn already?" I slowly sat up trying to ease the strain from my cramped muscles. Fang had been on first watch and Iggy second, now it was my turn. Iggy flew up to his branch on the tree next to Gazzy and settled down. I had just settled by the fire when a shadow fell across me, without thinking I lashed out hoping to injure my would be attacker enough so that I could get into fighting mode. When my fist connected with it's target there was a loud groan then someone moaned my name.

"Max… that…really…hurt!"

Fang. OMG I hit Fang and by the sounds of it, it was somewhere really bad. Don't get me wrong I have really good aim, as you can tell, just when my back is turned and I can't see I just go for it.

"What are you doing up? It's my watch you're meant to be sleeping" I whispered. Fang was slowly sinking down on to the grass beside me. "Oh, I'm er… sorry by the way, for… you know" I indicated with my head to where I meant, although all I gained was a meaningful look.

"I thought maybe you wanted some company, but if that is how you are going to treat me I think I would rather go back to sleep" he made a move as if to get up again.

"I told you already I'm sorry. I thought… well actually I don't know what I thought"

"What's going on Max, you've been jumpy for days. It's not like you."

"I don't know. I mean I haven't heard anything from the voice in a while, and I guess it, it just worries me that maybe we're not on the right track you know. That we're meant to be doing something different."

"Maybe the voice wants you to take a break; we can find somewhere the kids will like, settle down for a bit. You know, like a family Max." Is Fang trying to comfort me, I know he cares about the Flock and what they want but, I don't know there's just something different in the way he's talking, as if he is hiding something deep down.

"I don't know Fang, every time we try something goes wrong. Something happens which means that we have to run again, I don't want to put the kids through that again, so soon after everything that has happened. It wouldn't be fair"

"Just think about it Max okay"

"Okay. I'll think, but that's it"

He got up and walked back over to the sleeping Flock. What was that, Fang doesn't express his feelings, dang I don't even express my feelings. Was that a connection, I mean no sparks were flying between us but still. Urgh men, do normal men act like Fang as well or is it just him, he is so confusing sometimes yet I still understand him and him me.

He's right though a family is what we all want, and I have that. I have parents and a half sister, but I can't go to them because they don't have what the Flock does – and I don't mean the wings – they don't know what it is like to be hunted every second of every day.

That is why I can't go to them; I can't bring the bad guys straight to their door (although Jeb might have already done that). I have to do what is right for my Flock.

That is why I am leader.

That is why I'm going to make one of the biggest mistakes of my life.

A/N: I know that it's a tad short but I wanted to leave it there so that I can continue writing if you like it. Please review and tell me what you think. If I get three reviews I will consider writing more.