SUMMARY:

Maximum Lavina Ride is a young FBI agent with a troubled past. Her job has never been easy and when her boss assigns a new agent to her team will he help her overcome her problems or stir conflict up within the team and complicate Max's life further? Will he reveal her secrets? FAX! Possible Nudge/Gazzy and Iggy/Ella .

Hey guys! The story is back and better. I think it's less boring and easier to understand :)

Thanks for those who waited. You guys are awesome!

CH 1

'ANGEL'

Max stared at the wooden door. "Max?" She turned slightly to her two colleagues behind her. "I know, it's hard but you're the only woman on the field," Brady, her long since friend with sandy blonde hair and the perfect tan gave her a reassuring smile. She forced on a smile and nodded before slowly turning the knob.

The surviving young girls were scattered about the room, some in cuddled groups, others on mattresses on the ground, and up against walls. There was at least twenty girls, their ages ranging from six to fourteen. The ones that didn't make it were lying on the grungy beds, sheets over their bodies and faces.

Max's breath came out shallow as she stepped into the small apartment. The stench burnt her nostrils and the sight pierced her eyes. "Why are they still here?" Max growled under her breath, but Quinn, who was behind her, heard and answered,

"They won't leave. They feel safe here."

Max turned and gave him a look then made a sign behind her back with her hand telling him to stop and back out. She had nothing against Special Agent Zachary Quinn but the young girls didn't need a six foot, dark brown eyes and haired, body builder to force them out of the unhealthy apartment.

Quinn nodded, though Max couldn't see it, and walked out. Max's heeled boots clicked on the worn tile floor as she walked past numerous girls. One girl though, caught her eye. She was sitting on a tattered bed in a corner, hugging her legs to her chest and softly crying. Her once blonde bouncing curls were smothered and filthy. Max stopped and crouched next to her. The young girl inched back a little on the small mattress.

"Hi," Max put on a comforting smile and sat on the ground infront of her, not caring about the dust and dirt that was gathering on the back of her black jeans. "What's your name sweetie?" The girl looked like the youngest out of all of them, at least six years old. She lifted her head slightly, but said nothing. Max kept her smile and said, "I'm Maximum. I work with the FBI."

The girl now looked at Max in the eye and asked in a ragged voice, "Are they coming back?" Max stared at her for a second before shaking her head.

"No. They're never coming back," She promised.

Content tears slid down the girl's pale cheeks. Her look of horror was replaced with relief.

Max noticed the other girls had gathered around them and were staring at Max with hopeful eyes.

"How about we get you guys something to eat and somewhere nice to rest?" Max gave a true smile and helped some of the girls up. She helped the last, youngest girl up.

"My name's Angel," Angel said to Max, trying her best to smile.

Angel didn't let go of Max's hand as they followed the other girls out. Max stopped out side the doorway.

"I'll meet you downstairs," She told Angel.

Angel nodded uncertainly and let go of Max's hand. Quinn and Brady looked at Max with the same impressed expressions she'd seen a few times before.

Max sighed and rubbed her temples. Brady put a comforting hand on her shoulder and grinned.

"You did really great,"

Max looked regretfully back at the girls with sheets over them.

"Your superior doesn't need you to know how great she did," Quinn joked.

Him and Brady chuckled. Max rolled her eyes.

"Where's the bathroom?" Max asked an officer who came up the stairs and greeted them. He motioned to a door down the hall. Max thanked him and walked off. They watched her go, staring at her ass the whole time. Brady looked away, realizing he was acting like a pig.

"Hot." Quinn muttered and grinned.

Brady punched him lightly on the arm but couldn't disagree.

Max pulled her gun and holster off her belt and set it on the sink-top. The bathroom was surprisingly more clean than the rest of the apartment building. She stared at herself in the mirror. Her grey eyes darkened, making the gold specks in them visible. The scar on the side of her left cheek stung.

FLASHBACK

"What's wrong with you?" He slurred, swaying his pocket knife back and forth. The sound of it cutting through the air sent shivers down her spine. She backed up quickly until her back hit a wall.

"You weren't supposed to tell mommy that," He shouted.

"Please," She begged. "I didn't- I-"

"You didn't what?" He roared. She cowered into the corner.

"I won't tell anyone else, I promise!" She whimpered. He laughed.

"No you won't," He said and carved his knife into the side of her cheek with an unstable hand.

She screamed and kicked his legs, causing him to fall so she could escape out of the corner. Eight year old Max ran for her life but it wasn't enough. He caught her by the hair and dragged her back into the corner.

END OF FLASHBACK

Maximum Lavina Ride was twenty-two and had been in the FBI or two years. She stared training young and passed every test she'd ever taken. She out-ranged most of the men in her field.

She gently ran her finger along the unnoticeable scar and winced. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, pushing the memorizes away before turning on the sink. She waited for the old pipes to give out clear water. She splashed her face with the water and wiped the excess eyeliner and mascara from under her eyes. She stared at her reflection once more before hooking her holster back onto her belt and joining her colleagues outside.

Max met Brady and Quinn outside in the parking lot where four ambulance trucks were lined and parked, treating girls for small injuries.

"How are they?" Max asked.

"Overall they're okay. That youngest girl keeps asking for you," Brady said, turning to Max. She nodded but stood still in place.

"You know she'll be going into Child Protective Services along with the rest of them," He said, noticing the way she looked at the young girl.

"I know," She said in a soft voice.

Max new what it was like in the system. Quinn's phone rang, interrupting them from their thoughts.

"Quinn...'sup boss?" He answered. Max could practically feel her boss rolling his eyes on the other end. "...alright...we're just heading out now...yes,we will give you a full report...Ride?" His eyes flashed to Max for a moment. "...yeah you could call it successful not counting we still haven't caught the bastard...sure." He flipped his phone closed and turned back to them. "Chief wants us over there to update him on the case." Max and Brady nodded.

"Alright give the head deputy officer here the Bureau's number and tell him to call us once they've got the girls taken to CPS," Max ordered and watched Quinn and Brady walk off toward the County police cars parked next to the ambulance trucks.

Max tried not to glance over at Angel, but failed. The young girl had a scared look in her eye as she turned to Max. Max gave a reassuring smile and turned, headed to the black FBI registered SUV. She could hear the Angel calling her name but she forced herself to keep walking until she reached the car, unlocked it, started the engine and sped away toward the Bureau.