i do not own maximum ride or any of its chacraters. I do own Mr. dare, Xeke, and other characters mentiond later.

Mr. Dare was ready his managers reports over his morning coffee, like he did every morning. He put the report down and went to the window. He let out a sigh. Maybe he's still out there. He thought fiercely but even as he thought it he knew it couldn't be true. His son was dead, and it was mostly his fault. The was a frantic knock on his door, making him jump. He gathered his thoughts quickly and told them to come in. The door flew open and A fifteen year old boy stood there, looking breathless. He was tall, with medium length black hair, olive skin, and black eyes that were currently shining with excitement.

The typical family look.

Mr. Dare relaxed his position. He smiled and said "Good morning Zeke, come in and shut the door behind you" Zeke slammed the door shut and ran to his dad. "I found him!" He cried

"Not again" his father sighed.

"No really this time!" Zeke insisted. "I found my brother!"

"Just like last time? Or the time before that? Zeke, as much as we want it to be him, it most likely won't be"

"But what if it is?" Zeke countered "what if this one really is Zach?"

Mr. Dare sighed and put his face in his hands He didn't say anything, he didn't have too. Images flashed through mind. Images of all the kinds who had pretended to be Zach, who looked enough like him to pass. They were all the same, they took one look at the family fortune and were happy to pretend to be whoever they had to be.

"We all know the story" he said softly, "your aunt Jill was mad at your mother, so she kidnapped the two of you when you were newborns. She- she sold you to the School and said it was what I wanted. I spent years looking for you two, but I only found you. You were part of an avian- human project. They said- they said that you were the only one who survived-"

"-But what if they lied?" Zeke cut him off " It would be like them you have to admit, and besides, I remember someone else with me. A few people actually. They were suddenly gone the day before you came and got me, all of them. "

This was not new news in the least. It was news that always lead to the same faith crushing conclusion.

" He was terminated then." Zeke pulled in a breath sharply. Everyone told him this but he refused to believe it.

"look!" Zeke said sharply throwing the manila folder he had down on the desk. This time his father pulled in a breath. Clipped to the front of the folder was a picture of another fifteen year old boy. He had dark hair, dark skin, and dark eyes. All in All he looked exactly like Zeke. He took advantage of his fathers' temporary set- back to explain.

"Look," he said again opening the folder " he go's by 'fang', he's part of the group that Jeb Batchelder broke out. Right before you came" Mr. Dare was shaking his head, not daring to believe. "and he has this blog that I read, and he talks just like Michael. Plus, he has that whole obsession with red heads the Conner has, he's my age and he looks just like me. It's either Zach or the biggest coincidence ever." His dad was still speechless, it was almost to much to hope. This story was perfect, all the pieces pit perfectly. Most people would say, 'hey why not try it?' But the Dares' had started to move away from that the first time a kid pretended to be their brother. The pain was just to much. It was almost easier to think he was dead. Almost. Mr. Dare could remember the heart broken look on his wife's face every time it wasn't really Zach.

But still….

" Prove it" he said roughly.

"What?" Zeke asked confused

" Prove that this really is my son. I want School records, paternity samples everything and anything you got. " Mr. Dare hated the way Zeke's face lit up bright with excitement. The boy was only going to be heartbroken… again. The chances this really was him were so low. But even thinking that, looking at this folder made him want to believe it. But Mr. Dare still doubt it. He had checked every school, he wasn't in any of them. If Batchelder ( A/N Jeb) really had taken his son, well he didn't know whether to Thank him or strangle him first.

Ta-da? At least I tried. Please review and give me some tips!

~LIZIES~