Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Maximum Ride characters (nope, they're all James Patterson's)

Max POV

God, what was I doing? I had been curled up on the ground clutching my head, but now someone had picked me up and was holding me to them... Fang. All of a sudden another grenade of pain exploded in my head. Without meaning to I cried out,

"Fang!" I felt him pull me even closer and then,

"Yeah, I'm here. It's okay now... you're okay." And surprisingly, now that he was with me, now that he was holding me, it felt like I was going to be okay. I heard Angel giggle again and I knew she was laughing at what I had just thought.

"Ig, maybe you should take the little guys over there and eat." I heard Fang suggest. Iggy must have nodded because I heard them all get up and walk away. I didn't realize until now that I had been hyperventilating, so I tried to slow my breathing.

Once I did, I started crying. No, not crying... bawling. I could barely hear Fang's, "Shhhh, it's going to be alright." Eventually I quieted down to just silently crying. I actually managed to get out one word though... the main word I'd been saying since this started.

"Fang." Was my word of choice, apparently.


Fang POV

"Fang." She whispered softly. I had just been holding her and stroking her hair for probably around 10 minutes. I looked down at her face.

Tears were still running down her face, her eyes still squeezed shut, and her hands still holding her head. Her light brown hair was getting wet from her tears and I tucked her hair behind her ears. And then very slowly, she took her hands away from her head, as if expecting her skull to fall apart if she moved them. Her big, brown eyes opened very slowly too. She looked around a little bit and then up at me.

"Thank you." Her voice was a little shaky and it broke twice while she said this, but at least she wasn't still holding her head with her eyes closed. I pulled her up into a sitting position on my lap and hugged her tightly. She seemed a little shocked but quickly put her arms around my neck.


Angel POV

The sound of Max's sobs were heart wrenching. I wished there was something I could do. But Fang was holding her, just as they had both wanted and we were on the other side of the clearing eating. Her sobs quieted and I realized now she was just crying silently.

I wish I could stop her pain somehow. I heard Fang think.

I wish I could too. I sent that thought back to him. Then awhile later I heard Max speaking to Fang so quietly.

"Fang." I heard her whisper.

Man, she's so beautiful. Fang probably forgot that I could hear that when he thought it.

"Thank you." She said to him a minute later, though she was not replying to what he had just thought. I looked over and saw him pull her into a sitting position, and putting his arms around her waist.

Whoa, Fang hugging? Well, this is new. Max thought. I saw her then quickly put her arms around his neck and rest her head on his shoulder.

Mmmm, I think I may like this side of Fang's personality better. I giggled as Max thought that. Maybe we should give them some privacy... I decided to send the thought to both of them.

Do you guys want some alone time together? I asked both of them.

Go where you want, just stay together and out of my head. Max replied.

Ask Max. Fang thought.

Can we go to the mall in town and meet up with you guys there? In the food court? I asked.

Ask Max. Fang replied again.

Sure, as long as you all stay together. Max thought. I told the rest of the flock that we were going to go to the mall and meeting Max and Fang there later. Nudge and The Gasman were jumping up and down they were so happy. Iggy was smiling. So the four of us took off.


Max POV

I'm still not entirely sure why I gave Angel and the others permission to go, but it just seemed like the right thing.

Oh, crap... had Angel been controlling my mind? No, she can't have been, because it still feels like it was the right decision. Oh well, it was kind of hard for me to think coherently with Fang holding me like this. After about 20 minutes of sitting like that, I pulled back a little.

"We should probably get going. I told Angel we would meet her and the rest of the flock in the food court at the mall." He just nodded.

I unhooked his arms from around my waist and once I was off his lap he jumped up and pulled me gently into a standing position. I quickly found out that standing hadn't been that great of an idea because almost immediately I started to fall. Fang caught me, of course and kept his hands on my hips while he turned to face me.

"You know, maybe we should wait until you're stable enough." He said.

"I'm fine, let's just get going." He raised an eyebrow at me, shrugged, and then let go of me.

He's totally going to get me for this. I thought as the ground started swirling closer to my face. Again, he caught me around my waist, but this time stayed behind me with his arms wrapped around me.

"No, you're not. You can't even stand up on your own. How are you going to fly?" He whispered in my ear.

You know, I really hate logic, especially when it's said like that. Because as soon as he started whispering in my ear, I lost all train of thought. So not fair.

"I... um... I... well... maybe... uh... you're right." I sighed and he chuckled. I spun around, still in his arms, so that I could see his face.

"So how long do you think that will be?" I asked, genuinely curious at how long he wanted to stand here for.

"Hmm... well, obviously you won't be able to tell me," Fang paused to give me a sly smile. "I'm not sure." He studied my face for a second, then decided to pull me closer. I heard him sigh and was confused.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing." I knew he was lying to me, but I didn't feel like pressing the matter at the moment. I just shrugged. Maybe he'd tell me later.

"So, should we see if you can stand now." He sounded enthusiastic, in a very fake way. I nodded though and he slowly let go of me...


Oooooo! What will happen next? Please review guys!