Max POV

"Okay come on, let's get him inside," I said bracing Fang's dead weight, bad choice of words, against mine. With everyone's help, we hoisted him up the four stairs that led up to the porch.

"Iggy, it's locked," Nudge said as she jiggled the doorknob.

"I'm coming," Iggy said as we sat Fang down on a rocking chair. It creaked and moaned in protest. Iggy made his way over to the door and pulled his lock picking set out of his jacket pocket. As Iggy was working on the lock, I pulled off Fang's backpack as gently as I could. Everything inside was completely crushed, since he'd landed on his back. I was so glad we'd stuck Total in Iggy's pack.

"Come on," he said after unlocking it.

"Help me, Ig," I grunted, trying to pick Fang up on my own. He got up and walked over to me. "Log!" I warned a second before he tripped over it. "Sorry."

"S'not your fault." He regained his balance and helped me carry Fang into the lavishly decorated living room.

"Clear the couch," I grunted, still struggling under Fang's bulk. They threw the stiff, pointless, decorative pillows off the couch. "Left," I instructed Iggy so he wouldn't hit a brass and glass coffee table. "Here." We eased him down onto the couch as gently as possible.

I heard Nudge rummaging around in the kitchen. Of course, where else would she be?

"Any food in there?" I asked her, checking Fang over again. I was just happy he had a pulse.

"Yeah, some, like, dry apricots and Spaghettios. Oh! And here's some canned green beans and black beans. Ew… and some more power bars in the drawer here…" She went on to list a few more non-perishables, but I tuned her out. Iggy and Gazzy went in to investigate when they heard canned raviolis. I can't stand those things.

"Angel, could you get me some water?" I asked. She nodded and hurried off to the kitchen. She came back holding a blue mug filled with ice-cold water. "Thanks. Get something to eat, we're gonna leave in a few minutes." She nodded and walked slowly back into the kitchen. "Oh, and Angel, get Total some food and water." she yelled 'okay' from the kitchen. We were alone.

"Fang, you need water. I don't know if you can hear me…but Angel and me are going to go get the cure. We're gonna leave pretty quickly. Don't worry, it'll be okay. Here, drink this." I put the cup to his lips and let it trickle in a little at a time. It seemed to go down okay, but I didn't want to overdue it, so I set the mug on the coffee table. "And Fang…about what you said earlier…about, you…said you loved me," I could barely choke out the words. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything back…you scared me, falling through the trees like that. I could see you falling through the limbs, but you were falling so fast. I didn't want to loose you…and when you said that, it showed me how close you were to dying…and Fang, I don't know what I would do if that, if you…never mind. We'll get the antidote. It'll just be a day, at the most!" I hope. "I mean we're already in California. We're only a half a day's flight from the School. So don't die, okay?"

I looked at him for any reaction to my jumbled little speech. None came. Biting my lip, I stood up from my seat next to him on the couch.

"Bye, Fang," I said, then leaned down to kiss his cheek. I turned to go into the kitchen. "Ange, you almost ready?" I asked, grabbing a couple handfuls of powerbars to stuff in my pack.

"Yeah, Max. Hey, did you want some raviolis?" she asked with a grin, knowing full well that I hated them. I shot her an 'are you kidding me' look. I like the real ones, but canned raviolis just don't do it for me.

"Come on, we need to get goin'. Iggy's in charge 'til I get back. 'Kay? Iggy, no bombs or anything like that, understood? This isn't our place, so try not to make a mess. If erasers show up, get Fang somewhere safe, but try not to go too far off, I wanna be able to find you guys when I get back." I grabbed Angel's hand and we said our goodbyes to everyone.