Chapter 3: Dying Wishes

The doctor guided us to Fang and Iggy's room. "Excuse me, who is going to die?" Angel asked the doctor unsuccessfully trying to hide her tears. "Sweet child, are those two boys your brothers?"

"No, but they're like brothers to her. Anyway did you tell him that he was going to die?" I asked the doctor. "Yes, there are 5 stages one goes through when being told that they will die. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. Right now he's in between denial and anger. I'd suggest looking cheerful when you come in. He's heard a lot of bad news so I think some happiness won't hurt him."

"Whatever, but who's dying?!" Nudge screamed. "I'm afraid Iggy has less than 48 hours to live. I'm very sorry. I'll leave you alone for awhile. If you need me press the button and a nurse will get me." We opened the door.

Iggy's face was red and blotchy. "Hello Iggy." I said.

"Why am I dying? Why me? I'm a good guy. Besides Fang was in the driver's seat, not me. This is all his fault." Normally Fang would be really mad hearing Iggy say that, but he just cried. Angel walked up to Iggy and hugged him.

"Thanks Angel." Angel kept crying. "Look, is there anything that you wanted to do before you died?" Nudge asked.

"Yes I've always wanted to eat a whole bowl of whipped cream, but now I don't feel up to it. But seriously…" Iggy thought for a little bit. "I've always wanted to tell you something. The scientists have a secret lab on an island. When I was very little, they did tests on my there. Jeb told me about it once. I believe that it's still in existence. There should be a map of it crammed in my sock drawer."

"How come you never told us about this before?" Gazzy asked. "The scientists told me if I told that he'd kill me, all of us really! I couldn't put you guys at risk." Iggy cried a little bit. "But, I think you guys could stop it. I never had the courage to ask you guys before."

"We can do that for you, Iggy." Nudge assured. Iggy sat up. "I'm really upset about one thing. They don't even have enough time to put me in hospice."

"What's hospice?" Angel asked. "Hospice is where dying people go to spend their last days in comfort." I explained. "Oh."

"Iggy, I'll miss you so much. I just wish that we could make one last bomb together." Fang looked like he was about to cry. "Who says that we can't? I'm sure we can someone or some people to get the ingredients."

"But it's our secret recipe." Fang protested. "Just because they have the ingredients doesn't mean that they'll know how to make it." Iggy took a nearby clipboard and a pen. "Iggy, that's you're medical history."

"So?" Iggy and Fang said. We decided to leave Fang and Iggy alone for awhile while we got the ingredients at a nearby store.

"Think about how hard this must be for Fang. I mean they were so close. They destroyed things together, they traded their pranks, and they know all of each other's secrets. They were like twins, twins a few months apart." I said.

When we got back, Iggy and Fang were pillow fighting. "We got everything on your list, but why did you need chocolate chip cookies?" Nudge asked. "Oh, we were just hungry." Iggy smiled.

"Well, here you go." We handed them our shopping bags. "Thank you. We should have fun tonight." Fang and Iggy put the bags under their gurneys and shoved cookies into their mouths."

"Can I have one?" Gazzy asked. "Sure, everyone dig in!" I was happy to see that Iggy was content, but I couldn't bare the event that would come extremely soon. After we finished our cookies, Iggy and Fang started another pillow fight which took our mind off of things for awhile.

"What's going on here?" A nurse asked. "Stop this at once- I mean just be careful okay." Apparently all of the nurses and doctors had taken sympathy for Iggy.

We ate dinner in the hospital cafeteria and then stayed at a nearby hotel down the street. The next day, we arrived as soon as we possibly could. We wanted to spend as much time with Iggy as possible.

When we arrived, Iggy was barely awake. He was really pale and definitely looked weaker and sicker than yesterday. The sight of Iggy like this was extremely depressing. I mean Iggy was always so energetic, so lively, so happy! I remembered what the doctor had said and tried to look cheerful.

"Hey, guys. Did you make any bombs last night?" I asked. "Did we ever!" Fang lifted up a slingshot. "Iggy promised me this!" I smiled. "Wonderful."

"Oh this, all of this has convinced me to say something. Max, Gazzy, Angel I'm very sorry about that fight two years ago. I really wish that I could've spent more time with you. All of you. I've realized how much precious time was wasted." Nudge and I broke into tears. "I'm sorry too." I hugged Iggy.

We talked about all of our adventures together and how much fun we all had over the years. A nurse volunteered to buy us some cookies during her lunch break and they were the best cookies of our life.

At around four o'clock Iggy got tired. "I think that this is the end. But I've lived a very good life I believe." Iggy took a deep breath. "Please, Iggy, don't go to sleep yet." Fang pleaded. Iggy fluffed his pillow.

"There are two last things that I want to say. After that my life is complete. Number one: Nudge, I love you and if I would've lived longer it may have worked between us." Nudge cried and held his hand. "I- I had no idea." Iggy kissed her on the lips.

"The other thing that I must say…" Iggy yawned. "To everybody I've pranked I have to say I'm not at all sorry and I hope that everyone got a good laugh out of them." Angel hugged Iggy and then we all joined in for a large group hug.

Iggy let out a farting noise with his mouth and then drifted to sleep. We stood by him as he took his last breath and his heart beat for the very last time. We all burst into tears while Fang stood by Iggy.

"Please. NO!" Fang cried out. A team of doctors came in and consoled us. Nudge, Angel, and I held each other and cried looking at Iggy.