Disclaimer: Again, I don't own Maximum Ride, yada yada yada, but I do own this story plot and Lucas

Disclaimer: Again, I don't own Maximum Ride, yada yada yada, but I do own this story plot and Lucas.

Chapter Three: Disobeying the Leader.

Fang POV

Two months had passed since Max was kidnapped. We were flying over the School about five weeks ago, about to raise holy hell when Angel heard a warning from Max. She said not to come and get her, that the whitecoats would leave them alone if she cooperated. I pressed onward even though Angel's warning was stern. We made it within twenty feet of the building when a hoard of flying Erasers came up at us. We were forced to retreat and re-think our options.

But every time we tried to help Max, she told us that we couldn't. Something was wrong, and we all knew it.

We were now in the forests of California, my wounds barely healed at all. I pulled my knees up to my chest and gingerly wrapped my injured arms around them. I could barely move my left arm without the wound splitting open. And my right hand was useless almost; I barely moved it at all.

Wounds that reminded me of Max.

Wounds that were caused trying to save her, and failing miserably. I hated it. I still don't know how the Erasers snuck up on us like they did, but it worked. I was on first watch: Max's watch. Gazzy and Angel never left each other's side, and Total and Akila were like a packaged deal with them. Nudge stayed near Iggy, who stayed near me. None of us would admit it, but we were scared to death. And there was nothing that was keeping us away from each other.

I keep remembering the look in her eyes as the mutant beast carried her away. I'd never seen Max's eyes like that in my life. Not even when I split the flock because of Ari.

Now the flock was split again, and I blamed no one but myself. My heart has formed into a hard rock. I'll never forgive myself if something happens to her. Never.

"Fang?"

I looked up to see Nudge standing next to me.

"Angel's shivering, is it okay if we could find a room or something? The fire's not helping either…"

I looked around the dense California forest, and then stood up, carefully because I'd lost so much blood in the last two months.

The rest of the flock was up at once and spread their wings and took flight. I stomped out the fire and carefully put my backpack on.

I was in such a daze that I hoped I'd be able to fly. But somehow, miraculously I did, and while the wind still stung my wounds, I soared a while until we landed at a Holiday Inn.

Luckily for us we were tall and looked about 18, so I was able to rent two rooms. Nudge and Angel went to the right and Gazzy and Iggy went to the room next to them, I was supposed to be with the boys, but told them to wait, I had to walk around and check the place out.

I didn't. I went to the roof.

The warm breeze of the day was nowhere to be found at night. I curled my legs up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them again. This time holding my shoulders too tightly and causing the home-done stitches to unfurl and I felt the warm liquid blood begin to soak the bandages.

But I didn't care. This was literally the only way I held myself together. Max wouldn't let us try and save her, but we were going to anyways. The past two months have been hell without her. I act tough around the little kids during the day, but I've gotten hardly any sleep.

I heaved another hard breath as I began to realize the pain in my arms. I didn't try and fix it; instead I clutched my shoulders tighter and sobbed hard. I felt like the world crashed on me the night I saw her eyes, full of fear and dread.

I loved her. How could I let this happen to her?

I let out another hard and painful sob, thankful that no one could hear me.

I couldn't close my eyes, all I saw was her beautiful face, laughing, yelling, smiling, disapproving, loving, motherly, lying, outspoken, confused, and so many more emotions that it held. Her hair whipping around her when she flew, her eyes alight when she was with them, flock. The look in her eyes sometimes when she looked at me.

It was too much to bear. I don't know how she carries this leader stuff on her shoulders.

I stare out at the moon and wipe my face. I was losing it, and too fast. We were going to rescue Max, whether she wanted us to or not.

I felt a rigor tremble quake through my body. I was either extremely cold, and couldn't distinguish it, more broken than I thought, or I'm still losing blood.

Or a combination of all three.

"Fang?"

Dammit.

I turned my head to see little Angel climbing out the window onto the rooftop and crawling next to me.

"I heard you, I got up to get a drink. Fang! Your arms!"

I looked down to see the dark shinning liquid covering the white bandages.

"It's okay. I just split it open again."

"Why haven't they healed yet? We're supposed to have good healing."

"Your guess is as good as mine." I replied, and then tried to sit up and look strong, for her at least.

"You don't have to pretend, Fang. I miss her too."

A stray tear slid down my cheek as Angel curled up into my lap and laid her head on my shoulder, seemingly unaware of the blood covering me. I wrapped my arms around her and cried with her in the dead of night.

We love you Max, and we are all coming to get you, whether you like it or not.

A/N: Yay! Thank you for the reviews!! I love them!! Chapter four will be up soon…