(A/N This one is going to be super angsty, because its going to be Fangs reaction to the last chapters happenings. Loosely based on My Last Breath by Evanescence, I really like Evanescence, cant you tell? But since its only loosely based on the song, I wont put the lyrics in since I know how much it annoys some of you.)

Aftermath

Fangs PoV

"Fang?" I looked up from my position on the couch. "Yeah, Mom?" She looked awful, and had tears running down her cheeks. I started to get a bad feeling. "Whats wrong?" "Its about Max." she said gently. I felt my face shut down at the familiar name. I flashed back to earlier, how desperate and scared she had seemed.

"Honey." Mom said, sitting down and putting a hand on my shoulder. "Maxs body was found in the woods a couple miles from your school." My breath hitched at her gentle words. Did she mean… "What do you mean… Maxs body?" I asked quietly, already knowing the answer but still desperately wishing I was wrong.

Even though Max had abandoned me for her perfect little boyfriend Dylan, I still loved her. And I was still worried when she walked around with bruises, or constantly on edge. "It means... shes dead Fang." I felt a tear prickle in my eye, and bit my lip. "How?" I choked out. She knew what I meant. Sighing, she said, "They found her in the woods. She had been shot and, uh, raped." She whispered the last word.

Again, I flashed back to the earlier scene. How Max had ran out of the janitors closet, terrified, and how Dylan had come out behind her holding his nose. How she had begged me to stay. How I walked away.

Instantly it clicked. Dylan had murdered Max. And it was my fault for walking away. That's when I broke, letting the tears fall down my face. "Oh, honey." Mom murmured, pulling me into her arms. Usually I didn't like hugs, but I was broken. My fault, my fault, my fault. Those two words circled over and over in my head.

"Mom." I said. "I know who killed her." She pulled back, surprised. "Who?" "Dylan. And… its my fault." I broke down again while Mom went to call the police. Within minutes they were ready to interrogate me.

"We were told you had some information that could help us?" The woman cop said. She had long, slightly curly brown hair and brownish gray eyes. She was dressed normally, but I could still see her gun and her badge. The man beside her was also plainly clothed, but he didn't have a badge or a gun. He had carefully combed brown, slightly graying, hair and blue eyes.

"I want to know your names before I say anything." I whispered hoarsely. The woman smiled understandingly. "My name is Detective Kate Beckett, and this is Richard Castle." (A/N Sorry, couldn't resist) I nodded shortly and took a deep breath. "I know who killed her." They glanced at each other, then back at me. "Who?" Castle asked. "Her boyfriend, Dylan Gunther Hagan." Beckett leaned closer. "There is evidence to suggest that Dylan was stalking her. Do you know anything about that?" I shook my head. "Look, im just gonna tell you everything I know in one shot, k?" They nodded.

"Ok. Max was my best friend. But when she started dating Dylan he became crazy possessive of her. He made her stop being friends with me, and I was really bitter." A tear streaked down my cheek. "Earlier today, at school, Max came running out of a janitors closet looking terrified. She bumped into me and tried to hide behind me… but I pushed her away." I swallowed really hard before continuing.

"Dylan staggered out after her, holding his nose and swearing. I think she broke it. Anyway, after I saw him I started to leave. Max begged me not to… and I walked away." I buried my face in my hands and muttered again, "I just walked away." Then I composed myself and looked back up. "I never saw her again. I could have stopped this. Its my fault. If I hadn't walked away," Beckett put a hand on my shoulder.

"Its not your fault. Its Dylans fault, not yours. If you hadn't walked away, he could've killed both of you, or just got her later. Its not your fault." I muttered, "But at least I would've spared her some heartache." Castle looked at me curiously. "That's not all of it." He said. I blinked at him. "What?" "I mean." He said. "I mean you aren't telling us everything." He looked me dead in the eye and asked,

"You loved her, didn't you?" I looked down at my hands, then back up at him. Finally I said, "Yes. I loved her." Castle nodded, almost sadly.

Time skip to that night

I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling, letting tears fall freely. Eventually I fell asleep, and into a dream.

I was chasing a laughing Max through a snowy forest, her giggles echoing in the cold air. A second later she disappeared. I smiled. I knew exactly where she would hide. I carefully crept around a tree with large, fragile looking ice patterns hanging from the branches. Then I spotted it.

A large, hollow tree. My smile grew, and I crept over to the tree. "Boo!" I exclaimed, making Max jump and yelp a little. We both laughed, then her face turned to one of sadness. "Whats wrong?" I asked. She started to fade away. I frantically tried to grab onto her, but she slipped right through my fingers. "Max!" I yelled. Please please please please don't take her from me again!

Despite my pleas, I still woke up, my face wet with tears. I felt fresh ones make their way down my cheeks, and that hollow feeling returned. I rolled over to bury my face into the pillow, and froze when I felt something warm in my arms. I looked down. There was nothing there. Yet, my arms circled the warm area. I could feel Max pressed against me.

Oh, my God. I felt her fingers gently brush some hair out of my eyes, and felt her warm lips on my forehead. Then I could hear her voice, light and breathy, whisper, "I love you." Then she was gone, the warmth, the touches everything. Was I going crazy? What had that been? Had it really been… Max?

Finally, I gave in, and full out sobbed.

(A/N I know Fang seems a little soft, but come on. His soul mate and best friend had just been murdered, and he knows he could've stopped it. Again, I apologize for the Castle thing but I had to.

UNF-

Silence)