A/N: Okay, I know I promised some Fax, but I have to say that I lied…*waits for things to be thrown at me* Well, I didn't lie, I just haven't gotten to it…yet. I'm trying to get there I promise!

Blitz: Liar…

Me: Shut up! Don't forget that I own you and I can kill you off anytime I wish.

Blitz: Oh yeah…but I own this knife and Max!

Me: *sigh* No, Blitz, you don't.

Blitz: But why? I could always just kill Fang!

Me: How about no? Just tell the nice people what I told you so they can get on with the story m'kay?

Blitz: Fine, whatever… Kenzie does not own Maximum Ride, James Patterson does… She only owns me and Hightower… Wait, so does that mean that you work for Itex since you invented me? 'Cause that's creepy, and why don't you ever let Itex win then?

Me: No, Blitz! I don't work for Itex, now shut up and go elsewhere for a while before I kill you off. Or let Max do it… Now, on with the story!

~ The Angel Assassin ~

Chapter 7: A Not So Happy Homecoming

Blitz was angry. He was quickly escalating beyond that, if it was possible. All of his trouble revolved around a certain hybrid who just happened to be MIA. Still his anger was directed at himself not her. He never could bring himself to hate her though he should.

"What have you gotten yourself into, Max?" Blitz asked the silent air knowing he'd gone too far outside of their search perimeter.

He'd seen Max fall and yet she had vanished completely. Right now Blitz just wished they'd never come on this mission. Yeah, and he also wished Max would love him back and since he couldn't change the past, neither wish seemed likely to come true at this moment.

If only he could get Max to see his true potential, the real reason they called him Blitzkrieg. Unfortunately he knew she wouldn't. She was just as stubborn as he was. She was also the only one who'd even told his no, the only one who'd rejected his fire and passion. Still that had only made him want her more. After all forbidden fruit is by far the sweetest.

Besides he was far better than the weirdo he'd read about in a file he'd found lying about on Max. She'd called the guy's name in her sleep and woken up oblivious and he wasn't about to tell her. Actually, Blitz had never known Max to be oblivious. In the time he'd known her, she'd been cool and quiet, mostly keeping to herself. That had made him want to understand her, made him wish she'd open up to him.

"Blitz, there's still no sign and we've been at it for hours," Raze said interrupting Blitz's contemplative thoughts. "If anything she probably woke up alone and injured and went back to the Compound."

"Yeah, probably relaxing in relative bliss under Hightower's watch while we search in the mud," Switch added with a growl. "Let's go back man."

"I don't think it's wise to talk about her like that," Blitz said angrily. "I might use it against you."

Still even as Switch flinched away, Blitz was thinking about what he said. He mentally weighed the options while simultaneously chewing his lip. He'd always wanted leader position, but now with the weight of it on his winged shoulders, he was changing his mind. If he went back and Max was there everything would be fine and they could retry the mission later. On the other hand, if she wasn't…he shuddered imagining what Hightower might do to him. So either he'd be making the best decision or doing the most dumb butt thing possible. His odds weren't great.

Either way they weren't getting anywhere out here searching. "All right, let's get back and talk to Hightower," he said trying to sound wise. "Fingers crossed guys, fingers crossed."

***

Finally after days of being in endless darkness, I opened my eyes to bright sunlight filtering through the window. My head wasn't throbbing like it was before and I could actually think straight. Kind of…

If I could think straight, I wouldn't be here still. I'd have gotten the heck out of here the second I got an opportunity. But you don't want to leave, my subconscious says randomly. You're interested by this Fang, and you want to know him like you did back then.

"I just want to make some sense of all this," I mutter in quiet response to myself.

At the moment, nothing made any sense. I was related to Dr. Martinez and Dr. Batchelder as well as Ella. I wasn't blood related to Angel, Fang, or the rest of the Flock, but I did feel closer to them. Heck, apparently I'd been through hell and back to get them safely here two years ago. I'd even traded all my memories for their freedom, not that I could remember doing so. It was more or less an information overload. No wonder my headaches have been acting up. Remembering a lifetime is hard work.

Still out of all of this, Fang made the least sense. If my memories were to be believed Fang and I had been…had been what? We'd always been close, but never together. He'd tried and I'd pushed him away, I think. Now despite the things Angel had told me about him, he'd become extremely distant. He'd done exactly what I had done at the Compound by putting up barriers that no one could get through. I'd done that and gone so far as to numb myself to Blitz's constant affection. So you can why it was such a shock to my system to realize that I had once had a heart. That I'd once loved without being afraid of dying the next day or rather knowing I might die the next day had made it that much better.

"Hey! You're finally awake!" a blonde girl I vaguely recognized chirped bounding into the room with a huge grin pasted across her features. "I was starting to think you'd slipped into a coma or something."

Wouldn't that be nice? At least in a coma, I wouldn't have to figure out what was going on around here.

"Anyway, Mom figured you would want a shower when you woke up so she made sure there's plenty of hot water for you," she said with a grin. "It's Angel by the way, in case you were wondering."

"Mom?" I mumbled under my breath.

"Well, technically she's your mom, but I call her that too," Angel said with a grin. "That's Dr. Martinez by the way."

"How long have I been here?" I asked trying to ignore the fact that I'd almost killed my mom. I sat there absent mindedly wondering why Blitz hadn't busted in here all gung ho to save me. I wonder if Fang would've even bothered to stop him.

"Well, you've been out for three days, more or less," Angel said thoughtfully. "You woke up almost in time for dinner."

Three days? This news floored me. And here I was under the impression that Blitz's love was undying and he'd go to any length to save me. Yeah right. Still it was weird that Hightower hadn't sent a search party, me being his favorite and all. Unless Blitz hadn't told him yet, which would be like him. Maybe Blitz hadn't even gone back yet and he still thought I was out wandering somewhere injured and praying for him. That jerk.

"Is Blitz someone from the Compound?" Angel asked suddenly watching me with curiosity filling her eyes.

"How'd…" I trailed off at her sheepish smile.

"I can read minds remem…oh right," she said her tone apologetic. "I forget you don't remember this stuff. We've all got special little quirks. I can read minds, Gazzy copies voices, etc."

"Oh, yeah well, he was my second in command," I said simply turning away from her inquisitive gaze. It was weird telling this little girl things that I'd normally tell to no one.

"That's weird," she giggled.

"What is?" I asked having no clue what she meant.

"I didn't think you could stand to have anyone besides Fang as your second," she grinned taking my hand and tracing my scars.

"I doubt that," I muttered watching her fingers run patterns along the back of my hand.

"Why?" she asked innocently as I bit my lip not sure how to respond.

"He doesn't even speak to me," I said taking a deep breath. "Hell, he can't stand me."

Angel sat still the look on her face determined. We sat in silence for a few minutes before she said anything more.

"Fang has," she started searching for the right words, "more or less decided that hope doesn't exist. When we were finally safe here with your mom he was ecstatic. He just figured he would have all the time in the world to make himself the man you wanted, but shortly after we all thought we were safe…we lost you. Even though you went as a willing hostage, he blamed himself. Then just when he'd started to smooth over some of his worst wounds, though most of them were still bleeding anyway, you came back. He was elated again, only to find out that you didn't remember anything. To him that was like a final slap in the face by fate or whatever."

"So if he ignores me, he can stay closed off and keep his pain to a minimum," I sighed.

"It's backwards thinking, but it's how Fang does everything," Angel said. "Maybe he just needs a jog to his memory too."

"I think I'd like that shower now," I said changing the subject away from Fang.

"Max," Angel said watching me intently.

"Don't worry Angel, I just need a minute to think," I said with a weak smile.

"Weird, sometimes you sound so much like your old self," she smiled at me. "Oh, Max!" she called after me. I stopped and turned back to face her. "I missed you."

I gave her another half hearted smile and grabbed the towel she had brought me and walked down the hall towards the bathroom. Oh Angel, I thought to myself. If only you knew just how much of this was faked. I don't want it be, but…

But what? The assassin part of me might kill you so I don't dare get close? No, I just really didn't want her to see the twisted mentality they'd given me. It wasn't only my body they'd scarred…

And scarred it was, I noticed as I stood in front of the bathroom mirror. Small, insignificant marks ran the length of my arms and legs, but several in particular caught my eye. The twin two inches scars that ran exactly perpendicular to my collar bone were a jarring reminder of past experiences. An experience I didn't care to recall. That and the six inch incision along my hip bone where a piece of shrapnel had been imbedded. We'd been blowing up a building in South America that was threatening to overthrow Itex. Everything had been routine up until Blitz had set the timer with too short a time before it exploded. We'd been to close to the blast and of course I would be the one who gets hit by shrapnel while Blitz gets off home free. Hightower had about killed Blitz when we'd gotten back.

Yeah, the scars were of some of the worst times at the Compound and yet they were some of my only memories. The only other memories were of killing people for Hightower and learning to enjoy it. Despite the warm water that was spilling from the showerhead, this fact made me shiver.

No wonder Fang hated me. I'd become the very personification of evil to him. I worked for Itex and now that made me one of them. One of the very jerk offs who'd stolen his freedom. Well, buddy boy they'd taken my humanity, but I was at least trying. I wanted him to see that there was more to me. Not because I had anything to prove and not because he'd shared anything with me, but because I at least wanted the reason why he couldn't stand to be around me. I wanted him to see more to me and realize I was trying, which was weird. Why did I care so much about him? Why was him speaking to me so important? I had no idea.

Even without him, though, all of the Flock had acted like I'd never been gone as they went about their normal routines. It was hard to believe that I'd been a part of any of this. At the Compound things were so cold and distant.

Maybe I could stay. At least long enough to understand. Blitz could wait. I was finding myself.

***

"You did what?" Hightower screamed at an extremely agitated Blitz.

"It's not like we had much choice," Blitz shot back in low tones. "We looked everywhere, but there was no sign to suggest…"

"I don't care about signs, Blitz!" Hightower retorted. "I need results and I can't get those results without Max."

"I'm still here," Blitz growled.

Hightower went on like Blitz hadn't spoken. "Do you know what Max is worth to me? I spent the last two years creating the perfect assassin and you destroyed it in ten measly minutes."

"I love Max too, but…" Blitz tried again.

"What makes you think that matters?" Hightower said in a mocking tone. "Your love won't bring her back home where she belongs."

"Watch it," he muttered fingering his sunglasses.

"Regardless, you have five minutes to prepare a team and go back," the Director said dryly. "No more screw ups this time. Your incompetence is becoming quite taxing and you might just pay for it."

Blitz spun on his heel and marched away to find the team. He'd show Hightower. He cared about Max and this fact alone would bring her home with him. If it didn't, he'd use any force necessary.

"What's up Blitz?" Switch called eyeing his squad mate's deadly expression.

"We're leaving again," he replied in a low growl.

"When?" Kyle asked appearing behind Switch.

"Now," Blitz answered coldly. As soon as he found Max, he'd kill anyone he had to just to have her. Even if that meant Hightower. He would take her off on their own away from his personal hell. She'd have to love him then.

***

A/N: Now I promise that the next chapters will be leading up to some major Fax! Basically, there will be a chapter of pure Fax coming, but I need to work up to it first. So hold on! There will be so much Fax; it's possible to drown in it so it will make up for these first chapters I swear!

Blitz: Fax makes me nauseous…

Me: Thank you Blitz…*looks irritated* As always, if you have any ideas that I could use, please let me know! Remember that I love constructive criticism! In fact, I need it so please push Bob and leave some!

Blitz: Tell her how much you love me and how you think I should win! 'Cause you know you do!

~lightNdarkangel