Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, and most of the story line belongs to James Patterson.
Max's POV:
I hurt all over, and felt like total crap. My head was pounding, my insides burning, and my entire body still obnoxiously shaking. After I blacked out, I regained consciousness in what must have been minutes. Jeb had rushed into the room and told Ari to stop. Like I thought, they didn't want to kill me. I almost tried to die, just to spite them, but thought of Angel, thought of Nudge, thought of Iggy, Gazzy, and Ella, thought of my mom. Thought of Fang, and I changed my mind.
I would live to spite them. I would escape this hell hole and come back and rub it in their faces.
The thought itself made me happy.
Anyhow, an obviously scared whitecoat escorted me back to my cage, where I saw Fang sitting in the corner. We still were down the hall, but I guess he heard us, because I saw his lean, tall figure get up and wait for me. The whitecoat swiped her card to unlock the door and gently pushed me in.
Humph. Gently. She must have been a novice. As soon as she left, Fang engulfed me in a huge hug.
"Max, Max, Max." He crooned. "Are you okay? How do you feel?"
"Ow. Oww!" I muttered under my breath. I didn't want to break the hug, but it was hurting me. I guess he heard because he apologetically pulled away.
"Where?" He asked me, already knowing that his first two questions were stupid. I most definitely was not okay. Duh, I felt like crap.
I tried to grin at him. "Everywhere." Suddenly a thought struck my mind. "Fang, you didn't tell them anything, right? You better have kept your mouth shut, boy!"
He looked at me, incredulous. "No, I didn't say anything. Forget that, sit down. I don't want you to faint again."
For once in my life I listened without arguing. I sat down and leaned against a wall, greatly in need of a nap.
"What happened in there, Max?" Fang asked me softly. I could feel my eyelids start to droop.
"Um." I said, squeezing my eyes in concentration.
"Don't bother answering. You should get some sleep. Just point to where your worst wounds are; I'll take care of them." He told me. I nodded gratefully.
"It's mostly my stomach." I informed him, way past the point of being even remotely embarrassed. "My back, but it's just the cut. And my legs hurt badly, but I think that's just internal." I yawned and blinked tiredly.
Fang scooted closer to me and put my head in his lap. He was sitting Indian style, so I could comfortably use his legs as a pillow, and he could access every where he had to for cleaning out my injuries.
I was out in a matter of minutes.
…..
When I woke up, my head was still in Fang's lap, but I felt loads better. My body still hurt all over, much worse than before, but not nearly as bad as yesterday.
"Fang?" I croaked, wincing at my hoarse voice.
He looked like he was sleeping, but he must have been at least a bit awake because his eyes flicked open at the sound of my voice.
"Water?" he asked.
I nodded. It was actually exactly what I'd wanted, and I was really happy that he knew that about me for some reason. Must have been the pain.
"I, uh, treated your cuts. Most of it's internal, and you'll just have to heal on your own. Maybe we can ask for an aspirin or something." Fang said, shifting uncomfortably.
OH. It must have been the whole taking my shirt off so he could treat the cuts on my chest and stomach part. Whatever. He could get over it. I mean, I wasn't embarrassed about it, so how could he be?
"Max, I think it's my day for testing. What's the plan?" He asked.
"I don't have any idea." I admitted.
He looked slightly shocked, probably at my admission. Then he smirked at me. "What, I thought you ALWAYS have a plan. The great Maximum Ride, plan less?" He teased.
I tried to laugh, but it was more of a huff. "Give me a break. I was just electrocuted within an inch of my life." I replied, in the same tone. His face fell as soon as I said it though.
"I know. I'm sorry." He said, all traces of happiness gone from his voice.
"Hey." I scooted closer to him, even though it was killing my tailbone and butt. "It's not your fault. I would have done the same thing if the roles were reversed." He knew I was telling the truth. Sure, it would have hurt me, but I value the flock's safety over everything.
"I know." He blinked sadly at me.
"What do you think we should do?" I asked him, and then punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Oh, wise one."
Grinning, he punched me lightly back.
I swore under my breath and Fang looked at me, alarmed.
"I'm sorry." His eyes were the size of saucers. The expression looked so odd on him I burst out laughing.
"Fang, it's okay! I'm okay! I'll be fine!" It was only partly the truth. I mean, I would be fine, but I technically wasn't okay. That's fine, he knew what I meant.
"And I always have a plan. I was just testing you. The plan is that you go ahead and let them test on you. Cooperate. Whenever we see an escape route, we'll fight our way out. But we should wait for a bit because I can't really fight yet." I hated, absolutely HATED to add that last bit. It made me sound weak and pathetic.
And the worst part was, I was weak and pathetic for the time being. There was no way I would be able to fight. I mean, moving hurt for me! Sitting up hurt me! How was I supposed to fight.
Had it been for any other reason, Fang would have teased me mercilessly about being so weak, but I feel like he wouldn't bring this incident up every again if he could help it. I think he was trying to help me forget. And besides, he was looking at me like he was proud of me for admitting I wasn't always perfect.
Or, hey, wait, that might have just been a smirk. Just kidding about that last bit, then.
A whitecoat came to the door. I think it was the same lady who let me back in last time, but that memory was so hazy I really don't remember. She asked Fang to come out, and he got up, but then he paused.
"Stay put, kay? Sleep if you can. Try not to move too much." I nodded at his instructions. "Stretch, though." He added as an afterthought.
The whitecoat cleared her throat. Fang glared at her and she backed off quickly. Then he gave me a peck on the forehead and walked away, leaving me more confused than ever.
….
I must have fallen asleep again, because I opened my eyes to see Fang back in the cage. He was staring at the wall, but I guess he was looking at me with his peripheral vision because his head snapped towards me the minute I looked up.
"Hey. How'd it go?" I asked him, referring to the testing.
His eyes darkened, and I instantly dreaded bad news.
"It was fine." He reassured me. "Just…I just found out about something."
I raised my eyebrows, not trusting myself to talk.
"Well, they were doing x-rays and stuff of me, and I caught a glimpse of one of them." He took a deep breath.
"You're not the only one with a chip in your arm, Max. Judging by the scientist's words, we each have one."
My eyes widened. No freaking way!
"And the worst part is, it's how they've been controlling us."
…
Cliffy! :) Review and message me, guys. It means a lot to me. So there was a teensy, teensy bit a Faxness in there. Just a tad. Sorry about that, but here's a secret:
They're not really going to get together till later. And until then, nothing for them! Except for tiny little scenes like this.
Am I doing okay with the posting? Do you want them sooner, longer, how?