" Max?"
I clenched my eyes shut, with fear as I realized I was not touching the raged fabric of my old jeans but something must softer.
My fingers ached as they clutched around the foreign fabric. Scratch the fingers! My whole freaking body hurt like I had been mauled by bear and then mauled by a pack of freakin wolverines. The ache seemed to continue deep into my bones, as if punishing me for my improper conduct with Fang.
Fang. The mere thought made tears start to well under my tightly closed eye lids.
Fang, who had frozen to death. The taste of him still lingered on my lips and that made me want to choke on my own tears.
" Max, wake up!" Someone was shaking my shoulder as I tried to make myself as small as possible.
Small thing, smaller target. I thought as the shaking continued. Who ever was bothering me didn't seem to know that smaller target rule, apparently.
For Heavens sake!, wasn't I already deep enough in hell without being put through an earth quake.
" Max…" The tearful cooing brought me to attention for a second. I knew that sweet voice that voice belonged to my beautiful baby girl.
My Angel!
Slowly I opened my eyes, my whole body tense with anxiety.
At first the shapes where blurred as I stared at my flock, their images becoming slowly clearer.
" Max!" Gasman exalted as I slowly sat up, each bone creaking in protest.
" Guys." I finally croaked as I realized it had been Iggy's arm on my shoulder, and my heart shattered. I looked at each of their faces in turn, each was worried and flushed.
Fang wasn't among them though, there was no olive skinned boy smiling at me thru a curtain of dark hair.
I instantly bowed my head and drew my knees up against my chest. He was gone, he was really gone!
" Max?" Nudge asked quietly as she lay her small hand on my knee.
" It's okay. Max, your safe know." Iggy murmured as he draped an arm around my shoulder.
No I wasn't. Didn't they realize that Fang was dead!
Locked forever in the cold fingers of that freakin avalanche! I knew I was crying softly as Iggy slowly rubbed my back and Angel patted the top of my hand delicately.
" Its okay, Max." Angel said gently, while Gasman shuffled his feet nervously.
They weren't used to seeing me this way. Heck I wasn't used to seeing me this way.
I was pathetic. Truly pathetic.
" I don't know why she's crying." Gazzy whispered out of the corner of his mouth to Iggy who ignored him.
" Max, its okay."
Another heart beat had suddenly entered the room as I buried my head against my knees.
" Hey, is she okay." A concerned voice asked as Iggy returned to rubbing my back, in a relaxing circuit.
" She's fine Ted." He reassured .
" No…" I sobbed weakly " Fang…."
" What is she talking about, is she talking about….the boy" The foreign voice questioned and I looked up, the tears catching in my throat.
" Fang?" I wiped my hand across my eyes as I sniffed miserably "He died, I couldn't hear his heart, Iggy…"
Iggy chuckled quietly and I spun to glare at him. The new comer was next to him arms crossed across his chest. He was a young man in his late twenties, and he was grinning.
" She thought Fang was dead." Nudge smiled as I glared at them all in turn my face slowly slipping toward shock.
" He's not…." I whispered and Gasman shook his head ecstatically.
" No!" Angel chimed in as Iggy gently steered my head in the right direction.
" He sleeps like the dead though…." He observed as my heart went shooting up into my throat.
Fang was lying perfectly still in the hospital bed just a few feet away. His face was peaceful, almost wistful and pale as his bandaged arm rested on top of the sheets. He was in a hospital dress his long black hair shading his face like a curtain.
" Fang." I breathed his name savoring each syllable as if each one was the last sound I would make.
" Fang!"
I stumbled up, my legs where almost too weak to support me as I struggled to stay up. Iggy reached out, and held me up from behind.
Angel grabbed on to my hospital dress then threw her arms around my waist. " I was scared for you, Max." She whispered as I scooped her up, my hands shaking.
" I was scared for you too." I smiled as she nuzzled up against me.
Ted remained next to Iggy as I slowly made my way over to Fang's bed, the whole while hugging Angel against me.
He looked so perfect, as I strained to hear his heart. There it was! A feeble but rapid heart beat that made my own heart scream with joy.
I ignored the crazed beeping of his heart monitor and every one else in the room. All I could focus on was Fang.
I ran my trembling hand across his pale forehead and he sighed. " Max….?"
" I'm here." I smiled as Angel rested her face against mine, her eyelashes batting against my cheek like butterfly wings.
" I …" Fang said heavily as he looked up at me with a forced smile. " I .. didn't leave you… Max."
My mind instantly flashed back to me lying on his chest, begging him not to leave me. He hadn't left me after all.
" You didn't" I smiled as I gently set Angel down on the hospital bed and she scrambled to snuggle up against Fang's chest.
" Thank you." I whispered as I leaned in, tell Fang's and my face were only an inch apart.
My lips hesitated over his cheek, as he closed his eyes in exhaustion. I then in one swift instinctive move pressed my lips against his cold, hard ones.
I heard Iggy hoot with laughter as Fang kissed me back, his lips weak but at the same time determined and sharp.
" I didn't leave you." He breathed gently against my neck. " And I never will Max, no matter how much you frustrate me!"
