Here's the next chapter. So no throwing me off a cliff right? Thanks for the cookies, very nice.

Review and I'll put another one up tonight.

Disclaimer: blah, blah, blah, based of books from James Patterson, blah, blah…

Chapter 11

My eyes shot open and I quickly and rather clumsily got up off Fang. He looked up at me still reclined on the couch with determination, 'Max, what's going on,' he asked.

I let out a little laugh. 'Well, okay my turn. Well.. ,' I said and started pacing the room. Fang sat up but remained on the couch. Good he was giving me space. Good.

I stopped in front of him, 'Okay, yes. I did save the world. And I really had to save the world.' He looked up at me eyebrow lifted indicating confusion.

'I figured you fulfilled your destiny since we're still here and the world didn't end,' Fang said, 'but can you tell me what exactly you had to save all us from?' A little more sarcasm that time.

I shoved my hands in my pants pockets, actually Fang's pockets, and took a deep breath. I started telling him about everything dealing with Jeb, the RCF's and nuclear weapons. I told him about my training which got him a little riled up. I skimmed over the details about the mission and left out completely the details about my capture. He could tell.

'You're leaving stuff out. That's a pretty rough sketch of everything Max.' He stated and stood up and walked towards me. I started pacing again and ended up walking in circles around him.

'Well, Fang, war is not pretty. The details are not pretty. The whole situation sucked and I really don't want to go back there. So excuse me for not gushing out my entire experience. If I write a book about it I'll make sure you get the first copy!' I could hear my voice rise until I was practically shouting at him. Why was I screaming at him? Why did I want to just punch him for no reason? I stopped abruptly and turned to face him.

'I am so sorry, I don't know where that came from. You didn't deserve that,' I said. He didn't move, he just looked at me with shook his head slightly. After a minute he finally broke the silence.

'You have a right to be mad. You are entitled to be angry,' he shifted his feet and continued, 'You've been through hell and I can't even begin to relate. I'm the one that should be sorry. You don't have to talk about the specifics if you don't want to but if you do I'll always listen.'

I let out a sigh of relief. 'Thanks Fang. I will one day, just yeah.' I let out a small smile.

'So, next question who's the-', I cut him off before he could finish his statement.

'Yeah, is anyone following me?' A part of me didn't want to reveal Faith yet. 'No. When I escaped the compound no one followed me.' I smiled a little. 'They were preoccupied at the time.'

'Preoccupied with what? And are you sure?' He asked. 'Because these people seem to have a lot more resources than the school ever did.'

He was right. If Jeb and the school were masters of corruption then this group was the teacher.

'Anne set up a cover for me-.'

'ANNE!' Fang shouted. 'How the hell was Anne there?'

Oh yeah. I never got around to telling him Anne was Jeb's boss. Woops. 'Umm, Anne turned out to be the head of the schools research board. Jeb's boss so to speak.' I stopped and for a minute to let it sink into Fang. He looked livid.

'She was bad?' He asked.

'Yes and no. She started out on my evil lists but,' I trailed off. 'thing's changed.'

'Oh, right so now Anne and Jeb are singing your praises?' He scoffed over to a window. He was mad but I don't think at me. His jaw clinched as he tried to gain composer. If he was going to loose it from just finding out about Anne and the mission then I didn't want to see him learning about Faith and the other things.

He turned to me, 'And you said it only took you a year and a half to train and take down the evil Russians. Tell me Max, what were you doing for two and a half years? If Jeb and Anne weren't the enemy why couldn't they let you go?'

I threw my hands in the air and my laugh was weak and pathetic. 'I'm trying to tell you Fang! A lot of things happened, a lot of things changed. After I came back from Russia Jeb and Anne were no longer in control of me. Apparently the guys above them saw my potential…. for…other uses.' I shook my head and sat back down on the couch. My gaze dropped to Faith. 'Jeb and Anne had no control over what happened to me. They tried Fang, they really did. I'm sure they wouldn't have let me go right after I saved the world but...they never would have done what the other men did. It was worst than the school.'

I could hear Fang's breathing from across the room. 'So you endured it. And Anne helped you escape. And you rescued another hybrid captive, huh.' He said. 'You always had to be the hero.'

I looked up at him as he came and sat by me again. 'Yes and no, again. Heh. Yes, I rescued her from them but she's more than just a captive Fang.' I shook my head slowly and looked in his eyes. 'They did things to me. Experiments and stuff. They were interested in improving my abilities and really interested in expanding them. They couldn't reengineer another person, Jeb and Anne wouldn't help them so they acquired…certain…things and tried to,' I swallowed as Fang's forehead creased, 'they tried to create it natura—' The door to the front of the house barged in.

'FANG!, Fang! Where are you, OH MY GOD FANG!,' it was a girls voice and she sounded frantic.

I turned to Fang, 'Who-?' But he shot up and walked fast to the entrance to the living room.

She barged in then, gun in hand and her brown hair flying around her shoulders as she looked around the room. 'Oh God Fang! Your okay,' she looked scared and I could see some tears on her face.

'Jess what are you doing here?' He asked and she threw herself into a hug with him. I immediately stood and picked Faith up walking to the farthest corner away from the two of them. I also noticed Fang didn't pull his wings in. She knew.

'When the kids came over last night they were so scared and upset. They said she came back,' she glanced at me and back at Fang, her grip on his shoulders tightened. My eyes never left the gun.

'Jess put the gun away. Everything is fine, she did come back but it's the real her. Come on, put it away. Calm down. I'm fine' He rubbed her arms for comfort as she placed the gun back behind her pants. Watching him touch her made me want to throw up.

She seemed to gain some sense and wiped her face.

'I told them they had to go to school today so not to raise suspicion but that I would come by and check on you.' She laughed a little. 'Iggy and Nudge had to help restrain Gazzy who wanted to come with me. I stayed up all night trying to comfort Angel and Igg was trying to comfort me. I didn't know exactly what to do when I came here so,' she took a breath and smiled, 'I'm happy your alright.'

Fang laughed. He actually laughed at her. 'Yeah, I'm great.' He turned and looked at me for the first time since 'Jess' came in. 'Jess this is Max, the real Max,' he stated and turned back to the other woman.

'Hello,' she said cautiously never moving from Fangs side. That's okay, I didn't move from my fighting corner either. She turned back to Fang, 'Do you want me to get the kids from school and bring them back home?'

'Umm,' he looked from me to her, 'No. Let them stay at school go ahead and call them and let them know I'm okay though. When they go back to your house give me a call before you bring them over.' He talked to her in a natural tone.

'Sure.' She replied. I noticed her voice was very smooth and her eyes were almond shape. My heart sunk. She was really pretty and she seemed to know everything. He moved on.

Fang sucked in a breath and turned back to me. 'Max and I were trying to catch up so…' She took the hint and with a nod and a quick smile and wave at me turned to leave with Fang behind her.

I couldn't move. I couldn't talk or even function. I was in a state of utter shock. Of course he would move on. It's been four years. Wait, no. I don't even know if their a couple and if they were then what was all that on the couch earlier. He hasn't kissed me yet but he didn't kiss her either. Was she expecting a kiss? Did he just not kiss her in front of me out of respect? Is that why he followed her to the door? Oh, crap.

Fang reappeared and stood with his hands in his pockets. His face held the look of pain and sadness. 'Sorry about that. She's really protective of every-'

Finding my voice I cleared it and responded, 'Yeah. I noticed…. Friend?' I asked weakly.

He winced, 'Sort of. She's a really good friend, Max.'

'Right. Of course.' I swallowed hard trying not to cry. I've been crying too much anyway. 'You would….have…..and the flock likes her I guess. She knows about us?'

'Yes. She does. And yes, the flock really likes her.' He relpied. Each word cutting deeper into my chest.

'So you're just announcing it to the world now! Fine whatever! Have fun with your girlfriend,' I huffed passed him and headed for my room, umm, Fangs room. I saw stars and I felt like I would pass out soon.

'Max, no it's not like that,' he yelled after me. 'She is JUST a friend.' He followed me and stopped as I slammed the door in his face.

I stumbled over to the rocking chair, tears now blinding me. Faith started to whimper as I noticed it was past time for another feeding and her nap.

'Max, open the door. This is ridiculous.' He paused for a second, ' I'm not going to have a conversation with a wooden door,' another pause, 'Fine have it your way. But we ARE going to talk about this sooner or later.'

I wiped the tears from my eyes as I looked at Faith. She struggled to get her head towards my chest proving her hunger. 'Okay honey,' I whispered but my tears made it sound slurred. I allowed her to eat as I continued to cry.

They replaced me. He moved on and the flock replaced me. And to make it worse she seemed really nice. A non-Lisa redhead dizzy kind of nice. Nice enough to risk her life for Fang and the others.

My tears fell down my face until my own exhaustion stopped them. I didn't know how long I sat there staring out at the window but I never wanted to leave the room. I felt like a fool. So stupid.

'Max,' I heard him whisper but it was too close. I jerked my head away from the window and found my self staring into Fang's rich dark eyes.

He started to say something but his head lowered to Faith and her head wobbling under my shirt. He let out a small gasp. He's not dumb, not by a long shot. So I knew he could put two and two together.

He looked back up at me, 'She's yours.' He said, barley audible.

I nodded once and replied, 'And yours.'