A/N: You all would be proud of me, I was able to type an introduction paper to my English class about me, reflected through my account. I gave them all my stats and my history with the site…but none of this would've been possible without all of you wonderful people! I am very grateful and blessed to be able to say that this site has made this much of an impact on my life…you ALL have made a huge impact on my life! Thank you all so much, I love you all!
Just as a foot-note, I am so very sorry I haven't updated in frigging forever and I would like to give all of you awards for coming back to read and review this, my family has had multiple tragedies in the past year, not to mention me graduating, working a crap-load, and helping my boyfriend move into his own apartment. I know I said this before but I swear I will at least continue updating this story and conclude it hopefully before the last (*cries hysterically*) Maximum Ride comes out in February.

Disclaimer: I'm not J.P., although I'd love to be :)

Chapter Ten: In the Middle

Fang POV

In the middle of the desert, in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night, I am in the middle of the greatest thing in my life, the one person I live for I'm holding close to the middle of my chest, our hearts beating erratically out of control to the point of no return to normalcy afterwards. Max's hair was falling out of her ponytail and encasing her lightly-colored face. She was so pale and fragile and it was all my fault I knew it was.

But this couldn't go on forever. The Flock comes first and she needed to realize this…

But I can't let go yet, she's been gone for so long from reality, now that she's back all Hell would break loose if I left her now.

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do though…

Max POV

This isn't happening, it can't be, it's got to be another dream. I'm going to wake up in Fang's bed in about 20 seconds and get really mad and then cry myself back to sleep again, that's how it always is, that's how it's going to be for me for the next twenty years, I'm going to wake-up right….now.

I squinted my eyes and looked to see Fang's five o'clock shadow on his clearly defined chin and grinned to myself.

You're made for each other. Don't let him go again, Max. But don't lose track of what's important in life right now, you need to save the world, Max. Are you listening to me?

Clearly, not. The Voice could shut-up and leave me alone for once in my life when I actually want it to.

This is perfect. When I lay into the crook of Fang's broad shoulder I could still hear his heart ramming against the ribcage. He can't leave me now, he just can't.

Dylan POV

I'm home? How? Oh my God I feel like I've been hit by an 18 wheeler…

In an instant rage filled me through all of my bones and deep within the core of my chest.

I propped myself up onto one elbow, "Hey, Nudge?"

"Oh, Dylan! You're okay! Do you need anything? I can make some soup or a new bandage or a glass of juice or water or would you like the remote from the TV?"

She took a breath as if to say more and I knew this was my opportunity:

"No, actually I was wondering where Fang is."

She looked down and bit her lower lip, "Umm, yeah, about that…"

It was at this point that I realized that I didn't feel Max anywhere around me, she definitely wasn't in the house, I didn't know about the rest of the property but she wasn't here, that was for sure.

I leaned up and sort of felt like I was hit in the center of the forehead by a Louisville Slugger.

Oh yeah, that was Fang's fist.

"You really shouldn't try to get up, Dylan, I know you're supposed to heal uber fast or whatever but that's just not a really good idea cause you're not doing too good and I don't think you could make it very far…"

"How far do I need to go?"

Nudge didn't reply, but instead cracked open another bottle of hydrogen peroxide.

I'm going to find them. He's not going to take my Max from me, not now, not ever.

I'll get him, and he will not see it coming like I can.

A/N: The end of Chapter Ten, wooh into the double digits now! I know it was short but if I get a bunch of hits and some encouraging reviews I will try my bestest to get another chapter up within this week. :D

Read-on,

hawkstar2