A/N: Oh, my GOSH!!! LIKE, WHOA!!! I never expected so many reviews so quickly! I literally jumped out of my chair and started screaming (my boyfriend and little sister looked at me like I was nuts!)!!!

Oh, to response to various reviews, no, Iggy does not have a "thing" for Max. Sorry if that's confusing, he just feels more protective, now that he sees what he has to protect. Did that make sense? Well, ask if it doesn't. Oops.

And guess what else?

Double Digit Chapters!!! Yaay! Haha. Okay, here we go:

Disclaimer: I'm not James Patterson.

Chapter 10~ In the Air Again

Max POV

I think the front desk was a little startled to see the bird-kids check out so quickly, with all of their belongings. Jeez, I hope this doesn't create a media-freak-out…

After the initial shock of the date had passed, I moved along just fine. Except for the fact that I had my lifespan tattooed on the back of my neck and I had no idea when it would end. But if it's before the end of the month on my neck…I've only got 16 days.

Fang wouldn't let me out of his sight. I was almost afraid to say that I needed to use the bathroom. I had my backpack on, and the rest of the flock did the same. Iggy and Fang were taking Akila and Total, supposedly flying all the way to Arizona carrying them. As we walked out of the hotel—surprise, surprise, using the room key for the like, second time—various people waved and patted us on our backs. Some old farmer guy even offered us a ride out to an open field to take off in; but we respectfully declined.

Instead we walked, or more like speed-walked, over to the little town square where the courthouse was and pulled a U and A. People stared in awe as we hurtled through the air with our gigantic wingspans.

"Are you feeling okay?" Fang asked for about the four hundred and sixty-second time today. I resisted the urge to slap him.

"Yes, Fang, I'm fine. Remember Ari? He had his expiration date on the back of his neck, and he still helped us out."

"Don't even bring that up."

"Me-ow."

Now I think he was resisting the urge to slap me.

We flew on for a few hours and reached the panhandle of Oklahoma, where we pit-landed for a potty break and lunch.

Iggy looked exhausted after carrying Akila for so dang long. I offered to carry her, but Iggy said he was fine.

I was not liking this at all. Everyone is treating me like I am some fragile freaking China Doll or something. Hell-oooo? I'm the leader. I'm fine. All we have to do is get back to Mom's house and all this will be sorted out.

"Max?"

It was Fang; my right-hand-man, my best friend, my, whoa, boyfriend.

I spun around to face him. It didn't take much long of a stare for him to pull me into him again and hug me close. I almost felt like crying. Scratch that, I almost did cry. He pulled me over to the side of the gas station while the others were inside buying food on my Maximum Ride credit card.

Fang leaned against the building and pulled me onto his chest. It felt a little weird, like I almost wanted to get up and stand in front of him. But, a more overwhelming and powerful feeling told me to stay where I was, and enjoy it while I could.

"Max, hey." Fang whispered, tilting my chin up to look at him in the eyes.

"Hmm?"

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise. I'm not going to let anything happen to us."

My heart skipped a beat and tears started filling my eyes. Dang, why did I always cry around Fang? This was so obnoxious!

I buried my face into his chest and let my whole weight pour into him, like I was leaning on him for my life. Which in a sense, I was.

He tilted my face up and kissed my lips softly again before we broke apart and went to go and check on the flock in the supermarket.

No sooner than I opened the door I saw pure horror: Gazzy had two four-packs of Red Bull sitting on the checkout counter. His expression was priceless as I raised one eyebrow and put a hand on my hip.

"What in the world do you think you're doing with those?"

His face flushed and he started stuttering.

"Uh-um-well-uh…"

"Put them back."

He nodded and made the slow trudge to the back of the store. I didn't mean to rain on his parade, but these little monsters were hyper enough, without energy drinks to infuse.

The girls were looking at a rack of gum and various Hershey products, while Gazzy and Iggy went to the back to the fruit juices again. Fang had his hand on my waist and was following me like a puppy.

Eventually, Heaven forbid I find the nutritional stuff, we all settled for sandwiches, Gatorade, more sandwiches, nutrition bars, and some chips for lunch. Akila was panting from the heat of the Oklahoma desert, and Total was black, so that was enough information right there.

"I think we should drive." I declared sometime later.

Seven faces turned toward me. Most cocked to one side.

"Where do you say we find a car, Max?" Iggy asked.

I shrug; we always got along fine with a couple stolen ones anyways right?

"Or not, I was just thinking for Akila." Fang gave me a doubtful look. "Well, if we aren't going to hi-jack a car, I say we either get our butts moving, or find a groomer for Akila here before she suffers heat stroke."

Nudge looked at Akila for a second and snapped her fingers. "I have an idea! Max, can I use the credit card for a second?"

I gave her a what-the-heck-are-you-going-to-do look, but tossed her the card anyways.

She darted into the station and came back out with a couple plastic sacks and a pair of scissors. Oh, no.

Okay, if any of you remember correctly: none of us cut hair. I whack mine off with anything within reach when I can. Fang hardly ever cuts his. And Angel and Gazzy both get their do's from Nudge. This is going to be one heck of a makeover for poor Akila here when we're through with her. I gulp.

The manager turns on the hose so we can soak her down while Total murmurs reassuring words to her. Nudge, with scissors armed and ready, begins to hack away at the thick, Malamute hair. Leaving just enough around her eyes and ears, she moves professionally down her neck, torso, hind legs, front legs, belly, and snips of her tail. The whole ordeal lasts a little more than an hour, and we had to get more bags. It looks like someone murdered a sheep and put it's body it separate bags. Gross.

But Akila looked like a new dog. With a smile and a figure I'd never seen before, she looked so much lighter than usual. We waited for her coat to dry, and Iggy picked her up.

"Oh, yeah, now her long mane's not sticking to my arm! Nice job, Nudge."

Akila look genuinely happy as well.

Within a couple of minutes we were up in the air again and headed south, southwest. If we kept up the speed we were currently at, we should make it to Arizona before sunset. It's only one more state and a couple cities over.

One More State and a Couple Cities Over Later~

The sky was a golden-orange as we landed in the front lawn of my mom's house. Ella came running out the door to greet us, followed shortly by Mom.

"We got your phone call. You sounded distressed, is everything all right?" Mom asked as I approached her. I told the flock to stay and talk to Ella.

"Mom, I've got to see Jeb. Like, ASAP."

"Max, what's the matter?"

"I don't want Ella to see just yet. Come into the study with me."

We walked through the oh-so-familiar home until we reached Mom's study where I took a seat on the couch and she in the chair.

"Okay, now Max, what is the matter?"

I almost burst into tears as I pulled my hair to the side, tilted my head, and showed my mom my unwanted tat.

She gasped and ushered me into her arms, silent sobs from a usually strong woman.

"Oh, Max. Oh, my Max. I'll get a hold of Jeb right now. I'll call the emergency line to reach him. You're going to be okay honey."

"Thanks Mom." I whispered, shaking as a tear fell off my cheek.

A/N: Thanks for reading. If you can spare the time, I love reading your reviews! Take care. ~Angela aka hawkstar2