Okay, I'm shaking with nerves right now...I hope you all like it and it's to your expectations. I listened to your remarks about how short my chapters are, so BAM! 3,000 words compared to my usual 1,000. :P

I dedicate this chapter to Fanged who reviewed three chapters rapid fire. :D Thanks for that. Carry on!

Chapter 9 (finally!)

Fang picked up the vibrating cell as he made his way home. Glancing at the call display, he answered.

"Charlie." His voice cold as he greeted one of his drinking buddies. He could hear the break to start the game on the shabby pool table in the back round, indicating that Charlie had already started the night without him. They had grown distant since the first time Fang met him three months ago.

"Venom, good your home. We're going out tonight down at Cammie's. You in?" Fang contemplated for a minute. He could go out and get over his hangover before work, as long as he didn't drink too much. It would be a good to relax ever since the Iggy scolding. "Yeah, I'll be there in a few. I got to go to work tomorrow so I can't stay out late. See you there." Fang made a left turn instead of a right, the street leading him to the slums where Cammie's…hole in the wall stood.

Fang had a feeling that something was up with Charlie. The last few times they've gone out, their doings had been questionable. But Fang was plastered those times so he couldn't be sure. The rest of the guys haven't said anything so Fang brushed the tension for anticipation. He shouldn't be worried about tonight. It was only going to be a few innocent beers.

Pulling his truck up beside a graffiti mailbox, he saw the neon lights advertising Bud Light and Cammie's other assortment of drinks. He locked the doors and checked them, making sure that he would still have a truck by the end of the night.

He looked both ways for careless drivers and crossed, nodding to the smokers just outside the door. He pulled it open, the horrible creak announcing his arrival to the whole bar.

Charlie looked over, watching Fang order a pint at the bar and sit down with them. He grabbed a handful of peanuts before attempting to make small talk.

The guys answered the best they could and eventually Venom gave up. He took a long swing from the beer in front of him.

"So Venom, how's the job going? Have they fired you yet?" Charlie asked with a few smiled responses from the men. Fang often told them of his life difficulties when he was wasted, so they teased him about it mercilessly. Though he never mentioned what he did, he did mention Ivan his boss a few times. It was too bad really. They weren't able to visit Fang whenever they wanted which was a real drag.

Fang still hadn't answered yet. Charlie's anger became hotter.

"Venom, I'm talking to you." Fang met his eye and Charlie continued. "You still have the job?" He asked again, his words precise. Fang nodded mutely before looking into his beer.

"Those friggin' idiots. You a real friggin' disaster and yet they still give you a paycheck? Friggin idiots."

Fang wanted to shift in his seat. Charlie had no right to talk about Ivan or the other guys at the garage like that. They were decent people. But instead of friggin', Charlie had taken it a step lower, using curses that Fang usually kept to himself.

Charlie had had enough of it here. They were to find their own fun else where. The boys were drunk enough to agree to whatever and Charlie had some bottles in his car to get Fang in the same state. Then, the real fun would begin, just like the last time.

Standing up, he sent Fang a pointed look before heading for the door. He heard all their heavy footsteps behind him, following him like the lost puppies they were. Drunk lost puppies.

He went to his car first and took the case of 24 out of the trunk. He handed a few bottles out to everyone including himself. He popped the cap off one and locked the trunk before heading down the first alley they could find.

_line break_

Max shoved her hands further into her pockets. As her sleeve was pushed up, she caught side of the tattoo on her inner wrist. "Ella" glared at her, reminding her everyday that her killers were still out there, one of them still searching for her. And, of course, the huge mistake that she had just made.

It was dark out now, and Max was regretting taking so long out here. Nudge would be worried. This part of town was shady at best and in the night indescribable. It didn't make sense to Max. Why was it so dark when it was so early? The constant reminder that winter was on the way made her emotions darker then when she started out.

Prostitutes walked up and down the street, not giving Max a second thought. Drug deals carried on behind dumpsters and shots rang out from a nearby street.

The prostitutes and drugs Max couldn't care less about. It was the gun shots that spooked her, terrifying her. As the loud echoes sounded around, Max ran down the closest alleyway, dazed and disoriented. She was just trying to protect herself as she walked down the alley, trying to get away from the shots. Now she just wanted to get home, which was ten blocks away.

It was the five men standing at the end of the alleyway that made her freeze in her tracks. They hadn't noticed her, not yet. If she tried to turn and run away, they would. And that would just result in a chase that she was not prepared for. He only option was to hide which was unlikely, or face the music.

Charlie's head turned to the end of the alleyway, making sure no cops were around. He didn't find any cops but what he did see made him smile. A woman, super skinny, stood at the mouth of the alley. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights, he thought. He lit up another smoke and took a swing from his beer bottle. He decided to tell the guys about her, so that they could have some fun. More so than last time.

"Hey, check it out fellas. This girl can't get enough of us."

"Yeah, let's see if she's up for some fun." One of the guys suggested suggestively. Cackles from all but one sounded as they made their way over to the girl. But Venom was acting like a douche.

"What the hell Fang?" Charlie asked. The man was falling behind clearly not drunk enough for Charlie's taste.

"I…I'm not in the mood for this crap." Fang said and started to turn away. Charlie grabbed his arm forcefully.

"Kid, you either stay with us or leave and never come back. You hear?"

Fang met his glassy eyes and nodded slowly, making his choice. Charlie grunted and they continued to the frightened girl.

Fang had a bad feeling about this. Everyone but him had enough to alcohol to make a horse pass out and yet they were still standing. It was the girl that worried him the most. She hadn't moved an inch even though they were clearly advancing on her. She just stood there, not meeting their eyes, but Fang could still catch the sheer terror in them.

Charlie reached her first and they fumbled into a loose circle around her. They started taunting her, scaring her, making her even more scared than she already was. Fang took no part, just stood there as they brushed their curiously wet fingers on her face or grabbed her hand.

Charlie stood close to her front, and when he reached an arm around her to pull the girl against him she struck out, shoving his chest hard. Charlie growled and brought a hand up to strike her, retaliating. She cowered back, but he still carried on, the snap of his back hand whipping her face to the side. She looked directly at Fang as she recovered. There was a stream of blood coming from the new cut that Charlie's ring gave her. She brought her trembling hand up to feel the blood and looked sick when she saw it cover her hand.

They continued torturing her, but none of them came to be as bold as Charlie. She gave up trying to fight and resorted to pleading.

"Stop…stop, please. I won't tell, just stop…please." She promised in a whisper. She looked towards each hand reaching towards her, making her head snap back and forth. She was unable to back away from the threat, though if she tried, Fang was sure that he would let her run while she could. But they closed in even more, and once their eyes met again, the flash of pain that went beyond physical in her eyes made Fang sick.

This is so wrong.

Fang had finally had enough. The woman was in more distress than any others that he could remember in his foggy memory. She was close to collapsing.

"Guys," He spoke up louder than her pleas, made everyone look at him in question. "Give her a break. Leave this one alone."

Charlie pushed past the shaking girl, stepping towards him from the other side of the circle. He got in his face.

"Or what Venom? You going to stand up for her? You are going to go to the cops?" He accused getting even closer still. "Well you can turn yourself in while you're there. You're in this just as bad as we are." Fang gave him three seconds to get out of his personal space. But Charlie just stayed there, his foul breath making Fang gag on the inside.

Before Charlie could even laugh, Fang pulled his fist back and rammed him in the face. As blood poured down his face, Charlie retaliated going at Fang with both fists reeling. Fang easily dodged him, grabbing his arm and placing a kick on his lower back, sending Charlie to the ground. His head knocked against the concrete, tapping him out.

The rest of the gang clued into what was happening, ready to defend themselves as best they could in their drunken state.

One of them grabbed Max, his arms a vise around her middle. Max lashed out, a well placed kick and head butt freeing her from him. But she wasn't able to run yet.

One guy swung a sloppy round house kick aimed for Fang's head, but Fang caught it, twisting until he cried out and crumpled to the ground. Another came at Fang with an old pipe and blood lust in his eyes. Fang was weary. If he didn't know how to use his weapon, it was going to be easy for Fang to disarm him and knock him out. That was likely because of his intoxicated state. But, if the guy did know how, then Fang would be in a bit of trouble.

The man went for his legs, getting a solid hit against his left. Fang grunted, reaching for the pipe. The man swung again but from the other side. Fang was ready, catching it right before it crushed his other femur. A tough jerk ripped the pipe right out of the man's hand and Fang threw it behind him, away from anyone else that was ready to fight. The man who tried to kick him was up again, ready.

They faced each other, sizing each other up. Fang suddenly lunged, tackling the man. The impact of the fall had the man in a daze, and after a solid punch in the jaw, he was out cold.

Fang got up off the guy, but struggled a tiny bit. His left leg was throbbing, still very tender from the hit of the pipe, but otherwise, everything else was okay. Looking around, Fang saw three men on the ground, all in various stages of consciousness. The only guy left was the one that had the lady in his grip again. Phil, Fang recalled the name and the man with the bloody nose. Phil wasn't violent, so when Fang took a menacing step towards him, he jumped and let go of her, sprinting down the alley.

Fang watched him go and then took another step closer to the girl. She stiffened, her eyes snapping shut. This concerned him, puzzled him. He wasn't going to hurt her, they were clearly on the same side after that fight. He tried to make his stance as friendly as possible in the current setting. He reached a hand out, trying to calm her a bit.

"Hey…" he tuned softly. The chocolate voice surprised Max. She was sure that he was going to hurt her again, just like last time. No, not like last time. This is different. She tried to make herself believe. Yes, that's right. You're not twelve anymore. Cautiously, she opened her eyes slowly, staring at the man.

He was quiet dashing, she concluded as she stared at his black eyes, endless pools of emotion of feeling…none of them present at the time. The dark hair that hung in those eyes looked perfect even after that random fight. Her eyes traveled down his lean body. He was lanky, but under the dark clothes, muscled in all the right places. He looks were of a perfect dark knight.

Gun shots rang out, closer than the last ones. It startled Max from her ogling, but the suddenness of them was the last straw for her fragile nerves.

Max's shaking knees buckled from under her, her hands going to her ears to block out the noise. She curled away from the hands that kept her from falling on the dirty alley floor. Sobs coming from deep inside her made her shake even harder than as Fang tried to calm her down. Her cries were silent as he stood her up against him, keeping his arms wrapped around her tightly so she didn't collapse again. He muttered soothing words as she cried; her hands no longer on her ears but gripping Fang's shirt tightly.

She couldn't believe that she was breaking down in front of a stranger like this, but her stomach was killing her along with the cut and the memories just wouldn't stop coming. The looks on Ella's face, the look of her killer's eyes. The thought of him still out there made her shake even more, scaring the crud out of Fang.

He couldn't just leave her, but it was late now and they both should be getting home. If she had a home, that is. He could feel her ribs through her clothes as his arms gripped her around her waist and back. She looked as though she hasn't eaten in weeks, and her flannel pants and thin jacket only added to the look of a runaway.

But he was going to be a Good Samaritan, even if it was just for one night. Without her consent, he swung her easily into his arms, and started to what he hoped was the direction of his truck. He would bring her home just for the night and take her back to her own house the next morning when she wasn't a wreck. His leg smarted a bit, but the walking helped. Fang was sure it was going to be an ugly bruise.

Max looked up at him through the tears as she felt the gentle sway of his walking, wondering what the hell he was doing. He just stared back, his eyes probing for answers. She shook her head and buried it into his warm chest, the hands on his shirt tightening. It was a show of embarrassment. Max didn't want to look at him when she was freaking out like this. Her stomach had calmed down a bit and the cut was just a dull sting. The rhythm of the steps lulled her slowly to sleep. She doubted that she could actually sleep after an episode like this, but still slipped into Morpheus' hold, the tears never stopping.

She was still crying, but it was slowing now, the sobs becoming hiccups. Her shaking hadn't stopped at all as she shuddered once again. Fang wondered what could be the reason behind all this. It wasn't theatrics, that's for sure. She looked pale and her hands were as cold as ice. You couldn't pretend a break down of that degree. The tear tracks on her delicate face made Fang's heart twitch as he finally found Cammie's and the truck.

He unlocked the door as best he could without dropping her and slid her into the seat. She looked asleep now, her eyes closed and the hiccups finished. That was good thing, he told himself as he climbed in on his side. Then she wouldn't be crying anymore.

He drove slowly, keeping one eye on the road and one on her. He could see that the cut from Charlie was cleaner after all of the salty water that was poured into it. He would have to clean it once he got to his place to make sure it didn't become infected or needed stitches.

He pulled up to his apartment and turned the car off, waiting to see if she would wake up. When she didn't, he got out and took her out too; carrying her like he did before. He managed to get up to his floor with only one curious glance and finally to his dark apartment. He turned on the lap in the living room and walked to the bathroom. The bright florescent light hurt his eyes but had no effect on the woman.

She stayed sleeping while he took out everything he would need, but he had to wake her up so she could sit on the bathroom counter while he cleaned her wound.

"Sorry about that." He apologized as she winced with the sting of the peroxide. He took out the gauze and tape and covered it up. She only stared at him through heavy eyes until he picked her back up and settled her on the couch. He draped the blanket over her before getting an extra blanket and pillow from the closet. He took the floor, turning out the lamp with one more look at her.

Christ, he thought. I don't even know her name.

So...yeah. I would like your insight on something... I would like to give Fang a tattoo of black wings, I just don't know where. So, if you do review, please give me an idea onto where to put them. Thanks. Annnd I would like your opinion on swearing. I've only done mild curses so far but I know that it would give the characters a bit more character if they would swear...just saying. I'll try to keep it cleaner for now.

Review Replys: jaggedwing-moonstreak: Well, I just made this chapter really long, so I hope it was to your liking. :P Thanks for the review.

Zeze: Ahaha, your reviews amaze me. Thanks for the feedback...though I always like the flash backs...builds character. :P That's just me though. I hope everything is cleared up with relations...hopefully. I'm from a pretty mixed up family, so I'm good with that stuff, but I never had to explain properly so I hope everyone else knows what the heck I'm talking about. Hope this chapter is what you expected. Please review again. :D

Love Ella

PS. Flames are invited too. I really want to know how I did with this chappie :D Thanks!