So, based on the reviews I'm guessing you guys don't really like emo Dylan. Well that's okay 'cause I don't either. So, don't worry. I've got big plans for Dylan and the others. I've got everything planned out. I know how they story is going to flow so no writer's block. Shout outs: girlreadsalot, silent-ninja-twins, MEeleeSmasher and Lauren!

Chapter 9 Stinging Sorrow

(Gazzy Pov.)

Gazzy didn't know where he was, and he didn't care. His sneakered feet pounded against the leaves which flew up around his feet as he ran and ran. Sweat chilled the nape of his neck and sent goosebumps rolling down his skin. His breath sawed in and out of his throat painfully. Branches whipped across his face as he fumbled through them. Pain consumed him.

Gazzy ran.

It's all may fault. Tears blurred Gazzy's vision and he stumbled but lurched to his feet a moment later, his knees were bloodied.

The bomb. I should have stopped it. I should have stopped it. I could have saved her. Should have saved her. I was her big brother. I was supposed to protect her….

A branch smacked Gazzy across the face just above his right eye. Blood trickled over the lid and Gazzy rubbed at it with a scrapped hand, blood continued to trickle.

She was right behind me. I heard her! Why didn't she make it out? Where did she go? Why did I leave her there?

A log loomed in front of Gazzy and his wings unfolded as he sped up and leapt into the sky. A large branch snagged his left wing and Gazzy spun sideways before landing in a batch of ferns. The ferns wrapped around his legs and he kicked against them sending leaves and dirt flying.

"I left her!" Gazzy wailed aloud, his feet still kicking at the ferns. But no matter how much he tried Gazzy only sunk deeper until he became too exhausted to move.

Gazzy slumped back and his head hit the soft dirt with a thud. His face was burning and his knees and elbows felt raw from his many falls. Blood still trickled from the cut on his forehead and scratches burned his cheeks and arms. Something sharp was poking into Gazzy's side but he couldn't find the strength to move. He was beaten.

Gazzy closed his eyes and he was back in the sewers of Paris. His fingers fumbled at the many complicated wires, blues, reds, yellows, greens; criss crossed and connected in so many patterns he wished Iggy were there to help him sort it out. Behind him he could hear Fang rushing back into the chamber. Angel was perched beside Gazzy holding wires in her arms and a few Gazzy had picked apart in her mouth.

"We have to go! It's safe above!" Fang pulled Gazzy backwards and herded him towards the exit. Gazzy cast a glance behind him and saw Angel running after him. And as Gazzy ran out of the chamber he could hear the timer ticking down. Three. He rounded the corner. Two. The hole was right above him. One. His head broke free of the tunnel.

BOOM!

Gazzy's eyes flew open and he sucked in a sharp breath which hurt his chest. Tears filled his eyes as the sound of the explosion rocked his ears. His body trembled and his heart raced as he felt the heat rise and throw him into the air. His wings twitched then flung open, stroking hard to keep him from falling down into the fiery jaws of death. Down where Angel lay burning….

"Gazzy!"

Gazzy sat up as Fang ran past where he lay hidden in the ferns. Unlike Gazzy he cleared the log in one fluent bound and disappeared over the other side. "Iggy on your twelve and 14 foot! Eight up and over! Take it at a 45!"

Gazzy's eyes widened as Iggy appeared from behind the tree that had tossed Gazzy. But instead of following Fang's instructions Iggy stopped and cocked his head. Then he looked right at Gazzy's hiding spot. "Gazzy?" Iggy asked cautiously. He turned towards him and knelt slightly. "Look, buddy say something so I know it's you."

"Hey Iggy." Gazzy said, wincing at the cracked sound of his voice. He sounded like he'd been crying. Which, Gazzy thought, he had.

Iggy let out a sigh of relief and stood up. "Fang! I got him!" Iggy knelt beside Gazzy and felt the ferns touch his arms. Iggy's eyes narrowed and Gazzy blushed. "I kinda fell." Iggy nodded but frowned. He gently reached for Gazzy's arm. "You're bleeding pretty bad, aren't you? I can smell it."

Gazzy nodded but remembered Iggy couldn't see. "Yeah, I fell a few times."

"More than a few I think." Iggy muttered, he reached behind him and then cursed. "I left my pack."

"I'm okay." Gazzy said, sitting up straighter and wiping at his nose. Iggy shook his head and pushed Gazzy's short bangs back. "Did you hit your head?"

"A branch caught my forehead." Gazzy admitted, waving Iggy away.

Iggy was about to say something but there was a rush of air and suddenly Fang stood over them. "Jeez Gazzy, what the heck have you done to yourself?"

Gazzy's eyes narrowed and he looked away. "Nothing."

Fang and Iggy looked at each other. Then Iggy said, "Gasman, why'd you run?" Gazzy hated the way Iggy said his name and turned away from him and Fang. "Gazzy, we're here to help."

"I don't need help." Gazzy muttered stubbornly, his elbows crossed on his knees and covering his face.

Another shared look. "Gazzy it's okay to need help, you know?" Fang said, putting a hand on Gazzy's shoulder. Gazzy shrugged it off angrily and stood up, his legs wobbled and felt like jello but he managed to stay standing. Fang and Iggy looked up at him.

"Just leave me alone," Gazzy said, turning away and heading off away from them. "Gazzy stop." Iggy said but Gazzy kept walking. "Gaz.," Fang said, a bit more sternly than Iggy. Still Gazzy kept walking. "Gazzy please, what would Angel want you to do?"

Gazzy stopped rigidly and stared straight ahead. Then he whipped around. "How dare you use her like that! How dare you!" Shock shown clearly on Iggy's face and in Fang's eyes. Iggy had been the one to speak but now Gazzy's anger was directed at both of them. They just didn't understand.

"What Angel wants doesn't matter anymore! She's dead! She's dead and it's my fault. I could have stopped the bombs. Why didn't I? I thought I had more time. I thought I'd gotten them all. I was on the last one. I had it nearly done. I was so close. Then I ran out and let Angel go last. Why didn't I make her go out first? Then I'd be blown up and she'd be okay. She'd be alive and I'd be…, I'd be, I'd-."

Gazzy faltered to a stop and fell to his knees as sobs choked him and his shoulders hunched. Tears streaked down his face as two sets of arms wrapped around him. Gazzy clutched the front of Iggy's shirt as he put his head on Fang's shoulders and cried until the front of Fang's shirt was stained with salty tears.

"It's. My. Fault," Gazzy choked out between gasps. "Shhhh," Iggy cooed, rubbing the back of Gazzy's back and drawing circles between his wings. Gazzy pressed his head against Fang's shoulder and sniffled. Fang gently stroked the Gasman's hair.

"Gazzy, listen. It's not your fault. It's nobody's fault okay? Things, even tragic things, happen for a reason. Angel made a choice, she knew what was going on. She knew what might happen." Fang gently grabbed Gazzy's shoulders and made the little boy look at him.

"Angel loved you very, very much. And she wouldn't have wanted you to beat yourself up about something that you couldn't help. Please Gazzy, don't do this to yourself. If not for anyone else do it for her. She'd want you to look after yourself and look after the others. Just like she's looking after you now."

Gazzy sniffled and rubbed his red eyes. "She's always gonna be with you, Gazzy." Iggy said, he put his hand over Gazzy's heart. "Right here."

Iggy let his hand slide away and replaced it with Gazzy's own hand. Gazzy glanced down at his hand then made it a fist. He looked up at Fang and Iggy then wiped his nose on his shoulder and let out a shuddering breath. "I'm sorry." he whispered, tears still slowly trickling from his chin.

Iggy smiled softly and squeezed his shoulder as Fang gave him a short hug. Then he leaned back and said, "Come on, dawn is only an hour off. I promised Max we'd be back."

"Besides we need to get you bandaged up." Iggy said, patting Gazzy's back.

Gazzy nodded, and allowed himself to be pulled up. "Can you fly? It'd be faster." Iggy asked him. Gazzy nodded and flexed the wing the branch had caught; it worked fine.

"Let's go then." Fang said and watched as first Iggy then Gazzy took running starts and leapt into the dark, purple sky. Then he spread his dark wings and took to the air.

So, a light hearted ending. I know a lot of you aren't into the whole pain filled scenes, you want action, and I promise you it's coming. It just takes a while to get over all of the emotions that were left to me by Angel: A Max Ride Novel. There was a lot there that I feel James Patterson left out so I'm going back and trying to fix it in it's place. Unfortunately that's pretty difficult. But don't worry, this story is about to start flowing smoothly. :)

Please R&R and happy almost Friday everyone!