((Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride, or any of the characters in this book. They all still belong to James Patterson, well, they still did when I last checked. Enjoy!

But I do own the plots, so PLEASE respect this story and the author and don't steal the plot(s).))

Chapter 12: In a Bubble

"Changing the subject are we Angel?" She shook her head. Iggy froze.

"Guys, someone's here." We all stopped and looked around. Max moved to my side, as if to protect me. I remembered what Jazz had said. I frowned at him, then remembered not to think about it because of Angel.

Suddenly Jeb walked into the clearing. I leaned forward glaring at him.

"Oh, hello everyone. Fang, for Goodness sake, just because you're named after one, doesn't mean you have to act like a dog. Oh, hello there Greig. What brings you to join the circus?"

Greg? Who the heck was that? Jazz?

"Jeb, you're not welcome anymore. No one trusts you. No one cares ether. So, ether you leave now, or we will. See ya." Max waved at him.

"Max, sweetheart, that's not going to happen. We both know that. So you're all coming with me." He pulled out a semiautomatic and loaded it.

"Not on your life buddy." I said, stepping forward, ready for a fight.

"Fang," I heard Nudge whisper it, but I ignored her. I was angry at this guy, and I was going to finish him. I was seeing red. Jeb looked at me as if I was mud on the bottom of his expense shoes. Did I look like I cared?

"Come quietly Max, and I swear no one, even that, will get hurt." I pointed to me with the barrel of his gun.

"Fang is not a 'that.' His more human then you'll ever hope to be. And no, I don't go quietly anywhere. If you loved me that much, you would have know that. Now, excuse us, we have a life to get on with. You should try it sometimes. Who knows, you might like it." Max and I shared a smile as Jazz or Greg, or who ever the heck he was, stepped forward.

"Are you doing this because we out smarted you? Are you angry with us because we escaped you?" I saw anger flash in Jeb's eyes.

"No, you fool! You don't know why I'm doing this!"

"Yes, I do. Because if you don't get us back, they'll kill you. We both know that Jeb. We escaped you and you're angry you got out smarted by experiments. Too bad Jeb." Jazz looked over to Max and I. He wanted to get out of there. Jeb saw it to.

"Not so fast."

"Yeah, we're fast. And no, you won't mess up us. We're smarter, stronger and just plain better then you. So no, we're not going anywhere with you." I thought Max had spoken, but Angel stepped forward. We were all shocked. Go Angel! She looked at me and smiled.

"We leave here alive and together. You leave here alone, per usual."

"She's got a very good point," Iggy said, smiling.

"Yep, that's my sister. Well, you know what I mean!" Nudge stood by Angel.

"Hey! She's my sister!" Gazzy stood by Angel or her other side. I have to admit, it was kinda funny.

Then Jeb cocked the gun and pointed it at Max, finger on the trigger. I felt anger ripple through me like a tidal wave. No way was he pointing a gun at Max. I'll do that thank you very much. I felt everyone move backwards. They didn't think he was serious. But judging by the way Angel was acting, he was. I stepped forwards, walking towards them. Red filled my vision.

I was going to so kill that guy.

"Fang! No!" Max started towards me but Iggy held her down.

"You leave them alone you bastard. You hear me?" Anger filled my voice, making it sound treating. Jeb laughed and held up the gun again.

"Fang!" Max grabbed me and pulled me back. I stood in front of her, just in case I needed to lunge at him.

"Ha! Held back by a girl. That's my Max." That was it. I ran at him. Jeb swung the gun around and hit me with the butt.

"Someone sounds a little jealous. Hmm, have a crush on her do we?" He laughed at me, lying on the floor. I got up, blood pouring down my face, into my right eye. I tasted blood as it ran over my mouth and down my neck, on my shirt and jacket. I stood back were I was before. I wasn't about to lose this thing.

"Uh, persistent isn't he? That'll be your downfall Fang."

"Maybe. But I'll be yours." He seemed shocked, then recovered.

"Very well." He aimed the gun and a small red laser fell on Max. She gasped. Anger filled me again, worse then before.

Then he pulled the trigger. I heard the shots before I realized what was happening. I heard Nudge scream, but I didn't move. I was rooted to the spot, unable to save the people that meant most. Then I felt something like pins hit me.

I heard Max gasp, but I couldn't look. I was frozen to the spot.

Remind me never to do this again. Max? This is why we need guns.

Then I saw Jeb's face. Pure shock. I wondered what had happened. Why was Jeb running! Then he was gone into the bush. I felt as though someone was squishing my head. I took a deep breath then suddenly the feeling was gone.

I was exhausted: God only knows why. I feel to my knees as they gave way from underneath me. I felt like I had just run 3 marathons.

"Fang! Are you ok? You just saved our lives! Did you see that!"

"Fang, you're amassing! I owe you everything!"

"Yeah man, I could feel it! It was awesome!"

"How did you do that Fang? Have you got a new skill?" What are you all on about? I didn't do anything! Max saw my face.

"Fang? Don't you know?" I shook my head at her, feeling like I had been hit by a train. Twice.

"You saved us. You made a shied thing around us all. Didn't you see it? It was like a bubble." Then, somewhere in my head, I remember vaguely seeing a light blue thing.

"Was it light blue?" I was panting hard. I seriously don't know why.

"Yes! It was all around us, stopping us from being killed! Oh my God Fang!" I remembered a light blue film around us, and remembered thinking it was Angel.

"No, Fang. It was you."

"How do you know?" Jazz stepped forwards. "It could have been anyone."

"Fang. It was you. You were concentrating so hard. That's why you're stuffed now. You turned your anger into energy and bam!" He spread his hands out. "It was you. I saw it. It started on you, then you pushed it out, protecting us all. You could have killed yourself Fang. If there was a hole in it…I'm just glad it worked. When I was at the school, that was their number one task. to try and make a human shield. That's why Jeb ran. You're more powerful then you think Fang. They made three experiments that could do what you just did. They shot one and it saved the people around it, but died it's self. Same with the other 2. They all died. You're possibly the only person who's ever survived it so far." Everyone was staring at him. That was the longest speech we've ever heard him say. Angel looked pointed at me, but I ignored her.

"Wait, you were in the school?" Max stepped closer.

"Yeah."

"And you never told us? No one knew about this!"

"Yes." I looked up to see an angry Max starting down at me. Oh oh.

"What! I'm going to let you of just this once because you saved our lives, but you should have told us! Both of you!"

"I'm sorry Max. But I knew this would happen. It didn't what to make to move around a lot. I know you what to stay for a while."

"What? How do you-" Max turned to me and sat down.

"Fang?" I shrugged.

"He says he can read our emotions." Nudge turned to Jazz and held up a hand.

"Do you mind?" Jazz shook his head as Nudge laid a hand on his arm.

"Yep, Fang's telling the truth. So is Jazz." Jazz and I nodded, smiling at each other. Jazz walked over and helped me up.

"Thanks mate. For helping me." I looked down at my shoes, watching a centipede crawl across one. Max looked down with me and screamed.

"Oh my God! What is that! Ahhh!" Suddenly she jumped onto my back, climbing up to cling onto my neck.

"Max! It's only a centipede! It won't hurt you!"

"Actually, some are very poisonous. They've been know to kill a fully grown human." Thanks Iggy. Iggy smiled. "It's true though. Serious."

This made Max shimmy more up my back, digging her sneakers into my spine as she went. Maybe I should 'fall' backwards?

"Max! You big girl! Come on, it won't bite you, I promise." I tried to pull her off, but she wouldn't budge.

"Get it away first!" I sighed and squished it with my boot. Sorry little fella. I sighed as Max grabbed my hair to peer over my head. This was going to be along day. When she was finally down, I rasied an eyebrow at her, smiling.

This seemed to have an effect on her because she started giggling. Huh? She saw my look of horror and realized she'd done it outloud.

"That's a little disturbing," I muttered to Jazz who was standing next to me.

"Not a word" Max pointed a stern finger in my face and I laughed at her.

Again she giggled. Yep, a very long day.

"What is with that?" I asked her, following Max as she walked back to our backpacks.