A/N: This chapter is for all of my reviewers and especially for Subway Eats Death and maximumrideluver! I guess being bored is what motivates me! Enjoy!
Chapter 14
Max didn't try to deceive Dr. Brookes for the duration of the interrogation.
Unfortunately, he didn't hesitate to hit Fang whenever he protested.
"My last question is," he inquired, "Where is the poster boy who was with you earlier?"
Max hesitated and Dr. Brookes reached for the scalpel.
Fang cringed in anticipation.
"Wait! I'll answer!" she screamed hurriedly.
Max didn't want to reveal her family's location. So she used all of her lying ability for her response.
"I told him to leave. He didn't want to come and help so I sent him away."
Dr. Brookes pursed his lips, the scalpel hovering over Fang's mutilated body.
"I believe you. It is late though," he dramatically yawned and continued, "I'm going to rest. It's been a long day. Tomorrow the tests will begin. And I'm starting with you." He pointed at Angel before leaving.
Max felt her heart swell with protectiveness.
Over the last few days she had become more like her old self.
Part of it was because of the return of Fang, but another part of it was probably because of reflection on how she'd behaved.
Angel, she thought.
After a moment, she replied, What?
We've got to make a plan. I'm sure this room is bugged, so we have to communicate mentally. Keep the others informed.
Okay. I'm listening. What's the game plan?
The restraints have some metal on them right?
Angel examined her restraints and found that they were locked in with metal.
Yes.
Nudge can move them or something, right?
Angel relayed the plan to Nudge, who shut her eyes in concentration.
Max heard the sound of metal moving.
Nudge looked at Angel with sad eyes.
No. She's not strong enough for that.
Okay. Time for Plan B.
There's a plan B?
There is now.
Angel smiled lightly.
Max thought for a minute.
What did they really have in their arsenal?
Fang could turn invisible, but the nice doctor knew about that.
Gazzy could breathe underwater and Iggy could see colors. Neither were useful in the current situation.
Max could fly really fast, but considering she was strapped to a chair, flying didn't seem very promising.
Angel's gifts were only useful around other people.
It's hopeless, she thought in misery.
Angel, who was still reading her mind, frowned miserably.
"Fang," Nudge whispered, "Are you okay?"
Fang shuffled and replied gruffly, "Yeah, I'm fine. You didn't think someone as big and tough as me would get seriously hurt by a loser like him."
Nudge laughed pitifully and then started to sob uncontrollably.
"Nudge, it'll be-"Max began.
She was cut off by the sound of the door opening.
They were blinded by the quick burst of light from the outside.
Two large men entered the room.
One moved toward Fang and held a knife to his throat.
"What are you doing?" Max inquired protectively.
The other man carried in a cage (shudder) and went to undo Nudge's bindings.
The man with a knife to Fang's throat replied, "You're being moved. If I get any trouble I slit his throat. Am I clear?"
"Crystal," Max muttered.
"What's that?" he yelled twisting Max's arm.
Fang's eyes watered and Max replied loudly, "I understand."
He released Fang's arm.
The flock was soon moved into a large cage and Fang was shoved in before the door slammed shut.
"Dr. Brookes told me to mention that it's made out of titanium, not metal," one said.
They turned on the light and left a single tray of food in front of the cage.
Before leaving, one of the men opened a window and smiled evilly.
Nudge, like a nurse began to tend to Fang's wounds.
She ripped off parts of clothes to wrap around some of his still-bleeding cuts and gashes.
It was the first time Nudge had ever seemed like an adult to Max.
It was also the first time she'd seen Fang so battered.
She felt tears prick the corner of her eyes.
She quickly pushed them away and focused on the issue at hand.
"Fang, I-"she started before being cut off by Nudge putting a finger to her lips.
"Shhh... he's sleeping. They all are." Nudge whispered.
Nudge's statement was correct.
Iggy was near the corner, dozing off, and Angel and Gazzy were sleeping together like brother and sister.
Max turned to see Fang's head in Nudge's lap while she was gently stroking his hair protectively.
"Nudge, he's going to be fine. He's Fang. He always is." Max said calmly.
Nudge shook her head.
"It's more than that. You know that I consider you all family, but with Fang it's different."
Max raised an eyebrow.
"Different how?"
Nudge paused before responding.
"He just… well for starters, he never tells me to shut up, even though I know he must want to. He just listens and consoles me. He always saves me when I need saving and he acts like he cares. I feel like we really are siblings and he's always been there for me. So have you guys though," she added.
Max frowned.
Fang treated the entire flock, excluding Max, like they were siblings, but he always was there for Nudge.
And Max.
He never gave up and the flock seemed to reciprocate the feeling.
Iggy would talk to Fang about girls, Gazzy would ask Fang to teach him stuff, he'd held Angel when she needed it, even when she was evil and he had never told Nudge that he didn't care about what she was saying or that it wasn't relevant.
Max nodded and whispered, "Try to get some sleep."
Nudge nodded and shut her eyes.
Max knew she wouldn't be sleeping that night.
She stayed awake for hours, finally realizing that Fang's leaving had taken a toll on all of them, not just her.
She was about to fall into a blissful sleep when she heard a window break.
She glanced up to find Dylan climbing in the window.
Immediately alarms went off and the flock woke up.
Max almost cried with relief when he came over to free them.
He grabbed a chair, yelled, "Stand back," and banged it against the cage.
When the cage started to show damage, the door burst open and Dr. Brookes stood there.
Followed by a group of guards.
With guns.
A/N: What will happen next? You don't know, but I do! Mwahaha! Review please!