Love, Pain, and Wings-Chapter 14

By MyNameIsCAB

The others had gone out to go eat. They promised to bring food back for me. I had stayed behind to rest, too weak to go anywhere as far as the bathroom. Right now, I was actually worrying about Fang.

He was moving slower, trying to avoid moving his lower body. I wondered how bad the pain was from the wound. And he was developing a cough that I didn't like the sound of. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. Or not.

I flipped through the TV channels and settled for one of those X-Men movies. It was the third one because it's the one when Jean Grey goes all evil on everyone, including Scott Summers AKA Cyclops and Logan AKA Wolverine. At least we're not like those mutants in the movie and fighting against each other. Although having claws and a healing factor like Wolverine didn't sound like a bad idea after all.

Fang came in alone with my food. He helped me to the small desk and pulled the containers out for me. There was a burger, which seemed that was all we were eating for the past few days, and then a lot French fries.

"The others are waiting in the lobby. We're going to go buy a few things," Fang told me softly. "Iggy wants maple syrup. Nudge and Angel want to send postcards to Ella and Mom. And I…well I don't want much."

In all truth, Fang wasn't the biggest talker, especially about himself. Then he added, almost curtly, "Or maybe I'll get something for you."

I smiled at him. "Okay. Behave yourselves."

"Of course," he nodded as he headed to the door. It closed behind him gently, his smell lingering behind for a few moments. Then I realized I was really hungry and began to eat.

They returned an hour later with Iggy's maple syrup and the postcards had been sent. Fang had slipped something into his pocket, but as I looked at him, he glanced away. Angel and Gazzy were still arguing about the card game and Nudge looked absolutely tired about their arguing.

"You shouldn't have made up that stupid card game in the first place!" she said with exasperation.

That silenced both Gazzy and Angel.

Iggy and Gazzy were at it that night trying to finish the complicated story they had started. I lay in bed listening to them, trying to sort out where the story was going. Fang got into bed next to me silently.

He leaned on one side, facing me. "Here, I got something for you."

I wondered what Fang could possibly buy me. He pulled out a small cardboard box and told me to open it. I did. There was half a heart, his name engraved on it. Then his hand slipped into the neck of his shirt and he pulled out the other half, my name engraved on it.

"The rest of the flock was eating," he whispered to me, putting the necklace around my neck.

I smiled at him, almost dreamily. Fang did so many unexpected things. Kissing his cheek gently, I said, "Thanks Fang."

He nodded and turned so he was laying on his back now. I felt his hand begin to knot into mine. Then I heard him whisper, ever so softly. "Anything for you, Max."

Then just like that, we slowly drifted off to sleep, Iggy and Gazzy's voices fading away.

The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed. I started to panic, but then heard Fang's coughing and the toilet flushing. The others were still asleep and only then did I realize it was still very early in the morning. Only four.

There was more coughing and then the door opened. Fang's shadowing shape went across the room and got back in bed next to me. He snuggled up against me, his head resting on my shoulder. Listening to his breathing, it was a little stifled.

"Fang," I murmured.

His dark eyes opened. "Yea?"

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Fine," he insisted, inching closer.

"You're coughing," I said.

He closed his eyes and then opened them again. "And you can barely walk. You're no better than me, Max."

It was true and I wasn't going to argue with him.

"I'll be okay," he added, kissing my cheek. "Just some rest…"

His eyes fluttered closed one last time before he drifted off. Sleep consumed me a few minutes later, dreamlessly.

It was time to leave Canada now. People were starting to recognize us and we didn't want to bring attention to the media or anything. Our last stop was a little shop that specialized in Canadian souvenirs. There, I bought Ella a t-shirt and a bracelet that had her name on it. Fang packed it away in our backpack carefully, checking to make sure there were no holes on the bottom before we went out.

"All right," I said trying to regain my leader composure. "Homeward bound!"

I pointed up and we took off. Fang grabbed my arm, helping me get going. It was still hard for me to walk and fly, but we all needed to go home. The hotel room charge was going to exceed our credit card limit soon.

My wings still beat powerfully and flying still never felt so good. Once we had gotten in the sky, Fang let go of my arm and looked down. "So long Canada."

"Adios!" Angel chimed in. "I wish I knew how to say it in French."

"Sayonara!" Iggy laughed. "Can we go to Japan someday?"

"Someday," I nodded, as if that were a final decision. I really hoped so.

The journey home was going to be tough. We all wanted to make it home for Christmas, now that we had a place to celebrate. We still had days and days to fly, but something kept me going through the cold and the often rain that seemed to plague us. It dampened our moods, but moving forward seemed the best thing right now.

"Max, if you haven't realized, you're losing altitude!" Fang called from above me.

"Oh…" I frowned. Exhaustion was setting in.

Fang lowered to my altitude. "C'mon, you need rest."

I swear I heard a tinge of concern in that statement, but my thoughts were jammed with Fang's coughing fit he had in front of me before yelling to the others to land. Now his hand rested firmly where I knew his wound was. Deciding not to pester him about it, I landed next to him in a clearing of trees just outside a town. We found a place in the trees and decided to sleep there.

I was tired of sleeping in beds anyway.

Sorry if this chapter seemed a bit slow. As I've said before, chapters like these bridge into more important things. Anyway, thanks for all of your comments. I never actually thought I'd do this well for my first FanFic. Thanks for reading and enjoy! I promise to update soon!

-MyNameIsCAB