I think a few people have forgotten who Mick is (someone asked.) He was Fang's father. Refer back to the bottom of the page on chapter two people.

Thanks for reviewing guys! WHOOO!

This chapter is dedicated to girlygirl3432, who inspired this chapter from the very beginning! Thank you so much!

Drippingly Sarcastic, yours is coming. BEWARE!

And now, some special commentary from xXPheonixWingsXx. It'd be great if you three could do some more commentary for this, something specifically for the intro to a chapter! Thanks! (This is reprinted with the permission of Dejia, Fang, and Iggy, guest starring their pet baby penguin Muffins.

Dejia- he's back!
Fang- who is? and dejia get your damn penguin off of me
Iggy- Don't talk about Muffins that way! *pulls baby penguin off of fangs
head*
Dejia- mick is, you know the guy who plays Ur dad in the story?
Muffins- *pecks at fang* MUAHAHAHAHAHA!
Iggy- do penguins laugh evily?
Dejia- do they normaly peck people?
Fang- i love you too guys
Muffins- gwe out! i dwont wike oo
Iggy- he doesn't like you fang! go back to the book!

MAX

Fang had refused to talk after that statement. I called Mom and Dad while he sat on the couch with Estelle and James, who had taken a protective posture and would barely let anyone, me, Estelle, the kids, anyone, near Fang.

My parents rushed home and shooed everyone but the four of us (because Estelle had freaked when they tried to remove her and James just wasn't going anywhere unless they sedated him first) out of the living room.

"Okay, we have a problem. Fang is freaking out and will not tell anyone why, correct?" Mom asked calmly, but a little breathlessly.

We nodded.

"Fang, is there someone you would be willing to talk to? Anyone? I can call someone if I have to."

He shook his head.

"You can't tell anyone?"

He shook his head.

"Would this be one of those things you'd like some time on first?"

He nodded.

"Then would you tell someone?"

He shrugged, an obvious "maybe" sort of shrug.

"Who?"

He looked up at me, our eyes meeting. I squeezed his hand. He recoiled at first, then clung to my hand.

"Okay. Max then. Estelle, your mother just called. I told her I'd send you home when this was over and I'm pretty sure it is. Fang looks tired, we should let him sleep."

She nodded. "Bye Fang." In the first few minutes she'd heard us call him Fang she'd adopted it too.

"And James, please. You're released from your duty to protect him. He's fine. He's safe. I'll get you some food."

"It's fine Valencia," he smiled. "I'll just head home if he's going to be. Night Max." He kissed me softly and left.

"Night."

"Max, bring him to bed please."

The rest of the week went without incident. Fang clung to my side desperately, like he couldn't be alone. He whimpered in his sleep. Friday came and he still wasn't talking at all.

I pretty much had the kids leave him alone and he seemed to get better…until Saturday came again.

"Max? You've got a package…and a phone call," Mom called.

I came downstairs, answering the portable phone. "Hello?"

"Max, hello."

"Jeb?" he'd looooong since excepted I refused to call him Dad.

"Sweetie, how are you?"

"Busy. Good. You?"

"Not feeling very well. I've come down with the flu, so I'll be visiting in a week instead."

"But you said you'd be here for my-"

"I know baby. I'm so sorry."

"Fine." I sighed. My one chance to make this jerk proud…

"I sent you something."

"The package?"

"Yeah. I was going to give it to you when I got there, but I had Patty send it instead." Patty-his secretary.

"Uh…thanks."

"Open it."

I did. "Oh my gosh! Thank you! Thank you so much!" I lifted out the porcelain doll. Okay, so I don't like dolls, but these are custom and look like the family. This one was Fang. Creepy, but realistic. Mom must have sent him a picture.

"There's more."

He'd also sent a few knickknacks, like a fairy statue and a pendant with wings and sapphires and diamonds set in it that said Fly On.

"So I'll see you soon honey."

"I wish you could be there."

"Your mom said she'd tape it. I'll watch it with you."

"Okay. Love you."

"Love you. Bye."

"Bye." I hung up. Jeb was a douche. How could he blow off the talent show?

I put my necklace on. At least I could wear that to the show. He'd see it on the tape.

"What's that?" Nudge asked. "Ooh! That's beautiful. Can I see?"

"Just for a second." I handed ti to her.

Iggy grabbed it with amazing space conception. "A necklace? Huh."

"Give it! Jeb gave that to me!"

"I won't hurt it!"

"GIVE IT!"

He tossed it to Gazzy, who tossed it back. "GIVE IT!" I cried.

Fang walked in.

"GIVE IT BACK!" I tried to take it from Iggy, who, distracted, tossed it wrong. The delicate setting hit the wall and broke.

"I HATE YOU!" I screamed. I punched him. "I HATE YOU!" Fang bent to pick it up. I smacked his hand away and grabbed it. He backed away, wide eyed.

"I HATE ALL OF YOU!" I ran out of the room, cradling my broken necklace.

Mom came in and fixed it with pliers and added stronger jumprings. I thanked her softly and put it back on.

Later that day, Iggy had friends over, rough kids. Jerks. They immediately attacked Fang, pushing him around and shouting. He curled away from them. One shoved him hard into a wall and he tore out.

"Get…out….now," I warned. They left quickly, having experienced my wrath before. I started looking for Fang.

"Fang?"

I finally found him in…you guessed it…the closet. He was sobbing again.

"Please, tell me what happened," I begged.

"I can't, I can't tell anyone," he sobbed.

"You can," I insisted.

"No."

"You can."

"I can't.

"I won't tell."

He shook his head. "No." He jumped up and left quickly, grabbing his jacket.

Understanding, I didn't follow…right away.

I gave him five minutes head start.

FANG

After I left, I walked to the park down the street. There was a lake there. I skipped rocks while watching kids run around in the fading light. Moms called them back and cars pulled away. After a while I was the only one left there. I continued skipping rocks. Skip, skip, skip, splash! Skip, skip, skip, skip, skip, skip, splash!

I thought about my predicament. Tell Max, risk her safety. Don't tell Max, still be risking her safety, but at least she won't know anything. Either way, she was still in danger of Mick.

Somehow, the decision wasn't as easy as it should be. I couldn't stand it. Mick knew. He knew where I was. How? How did he know? I considered running away. No, last time I did that he found me faster. It's like he's watching me.

Watching me…oh God…I was alone right now. I spun around. Across the lake was a guy in a trench coat, walking fast down the path that only led one way.

Right to where I was.

I spun and started leaving quickly. On my way out, I saw a group of teenagers pushing a girl around. "Stop! Get away from me," she screamed.

I started to pull out my phone and saw who it was. Max.

"Aw, come on, babe. Don't be like that," a voice said. Sam?

"Get away from me!"

I started over. "Get off her."

"What are you gonna do? Stop talking?" Sam smirked.

"Or this," I decked him. His nose started bleeding.

"Psycho kid!" he yelled. "Don't touch me!'

"Then let her go."

Unexpectedly (to them) Max flipped the guy holding her arms. She started kicking at them. I kept fighting Sam. When they ran off the shock set in. "Are you okay?" I asked.

She nodded. "You?"

I started to nod, then my knees buckled and I shook my head. I made myself stand, swaying. "We need to just…get out of here. Now."

"Fang? What's-"

"Please. Let's just go. NOW."

She nodded. We started running for the house. I kept looking back. He's still there. I started hyperventilating as soon as the door closed behind us. I slid in the deadbolt.

"Can you explain what that was?"

I shook my head. "Not really."

"Ah."

"Sorry. You okay?"

"Yeah. They couldn't really hurt me you know."

"I know."

"Fang, please," she pleaded. "Tell me what's got you so freaked!"

"I can't," I shook my head. There was a loud shout from the living room. Claire and Iggy were screaming at each other. We hurried in.

"What do you mean?" she shrieked.

"I DON'T KNOW!" Iggy yelled back.

"Well maybe we should break up!"

"Maybe we should!"

"YOU'RE SUCH A JERK! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'D DO THIS! YOU ARE A CHEATING, LYING, MANIPULATIVE, PERVERTED PLAYER!" Claire screamed, tears running down her face.

He glared and slapped her.

She choked, shocked.

"God, I'm sorry," Iggy started. I didn't hear the rest. I was running. Out the door and into the woods to the tree house. I collapsed inside, momentarily forgetting Mick.

MAX

"God, I'm sorry," Iggy gasped. Fang ran from the room. The front door slammed. "I didn't mean to, I swear I didn't."

"We're through," Claire snapped. She turned to me.

"Get the cookie dough from the fridge. Send a text out," I ordered. "I'll-"

"Go get Fang," she interrupted. "Now. Take your time. Just get out of here. He needs you."

"This could take all night," I started. "I don't know where he is."

"Then it will. Just go. Family first."

"You are family." I hugged her. "I'll go get him."

"GO!" she snapped.

Iggy stalked out of the room.

I grabbed a flashlight and started out into the night. Across the street and down some, I saw some guy skulking around near the edge of the woods. I'd be calling HOA later for Stranger Watch later.

"Fang?" I called, starting down the street. I headed for the park. He wasn't there, but Sam's group was. I avoided them.

Fang wasn't at the mall.

Or any of the usual places.

I stopped to wonder. We'd shown him the tree house once or twice, but would he remember how to get there? I shrugged and started towards it. Maybe he'd be there.

The clubhouse was dark. I opened the door and shined my light around. There. Thank God. He was curled in a ball. "Fang," I said softly.

He jerked up, fear in his eyes. He relaxed when he saw me.

"What are you doing down here?"

He shrugged. I crawled onto the floor next to him. "Can we go back? They're done fighting." There were tear streaks on his face. "Oh Fang," I hugged him. I helped him stand and he leaned his head on my shoulder as we headed back to the house.

THIRD PERSON

Max and Fang headed home silently, Max's flashlight illuminating only a small portion of the sparse woody area around them. They had no knowledge of the man in the trench coat following silently twenty yards back, nor the gun in his hand.

Niether did they see the girl in Max's window, glaring down at them.

LISSA

I looked down to see Max and Fang walking back. His head was on her shoulder, her arm around his waist. Were they dating?

No, don't be silly. She's with James. She doesn't need Fang. But still…they were pretty…close.

I gave them a sour look. Mark my words Maximum Ride Martinez. Fang will be mine. You just wait.

And the opinion of the crowd is…?

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