AN: Hello again:P Do you guys want to know something? YOU ARE AWESOME! I have over 100 reviews! Thank you so much! So, because of that, here is chapter 21, and it's super long! (Well, 1,088 words.) (Also, just because I'm so happy does not mean you can get away with not reviewing!) :P

DISCLAIMER: Maximum Ride belongs to James Patterson.

CLAIMER: Any new plot ideas and characters in this story are mine, unless otherwise noted.

Chapter Twenty-One

Why hello, Voice. What a pleasant surprise, I thought sarcastically. I sat still, waiting for the pain to subside. It finally did lessen slightly, just enough so I wouldn't pass out.

I do not have time for games, Maximum.

Well then, if you're so busy, I guess you'd better get out of my head. I wouldn't want to make you late for anything.

A soft footstep grabbed my attention, pulling me back into the normal world. My vision was still too blurry to make out who it was, but I knew that someone was approaching me.

Listen to me! The Voice said, sending another stab of pain in my head. I bit down on my lip hard to prevent myself from crying out, drawing a bit of blood. My legs gave out from under me, and I sunk to the floor with a soft 'thud.'

"Max!" someone whispered again, hurrying over to my side and kneeling down next to me. Long, ropy arms wrapped around my shoulder, and a cold hand was placed on my hair, pulling my head against the boy's chest. I closed my eyes (they weren't being very useful anyway,) and allowed the boy, whom I assumed was Fang, comfort me.

You cannot let Serena come back. I groaned again as the voice spoke. My head was still too sore to be aware of what was happening within it and outside of it at the same time, so it felt as if the real world and the Voice were playing tug-of-war with my mind.

Why not? Is she with the School? I asked, allowing myself to be pulled into the Voice's world, letting the boy holding me make sure I was safe.

She is not to be trusted.

And then, of course, I passed out.

When I opened my eyes again, I was still in the boy's arms. The little sunlight coming in through the curtain was enough to make my head throb, so I closed my eyes and buried my head in the boy's shoulder.

In the living room, someone got up from the pullout bed and walked into the kitchen. The person stopped once he (she?) was in the kitchen, presumably staring at Fang and me on the floor.

"What happened?" I heard Fang whisper, his voice low and deadly. The voice didn't come from beside me, though. Fang was the one standing. So who was holding me?

"Nothing! She just clutched her head and passed out!" Jayden responded, his voice slightly high with worry. I groaned at the noise (and at the fact that now Fang and Jayden would fight) and covered my ears with hands. So that's who was holding me.

"Get away from her," Fang growled. I opened my eyes slightly to look up at him, and instantly regretted it. He looked murderous, which was probably why Jayden jumped up and backed into the counter at his command.

"Max?" Fang asked in his usual calm, deep voice, so I could actually listen to it without being in too much pain. "Are you okay?" He knelt down next to me and lifted my chin with his hand, forcing me to look into his eyes. The anger had been replaced with worry.

"I'm fine," I told him, knowing enough by now not too nod after a brain attack. "It was just the Voice."

"What Voice?" Jayden asked from behind us. Fang ignored him, instead picking me up bridal style and carrying me over to the pullout bed. I wrapped my arms around his neck, too tired to argue about being carried.

"Max? What's he talking about?" Jayden asked again, trailing along behind us. "Why did you pass out?"

Fang placed me onto the bed, and my aching head sank into the soft pillows. If that's not bliss, then I don't know what is.

"It's nothing. Just go back to bed for a couple of hours. No waking the kids," Fang replied. He slipped onto the bed next to me, letting my head rest on his head while he stroked my hair. Never mind; this was bliss. I rested against him, letting Fang take care of getting rid of Jayden and his too-high voice.

"I'm older than you; I should be able to know what is going on!" Jayden argued, his voice rising slightly.

"You're also new."

"So what?"

Fang sighed; apparently Jayden didn't know when to shut up. "So I'm always going to find out what happens before you do. Now go to bed."

"Why should you get to find out first? You're the one who wouldn't even bother to get up when she was hurt!"

Trust me on this one; that was just about the worst thing that Jayden could say at the moment. Fang's jaw clenched, and his eyes squeezed shut for a moment to stay calm. He didn't want the kids to wake up, or my head to hurt even worse than it already did.

"Trust me, I've gotten up for this, and other things, plenty of times before. Now go to bed." Jayden finally relented and turned on his heal, heading back into the boy's room, muttering what sounded suspiciously like curses under his breath.

"So, what did the Voice say?" Fang asked me once Jayden was back in bed.

"It told me that we shouldn't trust Serena," I admitted. I hadn't wanted to tell Fang; we didn't trust the Voice, so I figured I could just forget about it. The sensible part of my brain told me that I needed somebody to know (and that Fang would kill me if I kept that information from him.) And, for once, that side won.

"Why not?" Fang asked, careful not to let on that he was worried.

"It didn't say."

Fang nodded, and we both lay there thinking for a moment. "What should we do when she gets back?" Fang asked after a few minutes. I sighed deeply, rubbing my temple softly.

"I don't know. Let's just figure that out when they get back."

"All right," Fang whispered, removing my hands from my temple and placing a kiss where they had been. "I've got watch. Get some sleep."

"Okay," I replied. I was desperate for sleep; there was no way I was going to argue with Fang about watch. I closed my eyes, letting my sore head finally take a break. Right as sleep took me, the Voice spoke up.

Don't forget what I said, Maximum. Do not let Serena stand in your way of saving the world.

AN: You like? I did. :P

Oh, and don't worry; something will happen with Max and Jayden, and Nudge will get her chance at a romance. It all comes in time, people. :P I have a LOT more planned. I'm excited:P