A/N: Hey everyone! I can't even begin to say how sorry I am that it's taken me so long to put up a new chapter. I've been really busy these past few months, and haven't always been able to reach a computer. So I'm glad I'm finally able to update : ). The characters belong to James Patterson.
"He's gone." There was no question in my voice. Though my heart was clearly beating, and I was definitely breathing, I felt….dead. Like everything that mattered in life had been taken from me. And maybe it had. Though I'd recoiled from the very idea all these years, I truly loved Fang. And maybe…after all these years…when we finally came together as the flock again….maybe I had missed my chance. I'd like to think I at least saved him from some of his pain, gave him some hope for tomorrow.
Nudge just nodded, unable to speak because she was too busy holding back silent tears. After a few moments she composed herself and attempted a few brave sentences.
"I don't know where he went, Max. I wanted to make sure he was okay, after, you know, the hospital and his hearing and everything…so I peeked in his room to check on him. But he was….not there. He didn't even try to make us think he was; his sheets were all messed up. He didn't even say good-bye…."
I held Nudge close, stroking her hair as she cried into my shoulder. Suddenly I felt like time had reversed, and we were back to the days on the run, where I was the one who had to be strong and comforting. Where I had to be the leader. Gosh, Fang, I thought with quiet dismay, you could've at least given us a proper good-bye…after getting their hopes up…and now look at Nudge...the others'll be devastated. Though I felt too numb to be mad at Fang, I did have enough life in me to want to cry. Which was about the last thing I needed right now.
"Shhh. It's okay, Nudge. Maybe he just went out on his own for a bit. He isn't one to leave explanations." I murmured, trying to reassure her as best I could. In all honesty, I had no idea where he was or what he was doing. "For now, let's just wait. Maybe he talked to Iggy or someone before he left."
"Okay, Max…" She didn't sound all too certain.
"Really, it'll be fine. If worse comes to worse, I'll go look for him to make sure he's okay. We can't do much more…all of it's up to him." That last sentence frightened me to my core. We can't do much more. I was scared because it was true. I, Maximum Ride, could save the world. I just couldn't lift a finger to save the man I loved. There was a sick irony in that. "We should go see if anyone else is up."
Together we made our way down the hall. I couldn't help but glance at Fang's open doorway. This isn't supposed to happen. Some part of me murmured. Everything's supposed to be perfect now that we're all a family again. Like a fairy tale happy ending…But did I truly believe everything would be great and wonderful right away? I'd learned that things aren't going to be just how you want them by wishes and dreams a long time ago. You have to be strong, and sometimes you have to cry. Most importantly, you have to love. And I did that…all of it. So, sure, it wasn't all perfect right now. But eventually it would be. A sense of rightness filled me, and helped me to slip into Maximum Ride- flock leader's shoes.
As we passed each door we peeked in. The Gasman was sprawled across his mattress, snoring. It was a comic sight, his arms dangling over the side and his shuddering sighs. Despite the urgency of Fang being missing, Nudge and I exchanged an amused glance.
"'Kay. Let's leave Sleeping Beauty in peace." I whispered, tugging lightly on Nudge's arm. The remark earned me a smile, which was what I was hoping for.
The next door, Iggy's, was closed. Not one for knocking, I slowly turned the knob, cringing when a small squeak followed soon after. Cautioning with my eyes for Nudge to be as quiet as possible, I leaned against the frame. When the door opened enough for us to peer inside, I secured it with my hand. Even the slightest unnecessary sound would be magnified because of our hearing.
To my surprise, we found Iggy and Angel sitting on the edge of the bed, talking quietly. They looked up as soon as the door moved. Now that they knew Nudge and I were there, the situation didn't really require us to be in spy-mode.
"Hey." I said, slipping into the room.
"Hey." Iggy replied. His voice was normal, and not blurry from sleep. Good sign numero uno. He might- and hopefully- know where Fang was.
Nudge followed suit and crept past the door, looking slightly confused.
"Fang's gone."
Angel looked up from the magazine she had been reading while talking to Iggy. "Yeah. He took Total, too."
"What?" I asked, bewildered. "Why did he take Total? Wait, you knew he left? Why didn't you, you know, tell anyone?" Shaking my head, I walked across the room and sank down in a chair across from the bed.
Nudge didn't say anything. Apparently, she had no idea what was going on, like me. I was just more vocal about it.
"You don't have to stand there looking like a deer in the headlights." Angel teased Nudge playfully. "Come look at these dresses. They're totally awesome." She lifted the magazine with one hand.
Nudge stared at her blankly. "Um…why are you looking at dresses when Fang's missing?" She crossed the room and plopped down beside Angel. Immediately, Angel dropped the magazine and started whispering to her too low for me to hear. Which, by the way, is so not reassuring in the least.
"Max, first of all, Fang told me where he was going. Second, Angel, being Angel, knew. The Gasman was asleep, so no point in waking him up. We couldn't find Nudge, and assumed she was off doing whatever it was she was doing. And, seeing as Total's with Fang, we thought that he probably had a good idea of what was going on." Iggy explained, looking like even talking about it bored him. Suspicious, much?
"Okay, so where is he?" I didn't point out the fact that he didn't mention anything about letting me know.
"Can't tell you." Angel put in, turning to face me.
"What do you mean, you can't tell me?" I struggled to keep my voice calm. I was really starting to not like whatever was up.
"When we say we can't tell you," Iggy began, holding back a smile, "What we really mean is, 'we can't tell you'."
Groaning, I closed my eyes. So this wasn't going to be easy. "If I guess right, will you tell me?" At least I knew Fang must be relatively safe, because the others wouldn't let him go otherwise.
"Maybe." Nudge said, smiling now as well.
"She gets to know?!" I said, my voice laced with shock and annoyance.
"Yeah. She gets to know."
I was not only confused, but I was kinda mad now. I had worried myself to death, and they were going to just go ahead and let me keep on wondering. "Why can't I know?"
"Because it's a surprise." In perfect unison, we turned to face Total.
