I'm too lazy to do the disclaimer right now. But James Patterson is cool.

I woke up to a cool breeze brushing over me, causing me to shiver a little. The pain in my back had subsided, but my shoulder still felt like it was going to fall off at any minute. I sat up and sighed. I noticed that my chest felt tight, like something was wrapped around me. I look down and saw that I'd been wrapped up in gauze. All of the bloody gauze from last night had been replaced by fresh new ones. I looked at my surrounding, only to see that I was sitting in the middle of the woods. The trees swayed high above my head, and moss covered rocks were all around.

I decided to try and get up to look around. I slowly got to my feet and wobbled a bit; my legs felt like rubber. I took my first step-not so bad, second step-okay, third step-not great. I fell right on my butt. I winced from the ache in my shoulder. I tried to move my right hand, but that only sent pain shooting back up my arm. I groaned as I sat there on the ground.

"I am in the middle of nowhere." I said to myself.

Then I suddenly heard whispered and footsteps coming from behind the trees.

"Max!" Angel cried at the top of her lungs.

She threw herself on me and cried. My shoulder absolutely killed, but I was in to much shock to think about it. I couldn't even speak.

Nudge and Gazzy then appeared from behind the trees.

"You're up! Max! How do you feel?" Nudge went on. She kneeled down to give me a hug.

"Hi Max." Gazzy said nervously.

He inched his way over to me and then finally gave me a quick hug.

"How…" Where did..? What happ…" I stuttered.

I was so unbelievable shocked that they were here, sitting in front of me, alive and breathing.

"Well, you told Iggy to throw the bomb." Nudge started.

"And he didn't want to, but the Eraser hit his arm and he dropped it. Then the bomb exploded and made a HUGE hole in the wall. So Fang and Iggy pulled us all out and took us here." Angel continued.

Her cute little face then went from happy and excited, to sad and serious.

"We all were so scared that you, well, you know." Gazzy said sadly.

"But Fang didn't believe it, so he went back for you and brought you here." Nudge said.

"You were barely alive Max. Fang didn't even want us to see you when he brought you here. Iggy told us that you were in really bad shape." Gazzy looked down on the ground.

"But your not dead Max! You're alive!" Angel cheered.

Smiles swept across everyone's faces. I still couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was like that whole explanation went through one ear and right out the other.

"S-so where's Fang and Iggy?" I asked.

"They went to get dinner. There's a little town not far from here." Nudge said, pointing over her shoulder.

"Where are we?" I asked, only because I really wanted to know.

"In Maryland." Angel said excitedly.

'Maryland. They flew all the way from DC to Maryland in one night. And Fang had come back for me. Why?' I thought to myself.

'You'll be surprised Max, more than once.'

This Voice was getting annoying, but I couldn't get frustrated now, I had my flock here with me.

"They're back!" Angel yelled. The kids got up and ran to them.

Iggy came up beside me and knelt down.

"How are you?" He whispered to me.

"Okay, I feel a lot better than last night." I whispered back to him.

"Max, I'm sorry. I didn't want to throw the bomb. But the Eraser came, and I couldn't see it, and…"

Iggy's blank eyes filled up with tears and he hung his head down.

"Iggy," I said to him as I pulled his head up, "I told you to do it. And I'm glad it happened. If you didn't have that bomb, we would all be dead, or worse, still in the school. Iggy you don't have to apologize, because I'm not dead."

I smiled and kissed Iggy's forehead. He smiled a little and went to give me a hug, but then he stopped.

"How's you're shoulder? I had to pop it back in place. It was dislocated."

"It's okay, still sore, but okay. Thanks for that." I smiled and hugged him tightly.

"I love ya blind dude. And besides, you can't get rid of me that easily."

He laughed and stood up.

"You want me to bring you some food?"

"No. But do you mind helping me get up?"

"You sure?" Iggy said with a concerned look.

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

Iggy bent down and lowered his hand to me. I grabbed it and he pulled me up. I was a little wobbly, but I was up.

"You sure you can walk?"

"I'll give it a shot. Just don't let go okay?"

"Okay." Iggy said with a smile.

He held onto my arm and took a few steps forward. Surprisingly, I wasn't on my butt yet.

"You good?" Iggy asked.

"Yeah, I haven't fallen yet."

"Camp's only around those trees." He said. I looked at him weirdly.

"How did you know that?"

"Hey, I may be blind, but I'm not dumb."

I laughed. Being with him always makes me happy. I love him like a brother, and I always will.

We slowly arrived at the camp they set up. There was a fire going, and I could smell hot dogs being cooked. I was so hungry; I could probably eat a million.

"I hope you guys bought a lot, 'cause I'm starved." I said to them.

Iggy helped me sit down on the grass and he got a hot dog for me.

"Thanks." I said as I inhaled it.

"Can I have like, 9 more please?" I asked Nudge who was standing in front of the fire.

She handed them to me and in about thirty seconds, all of them were gone.

"Wow Max, you have a big stomach." Gazzy said with a weird expression on his face.

I sat back and watched everyone sit around and eat there hot dogs. I was so happy to be back with them. We were together again, and that was amazing. I looked over at Fang who was sitting down by the fire, looking at the ground. He then raised his head a little and looked up at me. We stared at each other for a few seconds, until he looked away.

'What's up with him?' I thought to myself.

'Give him time. He's been through a lot.'

'He's been through a lot? We all have.'

'All will come in due time.'

'What are you now, a fortune cookie?'

Of course, the Voice said nothing after that. I did feel bad for making Fang worry like that. But I wasn't expecting him to ignore me. But, anyways, I didn't want to get all worked up over it. Now I was with my family, and I loved it. I was so happy to be out of that Institute. But I had a feeling that we should keep on moving. I wanted to be as far away from Washington D.C. as possible.

"Hey guys," I called out to everyone. They all looked up at me with hotdogs stuffed in their mouths.

"We soon start moving again soon, okay?"

"Can we go to Disney again?" Angel squealed.

"How about to a beach, or a lake. That'd be fun. Or we can go to Vermont and ski. I've always wanted to go skiing!"

"I was thinking of going more out west." I said.

"We should go to Montana!" Nudge shouted.

"What's in Montana?" Iggy raised his eyebrows.

"I don't know, but we could go." Nudge shrugged.

Everyone laughed at her; even Fang chuckled a little bit.

"So tomorrow morning, let's head out okay?"

"But Max, can you fly?"

I hadn't thought of that. My back still hurt, and my wings were a little cramped up. I guess I'd have to test them out tonight.

"I should be better my morning." I said, forcing a smile.

I was nervous to see how that would work out. But I guess I had to give it a shot. It was dark outside now, so everyone cleaned up and decided to get some sleep. We all tapped fists and everyone lie down and quickly fell asleep. But I was, of course, wide awake.

I sat myself up carefully next to a tree and watched the flock sleep. Everyone was there, except Fang. I looked around and saw Fang sitting against a tree trunk near me, looking at the still lit fire. I had to talk to him, but for some reason I was a little nervous.

I know, wayyy weird to end the chapter that way. But it was getting really long! I'll try and post the next one soon!

Reviews would be lovely.

WARNING: Faxness may be slightly included in next chapter ;) Now Review!