I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY. But in the last four months a lot of things have happened: my sister got diabetes, I went to New York, My birthday and Christmas and oh yeah I got sick.

If it makes you feel better you can flame me for two weeks only!!

On with the story.

Once again I am so sorry!!

Nudge POV

I ran through the house screaming at the top of my voice, Fang was first out of his room, his hair stuck out at different angles; it would have been funny if not for the situation. Angel was holding Celeste when she appeared at the end of the corridor; tears had streaked her still dirty face. Gazzy was awake and alert and Iggy was too, no doubt bomb planning time had been interrupted.

'She's at the School in Death Valley!' I shouted jumping up and down. Fang's eyes widened.

'Get your packs, we've gotta go get her. You have ten minutes,' he commanded.

Fang POV

I couldn't think straight as I packed the necessaries into my backpack and slung it over my shoulder. Jeb had taken Max to the School. That son of a b-, I better not, Angel may be listening.

I bolted down the corridor and outside. It wouldn't take too long to get there, we wouldn't have to stop. Angel had thoughtfully left a note for Dr. M and Ella. The flock had already assembled on the front lawn and I ran and spread my wings, taking flight. I heard the others take off.

Iggy POV

The flight was deathly silent, no one wanted to talk nor joke. A heavy atmosphere hung around us, heavy with pain, anger and determination. Gazzy's wings brushed against my downstroke.

'You ok?' I asked stupidly.

'I just want Max back, no offence but she's the best!' he whispered. I nodded. He drifted away towards Angel and started a conversation consisting of small talk.

The rest of the flight was tiring but no one could stop even they wanted to; getting Max back was a big deal for everyone. I could feel the tension in the air as we neared the Death Valley School. Fang started descending and I followed suit.

Fang POV

As we approached it, I suddenly realised I had no plan to get in and save her. I hit my head with my hand, no time like the present. Angel sobbed a little obviously reading my thoughts. I gritted my teeth and decided to just go with the flow like the spawn of the devil constantly told Max.

We landed quite nearby and went on foot for the last leg of the journey. We had landed just inside of the security gates and that I was glad for. There were cameras everywhere but that didn't occur nor matter to me, all I wanted was Max back with us. They better not have harmed her. My fists balled up by my side and my blood coursed through my veins as we approached the building. Now what? I thought to myself. I pressed the 'Reception' buzzer and waited patiently. A sickly sweet voice crackled through.

'Hello, may I help you?' it said.

'Yes, I'm here as part of a new research study,' Angel suddenly pushed in front of me and said.

'Ok, then through you go!' the voice replied as the doors swung open.

I looked at Angel in shock, she just tapped her head. I nodded and headed forward. Iggy slipped a finger in my belt loop.

'What's the plan?' he whispered really quietly. I shrugged.

'Surprise them and take her back, I suppose!' I admitted. Iggy let go and fell into pace behind me. A narrow white corridor led through to the main desk.

'I'm here about the study,' I said to the lady. She eyed me suspiciously. Angel jumped up on to the desk.

'We are not here. Let us have five security passes and don't tell anyone we were here!' she commanded in a low serious voice. The lady mumbled inconspicuously and handed us five cards and we left, just like that.

'Thanks Angel,' I whispered. I had no idea where we were going but just walked on hoping my sense of direction would save me! After about fifteen minutes, I was getting nowhere, rooms were mostly empty. A little later after a deathly silence that had rested on most of the corridors a scream resonated through the air. Iran in the direction of it, Max had screamed like that when she fell off the Empire State Building. A door stood in my path and I rammed into it, pulling it off of its hinges and making it fall to the floor.

Max was lying on a metal gurney, not lying comfortably however; she was strapped to it, looking terrified. Jeb stood beside her holding a large injection. Max was staring at it scared beyond compare. I lunged at Jeb.

'No!' I shouted snatching it from him but he moved away, he knew all of my tricks he had taught me them. The syringe flew into the air and landed point down into Max's arm. I let out a cry of anguish and horror.

'Time for a long, long eternal sleep!' I thought I heard Jeb whisper. Iggy growled and lunged at him. I knelt beside Max, tears filled my eyes and a lone tear dribbled down my cheek. Max writhed in pain, the poison reaching its target.

'Fang…' she whispered pain etched everywhere in her face. I stroked her hair.

'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!' I replied, tears breaking through the barriers. I had lost her once and now I was going through it again, I couldn't, no it was awful.

'I love you,' she whispered almost silently. I kissed her gently and suddenly her back arched and she fell limp.

'No, No, No, No, No,NO!!' I shouted, shaking her limp frail body. 'Not again, not you Max, why?' Tears fell mercilessly down my cheeks. I was hardly aware that the flock was ripping Jeb limp from limp metres from where I was standing. Max was dead again but this time for real, I didn't even know why she was alive again or even how! The door flung open and a silvery eyed boy around my age stood there. Nudge hissed a profanity.

'Omega!' Angel hissed fiercely for a seven year old. I heard all about him, I rushed at him pushing him up against the wall in a painful position.

'Stop…' he whimpered. 'I can help you, she's not dead!' I dropped him, nothing else mattered now. I looked silently over to where my poor Max was lying cold and white. I pulled him back up.

'Impossible,' I spat at him, punching him in the gut repeatedly. Angel ran over.

'HE MEANS IT!' she shouted and I stopped.

'What?!?!' I exclaimed.

'Max isn't dead!' she screeched happily, jumping up and down happily. Iggy helped Omega to his feet. I sneered at him.

'How?' I asked.

'It was a sedative, they wanted to see how she would cope with the stress of knowing something terrible was happening, I tried to stop them, I really did. You've got to believe me, I put my act on in Germany, the director was there so I had to!' he pleaded with me, still bent over clutching his stomach.

'Thanks, maybe her mom can look after her, you stay here and clear up the mess,' I commanded, pointing at Omega. I undid the straps that were holding Max down and picked her up in bridal style. She weighed a bit but I wasn't going to let go of her for one second. I kissed her forehead. I walked out the door, the flock followed. I gave one last cold look at the school and jumped into the sky snapping open my wings. The flock didn't question, I was glad of that. So we flew off back to Dr. M's house.

Please review.

Beth

xx