A/N: So guess who is going to go through whatever the hell she has to in order to get to go to New York to see JAMES PATTERSON IN TWO WEEKS! THAT'S RIGHT! THIS GIRL! I am so freaking excited I will stop at nothing to do this. :D Anyways, enjoy the chappie I'm not going to spend a paragraph apologizing for not updating cause I'm pretty sure you're all used to it being there all the time by now…but I really am sorry :/ I went to Germany and that kinda took up a lot of time I should've been typing…gah! Here I go again ok I'm done, let's do this! *PS I love ya guys!

Disclaimer: I'm not JP…actually I'm going to see him in a few weeks WOOT WOOT!

Chapter Thirteen: The Transition

Max POV

I woke up in a soft bed in a semi-dark room with a glass of water and a note on the nightstand next to me.

But the first and only thought that I had was finding Fang.

I ignored the water and proceeded to get out of the bed to explore the room around me and it was about that time that I noticed that my left ankle was attached to the bed with some form of an extremely strong cable.

I let out a long, irritated huff and reached over to read the note on the table:

Max,

I'm glad to see that you managed to arrive to the shelter without any harm. When you have awaken I will be in to brief you shortly.

-J.

There was only one person in the world that I knew that had handwriting like this and the fool was trying to trick me by just signing "J"?

"Hello, Max, I see that you are finally awake and alert."

"Where's Fang at Jeb?"

"We will get to that in due time, Max, first we need to discuss the reason for your arrival."

"No, first we need to discuss where Fang is, then we can discuss me leaving, and then, maybe then, you can discuss with my clone whatever you wanted me to be here for and have a dandy time doing that, huh?"

"Oh, Max, you haven't changed a bit. I'm glad to see it really, losing Fang like that and then to just have him back in your grasp."

"Where. Is. Fang. Jeb."

"Fang died, Max. Dylan delivered a fatal shot to his chest and he was pronounced dead upon arrival into the helicopter that came to retrieve you. Any more questions?"

My heart stopped, but face grew hot, clammy, and I felt like all of whatever was actually in my stomach was going to fall to my feet. I grasped the handrail to prevent myself from falling over and glared at Jeb.

"Yes, one more question: Where is Dylan?"

Jeb gulped a little, obviously not expecting this kind of reaction out of me, which is unbelievable in and of itself.

"Well, you see Max, after you gave him a beating like you did—or I'm assuming that you did—he was required to be placed in a different facility from you. He is and will be a very valuable asset to what the next assignment is, therefore, we can't afford to have any…mishaps."

"What, you think I'm actually going to work with him! HE KILLED FANG! I will NEVER work with him!"

"You will if you don't remember edgewise Max." Jeb's icy glare actually took me aback. If I don't remember edgewise? What's that supposed to mean?

"Let's take a nap, Max, we don't want you to get too worked up about anything and ruin your chances of succeeding."

Before I had time to process what had happened I was attacked from behind, a needle jammed into my hip and a mask affixed over my nose and mouth. The hands that held me prisoner were bigger than my arms and held fast to me until whatever was in the needle had taken affect and the room went black once more.

Jeb POV

"Sir? How did she handle the transition?"

"Oh, how Max always handles things."

"And the news on the black-winged one?"

"Don't mention it to her. She'll find out the truth in due time."

"Yes, sir."

A/N: I'm writing chapter 14 tomorrow (or later tonight) for sure because I already have it started over on the other side of my computer screen.

~hawkstar2