"Max!" Angel squealed. Followed by Nudge and Gazzy also alling my name. I smiled up at Angel, glad she was safe.Then
I noticed Fang sitting beside me, just staring at me.. His eyes were dark and intense. I gave him a weak smile and
mouthed "Thank you". He just helped me sit upand gave me that'we gotta talk' look.
"What about Itex? Jeb?" I asked, my memory a little fuzzy still.
"Both still standing, for now" Fang responded in his cold, nonemtional voice.
"How are you Max? " Iggy asked
"I'm fine Ig. Just needed a little rest. It's been a long couple of days and those meds Jeb had the whitecoat witch kept
me kinda out of it.You all should get some rest too. Tomorrow we'll talk. Promise" I said looking at Fang.He sat there on
the edge of the bed for a moment then got up and opened the bedroom door.
"You heard her, get to bed. All of you." Fang said. Angel and Nudge gave me a quick hug then scurried out the door
behind Iggy and Gazzy. Then Angel came running back in.
"I don't wanna leave you Max. You've been so sick lately. You feel sick now, I can tell." She said.
Fang cut his eyes to me."You been sick?"he questioned.
"She' been throwing up like everyday. Somethings wrong with her Fang. It scares me when Max is sick. Please, can't I
stay with her?"
"Umm Angel, I'm fine honey, really. Now you need to get some rest. You have been through as much as I have. Go on,
get some sleep. I will be okay." I said.
"I could use a shower and some clean clothes" I said to Fang, hoping to drop the subject of my being sick. I wasn't
ready to tell him that I might be pregnant yet. I would have to find out if it were true first. Not just one of Jeb's sick
games.
"Max, wait. "Fang said. Oh great. He wasn't letting me off that easy.
"Yeah?"
"What was Jeb talking about all that nonsense about a fetus and miscarriage and stuff as we were breaking you out of
Itex? I mean, Rags, he hadn't, they didn't have time to..." his face showed both horror and anger. I had never seen
Fang like this before. But I can't tell him. Not yet.
"Nothing Fang, just trying to psyche you out. Rags hadn't touched me. Jeb hadn't im planted anything in me either. you
got there in time. "
"But he said something about-"
"Look Fang, I'm haven't been with Rags, he hasn't raped me or anything, I wasn't artificially insemenated. I am not now
nor will I ever be carrying Rags' baby". Just yours I thought to myself, my hand going to my stomach.
you should tell him Max. He should know. Great. Now you show up, giving advice. Why couldn't you have showed up three
days ago and warned me about the flyboys coming? No response.
Fang came over, touching my cheek. I smiled at him.
"I'll feel better after a long hot shower and change of clothes." I said.
"Okay. I'll take first watch." Fang replied, leaned down and kissed my forehead and walked off.
In the bathroom I took a good long look at myself. Pale. Dark around my eyes. Purple bruises up and down both arms
from needles. Then my eyes went to my stomach, my hands rubing over it.Still flat. Was there really a bay in there?I had
to find out. I stayed in the shower for over an hour. The water was starting to get cold. I pulled the curtain to find Fang,
just standing there, arms and ankles crossed. He was staring at my pruised up arms. Then he looked at me.
"Feel better?" he asked in a soft voice.
"Yeah, thanks." I replied.He took the towel and began to dry my back and shoulders, then my hair.
"Max, I was worried about you. I going crazy imagining all the things they might be soing to you." Was this Fang,
admitting to feelings? Mushy ones at that? I just stared. "I couldn't stand it-being away from you, not knowing if you
were okay." he continued.
I placed my hand s on his cheeks."I's okay. FAng. I am alright. I am here now. Thanks to you and the guys"
He placed his arms around me."I couldn't stand not being near you" he said, pulling me to him. He kissed me. It had so
much emotion, feeling in that kiss that my knees buckled. I grabbed onto him for support. His hands ran doen my bare
back. I arched into him as he tightened his grip.My hands were in his hair now, fisting it."Fang I-"I started but his mouth
claimed mine again in a demanding, passionate, almost violent kiss.
"I went tyou Max. I need you.Now" he whispered in a deep husky voice that broke any willpower I may have had to pull
away. I could never pull away from him again. I belonged to him, heart, body and soul. I kissed him back hard, reaching
for his belt. His clothes were in the floor in seconds. We came together with such an urgency, a need that I felt tears
well up in my eyes. We could not get close enough to each other. Fang drove deep into me over and over, held me so
tightly it was as if we were one person. One mind, one body,one soul.I called his name, my nails making furrows down
his muscular back as spasms rocked my body. Fang thrust hard once more and he shook. His mouth came down on the
nape of my neck and I squeeezed him tight. "Maaaxxxxxx..." he moaned out. We sank to the bathroom floor and just
clung to each other for a while.
"We should get dressed and get back. I am afraid Angel may start having nightmares again after being back at Itex." I
stated as I stood.
"Yeah, you're right." Fang said as he sttod, then turned to me."Max"
I looked at him. There was a silence. I smiled then"I missed you too Fang" I said, caressing his cheek.We quickly dressed
and with a quick kiss left the bathroom. Fang held me tight in bed that night, all night long.