((Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride, or any of the characters in this book. They all still belong to James Patterson, well, they still did when I last checked. Enjoy!

But I do own the plots, so PLEASE respect this story and the author and don't steal the plot(s).))

Chapter 2: Emotion-To be, or Not to Be

Night fell around us, and we all lied down around Max, except me.

"I'll take watch all night Ig. You look stuffed." He was going to argue. Yep.

"No, man you sound bad. I'll take watch too. Max can't and I'm lot letting you be your stupid pig-headed self and take all the watch. Your stupid this way man." I have to say, for a blind guy he can dig into your skin pretty deep.

"No," and that was the conversation closing. Angel giggled behind me. I didn't want to lead the flock into danger the next day, especially with Max not one hundred percent. What were we going to do? Stay in the park until she was better? Will she get better quickly? Will she get better at all? I heard footsteps and turned to see Angel.

"Fang, I know this might be hard on you, you know, being like a dad to us while Max is out of action. But I wanted you to know, just in case it helps, that everyone loves you. Max does, I know that much. I know I do. And even if it doesn't seem like it, everyone will always be with you Fang." I knew she was talking about the time I had decided to leave the flock because of Ari, who turned out to be Max's brother. Man, I've got to make that up to her. "I know it may look like the world's out to get you, but no matter how bad it seems, the flock with always be standing next to you Fang. We'll never leave you standing there. Think of it like being in a cage." She knew about my fear, then. My fear of being in a cage. "We'll be in there with you." She paused before going on. "I think of Max as a mum, a sister and a best friend. She thinks of you as a brother and a best friend. Like a best, best friend in the whole world. She can tell you anything. But thinks more of you Fang. She really likes you. And I think she confused about you, 'cos I'm picking up weird vibes. Oh, and something bad is going to happen, in a while. Like a month or so. I just thought you'd want to know." Great so the kid can see the future.

"No, I heard it, as in thought. A whitecoat thought it, when I was in the school. Remember? Maybe 3 weeks ago now." And why are you telling me this now?

"Because it was a bad time before." Oh great. And it's not now?

"Um-"

"Ok, Angel you can stop answering my thoughts now, it's kind of getting creepy."

"But that's how Max and I talk together." Ah, so that's how they did it. She nodded, looking up to me. Ok then read this. Go to bed now Angel, it's getting late. I'll wake everyone up if anything happens, same as usual. She sighed then started plodding off. She turned back to me.

"Night dad." My eyes widened.

"What?" She stopped and looked up at me.

"Night Fang. Why?" I could have sworn she just called me dad.

"No, I didn't. You're to young and handsome to be my daddy." She turned and walked away, towards the campsite, leaving we drowning confused in her wake. That was weird.

When dawn broke I found myself stuffed: I could barely keep my eyes open. Pushing my hair out of my eyes, I walked back to the campsite. Everyone was still asleep and Max was still pale and clammy. I wondered what we were going to do with her. Angel stirred at my thoughts, but didn't wake. I sat down as I heard rustling. I stood up again, fully alert. A small dog wondered into the small clearing we were inhabiting. It barked once, startled to see me. I was even startled to see it: the bloody thing had 3 eyes. And 2 tails. I gulped praying that there wasn't an owner to match. Then something about the dog didn't ring true, apart from the extra parts. Being a mutant yourself helps you see past the faults of others, or so they say. It cocked it's head with a very mechanical move. In fact, it had a slight mechanical air to it. I decided then that I should get rid of it before it did anything else mechanical. I glanced around quickly and my eyes fell on a large stick, about 2 metres away from me. I quickly swooped down and picked it up. I looked careful at the dog. I didn't seem to be able to follow fast movements. I slowly moved my arm up and down. It followed it with it's head. Then I swung the stick around, fast. It continued to stare at me. Yep, I was right. You're always right Fang. Oh jeez, a Voice that wasn't my own. I was turning into a Max more and more. I should stop hanging with her and get a life of my own. Yes, look were it's getting you Fang. No where, it's a dead end. And when the world ends, who'll survive? The fittest will, that's who. "Shut up you wiener. I don't give a rat's what you think, of Max, the flock, or anything. Capese?" Oh, so you care about Max now? Well, well, that will be tested to the limits in a month or so. In a month or so? Did Angel say that? The dog still started at me. I snarled to it then took a quick step forward and brought down the stick. The dog crumbled with a satisfying crunching sound. Smoke rose from it's back, just behind the neck. And hopefully the Voice went with it. Nope, I'm still here. "Great! I'm overjoyed. Now, why did you leave Max's head and pop into mine? She threaten to kill herself to?" There was silence, and I let out a long breath. I started walking back to the campsite. Nudge and Gazzy where on their way over to me.

"Fang? Are you alright? We heard you talking to someone." I shook my head.

"Not someone, well. There was a dog-"

"Oh! Can we keep it! Can we!" I frowned. Great.

"No, it's dead." I watched their eyes widen. When I didn't talk, everyone thinks I'm a nutcase, and when I do talk, I dig myself my own grave. Was life meant to be this hard? I heard Iggy stir and looked past Gazzy's head. Max was still asleep, Iggy was just resting, waiting for someone to tell him to move. Well, I didn't want to rain on his par-where was Angel?

"Where's Angel? Angel?" Try not to panic. Calm down. Take deep breaths. Oh for goodness sake who am I trying to kid?

Angel's little, but grimy, head poked up from behind Max's back. Phew. See, all that for nothing. Max sat up and looked around.

"Feeling better sleeping beauty?" I tried not to put to much emotion in it, so I added the part at the end. Then I remembered what Angel said last night and looked away nervously. She caught me red handed.

"What? My hairs not that bad is it? Can't be worse then yours." She grinned at me but I couldn't look her in the eye for some stupid reason. Then I remembered something far more important. Well, two things actually.

"Uh, Max? Do you still hear that Voice?" She nodded.

"Yep, The other night it told me to come here. Why?" Oh great, I was hoping she wouldn't ask. But it's Max we're talking about remember? Sick or not, she catches on quickly.

"Oh, no reason. You haven't mentioned anything lately. Oh, and Angel says something bad is going to happy in a month or so. So did-" I cut of quickly, not looking at anyone's eyes. I guess I was a fixed target by then anyway. Max opened fire.

"What! Angel? Fang, do you have a voice as well?" 5 pairs of eyes fell on me, making me squirm. Even Iggy was looking at me. I sighed. Great.

"He saw a dog and it was a robot thing and then a Voice popped into his head and I told him something and now I can't heard him anymore. Every time I try to get in to his thoughts I hear fuzzy noises, like, a TV, you know?" We all turned to Angel. I was going to rip her throat out if Max ever let me. And judging the look on her face, I will be waiting a while.

"What?" Max turned back to me again. Fang explain." When she speaks to me like that, I'm no longer a best friend, a brother or anything more. I'm expected to answer it, like a child. How wrong she is. I looked down in to her face. Oh God, why'd I do that stupid?

"Well. Um, I was on watch and then this little dog thing came near me except in was a robot as Angel pointed out." I glared at her.

"Fang!"

"And then this Voice in my head told me to kill it so I did. And it told me-" A stopped, not wanting to go one any more. My time in the limelight was up, buddy.

"Told you what? Fang. Tell me." I looked at her again. How did she do that? What? Look so hot and so shity with me at the sam-wait, your back. Go to hel-that's no way to behave is it now Fang? The young lady just asked you a question. Now answer her Fang. Ok, anyone ever had a voice commanding you to answer questions? No? Well your lucky. At least Max has as well.

"Fang. I'm losing my patents." I sighed.

"The Voice told me to take over being the leader of the flock. I wasn't listening to it. I'll never try that. You know that right Max?" She nodded, looking thoughtful.

"Yes, I know you'll never do that. But did it say anything like how good I am?" I almost smiled.

"It called you a young lady," I knew she would have hated that. And yep, I got the reaction I was looking for.

"What! A young lady! Is your head talking about the same Max? Come here and let me beat it out." Needless to say, I stayed where I was.

"Are you feeling better Max?" Angel came forward, looking worried. I know I was there for a while, but I'll never admit it. Max nodded.

"Yeah, I think I am. It might have been a stomach bug or something. Food poisoning?" She shrugged.

"Are you going to barf anymore?" Gazzy looked embarrassed.

"No, I don't think so," Iggy grinned.

"There's probably nothing left to throw up I don't think!" Max frowned.

"I'm scowling at you Iggy. That's sick!" He laughed again at her.

"Ok, Max. Do you think you're well enough to fly? Angel told me that something bad will happen soon. I don't like this place. It's to quite. Have you noticed that no ones been through yet, and it's a public park?" I looked around again, feeling edgy.

"Angel? Can you tell me everything you told Fang?" Angel nodded.

"I heard a Whitecoat thinking that something bad will happed to us in a month or so. And Fang heard the same thing in his-from his voice. I heard it about 3 weeks ago. You know, like, when I was at the school." Max was quite for a second, considering.

"Ok guys. Here's the plan. We grab some chow and then fly to Arizona. Then we'll have lunch with my mum. We'll then keep flying we get to Chicago and get some supplies. You know, food and stuff. Then we'll fly over to Vancouver, in Canada. We'll stay the night there and then sneak on to an airplane to Brunei, in Malaysia. Then when we get there, we'll have some chow then fly-as in with our wings-to Banjarmasin, in Indonesia. Then we'll get another plane to Surabaya. We'll stay the night there. Then we'll grab chow and stock up if we can. We'll get another plane to Darwin, in Australia. OK? Any questions?" Iggy put this hand up making school boy noise like 'ohh, ohh, pick me!'

"What Iggy?"

"Do you know where these places are? 'Cos I've never heard of them." Max paused for a second.

"Have you ever been to school?!" Iggy laughed.

"Ok everyone, go and get your backpacks and clean up the area. Fang and I are going just a few seconds away to get some food. We'll be back in a sec."

She turned and walked off, me towing along behind her. She waited for me to catch up with her.

"So, you made up that plan all by your self?" She glanced up at me.

"No, to be honest I was saying it word from word after my Voice said it. I've got no idea where we're going." I thought as much.

"Ok, good one. At lest the Voice is reliable right?" She nodded.

"So far it's always been right." I thought for a second.

"So, you feeling better?" She frowned, trying to hide it from me.

"No, I feel like crap. Like I've been hit by a train. I don't know what's wrong with me." I was shocked. She seemed so much better to. But I knew she wasn't as feel as she said she was.

"I've got to pretend around the kids and Iggy. I have to make them believe I'm strong. But with you, I can tell you anything. Thanks Fang." I bit my lip.

"That's cool, I guess. I kinda guessed that you weren't hundred percent," she slapped my arm in frustration.

"You were supposed to say 'but your so good at that Max!' not 'I knew that.'" I grinned and she saw and smiled back. I don't know why, but she always goes weird when I smile, as if I'm not supposed to.

"I won't lie to you Max. You are a good leader to the flock and a good mother to the kids." She blushed and muttered 'thank you.' Then I remembered last night and how Angel, or at least I thought, had called me 'dad.'