I'm terribly sorry for the extremely late update. I think you've guessed by now that I tend to update once a month, but I have NOT given up on this story at all.

Well this chapter turned out to be much longer than I expected; I never knew that one paragraph summary of chapter 16 would turn into a 5,500 words chapter. The wonder eh?

So I've noticed that Angel and Gazzy have not played much of a role in this story but truthfully I really don't have a need for them. They'll pop in and play a bigger part in the next chapter. Also, I don't know if you remember, but a few chapter back Iggy took Total to visit Akeila, his lovely darling, so he's basically out of the story for a while.

Chapter 16: Of Recon Missions, Visions, and Old Acquaintances

Fang POV

"Focus your energy into short quick bursts," I instructed softly. Max grunted and pulled her fist back for a second punch. I caught her fist and pushed her back. "Again," She huffed in exhaustion but looked determined to pull one good punch. She fainted with her right and tried striking with her left. I bent backwards and safely let her fist pass me. I tried to hide my pleased smirk –had she pulled that a little faster— I might have fallen for it.

While Max's current fighting skills were a shadow of her former self, she was improving at a rapid rate. Just as flying had come easily to her, her keen instinct for a fight was no longer dormant within her. Her punches were starting to become unpredictable; her unpredictable fighting style was what made Max the best fighter. It was instinctual, wild, and deadly, even more so when she was fueled with the fire to protect her flock. Max laughed at her own clumsy attempt but this time she ducked and tried to kick my feet out from under me. I placed my arms on her shoulders and flipped over her body.

"Show off" she frowned slightly teasingly. I raised an eye brow at her and then quickly ducked another punch. While she was still a softie, on the battle field (figuratively of course, standing on edge of a barren cliff is hardly considered a battle field after all) she was deadly. It seemed the more Max opened up to us, the more her old wit, sarcasm, and sassy attitude seemed to surface.

I was currently teaching Max how to fight. The reason . . . well it went something like this:

I winced as I walked behind Nudge cursing her for wearing those stupid heels whose clicking could be heard a mile away. For god's sake, we were sneaking into a government building for the sake of hacking some information; if those heels weren't a dead giveaway then the government was stupider that I thought. Getting into the building was the easy part. As soon as we were in Nudge donned us with some disguises. Why I let her pick the disguises I will never know.

After Nudge recovered from her initial collapse, we managed to get the license plate ID easily enough. That's when Nudge sprang on me that we would be hacking into a level 3 government computer. The first two levels were accessible to any idiot who was stupid enough to hack a government computer in a government building. I'll let you know when I meet one. On the other hand, level three needed identification, finger prints, codes, the whole nine yards. Nudge reassured me that as long as I got her past security she would take care of the rest.

And so, I pushed my invisibility power to the extreme. I turned us invisible the entire time we were in the building, and when we got to the third floor of the government building we ran into my biggest problem yet: a full body scanner. This one could detect body heat as well as metal objects. Both of which I had push my mental capacity to its fullest to cover. And guess what? I FNICKING erased our body heat from motion scanners! I'm starting to wonder if the school created as super weapons instead of "saviors of the world" or "advancing the human race."

But that was what we were doing: sneaking around in government building in Nudge's soap opera style disguises. I seriously needed to lecture her later about watching too many of those cop shows. I was in a full suit and tie attire while Nudge wore a formal business blouse and skirt; how she passed for twenty year old I will never know.

We walked in casually like we belonged and no one seemed to pay us any mind (unless you count the blonde hags with much too revealing blouses fluttering their eyes at me…it was gross. They were at least twenty years older than me). Nudge decided that waiting near the cappuccino machine was our safest place. And so we stood there making vending machine quality coffee for nearly five minutes when we found the break we needed. A middle age woman left her computer, monitor still running, to run an errand for her boss.

"Nudge, leave the coffee," I warned her before we snuck over there. I was rewarded with the evil eyes. She was definitely going to make me pay (for pricy coffee) later. She got down to work without anymore prompting from me. While she worked on the computer, I kept a look out for the woman who sat there previously.

I avoided watching Nudge do her work. There was something unnerving about Nudge forcing herself to look at those "floating letters" as she puts it. It seemed that Nudge's hacking abilities put a large mental strain on the fourteen year old. Despite what she said earlier, I think she rather enjoys the challenge presented by hacking.

"Nudge," I whispered under my breath. "We're being suspected." I say in hushed tones. She looks at me with pleading eyes, she's not done yet. I shuffle around like I'm working when pair of security guards approached me. They did their "we're completely suspicious of you but are trying to be polite even though we just want to pull our guns out" routine. True to my character, I responded in viable one word or sentence answers. The guards seemed extremely peeved that my lack of vocabulary didn't allow them the chance to assess whether I was telling the truth or lying. I played it cool and had a pleasant smile.

"Hello you lovely gentleman. Wow is that a police badge, you guys really look like the strong, rough–and-tough save the world kinda men. As grateful as we are for your services, I would really appreciate it if you would stop questioning my co-worker," Nudge sweetly cut in and flipped her hair behind her shoulder. The guards blinked in reply. I sighed and grabbed Nudge's arm. We took off in hurry and jumped out the third floor window. A lot of employs screamed and shouted when we jumped, but we left them quite speechless when we "vanished" into thin air.

Did I mention that Nudge hacked the security system and froze all cameras and security feeds on the third floor? No. Well now you know. Unless one of those desk job geeks pulled out their cellphones, there should be no concrete proof that Nudge and I were ever there to begin. I glared at Nudge mid-flight. She shrugged in response.

"I was just having some fun. Now if you wanna know what I found, you better buy me that coffee you promised. No scratch it, I want a cappuccino. Oh god, I'm drooling, figuratively of course, just thinking about that cold chocolate goodness. You know Fang, I've been thinking about middle names. Could mine be something sweet like Coco, or Chocolate? I think its cut-"

"Nudge." I cut her off, with slight grin. "What did you find out?" Nudge grinned deviously and listed all that she discovered.

"Okay, so like we had two leads before coming here, the license plate and Lissa. Unfortunately, we don't know Lissa's last name, or if that name really is her real name. I mean even if it were real there was always the chance that it was an alias. Anyway my point is that using Lissa's name itself was too risky.

"So I tracked the license plate. I found this name: Edward James Alexander Monroe Clarke Charleston. Whew, that's a mouthful. So I tried searching all variations of that name. I looked for a few connections to Lissa, like having a seventeen year old daughter, or being super rich, like you know that Lissa's dad paid for Iggy's eyes, right. Then I searched for something more generic like 'human experimentation' or 'genetic experimentation,' blah, something like that. I hit a jack pot! His official name in the United States is Edward Clarke. The guys a bloody Brit. His data supported all our theories. He also has a daughter and government funded laboratory in Washington!"

Nudge said all this with exaggerated excitement. I couldn't help but be astonished at her thought process. The kid was damn smarter than anyone gave her credit for. I was so glad that she was on my side because Hacker Nudge is not an enemy I would ever want to make. I processed her words carefully. The conclusion was quite obvious. "So he's the one then. The one who sent the Wyverns. Do you have a location on this lab?"

Nudge grinned deviously in reply.

So that was the basic story of how Nudge and I figured out the organization after us. They didn't have a name so we referred it to having Lissa being after us. After Nudge and I got back from our little mission, the flock had another meeting. It was clear to us that our peaceful life wasn't going to last forever. We needed to be prepared to move and live on the run again.

Iggy tried to pack and preserve any food and money he could incase we needed to make a quick escape. Nudge and Gazzy worked together to set traps around the house and motion detectors in case we were being watched or about to be attacked. Much to my dismay, I had no choice to send Angel out to do most of our shopping. Max was against the idea just as me, but she was the only one who could change her outer appearance and control the mind of the people around her. It made sense that Angel should carry out all our supply runs. I also eventually bugged Iggy to go with her as much as possible.

That left just Max and I. I told Max, should we live life on the run again, she needed toughen up. The easy life style she led for the past year, the only life style her mind remembered, needed to be left behind. Max needed to be re-taught how to fight and survive. So here Angel, Max, and I were out on the back deck training Max. Angel mostly watched.

"Take a break," I told Max nearly two hours after the last break. She smiled and quickly collapsed on her knees not needing to be told twice. She laid back taking heavy breaths and Angel brought a bottle of water over to her. I sat next to Max who shyly accepted my gesture and continued to stare off into the horizon. But my eyes were on her, only her.

"What are you thinking about?" Max quietly asked, pulling me out of retreat. I shook my head. She didn't want to know. I didn't even want to admit that I was still thinking about…that. Angel shot me a knowing look. I couldn't meet her eyes. Because in all honesty, the memory of the vision she showed me was haunting. I shivered as the memory of the vision came back to me. I was…watching myself dying.

The first thing I noticed was scorched red valley and a blood red sky. The sun was angrily glaring down on all that dared show their face. I, the figurative me watching the Angel's vision, was standing high above in the sky. This didn't bother me some much as the scene before me did. I saw myself, hunched over a body.

From the part of me that I could see from above, I saw a torn shirt, bloodied jeans, scars and bruises all over my arms, and tears trickling down my face. The blood and the scars I could understand, but for the life of me I could NOT figure out why I was crying. I frowned and leaned closer into the scene. I found the face of the body.

"Max!" My vision-self screamed in distraught. Fear raced through me as I watched this part of the vision, I dove down to her side. My Max's side. There was blood. Lots and lots of blood. I jumped in shock at the sight of large gaping wound in her abdomen. No, horror filled my veins as I saw how ghastly pale she was laying in my vision-self's arms. No.

"Fang…I-" Max tried to whisper. But my vision self collapsed in exhaustion next to her. Get up, I wanted to urge my vision self. I saw myself blinking in and out of consciousness, unable to carry Max any further. "Leave me, please" she whispered.

I saw a small smile grace my face and-

And so the memory completely cut off. I wanted to pretend I never saw it, I wanted to be angry with Angel for showing me something so horrid, but I can't. There was just…so much blood. Even now when I close my eyes I can see her face from the vision. She was pale, and her body was limp. And there was so much blood. I shuddered at the thought.

"Fang, are you alright?" Max grabbed my hand comfortingly. If I flinched I might have hid it well. I nodded and for her sake, allowed a tiny smile. She smiled back brightly in response and continued to stare into the orangey pink evening sky. I sight softly at the sight of the warm sunrays reflecting of her carefree face. I wished to always see her like this, smooth faced and teasing crinkle in her eyes. If there was any positive side to Max losing her memories, I would say that I'm happy she didn't remember what it was like to live in cages, to be betrayed over and over again, to always be on the run and survive on the bare minimums.

The Max I had right now knew nothing about such grueling measures. She was as carefree and innocent as a seventeen year old girl should be. The old Max had been forced grow up faster than the rest of us. Even while I was her right-hand man, I was still pretty carefree and reckless. It wasn't until I was suddenly in charge of four other bird kids to realize just how much growing up and responsibilities I needed to take. But I can't bring myself to regret becoming the leader in her stead. There was just something so… endearing about raising the flock. Something nice about taking care of others; whatever the feeling was, I just hope that one day, Max and I could-

"Fang, Fang, Fang, Fang, Fang, Fang, Fang!" Two high pitched girly voices interrupted my daydream. Then I was suddenly pitched forward as two heavy weights seemed to crash into me. I let out a soft "oomph," and fell on my stomach, Angel and Nudge dog piling above me.

"What do you want?" I retorted trying to sound annoyed. Max giggled and pulled little (just kidding, she was 100 year old evil genius hiding in the body of a seven year old) Angel into her arms. Nudge smiled teasingly and held her hand out.

"Jeb is here," She whispered with a soft sad smile. I nodded, rose to my feet, and dusted my jeans off. I caught Max's confused eyes staring into my back but I let Angel explain who he was. I didn't want to be the one to tell Max who her (Betraying) father is. I felt something (Angel) probing my mind trying to guilt me for making her explain. I internally rolled my eyes and said please.

True enough, Jeb Batchelder, the filthy rich man himself, brought down to our humble abode. To say his appearance was a shock was an understatement. Last I saw him, he was a posh old scientist with too much time and money on his hands. But now…he was a shallow echo of his former self. Jeb was garbed in an old cardigan sweater with some collage name brand, black trousers, and a pair of horn-rimmed glasses.

"Well, well, it seems our fellow mad scientist finally decided to crawl out from under his rock," I half mocked and half glared at the oddly docile old man. But docile was hardly a good description of Jeb, he was mad, twisted, plotting and greedy old geezer with his reasons justified for the sake of "Saving the World and other Extreme Sports."

"I see you've picked up a new hobby Fang. Tell me, does talking haughtily come with practice or experience?"

"You should be happy we talk to you at all Jeb," I retorted trying to keep the venom under lock and key. Jeb may have played part in helping us find Max but it doesn't change the fact that the man came and left in our lives as he pleased. The caustic smile on Jeb's face wearily slid off, and then I could see what the broken old man Jeb had been reduced too. His hair was salt and pepper, blackish speckled with the grey, his eyes were wrinkled with age and weariness, and face sunken and pale with withdrawal. If I didn't know any better, I'd say the man had been drinking away at his sorrows. "So what brings you to our humble abode?"

Jeb chuckled humorously, and pulled a tiny flask (A real fnicking flask!) from his trench coat pocket. "Calm down Fang, its only medicine I promise,"

"In a flask?"

"Maybe it's illegal."

"What do you want from us Jeb?" I gritted my teeth. It was hard to deal with Jeb like this. The man had lost his touch. His sharp mind was dulled and his once professionally indifferent personality faded into one of madness. Perhaps the guilt of Jeb's deeds finally caught up with him or perhaps it was the loneliness of losing his wives (both Max's and Ari's moms), losing his precious lab, giving his only son up to be an experiment, and abandoning the flock who looked up to him like a father. I don't know what plagued Jeb but I couldn't really find it in myself to care or sympathize with him.

"Perhaps it is you that needs something from me?"

"Cut the bull Jeb. You want something from us."

Jeb chuckled long and hard, followed by a shallow wheezing cough. "I may not look it, but I am dying man Fang. My days in this world are numbered. Could you blame an old man for not wanting to spend his last moments alone, riddled with guilt for what he did to his own son and then his daughter and their friends? Can you blame an old man for wanting to make amends and pass on peacefully?"

I snorted in response. I didn't really believe Jeb was dying or maybe I didn't want to believe. "I never really took you for the type Jeb. I figured you'd be looking for the Fountain of Youth about now."

"Nah…this old man has already done his fair share of destruction in this world. But he still has a few useful breathes left in him yet," I ignored his oddly philosophical voice and immediately picked up on the fact that Jeb knew. Jeb had an inkling of what was going on right now and by the looks of it, he had plenty of information to shed. I grinned almost haughty with glee and kicked my feet up on the coffee table.

"Let's hear it then."

"Very well, I'll keep it brief then. Mr. Chu was one of the last leading human experimentation researchers and genetic-mutation scientists. It was under his authority that the practice continued even after Itex fell. By destroying him, you destroyed his followers, his various employments and labs, and basically shut down his field of science. Any existing sites after that seemed to completely shut down after hearing that the government was in aid of their experiments, namely you, the Flock.

"As you recall, you and the flock have been hiding out here for almost two years since your last encounter with that world. You weren't chased or hunted because for the last two years the field of human experimentation had been all but exterminated."

"But it's not." Iggy cut in dumbfound. I realized that from the moment Jeb walked in here that Iggy had been quietly observing him, even after I walked into the living room. He only decided to make his appearance known now. I glanced at Iggy sharply and a strained look was exchanged between the two of us. Jeb watched suspiciously of our interaction. I scoot over on the couch and picked my feet off the coffee table before Iggy could nag me for it. "We're being hunted again. Well sort of. Their methods are bit different this time. We didn't know who was attacking us till we searched for answers on our own. As melodramatic as it sounds, our enemies usually have some kinda a flashing billboard screaming 'we are (insert name here) and we're gonna turn you into weapons' sorta thing. But like I said…this time it was different. We got a name…Edward Clark or something. Do you know him?"

"And why he waited so long to attack?" I cut in Iggy's ramble (He was spending way too much time around Nudge, maybe it was a good thing maybe not. But I think I'd rather keep my distance than get skinned alive for interfering).

"Yes I do know of him." Jeb's face contorted into disgust. "His name is Edward Clarke. Unfortunately he's the only disciple I've ever taken-"

"Oh that's great. The world of mad scientists has a master-disciple system going on. And you wonder why the world is so corrupt?" Iggy snorted and threw his hands up in exasperation. I couldn't help but snicker at his stupid but completely true remark. Without thinking we bumped fists in our mutual understanding but then flinched back when our skin met. Iggy's eye twitched in half amusement at our unconscious show of …well friendship I guess. I wonder if this meant we were sorta cool.

"Disciple, intern, student or protégé whatever you want to call it. He studied under me almost ten years ago; you were mostly in your infancy at the time. But he was vicious man-"

"And you weren't?" Iggy cut in again.

"Shut up Iggy," I rolled my eyes at him and gestured for Jeb to continue.

"More vicious then the norm then," Jeb added as an afterthought. "He was cruel to the experiments. While it would be…err…hypocritical to say I wasn't, at least I was doing it in the name of science. Of course back then I was still young and had no conscious of considering that experiments were real and with feelings. It was my instinct to look at experiments as an objective. But Edward wasn't like that. He loved to err…measure experiments for their capacity of pain. If I recall correctly, the man was desperate for a durable being to, err, carry out missions for him."

"But what does this have to do with us?"

"Well I assumed that was quite obvious Iggy. You five are the most successful experiments to have ever existed." Jeb said, amused.

"But we're not the only bird kids in existence Jeb. I saw a girl with wings trapped in the Institute once," I replied.**

"Ah yes, but surely you must have noticed Fang the changes since you escaped the school."

"Our evolving powers."

"Indeed. Not only were the five of you successful and completely mobile, your genes are such that can adapt or evolve to anything given the circumstances and the time. And of the five of you, Maximum Ride is the first and most durable. She has the…original genetically mutated cells. The rest of yours are a copy based on hers."

Iggy's face scrunched up. "Please tell me we weren't, umm, created from Max's cells…that would make us her…her children!" His eyes bulged out of his head. I shuddered and convulsed at that thought. I think a gagging noise may have escaped me…but I blamed it on Iggy.

"Heavens no! We merely copied her genetic code and instilled the same program in the four of you." Jeb gasped with equal shock and disgust. A sigh of relief was exerted from both Iggy and me. I grateful look passed between the two of us. Somehow despite all the crap he was still my blonde haired, blue eyed, bomb loving, ingenious cooking best friend. I got the feeling that Iggy was thinking something along the same lines. Being the immature bird boys we are, we cracked a sly grin at each other. Then we shook away the temporarily disgusting thoughts and moved on.

"As I was saying," Jeb rolled his eyes at the pair of us. "It is my belief that during the time that Edward and I were –experimenting—on the flock, he developed a sort of … sick infatuation with Maximum," Jeb quickly put up a finger preventing us from cutting in with marks of disgust. "I mean that he craved her for himself in a purely platonic way. He craved to make more human-avian hybrids like Max and use them as his personal military arsenal. I think he means to …breed Maximum Ride."

Ripples of sick convulsion passed between Iggy and I. I felt bile rise to my throat at the thought of my Max going through such horror. Suddenly I felt murderous. Pure hatred flowed through my veins at the thought of Max, my Max being used as a breeding pig like an animal or live stock. I wanted to punch a wall, no, better yet, I wanted to punch Jeb for uttering such crap at us.

"That's repulsive…oh god that is so sick. He's gonna turn Max into baby making machine!" Iggy nearly yelled he seemed to be hyperventilating in sort of bird kid panic. I clamped my hand over his mouth and hissed at him.

"Don't. They'll hear you." I glowered warningly at Iggy. He nodded his head and I released him. I glared daggers at Jeb and hoped they pierced his cold stone heart. "We are not letting him touch her!" I enunciated every word. Jeb, who had only slightly cringed (he was used to being glared at by Max but I suppose it was my first time displaying such outward fury), nodded in agreement before I even finished.

"Yes your right, it's too dangerous for both Max and the rest of the world. But mostly because…well it's just too inhumane," Jeb spat in disgust. Then his face transformed into a cool and calculating demeanor. "I'm afraid you can't deal with this man the way you have dealt in the past. You must deal with him immediately. Edward Clarke must not be allowed to get his hands on any of you, most of all Max." Jeb warned in an almost threatening, over-protecting father-like tone as he pushed the horn-rimmed black frames high on the bridge of his nose.

"But you still didn't answer one question. Why did he choose to attack now?" Iggy asked in confusion. Jeb, suddenly amused, looked between the two of us.

"I believe he did once before. I suppose it was a stroke of luck his plans were delayed." Jeb's eyes landed on me as he spoke. I gulped…Lissa. Lissa's, err, attack was meant to attack at the heart of the flock, the trust between the five us. And it was no secret that Max's greatest strength was in her flock. Separate Max from the Flock, and leave the flock untrusting and distasteful of each other and we were worms for the picking. But they underestimated Max's feelings. They underestimated how devastated she would be from my betrayal. It was never a part of their calculations for Max to disappear. The irony was so incredibly stupid I wanted to laugh; a stroke of luck indeed.

A similar look of understanding dawned upon Iggy and he threw me sympathetic eyes. It seems that my fling with Lissa finally made sense to him. Iggy went into a more professional mode. "Well, we obviously can't sit around and wait for an attack. How do we find him?"

"I'm afraid that's the easy part." Jeb stared at his feet in shame. I stared at the old man incredulously and let the unasked question hang in the air. "Clarke is collecting the best genetic scientists in the world. I'm afraid one of them is an associate of ours. I've been tracking her since she was taken against her will."

I froze. Iggy froze. The world froze. Our thoughts went back to the same chocolate chip cookie making mother. Please don't it let be. Not again. "Who is it Jeb?" I asked slow and coldly, my voice remaining monotonous.

"Mrs. Bridget Dwyer…" A loud crash had the three of us springing to our feet we all stared in the direction of the crash. We didn't have time to revel in the relief that it wasn't Mrs. Martinez because we saw Nudge and Max standing side by side, their faces red with tears, and eyes wide and unblinking with fear. They heard. They heard everything. A panicky sob escaped Max's lips. She shook her head back and forth.

"No…no…no, this is all my fault." She muttered in disbelief. Max wrapped her arms around her torso and began gently rocking into her tears repeating he words like a mantra. I didn't waste any time pulling her into my arms and letting her sob against my chest. "This is all my fault." She cried against me.

"No." I replied slow and steadily. "No Max. You couldn't have known." I murmured and held her close, stroking her soft locks of golden blond hair. Iggy and Nudge stared at Max with sympathy. Nudge leaned over to whisper into Iggy's ear.

"Is what Jeb said true…he wants to…use Max?" She whispered in almost disbelief. Iggy nodded his head slow and reluctant. Shivers of repulse racked through Nudge's body and she seemed disoriented with shock. Iggy quickly steadied her, and kept a comforting arm around her waist. I shot Iggy a grateful look which he replicated back to me.

I pulled Max out of my arms and brushed the tears out of her eyes. She stared back at me with her eyes milky with tears; I waited till her eyes focused and her sobs subsided. In that moment, Max looked so vulnerable, so full of raw emotion and grief. Her emotions seemed all the more stronger since it wasn't for herself that she was crying but for beloved sister figure with whom she lived with for almost six months. I wasn't stupid. I knew Max loved Bridget like she was her own flesh and blood sister. Somewhere along the six months of her disappearance, the two women had formed an inexplicable bond. And now Max was blaming herself for her sister figure's predicament.

"I'm so sorry Max. I'm sorry for what you had to go through and what you might have heard. But we will get Bridget back and we will take care of this Edward Clarke. He won't be able to lay a hand on you," I finished with a strong determination. I felt a sort of surge of adrenaline as my words became so powerful in my own mind. I made a promise to Max and I was going to do it or die trying. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I realized I made my longest monologue yet and thanked the gods that Angel was still out hunting for Gazzy and wasn't here to tease me for it.

"Let me come with you!" She begged latching onto my arms and pleading with her glassy chocolate colored eyes. I shook my head. "Please Fang."

"It's you that Clarke wants. You'd walk into a trap." My voice was surprisingly even as a replied to her. She didn't look convinced; Max opened her mouth to protest again. But I wouldn't let her. I quickly stole her lips. She pushed against me at first, but I wouldn't break contact. Slowly she melted into the kiss and allowed the movements of our lips to move together softly. God I wanted more of her, but I realized I had a bit of a crowd. I swiftly pulled and steadied the unbalanced Max.

"I'm sorry Max, but the way you are now, you'd be useless in a fight. Stay with Angel and Gazzy." I said in such a way that left no room for arguments. Somewhere in the background I heard the opening and slamming of a door followed by bickering from two siblings. I looked at Iggy who was politely or intently staring in the opposite direction.

"Iggy, let Angel and Gazzy know what's going on. Nudge we're going to need you to handle Jeb's tracking contraption and get us inside their facility. The three of us are riding out in an hour." I say sharply and received a quick nod of reply before Nudge and Iggy scampered off in opposite directions. I turned to Max.

"Watch over Angel and Gazzy. Go talk to Jeb; he's yo-"

"My Father, yes, Angel told me everything." She nodded, staring intently over my shoulder at the aged man still nervously sitting on the couch. I saw a tiny flare of anger in Max's eyes. I wondered if she was mad because he abandoned us, or because of what happened to Ari. I wouldn't ask; I wouldn't pry.

I pulled Max into a quick hug one more time, just feeling the need to be close her again. I needed Max; I need her in my arms right now. This mission was sending horrible vibes up my back. I couldn't shake the horrible feeling that this would be the last time I saw her. I couldn't shake the horrible nagging feeling that this would be the last time I would hold her in my arms like this. Flickers of Angel's visions drew back into my memory. I felt Max's body sink against me as though she felt a similar desperation. Why did it seem like when she was finally mine…I would lose her again? It was painful, but I was able to let go of Max.

She squeezed my hand tightly and whispered: "Come back to me, Fang,"

Oh snap! Oh no I didn't! I just brought back both Jeb and Bridget back into the picture of this story. I have to admit a lot of this was NOT planned from the beginning. The primary point of this story was for Max to willingly give up memories and Iggy and Fang both fighting for her love the second time around. Somehow it evolved from so much since then. Bridget was just a place holder character, and Lissa was supposed to be minor hindrance. Haha, this story was supposed to be an AU romance but I guess it went back to cannon huh?

I personally like it so much better with this action/romance/suspense sort of thing. Whatdya guys think? I know the majority of my readers began reading this for the romance, drama, and humor, but I've taken quite a turn from all that haven't I?

Comments and Votes please!

I genuinely want to know what you think about this story. Please do say so!

P.S. I took a stab at Jeb's personality. Hopefully it was convincing enough.