Thunder: Back Through the Rain – Chapter 22
By MyNameIsCAL
---Max's POV---
Marian Janssen was in the news almost every day. Thanks to us, the FBI knew how dangerous she really was. A total of twenty government agents were now dead, and the number would probably grow, not to mention all the innocent people she had already killed. It was becoming a national crisis.
But Fang, he was suffering more than ever. Not that he would ever have admitted that to me. I only heard from Iggy. His visits to the hospital became restricted as Mom spent more time at home to look after everyone. Most of the time, he came in with the wheelchair. He was miserable, I could tell.
To think I had crushed his chance and made him worse than before, it was killing me.
"The doctors say you could probably get of here by the end of the week," Fang said, wheeling to my bedside.
I turned down the volume on the TV. "That's still three more days."
But Fang had his eyes fixed on the TV now. "Hey, turn that up."
"Breaking news in New York City today," the reporter said. Why did they always seem like they were over trying to sound excited? "Marian Janssen was spotted today fleeing a supposedly abandoned building right before an explosion happened that burned the building to the ground. The FBI has reason to believe that she was hiding something and they are now launching an investigation to salvage anything that might lead them to new information…"
"They're not going to find anything," I muttered.
Fang shook his head. "They'll never catch her."
I frowned. Fang had been so positive about things since I got stuck in the hospital. "Why do you say that?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. I'm sure they will eventually."
And Fang changed the subject, but I knew he really thought that.
---Fang's POV---
I wouldn't lie that I wasn't bitter about not getting that damned cure. There was absolutely no reason to be hopeful that I'd ever get it, especially after being let down so many times. Max didn't need to disappoint herself either. I was lucky to be alive still.
Mom insisted that I needed to go home and rest, or I would have stayed longer at the hospital with Max. She promised that she would let Iggy go to check up on Max when we got home.
"You won't get any better if you don't get any sleep," she told me sternly.
"I'm already not getting any better as it is," I mumbled.
"Max is going to be just fine," she sighed. "I know you worry, but you need to worry about yourself too."
"Alright." There was no arguing with Mom, after everything she had done for us, sacrificed for us, I wouldn't push it anymore. I already tried and it didn't work.
Mom wheeled me up the makeshift ramp and to the kitchen where food awaited me. I wondered if it was her cooking or Iggy's. Gazzy was sitting there, picking at his food.
"Hi, Fang," he said.
It had been a while since I talked to Gazzy. "Hey, Man."
"How's Max?"
"The doctor says she could be out of there by the end of the week," I answered him.
"You think they'll get Janssen?"
"She can't run forever."
Gazzy shrugged. "But we've been running for a long time too."
Perhaps Gazzy was the only one who felt the same way.
---Iggy's POV---
"Ig, why are you here?" Max yawned.
"Fang worries," I responded.
"Tell him not to, please. Go home and sleep." Max closed her eyes. "And tell him to get some sleep too."
I sat down on the chair next to the bed. "It'll get better once you're home."
It didn't take long for Max to fall asleep. I left the hospital a short while after that and returned home to Fang wailing in pain.
"What happened?" I asked, not even sure if anyone was listening.
"Fang twisted his leg when getting out of the wheelchair and into bed," Gazzy replied. "He'll be alright."
I heard Mom trying to soothe him. It obviously wasn't working as he let out another howl. Poor guy. To think he would still get up the next morning and insist on going to the hospital made me wince.
---Max's POV---
Instead of Fang, I woke up to Gazzy sitting on the couch, watching the news with closed captioning.
"Fang hurt himself getting into bed last night," Gazzy said without even taking his eyes off the TV. "Mom wouldn't let him come, so I offered to go for him."
"You really don't have to be here," I said, sitting up. The pain in my stomach was no longer there.
"I know, but if it makes Fang feel better, then why not." Gazzy stretched his legs. "Besides, you would worry if you didn't see him here."
Gazzy was right. I gave him a small smile before turning my attention to the TV.
"Marian Janssen is yet to be caught," Gazzy said after some silence. "She appears in a different place every day, but no one can get her because, well, because she has her experiments protecting her."
"I've been watching the news too," I reminded him.
"Right," he said, realizing it was what I did to pass the time. "Well, I was just saying then."
I laughed. "Of course."
He stuck his tongue out at me. "Oh, you, shut up."
Alright, moving along slowly, I know. But action or some kinda drama will build up in the next chapter hopefully. I want to get this story moving along because I have an ending planned, it's just everything inbetween that's fuzzy. Thanks for reading and you're patience!