Thunder: Back Through the Rain – Chapter 24

By MyNameIsCAL

---Max's POV---

You tell them no, Max, Angel invaded my thoughts. Tell them no. If we help them, one of us is going to get hurt.

I turned to Fang, but his face was hard and emotionless. Yet his eyes, they seemed to radiate some kind of mixed sadness and pain.

"Angel is right," he whispered.

The agents waited, almost impatiently.

"We told you everything we could to help you, but to go out there and face Janssen, to think that she might hurt us again," I shook my head. "We can't help you like that."

Jimmy loosened his tie. "We really need you to help us. It might be our only chance to get her."

Fang spoke next, in almost a growl. "You think I want to help you after what you did to me?!"

The other agent, John, pushed back from the table, almost toppling the chair over. Fang scared him. Jimmy looked a little startled too.

"I'm really sorry," Jimmy squeaked. "Well, if you have my number. Call me if you change your mind."

And then they were gone.

---Fang's POV---

How many times can you walk away from something until you realize you really shouldn't have walked away and now it's too late? That's what I wondered as I lay in bed with Max. She was upset another chance to cure me had slipped by. And I guess I was upset too, maybe just a little because I still had hope even though I didn't want to admit it.

Angel did apologize to me though. I didn't expect her to because after all she was saving us, wasn't she?

---Max's POV---

Fang, to my surprise, was still in bed when I woke up in the morning. Usually he was up, trying to find a way to distract himself.

"Morning," he grunted, pulling me towards him, his arm coming around me, resting his chin on the top of my head.

I wrapped my arms around him. "What're still doing in bed?"

"Leg hurts," he said.

"What time is it?" I yawned.

"Almost lunch time." Now he sounded in pain.

"Hey, are you okay?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, I'll be fine."

Fang didn't seem like he wanted to talk so we just laid there for a while, in silence.

---Fang's POV---

There was a huge crash from the kitchen. Max and I untangled ourselves and hurried down the hall. I ignored the protesting my leg was doing.

"You didn't want to come see me? Well I'm tired of being nice." Janssen stood pointing a gun at Iggy and Ella, who was clinging onto Ig, scared and almost in tears.

"What do you want from us?" Iggy was trying not to sound scared.

"Oh, nice of you to join us, Fang and Max." Janssen pointed the gun at me now.

It took a while after the gun had gone off to realize she had shot me. I collapsed to the ground, the pain was numbing though. I didn't feel a thing.

"No one else move, or I'll shoot you too!" Janssen snarled.

I gripped onto my leg, trying to put pressure on the wound.

Hang in there, Fang, Angel entered my head. Just don't pass out.

Max glanced at me and then back at Janssen.

"If you're just going to kill us anyway, why don't you just do it already?" Angel spoke out loud, taking a step forward. "Why are you such a coward?"

The gun swerved in Angel's direction. I thought that was going to be the end of Angel, but Iggy suddenly pushed Ella to the floor and flung himself at Janssen, the gun flying out of her hand and landing right next to me. I picked it up and pointed it at her, my hand shaking. She wasn't paying attention to me. Iggy and she were rolling on the floor, exchanging punches.

She rolled on top of him and pulled the trigger. Things seemed to happen in slow motion as she fell to the floor, Iggy pushing her off. I dropped the gun.

"Fang," Max kneeled next to me on the floor.

I reached for her hand, resting me head against her leg. "It's over now, Max. It's finally over."

"I called 911," Nudge announced. "And Mom."

I coughed.

"Fang, hang in there, okay?" Max squeezed my hand, smoothing my hair out with the other. "You're gonna be fine."

"Max," I breathed out. "Max, I love you."

She was crying now. "I love you too, Fang."

I squeezed her hand back, weakly.

Max said but name, but I didn't reply.

"Fang," she was trying to fight the tears.

I closed my eyes, repeating, "I love you, Max."

Stay tuned to see what happens next. Thanks for reading!!!

I've got some new stories up too. Check out "Silence", "Lie Tonight", or "Cheating Death" if you get the chance!