Title: Sometimes Experiments Aren't Needed

A/N: Hey guys, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for reading this! I do plan on this fic having upwards of around 50-100 chapters, and then there will be a sequel once this is over. I realize this fic may be a little cliche, but I have always wanted to write it, but just recently have felt comfortable enough in it's plot to begin it. On that note, I have about 7 or 8 fics I am working on, in multiple fanbases, and so even though MR was my first, and is still one of my favorites, I do prefer to upload to all of them instead of just one, plus I have a ton of things to do in my real life, not including my novels and my undergrad duties and preparation for MCAT, as well as work, so I want to let you all know that even though uploading may take some time, it will always be updated. Once Summer II comes around (about july) the speed will pick up exponentially, but until then, it may be a bit slow.

Also, as I forgot one of these: Disclaimer:I do not have the pleasure of owning Max Ride or any of the series' tidbits. I only own my plotline and a couple characters that won't be introduced for a while yet.

Alrighty, on to your chappie! As always, please R&R, as it makes my heart soar and my writing improve when I get feedback, and though it is not necessary for me to continue this story, they have been known to pause my everyday life to write a chappie.

Ch. 3

I opened my eyes to a bright light- right in my face. I groaned and swung my hand up to my face, wondering when the heck I'd been allowed to wake up during an operation before. But I'd take this opportunity, and then I'd go from there, break Fang out of the cell, and blow this joint.

However, the sound I heard when I karate-chopped to the side was not what I was expecting. The loud 'oof' and proceeding, "Damn, Max, what was that? We're only checking your vitals, you know."

I turned my head and blinked, registering what was going on. The bright light was a penlight flashlight, held by none other than Iggy, whom was the one I had hit. His irritated face matched his words, and when I turned the other way, I saw my mother. Beyond her, which is where my eyes rested, was a still-unconscious Fang. I rubbed my head, frowning, and sat up slowly.

"How long was I out?" I asked, looking from Fang's still form to Iggy and my mother.

"Three days. You both were extremely malnourished, Fang more so than you. And his lack of calcium in his bones is way more concerning than that fact."

I frowned, "He had calcium. Isn't there calcium in cheese?"

Iggy nodded, "Yes. Why?"

"Because we were given two blocks of cheese and three moldy slices of bread for each meal."

My mother frowned, and then turned to look at some sort of chart, "He never ate any cheese. He only has trace amounts of fungus, yeast and rye in his system." She frowned, turning to another form, "However, yours shows a great deal of cheese residues."

I frowned, "But…"

She turned towards me, a flicker of a smile on her face, "If you ask me, they only gave you one block of cheese for those meals."

My eyes widened as I looked back down at Fang, and a warm feeling swelled into my heart, "You idiot." I muttered.

My mother chuckled, and then came over, "In other news, you are all ready to continue whatever it was you were doing before this ordeal started. Fang, however, will need to stay here for a while longer. As I said, he was greatly malnourished, and the lack of calcium will cause some pretty severe problems all on their own. We will have to make sure he is okay before he gets a clean bill of health."

I nodded, and then frowned, "Okay." My stomach rumbled an I looked down at it with a sheepish smile, "So. Uh, is there any food around here?" I asked.

Iggy laughed, "Will be in about ten minutes, if you can wait that long." He padded out the door to the room and I could hear his footsteps as he headed down the stairs to the kitchen.

"Where is everyone else?" I asked, looking around, realizing that I couldn't hear normal flock activity.

"They're in the kitchen, watching a Disney movie. I have had the hardest time keeping them from your room." She laughed at my expression, and then waved her hand at the door, "Go on, I'm sure they'll be glad to see that you are awake."

I nodded, flicked one last look over to Fang, and then slipped out the door. As I padded down the stairs with a frown as I heard the familiar lyrics of 'Be Our Guest'. The tune filtered through the den's entranceway, and as I stopped there, looking at the television, I smiled. For there, on the screen, was the familiar candelabra and dancing plates.

"Wouldn't it be so cool if our plates could dance? Or our chairs could just whisk us away to dinner? Oh! What if our covers could just swing into here and snuggle around us? I'm kinda cold-" I couldn't help smiling as Nudge's imagination ran wild.

"Can't you just be quiet for once? I'm trying to watch." Gazzy complained.

As I padded into the room, Angel looked up, a grin on her face, "Oh! Max's awake!"

I laughed as Beauty and the Beast was forgotten in favor of the three of them, plus Total, climbing to their feet in excitement and bounding over to me, hugging me tightly, and I smiled.

"Food's ready!" was heard coming from the kitchen a short time later, and with a grumble in my stomach, I followed the voice.

Iggy had made a full feast, complete with three kinds of meat, pastas, veggies, and all sorts of other things. My eyes lightened in excitement, but then I frowned when I saw that he had made only eight plates, plus Total's. He passed them out, and then looked over at me, "Would you mind bringing this one to Dr. Martinez?" he asked, handing me the least-full plate. I frowned.

"Where's Fang's?"

Iggy looked at me incredulously, "He's unconscious. He can't eat. He's got an IV."

"Oh. Right." I said, feeling slightly dumb for not thinking about that. I grabbed the plate, and then my own, and padded up the stairs and into the room.

If he had been giving me his food, I was plan on eating there, to force some of it down his throat the minute he awoke.

"Here." I said, handing her the smaller plate, and she nodded, thanking me, as we sat down on either side of the bed that Fang was on. I began to dig in when my mom shook her head.

"Eat slowly, so that your body can get used to solid foods in quantity. We don't want you puking all over the place." I frowned, but then nodded, slowing the pace.

-o-

Once we had finished- I hadn't been able to finish my full plate, as much as that surprised me- the flock joined me in Fang's room. We all sat on and around the bed I had been on, when I looked over at them.

"So. How did you manage that escape, anyway? And what happened to that whitecoat that pulled us out?" I asked.

Angel smiled, looking up at me sweetly, "It wasn't too hard, truthfully. We just had to be a little inventive." When I raised my eyebrow, she broke into a grin, "I can shapeshift, remember? I'd never tried to do it on an actual person, but it was easier than doing it like a fish, even! So that was me. Nudge worked the lock, and Iggy and Total moved the direction of the gas to the main security bank, to knock them out, so we didn't have as many after us. Dylan took guard while Gazzy used his mimicking voice to mimic the sound the gas portrayed as it went into your vent. After that, it was easy!" I widened my eyes in surprise.

As I thought that over, I began to feel queasy, and I sighed. I knew I had eaten too much… I stood and darted out of the room and over to the restroom across the hall. I glimpsed a knowing look that I didn't understand from Angel on the way, but ignored it, figuring I could always ask later.