Hello darlings! Please read, enjoy and review! And, as our friend so eloquently pointed out last chapter, I do not own Maximum Ride. Thanks!

ELLA'S POINT OF VIEW

I kept my headphones on even as I ran. I needed the music to keep my thoughts straight. I was currently blasting the song 'Damage' by Fit For Rivals, a song that Iggy had showed me not ten minutes earlier.

"Hey, El, listen to this song. It's pretty rad."

"Rad? You say rad?" Iggy blushed then, shrugging sheepishly and making me laugh. I listened to the song with him, closing my eyes and concentrating.

"It is a good song, Iggy. Where did you find it?"

"I was just-" Iggy was suddenly cut off by a chime from my phone. I pulled it out, reading the message. It was from Fang.

'He's gone. Hurry.'

"Uh oh," I said, trying not to make my voice shake with anticipation. Iggy heard it nonetheless.

"What , El? What's wrong?"

"It's Fang. I think he's in trouble."

"You better go, then! Call me as soon as you know," Iggy said sternly, pulling me in for a quick hug before following me to the door.

"And El?"

"Yes?"

"It's going to be okay!"

Whether he was right or not, I wasn't sure. In any case, I put my music on and ran, taking every short cut I knew to get home quickly. I knew Fang would never disclose the details over the phone; he thought it was dangerous.

My poor brother…this was all my fault. I should have asked him to stay at Iggy's with me today, I should have stayed home, or I should have helped him! My brother endures so much…I know I was not nearly as strong as he was, but I could take my own weight, I was sure of it.

Well, mostly sure. It was absolutely horrific, what my brother went through. I was the one who patched him up afterwards, I would know. Fang took it with all the pride and grace he could muster. I wasn't sure I could do what he could, but I had to try. Did I not owe it to Fang to stand up for him?

I was more than relieved to see my father's car gone. I threw open the front door, ripping my headphones off my head and listening hard. Nothing.

"Fang?" I called, my voice tight with anxiety. I listened only for the slightest moment and heard no response. I dropped all of my belongings on the floor and ran down the hall to the kitchen, finding it empty. The family room was the same.

Panic rose in my throat, making it hard to breathe.

"Fang?!" I hollered, running up the stairs to my bedroom. It was empty and dark, just as I had left it. I put my hands over my face, forcing myself to take a deep breath. Just then, I heard a slight moan from Fang's room. I gasped and trespassed into my brother's room, quietly opening the door.

I gasped at the sight of my brother's room-it was as if a tornado had ripped through. All the furniture was tipped over. There were books and papers littering the ground. Small objects had been thrown at walls and other pieces of furniture, leaving holes .

And there, in the middle of the clutter and debris, lay unconscious Fang, blood spilling out of his mouth and nose. His forehead was covered in black bruises, as well as his arms and undoubtedly his legs. I gagged at the sight of one of his wrists, bent at an awkward, unnatural angle, obviously broken. His clothes were wrinkled and ripped in a few places, his almost permanently attached chain nowhere to be seen.

I rushed to his side, leaning down to lay my ear near his chest. I heard him make shallow breaths, alive but in terrible pain. I brushed his wavy bangs out of his face, noticing that they were stuck together, matted with blood. My hands shook as I ran my hands down his arms, legs and neck to make sure nothing else was broken. His legs seemed fine, but his wrist was indeed broken and he had a major cut in his hair.

I grabbed my first aid kit and began to repair him, hoping to get the most painful procedures done first before he awoke. I put his head in my lap, doing my best to seal his cut without getting super glue in his hair. After I was satisfied with that, I examined his wrist. I had no idea what to do; he'd never been hurt enough to break something. I wanted to wrap it, but what if it needed to be set first? What if I only made it worse?

In the end, I decided to wrap it anyway. I grabbed a roll of gauze and wrapped it at tight as I dared. The area was swollen and horribly bruised, so I put an ice pack on his wrist as a precaution. I then double checked his stomach and back, finding nothing else that needed immediate attention. I lay Fang's head back on my lap and decided to wait for him to wake up.

But Fang wasn't waking up. After an hour, I was beginning to fear my father's return. I called Iggy, not knowing what else to do. He picked up on the first ring, like he had been waiting by the phone the whole time. He probably had.

"El?"

"Iggy!"

"How is Fang?"

"He isn't waking up, Iggy. He broke his wrist, but I'm not sure how bad it is. His legs and arms are alright, and I sealed a cut on his head, but I think he got a concussion. He has been sleeping this whole time. I'm not sure what to do. I am terrified."

"Ella, deep breaths. Do you need me over there?"

I considered it. I truly did. Iggy had never been allowed to come to our house, as we feared what would happen if my father came home unexpectedly. He knew the way there, but he had only dared to walk me home a couple of times. I did not blame him. But I needed help from someone. If Fang's head was seriously injured, he needed immediate medical attention.

Though I still didn't like the thought of Iggy coming over, my fear outweighing my need for comfort. I thought hard. Fang was toned, but not bulky. Surely, I could carry him, couldn't I? No, Iggy's house was two miles from here.

But Max's house was only a couple of blocks...

"Iggy, I'm taking him to Max's. Meet me there."

"You got it, El. Good luck."

After I hung up, I ran into my room, filling an old backpack with supplies. I grabbed my medical emergency kit, a secret stash of money I had been saving up, and other things I was afraid I would need. I slung it on my back, returning to Fang's room. Fang, unfortunately, hadn't woken up, as I had hoped he would. I put Fang's arm around my shoulder and grunted, standing up.

This may be harder than I thought.

I was able to get him up, his body leaning heavily against mine. After I took a few steps, he leaned to one side, almost collapsing to the ground. I caught him, accidentally stepping on a picture, shattering the glass. I winced as a piece of glass went through my thin soled shoe and into my foot, making me cry out quietly. I ignored the pain and got Fang up, leaning him on my shoulder once again.

Going down the stairs was very tricky, but I managed. Once I was out the door, I knew I would never make it to Max's. Fang was a head taller and probably fifty pounds heavier than me. I decided to call Max for help.

"Hello?"

"Max?"

"Ella? Hey. What's hangin?"

"Are you busy currently?"

"Not really. Why?"

"I need your help."

"Shoot."

"Fang has passed out and I cannot carry him to your home. I cannot leave him home, as I fear he has acquireda concussion. I need help carrying him."

"What?! Good Gandhi-where are you?"

"Just outside my house, on Beck lane."

"Hold on, Ella. I'll be right there!"

I smiled, relief flooding through me. Fang would be okay. Max was coming.

MAX'S POINT OF VIEW

"I'll be right back!" I hollered, throwing the front door open and charging down the street. My feet slapped loudly against the tarmac as I sprinted, my hair bouncing behind me. I made two turns, both right, on my way to Ella and Fang.

I knew why Fang was hurt. Part of me was afraid to see what had happened to him, but most of me was focused on making sure he was okay. I ran as fast as my legs would take me, the scenery blurring around me.

Then I saw them. Ella was sitting on the sidewalk, Fang's head in her lap. She was stroking his hair in an effort to comfort him, no doubt. When she saw me, her shoulders relaxed and she smiled weakly at me. I thunked next to Fang, looking over him.

It was gruesome. Bruises colored his face and arms, peeking out form his sleeves and collar. His hair was clumped with blood, though I could see no injury in his tangle of black locks. There were dark circles around his eyes and I couldn't tell if they were bruises or lack of sleep. His writs was swollen and bandaged, the skin around it black and red.

"Gosh," I breathed, totally in awe.

"Okay, let's do this. I'll take his arms and you take his legs, yeah?" Ella nodded, determined. Then we carried him. It was not easy to do, either. Fang wasn't overweight, but he had enough muscle on him to make him heavier than me. I tried to readjust my hold on him, doing my best not to move his head around too much.

When we were finally close we heard footsteps around the corner. No one had seen us yet, thank Gandhi, but what would we tell them? What would convince them we hadn't killed or kidnapped the boy in our arms?

Luckily for us, it was a blind kid who happened to be looking for us. He ran to where he heard Ella call to him and helped carry Fang inside with me as Ella opened the door for us. We set Fang down on the couch in the living room where we could inspect his injuries. Ella informed us the swelling on Fang's wrist looked a little better, but she was certain it was broken. He had a stain on his pant leg, a small quarter sized patch of blood, but Ella said she would take care of it.

I wanted to make a plan, but Ella was near hysteric. Iggy took her into the other room and rocked her on his lap, talking quietly to her.

Where were the siblings, you ask? It was late enough that the twins had gone to bed, and Nudge was in her room chatting someone's ear off. I went into her room to talk to her, bracing for the worst.

"I've got friends over."

"Ooh, really? Who? That quiet girl, the one you talk to on the phone sometimes? What's her name? Emma, or something? Is she your best friend? Whatcha gonna do? Watch a movie? Can I watch?! I'll be quiet, promise! I won't say a word the entire movie, not even to-" I held up a hand, silencing her.

"I've got a couple friends over right now. It's pretty important. We're doing homework, ok? So just don't bother us. If they aren't gone by ten, you still have to go to bed. Capiche?" I left without letting her respond, heading back down to where Fang was. I kneeled next to his sleeping form, anxiously looking over at his serene face.

"Come on, Fang. You gotta wake up. Ella needs you," I whispered. I timidly reached up and moved his hair off his face, my hand lingering on his cheek.

"I may need you," I admitted, my voice so quiet it barely made a sound. I laid my chin on my arms and watched him, silently observing him. His breathing was slow and deep as compared to the shallow breaths he was taking when I found him.

Iggy and Ella eventually came back, both looking calmer and wait...were they blushing? Fang was gonna hear about this. When he woke up. If he woke up.

"He needs to stay here. We can't move him again, what with his injuries, and it's not safe for either of you to go home," I said, my voice firm. I was ready for Ella to protest, but she nodded.

"I'll be sleeping at Iggy's then," she said. I raised an eyebrow as if to say oh you will, will you? You and what army?

"Fang has allowed it under...certain conditions. I'm sure he'd agree that we are already imposing on your hospitality." She had me there.

"Fine. I'll call as soon as I know something, promise." Ella smiled at me, her face full of trust.

"I know you will."

TIME SKIP

FANG'S POINT

(Insert swear words here)

My head is freaking killing me! Heck, all of me is freaking killing me. What is going on?

I tried to move, to speak, but all I managed to do was open my eyes and moan pitifully. My limbs felt as heavy as boulders. Very beat up boulders.

I had a faint memory of my father coming into my room, raging mad. Why was he furious, again? I couldn't remember. He threw things. Something hit my hand, then my head and I...crap.

I moaned again. This time, however, I heard someone gasp next to me. Then I realized I wasn't in my torn room. And that wasn't Ella. I turned my head a fraction to see Max's worried face peering at me.

"Fang?"

"Max?"

"It's okay, Fang. You're at my house. Ella is at Iggy's. She told me you allowed that."

"What's going on?"

"You don't remember...?"

I shook my head, the action triggering an explosion behind my eyes and I winced at the horrible pain.

"Careful! You passed out. You must have had a concussion. Ella found you and called me. We carried you here and you've been sleeping for hours."

I sighed. This couldn't get any worse.

"Oh, and don't move your hand. Your wrist may be broken."

I stand corrected. I looked at Max who was smiling sadly at me.

"I was afraid you'd never wake up," she admitted softly, not looking at me.

"What, when things are getting interesting? Not a chance." I said, smirking. She responded with a laugh that was mixed with a sob. I realized she had been crying softly in the dark. I lifted a non bandaged hand and held it out to her. She clasped my hand in both of hers and clutched it to her chest.

"It's okay, Max. I'm alright. I'm alright," I whispered. Max, our hands still clasped to her chest, laid her head on the couch I was on. I could smell something sweet, probably her shampoo.

We fell asleep that way, with Max leaning against the couch, holding my hand. Though my head felt fuzzy and hurt like the devil, I fell under with a smile on my face.