Here you go.

-wise_yet_harmless

"Tap. Out."

"Let me help."

"This could be taken many ways."

"Why were you limping?"

"RICE, Fang."

"I was afraid you'd never wake up."

"You're no better than your father right now."

"I got you."

"I think today was perfect."

"Fang?"

"Fang-wake up."

"Fang!"

"Our stop story tonight: tragedy strikes for many families when a ride at the theme park 'Wonderland' suddenly malfunctions, sending about fifty people falling anywhere from five to thirty feet. While most only obtained minor injuries, officials say there were at least a dozen people with serious and even critical injuries. Debbie is on the scene and can give us the details. Debbie?"

"Yeah, Mark, I'm here in the theme park 'Wonderland' and I've got to say, its not a pretty sight. If you look behind me you can see one of many of the cars that fell from the ride and onto the concrete below.

What started off as a regular day in the park, quickly became the nightmare of many when the line holding sixty cars on the 'sky railway' snapped, sending all the cars, most with passengers, to the ground.

After a thorough investigation, police discovered that the chain supporting the cars was rusted from the snowfall this last winter. When the park opened up again just last week, they say it was only a matter of time before the chains broke.

The park let out an official statement, saying: 'the condition of the ride was unsafe, and we take full responsibility for the crash. We are now looking into whoever was responsible for the error and plan to make vast improvements in the future. Our hearts and prayers are with the families of those injured and we hope they make a quick recovery.'

"Now, Mark, according to the hospitals treating the victims they say that most were very lucky to have survived, especially since they only had minor injuries. In fact, there was only three fatalities, a number much smaller than expected. Even so, the park is quote, 'horrified at the loss of life'."

Ella pulled her hands in front of her, keeping her head bowed. She sniffled quietly. Her dress was uncomfortable, but she hardly noticed. She tried to keep her composure, but it was proving more and more difficult. Iggy stood next to her, his face grim. He kept shaking his head, as if he couldn't believe what was happening. As they moved through the line, they stayed silent. There was nothing to say, really.

When they finally got to the front of the line, Ella tapped Iggy's hand to let him know they had arrived. Iggy nodded to the casket solemnly, keeping his hands in tight fists near his sides. Ella took a step forward and bowed, whispering to the person inside the casket with a broken voice.

"I'm sorry."

She didn't cry. She had long decided she would not allow one tear to fall. She would stay strong and together. She had cried plenty, there was no need to cry today. Not here, not now.

But secretly, her insides felt very, very broken. She cried on the inside, where no one else could see her tears.

Iggy hadn't spoken much, attesting to just how upset he was. He hadn't eaten or slept in days. He felt like he did right after his accident- he wasn't sure how to go on.

They clasped hands through the entire ceremony, even when it hurt to. They held hands as they walked out of the church, though the sun made their hands hot and slippery. They held hands all the way to their destination, though they had held each other hard enough to break skin.

They were each others anchors. If they let go, they knew they would fall apart.

When they got to Iggy's, Ella collapsed on a chair and put her face in her hands. Iggy sat behind her and rubbed her back, saying nothing. In front of them lay Max and Fang, both fast asleep on a large mattress on the floor. They hadn't had the energy to go upstairs to the real bedrooms, so this was the closest alternative. Max lay on her back, her sling resting on her stomach and her bruised face set in a scowl. Fang lay on his side, facing Max with his leg propped up above him and his heavily bandaged hands at his sides. Both had dozens of stitches and countless bruises dotting their skin.

They looked like they lost a war. But they were still alive. They couldn't say that about the poor boy they knew who had passed away. His name was Sam- he had been riding with his girlfriend and shielded her when they fell. She was almost unscathed, but he had died on his way to the hospital. None of them had known him very well, but they knew he was a kind and selfless boy.

Ella looked at Fang and Max, once again grateful they had recovered a bit from their their injuries. For a time it seemed they wouldn't make it- Max had hit her head particularly hard and Fang had lost a lot of blood. The doctors had to attend to dozens of other survivors, leaving little time to look over Max and Fang. They had both needed multiple surgeries and blood transfusions that both Ella and Iggy contributed to. After a few sleepless nights, it looked like they'd survive. Max's family was there almost constantly, even Anne. They waited by Max's bedside until she awoke, telling her jokes to cheer her up and keeping her company.

Little Angel made sure to also keep Fang company, putting her delicate hand in his and waiting until he woke up. They never spoke to each other, just clasped their hands together. Ella and Iggy were there too, of course, since Ella's father had been gone for over a month. They stayed in between Max and Fang's bed, talking quietly. When Max recovered enough to go home, she still came in everyday and sat by Fang.

Neither of them could walk up a set of stairs to their own bedrooms, so they spent most nights at Iggy's on a shared mattress in his living room. Ella stayed in Iggy's spare room, though she often curled up on the couch near her brother to chase away the nightmares she often had.

It wasn't comfortable for anyone. But they were all happy to have each other, Max and Fang especially. The two were inseparable now, though they never hardly spoke, only using hushed voices in the dead of night. Perhaps it was because they were still in shock. Perhaps they had nothing to say. Perhaps they didn't feel the need to say anything anymore.

FANG'S POINT OF VIEW

"Fang."

I rolled over at the sound of Max's voice, unable to see her in the darkness.

"Yeah?"

"How's your leg?"

"Still broken. How's the collar bone and arm?"

"Hahaha, broken like a junior high kid's heart."

I laughed, even though it hurt a little. We spent all our nights like this, since neither of us could sleep without horrible nightmares. It was like a game- see who could stay up the longest. Not like sleep came easily, since we were in pain and heavily medicated. She had more stitches and road rash then I did, but my leg was going to take longer to heal then any of her injuries. Unless she got brain damage from her concussion, that is. We weren't really sure yet. She talked and acted normally, but sometimes I swore she looked totally lost for a second before returning to her usual self. Who knew.

"Fang?"

"Yeah?"

"So, are your sister and Iggy, like, a thing?"

"It really took you this long to figure it out?"

"No! I just, I dunno, I thought you'd flip out if they did."

"Why?"

"'Cuz she's your little sister, dipwad! You're uber protective, too."

"I am not."

"Yes. Yes you are."

"I guess I trust Iggy."

"You've threatened him, haven't you?"

"Yup."

"That explains it. Fang's a tough guy, after all. Too cool for being cool. Gotta remind all them boys who's in charge-"

"Max, for the love my sanity, shut your trap."

"Ooooh, gonna threaten me?"

"You're so immature."

*gasp*

"Take it back!"

"Nah."

"Fang-something-Batchelder, you take that ba-"

"Something?"

"I dunno! Do you have a middle name?"

"Yeah."

"Really? What is it?"

"I'm not telling."

"Awww c'mon! I'll tell you mine!"

"You have one?"

"Sure I do."

"...BS."

"Okay, so it's self proclaimed."

"Meaning?"

"I gave it to myself."

"That doesn't count."

"Of course it does!"

"Nope."

"Please?"

"Nope."

Max scooted closer to me and shook my shoulder lightly.

"Pleeeeeeease?"

"Fine. It's Cole."

"Nicholas-Fang-Cole-Batchelder. I like it!"

"Whatever. What's yours?"

"Jensen."

"Maximum-Jensen-Martinez?"

"You got it!"

"That's so weird."

Max punched me lightly with her good arm, hitting one of my tender spots and making me wince.

"Is not!"

"It really is."

Max went to punch me again, but I caught her with my own, heavily bandaged hands.

"Chill, woman. Chill. I'm kidding. It's a cool name."

"Yeah yeah," Max said, yawning.

"Yknow what?" she asked groggily, keeping her hands in mine.

"What?"

"I hope Iggy makes something yummy for breakfast tomorrow. He's been like a zombie for the last week."

I laughed.

"Me too," I said as I started drifting off. "Me too."

Yes, people, they survived. I have WAY too much planned for these guys to just kill them off. I do hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you did, write me a message or a review on what you thought and how you think it should or will go on!

Love you!

-wise_yet_harmless