Chap. 35

{Okay, so the stuff with Ig/Ana? I'll bring it. Just give it a few chaps, okay? Once summer starts, I think I'll do 2 chaps a week. Plus, a budding romance takes time. :D}

"I'm a good girl, I really am. See, I didn't do anything wrong. I am okay. I don't want to do that, that isn't right. I remember Jeb told me that I shouldn't. He said that was for losers. I don't want to be a loser. I want everything to be okay. I want my baby. I want my...friend. I want him. I want...everything to be fine. I don't want it to be scary anymore. No more pain. My heart is being ripped in two. I don't know why Fang did it. He had always said he loved me. I don't remember why he did it. I don't want to do this anymore. I hate the sadness, the pain, the sorrow. I just want it all to end."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yeaaah. What else do I have to live for? You know, other than the Flock, Rose, or Fang. They'll be fine without me. They were fine before. I won't make a difference."

"You are going to regret this,"

"No...No I won't. I know what I mean."

"Yes, you will regret it. I won't do it to you, not after all the pain you've already endured. I'm leaving now,"

"No! Don't leave me, I need you."

"No you don't. The drug that we gave you did that. You're not yourself."

"Yes. Yes I am. I'm Maximum Ride."

(Fang POV)

I gaped at the window. Max...Maximum Ride? She was so close, but so far away. They had put me in a room, an empty, windowless one, of course. I was still strapped to that damn chair.

"Let me out." I growled weakly. As if the hundredth time would convince them. They haven't said a word to me. Other than telling me that Maximum Ride couldn't see me in the little room in front of her. They had a one sided glass, only I could look out, but she couldn't look in. She only saw a reflection of herself.

They had drugged her with something. I knew it was something that forced her to tell the truth. She acted drunkenly, like she had no idea what she was saying.

I was so close, but so far away.

It was killing me. I had to find a way out. There were no exits, possibly one behind me though. They still had that monitor that showed my thoughts, and I could be electrocuted at any given second. This was impossible.

It was a failure of a rescue mission.

At least it could have been worse, I thought. At least we found her. What were the chances of that anyway? My thoughts drifted after a few minutes. What had I become...since that day four years ago? A man, or the same old Fang. Did I become somebody new? I had a daughter. I had the live of my life across from me. I had my family.

What else could I need?

I needed Max to love me again. I needed her. Nonstop for the past years have I gone a day without thinking of her. Her fiery personality, her desire for peace. How she adores cookies, and how she puts the Flock first. Her genius plans for escape, or her ridiculous ideas for "fun." How a little stress line appears between her brows when she's worrying over something. And how she laughs. Her eyes always sparkling and sometimes mysterious.

I needed Max.

"So that's seriously why you showed up in a secret underground facility closet butt naked?"

Maddy shushed him. That way he said it was so...so vulgar. It made her sound like a freak. Her thoughts shifted. She had been in a closet with this man named Iggy, and really was suprised at the fact that Dylan hadn't showed up yet. Where was he and what the hell was he doing?

Iggy grinned. He loved taunting this girl, her reactions always kept him on the edge.

He really was taking a big interest in her. Then he cursed. If only she had wings like him...

Also, who was this Dylan character she spoke of? He seemed the edgy perverted type. Iggy didn't appreciate the way she spoke when she was talking about him. Her eyes got all sparkly, and she even lightly swayed.

But of course, when her eyes focused on him, her heartbeat sped up. Her cheeks slightly reddened, and her palms grew sweaty. He chuckled. If he knew he had that much effect on women earlier, he could have been a much, much happier man.

"So, Madz, what's the plan?" Iggy asked, curious to figure out the way she thought. Serious...or playful?

Her brow furrowed. "I actually don't know yet. Wait, let me get out my nightvision goggles and check out this little room of ours." She began rummaging through her bag, but Iggy stopped her.

"There's a light, you know,"

"Yeah. But what if there's a guard outside when it turns on?"

"What-or who-turns on?" Iggy asked, stepping closer to her. His arms placed themselves againt the wall, efficiently trapping her within them. He leaned his head closer, until their eyes were less than an inch apart. Their lips were only a hair.

Maddy held back a gasp. When did he..? Never mind, she thought. She concentrated on keeping her breathing even, and holding her hands from letting themselves wrap around Iggy. What about this man made her feel this way? Was it sexy, bad-ass character? Or even how his eyes were a hungry maroon?

She just didn't know.

And she couldn't think straight. With him this close, he was intoxicating. She needed more. More of him. Iggy. She breathed the name softly, hoping he didn't hear. That name had a ring to it that she liked. Did it stand for anything? She couldn't think of any names with an 'ig' at the front.

"That's right Madz," Iggy breathed. When he spoke, the movement of his lips barely brushed against hers.

"What?" She whispered back. Well, that was the only "logical" response she could come up with at the minute.

"Say my name,"

She whimpered. He was torturing her! "No,"

"Say it."

"...No."

"Madz."

She needed it now. Couldn't take it any longer. "Iggy,"

She groaned when his lips met hers. His were slightly chapped, but not grossly so, just enough to provide a rough contrast. She move against him, unconsiously wanting more. More of him.

He pulled back. Damn, he thought, she was loud. He barely made any noise, but here she was, moaning! If he didn't shut her up, she might alert a passing guard.

"Madz," He said. He decided that the nickname suited her well. He grinned when she pouted. He had his nightvision on, and could see every minute detail of her petite body. "You need to shush."

Her mouth moved against his hand. "No I don't."

Iggy grinned, she was a stubborn little thing. She proved to be a challenge, a challenge that he'd gladly take. He pressed his lips against hers again, softly whispering for her to shush. Her face was warm, as he cupped it carefully with his hands.

Suddenly the small room was flooded in light. A strangled cry came from the man who opened the door, and Maddy pushed Iggy away. Dylan stood in the doorway, his silhouette standing against the new light.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"No, no no no." Angel said, pacing back and forth. This was wrong. Why was Fang here? Why was Iggy with him? She already sent out her clone, back to the Flock. She had drilled her other self on the rules and usual way her behaviour was. The clone had acted exactly like her, even in the way she carried herself around.

Damn, Angel thought. She was good.

She had ordered the nearby scientists to take Fang and Iggy away, somewhere to erase their memories of the past few hours. They won't remember a thing, and she'll be alright.

Things were going smoothly. Time for phase two.

Groaning, she opened her eyes. Bright lights attacked them and she squeezed them shut again. What was she doing here? Okay, she thought, what's the last thing she remembered?

Talking with Iggy. Letting him out. Strapping him- she stopped. Taht's what happened! Cursing, she opened her eyes and looked down. Her arms were strapped in, her legs too. Straps were lazily done, as if the attacker was in a hurry. Of course he was, she thought. How could I be so stupid? Look at what happened to me! I'm tied down! And he's escaped. This is what happens when you don't have control, She chided herself.

Why was I so stupid?

Her thoughts were cut off as a sound cut across the room. "Ana?"

Her throat was hoarse. How long had she been out? "...Yes?"

"...Ana?"

She sighed. That was a message, coming from the phone across the room. She couldn't pick it up, or even reply. She wondered who was on the phone in the first place. She needed out. Cursing herself again, she fidgeted in the seat.

"Dammit, Ana, where the hell are you? It's Dr. Maxis, you mongrel. Answer me! If you don't, there will he consequences. Mark my words."

Ana's eyes widened: that was Dr. Maxis! He was the head honcho of this facility, and if anyone ever got on his bad side, they were soon to be sorry. She had always been one of his favorites, she thought at least. But he sounded so pissed off that when he continued, she winced at his daggerlike words.

"I don't care. Wherever the hell you are, you better be getting this message. The subject you were told to look over is going to be tested again. We are testing whether we can take out it's wings, graft on newer ones, and see it it could still fly. Dr. Richoten is coming in with his group of surgeons in five minuets. Prepare the test subject."

Ana's heart beat faltered. She had to tell them that Iggy was gone! They needed to let her out now! She wouldn't be tested on. Never. She only took up the scientist job because she enjoyed the subject. Not torturing and performing the subjects that were to be tested on! She had to stop it and get out. It was only a matter of time.

The double doors behind her whooshed open. The squeak of the surgeons shoes echoed against the empty space. She had to tell them she wasn't the subject! Her mouth was strapped closed. How...think, Ana think! She told herself, now panicking at the approaching sounds.

"Alright. I heard this one is a fighter. Cover him up and roll him out." She heard Dr. Richoten say behind her. Her eyes widened impossibly, and she struggled against the straps all the more. No, this couldn't happen. Not to her!

Darkness overcame her as a sheet was pulled over her head. They weren't going to knock her out, were they? She felt the chair move beneath her, and she tried to reassure herself that this operation wouldn't carry out.

First off, she was a female. Her anatomy was completely different than Iggy's. They must realize that before the operation. Of course, she didn't like the idea of all the male surgeons seeing her naked, but she'd take that over this operation any day.

Her thoughts blabbed on, trying to reassure her. As the darkness closed in, the only thought that reached into her was:

This was all her fault.

"What the hell is going on?"

Mady jerked away from Iggy and stared up at Dylan. But his eyes weren't on her, oh no, they were on Iggy. His breathing was deep and uneven, and his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides.

Iggy stepped away and crossed his arms over his chest. "What does it look like, Einstein?" Maddy gasped, did he really...?

Dylan growled out a warning. "Watch it, you bastard. I can kick your ass before you could realize what happened. You have no chane."

Iggy straightened up and walked over to him. Poking him in the chest, he spok again. "Listen, you couldn't beat me. I'll kick your ass in less than ten seconds."

"Want to test that theory?"

Maddy yanked Dylan back down. A guard was passing! Shoving him back, she shut the door quickly and quietly. "Shut the hell up! We're gonna get caught!" She hissed at both of them just as the guard's footsteps echoed outside. They immmediatly quieted.

"Hey, Mark, did you hear that?" Said a voice just outside the door. Deep and gravelly, must be a man.

"What?" Mark said, his voice drawing nearer. Maddy's breathing quieted, as did the two men behind her. The guards outside just stood there for a minute, debating whether or not to open the door.

"It couldn't hurt," Mark said. "Just open it."

The doorknob rattled and Maddy jumped. Scrambling behind the two boys, she quickly pulled out her tranquilizer gun. Aiming it at the doorway, she bit her lip, and shook some hair out of her eyes. The boys simply stood behind her, crouched to jump the next person they saw.

The small room was flooded in light and Maddy was momentarily blinded. She shot the gun, and heard the man drop. Forcing her eyes open, she shot the other man, who was simply gaping at her. He dropped too, sounding a thump that rebounded down the hallways.

Maddy froze, as did Dylan and Iggy, waiting for any sign that they were found out. After a few minutes of silence, Maddy grinned and turned to both of them. They grinned back, momentarily forgetting their dispute.

Suddenly a distant shout was heard, and a pair of footsteps thundered their way. Maddy's eyes widened as she picked up her bag and quickly reloaded. Dammit, she thought. After all she did-

And that's when the alarms went off.