AN: I don't really like doing sappy stuff, but it's important for the story line. Romance isn't really the main theme of this fic but it is needed. If you have any ideas of how I can maybe word it better or anything then it would be much appreciated :)

Voice speaking
Thoughts/Dreams/Flashbacks
Angel speaking

Chapter 2

Fang P.O.V

Nudge mumbled and shifted as a cool breeze blew through the cave, I shivered, unfurling my wings a bit to just cover my shoulders and bare arms to protect against the chill. I had given my jacket to Max earlier while she slept as she was too stubborn to actually ask for help, even if it was just to borrow a jacket.

Max.

I don't even know where to start. I know I have feelings for her, but I don't want to say anything. If I say something wrong or Max doesn't return my feelings it would rip the flock apart. I don't want that to happen again, not after last time, it felt like my heart had been ripped out taking one of my wings with it.

My God, listen to me, I don't sound like myself anymore. It's all because of Max and what we, the flock, have been through. Bits of my armour I built when I was younger got chipped away; of course, I'm only like this with the flock. I'm still Mr-who-doesn't-show-emotion around anyone I don't trust. This is basically everyone. If Max feels like this as well she's hiding it well. On second thoughts she'll most likely be denying it and blaming it on something. More than likely hormones.

I pulled my wings closer around me as the breeze swept through the cave again. I checked Nudge's temperature with my hand and was relieved to feel that she had cooled a bit. The sooner we get to Max's mums house the better.

I was distracted from my observations as Iggy shifted as he woke up, "What time is it?"

"It's almost sunrise" I whispered so not to disturb the rest of the flock.

"How is she?" he asked as he stumbled his way over to my side next to Nudge.

"Her temperature has dropped but we should get to Dr M's as soon as we can, we shouldn't take any risks with flying for longer than we should." He nodded silently in agreement and started to rebuild the fire that had burnt itself out during the night.

It didn't take long for the rest of the flock to wake, or for Max to go into leader mode. As soon as we had eaten she was shouting orders left right and centre, I'm worried about her, she's getting too stressed.

Max P.O.V

The sun was just peaking over the horizon as we resumed our flight to my mum's. No matter how many times I say that it still feels a bit weird, weird…but nice. The cool air buffeted us as we constantly change directions so that we could fly more easily on thermals. I'm still worried about Nudge, her fever may have reduced a bit but I'm still wary, it could spike again at any moment, I know that both Iggy and Fang share my concerns. The sooner we get there the better.

(Sometime later)

I was now carrying Nudge to allow Fang some time to regain his energy; we had flown throughout most of the day, stopping only twice to eat and to rest for a bit. We were getting closer; we only have about 30 miles to cover. The wind felt so soothing as we glided over some warmer air, hopefully we will reach mum's before the night comes, it gets much colder in higher altitudes at night and we're not exactly wearing warm clothing.

Max, are we almost there?

Yeah sweetie we are, just got a few more miles and then we can rest.

Ok, just so you know Nudge is having a nightmare or something, I don't know what she's dreaming of but its not good.

Ok Angel, thanks for telling me.

I ended my conversation and tightened my hold on Nudge, just in case she became restless or moved during her nightmare. I hope it's not about the school, I don't really know how much Nudge remembers from the school before Jeb got us out, them whitecoats did something to her when she was younger, we never found out what though…

"Max!"

I turned to Gaz who had flew to my side, "What's wrong Gazzy?"

"She's gonna be alright isn't she?"

"Of coarse she is Gaz, we'll get her to mum's and she'll tell us what's wrong and make her better"

"But what if she's developing a new ability or something"

"I don't know Gaz, I really don't know, but whatever's going on she'll get better and the Nudge channel will be up a running in no time"

He nodded in agreement and glided back to fly next to Iggy, but our conversation left me wondering, what if Nudge is developing a new ability? When I was developing super speed I kept getting hot flushes and braking out in sweats, it could be happening to Nudge as well.

My train of thought was stopped short as I caught a glimpse of a familiar house in a clearing below.

"Guys!" I shouted back at them, "we're here"

The wind tugged at our wings as we dove into steep dived hurtling down towards the cabin below, Nudge could now finally get some proper medical attention.

x.x.x.x.x

White walls surrounded the small child as she was dragged along the corridor, her cries went unnoticed by the man who was dragging her by her wrist. To him she was nothing more than a number, an animal, nothing even remotely close to a human. She and the other experiments could be used in anyway that was needed. Today is was her turn.

"Lemme goo! Pwease!"

Her pleas went unanswered and fell upon deaf ears as she continued to get dragged down the endless hallway.

She screwed up her eyes and tried to block out the pain that came from the bruises that now encircled her wrist from where the whitecoat's grip was too tight. Silent tears streamed down her face as she fought to keep her sobs quiet. The mean lady in charge didn't like it when they were loud, little Nudge had learnt to be quiet the hard way during the times the Director had come to visit her. Of course, she didn't know who she was, just that she was in charge and she could hurt her. A lot. The whitecoat dragging her suddenly stopped in front of a large white door, from behind it she could hear raised voices, screaming and strange beeping. Suddenly the screaming and frantic beeping stopped and gave way to a low note that pierced the air. Nudge shivered, she had heard that note before, when the others had gone to sleep but had never woken up again. She was afraid, she wanted to stay awake, not be put to sleep. Her struggling intensified as the door slowly opened. The sight that met her was horrifying; it was an operating table with a young boy, not much older than her, strapped to it. She recognised his face but had never known his name.

He was on his front and his back had been cut open to reveal his spinal column. The many instruments that must have been used were covered in his blood, the crimson liquid slowly dripping onto the pristine floor creating a puddle that reflected the bright lights. Nudge stared on in horror as the boy was then lifted and thrown into a large waste bin like an unwanted bit of scrap. His blood still covered the table and instruments as well as the puddle on the floor and flecks on the walls. The Director merely looked on with a cruel smirk on her face as the bin was then wheeled away, "He was such a failure, but at least we now know what we can't do during the procedure, now that we know these things I'm positive that the experiment on this thing will go according to plan" The whitecoats around her agreed with nods of their head and then proceeded to wash away the young boys blood from the instruments.

The whitecoat holding her suddenly jerked her forward and began to drag her towards the table. She shrieked and attempted to escape but due to her small size and weakness from small amounts of food and water she was easily dragged and lifted onto the table. The metallic smell of blood filled her nostrils as she was roughly shoved face first onto the table. She felt wetness on her cheek but her brain couldn't work out if it was the boy's blood or her own tears. It was probably a mix of both. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a whitecoat approach her with a syringe filled with a clear liquid, she struggled and tried to back away but the bindings wouldn't allow it. The Directors evil smirk was the last thing she saw before she felt the needle prick her skin and her vision faded into blackness.

x.x.x.x.x

Max P.O.V

Mum held open the door for me as I carried Nudge through to the backroom at her veterinary clinic. The artificial lights flickered into life as Fang hit the light switch next to the door. We had left the younger two with Iggy and Ella back at the house hoping that the older two would look after them instead of bringing them here which would bring back old memories. Nudge looked so small and vulnerable just lying there on the table.

"Will she be alright?"

I asked as mum put an I.V into Nudge's arm. I could see Fang tensing at the sight out of the corner or my eye. This was bringing out some old memories that we would both rather forget.

Fang P.O.V

I could see Max look at me out of the corner of her eye, I nodded to reassure her that I was ok, but under my mask I was reliving painful memories. They were back from when we were at the school.

Flashback

"Get me that one"

A young boy with messy dark hair opened his eyes to stare defiantly at the she-devil who ran this hell. The Director stared at him with a cruel smirk as two whitecoats advanced towards his cage. He growled low in his throat as they got closer; one of them pulled a syringe out of his pocket, ready to inject the boy at an opportune moment.

The back of the small cage was tipped, causing the surprised boy to tumble to the floor. As soon as he was out of the cage the two whitecoats grabbed him and held him down as the other quickly injected him with the sedative.

He snarled as the needle was pulled free from his skin and the sedative began to take affect.

"Where the hell is Nudge?"

The Director turned and smirked at the pathetic sight of the dark hair boy slumping in his captures arms.

"Oh don't worry about her" she sneered "She's perfectly fine, the procedure was a complete success, and they're actually bringing her back in now."

As these words the door behind her opened to reveal a small form on a hospital bed been wheeled by two whitecoats.

She was so pale; it looked like she was dead. The only evidence to show she wasn't was the small movements of her chest as she breathed. An I.V was attached to her arm and as she was placed in her cage, Fang saw the neat row of stitches that ran up her back.

The last thing he saw before he blanked out was the blood coating her hospital smock, staining the pure white with bright crimson.

End Flashback

I shook my head as the memories faded; I never want to remember that again. They had taken Nudge and done something to her to supposedly make her stronger. Better. The Director however had said that it was a failure as Nudge showed no other abilities and was just as strong as the rest of us.

We never did find out what that bitch was trying to do.

I snapped out of my thoughts as Dr M injected some medicine into the I.V.

"This should bring her fever down and fight the infection" she explained as she threw the used syringe into a biohazard bin and cleaned her hands.

Max had moved over to Nudges side as her mum left the room to get something from another room, I walked up behind her and rubbed soothing circles on her back.

She visibly relax and turned to me, I was about to say something, but cut myself off as she wrapped her arms around me.

Max P.O.V

I could feel Fang tense as I wrapped my arms around him, but I didn't care, I just needed some comfort at the moment. God I'm so glad the rest of the Flock aren't here. I felt his arms around my waist as he returned the hug.

"Thank you Fang"

God what has gotten into me, I'm such a sap.

I raised my head and looked Fang in the eye, all I saw there was concern and something else. I'm not sure what it was.

That's called love Max.

Gah! The Voice is back, juuuuust great. I mentally rolled my eyes as Fang looked at me questionably.

"What?"

"Nothing, it's just that you jumped"

"Oh, well, it's cause the voice is back"

"I see"

It took me a moment for what the voice said to register, as soon as it did however…

Wait…did you just say… love?

I congratulate you that only took you 2 minutes to figure out.

Don't you start getting sarcastic with me.

Yes Max, I did say love. That is what you could see in Fang's eyes.

What? Fang loves…me.

My internal confusion was interrupted by my mum walking into the room; she took one look at us and said, "Do you guys want me to wait outside for a minute?"

We both looked at her frowning before we realised that we were still in each others arms. I stepped away from Fang and glared at mum as I felt a blush slowly form on my face. Fang just looked the same as normal, staring impassively at the wall. Damn him, why can't he blush as well, then I'm not the only embarrassed Avian-American in the room.

"We should head back now" explained mum as she took the now empty I.V out of Nudges arm. "The kiddies will be wondering what's taking so long."

I took a step forward to pick up Nudge, but Fang beat me to it and scooped her up into his arms. His eyes connected with mine for a brief second but I quickly looked away.

Does he really love me?

AN: Review? :)