Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Maximum Ride characters (they're James Patterson's)

Max POV

"Fang..." I whimpered. This is so unlike me, I don't whimper...

"Um... no, it's Iggy." Iggy sounded confused, I absentmindedly wondered why.

"Where's Fang?"

"He went out to get food, remember?" Whaaaaaat? Crap, this wasn't good. First of all, I couldn't remember Fang leaving to get food. And second, why on Earth would I want Fang when I'm in pain?

"Max?" Gazzy sounded small and scared.

I must look awful right now. I couldn't remember any thing that had happened earlier today- all I knew was that this was one of my grenade headaches (worse than ever, which was odd because I hadn't had one in almost a year), but the voice wasn't telling me anything and I wasn't seeing any images flashing through my head. I also wanted nothing more than for Fang to hold me... oh, my god- did I just say I wanted nothing more than for Fang to hold me?! Suddenly, Angel's voice broke through my weird thoughts.

It's okay Max. My headache had died down enough for me to answer her in my head, which of course she could hear.

What's okay, sweetie?

That all you want is for Fang to hold you. I felt the blood rush to my face as she sent this thought to me and I heroically suppressed a flow of swear words from running through my head (and out of my mouth as well).

Don't worry Max. He'll be back any second. Ooooh! And he's thinking about you too!

Angel, honey, is that good or bad? I heard her actually giggle aloud next to me.

It's good of course silly. Don't worry so much. Fang loves you and if he were here right now-- which he will be in about a minute-- he would be holding you. She added simply.

Are you guessing he would be doing that? I had to know.

No, I sent him a thought explaining what happened... I don't think he wanted me to hear those parts, but I did, so there. Before I could respond, I heard feet running towards us, and right then my head exploded with a searing pain again.

"Fang..." I whimpered again, unable to stop myself from saying it.

Fang POV

Fang! Please you have to come help! Angel begged.

What's wrong?

Please! Hurry! It's Max! She didn't have to say- or think, I guess- anymore, though I knew she would. If something was wrong with Max of course I'd go back in a heartbeat. I mean I loved her, wait a minute... did I just say I loved Max?! Whoa.

She collapsed! I think it's one of those headaches! If Max collapsed that meant this was pretty bad, though those headaches were so hard on her. I really wished I was there holding her like I did when she had gotten them before. I heard Angel giggle.

What? I thought

She finally sort of wakes up- well, without opening her eyes- and the first word out of her mouth is "Fang," oh, and I think it's sooo sweet you want to be here holding her...it really shows how much you love her!

I decided not to reply to Angel and just focus on getting back to where I left Max and the rest of the flock less than an hour ago.

The clearing came into view, and as I lost altitude I saw them all huddled around something that had to be Max. I landed and started sprinting over to them. I heard Max whimper,

"Fang." And then she cried out in pain. I dropped everything I was holding behind the flock, who were already moving so that I could get to Max. Without a second thought, I sat down, picked her up, and cradled her to me, afraid to hold her to tight because right now she looked so fragile. About a minute later, cried out in pain again, wincing at the same time.

"Fang!" Her voice sounded so pained and broken, but she wasn't just whimpering, she was crying out for me. I held her tighter.

"Yeah, I'm here. It's okay now... you're okay." I said as I pulled her in as close as I could.