Catch and Release

Chapter 30

He trips over it in the dark. Every single night.

Night. That's all that really took place in that apartment now. There was no day. There was no light. Only dark.

"Fuck," Fang cursed as he, once again, tripped over his Christmas present to Max. It was that stupid coffee table he had promised for Carter. He had given it to her before all this, before New Years Eve. Now, the only purpose it served was reminding them all what crappy cards they had been dealt.

Collapsing on the couch, Fang let out a loud groan when his stomach growled. He was too tired to eat. He was too broke to eat. He could eat Max's food, but that seemed wrong. No, he just wouldn't eat. Ever. Again. Or whatever.

He was still laying there hours later when Max came through the door. She was rarely home these days, instead spending whatever free time she had at the hospital with her daughter. Fang, however, only went there when he had to. It was a waste of time now, to him. She was a lost cause, just like so much else in life.

Max just glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes before continuing on into her bedroom where she stayed the remainder of the day. Fang eventually found himself standing and going into the bathroom to take a leak. He could not eat all he wanted, but he still had to relieve himself sometimes.

Fang was rare to wash his hands, but he felt that he should after he was done. Besides, what would it hurt now? It gave him something to do anyways. Now that he wasn't going to work or home and instead just bumming on Max's couch or Nudge's, there really wasn't a lot of excitement in his life. At least this gave him a chance to risk something. Would the water burn him? Perhaps it would somehow overflow and drown him? That would be nice. Really nice.

As he was waiting for either the water to warm up to boiling hot temperatures or the sink to suddenly decide to clog, he figured he should look in the mirror some. It was completely dark in the bathroom, which always gave mirrors an odd effect. Especially once your eyes settled into the darkness, which Fang's seemed accustom to over the past month or so at all times. Light more or less hurt now. If it existed, that is. Fang figured it didn't.

His beard wasn't getting trimmed anymore. There was no point to it, really. Who did he see? He only went out late at night and even then it was just to see Nudge, who filled his prescriptions for medicine he wouldn't take, and Max, who mostly ignored him at all times unless she wanted something. And she didn't want a lot from him, really. He couldn't give her much. He never had been able to. What had they all been expecting?

"You should shave."

He blinked, staring at the mirror. "I should."

"It'd look nice."

Fang had to agree with the mirrored image of himself. Shaving. That would be nice. A nice clean shave. Something new. Fresh. Like the snow. Snow. Snowmen. He liked snowmen. Next time he saw Carter, they would have to build-

"Maybe we shouldn't shave."

He nodded at the image, which nodded back in perfect timing. Still, he somehow found the razor in the medicine cabinet. It was rusty, but it would do. It would be right this time.

"We'll be right this time."

"Because we'll do it together," he told his reflection. It looked emaciated and overly tired. Poor reflection. Really, Fang would be doing it a great favor. Putting it out of its misery and all. It had to be horribly lonely, living on the other side of that glass. The only time you got to see anyone was when your counterpart stood in front of you. And even then, you could only do what they do.

"You'd really be helping me."

"I would, wouldn't I?" Fang blinked again, sticking a hand under the tap. It was hot. Very hot.

"Not too hot."

"It doesn't matter," he told his other half. "The sink isn't cooperating."

"It never does."

"Perhaps we should try the tub."

His image nodded. "Great idea."

Fang turned off the tap before moving to go start the bathwater. Then, thinking quickly, he came back to stand in front of the mirror.

"But wait."

"What?"

"I can't see you if I'm over there, by the tub."

"That's okay," his image said as they both held up their hands, pressing them against the mirror. It was cool to the touch, like Fang's head. He felt really cold. Freezing, almost. The water would warm him though. "I'll always be with you."

This was comforting for some reason, knowing that someone else would be with him. How could you not do something when you knew you had someone else riding on you? Shaking his head, he made his way back over to the tub, leaning over it as he started drew the tap.

"Hot only," he whispered to the floor tile. It wasn't very reflective, but it would have to do. "You can only burn once."

Then, while he waited for the water to inevitably warm, Fang sat down on the edge of the tub and went to work on getting the blade out of the razor.

"Too bad we don't buy replaceable razors," he whispered. "Only disposable."

"You could use a kitchen knife."

Fang's head shot up. That wasn't his image talking. He knew his reflection's voice better than anyone's. It was his, after all.

The voice had sounded like Max. Max was up. Uh-oh. She didn't like for Fang to make too much noise. He'd have to be quieter.

"Max?" He stood up and went to the bathroom door. Opening it slowly, all he found was the darkness of the living room. Max wasn't there. Just to be safe though, he slowly went over to her bedroom door and cracked it open.

"Asleep," he whispered to himself. Max was asleep. So who was that?

"It's you again," he mumbled harshly to himself as he softly shut the door. This had happened before. This tomfoolery that got him committed in the first place. This doppelganger that was Max. Or was it Maya?

"It's me."

He liked her voice, which ever it was. He liked to think it was Max. They told him, once, when he was in the hospital, that he controlled it, that it was just his imagination anyways, so did that mean that it could be whoever he wanted it to be? Then he wanted it to be Max. Max would be doing this with him. Yes. Max. He loved Max.

"A kitchen knife then," he whispered back to the latent doppelganger as he headed to the kitchen. "It's for the best after all."

"It is."

He liked his invisible Max better than his reflection. He liked his real Max more than he liked his real self too, though, so that shouldn't be shocking.

"We'll have to be quiet. All three of us," he whispered to the phantom Max and the mirrored Fang, though neither were visible. "Okay? Max won't like me being so loud. Or so messy. I'll get in trouble. She'll make me leave. I don't like leaving."

"You'll get to leave forever, after this."

"Yes, Max. Yes. Finally. Forever. That's all I've ever wanted. Forever." Fang got the only real cutting knife Max had and took it with him back to the bathroom. He had never been sure where she got it, as she wasn't much of a cook, but it didn't matter anyways. So long as it was sharp, it would do just fine.

"I should keep my clothes on," he told imaginary Max and his mirrored reflection as he headed back into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. "That would be embarrassing, yeah? Max seeing me like that. The medics too."

"Unless she doesn't call them."

He blinked. "That's a good point, Max. She might not call them. She might not care."

"Not so long as everything stays in the tub. Then, when she pulls up the plug, the blood and water will all go down the drain."

He nodded as he did just that after testing the water. Plugging the drain that is. "You're so smart, Max. That's why you're leader and me and reflection are nothing."

"That's right, Fang, you're nothing."

"You know," he whispered to the real nothing, "the first time we did this, Max, I didn't do it right. They made me stay longer at that place. I don't want to go back to that place. Never ever. It's bad there. It's scary."

"I know."

He shook his head as he rested on the edge of the tub, the knife in his hands. "They're mean. Very mean. You were nice. You and Carter. Before…"

"Shhh." He could almost feel her hand pushing his hair back, almost feel the warmth of her flesh on his. "Don't think about that now. That's not important now."

"I wish Carter could be here."

"She could. If you wanted."

He stared straight ahead at the emptiness, but in his mind, his reflection and Max were both standing there. His mirror image had been silent for awhile, but that was okay. Fang was always quiet when Max was speaking. It was rude to talk over your leader.

"She could?"

He could see Max, standing there, nodding her head. She had a nice head. "Yes."

And just like that, she was. He could see her too, standing there, watching him. She was next to Max, on the opposite side as his mirror image. Her hands were in her mouth, curious as to what he was doing.

"Owl?"

He smiled for the first time in a long time. "It's okay, Owlet. We'll do it, all of us. Together. This is the way it should have been. We should have done this to begin with. Then we can all be together. Finally."

His mirror image picked up Carter, who buried her head in his neck. "Together. All of us, Carter."

"Yes." Max looked at her daughter before at the fake Fang. "You always have the best ideas, Fang."

He looked down, shaking his head. It hurt, really bad. Then, Max was next to him again, pushing his head back up.

"It'll be over soon," she said as Carter and reflection Fang whispered things to each other about birds and cows and flying. Flying. She wanted to play catch.

"If I had been there to catch her…" He looked at Max's doppelganger, but she wasn't saying anything now. She agreed. He should have been there to catch her. Then this wouldn't have to happen.

"But you weren't. And there's no going back." Max let his head drop. "The only way to fix things now is going through with this. Fix this, Fang. It's your job."

"Owl?" Carter had her head pressed against fake Fang, staring at him. "Catch."

"We'll play tons of catch, after we do this," he replied before looking at the true Fang. "Right?"

"Right." Turning, Fang saw that the tub was now at the perfect height. "Right. Now."

The water was burning up when Fang climbed in. He had made sure to take off his shoes though, because it would just be silly to ruin those perfectly good shoes.

"Remember, Fang, go down the street, don't cross the road."

"Oh, no, Max, I know. I'll do more than that this time." He looked at his reflection, who was smiling at him. For a second, it freaked Fang out that his reflection was no longer in the mirror, but then he decided it didn't matter. This was meant to be, after all. Carter was watching with her fingers in her mouth again, curious once more.

"Owl?"

"You stay there, Carter. I don't want you to get hurt." He blinked before shaking his head. "You shouldn't let her see this."

Max turned then, towards reflected Fang, and made Carter bury her head in his shoulder, where she stayed. "It'll be okay. She'll be fine. We'll all be."

"I know that, Max," he whispered, blinking again. This time, when he looked back at the spot where they all were, they were gone. "You know that though, Max. You know everything."

He had to roll up his sleeves. He felt stupid for wearing his stupid hoodie, but decided it didn't matter. His arms would just be insurance. It would be when he slit his neck that really sealed the deal.

"Fang!"

He jolted forwards, glancing around. "Max?"

She banged on the bathroom door. "What are you doing in there? I heard talking."

Could this be a trick? Was this real Max? He shook his head. No. Real Max didn't care about him anymore. This was surely fake Max. Doppelganger was just pulling one last prank.

"Good for you," he whispered as she continued to bang on the door. He didn't have time for her shenanigans, however. He had serious business to attend to. "We can play later. Me, you, and Carter. Together. All of us."

"Fang, open the fucking door!" She was slamming on his now, making a real commotion. He almost didn't care, but then he thought about real Max, who hated noise.

"Shhhh," he hissed, getting out of the tub. He didn't want to be scolded for making too much noise. Picking up the knife that he had set down on the side of the tub, Fang jumped out of the bathtub before rushing to unlock and open the door. "You'll wake Max."

And suddenly her arms were around him, holding on tightly. Fang just stood there, dripping wet, frowning as she took the knife from him.

"You're gonna get us in trouble. Now there's water everywhere. This won't wash down the drain," he complained as she let go, just staring at him.

"W-What were you doing in there?"

"What do you mean? You were in there." He blinked, but Max didn't go away. She was still standing there. "What are you doing? We have to-"

"What were you doing in there?" Max repeated, staring hard at him now. Fang couldn't take her eyes though and looked away. He just so happened to look over towards Max's bedroom door, which was for some reason opened. Huh. He could have sworn he closed it….unless…

"Come here." Max began to undress him before wrapping him up in towels and leading him over to the couch. Somehow, she didn't trip over the coffee table. "Sit."

Fang did so, now shivering as he watched Max go back into the bathroom before coming back out, on her phone.

"I can't deal with him, Mom. I can't. I don't care who takes him. I really don't. I have Carter to worry about, I have work, I have this stupid apartment to pay for. I don't have a second child. I'm not his mother."

Max was pacing around the apartment and Fang was just watching, sitting there in his towels, silently wishing Max would just go back to bed. He thought about telling her to do so, that he would take care of everything soon, that he'd clean up the water, but then he thought better of it. She sounded pretty busy on the phone.

"Come pick him up. Or have Nudge come get him. Or someone. The state for all I care." Max paused. "No, Mom, he was trying to…I don't know! Kill himself, I guess."

He blinked. Wait…was she talking about him? Who told? Those rats. Damn his reflection and Max's doppelganger. Now he was in trouble.

"I don't care, Mom! My daughter's dying in the hospital and I have to come home to this? No. No. This isn't fair."

Fang wasn't' sure why, but he started crying then. Not sobbing, but just crying while looking down at his feet. He felt so ashamed. He was just trying to help. Not cause Max more trouble. He just wanted to help.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to his feet. And he was. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

This somehow didn't reach Max, who just hung up her phone before going back into her room, slamming the door behind her. Fang just sat there, naked save for two towels that weren't really covering anything at this point, on Max's couch, crying to his feet.

Valencia Martinez found him like that when she let herself into the apartment, still whining softly to himself, naked as ever.

"Oh, Fang," she sighed as she came over to him. "What have you done?"

"I was just trying to help," he cried as he stood up, one of the towels falling to reveal him fully. He didn't even consider being embarrassed because, honestly, there was no point. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Max."

She shook her head, going into Max's bedroom, where hushed voices could be heard not a minute after the door closed behind her, hissing at each other.

"You screwed it up again."

He nodded at doppelganger Max who had somehow found him once again. "Yes. Yes, I did."

So, figuring he should at least help somehow, he went back into the bathroom, leaving the door open this time since this had upset Max so much before. Getting down on his knees, he began to soak up the water with a towel, trying in vain to help Max. That's all he wanted to do was help. If he couldn't go back in time and catch Carter, at least he could help.

"Fang?"

He glanced behind him before shaking his head. It was just Dr. Martinez. "I have to help."

"Fang, put these on."

He didn't even look at her as he continued to wipe up the water. "I have to help, Max."

"Fang, get up and-"

"I have to help Max!"

The vet took a deep breath, staring down at the naked man before saying, "Max wanted you to put these on."

He frowned down at the floor. "She did? Really?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

Standing then, Fang turned to face the vet in all his glory, readily taking the clothes from her. The woman turned away from him, never really having planned to see her daughter's boyfriend in such a way.

"Where is she?" Fang asked as he dressed himself. "I have to tell her I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake her up. We were supposed to be quiet and not wake her."

"We?"

He frowned at the inflection in her voice. She wasn't any help. He had to deal directly with Max or not at all. "Excuse me." He tried to walk passed her, only his boxers on. "I have to talk to Max."

"Fang, now isn't a good-"

"I have to. I have to tell her. We didn't mean to make a mess. If she hadn't knocked on the door, I wouldn't have made one. It would have gone all down the drain when she found me. If she found me…" He looked off before back at Dr. Martinez. "So, you see, I have to tell that to Max. So she knows that I didn't mean to make her upset."

"Fang…" She looked up at him, staring right into his eyes. "Have you been taking your medicine?"

He blinked, but this woman wouldn't go away either. Deciding his best bet was to just ignore her, he finally pushed passed her. "I have to talk to Max. Max is very busy, you know, but I think she'll-"

"Get out."

He frowned as Max's bedroom door opened and she came out of her room, a bag in her hands. "Max. I had to tell you that I-"

"Get out, Fang. You're going with Mom." She came closer, dropping the bag at his feet.

"What?" He frowned. "No, Max, you don't get it." He glanced back at Dr. Martinez in a 'What can you do?' kind of way. "I told you. See, Max, you don't get it. I was trying to help. If you hadn't knocked on the door, and I'm not saying it's your fault, but-"

"Mom's taking you home for the night and tomorrow you're going back to the hospital."

He blinked. "But…I don't need to see Carter. I can see her when I…well…you wouldn't understand. That's okay though, because, see, I was just trying to-"

"Your hospital, Fang."

"What?"

Valencia sighed. "Max, really-"

"He should know, Mom." She looked Fang in the eyes, her brown ones meeting his dark ones. There was no malice in her voice nor her facial expression. Just exhaustion. She wasn't trying to hurt Fang, she was just trying to explain it to him. "You need help, Fang. Help that I can't-"

"No, no, Max. I was trying to help. You understand? Me. Not you."

She shook her head. "Fang, you're going back to the hospital. You won't take your medicines, you're trying to harm yourself, you don't do anything except mope around all day, you-"

"You don't get it," he said, his tone becoming darker now. "I have to stay here and help. Max, myself, and Carter come to me here. We were going to be together, Max, before you ruined it. You ruined it by knocking on the door. I would have-"

"Fang, stop." Valencia grasped one of his hands, pulling him towards her. "Finish getting dressed, okay?"

"No. No! I'm not going back." He pulled away from her. "I don't like it there. I don't like it here. I don't want to be anywhere anymore than where I was going. You can't stop me. I'll go. I swear, I'll go."

Max was about done at this point. "Just put your stupid clothes on, Fang!"

He took a deep breath before turning and going back to his pile of clothes. "Fine."

Sighing, Max looked off before at her mother, who couldn't meet her eyes. How had they let it get this bad?

"All of your stuff is in here, Fang. Not all of it, I mean, but some of your books and stuff. I'm not sure what they'll let you keep there, but I'm sure what they won't will come back with Mom. Okay?"

"No, Max. You don't get it. I'm not going there." He turned to face her after he finished getting dressed. "I'm going where I want to go."

Max hugged him then, in a bone crushing kind of way. Why was she being like this? Didn't she hate him? He hated him.

"What are you doing? We'll be okay, Max," he said as she started to cry softly, her tears getting his shirt wet. Owlwet… "We'll be okay, once we get there. Carter will be there."

"It's time to go, Fang," Valencia whispered a moment later. "Go put on your shoes."

Max was slow to let him go, but then she just stood there, biting her bottom lip while watching him. Why was she being like this? Why did she care so much that he got some water on the floor? He was just trying to help. Not to mention he cleaned it up all on his own.

"Don't forget your bag," Dr. Martinez whispered to him after he got his sneakers on. Once he picked it up, Fang looked to Max, but she wouldn't look at him now, instead focusing on the ground.

It was weird, walking out of the apartment. The sun was out, which he hated. He thought about asking Dr. Martinez if he could go back inside and wait until dark, but he figured she say no.

"I forgot my jacket," he told her once they got to the car. "I have to have-"

"Your hoodie was on the floor, wet," she whispered, shaking her head. "I'm sure Max put another one in your bag."

"Hn." He got into the car without complaint, but she knew tomorrow, when they were going somewhere that wasn't nearly as neutral as her house, there would be a huge fight.

When they got to her home, Dr. Martinez took Fang inside and sat him down in the living room, putting some kind of sport on the television, figuring he'd like that. Fang didn't pay much attention though, instead focusing on his shoes. They were nice shoes. He liked them.

After awhile though, they got boring and Fang stood up to find something to do. He couldn't find Valencia, but that was honestly part of the plan. Going in the kitchen, he sat down at the table, folding his hands in his lap, and waiting. He figured that Dr. Martinez would make him food at some point and force him to eat it, so he should just be compliant about it, if not prepared.

"Here."

He turned as someone poked him on the shoulder, shocked to find Sebastian standing there. He hadn't seen the boy in awhile and was surprised to find that his usually spiky hair was down and long, almost like he used to keep it as a kid. The boy wouldn't look at Fang, instead focusing on the refrigerator. Fang glanced at it too before looking back at the boy, who was holding something out to him.

"You wanted it, right?" He shook the remote control and car at him. "So take it then."

Fang did so, still not sure what the boy was doing there. When he still didn't say anything, Seb did again.

"God, why can't you ever just be normal? I just freaking gave you what you wanted, didn't I?"

No. Fang didn't want this anymore. Fang wanted to go away, far away, and never come back. This meant nothing to him anymore. Still, he sat the toy in his lap before facing forward again.

"Seb," he heard Valencia correct as she came to her room. "Do not bother him."

"I wasn't. God."

"Don't use that kind of-"

"I didn't do anything wrong! He did." With that, the little boy left, leaving Fang to look down at the stupid toy car.

"Maybe Carter and I can play with it," he whispered to Valencia.

"Fang-"

"When I get there, I mean. She'd like it."

Coming over to her, she reluctantly stroked his head while shaking her own. "She would, Fang, she would."

It snowed that night. Hard. Fang just laid there for a while, in his old bed that he had used when he lived with Valencia for awhile, staring at the ceiling. That got boring eventually though and he got up, putting on his shoes and grabbing his new toy car before heading out of his room.

It was silent in the house as he walked out to the backyard, finding purpose along the way. He hadn't been able to bare going out there since the accident, but he had to do it eventually.

"This is where she was," he heard Max tell him. So doppelganger could follow him here. Huh.

"I know."

"This is where you would have stood," she told him as he went to stand under where the window was of the old stupid tree house. "This is where you would have caught her."

Staring up at the window, Fang could almost see his owlet falling from it, yelling out for him to catch her. Snuggling his new toy to him, Fang said, "The Gasman shouldn't have had her up there."

"Don't blame others, Fang. This is your fault. You told her you would always be there and you weren't. Now look at her. Laying there in that hospital bed, waiting for a miracle to save her. It won't come. You know it won't come." Max shook his head. "You disgust me."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay," his imagined girlfriend told him. And when he turned to his other side, Fang could see his reflection standing there, holding Carter, who was sleeping. "It'll be okay, Fang."

"Fang!"

Turning his head, he saw Dr. Martinez at the backdoor, staring out at him.

"What are you doing? It's the middle of the night. Get in this house. Now."

Fang looked back at his creations. "She's taking me back to that place tomorrow."

"We know," the fake Max told him.

"They'll make me take my medicine. I won't get to see you guys anymore."

"S'okay," she assured him. "We'll always be with you. Just make sure you do it. When you do, we'll be waiting."

"Okay," he said before turning, taking his car with him and going back into the house. "Okay."

It was a hard first week. Very hard. Going back on medications always screwed with your brain. He fought them. He argued. He tried many times to harm himself. After the second week though, he gave up. He gave in. It was the only way to get visitors, anyways. He had to wait for the fourth week for that though.

"Hi, Fang."

He blinked, wanting to ask where Max was. Or Nudge. Or Dr. Martinez. Instead, he just stared at Ella with unblinking eyes. Maybe they had changed his drugs. Maybe this was just an illusion. Or a bad dream.

"I drove two hours to see you and you can't even say hello?"

They were in the 'family room.' This just consisted of a few couches, tables, and chairs where the afflicted could see family members on predetermined days. If Fang had known he would have to see Ella though, he would have skipped his.

Staring down at the table, he mumbled out a hi, which seemed to satisfy her. Kind of.

"Mom sends her regards. And Nudge too. Neither of them could make it down here though, so they sent me."

He felt the sudden urge to spit, but held it down.

"They say that you're taking your medicine again. That's good."

He wanted Max to come. He would have accepted Nudge. He'd have tolerated Valencia. He hated Ella. How could they do this to him? He got his hopes up that he would actually get to see someone and they send her.

"Mom's been very busy, Fang," she told him then in a hushed tone although they were the only ones in the room other than an orderly who was standing guard by the door. "She's working on Carter's cure."

He blinked, looking up now. "Cure?"

She nodded. "She's been in touch with Jeb and-"

"I don't care."

"Fang-"

"I don't care. I don't want to talk to you anymore." He stood up and walked over to the nurse in the room. "I want to go back to my room now."

"You still have-"

"I want to go back to my room now," he repeated. "I do not want to talk to her anymore."

"Fang-"

"She has to leave first," the nurse to him. Shrugging, Fang went and sat down on a couch, waiting for the woman to go away. Family visits apparently blew. He didn't want them anymore.

He started getting letters then. All from Valencia. He wanted one from Max or Nudge or even Angel, but that didn't happen. He got two from Iggy though, who apparently decided to be there for his pregnant girlfriend/random, who wrote the letter for him. And he said Gasman was coping with what had happened, though he still blamed himself and couldn't face anyone else in the family. Daniel sent him a few too. Game of Thrones' new season would be starting soon and he was sending him all the online info he could find, as well as a few books. He liked those the best.

Mostly though, Dr. Martinez wrote him. All she ever talked about though was that stupid cure they were trying to find for Carter. That didn't matter to him now. Carter was gone. Her soul had left. It was just her shell of a body that they were all keeping around for selfish reasons. He wouldn't be a part of that.

His room was small and he shared it with another guy. The other guy wasn't nearly as bad off as him though. He was younger than Fang, one of those self-loathing types. He didn't care much for Fang and the feeling was mutual, so they mostly just ignored each other.

He did get his own little dresser though, on which he kept his letters, a few books, and his glass egg.

Max had packed Carter's gifts in the bag for some reason. Maybe it was just to get them out of her house. Fang wasn't sure.

He kept the egg the dresser all wrapped up in a shirt, like a real egg might be in a nest. His roommate sneered at it sometimes, but Fang swore if the boy ever said anything about it, he would strangle him with his bare hands.

Though he wasn't allowed to wear the necklace or hat, Fang kept them by his bedside also, wanting them to be close. The card wasn't there though, as Fang had taken it back to his place, which Dr. Martinez told him in one letter was still being paid for. So that was okay. He'd get back to it when he could.

Fang wasn't supposed to be checked out so soon.

It was about a month later and he had received the news two days ago that Dr. Martinez would be there to get him on Friday. He didn't understand it, but was told that she was the one paying for his treatment; so long as he wasn't harming himself, they couldn't keep him.

It was nerve-racking, waiting for her to show up. And when she did, she just filled out all of the necessary forms without speaking to him. When they got out to her car though and he got inside, she spoke.

"I needed you, Fang."

He blinked. "Okay."

"I'll explain when we get back home."

Again he just blinked. "Okay."

"It's about Carter. In my letters, remember how I kept talking about the cure? I have it."

"Oh. Oh." Carter… "Then Carter…is she…"

"That's why I need you," she said simply. "I need you, Fang. Need you."

Okay… Fang hadn't had much real human contact recently, but he was getting the feeling something was off.

Taking a deep breath, he asked, "Can I see Max?"

"Yes. Of course. This involves her too, Fang." Then, looking at him, she said, "This involves us all."

And he took her at her word…until he heard what she had to say.

"So you want to kill me?" That seemed so perverse, considering she was the one that sent him away for trying to do that to start off with.

"No, Fang," she sighed. "I mean, I don't want to, but I need your cells. And I'm not even sure if it will kill you or not."

They were over at her house now, in the living room. No one else was over yet, but Fang didn't care. He told her that he wanted to know right that minute what taking him from the hospital was all about. She immediately went into some long spiel about Jeb and experiments and blah, blah, blah. The only thing Fang really got from it was that she and Jeb were going to pay off the hospital and get Carter's body, take it to some kind of lab that Jeb knew about where him, her, and some of their more trusted ex-colleagues would take samples from his body and transfer them into Carter's. It had something to do with his immunity cells, but he wasn't exactly sure what.

"But it might. That's why you're so hesitant about it?"

Valencia sighed. "Fang-"

Just then the front door opened. Fang sat up straighter on the couch as Valencia, who had been pacing in front of him, now stood stock-still.

"So you're here."

He blinked. "Her? Why is she here?"

Angel gave Fang the stink eye. "Shut up. I came to support you.'

"Support me?"

"Well, you're freaking doing it aren't-"

"Be quiet, Angel."

Fang looked passed her and saw Max come into the room. Immediately his eyes went back down, as did his posture. Oh great. After that last time he saw Max, he knew that she would-

"Fang's not doing anything." She came over to the couch and stood in front of him. Holding his breath, Fang willed himself not to say anything stupid. He accomplished this by not anything at all. "Mom is taking him back to the hospital, where he belongs, and he's going to keep getting the help that he needs."

It was so weird, seeing Max, the real Max, again. She looked the same, as if time hadn't touched her. Had it him? How long had it been anyways? It felt like forever, but what else was new?

All three of them left the room then, Max and her mother arguing and Angel just not wanting to be left alone with the shell of the man. That was all she needed, him hurting himself on her watch. No way, no how. Not her.

"Did I miss it?" Nudge was talking to herself as she came into the house. "Guys?"

Then she noticed Fang in the living room, alone.

"Oh. Fang. Where-"

"I dunno," he mumbled, staring at her. Nudge looked the same too, which was a relief all in itself.

"Are you…okay?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"Oh. Good." Slowly, she came to sit down next to him on the couch. "Then you-"

"Why didn't you write me? Or come and see me?"

"Oh, Fang, I couldn't."

"Yes. Yes, you could. I would have you." He was staring straight ahead again, not wanting to look at her. "Don't you care about me at all?"

She just leaned against him, not answering. They were like that when Max came back into the room.

"Come on, Fang," she said, glancing in on them before heading to the door. "Me and you need to talk."

He looked at Nudge, who sat up now, frowning. He didn't want to go. He wanted to stay here. He had just gotten home. He didn't want to go anywhere.

"Go, Fang," Valencia told him gently. "It'll be alright. You know I wouldn't let her take you somewhere to hurt you."

He just nodded before heading out of the house, right behind Max as always. Once they were in her car, she spoke.

"Are you hungry?"

"…Huh?"

"Hungry? Do you want a burger?"

He shook his head.

"Fang-"

"I'm not hungry."

Sighing, she glanced over at him before averting her eyes once more. "How was it then?"

"How was what?"

"Your treatment. How is it gong?"

"I don't like it there. I want to come home."

"You are home. Now." She sighed as she pulled away from the house. "Fang, you don't have to do this."

"I don't even understand this."

Max reached over and for the first time in a long time laid her hand on his thigh. "It's stupid, isn't it? Carter's gone and they want to take you from me too."

Swallowing hard, he said, "If I can help, Max-"

"There is no helping, Fang. There's no helping anything. Carter's gone. It's Mom that wants to prolong this."

"What do you mean?"

Max glanced at him. "I want to end it, Fang."

"End what?"

"What do you think?"

He blinked. "So you can just do that?"

"We're keeping her alive for no reason, Fang. She's not there anymore. She's not even really alive. It's machines that are."

He could hear the ice in her voice and knew that it would melt if he pushed her too hard. "Then that's it? Either I do this or she's gone?"

"Fang, I'm not letting you-"

"Then I'm doing it."

"No, idiot, you're not."

He frowned. "Why didn't you write me? Or come see me?"

Max sighed as she came to a stoplight. "What would have been the point?"

Blinking, Fang looked down at his lap. "I dunno."

"So long as you keep taking your medicine, I suppose you won't have to go back. I'll see you now. We'll move all your stuff out of your place and-"

"No," he whispered.

"-into mine. Then we can get back to real life. It'll be okay. Carter will be better off in-"

"I said no," he repeated louder this time. "Max, I told you. I'm doing it."

"Fang, you don't even know what 'it' is."

"I know that it could help Carter. I know that your mom thinks it will work. I know that she's the only one that apparently cares about me."

"She didn't go see you either, idiot."

"No," he agreed. "She didn't. She did write me though."

"Only because she knew from the beginning that she would need you to do this. She and Jeb both knew that-"

"Shut up. No. Shut up. She loves me."

Max snorted. "Are you serious? If you weren't of any possible use to curing her granddaughter, she would have kept you locked in there for the rest of your life. You do know that, right?"

"No. Shut up. No." He turned to look out the window. "No. She said that she doesn't even know if it will kill me."

"What exactly do you think they're doing, Fang?"

"I…I didn't listen very well. She was talking so fast and using all these big words-"

"They're going to cut you open, take what they need from your body, and give it to Carter. With the help of other Whitecoats." Max looked at him. "They're going to kill you, harvest what they need, and leave the rest to rot in an unmarked grave, if not just burn your body and dump the ashes."

"What?"

"You can't exist. If you exist and they did this, it will have been murder. If you never existed, then it doesn't matter. They're killing you in a vain attempt to save my daughter."

Blinking, he let out a long breath before speaking. "It won't be murder. Not if I want them to do it. Then it will be assisted suicide."

"Fang-"

"I don't want to live without Carter and I don't want to live with this kind of you, so that's my only real option. If it saves Carter in the process, so be it."

"You don't realize-"

"You think I'm stupid, but I'm not. I'm on my medicine again. I'm okay now. I'm thinking clearly." He glanced at her. "I'm thinking of saving the only innocent one among us. You'd do it, if you could. So why shouldn't I?"

Max shook her head. "It's a waste, Fang. It's-"

"It's saving her life. I'm doing it."

"You can't be ser-"

"You were willing to just let me rot there, if your mother wanted. You admitted that. You're just as bad as her." He shook his head. "You were using me too, before I went away."

"What are you talking about?"

"Every other night, you made me freaking relive it."

"Relive what?"

"At first, I thought it was to help you, but now I know, now I-"

"What are you even talking about?"

"When Carter fell, when I didn't catch her, I was with you. I was having sex with you. Then, after Carter was in the hospital, that's all you ever used me for. You'd have me come in, have me, have me, have me…fuck you, and then make me go sleep out on the couch and think about the mistake I made. Think about how my greed killed her. You're just as bad at Dr. Martinez, but at least she's trying to help Carter by hurting me. You were just being mean."

Max paused, not saying anything for awhile. When they pulled up to the fast food place, she didn't get out and neither did he.

"That is not why I-"

"Then why? You didn't like it. You'd just lay there and make me…even when I didn't want to! Then you'd be so mean to me when you'd get home from the hospital. You'd send me looks, make me be quiet, tell me that if I made any noise you'd kick me out."

"I was going through so much, Fang."

"And? So was I."

"You hardly even knew her."

Closing his eyes tightly, Fang said, "I knew that she liked sugar cookies. I knew that she liked her right foot more than her left because she thought that it was right. Get it, Owl? I knew that she thought that I was the most important person in the world. I knew that she was left handed. I knew that she liked shiny things. I knew that she-"

"Shut up! God, Fang, none of that means anything now. Don't you get that? You mean nothing now. So just shut up."

He blinked, which he was slowly learning he did too much of. "If I'm nothing, Max, then let me do this. Let me do it."

She swallowed a raggedy breath that made Fang scared she was going to start bawling. Instead, she simply said, "I can't lose you too."

"Don't you get it?" He rested his head against the window. "I'm already gone."

"This is murder. I'm not taking part in murder."

"Oh, shut up, Iggy. How is this anymore murder than Max pulling Carter's plug if this doesn't go well?"

"Gee, Angel, maybe because Carter's body isn't even keeping itself alive. Fang's is."

Leaning his head against the wall, Fang shut his eyes tightly. He was over at Dr. Martinez's house, in his room, having his goodbye party. Everyone was out there, in the rest of the house, talking in hushed tones. Iggy and Angel must have been the closest to his room, as he could hear them the best. Still, he couldn't force himself to go out there and face them.

"It's not fair, Evan."

The little boy, who was sitting in front of him on the floor, looked up from his blocks. "No. Nang."

"If I save her, I won't even get to know."

"Nang." Evan went back to his blocks, which were considerably more fun that Fang had been since Carter went away. "Nang."

"It's okay though, I guess." He smiled at Evan. "If I save her, then she'll get to be happy. And if I don't, then she'll be there with me, right? In Heaven?"

Evan knocked over his own tower. That's what he was reduced to these days, knocking over his own stuff. It wasn't nearly as much fun, given the fact Carter wasn't there to yell at him for it.

This made Evan cry for some reason. Fang, not wanting to deal with someone else's grief, reached out and picked the boy up before standing. Well, it was time to face the music.

"Let's go find someone to give you to," Fang whispered as he opened his bedroom door. "Namesake."

"There he is. I told you Fang had him," Ella said as Fang came into the kitchen. Nudge was there, her head down on the table. She was taking this all harder than anyone, which was kind of shocking, considering she hadn't even written him.

"What's wrong?" Dr. Martinez took the baby from Fang, who readily handed him off. It was just those three in the kitchen and Fang really didn't want to see any of them. Turning and walking away, he headed to the living room.

"What's wrong with you?"

Gasman looked up as Fang sat down next to him on the couch. "Nothing."

"Where is everyone?"

"Max never showed up and Iggy and Angel got into a fight, so Dr. Martinez sent them away."

Some party… "Why are you in here all by yourself?"

The Gasman shrugged, looking off. Taking a deep breath, Fang patted the younger man on the back.

"You know, Gasman, this isn't your f-"

"Would you stop saying that?"

"-first goodbye party."

Then they both stared at each other.

"What?"

Fang nodded. "When we first moved to that house in Colorado, we found a kitten. We knew that Jeb wouldn't let us keep it, so we hid it in the tool shed. Then, one day, Angel fell on it and it was dying. So we all brought it cookies and fed it one last time before Iggy smashed its head with a rock. Then Max cleaned up the mess so that Jeb never found out about it."

Blinking, the Gasman turned to face the turned off television. "I think I'm going to be sick."

Fang shrugged, standing. This was his party. He did not need to be around this constant downer.

"God, don't tell me you want the plane too."

Fang had gone out front to see if Max's car was there or maybe Iggy was still hanging around, but all he found was Sebastian, who was flying his plane around. Shaking his head, Fang sat down on the porch steps to watch.

"I want my car back," Seb told him, glancing back at the man. "Since you're dying."

"It's in my room," Fang said simply. "Take it. I won't need it."

"You won't need your television either."

"No, I won't."

"So…?"

"Take it."

"Thanks...Fang."

"No problem."

Smiling, Sebastian turned back around…just in time to notice that his plane had been flying too close to the ground and had crashed. Standing, Fang headed back into the house, his job done as far as that went.

"I thought you left?"

Angel shrugged from her spot at the table next to Nudge. Fang figured that if he went into the kitchen, he could get a piece of that goodbye cake, but all the women were still in there. Ella seemed in a remarkably down mood, considering the fact Fang would be dying soon, but he didn't think much of it. She was probably just upset that her manicure fell on the same day and she had to cancel it.

"When's the cake?"

Valencia, who was tending to Evan, glanced at Fang. "What?"

"My cake. When do I get to eat my cake?"

She just sighed. "Fang-"

"If he wants his cake, let him have it. It's his party."

They all turned as Max came into the room, carrying bags of something.

"I got you your favorite," Max said as she walked passed Fang and over to the counter, setting down the takeout bags. "So don't eat too much cake."

"God, you're all freaks, you know that?" Nudge finally lifted up her head and looked at them. "God, I hate you. All of you. How could you-"

"Hush." Max kept taking the takeout boxes out of the bag. "Fang, I got you something from everywhere you-"

"You hush, Max. God, you're just letting him kill himself. And for what? So that more stupid Whitecoats can play with his organs? Are you that-"

"He wants to do this, Nudge. I can't tell him to stop," she said, going to get Fang a fork as well.

"Yeah? He also wanted to kill himself, but you sure put a stop to that. What's different now? Huh?"

"I'm saving Carter," he said simply as he went to go look at what Max brought him. "I'm sorry, Nudge, that you-"

"You don't even know for sure, Fang. You might as well be-"

"Enough." Max turned to face her as Fang dug into his food. "From all of you."

"Us? What did I do?" Angel frowned. "I haven't said anything about-"

"You keep arguing with Iggy and I'll-"

"Sebastian crashed his plane." Fang kept eating his food. "It was great. Oh, and by the way, he wants my television. You know, when I'm gone."

Max blinked while Ella walked out of the room, shaking her head. Fang wasn't sure if it was the plane, the television, or she was just upset about the manicure that he made up, but he didn't care either way. Max had gotten him all sorts of stuff. Chinese, Mexican, burgers, fries, meatloaf-

"Sit down and eat, Fang," Valencia told him. "You have all night."

That set Nudge off into another round tears. This time though, she got up and left the room, Angel following.

"Here." Max began taking the boxes of food and setting them down on at the table. "You want some cake now too?"

"No. I'm alright." He sat down while Max went to get him something to drink. Evan, who had calmed down, began whining from Dr. Martinez's arms until she sat him down in Fang's lap.

"Nang." He cuddled against Fang while Valencia just shook her head.

"Fang, you really don't have to-"

"I need ketchup," he cut the vet off. "Max."

"I'm sorry. I forgot." She did as asked, also bringing him the salt. "Here you go."

"Thank you." Fang almost went back to eating, but he now felt awkward as both mother and daughter stood there, watching him. "Do…do you guys want some? Or something?"

Max just shook her head while her mother sighed, leaving the room also. Fang reached over, pulling out the chair next to him, waiting for Max to take her seat. Once she did, he went back to eating, randomly letting Evan have a little nibble of something.

"I don't know why they're all being like that. This is what you want."

Fang nodded, continuing to eat. "You know, they could always just pretend."

"Pretend? Pretend what?"

He didn't even look at her as he let Evan have a sip of his coke, like he might have Carter, had she been invited. "Pretend that I'm still in the hospital. Then, they'd have a reason for why they don't talk to me or come see me and it wouldn't involve me being dead."

He thought that that would cause Max too to leave him, but she just sat there, taking the jab in stride.

"You know, Fang, she's gonna ask about you."

He let Evan have some rice. "I know."

"What do…what should I…"

"Don't tell her anything." He took a sip of his drink. "Just let her ask and never answer. Eventually, she'll forget about me."

"Why would you want that?"

"Because it'll happen anyways. She's just a baby. She won't remember any of this when she gets older. Why prolong it?" He glanced at Max. "Can I have some of that cake now?"

Standing slowly, Max went to do as he asked. "What about me?"

"What about you?"

"What if I want to tell her?"

"Well, the way I see it, what you want doesn't matter anymore."

"How do you figure?"

"I'm laying down my life for you daughter. Not telling her about me, ever, is the least you could do."

Fang was leaving in the morning for the lab. It was out of the way, so only Max and Valencia would be accompanying him. That meant that all goodbyes had to be said before everyone went home that night.

"I called Iggy, but he refuses to come back," the Gasman told Fang. "I'm sorry. He says that he won't be-"

"A part of murder. We all know," Angel commented dryly. "Whatever. Who needs Iggy?"

They were all out on Valencia's front porch, the party over. Gasman had to get home; he had missed a lot of work for this. He had to get back soon.

"I'm sorry, Fang," he mumbled into Fang's chest a moment later as Fang embraced him. "I didn't mean for-"

"It's alright. The cat didn't feel much anyways."

Looking up at him, Gasman nodded before taking a step back. Ella and Seb had already left, which was fine with Fang. Ella had told him how much she appreciated him and all this bull, but whatever. And, after a close inspection, he saw that her nails really did need that manicure…

"I'll see you later, Nudge," Fang said lamely as he turned to hug her. She wasn't bawling now, but her eyes were still red. "Or, well, I guess-"

"Shut up." She stared at him, not saying anything. "Just shut up."

He hugged her, but she was stiff. He knew that she was angry at him, but he only had today. He didn't have time to be mad back.

"I love you," he whispered in her ear, but still, she didn't say anything. When he let go, she just turned, took her son from Angel before walking off, Gazzy following. She was his ride to the airport.

Fang was hurt by this until, after buckling Evan into his car seat, she came running back up to the porch and forcing her way back into his arms.

"No one will blame you, Fang, if you choose not to-"

"I've already made my decision, Nudge." He smiled down at her, which just set her into another set of fresh tears. "Goodbye."

Max called out to Gasman that he would have to drive to the airport before leading Nudge over to her car. Then, as Valencia was inside on the phone, finishing up last minute details of Fang's surgery and Carter's hospital transfer, it was just Fang and Angel on the porch.

"So…where's your girlfriend?"

She frowned at him. "Max told me not to bring her. That this is a family thing."

"Oh."

"She is my family though."

"Oh."

"So I think it's just because you're a freak and think that you can stop me from loving-"

"Hush, Angel," Max said as she came back up the steps. "I told you that Melissa couldn't come for the same reason Dylan couldn't. This party was about Fang, not-"

"Dylan could have come."

"What?" Max frowned at him, making Fang kick at the porch boards.

"Well, I just meant…never mind. I just figured, since he was so nice to me over Christmas, that he'd…well…it doesn't matter now."

"No," Max agreed, crossing her arms over her chest as a defense against the cold. "It doesn't."

There was an awkward beat after that that made Fang wish he could just go inside. He couldn't though. He had to tell Angel goodbye too.

"Well, Angel, Fang has other things to do. If you're going to-"

"Would you be quiet?" Angel didn't even look at Fang. Only the ground. She had seemed to be the only one unaffected by everything that had happened. She still had her witty, smart comebacks to everything and seemed to just sit around judging the rest of them for feeling anything at all. Now though, standing there with Max and Fang watching her, she was starting to break a little.

Slowly, Fang took a step closer to her and then another. Once he was right next to her, he whispered, "It's okay, you know. To miss someone."

"S-Shut up."

"It's okay to love me, even after I'm gone. I never stopped loving you. Ever."

"Shut up, Fang. God." She sniffled, still refusing to look up. "I just…"

"I don't know where I'm gonna go, Angel, when I die, but I know that I won't stop loving you. Okay?" He reached out to touch her, but she flinched away. "You'll be fine without me. You were fine without me. You don't need me, Angel. Remember that. You don't need anybody."

"Yes, I do!" Suddenly, she wrapped her arms tightly around his chest, crying out as she buried her head against him, tears cascading down her face. "I need you, Fang. I want you to stay. Don't leave me again. Please."

He just looked at Max who wouldn't meet his eyes. "Angel, I-"

"It's not fair. How could you leave me again? You said you wouldn't. And now you are. How could you do this?" She was getting his shirt wetter than Nudge had. "It's not fair. Why does Carter mean more to you than I do?"

Slowly, he patted her on the back, not sure what to say or how to explain it. "You mean a lot to me too, Angel."

"Not as much."

He couldn't dispute that. He didn't want his final words to her to be a lie. "I love you, Angel."

"You sacrificed yourself for Nudge and now you are for Carter, but you never have me. You never loved me as much as them. I hate you." She was probably getting snot all over him now too, but Fang wasn't sure how to stop it. "I hate you for doing this to me again."

Still, Fang just stood there, letting her hold onto him. Eventually Max had to step in.

"Angel, let him go," she whispered, touching the younger woman's shoulder. "You have to let him go."

"I don't want to."

"I know. None of us do. But you have to." She wasn't looking at Angel, only Fang. "We all have to."

Max had to drive Angel home, back to her apartment. She assured Fang that she would be back soon, that he should just go shower or watch TV or something. He wanted to go, he wanted to make sure Angel was okay, but they both knew she wouldn't be and him going would just prolong the events.

"Well, Fang, everything's set," Valencia told him as he came into the house, alone. She led him to the kitchen. "Here. Have your last piece of cake. After this, you can't eat again, you know."

He shook his head, sitting down at the table. "I'm not hungry."

Valencia went around the room, cleaning up the kitchen while Fang just sat there, watching. Neither was sure what to say to the other, but eventually she began.

"This is a very brave thing you're doing, Fang. Not a lot of people would-"

"Save it," he whispered. "There's no point in talking about it anymore."

"You don't have to do this."

"You want me to."

"It doesn't matter what I want. It matters what you want."

"I want to save Carter." He was looking down at his feet, not able to look at her. "Dr. Martinez?"

"Fang, really, call me Valencia, now."

He couldn't though. "Will you be the one to do it?"

"I'll be in the room, yes, with you. Not with Carter."

"Will you be careful?"

"Fang, you won't feel anything. You'll be under by that point."

"I meant careful with my body. I don't want anything to get messed up for Carter."

"Fang…you do know that I'm not even sure if-"

"Yeah, I know."

"I want you to know though, Fang, that we'll be forever grateful-"

"It won't matter. I'll be dead."

"Not necessarily. Maybe-"

"Don't lie to him."

Fang didn't have to look up to know that Max was back. Instead, he just sighed as she came to lay a hand on his shoulder.

"Max, really, you don't understand-"

"You're already getting him to do what you want. Don't get his hopes up." She looked down at him. "Are you hungry still? Or thirsty?"

He shook his head no.

"Then go take your shower and go to bed. I'll be in there soon to talk to you. Okay?"

Fang nodded, standing. His final day and Max was still telling him what to do. Still, who else could do that? No one. Fang wasn't any good at figuring stuff out on his own.

It felt weird, showering. He knew that he had to be clean for when they cut him open or whatever, so he made sure to get every nook and cranny. He didn't want them to think he was dirty or whatever.

When he got into bed, Fang couldn't sleep. He just laid there, staring up at the ceiling. Angel was right. It wasn't fair. It was life.

"I brought you this."

He looked at the door as Max came through it, holding something. "What?"

"Here." She came closer, laying a doll on his chest. Owl. "I thought it would make you feel better."

Fang had taken it all very well. From being taken out of the hospital to learning that they were going to be harvesting his organs for Carter, Fang had been very good. He hadn't shown any fear or anxiety. Now though, in the dark with Max, with Owl, it all hit him at once.

"Shhh," Max whispered as he began to cry. Slowly, she got into bed with him, folding one of his big hands into her tiny ones. "It's okay, Fang. You're alright."

"I don't wanna die, Max," he cried as she kissed his fist. "I don't wanna go yet."

"Then don't, Fang. No on is going to hold it against you if you-"

"I have to. I have to save Carter." He shook his head as Max leaned up to kiss his cheek. "I'm scared. I don't wanna go to Hell."

"Who said you were going to Hell? Who said you were going anywhere?"

"I don't know," he whined as she let go of his fist to wipe away his tears. "I just know that if there is one, I'll go there."

"Says who?"

"I don't believe enough to go anywhere else."

"Shhh." She kissed him in the lips this time. "If anyone deserves to go to Heaven, Fang, I think it's the person that sacrificed himself to save the life of a little girl."

"That's not how you get into there."

"Says who? The people down here? The same people that wage war every single time someone disagrees with them?" She kissed him again. "If there is a Heaven, Fang, how could someone like you not go? And if you don't, then what's the point? What's the point of good people rotting in Hell just because they never found their way? Huh?"

"I don't know," he whispered miserably. "I don't know."

"Well, I do know." Stroking his cheek, she went on, "I know that you mean so much to me, doing this."

"I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it for Carter."

Max rested her head against his chest. "I know. I know."

"I'm gonna miss you, Max."

"Shhh."

"I don't want to leave you again, but I have to. Okay? I have to."

"I know, Fang." She kissed his shirt for some reason, but Fang just closed his eyes, not wanting to look at her anymore. "I know."

The ride there was silent. Valencia drove while Max and Fang rode in the back of the car, sitting together, but not speaking or touching. At one point, when Fang's stomach growled, Max just sighed before reaching out to stroke his thigh. He couldn't eat before the surgery and his stomach was making it known.

"What are you gonna tell Danny?" He looked at Max at one point. "Max?"

That was the last thing on her mind, honestly. "I don't know, Fang. I'll tell him whatever you want."

"I just don't want you to make him upset." Fang looked back out the car window. "I didn't want to make anyone upset."

"You're okay," she whispered to him. "They're okay too."

Okay. They all kept saying that everything was okay, but it wasn't. Fang was going off to die and they were just letting him. In what world was that okay? Only in the one that they had created.

"I see you made it here without delay."

Valencia shook her head as Jeb opened the door to the building for them. "Not now. Please."

Fang hadn't seen the man in years and wasn't really prepared for it. He had aged, of course, and didn't look too healthy. He looked…old. Max, who apparently had seen him recently, just blew past him.

"The man of the hour. And how are you today, Fang?" Jeb closed and locked the door behind him. "The sun shined for you today, I see."

"The sun's always shining somewhere," another scientist who was in the front room commented. Fang blinked as he recognized the man. He was that guy that worked with Valencia. What was his name? "Ah, Fang. I presume you remember me?"

"You've met?" Valencia frowned.

"He works at your office, right?" Max rolled her eyes heavily. "Why wouldn't they have?"

"I just…This is Dr. Lawrence, Fang."

He nodded, looking around. The building was empty, whatever it was. Also in the middle of nowhere. It must have been an old School or hospital or something.

"Come now. We have to prep him for surgery," Jeb said, clasping his hand on Fang's shoulder.

"I showered," he said weakly to which the other two men laughed. Max gave Jeb a look though, ceasing the laughter.

"Well, we appreciate that," Jeb assured him before leading him off, leaving Max behind. Fang looked back at her, but she wouldn't look at him. He wanted her with him. He didn't want to be alone.

The next time Fang saw Max was in his room. He was all ready in his gown and everything, sitting around waiting for Dr. Martinez to come in. She was going to give him something to knock him out.

"There you are. I thought you had left." Fang stood as she came into the room. "I didn't want you to before I got to, you know, say goodbye."

Max just came closer to him, visibly swallowing. "It's not too late, Fang."

"It is though. I've made up my mind."

She shook her head. "You can change it though."

"You know that you want me to do this as much as I need to do this." He stared down at her. "I love you."

For some reason, even after all the stuff that happened, this is what made Max cry. Fang frowned as she cried softly into the hand she had pressed against her face, not looking at him.

"What's wrong? This is what you want, Max. I'm giving you Carter back."

She shook her head. "What if I lose you and Carter?"

"But you won't. I…It'll work. It has to."

"No, Fang," she sighed, shaking her head sadly. "It doesn't."

"But it will. Okay?" He didn't want her to keep crying because he wasn't sure if it would start his tears or not. "Don't make the last time I get to see you sad."

Shaking her head again, Max dropped her hand before reaching out for him. Slowly, Fang came closer and let her hug him.

"Never again."

"Never again what?" He looked down at her, curious.

"I'll never be with someone else again."

"Don't say that." He pressed his hands into her hips before pushing her back gently so that they could look at each other. "I wouldn't want that. Besides, Carter needs someone. Carter needs a dad."

Max reached up, running a finger across his lips. "Carter has a dad."

When it was time, Valencia came into the room with some guys dragging some kind of machine with them. Fang glanced at it before back at Max, who wouldn't look at him again.

"Lay down, Fang."

He did as asked, watching as she came closer. "What-"

"You're gonna wear this gas mask," she told him. "Then you'll count backwards, okay? It's just like going to sleep"

He looked at Max, who was crying softly again. "Dr. Martinez-"

"Valencia, Fang."

"…Can I ask you something else?"

"Yes?"

The other guys left the room, leaving the three of them in there. It was so small and cold. Desolate. Fang hoped wherever they were keeping Carter wasn't this bad.

"You'll save me, right?" He knew his voice sounded small, but he couldn't help it. "If you can? You'll save me, huh?"

She came closer then, leaning over him and pressing a kiss to his head like he might have Carter before all of this, before the Gasman thought it was a good idea to take her up into that tree house.

"I'll do everything I can, Fang, everything in my power to save you," she whispered. "I promise."

He nodded then. "Thank you."

Max came over next, hugging him. "I love you, Fang."

He kissed her gently, watching as she pulled away, shaking her head. "Goodbye, Max."

It was a weird feeling, knowing that it was over. Fang just watched as Dr. Martinez put the mask on him. He wanted one of the women to tell him it would be okay, like he had been telling them, but neither did. Neither asked him one last time if he wanted to go through with it either. Maybe it was because they both knew it wasn't okay and that he did want to.

"Max, what is wrong with you," Valencia hissed as Fang counted backwards in his head, his eyes shut. "This is what you wanted. You want your daughter back, don't you?"

"You don't get it, Mom."

"What don't I get? I get that you aren't even holding his hand, comforting him before-"

Fang's breathing was softer now as he started to feel lightheaded. Whatever was in that machine was really good. He wished that he had had it every time he went to sleep. God.

"You don't understand."

"What don't I understand? You're not-"

"I'm pregnant, okay?"

And then it was all black and he was gone.

Man, that was a lot longer chapter than I intended. I got kind of carried away, eh? I just started and I couldn't stop. So anyways, yeah, that's the end of the story. I'm slowly starting to like open endings more and more. Besides, who needs happy ones these days?

And, yes, as far as sequel information, I know what I'd do if I ever wrote one, I know that it would only be about 10 chapters, but I'm no so sure I'm gonna do it. I might, maybe, but I like it ending this way too. More ambiguous and what not.