A/N: Thank you for pointing out the whole anecdote/antidote thing (embarrassing…oops?) But I will fix that chapter when I find time. And please don't worry, I love Max – she's my favorite character, I would never leave her like this forever.

The flock stood still, silent and petrified. They watched as Fang – fearless, emotionless fang – broke down, releasing every barrier he had put up since he was a child. He fell back against the same tree Max had pinned him against. He brought his knees to his chest and covered his face with his hands. And then he did the one thing the flock never thought they would experience; he let out a sob. His body shook and his voice cracked. Tears overflowed and rolled down his cheeks, leaving a fresh, burning trail upon the unacquainted surface.

The flock remained frozen unsure of what do in this moment that seemed unreal, like a dream. They stared at him, shocked at his pain and wishing they could ease his suffering. Iggy finally snapped out of his shock, shaking the sound of Fang's sob from his mind and turned towards the flock.

"Come on guys, let's go gather some fire wood" he said, leading them towards the woods. Once they were out of range of Fang, Angel finally broke the silence,

"Iggy, I've never seen Fang this way before, it scares me-" she said looking with her big blue eyes into his blind ones "-I don't like it" she finished.

"I know Ange, but he just needs some space. He's battered, bruised, beaten, and exhausted – too weak to control his emotions. The best thing we can do is to leave him alone for now."

Iggy and the flock took their time gathering fire wood until the sun began to fade. They went back to the clearing to find Fang asleep, curled up by the trunk of the tree. The look of anguish upon his face remained even in his sleep. His body was bloody, torn, and bruised. Nudge held her hand below his nose to make sure he was breathing, and then draped the largest sweatshirt she could find over his body.

Iggy and Gazzy, being the pyros they are, had a fire started in record breaking time. Iggy knew that with Fang in such bad shape, there was nothing they could do for the time being. He assumed for right now, the best thing to do was to wait. He hoped the next day they could get some food, maybe even a change of clothes, and then work on how to save Max from – well from herself, he supposed. With no food to fill their growling bellies, the flock fell asleep hungry almost before the moon had even risen.

Fang woke with a start, almost choking as his most recent memories flooded his head, overwhelming his pained and beaten body. He jumped up ready for action, pacing back and forth, grabbing his head trying to calm himself and gather his thoughts. He paused and took in his surroundings. It looked to be about early morning, it was still dark, but the avian in him knew it to be just about morning.

He had to go. He had to go now. He had to get her. He had to get Max.

He stretched out his wings and stifled a groan when his muscles screamed in near agony. He was extremely sore, but he supposed that after a few miles he could work out the kinks.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Iggy roll in his sleep, then sit up rubbing his eyes.

"Morning" Iggy half yawned when he saw that Fang was awake. Fang merely groaned in reply.

"So I think we should find the nearest town to get ourselves together and think of a plan," Iggy said, wasting no time, fearing Fang might take off any minute.

"No time, I have to go now. I have to go get her" fang replied.

"You are not going anywhere in that condition. You need to eat and you need to recover; we all do."

"No way, I'm not wasting any more time Iggy. We both know that she went back to the school, believing that she could receive improvements and 'perfect herself'. I'm not waiting around knowing she's in that hell-hole. I have to save her." Fang practically snarled at Iggy.

"Look Fang, you need to understand that you're not the only one that loves and cares about Max. She's practically a mother to the flock; anyone of us would do anything for her. So don't go around thinking that you're the only one who wants to save her and get the real Max back – we all do. But I can tell you right now that if we really want to have a shot at getting her back and injecting her with the antidote, then we need to rest and we need to be ready." Iggy had stood up and was now only a foot away from Fang. The rest of the flock began to stir at the sound of their voices.

Fang didn't respond, but he had certainly been listening. He turned away from Iggy and resumed his pacing and frantic thinking.

"I know you're in love with her Fang, and I know that as much as I care about Max I can't understand what you're feeling right now. But I do know that seeing you in pain is not something that I or the rest of the flock are willing to accept. I promise you that we'll get Max back, you just have to listen to me right now and not fly off on another suicide mission." Iggy was trying his hardest to get through to the heartbroken and hurting Fang, knowing that making a rash impulsive move would be too risky.

Fang knew Iggy was right. As hard as it was, he would have to wait at least a day before they made a move. He was exhausted and in pain. Breaking into the school was one thing. Destroying some Erasers – no problem. Out smarting Max, out-fighting Max, out-anything-ing Max was a whole different story.

"Get them up, we leave in ten."

A/N: I apologize if this story seems like it's dragging a little bit. But I promise there will be lots of action to come and, of course, eventually FAX to come (*eventually*).