Max closes her eyes and doesn't open them again. Fang panics and grasps her hand as tightly as possible.
"What's wrong with her? I can't lose her again, not now, not ever!" Fang shrieks, his voice loud and high-pitched. Dr. Martinez turns a small knob at the corner of the screen, and the sound of four heartbeats, pumping at normal speed (as the swift heartbeats of bird kids go) in unison. Fang sighs with relief and lays his head down on the table, only an inch away from Max's. Then, gently, so as not to stir her from sleep, Fang scoops Max's weak and weary body up into his arms and carries her up to his room, laying her down on the bed. Then, carefully and quietly closing the door behind him, he silently steps back into the room with Jeb and Dr. Martinez.
"We have to tell the flock something," he says in a low voice. "Besides, they're going to need to be ready in case of an emergency or when.... our babies come. I won't lie to them, but I also don't want to tell them everything because I don't know if that's what she wants to do yet." Fang speaks in a tone that is concerned, angry, tired, and scared all at the same time.
"I agree," Dr. Martinez replies, nodding her head. "I think it should be Max's decision to tell the flock about her.. experience, but I also think that the babies will come within a month or two and we all need to be ready."
"For now," Jeb says, clearing his throat. "We can tell them that she is here and safe but that she is pregnant and needs to be given cautious care."
"They'll want to see her," Dr. Martinez whispers, nervous and slightly overwhelmed.
"They can. She's sleeping now, they won't bother her as long as we remind them of what we have told them," Fang says.
Without warning, Dr. Martinez pulls Fang close to her for a warm embrace. Jeb joins in a moment later, making Fang shudder and shift from one foot to the other awkwardly.
"You know, we don't expect you to do this, Fang. Max is going through a very sensitive and stressful time right now, and she's going to need someone strong to help her. You don't have to be that person for her," Dr. Martinez whispers into Fang's chest, still hugging him tightly.
"I know that I don't have to," he replies, looking down at Dr. Martinez and Jeb. Then, almost inaudibly he adds, "But I want to."
YOU ARE READING
Maximum Ride: Picking Up the Pieces (A Maximum Ride Fanfic)
FanficThey took her away two and a half years ago. As far as the flock could tell, Max had disappeared. But now, Max has returned to the flock with A LOT on her hands - more than just trying to rejoin the flock and move on from her past. What happens now...
