After retrieving the key from the man in charge, Michael unlocked Rachel's collar. She rubbed her neck, still a little sore. "Much better...though it will be some time before I'm up to anything else. Take me to my kids, okay?" She rubbed her eyes. "...I need a shower, a nap, and some quality time with my husband once he wakes up..." she mumbled.
Loading her into the car, they drove back to Madeline's house, Bobby having turned himself invisible again. Back at the house, Rachel stepped out, and the kids practically bust down the door running to her. "MOMMY!" they shouted out together, clambering all over her.
Laughing she hugged them tight. "Hi, kids, I missed you too. Did you behave for Mrs. Weston?"
"Yes, Mommy!" Melvin pipped up. "We were very good!"
Raven smiled. "That's good...I'd love to keep hugging you, but I DESPERATELY need a shower. I've been locked up for three days, and I stink!"
"Pee yu!" little Teether piped up, waving a hand in front of his nose.
Laughing, Rachel went inside, the raven flying ahead of her towards where her husband was unconcious. "When Garfield wakes up, let him know where I am, okay?"
Inside, Madeline directed her to the shower. Michael followed the raven and saw it land on the unconcious Garfield for a time, then fly away rather clumsily. After a time, Garfield sat up, rubbing his head. "Ow...how long have I been out?"
"I'd say about three days," Michael said. "That's how long Rachel says she was locked up for. She said to tell you she was in the shower."
Garfield tilted his head and seemed to sniff the air. "I could probably use one, too." He stood up and began to walk straight towards the bathroom. "If you'll excuse me," he said, grinning.
Michael looked down at Melvin, who was rolling her eyes. "Newlyweds," she said, sighing.
"Wait, your folks only recently got together?" He looked down at Melvin and her brothers.
Melvin shrugged. "We were kinda instrumental in getting their relationship started seriously. They always liked each other, but never acted on it. Taking care of us gave them an excuse to pursue their relationship, sort of. That's why we came with on the honeymoon trip. It's not just celebrating Mommy and Daddy's wedding, but the day we all became a family."
Michael nodded. "I see." He proceeded to ignore the sounds coming from the bathroom which supported Melvin's assessment of her parents.
After some time, though, FIona quirked an eyebrow up. "They're quite energetic," she commented drily.
Madeline smiled knowingly at Michael and FIona. Melvin, seeing this, giggled.
Once Rachel and Garfield had cleaned up, rested, and reenergized, the Logan family said their goodbyes and went on their way, but promised to find a way to pay Michael and the others back for all they'd done for them.
Some weeks later, they discovered a way had been found.
Sam was ecstatic over the case of 50 year old scotch that showed up on his doorstep with a note of thanks from the Logan family. He put it away for careful consumption.
FIona found a large crate delivered to her which had quite a few things for her. First were registration papers and a letter, stating that Stone Tech Industries - a Weapons Development company - had selected her to be their Field Tester for their newest line of infantry weaponry. They would be sending her liscencing paperwork and test units for their newest weaponry in regular installments, and, in exchange for returning a full written report on functionality and usefullness, each model sent to her was hers to keep - fully liscensed and registered - as her payment. She had to pay for extra ammo beyond initial installment herself, though. The first weapon for testing was included in the shipment: an anti-infastructure cannon that weighed less than 50 lbs. and could fire a round over 1000 yards before detonation.
Michael recieved a small device that - when hooked to his computer - allowed him to access several databases untraceably in regard to investigating his being burned, though he could only read the data he found this way. The note included said that - since he had helped so many people - it was about time someone gave him a helping hand in return.
For Madeline, they sent two packages: the first contained a nano-tech treatment that wasn't readily available yet to strengthen and protect her lungs "from all harmful agents, since Rachel had noticed you had some trouble breathing while we were there, and the kids were worried about you." The second package contained a state of the art air purifier, "guaranteed to protect the air from any harmful agent, just in case Michael's work spills over in the biological."
The End