Logan tried to shake off the sting of his father's angry and disapproving words as he watched Maddie and Michael Manchester talking through the glass of the empty helicopter.

It was hard to imagine having a father who would show up to an obvious trap with no defenses just to rescue you. A father who'd been ready to trade his life for yours just a few hours earlier.

Logan wondered, if his father had been trapped in that burning cabin, whether he would have even gone back for him the way Maddie had.

"They're really a good team, aren't they?" Olivia commented, placing a hand on Logan's shoulder.

Logan nodded, not really sure what to say. "Thanks for coming for us."

"Don't even think about it, you're one of us now," Olivia shrugged. She took a few steps away from Logan, following the others, then turned back. "Also, that - what the two of them have - that's not normal. Don't compare yourself to that."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Logan responded.

"I think you do," Olivia challenged. "I talk about my mom a lot, but the truth is, I mostly do it because I want to feel closer to her than I actually am."

"Spoken like the child of a psychiatrist," Logan commented.

"Spoken like the child of a politician," Olivia accused. "But for what it's worth, my mom and I fight so much we were both relieved when it was time for me to go away to boarding school."

"I understand that," Logan admitted.

"I thought you would," Olivia responded. "Are you going to wait for them?"

"Yeah," Logan answered.

"Okay." Olivia said, turning back toward the path their classmates had taken. "I'll see you on the other side of the debrief."

"Godspeed," Logan teased. Olivia laughed in response. And then she was gone, leaving Logan alone with his thoughts, watching Maddie and her father locked in a deep embrace through the helicopter windows.

Logan wasn't sure there was anything lonelier than not having anyone to hug after a near death experience. If there was, he hadn't experienced it yet.

Logan's father had been livid when Logan had called him from the chopper. Logan had remained calm, because the conversation was exactly what he'd expected. It was the same conversation they'd had over and over and over again. It was Logan's fault he'd gotten kidnapped. Why in hell could he not just do what he was told? Why did he have to insist on dragging good people down with him? How could he possibly manage to get in trouble at an all-girls spy school?

And so Logan admitted guilt, even though hewasn't guilty. He asked forgiveness, even though he wasn't sorry. He begged for his father not to hold anyone else accountable for his mistakes. His father had been mostly lenient.

Except on one point. The president had made it very clear that he hadn't yet decided whether Logan would be returning to the Gallagher Academy. The president didn't know how to keep Logan in line. But he was very good at finding the one thing Logan wanted most and taking it away as punishment. And there was a very good chance that would mean being separated from Maddie indefinitely, when he'd only just gotten her back.

But there was no time to think about that now. Maddie was opening the cockpit door, and the look on her face was that of someone trying to force back a mountain of pain. Maddie was strong, but Logan knew that there was only so much even she could take.

Michael Manchester climbed out behind her, stone-faced as always. They walked over to Logan, and Maddie's father clapped him on the shoulder, locking eyes for a moment too long.

"I've always liked you, kid," he said fondly. "Take care of each other now, you hear me?"

Logan nodded, silently, and then Mr. Manchester was gone, through the double doors, leaving Logan and Maddie alone in the helicopter bay.

"Why did that sound like he was saying goodbye?" Logan asked, turning to Maddie. With her father out of sight, a tear made its way free from Maddie's eye, and Logan immediately gathered her into his arms. Her small body shook with sobs, and Logan wasn't sure whether it was the adrenaline rush of the day finally settling in, or something Maddie's father had said, or both, but he held Maddie as tightly to his chest as he could and gently stroked the top of her head. When Maddie's breathing began to slow, Logan kissed the top of her head, and turned her face up to meet his.

"Mad," he said gently. "Tell me what happened."

Maddie blinked back more tears, and swallowed hard, and Logan could tell she was struggling to compose herself.

"Everything we heard in the cabin," Maddie said quietly. "It's true, Logan. It's all true."

Logan nodded silently. He'd had a few hours now to process what he'd heard, and he couldn't really fault Mr. Manchester for his actions. When he thought Stefan had killed Maddie, he'd wanted to do the exact same thing.

"He's going to tell them everything," Maddie continued. "And I'll probably never see him again."

Logan thought about the stories he'd heard, when no one thought he was listening, of the underground prisons where spies and traitors were held, long white hallways of solitary confinement where people were locked up until they disappeared. He shuddered at the thought. And he swore he would do everything he could to prevent that from happening, even if it meant never seeing Maddie again.

"Mad," he said quietly. "I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen."

Maddie nodded, like she believed him. Like she trusted him. And Logan felt a warm and fuzzy feeling deep inside his chest. Then she took his hand, and they walked to the double doors.

"From the frying pan into the fire," Maddie said calmly.

Logan nodded. He kissed her deeply, just in case this might be the last time. And then he opened the door, and allowed her to walk away from him.

"See you on the other side, Manchester."