A/n: thanks for the reviews everyone. In response to your requests this chapter is longer than normal. Hope you like it.

Chapter 18: I.O.U.

8:30 pm.

The SUV's high beams caught a road sign, and Logan squinted his tired eyes at it. "The farm's the next left, Brin," he said, suppressing a yawn.

"Understood," she replied, still focussed on the logistics of the escape.

"Brin… you really don't need to keep up all the military expressions. We can relax a little now. Unless there's a tracking device around here somewhere."

"Unlikely. It's the fact that they'll be following us I'm concerned about."

"There's no way they can know what direction we went in, and no official links between me and my friends. I was thinking we'd hole up there for a day or two until I can get someone to bring my car out here and then I'll go back to the city." Brin slammed on the brakes and turned to argue with him.

"You actually intend to go back to Seattle? Are you insane, Logan? Renfro will be searching the whole place! You wouldn't even get past the checkpoints."

"I'm needed there," he said simply. "Don't worry. I can get in touch with Zack and have him take you someplace safe. They'll be after you too, remember."

"I'm not going to let you go back into danger, Logan! You just rescued me from a place where torture and brainwashing had already broken me. You brought me back from the brink of becoming a mindless drone again." A haunted look crossed her face, making her look twice her age.

"It was… indescribable, knowing I hated what I was doing and not being able to stop myself, because I was afraid of what they'd do to me if they figured out I didn't want to obey. Lydecker even tried to twist my memories, make me hate Max and Zack for abandoning me. They could have made me do anything, killing my own siblings, or worse, helping to bring them in…" she shivered at the thought. "You saved me from that. And there is no way I am going to leave you until I've paid off my debt."

"What debt? If you hadn't wanted out on some level I couldn't have persuaded you to leave. All I did was provide an opportunity. If anything I owe you for your help in getting away."

"No! Logan, you're the reason I'm not there. You can't know what it was like. The weekly trips to Psy Ops, the drugs, the beatings, the endless training, the torture to make me betray my family… I couldn't stand it. Just meeting you, talking to you, seeing how you thought about the world helped me to resist, to feel like me again."

"I've only known you since this morning, Brin, I can't have been that much of an influence. You did it for yourself."

"But without you I would never have had the strength. I hated being ordered to abduct you because I pitied you, I thought a crippled journalist wasn't worth the effort. But when I met you, I admired the way you faced up to Campbell and Hatton. You showed more courage and determination than I'd ever seen before. But the fear of more reprogramming made me bring you in anyway. They did that to me. I am not letting them destroy you too."

"I have no right to give you orders anyway. If it means that much to you then feel free to stick around. Zack really won't like it, though. He gets pissed enough about Max staying put."

"Zack isn't my commander any more. You are."

"You don't need a commander, Brin. You just need a little help from family and friends. That doesn't come with a hierarchy." He caught the glint of lighted windows through the fence bordering the road. "The house is just around the next corner. Come meet my friends. They can be trusted not to ask too many questions."

"Why is that?" Brin asked, accelerating down the road.

"I've done them a few favours in the past. I arranged for a couple of orphaned children I came across to come live with them, Maria and Jude. Both had rough lives before Chris and Janey adopted them. The kids got a good home, and my friends got the family they'd always wanted."

"You're the proverbial fairy godfather, then?"

"I wouldn't say it was magic, but I do have my moments. See? You do remember how to talk normally."

The car pulled up in front of the house and Logan transferred stiffly into his chair. Just as he was getting settled, a dark-haired man about his age emerged from the front door.

"Logan? What are you doing here? And who's this?"

"Hey, Chris. This is Brin, she's Max's sister. Sorry to drop in on you like this, but it was kind of an emergency. Would it be ok if we crashed here for a couple of days?"

"After everything you've done for us? Of course it's ok. Just tell me no one's trying to kill you this time." Chris took one look at his face and sighed. "You really are good at getting yourself into trouble, Logan. I'll have Janey make up the pull out and we can put the camp bed in Maria's room. Are you being followed?"

"People are looking for us but they're not on our tails. Be best if we could hide the car in the usual place, though."

"No problem, I'll see to it. Janey! Look who's come for a visit!"

"Oh, hi Logan, you must be on the run again. Come on in, your friend too, you look exhausted."

"Thanks," said Logan, popping a small wheelie to get over the front step. Brin cautiously followed him inside. "Actually, the first thing I need is to borrow your phone."

"Go right ahead. You paid for it. Come along, dear," she said to Brin, ushering her towards the kitchen. "I'll heat you some soup, you look starving." Brin looked at Logan.

"It's ok, Brin, we're safe here. You can let me out of your sight, you know."

"All right." Brin warily followed Janey into the kitchen, leaving Logan alone with the phone. He swiftly dialled his cell and waited for it to be picked up. After three rings he heard a voice that could never fail to make him smile.

"Hello?" said Max, sounding worried.

"Hey, you," he replied, unable to resist.

Tell me if you like. I promise the phone conversation is coming next time.