A/n: Thanks for the reviews, guys. Just in case some of you hadn't worked it out, the movie I was referring to in the last chapter was of course the ultimate hacker flick, The Matrix.

Chapter 26: Homecoming

Logan handed his pass to the cop at the entrance to sector 3. This should be the last chance for anyone to stop them before they reached the safe house. If anything he was surprised by the ease of their re-entry into the city. Lydecker must think I'd have to be crazy to come back here. Good thing he doesn't know about Eyes Only.

"Have a good one," said the cop, eyeing Max and Brin as he handed the pass back.

"Thanks," Logan said curtly, not liking his tone. He drove away and took a few random turns in case they were being followed.

"We're clear, Logan, no tail," said Brin from the back seat.

"Good. We can head for the safe house then. Bling should be there, right, Max?"

"Yeah, he said something about waiting for you to get there so you couldn't talk your way out of doing your exercises."

"Hey, I have just been kidnapped, imprisoned and then escaped from a top-secret military installation. Doesn't that count?" he exclaimed half seriously.

"Not for your ROM, it doesn't. Maybe Bling'd let you skip the weights though, seeing as you're tired."

"Oh, how generous of him," Logan muttered sarcastically.

"It is, isn't it?"

"Who's Bling?" Asked Brin timidly.

"Just my physio. Don't worry, he knows the deal with Manticore."

"How many people have you told?" Brin's voice was incredulous as she turned towards Max.

"Uh, four people know, if that's what you mean. My roommate, Original Cindy, Logan of course, Bling, and Sebastian. All of them can be trusted." There was a long pause while Brin digested this information. Logan broke it as he turned into Alexander Street.

"Anyway, this safe house is fairly big, so you can stay with me for now, Brin. There's no room at Max's place."

"Plus it means I can keep a constant guard in case Lydecker tracks you down." Logan smiled at the obvious concern in her voice.

"Not likely. I've had plenty of practice at hiding. But if it makes you feel better, go ahead." Max cut in with her own worries.

"Lydecker raided your apartment, Logan. What if he found the details of your safe houses?"

"He couldn't have. None are owned under my name, and the only records in the apartment are on the computer. Bling took that out long before the colonel got there."

"He must be wondering how you got so good at this." Logan glanced across and was warmed by the anxiety in Max's dark eyes.

"Let him look at my FBI file; nothing incriminating there at all. I should know, I wrote it. One of my better works of fiction. Don't worry, Lydecker won't get anywhere."

"I hope you're right." She didn't sound too confident.

"Me, too." Logan pulled up outside a dilapidated looking house and tossed Max a set of keys. He decided to lighten the tone a little. "Make yourself useful and unlock the garage, Max?"

"What's in it for me?" she cocked a questioning eyebrow at him. God, I love it when she does that, he thought irrelevantly.

"Lunch cooked by your own private master chef?"

"Deal." She climbed out and opened the door. Logan pulled the Aztec inside with practised ease. The connecting door to the house opened just as he was finishing reassembling his chair.

"At last!" Said Bling, in mock annoyance. "I've been waiting for you all morning. Had to cancel all my appointments again."

"Sorry to put you out, Bling. Next time I'll try to schedule my kidnapping to make it more convenient." Logan replied dryly as he transferred. A broad grin spread across the therapist's face and he slapped Logan firmly on the back.

"Good to see you're your usual sarcastic self, man. I was worried that bump on your head would have scrambled your brain."

"I've had worse, if you remember," Logan smiled back. "Oh, this is Max's sister Brin. She'll be staying with me for a while."

"Hi," said Brin shyly.

"Welcome to the madhouse, Brin," said Bling, holding the door open for Logan to enter.

"Oh, it's not all bad." Max had just finished locking the garage door. "It's the cookhouse too, remember?"

"Later, Max. Right now I need to check the files I copied on the escapees. Then we have to deal with Jonas."

The bantering tone dropped from her voice. "What are you going to do about him? I think I scared him into keeping quiet for now, but it won't last."

"Don't worry; I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse."

"If you need me to deliver the horse's head, you only have to ask. The guy gives me the creeps."

"I don't think that'll be necessary. I'm going to threaten the thing he cares most about."

"His pocket. I knew you had a mean streak in there somewhere."

"Talking of mean… I think there's one more thing you need to do to earn that lunch."

"What?"

"Go pick up Jonas and bring him here. My uncle and I need a little chat."

"Here? That's a security risk and you know it, Logan."

"Not after he hears what I have to say. I know my uncle, Max, he's very… co-operative… when money's involved. It'll be ok."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"All right, then. But it had better be a culinary miracle."

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