A/n: Well, this one was tricky to write, so it took a bit longer than I planned. Nineteen should be up quicker. Did I mention thank you for your reviews?

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Chapter 18: 'Debate'

"What?" Said Max, unable to believe her ears.

"You heard me. I'm going to take down Manticore. Alone, if necessary."

"I'm with you, Logan," said Sebastian, instantly. "They have my son too." Logan looked across at his oldest friend and smiled a little, in gratitude.

"You're both crazy!" Exclaimed Max, interposing herself between the two of them. "Do you have any idea what you're suggesting? I am not letting you do this, Logan."

"And how do you propose to stop me, Max?" He asked, the warmth in his eyes frozen into a cold glitter.

"I'll lay you out before I let you do anything so stupid," she told him, aggressively.

"Really?" He asked, undaunted, still staring up at her with those arctic orbs. "Then go ahead, Max. If that's what you want, knock me out."

She raised a fist, and then hesitated. "I know you can do it; what are you waiting for?" Logan asked.

Still Max didn't move, his icy glare boring into her suddenly doubtful one. An unbearably long moment later, she dropped her gaze, and her hand.

Logan turned away from her, towards Jake and Chris. "What about you guys? You don't have kids in Manticore; no one would think any less of you if you went home."

"But they have our DNA," said Jake. "They could have used it, and if it hadn't been for Sebastian we'd never have known. I'm in, Logan; someone needs to keep an eye on you two."

"Me, too", said Chris. "You're going to need all the help you can get."

"Thanks," said Logan, genuine appreciation in his voice. "Between the four of us we can really hit them where it hurts."

"Make that five," said Max. Logan's gaze snapped back to hers.

"Max, could I have a word in private?" He asked, unlocking his brakes and pushing away from the computer terminal. Wordlessly, she followed him from the room.

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"You are not going to be involved in this mission, Max," said Logan, firmly.

"This is Manticore, Logan; by being alive I'm involved."

"And alive is just what you won't be if this goes sideways," he snapped. "Look… I want you to leave town for a while. Take a road trip, or something…"

"No way! I am not leaving you to take on my own personal hell while I go on vacation!"

"Oh, yeah, that's right; I'm not allowed to do the hard work any more. I'm just the sidekick who digs up information."

"You think I'd let you do this if you could walk?" Max realised she was yelling.

"I am not going to let you get killed or captured on my account."

"Never bothered you before, Mr Save-the-World-by-Tuesday."

"Oh yeah? Sedro Island? Langford prison? The Tanaka conference? The Reds? The wanted posters? Cape Haven? This ringing any bells?"

"Exploding hospital rooms, diving off roofs, blood transfusions, Bronck, killer hoverdrones? Those kinds of bells? I'm not bailing on you, Logan."

"Max…" for the first time, Logan's voice was almost his own. "Please…" He looked up and met her gaze. Max could see the fear and entreaty in his crystal eyes; his walls had fallen, letting her see the Logan she knew, deeply buried but still there.

"I'm not going anywhere," she told him, a smile of relief on her face; Logan had returned to her.

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