A/n: A nice quick update. I'd say thanks for your reviews for the last chapter, but when I posted this there weren't any. (Hint hint!)

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Chapter 20: Quid Pro Quo

"Wish you had a bug in there, Sebastian," said Chris, as they waited for Max and Logan to return.

"Actually I do," said Sebastian. "But Logan helped me install it, so he'll have taken precautions."

"Typical Loganesque paranoia," said Jake affectionately. "I'm just glad I don't have to worry about those kind of things any more."

"You might do, after this little incident," warned Chris.

"Who, me? Jake Harding, local school teacher of Nowhere, Oregon? I made very sure my name was off any lists when I left all this behind, Chris. No way will anyone figure out I was involved."

"Wish I were so lucky. My bosses will be tearing their hair out wondering why I took such a sudden vacation."

"Serves you right for going over to the dark side," said Jake. "I mean, the CIA…"

"Hey, you never heard of; "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em?""

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Logan sighed deeply, pulling off his glasses and rubbing his tired eyes. "Ok, Max," he said, looking up, spectacles still in hand. "But if you're going to stick around you're going to have to do things my way."

"I can live with that," Max said, the smile still gracing her features.

"You are not going anywhere near that facility," Logan asserted, pushing his glasses back on. "In fact, when this thing goes down, you're going to be at the cabin manning the anti-trace equipment."

"What part of I'm not leaving you did you not understand, Logan?" Asked Max, going from relieved to pissed off in less than five seconds.

"Someone has to do it, and I'll need the guys here to help me with the hacking."

"You're still trying to protect me, aren't you," she stated.

"This plan is not watertight," Logan said quietly. "It's bad enough I'm putting Sebastian, Jake and Chris at risk, let alone you. And I don't have a great record when it comes to protecting people."

"I don't expect you to protect me, Logan. I've been taking care of myself my whole life."

"I know. That's… why I want to look out for you," he confessed. "Because you've never had someone to watch your back all these years."

Max could only stare at him, not sure she could believe her ears. "Are you sick?" She asked, her voice trembling.

"What?" He said, brow wrinkling in confusion. "No, other than the usual. Why?"

"Because you say I'm only sweet when I'm sick, and that was the sweetest thing I've ever heard."

"Then will you do it?" Logan asked. "For me?"

"Quid pro quo," Max said. "I'll run the anti-trace equipment if you tell me why you hide your past from me."

Logan considered for a moment. "Deal," he said. "Come on. If this is going to work we need to get organized."

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Can you feel the fluff? There's more to come…