Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars.

Chapter 2: Conversations

"Dude," Dick groaned. "I drugged Ronnie. That's like drugging a fucking Disney Princess."

Logan kicked his legs in the water as Dick processed Veronica's story. He had called the boy partially because he needed a surfing buddy but also because he needed someone to share the burden of guilt with.

"Technically, I drugged Cinderella," Logan corrected.

"Well, if we're getting technical, Maddy did," Dick countered. "Y'know, she probably gave Ronnie a trip to the dentist."

"A what?" Logan asked, already feeling disgusted.

"A trip to the dentist," Dick explained. "It's when she spits in a drink and hands it to someone she doesn't like."

"That's disgusting." He said it but he wasn't sure he meant it. He'd done a lot of really disgusting things to Veronica over the last few months. Dick trying to drug Madison to get her to loosen up in the first place was pretty disgusting too.

"She's disgusting," Dick echoed. "I think I'm going to break up with her."

"Yeah," Logan encouraged without much thought. Sometimes he felt like Dick and Madison deserved each other. But he knew that if push came to shove, Dick would be there for him whereas Madison would much rather stab him in the back. And that's why he was going to ignore the fact that Dick was really just a dick and move on.

The pair sat there watching the waves, both feeling the shared guilt nibbling away at their insides, neither sure what to say or do next. So instead they just surfed.

"Do you think Ronnie hates me?" Dick asked as they walked out of the water an hour later.

Logan glanced at his friend from the corner of his eye. "I'm not really sure if she's mad at you. We haven't really spoken about it."

"Yeah, but, dude," Dick protested. Logan nodded, understanding what wasn't said.

"I'm having lunch with her. You're more than welcome to come with," Logan offered.

"Nah, I'm gonna go find Madison and break up with her," Dick said. Logan smirked. The memory of the last time Dick tried to break up with Madison came to mind. He had texted her. She had deleted it and acted as if nothing happened.

"Gotta make it nice and public this time," Logan agreed. He was glad Dick was sticking to the plan on this one. It was unlikely Veronica would want to have anything to do with Dick as long as he was dating Madison and Logan really didn't want to have to stop being friends with Dick. He'd do it, but there was something about the unintelligent surfer that reminded him of how much worse things could really be.

"Maybe I'll just make out with Caitlin. She's probably an easier lay than Madison anyway," Dick shrugged.

Logan snorted. He might throw the word slut around a bit too generously but everyone knew Caitlin was worthy of that title.

"I'll call you later, bro," Dick said as he veered off toward his car.

Logan mimicked Dick and headed towards his yellow SUV. Once he was sure his board was secured to the roof of his car, Logan unlocked the door and grabbed his ringing phone.

"What's up?" Logan asked. He tucked his phone between his ear and shoulder and began shimmying out of his wetsuit.

"Can we do lunch at the office instead? My dad has me doing all these background checks while he's out on some case and I want to get them done as soon as I can," Veronica confessed.

A tight smile appeared on Logan's face. He hated that Veronica was slowly becoming consumed by her father's work, but he could understand. Her father's detective agency was new and it was the only income they had. Any way Veronica could help, she would. He only wished the Mars family would take money from him. It wasn't charity, even if Veronica and her father thought it was.

"Sure thing, I'll see you in a bit," Logan replied as he struggled to pull his shirt over his head. "But I'm going to stink of ocean."

"Oh good, I love the smell of fish and saltwater at lunchtime," Veronica teased absently.

"Should I bring take out? Lobster perhaps?" he shot back.

"Hm, no, I was thinking I'd like some manicotti. And aren't you allergic? But if you want-oh. Okay. I get it now. Very funny, Chuckles." He laughed, proving her point. "Bring me Italian or else."

"Yes ma'am," Logan barked in response, evoking giggles.

"Hurry, I'm starved," she added before the line went dead. Logan rolled his eyes. If there was ever a reliable thing in the world, it was Veronica Mars's appetite. He still wasn't sure where she put it all.

"So what's this big case your dad is working?" Logan asked. He skimmed the contents of the file that was open on the desk: a bail jumper who had made it to Nevada before Keith Mars had caught him. Veronica had been studying it, and others, all morning, marveling at her father's notes. He was damn good at his job, even if Neptune didn't seem to think so anymore.

"I'm not sure." She picked at the remains of her lunch. "But, well… don't be mad, okay?" she asked. She wasn't sure telling Logan was a good idea. What if he got mad and stormed out? They'd only made up the week before prior.

"I won't be," he assured. She sighed at his leap of faith. She knew he was trying so hard to make up for everything but she didn't want him to make a promise he couldn't keep.

"I think my dad's still working on Lilly's case," Veronica said softly. The last of her appetite dissipated. She got up from her chair and tossed the take out box in the garbage as she waited for Logan's response.

"But... he can't," Logan protested weakly. He legs gave out and he fell back into Veronica's vacated seat.

"But he is. He sees something that Lamb doesn't," Veronica confessed, her heart pounding in her chest.

She watched Logan closely. He stared blankly at the wall in front of him. She was so ready for him to call her a traitor again. She knew the last week was too good to be true. She wasn't sure why she had forgiven him when she knew he couldn't change. Maybe it was the sincerity of his apology or the desperation in his eyes, but it was all a big mistake, she just knew it.

"I trust you and I trust your dad," Logan finally said as he refocused his gaze on Veronica.

Her eyes went wide from the pleasant surprise.

"Oh Logan," Veronica breathed. Her shoulders slumped in relief.

"Never again, Ronica," Logan promised before getting to his feet and pulling the small blonde into a tight hug. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Good," she replied. She wrapped her slender arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest, taking comfort in his strong build and the smell of his cologne. She hated that she was still so insecure in their friendship, but she knew that he understood. It was going to take more than a week to mend their friendship.

Mend, she reminded herself. Not return to what it was. She and Logan would never have what they had before Lilly died, or even what they had in the first few days after Lilly died, before her father had accused Jake Kane of the murder. But that had to be a good thing, right?

A/N: I'm glad you all like this story so much. The overwhelming positive response really makes writing this all the more fun, so keep it up, yeah?

Love and Luck,

Gaby