Disclaimer: The characters of "Veronica Mars" belong to Rob Thomas, UPN, CW.

Part 4

Walking into the apartment, she wasn't surprised to find herself alone with Backup. She quickly finds the note on the counter from her dad with instructions of no wild shenanigans and to remember to feed Backup. She can't help the smile that forms on her face as Backup bumps into her leg in greeting.

"He acts as if you'd let me forget to feed you."

Backup barks in agreement and trots away minding his own business.

Casting a glance to Backup's bowl she notes that he's good for a while. She briefly considers starting her paper for psychology, but in the end when she pulls her bag towards her she tugs out her laptop and opens up the P.I. site.

Her fingers carefully type in the password and then linger above the keys hesitantly.

She can't justify this because it's not a case.

Nobody has been wronged and it's not as if this is really a last resort.

Her hands drop back to the bag and she digs out her phone scrolling through the list of names until Logan's is lit up. Now her thumb is balanced over the send button as she nibbles her bottom lip in debate.

The sharp ringing of the house phone startles her and she drops her cell.

"Hello?" She gasps as she picks it up.

"Veronica? Are you okay honey?"

The line is filled with static and she barely can make out her dad's concerned words.

"The phone startled me that's all. When's your plane leave?"

"I just got to the airport so not for another hour, just wanted to make sure you were okay. You left pretty early this morning…"

Keith leaves the questions unsaid knowing Veronica wouldn't answer them any way. Veronica doesn't say anything right away as she wonders if the pauses in-between were intentional or the phone breaking up because he was in the airport.

"I'm fine dad just some errands."

She knows he doesn't believe her even if he can't look her in the eyes to spot the lie.

"Listen Veronica, I just want … careful while I …okay. … any major cases and stay …office for a few … a college student …I'm worried about ..."

Now she knows it's a bad connection, but instead of getting Keith to repeat whatever he said Veronica merely tells him she loves him. Besides she thinks she's got the gist of his words. That tone is always used when he's telling her to mind her own business. It's frighteningly familiar to the tone Logan uses when he pleads with her to let him help.

"I gotta go dad. Be careful. I love you."

She hopes he got her message better than she heard his.

The static was loud but his voice came across the line louder and clear, "See you in a few days Veronica. I love you."

Placing the phone back on the wall Veronica goes back to her laptop, stopping along the way to pick up her dropped phone. Logan's name stares back at her as her hand hits a button lighting the screen back up, but suddenly she's drained and the determination that filled her when she left the Neptune Grand is gone and she shuts her phone and snaps her laptop closed. Before sinking into the couch next to Backup and petting him mindlessly.

Snuggling into her hand Veronica can't help but smile at her only companion.

"Wanna go for a walk boy?"

With a bark, Veronica was nodding her head in agreement and rising to get his leash. She pocketed her phone before allowing Backup to drag her out the door and down the stairs.

Deciding it was nice enough and it wouldn't rain on her again she set off for the beach instead of heading to her car. The walk would hopefully tire out Backup and ease her overactive mind. She was glad it was the weekend. And almost ashamed to announce, she was happy that her friends wouldn't be free all weekend to bother her. Wallace had practice and a date lined up, Piz and Parker were going on some type of double date thing, not that she would hang out with either or them by herself. Mac had mumbled something about Dick's new house and work.

After making a mental note to see how Wallace's date went and to talk to Mac about what she saw at the Grand this morning she pushed all thoughts of all people out of her mind. Her focus was solely reserved this weekend for getting ahead on her class work and wrapping up a few simple cases for students.

And with the exception of a few errant thoughts that she had no control over about warm embraces and intense liquid brown stares Veronica had a very successful weekend talking to her father only one more time briefly when his plan had landed in Phoenix before he jumped in a rental.

XXX

Hopping out of the car, Logan grabs his notebook before slamming the door shut. Double-checking they were locked before adjusting the books and heading across the parking lot to the sociology building.

Like most times, he's able to ignore all the people around him until they were little more then fuzzy outlines of people going about their daily life instead of adoring fans of his father or crazed paparazzo's waiting for him to lash out. It was a habit he had gotten into when he was younger and even now when most of the student body really is going about their own routines, Logan couldn't shake the habit.

Few people registered immediately with no effort on his part at all. Lilly had been one of those people, but that comes as no surprise. He has always seen his best friends Duncan and later Dick for different reasons: Duncan's stability and steady hand always reigning Logan in and Dick for his flippant ways and dragging him to the waves. Shockingly, Weevil too made the list; probably because his presence was usually followed by a hit to the gut.

Others he had to train himself to acknowledge. Authorities types for starters, granted some had more of his respect then others. He finds most people he's recognized for the sake of others. For Duncan, Logan didn't let Lilly's hostility towards Celeste completely influence him. For Dick, Beav…Cassidy was tolerated when they hung out. Although now Logan realizes how poorly everyone in that situation behaved. Mac wasn't that hard to pick out from a crowd thanks to her streaky hair and now Dick's babble about the computer chick. Plus, she was Veronica's friend. Her other friend Wallace was another person Logan had to make himself consciously aware of and polite too. Logan had thought they were close to maybe possibly being friends after that sociology experiment last year. Except then he and Veronica broke up and Wallace returned to glaring at him and it was only after their week in Virginia that Wallace seemed semi willing to an almost friendship with him again.

Then there was Veronica herself. Logan knows the reasons have varied greatly since they first met at twelve, but without a doubt Veronica Mars has always been an entity Logan was aware of. She probably always would be at this point. However none of this explained why he has been avoiding her for the past 34 days 19 hours, 38 minutes and several seconds. In fact all of it combined with the deep longing in his bones contradicted his lack of presence in her life for more then a month now.

With a sigh, Logan focuses for the first time on his surroundings and sees the sociology building ahead of him, yet between him and his destination he sees her. She's preoccupied with what he's sure are cases and school work so for once he's able to observe her. For what has to be close to the thousandth time he wonders what her answer would have been to his unasked, but understood nonetheless question. He wonders if he approached her now would she practice her well-honed avoidance tactics or if they'd be able to have a conversation that didn't end in a screaming match. But then he realizes he'd have to answer all her questions and figures it's safer to stay back and hope she doesn't notice.

The decision made Logan slows knowing she'll pass and he can continue on his merry way to class, but then her step falters and he thinks he's been caught, but she's still wavering. Before the thoughts are processed she's falling, but Logan's legs have already carried him over and he secures her with a tight grasp on her elbows.

She yelps at the contact and if there wasn't a trace of terror in her face he could have found it one of the most hilarious things ever because Veronica Mars does not yelp. The terror sends his worry into overdrive and he finds himself scanning her over for injury and the cause of her almost fall.

He notices the untied shoe and the uneven sidewalk and doesn't care if she was scared because by now she's realized it's him and she's probably just pissed off. Yet the knowledge that his Ronnie just tripped on her own shoe has shown what an imperfect human like the rest of them she really is.

"Logan."

Finally making eye contact, Logan somehow manages not to flinch at the daggers she's sending to him as he releases her elbows. He's the fool really, he spent to much time looking her over for an injury he missed the surprised delight, the absolute joy, and the flicker of love that covered her face before she mastered them all and left nothing but the anger.

"You're alive."

Logan wonders if she's really as upset by this as she sounds, almost as if she wished something horrible had happened to him explaining his absence. Checking his watch carelessly he sees he has ten minutes before class and won't be able to sidestep this fight even if they are in a very public setting.

"Yeah, been busy with the new house. I heard Dick mentioned it to you. We've been busy getting it ready for a house warming party."

He's oddly fascinated by the blush the crosses her face and can't for the life of him figure out what he said to cause the reaction. How should he know she's embarrassed that Dick ratted her trip to the Grand out to him?

"Plus there are classes, why don't advisers tell you that piling on eighteen credit hours is a pain in the ass?"

Her mouth is open now as the blush recedes. He shakes his head, "Anyway you looked preoccupied before you tripped and I actually have to get to class so I'll let you get back to it, " he waves his free hand around her head to encompass her thoughts "but you should come by on Friday with the others."

"Others?" She ponders out loud, stupefied by this entire exchange with Logan.

"Wallace and Mac."

Logan steps back as she freezes and the glare returns. He runs a hand through his hair before sighing and looking around. Seeing that no one is paying them any attention he steps back into her space whispering just in case.

"We're not stealing your friends Ronnie. I was always planning on inviting you this Friday. I'm sorry for the whole avoiding thing for the past…" he stops himself before he lists an exact count, positive that it will make him even more pathetic in her eyes, "…month. I really have been busy ask anyone plus…" He stops again and in this pause she steps back so he has to look into her inquisitive eyes instead of beyond her head as he inhales her scent.

"Plus…?"

He gulps remembering every other time he put himself out there for this girl. But then he sees her eyes in his SUV when she promises forever however indirectly she meant, and then in Virginia the intensity of their stares and all the sexual tension. He thinks now of all the unspoken words and he thinks that maybe Duncan and Veronica weren't really the champions at avoidance.

It was really he and Veronica who excelled best at that. Sure they yelled about his less then moral activities and shouted about her trust issues, but for all the quick wit and sarcastic jabs rarely did they discuss the big issues that had formed who they are. Veronica would delicately kiss all his scars late at night while she pretended to think he was asleep, but they never talked about Aaron's abuse. Cassidy was not a name that was ever brought up nor were any issues connected with him, especially Shelly's party. The one time they did talk about the rape she ended up riding off with Weevil. His mother was a whispered topic while her mother was a forbidden one. Her father's disapproval of him wasn't mentioned and she wouldn't listen when he tired to talk about the year after Lilly's death when he was so horrible to her.

Then there was the catalyst of possibly it all, at least their awareness of it all, and the end of any remaining naivety. Lilly Kane. It would hurt to talk about her, but Logan thought that together and with Duncan they could have done it maybe even still could, but both of them knew that they had placed Lilly high on her pedestal.

Lilly Kane was a boisterous girl and if they looked at all those good memories the bad ones would shortly follow and not just the bad memories of her being murdered by his father. Other bad memories like her cheating on him constantly, her shaping of Veronica into her own mini-me, and something only Logan suspecting her of: keeping the reason of Duncan's first break-up a secret. He didn't even know if Veronica knew the reason yet, he didn't, but he assumed she knew to have been with him again.

Bringing up Lilly Kane would point out how unsteady that pedestal is and neither one of them, despite the pain Lilly caused them, wanted her to fall off it. In order to keep the image of Lilly the first love and Lilly the best friend, Lilly became a name so sacred Logan was pretty sure they didn't even dare to think it in the other's presence.

The thoughts swirled in his mind and Logan acknowledged somewhere that he was probably now late for class, but thinking more about his relationship with Veronica and how much they didn't talk he dived right in knowing it would cost him, but willing to give this girl anything.

"Plus, I was scared, scared of what your answer would be more so that even after all this time and everything you wouldn't even have an answer to vocalize. Scared of your unending quest for normal that sometimes rivals your thirst for justice. I was just scared and I don't really do scared so I took a page out of your book and avoided."

Her responding smile was so soft and sincere it made him want to reach up and caress her cheek, but he held back waiting for her to speak.

"You should get to class."

And that ladies and gentlemen is why Logan Echolls spent the past 34 days 19 hours and checking his watching briefly before continuing 57 minutes avoiding Veronica Mars.

"Right." He was solemn as he turned to go, but the tug, now at his elbow, stopped him yet he still refused to turn around.

"We'll talk more on Friday?"

Her tone had that same vulnerable quality to it that it did when she asked him to email her while in Virginia. The head tilt may not work as well with him as with everyone else but that tone could get her her own planet if she wanted, but she so rarely used it on anyone let alone him. The vulnerability was laced with something else, an implication, perhaps, of a real adult conversation. Logan hoped, but didn't have time to linger on clarifying because he had to get to class in case there was a quiz and by some chance he still had two minutes to get there.

Turning and catching her eyes right away, Logan nods in agreement and can't help the soft smile on his lips when her eyes glimmer in response.

XXX

Veronica's encounter with Logan on Tuesday had set off a waterfall of emotions that she had been carefully restraining to not alarm her friends, her father, or her dog. The anger had come in waves and continues to do so, but she's finding it harder each time to hold onto and finds that she really doesn't want to. Not this time. Not over this when all those other things in their life had more validity to keep them apart, but they haven't allowed it. Even if they may have mastered avoiding discussing them. Friday is the next day and for the first time Veronica can't wait to talk about all that stuff-emotions and all.

It is Neptune however and Friday as they planned doesn't work out.

Veronica is once again trying to reach her dad on his cell Thursday afternoon when Logan harshly pulls the chair out next to her and plops himself down. He studies her face intently before letting out a long tired sigh.

Startled by the sudden movement she closes her phone and puts it on the table next to her tray of half eaten food before raising an eyebrow in silent question.

Instead of a verbal answer he pulls a newspaper from his bag and tosses it in front of her.

It's folded in half and partially crumpled but the bold, block letters stare back at her burning her retinas.

SOFTWARE MOGUL BRINGS HOME SON: HEIR TO BILLIONS CLEARED OF CHARGES

"Oh."

The harsh scrapping of a chair being pushed away from the table stops her from reading the article and she looks up at Logan who is getting ready to stand.

"I guess that's it huh?"

His eyes that were darting around settling on her for only a moment, but the absolute finality and sorrow she catches in them combined with his comment stops her heart.

"Logan?"

He looks down at her and she hates how resigned he appears.

"The love of your life just waltzed back into Neptune." He tears his gaze away from her missing the flicker of enlightened fury passing in her blue eyes and when he dares to make eye contact again she's still formulating her response. Logan doesn't want to hear it though, "I hope you and the Donut are very happy together."

In a flash he's gone from the cafeteria and Veronica is left staring after him with her mouth hanging open. To enraged to go after him without smacking him across the head, to shocked at the news itself, to confused that he can know her so well and still completely misunderstand some things, and to distraught at the idea that Logan has given up on them.

She's half way through the article when the chair is moving next to her again. Glancing up hopefully, she's never been more disappointed to see her best friend sitting across from her.

"So you've heard the news?" Wallace asks obviously as he reaches for her forgotten food.

She nods going back to her reading, but then pauses looking up again, "Logan told me."

"Bet that was ugly."

Sighing, she drops the crumpled paper and with it, the steel grip she has had on her emotions wavers.

"He thinks Duncan is the love of my life." Veronica looks up sorrowfully into the understanding stare of her best friend, for a moment not caring how confused and heartbroken she sounds. She's just grateful to have someone like Wallace in her life.

"Boy's an idiot. I've been saying it all along V. "

Veronica offers him a thankful smile, but its more forced then anything causing him to shake his head. "Don't worry, you two will sort it out. You always do, eventually."

"This time feels different. He looked so…" She stops because Wallace doesn't care much about Logan's state of mind nor would he understand her attempts to vocalize it.

"Anyway…I can't get a hold of my dad, haven't talked to him since Friday night when his plane landed. There was a message from him on Tuesday morning at the office, but I was in class and it was super brief. I could hardly tell it was him. He was only supposed to be gone a few days after this bail jumper."

Frowning, Wallace pushes her cold food away from him, "I'm not dismissing this I just want to clarify that in order to avoid the topic of your exes who were best friends, one who you're still in love with the other who just returned from kidnapping his illegitimate child, you're bringing up the idea of your dad disappearing on you?"

Crossing her arms over her chest Veronica nods vehemently.

"I was just checking okay so we'll go with option B missing father, instead of option A returned boyfriend."

"Ex."

"Yeah I know. Trust me." Wallace pauses and Veronica can almost see him switch gears in his mind, "So have you run his cards yet? Talked to the rental company."

She smiles proudly, "Look at you, mama bear has taught you well."

"V, what did I saw about the self induced nicknames?"

Tapping her chin in mock thought Veronica frowns, "I don't remember." Her hand falls away and a glint appears in her eye. Wallace sighs, but there is a trace of humor and expectancy in his eyes as he asks, "What?"

"What? What?" She repeats at him.

"What is it?" Wallace asks amused and resigned.

Blinking at him innocently, "What is what?"

"Fine, forget it." Standing he grabs the tray to toss in the garbage even though it's hers.

"Wallace, I need a favor."

He keeps walking, chuckling as she grabs her phone and catches up to him.

"I really am worried about my dad." He pauses at her soft tone and studies her carefully before nodding seriously.

"Get Mac. Meet me at the office?"

"Sure thing Supafly."

"You really are the best Wallace."

He nods in complete agreement before worry lines take over his face.

"What are you going to do about Duncan V?"

"I'll deal with him later."

TBC.