Thank you to all who have added me to your favorites or subscribed to my story. I will keep the updates coming as quickly as possible. This is my first story on and let me tell you there is nothing better than getting an email alert about a new reader, a new subscriber or best of all a new review! So please bring a little sunshine to my world. It is very foggy this time of year in San Francisco!

Unfortunately for me Veronica Mars, and her cast of characters do not belong to me, they belong solely to Rob Thomas. If they belonged to me we all would still be spending our Wednesday nights glued to the WB, or whatever the network is called today!

If you take the time to read please take the time to review! This is me begging!!

Again, thoughts in italics!!

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Chapter 6

*********************

Mac was curled up on the couch in their suite playing with her phone. She could tell that since all the missed calls were from Dick that all the voice mails would be too. She wasn't ready to check those yet. She had text messages too. Those were a little trickier, she didn't have to open them, she could scroll through and just open the ones she wanted, but as she flipped through them she could still see the first few words of each. There were so many from Dick, she tried not to look at them but she couldn't really help it.

__________

Dickhead: call me…

_________

Dickhead: I'm sorry…

_________

Dickhead: I'm really not…

_________

Dickhead: Ok im sor…

_________

Dickhead: please dont ha..

________

Dickhead: u r beaut…

________

Dickhead: I'm sorry…

She pushed the down button as fast as she could, finally getting to the end she finds one she can open.

______________

Keith Mars:

----------

On way back to Neptune

Should land by 2

Call ASAP, PRIVATE

------------

Tue, June 20, 12:14pm

Where the hell is Paige, she left almost 2 hours ago to get breakfast. Thank god she had stuff sent up. I don't care what the delivery guy said; she so did not have running clothes on when she left.

Glancing at the finally sleeping Veronica, Mac tried to decide what to do. After Veronica devoured the trays of food that had been delivered, she put the earbuds back in her ears, curled up and fell asleep. She had been snoozing ever since, every once in a while shuddering in her sleep, or letting out a big sigh.

I can't just leave her. I don't want her alone when she wakes up. Paige should be here. Damn it it's 2:10. I could leave her a note. But I really don't want to leave her alone. I could go in the bathroom.

Deciding that was the best option, she jumped up and headed in to the luxurious, spa like area of the suite.

Veronica is right, the whole upgrade thing is fishy. There is no way it is a coincidence. None of us seem to have that kind of luck, especially not lately. I bet Logan, devious bastard that he is, is behind this. Best keep that theory to myself.

Mac paused to take in the plush surroundings, the large open marble shower, the separate even larger matching marble bath that could easily accommodate all three girls at once. The small waterproof cabinet that you could plug your iPod into, to listen to your music through the many perfectly place speakers. Mac headed back into the bedroom and grabbed her music player. Back in the bathroom, she plugged it in, made her selection and turned on the shower. Settling into the large chaise lounge she had one last thought. I have to remember to thank Logan.

"Mac your timing is perfect, we got stuck on the tarmac, I was just now able to turn my phone back on. Is everything there okay?"

"We are fine Mr. Mars. Veronica had a bit of a rough night; I think everything is starting to hit her. She is sleeping now, she was up most of the night. She ate a big breakfast and passed out. She is really worried about Logan, she hasn't really said it but, I can tell. I think she feels responsible, like I said everything is catching up with her."

"I'm glad you're with her Mac. You have been a really good friend. I know how hard it is to keep secrets from my daughter, you are doing terrific. I have some questions for you though. I figure Veronica either told you specifically not to tell me anything, or maybe it's just implied, but this is important Mac. Life and death important. Veronica's life."

"Mr. Mars, I understand, just tell me what you need to know. If I don't know, then I will get it of V somehow."

"Thanks, first let me say, I know about the tape, and I know what was on the hard drive, I just need to know what Veronica did with the information she found. Did she print anything out, or burn any CD's? My understanding is there were sound recordings for each of the members. Does she have them hidden? Did she give copies to anyone?"

"Mr. Mars I am sorry, if I hadn't cracked the firewalls on that drive, none of this would have happened."

"Mac, this is Veronica we are talking about. If you wouldn't have done it she would have found someone else. Maybe someone who wouldn't be so willing to help now. So please, just tell me what you know."

"There were sound files for the last 20 years or so, they had more but the files hadn't been digitally converted yet. The names before that just had brief notes, and a tape number. I did print out one hard copy of the list, I gave it to Veronica. I don't know if she made more copies. Once she had her copy she took off. I printed one more copy of the list and burned the sound files to a DVD. We only listened to the Sorokin confession. After that we knew it would just be more of the same. I should have told you sooner, but Veronica told me she was going to see Jake Kane, she figured once she gave everything back, it would be okay."

"What did you do with your copy of the list and the DVD?"

"I sealed it in an envelope and then mailed it to a friend in San Francisco. I told her not to open it until she heard from me. I didn't tell her this, but I figured that if something happened to me she would give it to her dad, he's a cop."

"That was smart thinking Mac. I am going to need you to call your friend and tell her I need that envelope. Then I need you to find out what Veronica did with her copy. Can you do that for me?"

"Talking to V shouldn't be a problem but there might be a bit of a delay with the envelope. My friend is here, on the cruise with us. I didn't know it when I mailed the letter, but she was already in Neptune to see some family, we hooked up and she came with. I can ask her to call her dad, or you could talk to her brother, have him get a hold of her parents. You know her brother, he's Don Lamb."

"Paige Lamb, I think that should surprise me, but somehow it doesn't. Does Veronica know who she is? I bet that didn't go over so well."

"Actually, she took it surprisingly well, but it could just be she can't deal with it right now, not with all the other stuff floating through her head. If possible I would like to keep Paige out of it, so maybe you could just talk to Lamb?"

"That is probably a good idea, no need to have even more people conspiring against Veronica, even if it is for her own good. Mac thanks again, you have been a huge help. I will be in touch soon, I know you will take good care of Veronica, but try and have some fun too."

Damn, I should have stayed in San Francisco. Maybe Miles can help with this.

********************

"A vodka martini please, Blackwood Distillery vodka… Thank you." Logan flashed a smile to the Virgin Atlantic flight attendant. He decided now was the perfect time to finally give in and dull all his overloaded senses. The sixteen hour flight from Barcelona to LAX gave him plenty of time to drink up and be plenty sober by the time he could be useful again. Pacing around his hotel room, his mind exploding with all the things that could be going wrong back home. He came to the conclusion that his life was really not in any danger, as long as Veronica was still alive he was safe. Gory's goons had made it perfectly clear; Veronica was going to die first. Then Gory would decide which would be worse for Logan. Dying or having to live without her. It's not really even a contest. I wouldn't have a life without her.

Accepting the ice cold drink, Logan took a long drink of the smooth drink. Finishing it quickly he reclined in his large comfortable leather chair, thankful for the ability to make this journey in first class. He closed his eyes and prayed the pricey drink would do its job fast.

**************************

When Paige hung up the phone she was beyond frustrated. Why can't anything ever be easy?

When Don first got shot, she had panicked. She had an overwhelming urge to be there. To help take care of her favorite big brother. He had changed a lot over the last few years. They didn't talk near as much as they used to. Even his being 6 years older hadn't stopped them from being very close. She and Payton were planning on a few quick trips down to see Don over the summer anyway, and Payton completely understood when, after Don was shot, Paige decided head down early, and stay until he was back on his feet, or until school started back up for her.

Why am I thinking about this now, Dammit, what the hell is wrong with Don, when this is over, I am definitely figuring out what is going on with him.

By the time Paige was five all of her other brothers were out of the house, away at college, or already on their own. Her oldest brother even had two kids. But Don was constantly by her side. Never complaining that he had to drag his little sister everywhere he went. Of course it probably helped that Paige's nanny was always ready and willing to drive them where ever he and his friends wanted to go. Not even his group of friends seemed to mind the intrusion of the little girl who worshipped her brother and those around him.

When Don got his license when Paige was 10 it was her he took for the first ride in his new car. He spent hours and hours trying to teach her to throw a ball and trying to help her get over her irrational fear of all things technological. Even when he met Lana while flying kites with Paige after she came home from computer camp things still didn't change. If you were somewhere and one of them was present you could bet the other one was close by. Then it all changed abruptly when she was 12 and Don went away to play baseball for the Southwest Texas Bobcats.

Paige cried herself to sleep for an entire month. His teammates gave him hell but he called her every night and listened to ramble on about the baby next door, or her French homework or whatever else she wanted to tell him. He would listen intently as she read passages of whatever she was writing. Always quick to praise, he only offered constructive criticism when she pleaded. When the baseball season started he sent her tapes of his games and she studied them, helping him perfect his stance and his swing, pointing out inconsistencies with his release point when he pitched. Paige cried again nine months later when, with 3 weeks left in the season Don blew out his knee when he was backing up home plate and some guy came charging into him. She cried because she knew the one thing Don really wanted, a baseball career, was over. But mostly she cried because he was coming home.

Shaking the memories from her head, Paige went to one of the onboard shopping areas, changed in to her purchases and glancing at the time on her phone decided she had time for 2 quick miles around the ship. Running had always helped her to focus, gave her time to sort through the different angles of whatever she was working on.

Things are moving too fast, this was supposed to be simple. When I came across Veronica's name on the list of FBI summer interns I approached Taylor with my idea, he agreed. This is not how this was supposed to happen. Damn!

******************************

Sheriff Keith Mars decided to pick up the dog at the kennel and bring him home before heading back in to work. It was close to five o'clock when he parked his county issued vehicle in the fire lane outside his apartment complex. He walked to the long flight of stairs leading down to the beach and unleashed Backup for some much needed free time. With the afternoon sun still high in the sky, watching his playful dog frolic in and out of the water, seeing the beautiful waves come crashing into the surf, Keith just stood there with a furrowed brow, none of it really registering.

There is something here I am missing. A piece of this puzzle that is eluding me.

On the drive home Keith had called his old college buddy, deciding to have him try to get the DVD from Paige Lamb's father. Mac said he was a cop, Keith reasoned that even with 750,000 residents San Francisco was really a small town. If Miles didn't know Officer? Sargeant? Captain? Lamb, chances are he could track him down with relative ease.

After Backup had completed his business, Keith reattached his leash and they made the steep trek back to their humble home.

Marty, one of his upstairs neighbors was on his way down to the beach when they crossed paths by the laundry room.

"Welcome back Sheriff Mars, I didn't expect you home so soon. I saw you leave yesterday with the suitcase. There was a guy here looking for you earlier. Actually, he might have been looking for Veronica, he never really said. Just kept banging on your door. Finally I threatened to call," Marty paused, noticing even without the uniform Keith's appearance still screamed 'cop'. "Well you, I guess except you were gone."

"Thanks, Marty, did this guy say who he was? Did you get a good look at him?"

"He didn't say anything, I don't think, he maybe mumbled thanks when he left. To be honest Sheriff, he was kind of scary. I know this isn't exactly the nice side of town, but this guy rode up on a big Harley, all dressed in leather, shaved head. He had PCHer written all over him."

"All right, well thanks again for keeping an eye out. Let me know if you see him again, or if you remember anything else."

After a couple of quickly exchanged pleasantries about the weather and the surf, Keith made sure the dog had fresh water, locked up, and headed to the office.

It sounds like the Sorokin's are using the PCHers to do their dirty work. If Eli Navarro were still in charge, this would be easy, there is no way he would carry out any violence against Veronica, Logan maybe, but not Veronica. It didn't escape Keith that the description of their morning visitor sounded vaguely like Weevil, but he let that thought pass through, dismissing it instantly. Weevil no longer rides a bike. He might still have an in with the motorcycle gang, I will give him a call and see what he knows.

As Keith settled into the big leather seat of his cruiser he notices his cell phone sitting on the passenger seat next to him. Now that I am Sheriff I really need to stop doing that. Seeing that he has several missed calls from the 15 minutes or so he was away from the phone, Keith calls Deputy D'Amato directly, not yet trusting the loyalty of Lambs other recriuts.

"Keith, thank god, We've been trying to call you-"

"Okay Leo, I am headed into the office right now. I should be there in 10 minutes."

"Forget the office, all hell is breaking loose, you need to get to Hearst, a student has been murdered."

Fuck, could this be any worse. "Tell me who, and what happened Leo, I won't be there for at least 20."

*******************************

Still in the huge bed, bundled up in the thick, down comforter, Veronica slowly became aware of the loud silence around her. Without looking she knew there was no one in the room with her. She could hear the shower, and the faint sounds of music coming from behind the heavy bathroom door.

Who is in the shower, and why are they listening to music, music while in the tub I get, but in the shower. It must be Mac, Paige already took a shower. Of course the guy who delivered breakfast said something about Paige deciding to skip breakfast and go for a run so if she is back she would probably need to shower again. Who the hell skips breakfast to run? Hmmm breakfast was good, at least she remembered the pancakes, she remembered everything. Even had them send peanut butter, I wonder how she knew I like peanut butter on my pancakes. I wonder when lunch is…

Mac is right I need to leave Neptune in Neptune and just enjoy this cruise. No thinking of Logan, or murders for hire, no mysteries, no thinking of Piz, I wonder what it means that I thought of Logan first. I should get up, it must be lunchtime because I am hungry.

When Mac gets out of the shower we should hit the lunch buffet. I could just call for room service again, I don't need to stick with the free food, not with that $5K credit that came with our upgrade. I really need to figure that out, I wonder who I would talk to, to find out how we were chosen. What is wrong with you Veronica, you just said 'no mysteries' and here you go…

My head hurts, must be those 4 drinks I needed before I had the nerve to get up on stage and sing that song, the double shot after probably didn't help either.

Veronica shot up, her eyes wide, her mouth flying open.

I can't believe I sang and DEDICATED that song to Logan.

**************************

Deputy Leo D'Amato stepped back and surveyed the area around him. Trying to take everything in and make sure he did everything right.

I really screwed up before, but this is my chance to make it right. Sheriff Mars didn't have to give me this chance, but he did and I don't want to make him regret it.

Crime scene tape, check

Potential witness, separated and secure, check

Press pushed back an extra 50 yards, just like Keith prefers, check

Body covered, and tented, check

Leo carefully watched the other deputies tiptoeing around placing markers anywhere they might have found evidence.

This town cannot afford another Sheriff's Department screw up.

This town sure has changed, when I first decided to accept the job offer Neptune seemed like a sleepy little town, sure there had been that one murder the year before, but that was solved. The only things happening here were minor drug offenses, teen drinking, and some shoplifting by what was then a relatively harmless biker gang. Now it seems each week brings about a new body, or serial rapist. Violence is everywhere. Kidnapping, harmless biker gang isn't so harmless; the list goes on and on. Maybe Mars can get this town back on track. He should have an inside track since most of the mayhem seems to revolve around his daughter. Finally, he's here thank god!

************************

Payton felt sick to his stomach as he took the mound. He had never felt this bad during a game. Last year in Triple A Sacramento, playing for the River Cats he pitched with the stomach flu. He had a fever of 101.6, he threw up in the small bathroom just inside the dugout each time his team batted. It hadn't mattered. Payton had pitched 7 innings of shutout baseball that night, only giving up two hits, and striking out 5. Each time Payton made the walk up to the rubber he was able to completely clear his mind of everything except the batter he was facing.

It hadn't always been like that, when he was young, he had been cocky; he knew he had god given talent, and on top of that he had access to the best teachers available. Actual Major League Baseball players and coaches, all ready and willing to help Coach Taylor's very gifted son. So when Payton offered to pitch that warm fall day 6 years ago, his first day hitting the fields in his new city, it never crossed his mind that he would have anything but a stellar day. Sure that one guy, Terry had gotten on base but that wasn't his fault, the first baseman had kicked the ball. Nope that one batter he couldn't help. He easily threw 70 pitches that day and only 2 of them were bad. The first 2 he threw to Don Lamb. He couldn't believe it when Don hadn't swung at the first one, it was pure meat. The second one was better but he was having a really hard time seeing anything but the memory or Paige's wiggling ass. The fact that she was behind him while he made that second pitch, probably checking out his was more than he could take. He was lucky Don only hit a double. Some people may think the pitch he hit Paige with was a bad one, but he knew it hit the target exactly where he wanted it to. No that was definitely a good pitch.

He learned his lesson that day. Nothing gets in his head on game day except the game. He knew better than to rely on his talent alone, he made sure to know everything he could about the opposing team and their batters. He liked to believe he could trust his catcher, but he still liked to have the information just in case he needed it.

But somehow Paige had crawled back into his head. He tried to shake her out, to clear his mind but it wasn't happening. He knew this would be a short outing, and that it was going to be hell on his earned run average.

Where is she, why isn't she returning my calls? She can't know. Can she? There is no way. Beth swears she hasn't talked to her. I waited and waited but she never showed. Why won't anyone tell me where she is? Not even Don, I think she is there but he won't even get on the phone to talk to me. Stupid nurse always says he's sleeping. Bears don't sleep that much in winter. It's not like she has never done this before, taken off, been out of contact for a few days. But she always warns me, at least sends me a text, or shoots out an email saying she's doing research and will be gone for a few days. If there were anything really wrong someone would have told me, if she were hurt, or missing. No, it has to be something else. It was a mistake Paige, a stupid, stupid mistake, just call me so I can tell you about it. I would never hide anything from you baby, couldn't even if I wanted to. Crap, if she knows my life is over.

Dammit, that ball is gone, if I don't fix this, and soon, my career will be over too.

Oakland Tribune

June 21

Wonderboy Payton Turner Falters

Payton Turner, the rookie sensation that GM Billy Bean seems to have placed all his hope in for this year had his first taste of trouble in yesterday's A's loss. Pitching in only his third Major League game, the tall left hander seemed not to be able to concentrate on the game as he gave up 7 runs in the first inning, including 3 homeruns and a double. His signature pickoff move also seemed to be AWOL as two players stole bases. He did seem to have a flicker of control in the second inning when, after some unprintable words were spoken by the opposing team's center fielder, Turner sent a high and tight pitch right into the earflap of the batter's helmet. Both benches were given warnings but it didn't seem to matter. New manager Bob Geren, removed the young pitcher replacing him with…

****************************

Where the hell am I going to find a new Head of Security? Who the hell does Clarence Weidman think he is, telling me he can't help me with another 'personal fiasco'. He is ruined, he won't be able to get a job guarding a Wal-mart by the time I am through with him.

Jake Kane picks up the phone and dials the one person who may still be able to help him.

After several minutes, and a lot of cursing he finally gets through.

"I can't fucking believe how hard you are to get on the phone. Seriously how hard is it to get up off your ass, take the phone and say 'hello'?"

"Jake, what do you want?"

"Have you heard about the murder at Hearst? I need you to find out exactly when it happened."

"The only info I have is the same as you, just what I am seeing on the news. Although in my opinion, CNN usually has more information than FOX NEWS. My housemate however, seems to have a thing for Shepard Smith, and I can't seem to find the remote."

"I really need to know, I ummm, was in the middle of some tricky negotiations with the victim. I need to make sure I have a good strong alibi. I can't be the target of another Keith Mars witch hunt."

"Jake, I," the man on the receiving end of the phone call, swallows the lump forming in his throat. "I don't know if I can help you this time."

"That is not acceptable." Jake is now screaming into the phone. "I still fucking own you. Find out and do it now!" Without waiting for a response Jake pushes the end button.

I need a good old fashioned phone. That would have been so much better had I been able to slam it down.

Jake throws the phone, smiling satisfyingly as it hits the wall, bounces off and shatters into hundreds of pieces when it crashes on to his Italian marble floor.

He doesn't even try to hide the smile as he leaves the privacy of his office, telling his assistant he needs a new phone, his second of the day.

************************

After completing her eighth lap around the ships quarter mile track Paige decided it hadn't been enough. Picking up the pace a little she continues her run. After successfully pushing the thoughts of Don out of her head, she had been concentrating on the upcoming conversation that would have to take place when she got back to the room. Rounding the final turn of her third mile Paige comes to the conclusion that Veronica is too unpredictable for her to plan out the conversation ahead of time. There will be no testing of the water; she is just going to have to jump in, with both feet. That decided she clears her mind completely, picking up the pace even more, she thinks of nothing but the sound of her new Nike's pounding on the soft rubber track.

Wishing she had time for a few more miles Paige slows to a walk when she passed her mile marker. Quickly pulling out her iPhone, she taps 'stop'. Paige had resisted the iPhone for so long, loving the familiarity and ease of her antiquated flip phone, but once she got past her bias, her fear, she came to really appreciate all it could do. She had an 'app' for everything.

Glancing at the phone to see her stats, she smiles approvingly,

iRun

Mile 1--- 7m27s

Mile 2---7m24s

Mile 3---6m42s

Mile 4---5m58s

Totals---4 miles, 27m31s

Congratulations Paige you broke

your personal record of 6m2s

Don't forget to cool down and

stay hydrated!

Nice job, now it is time to really get down to business!

*****************************

Veronica was booting up her laptop when Mac came out of the bathroom. Veronica took in Mac's towel dried hair, and very flushed skin.

"What did you do in there? Make it your mission to see how long until the entire ship was out of hot water?"

"Hey don't get snarky with me, the reason I was in there so long is totally your fault. After you fell asleep I cleaned up all the breakfast stuff, I set it in the hall so they guy wouldn't have to come in to get it, I didn't want to wake you. I tripped over your boot, who brings combat boots on a cruise anyway? I spilled the syrup all over me, it got in my hair and everything, so see it is totally your fault!"

"Umm, you ate half the breakfast, okay maybe not half, but a respectable amount, and my boots were standing neatly by my bed so if they got moved, it wasn't by me, and you could of let the guy in, I wasn't waking for nothing."

"Still your fault. If you put syrup on your pancakes like a normal person, it would have been gone. Therefore, there would have been none for me to spill. See your fault."

"Damn Mac, I think I may be rubbing off on you, with an argument like that, how could I help but just confess to my crimes, I plead guilty to all charges, what's the punishment going to be oh wise one?"

"Not sure yet, I am still examining the extenuating circumstances, sentencing will be later, but I do recommend you remain on your best behavior."

Veronica leans back again, turning her attention to the computer; she clicks on the network button and requests to be connected to the ships Wi-Fi. While the program connects she turns back to Mac.

"I ordered lunch, I know you said we should go out and have fun, I want to I am just not ready yet."

"No pressure V, we are here to relax and renew, if you choose to do that here, in the room that's cool with me." Mac opens her suitcase and grabs clothes, going back to the bathroom to get dressed.

Veronica opens her e-mail. She deletes the few spam that somehow made it through her filter, and checks out an ad from Nikon about a new camera lens. She has three other emails, two from her dad and one from an address she doesn't recognize.

To: Veronica (VMarsMarsInvestigations*com)

From: Dad (KMarsMarsInvestigations*Com)

Mon, Jun 19, 7:47pm

Subject: Missing you

Veronica, Hope you are having fun on your cruise. You haven't fallen overboard have you? Please don't honey because I really miss you, and so does the filing cabinet. I stopped by the office today to pick up some files, sorry I didn't put them back. Feel free to fire me.

I love you.

Dad

---

To: Veronica (VMarsMarsInvestigations*com)

From: (lovesDonutsgmail*com)

Jun 20 12:43am

Subject: Hello from an old friend

Hey V, I am not signing this, but I am trusting that you haven't lost your touch and will know who I am.

I ran into a mutual friend of ours who is also out of the country at the moment. Heard you are having a few difficulties. Would love to help. I am giving you a phone number. It will only be on for the next 2 days from 3-4pm your time. If I don't hear from you by then, I will try one more time.

333

Hmmm I wonder how Logan caught up with Duncan, and what could Duncan possibly do to help…

---

To: Veronica (VMarsMarsInvestigations*com)

From: Dad (KMarsMarsInvestigations*Com)

Tue, Jun 20, 1:10pm

Subject: Still missing you

V,

Just checking in, you haven't replied so I am having visions of Mac trying to throw you a life preserver. Put an old man out of his misery and let me know you still have 2 feet planted firmly on the ship's deck.

Now get off the computer and have fun!!!

Dad

"Hey, Mac?"

"Oh crap. that is your 'I need a favor tone'. Just remember your punishment still is under advisement, so tread carefully here." Mac walks back into the room, now dressed but still sporting a towel on her head.

"It's just an eentsy weensie favor, it's not like I am asking for a pony or anything. I got an email from my dad. I want to send him a text, but my phone won't work out here, may I pretty please use yours?" Veronica puffs her bottom lip out and tilts her head. "Pretty please with soy ice cream and a cherry on top?"

"Sure, let me just get it for you." Mac goes back in the bathroom and retrieves her phone from her toiletry bag. Walking out to Veronica she starts to hand it to her and then pulls back at the last second.

"V- Do you think you could just send him an email back or something. I uhh, you see there's.. ummm."Mac starts chewing on her bottom lip.

"Cindy Mackenzie, have you been sexting with Mr. Casablancas?" Mac's eyes grow huge. "You have, you little hussy."

"No Veronica." Mac dissolves onto the bed. "He sent me a bunch, I haven't even opened them, there are a ton of voice mails too. I just, I … I don't know what to say."

"Are you thinking you maybe like Dick?"

"I don't know, when I think about it I think the idea is preposterous. But then I remember back in his hotel room, and even on the beach, my stomach starts doing flips just thinking about him touching me. My head says run, that any sort of relationship with Dick would be, I don't know, a recipe for disaster. Who am I kidding, Dick doesn't have relationships, he just has sex. Lots and lots of sex. He keeps apologizing, saying he's changed." Mac sighs heavily, pushing her head even further back into her pillow, her arms crossed over her face, hiding her eyes.

"Maybe he has changed."Mac sits up and cocks an eyebrow at Veronica "Okay, I can't believe those words came out of my mouth either. But Mac, people do change. I changed. Before Lilly died I was all My Little Pony, and on Pep Squad. But then my world flipped upside down and I had to adapt. Maybe Dick is doing the same thing."

Mac sits and ponders this for a minute, absentmindedly she reaches up and starts fiddling with the pendant on her necklace.

"I don't know, maybe. I just don't know if I want to be the rat in Dick's relationship lab. Can we not talk about this for a while. Relax and renew, remember?"

**********************

Paige arrived back at the suite, just as lunch was being delivered. She opened the door and ushered in the room service attendant pushing a very large, very full cart. She signed the receipt, including a very generous tip. The delivery guy thanked her and left.

Paige eyes the food, slowly taking it all in, lifting a few of the lids to see what delicacies they are hiding.

"MMmm, everything smells so good, pasta, sandwiches, French fries." Paige breathes in deeply pulling in the competing aromas. Then looks specifically at Veronica. "Is there enough for me too, or should I call and place another order?"

Mac pipes in before Veronica can reply. "Hello? You ran out for breakfast like four hours ago, care to share where you've been,"

"Yeah sorry about that, it just happened. I went to the dining room, there was a smoothie bar, so I got a protein shake. While I was waiting for it I started talking to these guys. They recognized me from last night. They were very impressed with our singing evidently. They invited me to eat with them, I thought what the hell. There was a group of three of them. They mentioned getting together tomorrow for the excursion into Mazatlan, I told them we all had boyfriends, that we were here for a girls week, so much for your plan Mac. After I realized I had eaten three helpings of French toast, not to mention bacon and eggs, and a muffin, I decided I should go for a run, maybe hit the onboard gym, it's totally lame though, don't waste your time. I bought some shoes at one of the shops, serious price gouging happening there by the way. Then I went to the outdoor track on the Sports Deck."

"That took over four hours, that must have been a lot of bacon." Mac questions.

"When I got to the track, I sat down to program the iRun application on my phone. I noticed there were some emails I needed to take care of and I made a phone call, I will tell you all about it later, now seriously Veronica, do I need to order more food or can you share?"

Veronica doesn't reply, just looks incredulously back at her.

Paige flashes a huge smile "What? I've seen you eat."

Veronica smiles back. "I've seen you eat too, and maybe you should order more."

"Seriously you two, where do you put it?" Mac pouts.

Mac and Paige both laugh, while Mac continues to pout.

"I've told you a million times Mac, I just have a fast metabolism. It isn't anything I do."

"I on the other hand did not receive that blessing, I have to jog my ass off, literally. I knew I should have asked the wizard for hollow legs."

Veronica flies up off her bed. "What, what did you just say?"

"Umm, I said that." Paige speaks very slowly, enunciating every word very carefully. "I do NOT have a naturally fast metabolism, so I have to run, or participate in other calorie burning exercises to make sure my thighs still fit in my skinny jeans. Are you okay Veronica, you are looking a little pale?"

"V, what's going on, you're making me nervous."Mac looks very concerned, again reaching up, sliding her pendant back and forth along its chain.

"No, the other thing, about asking the wizard." Veronica looks visibly shaken.

"That I should of asked the Wizard for hollow legs? It's a joke, more an expression now, you know hollow legs, somewhere for all the food I eat to go. Veronica what's wrong. Why is this so upsetting to you?"

"That 'expression' is one your brother uses, and not jokingly either." Veronica hisses. "I've heard him use it, and so have some other friends. My friend Wallace was robbed by a biker gang at the store where he worked. Your brother," each time Veronica mentions 'your brother' she sounds especially hateful, "asked him to identify the culprit in front of the whole gang. When Wallace backed down, your brother told him he needed to "ask the wizard for some guts."

"Veronica I am sorry. When I was a kid I loved the Wizard of Oz. I started using the expression all the time. Don used to tease me about it, sometimes he still does. It was never meant to be used maliciously.

"I know you hate my brother. I know he has been a total ass to you and your dad. He has told me that much himself, I don't know why. He wasn't always like that. He used to be totally normal. He was fun, and caring, he would do anything for me, or for any of his friends. He was a great friend to a lot of people. He was someone who you really wanted by your side if there was trouble. And I know he's changed." Paige had more she wanted to say but Veronica interrupted her.

"You are not telling me anything I don't already know. When my dad was Sheriff and Lamb was his deputy, he was great. He used to stop by to help my mom and me if dad had to work late. Taking out the trash, walking Backup, helping me with algebra. That doesn't make it better, it makes it worse. Makes his betrayal so much harder to understand. I don't know why I cared so much; he was just one of like a million people that abandoned us after Lilly Kane died."

"Veronica, I am sorry. I am not apologizing for Don, I am sorry that you had to go through any of it. I am not making excuses for him but Don had a couple of really rough years Veronica, you don't know anything about it, you may be all bad ass, and able to get most people to fall for your puppy dog eyes, to get them to open up and share their dark hidden past, but as good as you are at getting it out, Don is better at keeping it in."

Veronica cuts her off again, practically screaming, "'a couple of rough years', 'a couple of rough years'? I got raped! I was 16, when I reported it to the Sheriff, your brother, he told me ask the wizard for a backbone. He didn't even believe me." Veronica collapses back onto her bed, emotionally exhausted.

"Veronica, I don't know what to say. There probably isn't anything I can say. My brother was an ass. I think after Don got to Neptune, after Lilly died, something else happened. Something specifically with Don. I don't know what it was, but I promise I will find out what the happened and I can't promise to fix whatever it was but I sure am going to try." Paige sits down in a chair close to Veronica's bed and begins taking off her shoes. She is still sweaty from her run, her hair is poking out of her ponytail wild around her face, her face is flushed. "I am going to take a shower. Veronica, I am really sorry, if there was anything I could say or do, I would, in heartbeat. When I get out we need to talk some more okay, not about this, but about something else." Paige's eyes jump from Veronica to Mac, and back again. "You guys will still be here right?"

Veronica and Mac exchange glances, they both look back to Paige and nod.

"I'll try to hurry." Paige walks to the bathroom and then turns back to Veronica. "Veronica, I really am sorry, nobody should ever have anything like that happen to them. I know it's especially difficult when someone you trust turns out not to be who you think they are."

Veronica sits back up, her thoughts calculating. "Paige, you mentioned you made a call on the ship, so you must have a better plan than me, mine only works on land, land in the greater L.A. area. My dad sent a rather worrisome email, I would like to call him, could I use your phone?"

Without hesitating Paige heads back to the chair, picking up the phone she hands it to Veronica. "Sure no problem, it should be unlocked, but if not the code is *0809#."

"I kind of need to make another call too, if that's okay?"

"Go for it, trust me, you using all my minutes is the least of my worries right now."

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Okay so I really wanted to get into Veronica's call with Duncan and the conversation with Paige, but the conversation about Don Lamb took on a life of its own, so… Chapter 7 should be up Saturday, maybe earlier if I continue to not sleep or eat, or work, actually working at work is highly overrated!

A special shout out to isdonisgood, for motivating me to stay up and get this chapter posted… Okay motivation, threat it's all really the same right?

Please review, I do not have a beta so all mistakes are mine and mine alone, however if you would offer some constructive criticism then I could blame you so please…