I enjoyed a nice, refreshing and slightly cold shower, taking extra care of the bruise on my head caused by the surfboard. Leaving the bathroom, I was relieved to not hear knocking on my door. I just didn't want to deal with anyone right now. My relief was short lived as I realized that someone was singing outside my front door. Singing badly and loud.

I opened my door to peer down at Dick as he caterwauled about not wanting a scrub. I nudged him with my foot to get his attention so he would stop singing. Well, maybe nudged isn't the correct word to use as I did it so hard that he fell over. Whoops!

Dick scrambled to his feet. "What's up Ronnie?" he asked nonchalantly while brushing his hair out of his eyes. I found myself staring at him nonplussed.

"Dick, why are you here? And how do you even know where I live?"

"Logan called and said you were all by yourself. He was really worried about you 'cuz he blames himself for your accident. He said that you wouldn't have gotten hurt if we hadn't pissed you off."

"Well, he is not wrong. It was definitely more your fault than Caseys. I cannot believe that you punched him. What were you thinking?" Dick has the good grace to look ashamed.

"Dude, it was definitely a heat of the moment type thing. We were feeling all emotional because you were hurt and Casey's face just got in the way of those emotions. I totally apologized to him after sharing with him the information that you should not be allowed on a surfboard for your and everyone else's safety. I still see spots from the last time we tried to teach you to surf. Anyways, we are both sorry which is why I brought like four different kinds of Italian food. Nothing says sorry to Veronica Mars like carb overload." Dick informs me as he brushes by me and starts unloading bags onto the counter.

"Sure Dick, come on in. Be my guest." I follow him in, confused and exasperated. It does seem to be a constant state of being if you spend any time around Dick. "So how did Logan know that I was here alone?" I know that he is no longer out by the pool. I checked. Frequently. Just in case.

"Well, I'm not saying that he has gone all Rear Window stalking of you but I will say don't look out of your window. Unless your naked. Then call me first." He winks at me. Perv.

"Ok, so that explains why you are here. Now please tell me why you think I will let you stay here? Because I am drawing a blank on why you would think that will be a good idea."

"Well, that's easy. You have two choices. One, I leave and you get the lovely Logan Echolls showing up at your door, all broody and grim. Or you can have me, Italian food and nonstop gameage." He pulls out a gaming system from one of the bags and holds it up for me to see. "So what's your pick? Angry dialogue with Logan or brainless fun with me?"

Well, when he puts it that way, do I really have a choice? I sigh and grab one of the containers of food as Dick grins at me and follows me to the couch. I silently watch him set up the system. What other option did I have? Call the Sheriff's department and have them mock me for having an unwanted Dick bothering me? Call Eli and have him beat the crap out of Dick? I sigh again.

We were both so engrossed in our game sometime later that neither one of us heard my dad come home until he clapped us both on the shoulder and said, "Honey, I'm home." I am ashamed to say that we both screamed in terror as we threw our controllers away from us. Dick screamed louder though. We were so loud that we disturbed Backup who came over to growl at Dick. Dad just silently watched us.

"Sweetie, what have I said about having strange Dicks in the house?" my father asks me, eyeing Dick who is staring at dad wide-eyed from the floor. Dick always was a little scared of my dad.

"Ummmm, not to?" I reply back.

"Right. So why have I come home to find my only daughter all alone with Dick in our living room?" I could understand his confusion. The last he knew, me and Dick were definitely not on speaking terms. Though to be fair, we hadn't really spoken much today except to yell directions at each other when we needed help in our game.

"Well, I thought that the rules had changed." At my response, my dad gives me a questioning look. "Because when you originally made the rule you were a sheriff and now you are a private dick." I smile sweetly at him which apparently has no affect on him.

Dad raises his eyebrow at me. "Veronica, are you calling your father strange?"

"Well, if the gum shoe fits…" I let my sentence trail off as I shrug at him.

"Well, say goodnight to your little friend, Veronica. We need to have a little father daughter chat. Dick, I trust you remember where the door is?" Dad turns his attention to Dick who immediately begins to pack up. It is a little comical how Dick only gets silent when my dad is around.

I walk Dick to the door and say quietly, "Thanks for today. And tell Logan that my dad is home so he is free to stalk some other poor unsuspecting girl."

"I will tell him but don't be surprised to see him around. I think he has found a new hobby."

"Well, just remind him that my dad owns a gun and would love the extra target practice." Dick just shrugs and walks away, knowing that Logan will do whatever he wants to do.

This has been the most surreal few days ending with my hanging out with Dick for several hours. I don't think that I have spent a day alone with Dick since we were little kids. It was surprisingly not as painful an experience as I thought it would be.

"Veronica," my father called out in a serious voice. I sigh and close the door. Speaking of painful experiences. Sounds like it is lecture time.

"Care to tell me why I was under the false impression that my daughter was safe and sound in her apartment? I mean, if my daughter was hurt, I would assume that my intelligent daughter would immediately notify me, her loving father, so that I could come home to take care of her."

"Dad, I had it handled. I didn't want you to worry. It is just a concussion. I have had someone looking after me and I have followed all of the doctors orders."

"So Logan Echolls informed when when he called me last night to make sure that I was aware of the situation. He thought it was in your best interest that I knew you were hurt and that Eli was taking care of you."

My eyes widen. Logan had called my dad? "So are you more angry that I didn't call you or that Logan did?" I question him.

"Damn it Veronica. This isn't a joke. You were hurt. I am your father. It is my job to take care of you and I can't do that if you don't tell me when things like this happen." I can see the worry written all over my father's face. I know that hearing that I was hurt when he was unable to do anything to help me probably made him panic.

"I'm sorry. I knew that you were close to catching your guy and I didn't want to disturb you."

Dad hugs me and kisses my forehead. "Sweetheart, you are a teenage girl. Everything you do disturbs me." He grunts when I elbow him in the side.

I spend the next few days either on the couch resting or answering the phones at my dad's office. He acted like he was afraid to let me out of his sight. Between his constant smothering and spotting Logan's car around my neighborhood at random intervals, I began to go a little stir crazy.

Mac finally got home from her camping trip and helped me make my great escape. "It all has to go" I inform her when she walked into my dad's office. I see her look of confusion and explain, "My hair. I am in desperate need of a cut and to leave my dads side before I commit patricide."

"I heard that!" my dad calls from his office.

I start gathering up my things from the reception desk as I call back, "Forewarned, forearmed grasshopper."

Mac laughs at us. I think she envies our close relationship. She is welcome to come hang out with him for a few days if only to take some of his attention away from watching me.

"So why the urgent need for a haircut?" Mac asks as we make our way to a nearby salon.

"Well, for one thing, I will take any excuse to get away from my dad. We have been joined at the him since my accident. I think he feels guilty for not being there to take care of me. It is also just something that I have been wanting to do for a while but I was talked out of doing it. It is time."

Lily used to threaten me whenever I brought up wanting to cut my hair. She thought our long blonde hair made us look like sisters and me cutting my hair would be like destroying our sisterhood. Lily always did have a flair for the dramatic.

Apparently, my hairdresser also had a thing for the dramatic. I think he cried a little as he began to snip off locks of my hair. He kept muttering about what a waste. He was somewhat appeased when I said that I would like the hair to be donated.

As the inches came off, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. This was another important step in figuring out who I was instead of who everyone else wanted me to be.