A/N –Has anyone else had a problem seeing comments? I know y'all are posting but the website won't let me read them, so apologies for not responding to anything for the last several days. Hope you are still enjoying! The characters you know and love aren't mine – but you knew that.

Chapter 12

She couldn't imagine not having Logan back in her life, and if it meant giving up the FBI, she was willing to make peace with that.

It was midnight, and Veronica still couldn't sleep. The Thin Man DVDs had come to an end and she was contemplating the old standbys of The Big Lebowski or The South Park Movie. Her cell phone vibrated with an incoming text message. Flicking the screen to life, she was greeted with a photo of Ethan sandwiched between two drag queens in a can-can line. She burst out laughing. Jay's message made her smile, wish you were here, you should see what they do when I put down the camera. She typed back, put it down man, go live a little…see you soon.

Standing up she stretched feeling her shoulders pop and her spine lengthen. To Wong Foo it is then. On her way back to the sofa, Veronica grabbed her laptop. Curiosity is a harsh mistress, but I have waited long enough, who are you Angelica Carnathan?

By the end of the movie, Veronica had more questions than answers. One, how did Wesley Snipes have better legs than she did. Not fair! And two, why did she not know Celeste Kane had a little sister?

~~~Across town~~~

The team reached bingo above a dark mountain range far from the Vegas lights, and Step gave the order to turn around. This wasn't precision acrobatic flight practice for the airshow circuits. The night flights were an important, albeit dangerous, training exercise to keep them sharp for when they returned back to active duty.

Logan eased up on the controls for a moment and filled his lungs, they were about to do a high-G turn, maybe 8 – 8.5 Gs. The maneuver practiced for dogfights was employed to point them back east towards the base. Even when he was expecting it, he still was surprised by the pressure, holding him in place, even as he cut through the air. He was glad for the G suit, standard issue for Thunderbirds, but not Blue Angels.

He liked the F-16, it was just different enough from the Super Hornet that he was use to flying and the F35-C Lightning that he got a taste of right before coming to Nellis that is kept him on his toes. The Viper's cockpit was snugger than his Hornet's, and reminded him that he was not a small man, and the gauges for the fly-by-wire system were old fashion compared to the HUD. The machine was a beast though, all power and precision control.

Flying, no matter the jet, made him feel almost as alive as he did when he was inside Veronica. Strapped into the seat, the plane was an extension of him. The controls responsive to his slightest touch, the wings picking up the slightest current in the air and sending the vibrations through him. Aside from calling bingo, Step was running this exercise silent, and almost dark. The team expected to keep their positions and remain in formation. Logan stayed in the right tip of the diamond, and let himself enjoy the feeling of being in a well-run team. From their position 40,000 feet up, they could see lights from Los Angeles to Phoenix and all points in between. It was beautiful and as he began his descent, he thought he would be sad to give it up, but if that's what it took, he would do it.

As the visiting pilot he landed first, night landings were never easy, but compared to the difficultly of landing on a pitching deck of a carrier it was cake. The biggest mental adjustment he had to make was the angle of attack bracket, it was exactly backward from what he was trained on. The ground crew efficiently got him and the jet off the runway as the rest of the team landed in steady progression. Even when not doing demonstration flights, Step had a system and everyone followed it. Some of the NCO's joked behind his back that Step wasn't short for Red Headed Step Child but for Step To It.

Step held him back after the debriefing finished, the rest of the team scattering to get home and to bed. Logan poured another cup of coffee and sat back down. "Good job out there tonight Bard, your turns were tight."

Logan nodded his head at the praise and smiled. Step continued, "You are officially just here as part of an Air Force-Navy exchange tour. Technically, the training we have been doing has not been official Thunderbird operations, it goes to our standard readiness requirements rather than playing to air show crowds. But how do you like the Viper?"

"They are both amazing machines. I think they are designed for different situations." Logan's eyes twinkled as he sought to make a diplomatic answer, "For example, I wouldn't want to land a Viper on a carrier."

Step laughed, "Well, you could once."

"Just once," Logan agreed, "but the Viper's speed is amazing. And its relative stealth, well, it's like the difference between a finely tuned crotch rocket and a Harley."

Step grinned, "Nicely put. You have another 4-weeks left on this exchange, and I understand that your contract is almost up with the Navy." Logan nodded again, and waited for the pitch. He had been expecting it at some point, based on what his C.O. had told him before he left the carrier. "I know you didn't apply for my team, hell you're Navy, not even eligible to apply. Yet, you have been pre-screened, and strongly recommended. Normally candidates will get brought in and run through interviews before the final selection is made. You have already meet everyone though and basically gone through an informal interview process with the crew. If you want to switch over a position is yours. It is a three year commitment. The first year is spent in training, the next two on the circuit." His eyes narrowed at Logan, "You know I don't give a shit about your name, but being part of a demonstration team, flying isn't everything. You will be placed front and center when we travel at schools and outreach opportunities. It is expected that you smile for pictures, give lectures, and be a model of all American heroism."

Logan felt his stomach clinch at that. He knew what Step was telling him was what was expected of any pilot in the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels. It wasn't a special requirement because of who he was, but because of who he was, there would be more attention. One of the things Logan loved best about being in the military was the relative anonymity. Lieutenant Echolls had planned on being a regular swabbie when he enlisted. When he got tapped for Seal training, he relished the prospect. He had pushed his body to new limits and had been amazed at the peace it brought him. No one cared about who he had been, it was all about who he was as part of the team. He had been devastated when he scrubbed out.

When he had been given the opportunity to go to flight school he jumped on it. The new challenges suited his agile mind, and he had found his niche in the Navy. He was Bard, and people judged him for himself, not for who his parents were, or what he had done as a stupid teenager. Aside from the brush with the tabloids over Carrie Bishop a few years ago, and Vinnie's appearance over the weekend, Logan had been flying under the press radar, and he liked it that way.

Step had been watching his face closely. "You don't have to decide today Bard. I have three spots I need to fill. Right now the other candidates are being screened. The interview process doesn't even officially start until next month. Just think about it, talk to that new wife of yours. But just know the offer is on the table, and it will give you a home in Vegas, flying, for at least the next three years."

Logan stood, he offered his hand to Step. "Thank you sir, I really do appreciate the offer."

Step grinned and shook Logan's hand. "Save the sir for in public Bard. We like you here. Now go home and get some rest. The rest of the week is classroom, we won't be flying again until Tuesday." Step left the small conference room, leaving Logan contemplating his now cold cup of coffee.

~~~LoVe~~~

Logan stopped for donuts on the way home. He figured a box of hot sugar might go a long way to sweetening Veronica's mood if he woke her up when getting home. He frowned as he walked towards the front door. Light was glowing softly from behind the blinds, and he could hear the soft sound of the television playing.

He paused with his hand on the door knob. "What you represent to them is freedom."

"What the hell is wrong with freedom? That's what it's all about."

Logan smiled, Easy Rider was on, maybe he would sit and watch some while Veronica slept. Opening the door, he was surprised. Veronica was sitting on the sofa wrapped in fuzzy blankets, her laptop balanced on a pillow. She was surrounded by ice cream bowls, bags of chips, and scattered coffee mugs. Her hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, and it was obvious she hadn't slept at all last night.

"No, it makes 'em dangerous." Veronica quoted along with the movie, her eyes locked on Logan's. He smiled.

"Morning Bobcat." Logan closed and locked the door behind him. He sat the donuts on the kitchen bar and bent over to remove his boots. Veronica came up behind him, her thin arms circling his waist. He turned around and captured her lips in a kiss that broke as he started laughing. Veronica had pushed up against him in a delicious fashion driving him back against the bar, her arm behind him reaching for the donut box. Her prize in hand, she stepped out of his grasp and took a large bite of the sugar coated confection.

She moaned in delight. "Still hot!" Logan leaned forward, and licked at the sheen of sugar on her lips. She gasped, and he took the opportunity to claim her mouth, his tongue on hers. He wrapped his arms around her and spun, setting her on top of the counter. He freed her lips, letting her continue to enjoy to hot donut. Which she did, all the while her eyes locked on his. He groaned.

"I should be asking you why you are up, and telling you to go to sleep. But when you do that, I find myself incredibly jealous of a crueler." Logan pushed up her shirt and placed hungry kisses on the skin of her hip, her stomach, tugging at the yoga pants, he kissed lower. He was rewarded by her low moan, and he smiled.