A/N: This section was really hard to write for some reason...so, I'd really like comments. Also, it's a lot longer than normal because I couldn't break it up. I'm not sure if I like it or not. Thanks for all of your comments so far, they make me sooo happy.

Oh, and there's EXTREME language in this one. I toiled over keeping it or not, but it seemed right, so I did.

slightly edited to fix typographical and date errors

"Veronica, are you sure you wouldn't rather skip to Mexico? Or maybe I could go get that root canal I've been thinking about?" He asked, desperately, trying for it to sound funny instead of terrified.

"Logan? Man up. Don't be such a chicken." She chided. She watched as he was tossing things around the back of the Escalade. "What are you looking for anyway?"

"I could have sworn I left a bullet proof vest in here."

"Very funny." She grabbed one of the belt loops on his jeans and pulled him backwards to her. He turned to face her with raised eyebrows. With her free hand, she wagged her index finger at him, indicating she wanted him to come closer. She cocked her head at exactly the angle that made her completely irresistible. He rubbed his neck to disguise the fact that he was scanning the parking lot for any unwanted attention. When he found no signs anyone spying on them, he leaned down so that his face was only millimeters away from hers. She made like she was about to kiss him, then started to whisper, "Don't worry, Babe. The hospital is about six minutes away. I can get you there in three." She attempted to pull away from him, but he had already pulled her closer to his body, his strong hands, firm on her hips.

"Tease." He said, gruffly into the spot on her neck that made her knees go weak. He let her go and turned to grab a black leather messenger bag and swung the strap over his shoulder. He shut the back door and leaned against it, eyeing her appraisingly. He crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"What are you doing?" She quizzed.

"Awaiting instructions."

"What?"

"Every other time I was invited to dine with you and your dad, you gave me a list of acceptable conversation topics, or forbidden phrases, or approved physical gestures. So, how am I to behave?"

"Logan." She chastised.

"I'm serious. Do you want me to be the boyfriend who's pissed off at him for the way he's treating you? Or, I could play the apathetic FBI agent who could care less about this familial drama. AM I even your boyfriend or is this a big secret?" He TRIED not to sound bitter.

"I'm just in the mood for Logan." She sighed. She stretched up and kissed him reassuringly. They both stood up away from the Escalade and faced the restaurant. Veronica held her right hand out daringly and looked up at him expectantly. He looked down at her in confusion, but gently took her hand. She squeezed it the same way he had squeezed hers when they moved into his Un-Birthday party all those years ago. He smiled at the thought.

"My firing squad awaits." Logan charged and they moved toward the restaurant. Keith was waiting at a table in the back room where they could have a conversation away from random listeners. Upon seeing Logan, his face first fell, then twisted in anger, then returned to his stoic poker face.

"Good morning!" Veronica spouted cheerfully. "Sleep well?" She scooted into the middle of the booth, once she'd let go of Logan's hand. He sat down next to her gingerly, examining Keith's expression.

"Still brown-haired Veronica." Keith acknowledged. "I see you've brought Logan to our father-daughter breakfast." Logan paled at his chilly reception. He looked to Veronica.

"Right. Well, Dad, I wanted to be sure I let you know that Logan is now my boyfriend. It's a new development, and I wouldn't want to keep you in the dark or anything." Keith's jaw clenched as he stared at his daughter. He tried to remind himself that she was entirely justified at lashing out. Logan let out the breath he was holding. Sure, he was mad at Keith for the way he'd been treating her, but it didn't feel good to be the weapon she used to hit back with. He gave her a cautionary glance. She could see he wasn't pleased to become a pawn.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be using Logan to express my anger." She reached over and placed her hand on his thigh in apology. Two sets of eyes widened in surprise at her apology and stared at her. Logan placed his hand on hers as an acceptance.

"So, why'd you bring him?" Keith was still hurt that she was avoiding being alone with him. They were Keith and Veronica. They'd been to hell and back at least twice. She was his little girl. His stubborn, headstrong unwilling to listen to reason little girl. He immediately remembered the day it'd all gone wrong.

"Veronica, what do you mean you want me to go see her?!"

"Dad, she really is doing better!"

"This is the woman who abandoned you. Then, she took your college money, then stole fifty thousand dollars and wasted it all away on booze and drugs. How can you possibly consider seeing her? And why in the hell do you think I would ever consider seeing her again?"

"She's Mom." Veronica explained. "I would never give up on her. Just like if it was you. I would NEVER give up on you. Can't you understand that?"

"Lianne and I will never get back together."

"I didn't say I wanted you to. I just said it might be nice if you came with me to visit her."

"How did you even find her?"

"I was in the hospital overnight after I got a mild concussion during an altercation. I bumped into her in the hallway when she was going to visit a friend."

"Concussion?!" He grimaced. "You spent a night in the hospital? What happened?"

"It was just a precaution. I was fine."

"Veronica! That's your fourth injury! You've only been an agent for a year!"

Keith knew he shouldn't have picked that FBI fight. It was what she'd worked her whole life for. How could he expect her to give it up? But he needed to get her off the Lianne subject. Then suddenly he'd demanded she quit. No wonder your daughter is sitting here seething in anger, Keith. How many more ways can you insult her?

"I needed him to be here." He looked at her face and knew that this was all he would get. It broke his heart that the wall she built around herself now blocked him out. Seeing what everyone else had seen all those years nauseated him. He finally understood what they meant about her being closed off to the world. When he could no longer take looking at her, he chanced a glance at Logan. Logan was watching Veronica with such love and tenderness that bile rose in his throat. Then Logan caught Keith's glance. Keith could see the wave of pity in his eyes. How horrible am I that Logan Echolls pities me? Damn it.

"So. Tell me about the abduction. I am your father. Fifth Amendment rights do not exist."

Veronica flipped her hand and laced her fingers with Logan's. He looked at her for permission and she nodded timidly. He took a deep breath and pulled a file out of the bag next to him. She looked at it and realized why her file hadn't mentioned the abduction. It obviously had its own file.

"Do you want me to talk to him alone, or do you want to stay?" Logan asked her sweetly, knowing her answer, but giving her the option anyway.

"I'll stay." She nodded, but her voice cracked a little.

"If you need me to stop, just let me know." She nodded in understanding. Keith watched this exchange with a mixture of anger and sorrow and a twinge of thankfulness that she had someone. Even if that someone was Logan.

"Keith." Logan cleared his throat. "I wanted to run a case by you. Of course, due to a standing gag order, I can't tell you any of the actual names. So, for the sake of clarity, I'm going to call my subject Veronica."

Keith and Veronica both snorted in laughter. Logan smiled inwardly at his successful attempt to lighten the mood. He opened the file as far away from her as he could. As traumatized as she obviously still was, she didn't need to be looking at the graphic photos. He'd only put the file in his trunk after he was so angry he couldn't see straight last night. Then an hour and a half later, she'd arrived at his door and he praised himself for not having it in the room.

"On August 24th, Veronica was in an undercover recon position with an Italian crime syndicate. Somehow, the boss got word that Veronica wasn't who she claimed to be. The trigger for his knowledge is still under investigation. The boss ordered her interrogation. One of his sons jumped Veronica as she was leaving a night club." He checked Veronica to make sure she was still okay.

"They apparently broke her nose before throwing her into a trunk, where they bound and gagged her, before taking her to an abandoned warehouse." Keith was trying to hide his utter disgust, but the fact that all color had drained from his face betrayed him. Veronica tightened her grip on Logan's hand. "Her partner found the car with her blood in the trunk and the Bureau believed she had probably been killed. Rather than blow the whole operation, her partner remained undercover and tried to find where they'd disposed of the body. It was five days before he found out she was alive, and then they found and rescued her." Logan flipped to another section of the file. "This part of the case is based on Veronica's debriefing interviews and some notes from expert witnesses." He explained.

"There's more?" Keith choked out.

"During her captivity, Veronica was, she was…" Logan faltered as his emotions were struggling to take over. "They threw her down onto a wooden chair. She was cuffed and tied to the chair and the captors took turns beating her and screaming at her to try and discover who she is. On the fourth day, they got fed up with her and the son shot her in the left shoulder, making sure to then dig the gun into the wound." He snarled. Veronica's head was drooping and Logan could see she was no longer handling the story well. He tossed the file over to Keith and turned his attention to her. "You okay?" He put his other hand over their entwined hands. She looked up at him and he saw her struggling to compose herself.

"Come here." He let go of her hand and pulled her closer. He wrapped an arm around her back. "It's okay. I've got you." He whispered in her ear. She inhaled his scent slowly. Logan had hugged her before she'd lost control and she had instantly calmed. How does he do that? After a couple of minutes, Keith shut the file and pushed it back at Logan. From the look on his face, Logan knew he'd looked at the photos of Veronica's injuries.

"Now, I want to know why you're in hiding." He demanded. Logan released Veronica, as the subject was about to become serious again.

"I was told this peace-keeping mission was to take place over breakfast. I'm much more amiable when I'm well fed." Veronica joked.

"Ain't that the truth!"

Veronica stared open-mouthed between the two men, who had spoken in unison. "Aside from the fact that that's just creepy? Neither of you wants me to comment on any of your less than attractive characteristics."

"I'm hungry too." Logan replied. "Let's order."

"I'll go get the waitress. I told them not to disturb us until we were ready." Once they had placed their orders, Keith resumed his line of questioning. "Who is trying to find you?"

"If only we could tell you." Veronica answered cryptically.

"Cut the FBI secrecy crap, Veronica. I'm not in the mood."

"No, we really can't tell you." Logan attested. "Because we don't actually know."

"What do you mean?"

"We aren't even sure at this point if they are following me, her, or both of us. It's a working theory that it is related to my current case, but we're not firm on anything yet."

"Why are you working in Veronica's office?"

"Same old, same old. Leaks to the media, cases being ruined, secrets being sold."

"How big is your suspect list?"

"Wait, you know that Logan is OPR?"

"Uh, yeah." Keith answered. Logan squirmed a bit.

"Of course you do." Veronica chuckled, but Logan could see that she'd forced the laugh to cover her bitterness. He turned to look her straight on.

"I'm sorry." He opened. "And before you get any further, you should know that your dad pretty much knows everything. And…" Logan closed his eyes and sighed. "He's been to my place in Arlington, Veronica."

Veronica gulped and then she nodded slowly. This admission stung. "Mac and Dick have been there too." It wasn't a question. She was certain.

"Yeah." Logan added sadly.

"How 'bout Wallace? Your buddy, Weevil?"

"No. And please don't go there."

"What about Duncan?" She obviously still had some of that anger, she realized as she bit her lip.

"What?! Of course not!" He said, sounding plainly offended.

"That's right! I'm the only one he still has contact with." She challenged. "I need to use the restroom." She said to the two shocked faces staring at her. "Which means one of you has to move."

"What the hell do you mean you still have contact with him?" Logan growled.

"You can't seriously tell me you still talk to Duncan! He's a fugitive, Veronica!" Keith charged.

"Move!" Veronica pushed Logan. He wasn't expecting it, and was close enough to the edge, that she forced him out. He grabbed her by the elbow to prevent her from leaving. She glared up at him. "What pisses you off more, Logan? That it's a fugitive, or that it's Duncan?" She snapped as she removed his hand from her arm and stormed off to the bathroom.

"She's kidding, right? This is some nightmare and any minute now Tony Gwynn will come in and ask for a hamburger?" Keith asked in shock.

"Fuck!" Logan slammed his hand against the wall.

"Logan." Keith warned. Logan withered down onto the booth.

"Fuck me." Logan continued. He held his head in his hands. "Oh, fuck. Tell me I don't have to fucking arrest my girlfriend!"

"She's smarter than that. I just know it. She's obviously not telling us something." Keith offered, grasping at straws.

"Like the fact that she's talking to fucking Duncan?"

"God, how the hell did I raise a child who has absolutely no concept of consequenses?"

"There's a reason I'm not drowning myself in Bourbon right now, right?"

"If you get drunk, she could take you, then she'd run, and then where would we be?"

"Yeah. She'd run to fucking Duncan." Logan grimaced. "Oh, fuck. Please tell me I don't have to arrest my fucking girlfriend!" The waitress came in with their plates nervously, and put them down quickly.

"Need anything else?" She asked timidly.

"No." Logan stated.

"Thank you." Keith added. Logan began staring at the door, waiting for Veronica's return. The sight of her both calmed him and agitated him. She walked up to the table and slammed a file down on top of her file.

"You don't have to arrest your fucking girlfriend." She stated factually and both men showed visible relief. "And if you'd read my file more carefully, you'd know that. Not that I wouldn't be justified in keeping something from the people who have been lying to me for the last three years." She added turning to Keith. "But the FBI is fully aware of my communications from Duncan Kane." Logan grabbed the file and opened it roughly. He flipped to the section he'd skipped on his first read through. He quickly skimmed the section on the Kane family.

"She's been getting emails from him about four times a year. All untraceable by the FBI's elite hacking team. It started while she was in The Academy and she reported the first email about twelve hours after receiving it. The emails don't mention locations, just memories. No mention of his daughter." Logan explained to Keith as he finished looking the file over. "Where'd you get the file from?" He asked as he turned back to Veronica.

"From the Escalade." She answered like it was obvious.

"You jimmied your way in?" He asked in confusion.

"Yeah, because I'm a criminal." She quipped as she held up his keys. "You should really pay better attention to your pockets when someone bumps into you." She held them out for him to retrieve. When he reached over for them, she pulled the keys away and grabbed his hand with her other hand. "May I sit back down, please? My food is getting cold." She inquired sweetly.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry." He stood up to let her back in the booth. She handed him the keys and squeezed his hand reassuringly. He tried to mask his look of confusion with a tight smile. Once they had sat back down, she let go of his hand, which scared him for the full second it took her to grab her fork.

"So, you're engaged. When's the big day?" She asked with a large smile on her face before she shoveled hash browns into her mouth.

"We haven't actually set a date yet." Keith said, as he eyed her cautiously. Her transition into happiness baffled both males. "We wanted to wait at least until we talked to you."

"Well, I'm personally a big fan of spring weddings. That way, you can use wildflowers and girls can come in sun dresses." She scooped up some eggs and forked them into her mouth. Both men stared at her in disbelief. "What?" She asked with a mouthful.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Sweetie. But, have you been tested for bipolar disorder?" Logan teased in an unnaturally sugary voice.

"Well, surly wasn't working so well for me this morning, so I decided to try another method. But, if Bitchy Veronica is what you guys want, I'll be glad to bring her back."

"Veronica, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Rebecca. But, it's not like we had a whole lot of communication happening lately. And I know you were going to be disappointed because of your mom, so I…"

"Dad. You seriously don't get it. I don't want you and mom back together. I want you both to be happy. And neither of you would be happy together. I just think it would be nice if you could get along. I think she wants to apologize to you."

"Right."

"Well, she apologized to me. About a hundred times, actually. I'm not saying I believe she's on the straight and narrow, now, but she does seem to be trying. I met her sponsor and I went to an AA meeting with her."

"I can't forgive her for what she's put you through, Veronica. It's not going to happen."

"What she put me through is my choice to forgive or not." Veronica stated calmly. "Not yours."

"You sound like an adult." Keith smiled sadly. "Don't forget you're still my little girl." Veronica chuckled lightly. "Which reminds me." He said, suddenly briskly. "Logan?" Logan choked a little on his pancake and looked at Keith timidly. "I appreciate that you are protective of my daughter."

"You do?"

"Yes. But if you ever speak to me like you did on the phone this morning? You'll WISH death was what I have planned for you."

Logan nodded in reply, fear evident on his face. Veronica smirked at her father.

"So, Dad. I hear Mrs. Fennell is engaged too. Is there something in the water around here?" She quizzed, watching him carefully. She saw the dark look pass over his eyes, then the steely resolve replaced it.

"If there is, you'd better not be drinking any." He joked with her. "In fact, neither of you is allowed any water for the rest of your time in Neptune." They all laughed and continued eating and gossiping about the goings-on in Neptune. As they were about to pay, Logan received a call from Kelly and he went outside for some privacy.

"When you were in Virginia did you meet Kelly, Jeff, and Kylie?" Veronica asked her dad, adding Jeff and Kylie at the last second. Keith noticed the hesitation.

"Yeah. Logan is amazing with Kylie. And she's adorable. Jeff seems nice, but he was working on this thing for his doctorate thing, so I didn't see much of him.

"I talked to him on Logan's phone. He's funny." Veronica stated, disappointed that he hadn't mentioned Kelly.

"I guess. I thought Kelly was really funny. And she's really syrupy sweet. She treats Logan like a little brother. She kind of babies him. It's funny." He added for his daughter's benefit. He saw the jealousy in her eyes melt a little and he felt better.

"So, what should I make for dinner tonight?"

"Nothing, Sweetie. I've got it covered."

"At least let me make Mac's or something since she's a vegetarian."

"I've got her covered too. All I want from you is for you to be there." He leaned over and hugged her lightly until she returned it with more force. "I need to get some stuff done at work. Can I leave you here with Logan?" he said after a while.

"I could help you if you want."

"I'd rather you two figure out your own case so I can stop worrying."

"Like you'd ever stop worrying."

"I've taught you well, daughter." Keith left cash on the table and walked Veronica out to a cross-looking Logan, pacing while talking on the phone. Keith said a quick goodbye to her and she leaned against the Escalade holding his messenger bag that now held both files. She watched Logan in curiosity. He pushed a button and the doors unlocked so she could get in. She frowned, realizing he didn't want her listening, but moved to get in anyway. After a few minutes, he joined her and began bouncing his left leg, sub-consciously. The tension radiated from him and made her nervous.

"That good, huh?"

"What?" He questioned absently.

"The news from Kelly is obviously so good you are literally bouncing off the walls and have forgotten about me."

"Tell me again about Casey Gant, Veronica."

"What? He went to school with us. He was a friend of both of ours. And, oh shit, why do you want to know about Casey?"

"I'd just like to know why a guy you casually know and did a case for once, would be calling you every couple of hours for two days and leaving messages that refer to you as Sweetstuff."

"Oh." She sighed. "He is?"

"Yes." He spoke through gritted teeth.

"Well, when I ran into him a year ago, we might have also gone on a few dates that I omitted from what I already told you."

"Why wouldn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to unleash your jealousy over a guy who is just a friend."

"His messages don't sound like messages from a buddy, Veronica."

"We aren't dating!" She asserted. "We went on a couple dates and then he said he couldn't keep pretending. A week later the photo of you and me came in the mail. He wrote a letter on the back of it." She waited for a response but didn't receive one. "It said 'I wish things were different, but there's no way I'll ever compare to him. Find him and fight to get this back'."

"Get what back?" He asked urgently, turning to face her.

"Look, Logan. I'm sorry I didn't volunteer info about Casey, but I mean, it's a little intense on the first day I see you in three years to tell you that I got dumped by one of our friends because I'm still in love with you. And I…I didn't…want…" Her voice failed her as she realized what she'd just confessed. Logan's heart leapt into his throat.

I'm still in love with you, too, Veronica! I love you so much it hurts to breathe without you. God, that's the most amazing thing I've heard in pretty much ever. God, it's about freaking time! She loves me!! I'm not really hearing the Hallelujah Chorus, am I? Oh, damn. I haven't said anything. The silence is killing me. Say something, Logan! Say ANYTHING. Form a word and SPEAK. Don't leave her hanging!

He's not saying anything. Maybe he missed it. What am I thinking? This is Logan. He doesn't miss anything. He knows what I'm thinking. Oh, God. He doesn't want to go there. It's way too soon. What was I thinking? That's it. I wasn't thinking. I just blew it entirely.

"Did I get any calls from anyone else?" She finally recovered.

Damn it all to hell! Way to blow it, dumbass. Now she'll never say it again.

"What? Oh, um, yeah." He stuttered. He pulled a handwritten list from his pocket and handed it to her. "Kelly said she's impressed with your passwords, by the way. And she wanted me to let you know she hates that she had to check your messages, but we think we know who's following you. Oh, and she checked your emails too."

"Who is following me?" She asked, looking up from the longer than she expected list.

"We think it's Seth." He spat out. "And I know you're probably thinking that I only focused on Seth because I'm jealous. And it's true, I did tell her to focus on Seth, but not because I'm jealous. Because, he's shady, Veronica. I didn't like him before I even knew who he was. And then the way he talked to you and the things you said he did. It just didn't feel right."

"What proof do you have that it's him?" Veronica challenged. "It just didn't feel right doesn't hold up in court."

"Well, the guy following us? Rather, the guy I saw across the street from your place looked a little like Seth, but he was pretty far away and had a hat on, so I couldn't be sure. And I know you don't want me to be right, but I know I am."

"I need proof, Logan. Not your assumptions."

"Can you think of any time since you've had that phone that Seth would have opened it up?"

"He used it to call work once while I was cooking a week ago."

"I mean open the back where the SIM card is."

"No. It's new. I only got it three weeks ago."

"His thumb print is on the battery."

"Son of a bitch. Y'know, you'd think my dad would have left me or beat me or molested me or something." She sighed.

"What? Why?"

"It would explain why I have the world's worst taste in men."

"In all fairness, I think it's safe to say Lilly had worse taste in men than you. But then, I'm on both of your lists, so maybe you're tied." Logan sneered.

"Logan, do you realize that you're the good guy on my list? You've never possibly been my brother, you've never sort of raped me, you're not wanted by the FBI for kidnapping, fleeing the country with a minor, and for questioning in a murder investigation. You've never been convicted of a felony. You're not a drug addict. You've never joined a cult. And you've never tried to completely sabotage my career and engaged in a high speed car chase pursuing me."

"Thank you for saying 'convicted' of a felony. I'm glad you focus on the immunity part and not the act itself." He joked sarcastically.

"Let's just say you're not the only one to make state's evidence disappear." She said proudly.

"When did YOU make state's evidence disappear?"

"I'm not saying it was ME." She chided. "But, hypothetically speaking, there could have been this time that a classmate was caught with drug paraphernalia in his locker."

"Like a bong, perhaps?" He deadpanned.

"Sure! Like a bong. Well, what if said-bong was in actuality rigged to start smoking with the push of a remote controlled device? It would have caused the fire department to go into the evidence locker."

"So, not only did you plant a bong in my locker, you were using me too?" He asked incredulously.

"Come on, Logan. Where's the proof that I planted a bong in your locker?!" She objected. "Anyway, if said-fire department were run by a friend of the mastermind, the Chief could easily have replaced oh, I don't know, say a video from a convenience store robbery?"

"Unbelievable." Logan shook his head.

"Go ahead, say it. You know you want to." She teased.

"Not gonna happen, Mars. I'm not going to say you're smarter than me."

"Even if you won't say it, that doesn't mean it's not true."

He exhaled loudly and shook his head.

"Let's go figure out how we're going to destroy Seth." She rubbed her hands together maniacally.

"I already told you. I'm gonna kick his ass." Logan finalized. "But we really need to figure out my case, first. Because there's no way that dumb ass is smart enough to be the leak."

"One thing before we get back to work?" She added.

"What?" He asked, but his word was lost as she had leaned over and kissed him. He gratefully returned the kiss and pulled her into his lap for better access.