Logan sat in doodling rather than taking notes in his history class, it was three days into the semester and he was already bored. He looked up when the door opened and an anxious Meg Manning entered in her P.E uniform.

"Miss Manning, I hope you have a good reason for interrupting my class."

"Sorry Mrs Walters, but we need Logan." Meg handed her a note.

"Fine, Mr Echolls take your things with you and go with Miss Manning."

"What's going on?" Logan asked when they were in the hall.

"It's Veronica."

"What happened?" Logan was instantly concerned.

"She's having a panic attack, like when she had nightmares. It took me ten minutes to convince them to let me come and get you. They called the nurse and the school counsellor but she won't let them anywhere near her. I managed to get her to sit on a bench."

"Where is she?"

"The girls locker room. It's okay you have permission to go in there."

"What triggered it?"

"Miss Flint asked her to get something from the small storage closet, someone locked her inside and switched out the light. Miss Flint sent me to find when she didn't come back. She's hysterical."

Logan stormed into girls locker room, walked down the rows of lockers until he found the one with the teachers stood and pushed his way between to where Veronica was sat.

"I don't know what good you think you'll do Logan." Miss Flint stated.

"Maybe you should all stand back and stop staring at her to start with." Logan suggested kneeling in front of her. "Hey Ronnie." He ran a finger down her cheek and under her chin lifting it so she was looking him the eyes. "You need to breathe for me." Her breathing was still shallow. "I guess we're going to have to try this the old fashioned way." He kissed her until she held her breath. "Now exhale."

Once he was sure her breathing was more under control he moved and sat astride the bench.

"Come here." He wrapped his arms around her Veronica burying her face in his shirt. "It's okay, I've got you. I'm not going to let anything happen I promise." He kissed the top of her head. He whispered constant reassurance until the sobs stopped. "Are you okay?" He asked as he wiped Veronica's cheeks. She shook her head. "I'm taking you home."

"I'll get her things." Meg offered.

"It's the middle of the school day Logan." Miss Flint pointed out.

"I'm emancipated who are you going to call about me cutting school? Me? I'll ground myself later." He paused. "Her father is out of town, he left her with me so I'll sign her out. But if you want to call him I'll give you his number, hell you can borrow my cell phone. I'd love to hear you tell him how you let his daughter get locked in a dark closet and then stood around for ten minutes while she was having a panic attack."

"Here." Meg handed him Veronica's bag and clothes. Logan knew which pocket she kept her keys her pulling them he handed them to Meg.

"She was supposed to give Wallace a ride home, can you ask him to check on Backup?"

"Of course."

"And get Dick to call me."

"I'll sign the two of you out." Becky the counsellor told him. "But I want to see both of you in my office tomorrow at some point."

"Can't wait. Come on." He held out a hand to Veronica who took it and wordlessly followed him out.

Logan kept glancing at Veronica who hadn't said a word as he drove

"You didn't have to take me home." She finally broke the silence.

"Veronica, if you could see how pale you still are you'd have taken you home too."

"We're going the wrong way." She pointed out.

"I thought we'd stop for ice-cream on the way home."

"Have I mentioned I love you today?" She gave him a smile.

"Twice, but feel free to keep mentioning it." They continued in silence.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked pushing his ice-cream around the dish.

"Not yet."

"Maybe you should call Dr Beterman." He suggested.

"She's a dream psychologist she probably doesn't deal with freaking out."

"She's still a shrink. It might stop the nightmares coming back. I could drive you to L.A?" He offered.

"I'll call her, there is no point making a three hour round trip for no reason."

"What do you want to do with our afternoon off?" He changed subject happy that she agreed to talk to someone.

"Change." She was still wearing the shorts and t-shirt she wore for P.E.

"I kind of like the shorts." Logan admitted.

"You would." She smiled. "What did my meltdown get you out of?"

"A boring history class."

"I told you you should have taken AP physics."

"I hate physics, it's bad enough you're making me take AP English with you."

"You read more than I do." Veronica pointed out. "And it's nice we have more classes together this year."

"Books are better than movies, you get to imagine the characters and places the way you want to not just how some guy with too much money imagines it and with whatever Hollywood starlet they think dressing in the minimum amount of clothes will get the most butts in seats."

"Says the son of Hollywood actors."

"It's like being a minister's kid; you're either all for it or all against it."

"Are you going to eat that?" She asked nodding to the ice-cream.

"Help yourself."

Logan got up to answer the door an hour after school let out, to find Meg, Mac, Wallace and Dick there.

"Is V okay?" Wallace asked.

"She's fine. She's asleep."

"No she's not." Veronica sat up from where she had been asleep on the couch.

"Are you okay superfly?" Wallace inquired as they all brushed by Logan and into the suite.

"Sure come on in." Logan muttered under his breath.

"I'm fine other than feeling a little stupid."

While they continued to chat Logan pulled Dick aside to see if had found out anything. Veronica kept glancing at them.

"You know I know who did it so you don't have to pull out your deer stalker and magnifying glass." She interrupted them.

"Who?" Logan stepped closer.

"It's okay I've got this one covered."

"Veronica." Logan started.

"Logan, I might need you when I fall apart but payback is something I can handle just fine on my own, ask Dick or Tad."

"He should really get that tattoo removed." Meg said. "Not that I'm sure Seth doesn't appreciate it."

"Veronica..." Logan tried again.

"Let me handle this one. It will be cathartic and besides this way you won't get into trouble and have to ground yourself again."

Meg who had been present earlier couldn't help but smile, Wallace and Mac just gave Veronica curious looks.

"I'll tell you later." She assured them. "Mac, I might need your help. You might even make enough to upgrade your car again."

"What?" It was Dick's turn to be confused.

"I guess you didn't tell him." Veronica looked at Mac.

"No."

"Sorry." She apologised.

"The purity tests made me enough to buy my car." Mac explained. "Meg, did I tell you how sorry I was about that."

"It's okay." Meg assured her. "Everyone knows I didn't take the test and even if I did I would score a lot higher than 28."

"I didn't take it either, but there are still plenty of people who assume I deserve a 14." Veronica paused. "You never did tell me if I got the worse score."

"No that would be Dick who got a 9." Mac replied.

"Thank you, thank you." Dick took a bow.

"It's nothing to be proud of." Mac pointed out. She had told him that he had to be tested before she would even discuss having sex, so he was waiting for the test results to come through.

"Since I'm having an aversion to confined spaces why don't we all go the beach, we could grab some food and have a picnic." Veronica suggested.

"Just don't let her challenge you a sandcastle building contest." Logan warned, he still wasn't ready to give up on finding out who locked her in the store cupboard but he would have to wait until they were alone.

But by ten-thirty Veronica was in bed asleep, Logan sat on the couch watching the end of something before he went to join her when his cell phone rang.

"Hey Keith." Logan answered after checking who was calling.

"Logan, is Veronica with you?"

"Yes."

"It's a school night; she's supposed to be at home."

"She had a tough day and fell asleep early. I thought it was better to keep her here with me."

"What happened?" Keith demanded. Logan proceeded to tell him. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine now as far as I can tell. I had her call the shrink they were on the phone for an hour; I'm hoping she doesn't have another nightmare."

"Keep her with you. I was calling to tell her I wouldn't be home until late Sunday, so she may as well stay with you. But make sure you take care of the dog."

"We've got that covered." Logan confirmed. "I'll have her call you in the morning."