Disclaimer: Well, like I've stated about 26 times now: VM isn't mine, she belongs to Rob – only this plotbunny is mine, so don't get angry or claim that I didn't warn ya all;)

Chapter 26: What's meant to be is meant to be part 1

Cassidy looked up at the standing Veronica. She had just finished her long one of a kind story and had removed herself from his space by getting on her feet again and was pazing back and forth.

His expression was one of utmost shock and yet resignation at the same time.

"It's like he knows he's got nowhere else to go," Veronica thought with the now familiar mix of joyful revenge and deep sympathy for the troubled kid.

The young man sighed loudly and looked briefly over at his still deeply sleeping brother and then all but whispered:

"What do you want to know first, Lo…Veronica?"

Veronica pulled a chair from the only table in the room closer to Cassidy and sat down on it, crossed her arms in an unknowing form of self-protection.

"Well," she said slowly," why didn't you just tell anyone about the whole Woody Goodman thing? I mean, why not just let the others use your name and go public with their knowledge and their experiences to prevent it from happening to someone else? You didn't have to go all Evil Mastermind on them."

Cassidy blinked and he swallowed a lump of something.

Veronica hoped it was regret.

"I didn't think that you would want to ask that question first…" he said, but he shrugged off the now chilling glare he received from the transformed woman and began trying to justify his murderous actions.

"It's utterly stupid really. I know that, but…" Cassidy sighed and ran a hand through his messy dark locks and made them even messier.

Veronica hated herself for thinking that he looked so adorable and innocent, but she quickly buried the unwanted feelings when the youngest Casablancas heir continued his story:

"I'm a dork Veronica, a weak one at that. At least that's what people think of me. The one thing I've got going for me is Dick. Although he treats me like a retard most of the time, he still protects me. I guess you saw that when we fought earlier this year."

Veronica nodded in silent agreement as the memory travelled through her mind. She leaned back in the chair without interrupting.

"So…" Cassidy sighed again, "Anyway…I guess I'm trying to say I got used to people belittling me over the years and sort of accepted it, but I never liked it. So I began playing in the little league, thought maybe I'd give me some sort of cool factor. Woody was the one person, who really saw me you know. He talked to me, encouraged me to go after what I wanted and I loved him, looking back at it, I think I replaced my dad with Woody. Then one day he asked me to stay after practise, which wasn't that unusual, he did that quite a lot actually, so…"

Veronica sighed and sat on her hands to stop herself from comforting her rapist. But for a caring person, such as Veronica, it was really hard not to react to that raw pain that radiated from the boy.

"You don't have to go into details about the whole abusive thing," Veronica finally muttered, when the silence stretched on.

Cassidy broke into a small relieved smile and then continued his tale:

"Well, it happened more and more and I was too young to really understand that Woody was a bad man. I mean I didn't like it at all, all the whispered threats and stuff during the "sessions," but then when it was over he turned back into my father figure, so I was confused. After a while I got bigger and became a teenager, which I guess was a turnoff for him, so he let me go. He abandoned me for someone else. I didn't understand why I wanted to be around him still, he was a pervert, but I loved him like a son and felt lost.

Time went by and I managed to keep it buried deep inside me."

Cassidy moved over to the bed and leaned up against it with a small sigh, before he continued:

"Then one day Marcos and…well, I guess you already know this part. They wanted to get the dirty little secret out in the open and I didn't. Like I wasn't enough freakish already. Once people found out I let a man do those disgusting things to me…Remember how people acted around Dick once his little "indiscretion" with the not so female hooker came out. It didn't even matter to them that err…someone sent her to him. Imagine what they'd have done to me…"

Cassidy closed his eyes in pain at the thought and Veronica shook her head in disbelief.

"So let me get this straight. You didn't wanted people to know that some horrible guy sexually abused you as a child, so you killed off the people who desperately needed closure after their own abuse and in the process you killed an entire buss of innocent school kids."

Veronica snapped her fingers and added in a mocking tone:

"Damn, why didn't I think of that, when all of you turned your backs on me last year?"

Cassidy opened his eyes and gave her a sad half smile.

"Well, you aren't crazy enough."

Veronica stopped herself before she sneered at the young man and took a deep breath to calm herself.

After a couple of minutes calming she tilted her head and said with an innocent sounding voice:

"Well, I guess that answers that question. Now please answer me this, 'cause that really bugs me – even more then you putting your dick places where it didn't belong. Where does Mac fit in in all of this? 'cause if you just wanted to hurt her, then…"

Cassidy straightened up and he was the one to sneer when he said:

"Don't say that! It's not even like that. I care about Mac a lot – I love her. I would never hurt her!"

Veronica smiled feeling relieved. Finally she was sure about his feelings.

"I guess that's why he only took her clothes that night and didn't stab her in the bed."

Veronica held up her hands and said:

"Okay, okay, don't go ballistic on me. I needed to know. When I eventually get back I'll be able to answer some of Mac's unanswered questions."

Cassidy stiffened and then nodded.

"Yeah…She needs to know that whatever I did I never wanted her to suffer for it. I love her…So what's your next question?"

Veronica crossed her arms and asked:

"I need to know about the rape, Cassidy. Why did you do it? Why me? I never did anything to you…"

Cassidy sighed and Veronica saw tears in his eyes as he prepared his reasoning for that heinous crime that had happened two years ago for him.

"I…I know you probably think of me as a perverted, stupid…"

Veronica interrupted.

"Yeah, off course I do, but I'd prefer it if you'd skip over the name-calling parts. Trust me, there aren't any names you can come up with I haven't already used a gazillion times."

Cassidy rubbed his eye to wipe away the tears and nodded before he began his story:

"You probably know all about that evening, so I'll just jump to the part where I was locked in the room with your passed out self. I've never been able to get aroused with anybody after the whole Woody thing, but that night I was so angry at everybody for their teasing and you too, but I think that was more a way for me to get the deed done then actual resentment. I'd had enough and I thought that I'd do it just to shock Dick and make him shut up about me, ya know. But as I was…err, doing it, I suddenly had this glimpse of you opening your eyes and calmly asking me, what the hell I thought I was doing and I fled. I bumped into someone and puked all over her shoes.

The rest of that month I walked around in everlasting panic. So sure this would be the day you'd come running up to me and turning me in to the cops and stuff. But I just…I watched you and discovered that you truly didn't remember a thing about it and I breathed a little easier. I even started picking on you like Dick and Logan told me I should, just so I could fit in a bit more."

Dick suddenly interrupted the two of them by grunting loud enough to drown out the vague echo of still sounding music from the living room area and moving so close to the edge of the bed, that Cassidy and Veronica had to get up and move him to safety before continuing their talk.

Veronica sat down on the chair again and Cassidy repositioned himself on the bed to keep his older brother out of trouble.

"Tell me," Cassidy suddenly said," if I apologized with all of my heart, would you let me go? If I swore never to even look badly at other people again?"

Veronica chuckled tiredly and shook her head, while saying:

"Bea…Cassidy, I can't let you do that. I'm not the only person that you've wronged here. People are dead and their families are devastated by it. You deserve to go to jail and maybe get a bit of counselling when you're at it."

Cassidy sighed with a self hating smile, but then he turned serious again and looked intensely at Veronica.

"I am you know…I'm so sorry for all I've put you through. If I could take it back I would, please believe that. Oh, and sorry for the Chlamydia too."

Veronica frowned and said:

"Yeah that was a real treat. Thanks."

Cassidy grinned briefly and for a nanosecond Veronica saw the man he could have become, if he hadn't turned into a crazed murderer.

"I'll never forget what happened to me, what you did…" Veronica began slowly and watched as her words caused Cassidy to freeze and made his eyes tear up a bit again. She continued her train of thought and said:

"Never…but Cassidy Casablancas, if you never get redemption for your crimes, I'll give you peace of mind in my case."

Cassidy's eyes widened in pure disbelief and his mouth opened like a fish.

"You…you mean…?" he stuttered.

Veronica sighed and nodded.

"I will never forget what you did, but I forgive you although my other self keeps screaming for your untimely death."

The silence stretched on and finally the awkward tension in the room made Veronica say in her usual manner:

"Darned, had I known tonight would end up sounding like a Corrs song, I might have chosen some different wording."

Cassidy smiled and looked lost in thought.

Veronica sighed and closed her eyes briefly.

But still it was too long, because suddenly she felt the smaller boy lunge at her with incredible speed and hit her hard on the head with something.

As she fell down on the floor Veronica vaguely heard the murderer's parting words:

"Thank you Veronica. I just can't go to jail. I'm gonna go set a few things right. Goodbye Veronica."

Logan stood fidgeting not too far from the door and that's why he knew something was amiss almost immediately after Cassidy appeared in the door and sent a longing look after Mac before he left the wild party with no word.

"Ronnie!"

The thought gave the small Logan strength to push through the crowded mass of people. In the back of his mind he heard Caitlin Ford yelp as she was knocked over and landed on Mandy, who in return squealed most unladylike.

Logan banged open the door and froze at the sight in front of him.

Dick Casablancas was sitting with his head in his hands on the edge of the bed and Veronica was laying head first on the carpet floor. A small blood trail ran from her eyebrow and down her cheek.

At the sound of his arrival Dick looked up. His eyes were puffy and tears ran down his face.

"He…I…Cass…"

The blonde couldn't formulate his words and Logan ignored his suffering and ran to his unconscious wife.

"Ronnie! Honey, come on don't do this to me."

Logan gripped his old body and gently held Veronica in his arms.

She didn't react and Logan saw red. He looked over at the still crying Dick and hissed:

"Where is he?"

Dick wiped his eyes and answered in a dead voice:

"He attacked her before I could do anything, I've had too much to drink and my reactions aren't good. Then he…"

Fresh tears interrupted Dick's weak calm and he bent over sobbing.

Logan swallowed a lump of fear and thought to himself:

"She…Dick apparently knows the truth too. I have to find Cassidy before he does anymore damage."

A muffled moan reached Logan in his thoughts and he looked down at Veronica, who was opening her eyes.

The married couple locked gazes and for a short minute Logan thought he saw love in Veronica's eyes, but then she blinked and the moment was gone.

"Where is he?" she muttered and tried to sit up.

Logan saw her eyes move swiftly around the room and finally land on Dicks crying form.

"So how long were you awake and what did you hear?" Veronica asked in a cold voice and Logan once again had to admire her ability to pick things up instantly.

"A lot of it," was all Dick said and Veronica nodded and got on her feet.

"Logan, we have to find him," she said and looked into his eyes.

Logan sighed and looked down at himself.

"If you don't mind, I'll just skip this drag costume and be right with you…"

Veronica nodded and turned to walk over to the door, but then she stopped and turned back to look at Dick.

Logan quickly changed and tried not to make it look as though he was listening to their conversation.

"…sorry you found out this way. But now you do. Got any idea of his whereabouts?"

Dick didn't answer and Logan heard the annoyance in Veronica's voice:

"Look Dick, people could end up dead if you don't help me out here! Cassidy's got problems and help me get to him in time."

Dick muttered something that Logan couldn't hear and Veronica sighed.

Logan finished his redressing and turned just in time to see her hand over her phone to his best friend.

"Look this is a recording of the whole conversation. Please play it to Mac in private and tell her I'll talk to her as soon as I've found Cassidy. Okay?"

Dick nodded: for once silenced and Veronica gripped Logan's hand and dragged him out of the hotel suite.

"Where're we going?" Logan panted as they jumped into the X-terra and drove off with squealing tires.

"I know where Cassidy went," was all Veronica said and Logan settled for that response.

"I wonder what went down in there?" he thought to himself, but then put the questions away for later.

After a few minutes of fierce driving Logan recognized their direction.

"You think he went to Goodman's house?"

Veronica nodded and said:

"I thing he feels like the only way to escape prison is to kill Woody and then everything will be all right."

Logan nodded, that did sound crazy enough to be a plan of a crazy teenager.

"So once we get there, then what?"

Veronica pulled up to the house and said before jumping out of the car:

"I stop it and hopefully we can get home after that."

Logan nodded and followed her while he stated:

"Sounds like a plan, but I'm coming with ya like I've always done. And don't you try to stop me!"

Veronica actually smiled at that fierce declaration and said:

"Wouldn't have it any other way Echolls."

A/N: Sorry for the cliffie, but it was getting too long and this seemed like a good place to stop. Tell me what you think! Even if you think the conversation was a bit tame. I struggled with it, but hopefully it'll be accepted;)

Oh and on a happier note, this Thursday I'll be getting my computer back, so hopefully it'll mean a more stabile uploading schedule. Fingers crossed!

As always special thanks to: IluVM, Ruk, Bini( this is a little longer, happy lol), Rory Ace Huntzberger( glad you chose my story as one to read on your busy schedule;)), cosmiclove( thank you so much, love that you like my ideas), Jenn6891( hope the conversation wasn't too flat for ya), Maiqu, I.-heart-.Logan( yeah, hopefully a kiss will come up soon…lol), Sarah1281(…maybe…), Frost Merry Darkness Luver, firebirdgirl( crazier than crazy? Poor kid lol).

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