A/N – The characters you know and love aren't mine – but you knew that. All the crazy OCs that you could do without, those are mine
Chapter 29
God, I am a lucky man.
Veronica came out of the bedroom following the smell of coffee. Mac was sitting at the kitchen bar watching Logan cook, still in her footie pajamas and with her hair sticking up in odd angles. Logan was fully dressed in a tan day uniform, he muscles bulging under the thin fabric. No wonder people like men in uniform, Veronica thought as she tried to memorize him with her eyes. He looked up and caught her gaze. His eyes were sparkling with good humor. "Sleeping Beauty awakes. I knew I should have started the coffee sooner." He handed her a steaming mug, as she sat next to Mac.
Mac turned to her and took in the fact that Veronica had showered and was dressed in a snug black t-shirt and jeans. She took in her own pajama'd self and sighed. "I guess this means you were serious about the shopping spree today?"
Veronica laughed, "Only if you want to go. But you are going to have to explain to Sissy if we cancel on her. Don't worry, we have plenty of time. I told her we would meet them at 11. That way we could shop a little, eat, and then shop some more. You have to pace yourself with these marathon shoppers you know," her face took on a slightly wistful expression, the one Mac associated with when her old friend was thinking of Lilly Kane. Veronica continued, "They take their shopping every bit as seriously as you do breaking into a secured government server."
"Duly noted," Mac snapped a faux salute, "I will prepare myself to be utterly serious and sincere in my consideration of spring pastels and whether or not polka dots are going to make a comeback this summer."
"Don't be ridiculous Mac, knowing you and Veronica, by this summer it will be jail house stripes." Logan laughed at the twin indignant expressions that bloomed on their faces. Mac spluttered something about it not counting if you don't get caught.
Veronica recovered first, "Keep up with the teasing and you won't benefit from the knowledge that our combined powers uncovered yesterday."
Logan raised an eyebrow, and silently held out a piece of crispy bacon towards her. "Fine!" She snapped, snatching at the bacon, and biting down on it with a satisfying crunch. Logan smiled, and handed Mac a bowl of fruit salad. He dipped a piece of bread in batter and then tossed it in a separate fry pan from the one with sizzling bacon. Veronica had finished her bacon, and was watching the fry pans over the rim of her coffee mug, with ill-concealed hunger. Logan caught her eye and pointedly raised his eyebrow again.
She sighed. "Soooo, yesterday, CW finally spilled the beans. It seems I have a job interview in Quantico on Friday."
"As in the job would be in Quantico, or that is just where the interviewer is located?" Logan questioned. His mind was leaping forward, if the job was in Quantico, maybe meeting this professor who wanted him to go back to school wouldn't be that bad. It was only 70-miles between Quantico and Annapolis, they could easily find a place that split the distance and leave them both with reasonable commutes. It would mean giving up the jets though, and his heart dropped a bit.
Veronica watched the quick play of emotions across Logan's face as he leapt ahead and made conclusions. She saw the excitement, that there was possibly a solution that would work for both of their careers, and the realization that it would take him out of the air. She sat her coffee cup down and reached across the bar. "Based in Quantico as far as I can tell. But you know, it's just an interview. Once they meet me in person, well, you know some people find me abrasive."
Mac guffawed around a piece of cantaloupe. Veronica turned a sharp glare at her. "What I meant to say was you are perfectly charming Bond, anyone that says otherwise is obviously an asshat."
Veronica nodded, mollified, "Obviously." Mac wondered if she should mention Dick's plan about trying to convince her to move to D.C. She saw the glances between Logan and Veronica, those deep and soulful looks where the two of them forgot anyone else was in the room, and she decided against it. They still had issues to work out on their own, no need for me to interject.
Mac rose from the breakfast bar. "Logan, make sure you save me some of that French toast. I am going to take a quick shower, you two have me feeling under dressed." Veronica made a halfhearted protest, and Logan promised she would be properly fed on her return.
"So, after a little internet research…" Veronica started.
"A little?"
"Well, you know Mac has a certain skill set, and I have a certain skill set…"
"Stop, stop, I think I want plausible deniability here. So what did you find out on google?"
Veronica laughed, "Another benefit to getting hitched, spousal privilege. They can't force us to testify against each other. But, what we found on the internets was interesting. That Professor Haagensen that is after you, well it might not just be for your keen insight into military history, or your bright political future." She paused dramatically, and crunched another piece of bacon.
"Come on Ronnie, you are obviously dying to tell me. What is it: does he want me for my hot body? My incredible wealth? Does he want me to take him flying?" Logan waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
She swatted at him. "Don't be a perv. He is married, three children, seven grandchildren and counting, and not a whiff of illicit sex scandal anywhere in his history."
Logan grinned in appreciation. He knew what ever Bond and Q would uncover together would be far more than he was able to piece together on his own. He wouldn't doubt her if she told him how the man took his coffee and what color his favorite socks were.
"He is a spook. Well former spook at least, I am pretty sure he is currently affiliated with the NSA. Which reminds me." She picked up a small device from a pile of similar looking plastic. "Hand me your phone." She popped open the battery compartment and slipped the object in. "Not fool proof, but it will leave things garbled no matter how good their code breaking. I have scramblers in all the rooms of the house, and ones to go in our cars as well. I think it is safe to say with the shenanigans that both our potential employers have been pulling, we have probably been under surveillance for a while, and I would expect it to continue that way until we accept what they are offering or officially tell them to 'f' off."
He nodded slowly, mulling that over. Logan hated his privacy being invaded. It was part of what he had loved about being in the military, while there was no privacy in the sense of nudity or bodily functions, those every day shames being stripped away in basic training, he had been anonymous. No one cared who he was, who his family was, it had been about the job, it had been about the brotherhood. He knew Veronica, queen of the snoops was something of a hypocrite, in that she valued her secrets, and strictly controlled the information that she made available. That was part of why Sandeep's deception had messed with her so much this past week, knowing that for years that man had been invading her privacy for his own sick pleasure. Logan felt the familiar stirring of rage build inside him. Like an old friend, it stoked his emotions and brought him to the edge. He was ready to punch something, or scream, or drink.
Veronica had come around the island and was hugging his waist from behind. He turned into her. He breathed deeply, burying his face in her hair, letting the smell of marshmallows and promises sooth his soul. "It's okay," she whispered, "We only do what we want to. They don't own either of us. Your contract is almost up. We can be free, be together, wherever. Don't let them take your serenity from you. Don't give them that power." Her voice was still quiet, her hands gently stroking his back.
Logan marveled. His temper had surged more at the thought of them invading her privacy than his. Really at the end of the day, he knew no matter what he did or where he went, he was an Echolls, and even if he went for years without appearing on a tabloid's website, they were always watching, waiting. But yet, here was Veronica, soothing him, when he should be doing the same for her. He kissed her softly, trying to put all his love, and gratitude for her kind understanding into it, for words escaped him.
She pulled away, panting slightly. Her skin was flushed and her eyes bright, but not with the arousal they have held so often this past week. Something deeper simmered in the blue depths, and he could hardly keep his breath.
"So, did you save any French toast?" Mac's voice broke them free of their stare.
Logan shook himself, and turned with a smile. "One plate of vegan French toast coming up. Fruit and whipped cream, or maple syrup?"
Mac brought a finger to her chin in mock pondering. "If I say maple syrup, you better not tell Dick, Mr. Mars." Her eyes narrowed dangerously at him, "Besides, you owe me after sending him that picture last night."
"Picture? What picture?" Veronica looked concerned. Her face wrinkling in concentration as she tried to remember a camera being brought out the night before.
Logan burst out laughing, and pushed the syrup jug towards Mac, "Deal!"
