Puppet Master

Chapter 24

Later that week, Logan came over to Rory's dorm completely out of the blue. When she answered the door, he abruptly grabbed a hold of her arm. "Let's go!"

"Go where!" Rory asked, completely blindsided.

"Where do you think?" Logan was being deliberately evasive.

"Seriously Logan!" Rory cried desperately, although she knew she should have been used to his spontaneous nature by now. "I have a paper to finish, an article to write and a chapter of Western civ to read. I don't have time for this now!"

Logan shook his head, 'tut-tut'-ing gently. "Gee Ace, that isn't very nice, forgetting about our plans!"

"We didn't make any plans," Rory objected. Her attention was momentarily distracted when they passed a coffee stand. "Oooh, coffee!"

"Not now, sorry. We're already late."

"Again, I ask, for what?"

"Starts with Life, ends with Brigade," Logan teased Rory.

"Hey, that's not fair, you never told me when it was! I just agreed to go with you, I never got the day."

Logan shrugged. "You should have asked."

"I did."

"I should have answered."

Rory laid her head on his shoulder exasperatedly. She spotted another coffee kiosk approaching quickly, so as unobtrusively as she could, she stuck her hand into Logan's back pocket. She carefully timed it so that as they neared the kiosk, she yelled "One large coffee, black," and the guy behind the counter, recognizing her, had it ready by the time they walked by. She threw a twenty dollar bill on the counter and told him to keep the change as she grabbed her cup of coffee.

When she finished gulping the coffee down, she looked up to see Logan staring down at her. "You do realize you gave the guy a twenty dollar bill, right?"

Rory shrugged. "Yeah."

"And this doesn't bother you?" Logan prodded.

"Why should it?" she asked with her most innocent face on. "You paid for it."

"I…what?" The confusion marring Logan's face was absolutely priceless.

Rory laughed. "That's what you get for not telling me when the event was!"

Slowly, a smirk slid onto Logan's face. "Sly…very sly."

Rory grinned widely. "I thought so."

By the time they reached the parking lot, Rory had finished her coffee and was already begging for another one.

"Another one? We're going to be late already!" Logan pointed out, mock-annoyed.

"Late for what?" asked Rory innocently

"You're not getting it out of me that easily, Ace!"

Rory shrugged. "It was worth a shot! Hey, Finn!" she called out in greeting when they reached the SUV.

Finn tipped his hat in salutation, grinning maniacally. "Good day, fair lady," he said primly as he opened her door for her.

Rory inclined her head in his direction. "And good day to you, kind sir," she replied, falling into character. "Might I enquire as to our destination this fine afternoon?"

"But of course you may!" responded Finn, delightedly, enjoying the fact that Rory was willingly participating in his act. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Logan shaking his head frantically. "Unfortunately, I am unable to tell you at this time. Your gentleman caller has forbid me to speak the words." Logan looked away, relieved, and Finn winked at Rory.

Rory made a show of emitting a heavy sigh, before moving towards the vehicle. Finn offered her a hand up, and she was delighted to find him concealing a piece of paper in his palm. Finn gently shut the door behind her, providing her the safe opportunity to unfold the note and read his writing, without too much chance of Logan seeing. She opened it, and read the two lone words occupying the paper.

Beach party!

She made haste to stuff the note into her jeans pocket before Logan entered the other side of the vehicle. Finn also climbed into the driver's seat and caught her eye in the rearview mirror. "I do regret to inform you, gentle lady that we are not able to depart immediately. Our two more unsavory passengers have yet to arrive. Very rude of them not to show up on time!"

Rory looked to Logan for clarification. "Colin and Stephanie," he offered.

Rory nodded her head, and turned back to Finn. "Yes, I concur, most disagreeable of them!" No sooner had she said the words than Colin and Stephanie rounded the corner of the building, running quickly toward the SUV. Without warning, Rory started to laugh. "I summoned them with the awesome power of my voice!" Finn and Logan eyed her suspiciously and she quickly quieted. As Colin and Stephanie climbed into the SUV, hand in hand, Rory called a quiet hello. "I think I'll go to sleep now," she finished meekly.

Logan gently shook her awake as they pulled into the driveway. "Rory, wake up. Come on, Ace, wake up!"

Rory opened her eye blearily and had to work to quell the excitement that rose within her as she saw the ocean. She turned back to Logan with a bland look on her face.

"Don't you want to know where we are?" prodded Logan.

Rory shrugged. "It's a beach part – what else is important?"

Immediately, Logan rounded on Finn. "You told her!" he accused.

"I did not, aggressive gentleman." Finn still refused to speak in a normal voice.

"You did too!"

"And when, pray tell, would I have had time to do that?" Finn countered. "You were with her the entire time, and besides she was sleeping!"

"But…" Logan stuttered, trying to find a reasonable explanation. Finn winked at Rory.

"Alright you caught us," Rory spoke up. "He informed me about our destination over the telepathic link we have with each other. I told you we couldn't keep this a secret from him forever," this last part was addressed to Finn.

"What?" Logan asked, bewildered.

"It's just, we have this connection, Finn and I. A spiritual connection, you might say." Logan watched Rory carefully, and didn't miss the brief flash of amusement pass through her eyes.

"Alright, I get it. I'm overreacting!" Logan shook his head ruefully.

"Damn right!" Finn piped in.

"Fuck off!" Logan shot right back at him.

Finn looked at him disapprovingly. "And you kiss your girlfriend with that mouth?" The moment he saw the flicker of delight pass across Logan's face, he opened his mouth again. "Never mind. I don't want to know!" With that final declaration, he exited the vehicle quickly, eager to join the party already in progress.

"Well, Ace, it looks like it's just you and me!" Logan had just noticed that Colin and Stephanie were nowhere to be seen.

"Why do you have to do that to him?"

"Do what? I didn't do anything!" Logan said the picture of innocence.

"Don't think I missed the evil flash across your face! You were baiting him."

"Hey, he walked right into it!" Logan defended himself.

Rory tried to look stern, but after a moment, she burst out in giggles. Logan took in the look of sheer delight adorning her features for a moment before swooping in to place a small, chaste kiss on her cheek. "Hey, Ace, let's go. The party's already started!" He proceeded to hop out of the vehicle with a smile on his face.

AN: I thought this was going to be the last chapter, so I kept pushing off updating until I finished it. Unfortunately, my muse has now decided to inform me that it will take at least another chapter to finish this off well. Thus, you guys get an update. Unfortunately, nothing really happens, and you've waited months for…well….this. Ta-da! ducks behind wall and waits for things to be thrown

Anyway, I do believe when I put up the 20th chapter, oh so long ago, I did promise you something big for the 25th. It appears that I will have to deliver on that, won't I?

Sorry again for the long wait. - Rebecca