A/N: All my reader and reviewers – thank you! I get giddy whenever I get a new review )

This is by far the longest chapter I wrote yet. Unfortunately, I don't see any more chapters as long as this one in the near future. I'll do my best to update soon, though.

On the bright side, I am done with all tests for this school-year (except for one English test. Wish me luck!), So I'll have more tine to sit down and write.

Enjoy the chapter, live fast, make love not war and keep on smiling!

Roni

Chapter 6

Veronica shifted a bit, and squeezed her eyes shut tightly. She didn't want to wake up. Not another day at work. She felt like she hadn't slept in ages. She was feeling peaceful in that state, still slightly sleepy, nowhere to go, nothing to do, no commitments what so ever. The idea of staying just the way she was, in that state of almost serenity, between wakefulness and sleep, cuddled against Logan-

Oh crap.

Veronica bolted up balancing herself with her hands. Then she noticed her hands were firmly planted on Logan's chest and that he was starting to wake up. Veronica took in their position: He was lying on her butt-ugly brown couch, and she was on top of him. She figured her head was resting on his chest, as were her hands. Their legs were tangled, and their clothes were wrinkled. One of his hands was on the base of her spine, the other dangling from the couch, touching the floor.

"Damn it! Logan, get up." She called. He mumbled something incoherent and kept his eyes closed. "Get! Up!" she yelled. He finally opened his eyes. He looked at her, a tiny smile gracing his face.

"Hey"

"Get up!" she yelled again.

"I'm up, I'm up. What's the hell?"

"We fell asleep" she said, as he moved his hand from her back. She crawled to the other side of the couch, looking for the clock. She found it. 11:14 AM.

"Oh no!" she said, turning back to look at Logan, not noticing her skirt's hem had ridden up, and was currently at the top of her thighs. "It's 11:15. I overslept! I'm late!" she stood up, the skirt returning to its original knee-length hemline, much to Logan's disappointment. "Get up, you moron! You have to get ready!"

"Why? You're the one that's late."

"You are seriously delusional if you think I'm going to work with you here." She replied, while throwing clothes in the air, looking for something.

"What are you looking for?"

"Non of your business."

Logan looked around a bit. The placed seemed messier, with Veronica throwing clothes everywhere and leftover Chinese food lying all around. Veronica seemed to find whatever she was looking for. Logan got a peek at it, and noticed it was a clean pair of panties. He grinned. Veronica didn't notice. She ran into her bedroom. "There's food on the counter if you're hungry." She said as she entered the room. She got out a few seconds later with fresh clothes in her hands. "I'm gonna be in the shower, and if you even think about going in there, just know there's a lock on the door, and a really big baseball bat on the other side of it." She closed the door behind her and locked it.

Logan rubbed his face and smiled. Veronica Mars was definitely one of a kind. He grabbed two snickerdoodles and shoved them into his mouth (one at the time. He wasn't that big of a pig!).

He used the kitchen sink to wash his face. After that, he grabbed his cell phone from one of the many bags his cargo's had. 17 unanswered calls. 9 massages. Someone's been looking for him. He checked the numbers – Trina, his agent (several times), Duncan (twice), Dick (several times), and two of his "Ego" co-stars. Probably about the premiere. He hated going to those things with his co-stars as dates. It was all about PR stuff anyway, totally fake, and not any fun.

Not long after that Veronica emerged from the bathroom. She looked anything but the professional reporter he saw yesterday. She was wearing a pair of faded jeans, with a tear over the knee, and a red button-up short sleeved shirt. Her hair was still slightly wet, but she didn't seem to care. She grabbed a pair of boots and threw them by the sofa, and dropped a pair of orange socks next to the shoes. She turned to the bedroom, and emerged a moment later with her bag and laptop. She stuffed the laptop into the bag and grabbed her cellular phone and dropped it in as well. She placed the bag on the coffee table and quickly put on the socks and boots. She didn't even zip the boots up. Instead, she got up grabbed the bag and her key ring, and Logan's shirt sleeve, heading towards the door. Logan could have sworn she broke a record on fastest morning routine. She slammed the door behind them and locked it, and then she ran down the stairs, Logan right behind her.

Outside, Veronica went to the edge of the sidewalk and placed two fingers in her mouth, giving out a loud whistle. A second later a cab stopped next to her. She opened the backseat door and climbed in, Logan right behind her. Veronica told the driver where she was heading, and they drove off.

For the first time since she woke up, Veronica allowed herself to relax. She sank into the back seat and sighed.

"You okay there, Mars?"

"Oh god" she muttered and buried her face in her hands. She said something that came out muffled.

"If you want me to understand what you are saying, you're gonna have to take your hands off your mouth."

She looked at him, her hands off of her mouth. "I said: I can't believe I slept in."

"Never happened before?"

"Not for work." She replied.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry." He said, trying to cheer her up.

"It wasn't your fault." She replied.

The rest of the drive went silently, except for the sound of Veronica's boots being zipped up by her. As they reached their destination Veronica climbed out of the taxi. Logan moved to follow but Veronica stopped him.

"Go back to… to wherever you're staying. We'll continue this." She waited for his nod of approval before closing the door. She headed to the doors of the New York Times office building. She opened the door and waved to Bert.

"Veronica! You're here late." He said, surprised.

"I know, I know." She replied. She walked to the elevators, and pressed the button. The ride up seemed to last forever. Finally she reached her floor and got out of the elevator. She got a few looks at her unusual tardiness.

"Veronica!" called Harry. "Where have you been! We called your house, your cell… you scared me half to death!"

"I know" she said apologetically.

"Well? Where were you?"

"Home."

"Home." He repeated. "Well, if I were you, I'd tell Connor I was kidnapped by some Russian mobsters, cause he is not going to let you off the hook with something like that this easily." He grinned at her and went to his desk.

Veronica placed her stuff on her desk and booted her computer up.

"Morning sunshine" Garret's familiar voice said from behind her.

"Hey Garret."

"You, my dear, are late."

"Yes, I know…"

"So what's your excuse?" he asked. "I mean, you are going to have to explain this to Connor."

God, it's like some weird ass time warp. "I don't have an excuse."

"Well, you better start working on one."

"Garret, I'm not in the mood."

"Well, if I get us a bottle of Champagne, some slow music and dim the lights, you think that'll help?"

"Buzz off, Garret."

He smiled and complied, walking away, humming to himself. Humming!

Veronica decided to get this over with and walked into Connor's office. She shut the door behind her. Connor was sitting behind his desk.

"Well, well, well. Look who decided to grace us with her presence."

"God, Connor, I am so sorry."

"I would love to hear exactly where you've been this morning, Veronica. I have to say I was worried. You never miss work. I can't remember a time you were late."

"I know, and I swear this is never going to happen again, but I have a perfectly good explanation to all of this."

"I'm listening."

"You see, yesterday when I left here me and Logan went to Starbucks where a bunch of crazy fans chased us and we got into a cab to get away from them and ended up in my place-"

"Please, Veronica, don't tell me you slept with him."

"What? No! God, no! We just stayed and worked there, and somehow, I'm not too sure how, we ended up watching a movie, and then we fell asleep on the couch, and that's it. I swear."

"I see…" he said. Then he chuckled.

"It's not funny."

"No, you're right, it's not. I'm sorry." He chuckled again, one final time.

"Go back to work, you missed a lot."

Veronica left the office, and went back to her desk.

"Veronica!" called Clair, and ran to her desk. "Oh my god, you are so late!" she said as she reached Veronica's desk. It's just a jump to the left. "Where have you been?". And then a step to the right. "What are you going to tell Connor?" You put your hands on your hips. "He was so mad when you didn't show up!" And bring your knees in tight. "I was so worried!" But it's the pelvic thrust that really drives you insane. "Are you going to answer me?"

"Clair, stop." Said Veronica. "I took care of Connor and explained everything. I'm not hurt or sick, I'm fine, just late – that's all. Really."

"Okay… Are you sure? You've been acting really weird since you landed that interview – Oh my God! The interview! How did it go? How did it go?" she asked, excitedly, like a six-years-old in a candy shop.

Veronica told Clair everything briefly, without too many details and dropped the falling-asleep-on-the-couch part of the story. Clair sighed dreamily.

"You are so lucky." With that she left. Veronica shook her head, thinking that if Clair knew all the details about her and Logan's past, she'll probably rethink that statement.

"Dean, can you get me another cup?" Veronica asked as she walked past the young photographer, not even looking up from the folder she had open in her hands. She was into her reading, the police report on the teen jumper. His name was Craig. Craig Martins. Good grades, good behavior, popular, nice, rather handsome and very much dead. Veronica owed it to her mental peace to get to the bottom of his death. She had a really bad feeling about this story.

"Veronica, you've had me go to Starbucks 5 times already!" called Dean, frustrated. He was a photographer, not an errand boy. Veronica walked to her desk and set on her chair behind her computer, not once looking up from her reading.

"Then get me some from the break room. I need some sort of coffee.' She replied. "Please Dean." She finally looked up. Dean sighed and went to get her a cup of coffee. Veronica returned to the file. Crime scene photos were what came next. She felt sick in her stomach. Too much like looking at Lilly's body, all bloodied. Only Craig's body was smashed completely, not just s huge bleeding gash in the side of the head. The sidewalk has crushed this boy's body. Blood everywhere, horrified onlookers, yellow tape, his green eyes still open. Or, what's left of them, anyway. Veronica placed the pictures aside, and moved to her computer screen, looking at the search results of Mike McNill, the officer who filed the report from the crime scene.

Dean placed the cup in front of Veronica. She took it and thanked him. He just waved her off with a small smile and went on his way. Veronica gulped down the coffee in less than a minute and placed the cup aside.

She looked at her papers. Two of the witness statements were missing. Where had she placed them?

She grabbed the folder with the pictures, and the police report and went to Clair's desk where she worked a few moments ago (she had three searches going on – one on her office computer, one on her laptop and the third on Clair's computer). She looked at the papers around the computer, looking for the ones she needed. She looked at the screen. The computer was still processing her search. She huffed and finally grabbed a bunch of papers, and started tossing out the ones she didn't need. When were those stupid autopsy results getting to her? She needed them. With a sigh of frustration, and only one of the statements in hand she went back to her desk, while reading the statement she left on Clair's desk. She was so into her reading she didn't notice someone in her way. Well, not until she slammed into him, anyway.

She would have fallen, if not for a pair of strong arms that grabbed her elbows and steadied her.

"Whoa there." Said Logan.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, pulling her arms from his grip a bit to harshly, resulting in her dropping half of the papers and pictures she was holding. She went down on her knees to pick them up, as did Logan.

"I said I'd pick you up at 4." He said, handing her a bunch of papers. She accepted them, slightly miffed.

"Well, what are you doing here now?" she asked, standing up and walking to her desk, dropping the papers next to her PC, and checking out the search result on it. No matches found. Crap.

"Veronica." Started Logan, capturing her attention with his tone. She looked at him. "It's 4."

"What? No way." She exclaimed. He extended his arm, and showed her his Rolex. Quarter past four. "Oh, this is so not happening."

"Well c'mon." he said.

"I can't."

"What do you mean, you can't?" he asked, sounding angry. That tone was all too familiar to Veronica. She heard it too many times after Lilly died.

"I mean exactly what I say. I can't go. I have work to do."

"Going with me is work, Veronica. I'm giving you an interview, and you have to actually interview me to get it."

"I have other work to do." She replied, trying to keep her anger from showing.

"I am doing you a favor here, Veronica. This interview is gonna do more good to you than it is to me. You are getting something people would kill for."

"I didn't ask for this!" she hissed at him.

"Well, you got it. You have to do this, and we set a meeting. So let's go."

"Damnit Logan!" she hissed even louder. "I can't do this right now, okay? I have a drug dealer to keep from harassing kids, a fifteen years old jumper, and a pissed off editor on my back, not to mention lost work hours. I can't handle this interview with you right now! I have my own work to do!"

Just then Rose walked by them and stopped in front of Logan. "If you want" she said to Veronica, without looking away from Logan. "I could give you hand. I don't mind handling the interview for you."

Veronica was about to tell Rose where to shove it, when Logan talked.

"No. The deal was Veronica. I'm not working with anyone else." He looked at Veronica square in the eye. "Only Veronica."

Veronica took a deep breath, closed her eyes and counted to five. Then she opened her eyes and looked at him. He seemed so determined, and she was tired of fighting.

"Just give me a minute to get my stuff." She mumbled and grabbed her investigation, laptop, and rest of belongings. Rose looked pissed, but didn't say a word. She gave Veronica a death glare. Logan just smiled at her. She placed her black bag's strap on her shoulder, and started walking to the elevator, Logan at her side.

The trip back to his hotel was silent. Veronica was fuming at his behavior. She thought he had grown up – he seemed more calm, focused and mature. But she was obviously wrong. He was still a rich brat who thought his word was sacred and everyone must follow his path.

They reached Midtown West, and the limousine came to a stop after a few moments. Logan's body guard, a guy named Max, climbed out first. Then opened the door for Logan and Veronica. He smiled at Veronica, as he helped her out. She thanked him, and turned to look at their location. She was awed.

They were standing outside the tallest hotel in NYC. She almost rolled her eyes – so typically Logan: going for the best and most expansive. Four Seasons hotel was definitely it. Max walked forward and opened the door for the two of them. Logan and Veronica both thanked him.

"Listen, man, why don't you take the rest of the day off. Seriously." Said Logan to Max as they entered the Lobby.

"Mr. Echolls, I think that after yesterday's incident, it would be best if I didn't go anywhere."

"We're in a hotel, Max. Nothing can happen here."

"Famous last words…" mumbled Veronica. Max grinned at her, Logan didn't seem to even hear it.

"Max, I mean it. Take the day off… go to the New York tour, watch the sights, have fun, go mad, whatever. Be back tonight. I won't be leaving here before that."

Max seemed like he was going to argue, but eventually gave in and went back outside. Logan motioned for Veronica to follow him as he led her to the elevators. She noted he wasn't making any eye contact with anybody in the Lobby.

They entered the elevator, just the two of them. Logan hit the button for the 51st floor. Veronica raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

On the 26th floor, the doors opened, and three guys entered. Seemed like they were fresh out of college, having fun with their parents' credit card. The talked and laughed loudly and glanced at Logan every now and then, and checked Veronica out not too subtly. She didn't comment, instead, she ignored them pointedly, suddenly finding the lush carpet in the elevator very, very interesting. The boys got out of the elevator on the 32nd floor.

Finally, the elevator reached the 51st floor. Logan took out his key-card and unlocked the door. They entered, and Veronica's mouth dropped open. The presidential suite was huge. She stopped herself from wowing out loud.

Logan was looking at her profile, smiling. She didn't notice. She took in the room, and the view. Central Park was looking amazing from so high up. Logan started opening the windows, letting some air in.

The room was all decorated in shades of yellow, gold and cashew. It was beautiful.

"Want something to eat?" Logan asked. "I can get us some room service."

"No. I'm good."

"You sure about that?" She nodded. "Okay then." He went to the king-size bed and plopped down on it. He lay back, and looked at the ceiling. Veronica took out the recorder and turned it on.

"So, Logan. How about a few quick basic questions?" Veronica started, putting on a cheerful exterior (who ever said she wasn't an amazing actress?) to lighten the mood. A change from their previews interview.

"Go ahead." He said, sitting up. Veronica set down on the bed next to him.

"What's your full name?" she said, holding the recorder to her lips. As he opened his mouth she placed the recorder to his mouth. And kept it up through the whole quick-questions part of the interview.

"Logan Thomas Echolls."

"Age?"

"28"

"Date of birth?"

"January 13th."

"Favorite color?"

"Green."

"Favorite junk food?"

"Taco Bell."

"Your height"

"5"11"

"Most embarrassing moment?" they were both grinning and laughing at this point.

"Umm… 80's dance in junior year. I showed up totally wasted, sans pants." Veronica laughed. "I had the whole, Risky Business thing going for me."

"Favorite class in high school?"

"Surprisingly, journalism."

"Favorite class in college?"

"Philosophy."

"Favorite sport?"

"Surfing and basketball."

"Favorite hangout?"

"The D. it's a club in San Diego, owned by a friend of mine."

"The… worst thing a girl can do on a date?"

"Start talking about the movie industry." Off her questioning look, he added, "I live that everyday, I deserve some break, don't I?" She laughed and so did he.

"Most awesome moment ever?"

"Homecoming dance, I think it was sophomore year. One of the greatest nights of my life." Veronica grinned brightly.

"Scariest moment ever?"

"When I finally realized my mother really killed herself." Veronica's smile vanished now. Logan just shrugged. She remembered. They were at that hotel, and Logan broke down in her arms, crying, and seeking comfort.

"Happiest moment?"

"When Duncan asked me to be his daughter's godfather." Veronica gasped. Duncan never told her that. Not too surprising, seeing how she always avoided talking about Logan.

"Biggest regret?"

Logan looked at her intensely. "Never contacting this girl who was one of my best friends, since I was a kid, for a really long time." Veronica dropped the tape recorder. Logan grabbed it and turned it off. "Think we should stop?"

"Uh…"

He stood up. "C'mon, let's stop this for a moment."

"Log-"

"I have an idea." He grinned.

They were sitting on the bed again, their plates in front of them. It was already dark outside. Veronica and Logan were laughing.

"Um… okay, you're turn." He said.

"Okay… I choose…" she thought for a moment before grinning evilly. "Dick Casablancas."

Logan laughed. "Oh, man. Uh, He didn't go to college. Instead, he used daddy's money and opened the hottest club in California. Super successful. Has a wife, a lover, and a maid." Veronica started laughing.

"He doest not!" she called between giggles.

"I swear, he does." They both cracked up laughing even harder.

"How about… Crony."

"Corny?" Veronica asked. "You mean, Richard Gregnoth the fifth?" she asked.

"You're kidding." He said shocked. Veronica shook her head and pressed her lips together so not to laugh. Logan snorted.

"Corny, is a valued artist, has a little art gallery in the city. I was only there twice."

"Man…"

"Wanna hear something?" she asked. Logan nodded. "You are not going to like this." she said with an evil grin.

"What? C'mon, tell me."

"Corny…" she was sniggering now. "Was the one… that made that bong I put in your locker."

Logan's jaw actually dropped. "No way!"

"Way."

"That bong got me into so much trouble."

"I know. Sorry." He laughed. "If it makes you feel any better, getting you into trouble wasn't my main objective. Just a bonus."

"What was your main objective then?" he asked. Veronica told him about the smoke bomb, the fire department and the video swap.

"Well, Veronica, I must say, I am in awe. You have the craftiest little mind I've ever encountered."

"Thank you. Okay, my turn. What about… Casey… uh, Oh! Gant, last name was Gant."

"Case? He's a doctor. Neurosurgeon."

"Seriously? Wow."

"Why Casey?"

"I always had a soft spot for him after his cult phase."

Logan chocked on the strawberry he was chewing. "His what?"

"He joined this cult. It wasn't really. It was a small, utopian society, really. They didn't take advantage of anyone, no drugs, money, weapons – they just wanted people to be happy."

"And you know this how?"

Veronica picked a strawberry. "I went there undercover. Had to bring Casey to his folks. He got back, became slightly jerkier, but we talked a bit since. He was one of the better 09ers." She chewed on the fruit. Logan smiled. They both ate strawberries for a moment in comfortable silence. Then Logan chuckled.

"What?" she asked, then swallowed the juicy fruit in her mouth. She wiped her mouth gently.

"Weevil married." He chuckled. "Plus kids."

"Which is a bigger shock: Weevil and kids, or Meg Manning being a rapper?" More soft laughter.

"Okay, okay, wait, stop laughing." Logan calmed down. "I've got one, I've got it." She giggled softly.

"Well?"

"Madison Sinclair." She burst out laughing. Logan grinned.

"Madison Sinclair…"

"How is she?" she asked, giggling.

"Fat." He replied. Veronica's mouth dropped open, then she started laughing again. She lay back on the bed, and laughed until she finally calmed down. Logan continued. "And she finally stopped dying her hair blond, so brunette. And she is currently pregnant with her third. And fourth."

"Your turn" she replied, and extended her arms out. Logan grabbed them and pulled her up, back into a sitting position.

"I choose…" he mused silently for a moment. "Veronica Mars."

Veronica's light mood seemed to slightly fade. "What do you want to know?"

"Whatever you wanna tell me." He half asked, half stated.

"I… I work for the newspaper. Which, you obviously know. I went to NYU, been living here since I was 18. Left home after graduation, which, again, you know. Not much to tell, really. I still go home now and then, when I have the time."

"You like your job?"

"Very much."

"You have a boyfriend?"

"No."

"You still do that PI stuff?"

"I do favors for friends."

"Well, your definition of friend is very odd." She just grinned. He paused for a moment before asking: "Are you happy?"

Veronica was slightly taken aback by his tone. So soft. And as she thought about his question, she realized that she couldn't voice the true answer out loud. It will be a sign of weakness. Because, with honesty: she wasn't really happy. She was pleased, satisfied with what she had fought for so hard. But happy? No, not really.

"Hey, I've got one." She said, ignoring his question. As Logan opened his mouth, with an expression telling her she was not going to get away that easily she spoke again. "Troy… Vandegraff."

Logan paused for a moment, taking in the current situation. He decided that in order to keep things comfortable between the two of them, he was going to let her get away with not answering, even though he didn't do it whole-heartedly. Instead of pushing her, he played along with her. "Got busted for possession three years ago. Bunch load of Ecstasy. Last I heard, he was dealing in Mexico."

"That bastard. Serves him right, getting busted." She shivered.

"Are you cold?" he asked. She gave a half nod. Logan got up and closed the windows. She thanked him.

"It's late." She said absently.

"Yeah."

"We didn't do anything today."

"Guess we'll have to continue tomorrow."

"Come to my place around 10 am. I'll take the day off." Logan raised his eyebrows. She was planning on taking the day off after she nearly took his head off today for picking her up?

"Okay, then. You gonna go now?"

"Yeah, I think I will." She said. She grabbed all of her stuff and shoved them into her side-bag. He was always amazed at how much stuff she could stuff into that bag.

"Well, do you need a ride?"

"Nah, I'll just take a cab."

"Okay, don't you have a car?" he asked.

"I do. It's in the shop. For the past month the only reason it was running was a piece of gum."

"What?"

"Gas tube was cracked. I held it together with chewing gum, but finally had to put it in the shop."

"My little McGyver." He joked.

"I'll see you tomorrow Logan." And then she left the apartment. He sat there staring after her. Then plumped back on the king sized bed, and sighed.