Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars, and as much as I wish I were, I am in no way affiliated with the show either. Although, they should start paying me for all the good PR I give them, seriously.

If you don't stop looking at her, Echolls, instead of only assuming that you're her whipping boy, she'll have proof. And what will you do then? He hates himself for loving her, for so needing the brief moments that they spend together-but he can't survive without them-without her. She's putting the finishing touches on her makeup as she pulls into the abandoned parking lot, rolling to a smooth stop.

"This car drives like a dream, Echolls." She states, smirking as she coats her lips with Sugarcane. "I'm surprised I didn't start driving it earlier." Laughing, she checks her appearance in the mirror again and turns to face him. "So what do you think?" Despite the farcical get up, he can't get over her beauty.

"Were you going for the 80's prom queen look, Ronnie, or did it just come naturally?" Her eyes flash as she glares at him, but she smirks as she reaches in the back and grabs a plastic bag.

"And this is for you, my little convict man." She laughingly tells him, patting his cheek for effect. The touch of skin against skin is electric, and he can tell by the look on her face that he isn't the only one who felt it.

"I thought you-"

"I do have magic powers, Logan," She mutters, glancing everywhere in the car but at him, still unsettled by her strong reaction to him. "But with the sheriff's department? Not so much."

"What about that guy…" He waves his hand around haphazardly, scrunching up his face. "That cop guy that you were tight with. Couldn't he have helped?" Her laugh is bitter.

"Leo? No, actually concerning you, also not so much." She rubs her neck, glancing in her side mirror to make sure that no one has followed then.

"Concerning me?" He asks, and she rolls her eyes as she glances at him. Their gazes catch and hold, and she suddenly feels shaky. "What the hell does your…Deputy Leo have against me?" His tone is icy, and as the flush rushes to her cheeks, he cringes. Smart move, Echolls, way to alienate the girl.

"Can you just change please?" She asks, her voice small and breaking. She shoves the garment bag into his hands, and he throws it into the back, climbing in after it.

"So how did you work this, Mars? They've got me under lock and key," He sticks out his leg to point out the blinking brace clamped to his ankle. "But I figured you'd have worked your of magic, because when we left town, no one followed us." The words have barely come out of his mouth before she's answering.

"It has a 16 mile radius," She replies, as if it is the simplest answer in the world. "Lucky, huh, that I checked that before we left? If I hadn't we'd have been in deep trouble." She smirks back at him; he feels the pit in his stomach growing. Can you do nothing right, Echolls? "I arranged it so that the meeting spot would be here." He looks around quizzically, his face confused; all he sees is a vacant lot. "Or well, down there." She gestures towards a disheveled looking motel a couple of yards down the strip. "It's cutting it a little close, but if everything goes according to plan, you won't even have to get out of the car." Her eyes meet his in the rearview mirror, and he pauses as he knots his tie, his mouth suddenly dry.

"So what exactly is it that we're solving?" He asks, climbing back into the front seat, and checking his face in the mirror.

"You can barely see it." Her voice is barely a whisper, but it surrounds him all at once, enveloping him in its warmth.

"See what?" He asks a moment too late, snapping the mirror to its upright position. He turns to face her, his eyes guarded.

"I know you got beat up the other night, Logan." Though soft, her voice holds a quiet certainty.

"You don't know anything about it, Veronica. Leave it alone." He buttons the jacket, and turns to face her for scrutiny. "What do you think? I didn't exactly know what I was going for, but is this at least ball park?" Swiftly she glances at him and smiles tightly. She leans across, moves to push a lock of hair from his face, but her fingers still before she touches him.

"Sorry," She mumbles after a second, moving back to her seat and swallowing. "You look nice. Fine. Are you ready to go?" She sounds lost and young, and all he wants to do is grab her up in his arms and hold her. She slams out of the car and appears on his side in a matter of moments.

"What are you-"

"You have to drive. It's part of the cover." She doesn't look him in the eye, finds that she can't. He scrambles to the driver's side, looking at her quizzically.

"I'm gonna ask again, I wonder if this time you'll answer. What exactly is our…mission?" He smiles to lighten the mood, and glancing up at him she takes the bait. Biting her lip she leans down and rifles through her bag, a spiral notebook in her hands. "The short version please, Mars." He replies, eyeing her resources, and she frowns to conceal her mirth.

"Boy meets girl. That's the way they all start, isn't it?" She asks, and her voice is suddenly forlorn. "Boy falls for girl. Girl falls for boy's trust fund." He smiles knowingly, and she smiles up at him. A connection is forged. "Boy promises to whisk Girl away from all her troubles. Girl figures she'd better take the bait. Now, 12 years later, Girl loves Boy, and boy, he's banging the help." He stares down at her, unsure whether to throw his head back and laugh or weep for the state of humanity.

"So…who are we here for?"

"It is kind of confusing isn't it?" She replies smirking, and not really answering his question at all.

"Fine, Mars. I concede." He mutters playfully, as he slowly pulls in to the motel's parking lot. "As long as you know what you're doing-" He stops mid sentence because her face has gone deathly pale. "Veronica, what-what's wrong?" She's attempting to pull her hair away from her face, but failing miserably.

"I need you to kiss me." She mutters, blushing furiously. The shock on his face is palpable.

"What?" He exclaims, but his words are lost as she presses her lips against his.

Author's Note: No, it's not because she saw Duncan doing something naughty in the parking lot. Even the Donut isn't that stupid. Sorry to dash your hopes, kids.