Author's Note: Many thanks to the betas who worked on this chapter: haleyhazz, His_Beautiful_Girl, and pyrodaemon, and the idea factory: Luner Kat.

Chapter Five

An Even Rarer Breed

Monday, March 21, 2005

Logan's Inspirational Message

'One doesn't know, until one is a bit at odds with the world, how much one's friends who believe in one rather generously, mean to one.' — D. H. Lawrence

In the morning, Logan woke up earlier than usual. When he asked, Weevil agreed to teach him how to fix cars, so they scheduled the first lesson for that morning. Bobby still wouldn't clear him for driving, so Veronica drove to Weevil's house and then parked before he leaned over and stole a kiss. After pulling back, he smirked and brought a thumb up to his lips and swiped away the moisture and transferred lip gloss from the kiss. "See you around noon, Beautiful?"

A moan escaped before she brushed her lips across his. "Looking forward to it. Have fun."

The smirk formed into a knowing look. "I will even if Weevil is a slave driver. Say hi to Father Perez."

"Will do."

One last kiss before he got out of the car. After walking down the sidewalk, he opened the gate and strode into the Navarro's yard. Weevil told him to go around to the back, so he navigated around Carlos and Cecilia's discarded bikes and other toys, walking around the house. A genuine smile formed when Weevil and Felix came into view, both leaning over the engine of a '78 Pontiac Firebird.

When they looked up, Weevil smirked and stepped away from the car. After Weevil bumped his fists, Felix did the same and grinned, too.

Felix's head tilted towards the car. "Man, Echolls, you're in luck, this crap pile needs everything. Hell of a way to pop your automotive repair and restoration cherry."

A snort was his response followed by clutching at sore ribs, making both men's eyes narrow a bit which he ignored. "Well, I want to learn and word at school is Weevil's the best. I figure I'm in the right place to learn."

Felix grasped his hands behind his back. "Weevil is the best, maybe even better than Uncle Angelo. Hope you're not afraid to get a little dirty."

With a head shake, he rocked back on his heels. "Not at all. Weevil's grandma taught me what soap's for. She followed that lesson up with a nugget of wisdom. 'Soap is essential to happiness because if you don't get a little dirty in life, you're not living to the fullest.'"

Weevil barked out a laugh. "She did the same with us and the neighborhood kids. Woman's a gem."

After taking a few steps closer, his voice lowered like he was imparting state secrets. "It's important you're aware of how lucky you guys are."

Weevil's head inclined. "Chardo took Grandma for granted, but I know just how lucky I am. I work hard to make sure Carlos and Cecilia know just how lucky we got by coming to live with Grandma, too. No worries, Opie, she's appreciated."

Eye contact made with Weevil, he leaned closer. "Good, she deserves nothing but the best and all the love and respect people can give her."

Weevil scowled and twisted the grease rag between already dirty fingers. "You've had a funny way of showing it."

Another step closer, and his head bowed. "Come on, Man, that was me playing a role, a role I hated, but had to play to keep up appearances. You of all people should understand that. But at the time we thought it was a matter of life and death. That's the only reason I would ever badmouth your grandma and never to her face. Anyone who knows me can confirm I adore her and always treated her with the utmost respect in person. It broke my heart when I said those things about her at the beach. The whole time I prayed your grandma and Veronica would never find out. There isn't a single negative thought or opinion in my head about your grandma and I didn't want either of them to think there was. I'm aware of just how lucky we are to have her in our lives. Now that I'm not stuck playing a selfish psychotic jackass, I have no intention of disrespecting her in private or public ever again."

When he glanced up again, his steady gaze met Weevil's, and he rubbed the back of his neck. "Mrs. Navarro was the only adult growing up in L.A. who showed an interest or gave unconditional love. I even gave her all the handmade stuff I made in school and unlike my own fucking parents she acted like each gift was the best one ever. Even if she didn't mean it, at least she pretended like the gifts were priceless treasures and that touched something inside me."

Weevil's eyebrow rose with a hint of a smirk for a second before Logan ran an injured hand through already messy hair. "You should have seen how depressed I was when Daddy Dearest said she was moving back here to take care of you. Then Aaron brought us here, too. I didn't stop smiling for a week. Not until Dear Ole Dad asked if I was high and," he made an air quote, "told me to knock it off. Anyway, I owe you an apology for badmouthing your grandma in public. That was wrong, and each word hurt something inside me, so I will not repeat that mistake again."

Weevil offered a deep sigh and a thoughtful expression. "Apology accepted." The PCHer's eyes narrowed, and he pointed an index finger towards Logan, "But you better keep that promise."

The corners of his lips tilted up a smidge. "Oh, don't worry, I will." After rocking back on his heels, he rolled his neck a few times and then made eye contact. "Now that we sorted out our rocky past, what are we doing first?"

Weevil's eyes sparkled and gleamed while he flipped the dirty grease rag over his shoulder so it rested there. "To begin with, I need to know how much you know about cars."

With a furrowed brow, he rocked back again. "Uh, I can identify the engine, fill the gas tank, check the oil, and refill the windshield wiper fluid but that's all I know about cars. Hence my coming to you."

Weevil dragged the grease rag off his shoulder and tossed it onto a nearby work bench before tipping an imaginary hat at Logan. Then the two PCHers spent the next few hours teaching him the names of all the internal parts of the car. They explained what each part did, how it worked together with the other parts, and why it was necessary.

The beaming expressions on each face attested to the fact that everyone had a good time and the three teens laughed at each other's jokes. Weevil was a born teacher, so he was optimistic that by the end of the lessons he'd be an exceptional mechanic.

When they finished, the teens headed into the house. Meg's lips curled upward and brightened the room. "Who wants some fresh lemonade?"

A smirk broke out on his face. "Mrs. Navarro's special recipe?"

Meg made a move to stand. "But of course, it is the best lemonade around after all."

Everyone grinned and Weevil waved. "Sit, I'll get it. While we appreciate you making it, I can pour it without making you get up, you did the hard part, so I'll do the easy part."

A giggle escaped her mouth, while he and Felix followed Weevil into the kitchen where he poured four glasses, then headed back out into the living room. Weevil handed Meg a glass. "Where are Carlos and Cecilia?"

After leaning back in the seat, she took a sip. "Already at their friends so we can spend the rest of the day with our friends."

Weevil leaned down and stole a kiss and then Logan glanced at Felix. "Hey, you busy this afternoon? We're playing some Xbox and having some pizza. You're welcome to come with."

Felix's eyes widened, but the teen had been easy-going and inclusive all morning and Logan liked his sense of humor, so he offered an olive branch. The smile that filled Felix's face had a genuine build and when it finished forming it lit up his face. "Any other day and I'd say yes, but I've got to be at work at one so another time?"

With upturned lips, he made steady eye contact. "Sure, you're welcome wherever, whenever. I had fun this morning and your sense of humor fits the rest of our group. You'd get along with our other friends, too."

Felix blew him a kiss which he caught out of habit. With a burst of laughter, he shook his head, "No, no, no, the only kisses I'm supposed catch belong to a tiny blonde one. You're corrupting me and I'm gonna tell."

Felix's only response was a chuckle and a two-finger salute before glancing at the clock on the wall. "Crap, I got to hurry if I want to get to work on time. Echolls, a pleasure. I'll see you around and I'll refrain from blowing you any more kisses. I know the damage your better half could inflict."

He chuckled before Felix faced his best friend, "Weevil, we'll talk later. Meg, thanks for the lemonade." The three boys bumped fists before the PCHer downed the rest of the lemonade and then left.

After Felix closed the door, Weevil stared at Logan for a minute. "You were serious right?"

He took a sip of lemonade. "Yeah, he's cool. Few would have the stones to blow me a kiss, so he's welcome to tag along anytime."

Meg reached out and brushed a hand along Weevil's arm. "Logan's right, Felix would fit with our group pretty well and he's not as prejudice against oh-niners as some other people around here."

Weevil's brows drew together and his lips turned downward. "Are people giving you shit again?"

Meg shook her head. "No, but Felix never gave me issues or treated me any different than anybody else and that's my point: he doesn't care. If I'm nice to him and treat you and your family right, then he wouldn't care if I was purple and from Saturn. He'll treat Logan the same way, too, as evidenced by the kiss blowing."

His head tipped in agreement and Weevil shrugged. "You're right."

With a grin he bounced on his toes. "So, ready to head to my place? God, I love that. I have a place that's all mine and not Aaron's. Alicia and Keith are spoiling me rotten."

They laughed and after Weevil helped Meg stand, she grabbed her purse and the three teens headed out to Weevil's car.

When they arrived, Veronica, Mac, and Wallace were waiting on the front stoop. With a grin, he skipped to the door, "You could have let yourself in, you know where Alicia keeps the spare key."

Veronica shook her head, but stood and brushed off her butt, "I could have, but this is your place Logan. You make the boundaries and I want to respect those so we waited for you."

His lips curled upward while he let everyone in and half an hour later they sat around the living room playing Halo 2 on Xbox.

After some maneuvering, stacking, and a lot of digging through boxes, they made room for everyone and found the video games and gaming systems.

The apartment had a living room, a small attached space that he was using as a dining room, two small bedrooms, and a good-sized bathroom. There was also the cellar which he was using to store a bunch of stuff in boxes and some furniture that Alicia already had in the apartment.

At that moment, he and Mac sat on the floor of the living room, playing Halo 2. Mac turned out to be a bit of a video game genius. And she grinned while his character died, again. After he handed the controller to Wallace, he smirked. "Good luck, Diddy, you'll need all you can get."

Wallace gave a playful nudge and leaned forward with the controller and began manipulating it. While watching the pair play, he took out his phone and dialed a number he had for years but never had cause to use before.

The line rang three times before a hesitant voice answered. "Hello?"

A wider grin spread across his face. "Hey Cassidy, it's Logan."

"Oh hey, Dick's not here."

'We need to work on that self-esteem.' His lips pulled down at the corners, but his voice was firm when he spoke. "I have Dick's number memorized, and I didn't call Dick. I dialed your number. Anyway, I need a favor from you, not Dick."

Cassidy let out a gust of air. "What—what do you need?"

His lips turned up at that, spreading from ear to ear. "This is important, the Covenant might win, so the fate of humans, may depend on you. Do you know my friend Mac?"

Cassidy gave a high-pitched laugh. "Uh, yeah, the girl with the kick-ass blue bangs, right?"

Still, he shrugged even though Cassidy couldn't see. "That's her. She's a Flaming Ninja and unbeatable at Halo 2. We tried, but just can't do it. Can you come over and see if you can beat the reigning champ?"

There was silence for a few seconds. "You want me to come over and try to beat your friend at Xbox?"

He grinned at Mac and told Cassidy, "You're the best Halo 2 player I've ever played against, so yeah. Mac needs an actual challenge and Wallace, Veronica, Meg, Weevil, and I are no match."

The silence stretched out again for almost a full minute. "You—you're serious—you're inviting me over to play video games. Without Dick?"

After rubbing the back of his neck, he leaned forward. "Yeah. Look, I'm done with the oh-niners and their elitist bullshit, Dick and Madison in particular. But you're cool. My friends said you haven't joined in on harassing Veronica since I stopped going to school. So, I figured I'd reach out and see if you might want friends that Dick doesn't dictate or dazzle."

Silence, total and complete, for a long minute and then Cassidy released a gust of air as if he had held his breath the entire time. "I still don't have a license and can't get my permit until the last week of August, so I'd need a ride."

He grinned again. "That's cool. Wallace and I are going to go get some pizzas in about ten minutes, so we'll pick you up on the way there."

Cassidy's voice was tentative but tinged with something that might have been hope. "Cool. I'll be ready."

The beaming grin he flashed the room blinded like the sun. "Great, you still like Pepsi and supreme pizza, right?"

Now, Cassidy's voice was stronger. "Yeah, Pepsi works, and I'll eat pretty much anything but anchovies on pizza."

A snort escaped him. "Except pineapple."

The silence stretched on for another long minute before Cassidy took and then released a deep breath. "I mentioned that when you first moved here, like five years ago, and you still remember?"

After shifting, he rolled the stiff muscles of his neck. "I may not have acted like it, but I paid attention when you spoke. Besides, Veronica would refuse my kisses if I ate anchovies and that would be a fate worse than death. So, no worries there and Wallace doesn't like fruit on pizza either."

Cassidy let out a shaky laugh, so he nodded. "We'll be by in about fifteen minutes."

After they hung up, he turned to Mac. "Live up your position as number one while you can because Cassidy is at least as good."

Mac grinned while continuing to manipulate her controller. "Bring it on, Pretty Boy."

He chuckled low in his throat. "You think I'm pretty?"

A giggle bubbled up and out before a blush covered her face.

"You do, you think I'm pretty, wait till I find a parent who cares and tell them." Then he went into the bedroom, putting sneakers back on while singing, 'I Feel Pretty.'

Veronica's laughter floated to him while he hummed and tied his shoes.

After returning to the living room, he leaned down and kissed Veronica before standing back up and looking at Wallace. "How soon until Mac kills you, Diddy?"

Wallace's head shook while the tip of his tongue stuck out between his lips before the tongue disappeared. "Who says I won't kill—"

Mac raised a fist in the air. "Ha, take that Wallace."

With lips pulling down at the corners, Wallace put down the controller. "Damn girl."

Wallace stood and handed the controller to Weevil before turning. "I'm ready to go get our reinforcements."

Brows drawn together; he took a step closer to Wallace. "No guarantees that Cassidy will win, but he'll at least be a better challenge."

A hand caressing Veronica's, he turned, leaned down, and lingered for a moment while kissing soft, cherry flavored lips again. Then he pulled back, pecking the tip of her nose. "Be back soon."

With a sigh, he wished for the day he could drive his baby again, and while they walked out the door, he handed the keys to Wallace. "I hope you realize you're one of five people besides me ever allowed to drive my baby."

Wallace squinted. "Vee, Duncan, and who else?"

After opening the passenger door, he got in while Wallace did the same on the driver's side. "Ronnie way more than Duncan but he drove a couple times right after I started driving because I was too drunk to drive and he was all 'Mr. Responsible' even though he was just as wasted as me. Lilly drove once and my sister has driven twice, and you drove while I was moving and now again today. Do you feel privileged? Because you should."

Wallace laughed. "Oh, I do, but not for the reason you think."

His head tilted in silent question, so Wallace shrugged. "I feel privileged because you're trusting me with your favorite possession. Your trust makes it a privilege; not the actual act of driving the car or the fact that I'm on the short list of people allowed to do so."

A chuckle rumbled in his chest, but his head inclined before Wallace drove to Cassidy's house.

They took forty minutes to go pick up Cassidy and grab the pizzas. When the trio walked back into the apartment, he glanced at Mac who was playing the game while Veronica, Meg, and Weevil sat back and watched. After putting the five boxes of pizza on the dining room table, Wallace put the two bottles each of Pepsi and Dr. Pepper beside the boxes.

With a broad grin, he spread his good arm out wide towards everyone else. "Cassidy, you've seen everyone around but have you met them?"

Cassidy's head shook, so Logan pointed at each person. "Meg you've met, Weevil is the bald badass attached to his wife and the aforementioned girl with the kick-ass blue bangs is Mac."

He made eye contact with his friends. "Everyone, this is Cassidy. You might have heard his brother use the name Beaver. Based on the cringes he makes when Dick uses that name, I'd guess he prefers Cassidy. Don't follow in Dick's footsteps and be an unfeeling dick."

Weevil snorted. "As if. Nice to meet you, Cassidy."

Meg and Mac's heads inclined, and Meg smiled at Cassidy. "It's nice to see you again."

Veronica wiggled her fingers, and Cassidy blushed and shuffled his feet.

Logan looked at Mac. "Well, my friend, your reign as the undefeated champion is now in jeopardy."

With lips turned upward, she glanced at Cassidy. "Like I said earlier, bring it on, Pretty Boy." After a pause, she glanced his way. "Cassidy and I are in AP Computer Science A and all of our other classes together. So, I already know he'll be an actual challenge unlike some other people who shall remain nameless, Cough Logan Cough."

A belly laugh ripped out of his mouth, bringing tears to his eyes when his ribs objected. After wiping his eyes, he opened a box of pizza and took out a slice, taking a bite. After swallowing, he glanced between Mac and Cassidy. "I look forward to seeing the two of you do battle."

Both gave tiny smiles, so with a smirk, he motioned to the table. "Oh, we got two vegetarian pizzas since you're sharing with the bottomless pits."

Veronica stuck out her tongue. "Hey, I might resemble that remark."

Meg giggled and got off the sofa, walking towards the pizza. "And I'm pregnant so I'm allowed to be a bottomless pit."

Everyone laughed at that, and after they had all gotten pizza and soda, they sat down, and Mac and Cassidy picked up the controllers.

An hour later, Mac and Cassidy had both won half the games. Cassidy laughed and manipulated the controller. "Ya know, I've never had to try this hard before."

Mac snickered. "Me neither." Then she pumped an arm after squeezing out another victory. "That's how it's done."

Logan's phone rang, with a regular ring, so taking it out of his pocket he glanced at the screen; not a number he recognized, but he answered anyway. "Hello?"

A woman's voice came through the line. "Yes, may I please speak to Mr. Logan Echolls?"

Calls that involved his full name never ended well. So, he let out a heavy breath, which caused his eyes to water when his chest expanded with the intake of air. After the pain flared, he tightened his grip on the phone. "This is him."

"My Name is Lucy Andersen. I'm the Deputy District Attorney for Balboa County. The FBI has brought some information to our office's attention and we wish to discuss this information with you at your earliest convenience."

'Shit, what did I do?' After wracking his brain, he couldn't come up with anything he'd done that would warrant the D.A.'s office needing to talk to him. With a sigh, he leaned into Veronica. "What's this about? Do I need an attorney?"

Veronica reached up and squeezed his good shoulder while Ms. Andersen paused. "If you have a personal attorney with no ties to your father, then that individual would be welcome at this meeting. As for what this is regarding, I should wait to explain. For now, I'll say, Duncan Kane recorded at least ninety-eight percent of the conversations he eavesdropped on. That means we're not only aware of what your father has done to you, but we have audio recordings of multiple beatings. That includes the incident that led to Ms. Mars bringing you to the hospital two weeks ago. We can't in good conscience leave a minor in the custody of a man who abuses him. Not even if, as my contacts have informed me, you are no longer living under the same roof as him. This meeting will allow us to discuss your options."

'Fuck.' With fingers gripping Veronica's, he spoke in a slow, steady voice that hid the drop his stomach had just taken. "What sort of options?"

Ms. Andersen paused again. "I understand you are recovering from some injuries. To keep your stress levels low, I'll say that the D.A. suggested that perhaps we approach your father and offer not to prosecute for child abuse. But only if he gives up custody. While he doesn't deserve such leniency, most in our office are of the opinion that the negative publicity would do you more harm than good. We've heard enough of the tapes to know that you don't want people to find out any more than your father does. We thought this might be more to your liking than taking the case to court."

While taking a deep breath, he held the phone between his ear and shoulder and scrubbed the injured hand over his face. "What's the catch?"

She paused and papers shuffling on her end fluttered in his ear. "The catch is that most family court judges would prefer another adult gain custody of you rather than emancipation. The judge would want you to have unfettered access to at least one stable adult who can help you cope with what's happened. I already spoke with Mr. Mars and Mrs. Fennel and they have agreed to take on that role if you approve. If not, they'll help you try to gain emancipation, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a judge who would agree to that."

'Keith and Alicia agreed to become my legal guardians?' They cared, he knew they did, but he'd never had an adult, never mind two, that wanted him like they seemed to. Hell, not even his mom wanted him enough to stay alive.

After he ran a hand through his hair, he leaned into Veronica's side. "My father will fight this."

"I'm sure that will be his initial instinct, but Mr. Kane was outside your house the night you went to the hospital. The younger Mr. Kane caught the whole thing with the rifle mike. Although your father didn't speak much, the sounds of flesh hitting flesh are unmistakable in the recording. It also included Ms. Mars arriving, your refusing her attempts to call for an ambulance, and her taking you to the hospital."

Another pause and papers moving. "There are also tens of thousands of surveillance photos Mr. Kane took while he stalked you and Ms. Mars. Those shots include your father leaving the house with blood on him. And we've got shots of Ms. Mars arriving and then helping you to her car. Your battered state is obvious. Couple those with the pictures time-stamped less than an hour prior to that of you arriving home, happy and healthy, well, the evidence is solid. Given all of that and your documented injuries, well, it'll be an open and shut case. When we show your father the evidence against him, I'm sure he'll be smart enough to realize the gravity of the situation. The public will not forgive him for beating his child regardless of what excuse he might try to give."

That's what he and Veronica were banking on when he asked Aaron to pay ten grand every month, so chances were Ms. Andersen was right.

When he rolled his shoulders, the pain cleared his head a little, and he let out a heavy breath but didn't respond. In the silence papers shuffled once more before Ms. Andersen broke the quiet. "The recordings also overheard you and Ms. Mars collecting hospital records. We've acquired them with a warrant. Now, we have the records from the hospitals you told Ms. Mars about. And we also expanded the search and found thirty-seven hospitals in Southern California alone with records of over fifty visits made to the emergency rooms. That includes the records from the three hospitals that you couldn't gain access to the records rooms for. Either he gives up custody, or we take him down in court."

Air burst out of his mouth in a noisy rush, while cursing Duncan. 'Damn nosy ass psycho is still making things more complicated than they need to be.'

A pause and more papers shuffled on the other end of the line. "When are you available to go over all of this in more detail? I didn't plan to say all of this over the phone. So, I need to sit down with you and an attorney or a child advocate attorney and explain what will happen. While a judge will take your opinion regarding who gets custody into account, by law, you are a minor. No judge would allow a minor to remain in the care of an abusive parent with such overwhelming evidence, even if you are now living apart."

With his injured hand, he scrubbed his face again. "I'm free tomorrow. I'm still recovering so I sleep in, therefore later in the day would be better if possible."

The pair made plans to meet the next afternoon and then hung up.

Everyone looked at him with question marks on each of their faces. "Hold on a minute. I need to call Franklin."

Then he called his attorney and found out if Franklin was free to go the next day. He was and agreed to meet Logan there.

When he dropped the phone into his lap, Veronica took his free hand and squeezed. "What's going on Lo'? What's the D.A. want?"

Another deep sigh broke out of him before he explained everything the Deputy D.A. said. When he got to the part about Duncan recording everything, Cassidy gasped and sat back, controller falling to his lap before he leaned against the couch. "Duncan recorded everything?"

With pinched lips, he rushed the words. "Yes, that's what she said, some ninety-eight percent."

Cassidy trembled. "God that means they discovered what Goodman has been doing to his bat boys." Logan's eyes widened, but he said nothing, so Cassidy almost whispered, "And they will figure out I'm one of them. It's just a matter of time."

He was sure Cassidy was talking to himself, but his eyes narrowed. "I assume if Duncan overheard you doing or saying something then yes, the D.A. is aware of whatever it was."

White as a ghost, Cassidy's eyes opened so wide Logan could see the whites of his eyes all the way around. Cassidy sat there trembling and staring off into space. Veronica and Mac each took a hand while Mach bumped his shoulder. "You okay, Cassidy?"

Cassidy's shoulders drooped in over his chest. "I didn't want anyone to find out."

He still didn't understand. "You're a minor so they'll keep your name confidential."

And it clicked, and his eyes widened with understanding, so he looked at Cassidy. "It wasn't your mom who hurt you was it?"

The still trembling Cassidy shook his head with teary eyes. Logan rose off the floor on the other side of Veronica and sat on the couch behind and to the left of Cassidy. After settling, he put a hand on Cassidy's shoulder. "Whatever you need, Man, just say the word."

Sitting on the floor, Cassidy looked up at Logan over a shoulder. "You don't think I'm a faggot or a pussy? Dad and Dick say that people who—"

With widened eyes, he sat straight before cutting Cassidy off, "First, I get that they're family. However, pay no attention to anything either says about anything other than surfing. Even then take it with a grain of salt. They're not like us; they're bigots through and through and Dick at the very least tries to make discrimination and bullying a sport. Second, if I understand, then no, neither of those things are true. We're victims Cassidy. Everyone in this room, plus Keith and Alicia, have shown me it's not my fault, and what happened isn't your fault either."

After Cassidy's mouth opened to say something, Logan raised a hand. "I know… I know it's hard to believe, and the words sound hollow now, but with time I believed, so perhaps you will, too. That's the hope at least."

Weevil threw in, "He's right, Man. Both of you are still underage, that means even if you wanted to consent, by law, you couldn't. That's what's gotten Logan's old man into trouble. Not your fault."

Cassidy twitched on the floor like he wanted to spring up like a primed jack-in-the-box. "Will they tell Dad?"

He exhaled a heavy breath, pausing, and gave a hard, obvious swallow. "By law they kind of have to. That's why the D.A. called. Ms. Andersen said they can't in good conscience leave me under the legal custody of my abuser, not with the amount of evidence they have. Believe it or not, beating your kid is not a Federal crime, but it is still a crime. The same is true of what happened to you. If they have that information, then by law they need to tell your dad, if only so he can keep you away from the person hurting you."

Cassidy gave a heavy exhale and scrubbed a hand over his face. "God, how did everything get so fucked up?"

Another chuckle rumbled in his chest, but there was no humor in the laugh. "We can traced most of the recent stuff back to Duncan going crazy, but the original sources were adults misbehaving."

Cassidy still looked like he'd seen a ghost, so Logan guessed at the main cause. "Cass, Man, you're worried your dad will blame you and take it out on you?"

Cassidy twitched again. "Dad only puts up with me because he has to. He has the son he wants in Dick. But I'm a waste of space."

With narrowed eyes and pursed lips, he leaned towards Cassidy. "That's bullshit, you are so much better than Dick. For starters, you're smarter than him by and far. You're smarter than most, me included, by a long shot. And you're creative and can find solutions and problem solve. Dick couldn't find the way out of a wet paper bag without help because he wouldn't be able to read a map. And you're decent; you proved that when you contacted me and told me where Duncan and Ronnie were. I treated you like crap and you still did the right thing and helped save her. And the last thing on the abridged list of all the ways you rock is that you're loyal. I haven't given you many reasons to show me loyalty yet, but I plan to fix that lapse. Unless I'm very wrong, you will be one of the most loyal friends I'll ever have."

He lifted his healthy shoulder and then dropped it. "So, I'm throwing my chips in with you, not Dick. Your brother isn't any of the things I just said on a good day and most days are bad."

Everybody else expressed agreement. Cassidy's eyes popped open wide at that, but he said nothing, so Logan looked at him. "Anyway, you can crash here tonight and at least give your dad time to cool down once he finds out. Hell, stay all week."

Cassidy's eyes widened and they could see the whites of his eyes again even while his lips turned down. "You're offering a place to stay so Dad can chill before I have to deal with him?"

A shrug. "Well, yeah, you helped Veronica and me, and proved you can be a good friend even if we weren't friends at the time. So, I figure I owe it to you to be a good friend back."

Veronica nodded, but Cassidy scratched the back of his head. "We're friends?"

He laughed even though Cassidy's tilted head, pursed lips and narrowed eyes showed his confusion. So, he gave a gentle grin. "I consider you my friend, Cassidy. Whether you return the sentiment is up to you, but I'm offering you friendship, no strings attached."

Everybody made agreement noises, so his lips curled upward. "I wasn't the greatest friend while pretending to hate Veronica and for what it's worth I'm sorry for that. I hope to make that up to you."

Cassidy's head tilted to the other side, but he allowed a tiny grin to spread across his face. Logan kept talking, "I've experienced firsthand what it's like to have a disapproving father. If you want to crash here for a couple of days or the whole school break and give him some time to chill, then you can. If you want to go home and face the music right off, we'll drive you home. And if you want to go home but have us come with, we can arrange that too. Sometimes having outsiders present gives them time to chill, too. He won't hurt you, will he?"

Cassidy shook his head, hard. "No. He'd never hit me. That would take too much effort, and he doesn't care enough to even bother. Uh, I'd like to crash here for a day or two, though, if you don't mind."

His lips tilted up a little more, and he reached out and squeezed Cassidy's shoulder. "I don't mind."

The little grin grew bigger on Cassidy's face. Mac chose that moment and bumped Cassidy's shoulder again. "If either of you ever need to talk about, you know, what's happened, we're here. And we won't go blabbing to the world or judge you."

Everybody voiced agreements again while Logan leaned back on the couch. "I talk it out with this tiny, blonde one here, but if I need a new perspective, I'll keep you guys in mind."

Their lips all lifted upward at varying degrees. Wallace sat up a minute later. "I figure Cassidy doesn't want to go home and get his stuff. We can go to my room later and see if we can find some sweats to sleep in and an extra t-shirt. I'm closer to your size than Marshall here."

Cassidy grinned a little more. "Uh, if you don't want to tell that's fine, but why do you guys call each other Marshall and Diddy? I get the rap reference, but how did that start?"

Wallace's eyes squinted, and he looked at Veronica with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes while cocking his head to the side. Her head inclined, so he smirked. "When I first got to town, I got sold the same line about Marshall being a psychotic jackass that everyone was getting. In January while the school suspended Vee for the whole fake ID thing that she had nothing to do with, I walked in on them having sex. That's something I wish to never witness again by the way. Anyway, I didn't handle the situation well and said something I shouldn't have. After that Logan set me straight with, among other things, a fist to the face. Then I spent the rest of the school day contemplating my relationship with Veronica and the type of friend she is. I wanted—no needed—to be friends with a girl who would hide the best thing in her life for the sake of a friend. So, I went to her apartment after school and apologized. While there, Marshall showed up, dressed like a thug. I'm talking baggy jeans, oversized hoodie pulled over his face, ball cap down low covering what the hoodie didn't, sunglasses covering his eyes. Anyway, I made a comment that Vee hadn't told me she was getting a visit from Marshall Mathers. He called me P. Diddy in response and the names stuck."

Cassidy had wide eyes again, but the corners of his mouth tilted upward. "That amazed me when we all found out you had been dating for a year and a half and no one knew. That day Dick and I walked in on her at your house. She wasn't trying to apologize, was she?"

He allowed his lips to tilt up, wistful. "No, we were comforting each other over the video of Lilly's crime scene that got leaked. I had to think fast on my feet to keep you from figuring out that you had just walked in on us making out. We feared Duncan would attempt suicide again if the truth came out and Dick can't keep a secret to save his own life never mind someone else's. Duncan found out at Shelley's party a month later and became our stalker instead, but we allowed our suffering to keep him alive and well."

Wallace looked at Cassidy. "Remember that Cassidy. Vee and Marshall's friendships are like none other, and they're offering them no strings attached. They'll move mountains to help or protect you even to their own detriment, and they'll fuck up anyone who messes with you."

Cassidy's head inclined but before anyone could respond a knock resounded through the apartment. He let out another heavy breath. "What now?" Then he rose and answered the door.

After opening the door, he found Keith and Alicia on the other side. Keith shifted on the front stoop. "Sorry to disrupt your afternoon, Logan, but it might be best to discuss what the D.A. had to say. I assume she called already?"

He opened the door wider. "Yeah. Come on in. We were just discussing secrets and true friendship."

They walked in, and all the teens moved around so the two adults could sit on the sofa. Well, except Meg who needed to sit on a real chair due to being pregnant. Everyone else sat on the floor. Veronica slid onto his lap and kissed his chin before Keith looked at him for a second. "Logan, you led us in here with your friends instead of the bedroom. Is it safe to say you have no problem with us speaking in front of everyone here?

He rested his chin on Veronica's shoulder until his ribs protested the position and he sat straight again. "I told them everything the D.A. lady said. They're all smart, so they already knew most of the details anyway, even if they figured it out on their own. So, yeah, say whatever."

Keith leaned into Alicia's side. "Okay, you have wanted to keep Aaron's behavior under wraps in the past."

He gave a slow nod, so Keith shifted on the couch, swinging an arm over the back of the sofa behind Alicia's shoulders. "We supported that because you remained safe for the time being and we're aware of how stressful the press can make an already tense situation. So, if you want to allow your father to avoid prosecution and instead have him give up custody, we're willing to sign on as your legal guardians."

With another shift in his seat, Keith leaned on his knees and made eye contact. "I'm certified as a foster parent. So, the courts should have no issue with us doing it this way. The child advocate attorney will show that you would suffer more with the news out in the open, but that shouldn't be difficult."

He allowed the corners of his lips to turn up despite the conversation. "If you're willing to have me, I'm willing to be, well, under your care, I guess. I mean, I already am, so yeah. I'm game so long as it doesn't put either of you out."

Alicia's lips turned up. She sat close enough to him and reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're a good kid, Logan. This arrangement has seemed to work out well so far. So, it's no trouble at all to make it legal. All it'll do is make us responsible for your behavior and safety. You're already following the rules we've established, so I don't foresee any issues."

He patted the hand still had resting on his shoulder. "Thanks, both of you. I—I'm not used to having adults care about me, and the whole thing has been kind of an enjoyable experience."

Keith beamed and sat straight. "Well get used to it kid because you're stuck with us."

He laughed before something occurred to him. "Uh, I'm not used to having to ask permission to do things. So, I already told Cassidy he could. But would it be all right if he sleeps over for a couple nights?"

After motioning towards Cassidy with his healthy arm, he rested his hand back on Veronica's waist. "He's having some issues with his dad and wants to give him time to cool off before he deals with him."

Keith and Alicia looked at each other, and Alicia beamed at Cassidy. "Provided Cassidy tells his dad where he is and Mr. Casablancas doesn't object, I have no problem with that."

Cassidy turned a little so he could see her better. "I'll tell him, and I doubt he'll mind."

She leaned back on the couch. "Do you have any allergies or food preferences, Cassidy? Logan is allergic to shellfish. Veronica prefers not to eat red meat. Meg is, except for the occasional Big Mac, eating vegetarian while pregnant, and Mac is a full-time vegetarian, too. What about you?"

After narrowing his eyes Cassidy's lips pursed. "No, no allergies and I'll eat most things, why?"

She beamed, reached over, and patted his hand. "I make dinner for all of us every night. If you're here tonight and tomorrow night, I wanted to make sure what I cook won't make you sick. Plus, if you are friends with Wallace, Veronica, and Logan you'll end up spending a good amount of time here and at least a few meals with us. I want to prepare just in case."

Cassidy's eyes widened and showed the whites again, and he understood so he laughed. "It's weird, right? A parent that cares and takes the time to not only make dinner but make sure it won't kill you? I didn't even realize parents like Keith and Alicia existed until Duncan and Lilly introduced me to Veronica."

Cassidy stared at Alicia in disbelief, so she chuckled. "Believe it or not, the ways of Neptune parents are not the ways of parents in the rest of the world. A good chunk of us involve ourselves in our children's lives, and many of us cook homemade meals most nights."

With a snicker, he leaned closer. "You're telling me that Bigfoot exists."

Cassidy gave a deep and slow nod before Alicia and Keith both laughed, and Keith sat back and spread his arms wide. "Just call me Sasquatch."

Veronica chimed in, "But those have more hair, not less."

Keith grinned and held his hands up in a 'here I am' gesture. "Maybe I'm an even rarer breed."

He winked at Keith. "Oh, that's for sure, no maybe about it."

Author's Note: A special thanks to Cornfrontation and His_Beautiful_Girl for their help with the Halo 2 details.

Also, just a reminder that I started a Pinterest Board for the story called 'Pictures for ALMH Series' under the name Saoirse Kinnardy.

The Pinterest board will also have the recipes to at least four items mentioned in the story that I will add as they're mentioned. This week I added Grandma Lettie's World Famous Lemonade.

I also made a playlist for this story on Spotify. It's called 'ALMH 02: The Winds and Rains and the Scorching Sun.' You can find it by searching for the title under playlists.