A/n: Two chapters!

Destiny rocks

ch 11

Logan

He knew that Destiny was staying at his hotel the moment several muscled men came through the doors and started barking orders. They wore all black with a yellow lined 'security' across their chests. They looked huge as though they lived on steroids. He watched them pass with one of his half smiles.

Be a little more obvious, he thought to himself. Then again, if Destiny was here, she was here.

His eyes scanned the bodies, but he didn't see any of the band. They're using the back doors, he reminded himself. Dozens of flashes went off by the front lobby, and he decided against going out. Maybe he could use some clout and get to meet them.

His fascination with Destiny began when she'd joined the band, however, no one really knew who she was. There was something…familiar about her, but then she was an everybody's type of personality. Even her songs were about down to earth subjects that often stars seemed to lack.

Maria tended to sing about people misusing her, and thanking them for it in some twist of feministic power, but Harlequin sang about the depravity of humans and their nature. She also sang about lost emotions and lost hope. There was an air of sadness to them that seemed to resonate with anyone who listened. It gave him chills just thinking back on her solo earlier. There was an air of mystery that shrouded her, and it started when their songs improved.

I am a fighter in the darkness,

I am lost where no one sees,

No one cares about the lost ones,

But it's not the way it has to be,

When will it end?

But that is the truth of the reality of me.

They must be in the Penthouse since he overheard when he pretended to linger longer than normal. His and Duncan's floor was about a level below that. Seconds later, Terry, and then Maria came in from the side, followed by Brent a fellow artist, and Mark. Harlequin was not with them. His eyes darted around until Maria seemed to catch his eye and blew him a kiss. She did nothing for him and was a little hardcore for his tastes.

Maria seemed to talk to no one in particular, and he frowned at that. Next, Mark came over to his side within a moment he'd spaced out. Logan found himself off balance and a bit put off. "We know you had come on over for the meet and greets, but we won't be doing anything in light of all this press."

Logan cocked his head, "yeah, figured as much. Then again, I'm not stalking, I live here."

"Live in a hotel? Figures." Mark laughed with spite, "of course you do; pretty thing like you can't be out there in the big cold world by yourself. Hey, I think I've seen your dad's movies. He's got something going for him."

Logan's lip twitched at that. Fucker, he thought and stared Mark down with his glare. Anyone who'd seen this before would know a bout of punches usually followed that look.

He responded in turn, "I guess douche comes easily to you." It was always the same. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth so they assumed he knew nothing. What they didn't see was the sorry excuse for a fucked-up father that beat his ass almost daily. Yeah, that guy found a perfect fault for every move Logan made.

"Awe, gonna break my big bus in with your bat and big mouth if I give you shit, pretty boy?" He laughed again missing his small mistake. "At least I earned that money with my dirty little hands. What did you ever do?" Then Mark ducked his head down, "Oh we know what pretty boys let people do." He lifted his chin at Logan's ass.

Logan lost his smile when Mark's words sank in. There was only one person's car he'd taken a bat to and that had been Veronica. What did this asshole know about it? Without thinking, he grabbed Mark around the neck collar and pulled him in, "want to go at it then?"

Terry yelled, "guys, guys. C'mon, what are we here…twelve?"

Logan let the fucker go and watched him knowing there was no way anyone other than two people would know he'd done that to Veronica's car. His eyes narrowed as Mark backed up giving him the finger and licking his lips. The guy looked like a grease pail.

Let him go, he thought and decided to stalk the band. Something was up, or they knew something. Why else would a hit band of freaks some to this shit town?

Maria

As Terry checked them in, she felt her energy begin to wan. "I need a picker upper," she sighed. "All this noise…"

Terry looked over to her, then Mark with a glare. "This is ridiculous. You started some shit and he's not gonna stop. Did you even hear what you said? How the fuck would you know that?"

"We can just say she told us or sold us the music," he said and gave a thoughtful look. "damn," he ran a hand through his hair.

"Damn is right," Terry scolded like a parent. To Maria, "stay off the cunt rockets."

"What?" She looked back at him surprised.

Terry reiterated. "Drugs. They make you act...your part. You know V doesn't like it."

"I suddenly have a headache."

Mark laughed at Maria's words, "looks like daddy ain't gonna get no squirt-squirt tonight."

They both gave him a foul face and looked him up and down in synchrony.

Without missing a beat Terry added to Maria, "you scream for a living and you are complaining about noise now?"

"Jeez Terry, need a tampon already? Someone get me a rag," Maria yelled and rubbed her forehead. "It's all the flashing lights."

"No, it's the booze and drugs."

Mark and Maria's gaze met and both rolled their eyes.

A moment later, a worker walked up and handed a rag to her and she smiled deviously. She waved it at Terry and raised her brows at him. "So? Want to take it out with this or chocolate?"

Mark stalked back and forth behind them, "that asshole's a real piece of shit. Got a mouth the size of Rhode Island on him. Maybe I'll ask our lil' kitten," he said referring to Veronica, "if she wants to make out in front of him. He has no fucking clue about life."

Maria chided him with a sardonic look. "How brotherly of you. Get in line." She sighed, "what do you know about his life? See? Nothing."

"It's not brotherly," he mumbled and grumbled. "it's called sex and I want to fuck her. I've made no excuses about it. Brent doesn't have a chance."

"Sick," Maria added looking disgusted. "Brent is sweet. You act like a horny horse. Hmm…hard choice- no pun intended."

Terry tried not to laugh at that. "Yeah, I have to agree there."

"He has the look," Maria stated. "I am surprised you missed it. Even the eagerness to brawl…sounds familiar. Maybe that dad of his ain't so fluffy after all."

In response, Mark stopped pacing and grabbed himself. A few on lookers gasped and made a face as they passed. It was his turn to blow a kiss at an eighty-year-old woman with a white hair that looked more like a fro with how much it was teased. She raised her hand over her heart at his mock suggestions. "How much hairspray is that lady? I could throw something and it would bounce off."

Terry turned and narrowed his eyes at the kid, "what did you say? Look at his face."

"Nothin'." Mark started. "I said 'stop stalking us' and he called me," and he made a face and wimped out, "said I was dirteh. I swear I hate silver spooned kids."

Maria touched her ear, "are you up the stairs yet? Melon head is down here being bullied by Mark. He may be an asshole, but damn, Mark is on a tirade."

Veronica's voice came over the earpiece, "Yeah, had to get my big Mac. There is no day'am about it. It all stops at the looks. Don't bother with him. Remember he was the source of most of my shit."

Brent followed them but said nothing. His mind seemed to be elsewhere and he hadn't spoken yet. When they moved toward the elevator, they were within range of Logan again who starred down Mark as if he wanted a fight. Before anyone could respond, Brent grabbed Logan, by the collar and threw him down. "Fuck off, rat."

"Whoa!" He yelled and brought his hands up to cover his head. He'd not expected it from him. Everyone knew Brent's temper. "Okay, okay, man. Sorry, your girlfriend there got feisty."

When Brent let him go, he swung. Logan may have to let his father hit him, but he was ready for anyone else who came at him. As they wrestled, the back of Logan's shirt came up exposing this to the onlookers.

Maria looked at Terry, and Terry's eyes darkened considerably.

"Looks like I am right," she stated.

Over their earpieces, Veronica said. "What?"

"Kitten, this boy has beat marks all over him. I think I see a correlation in his asshattery."

"Is that a word?" she responded shocked.

The elevator dinged and Aaron stepped through. He saw Brent first with a bloody nose, then Mark who stood laughing. His eyes went to Logan, and then to Brent. "What's he done?"

"What does he ever do?" Brent's eyes went to Aaron's and he let the kid go. He brushed by him without saying a word, and the others joined him in the elevator. Once the door closed, they began to shout.

Terry

"You morons! We don't need the attention. You want them coming up there and finding the girl we are hiding, along with the other one who is 'dead'? I'm living with amateurs. Brent, what the fuck?"

Brent's eyes were wild, "He put her through some shit, man."

Terry retaliated, "yeah and he's been beaten also. You should understand that. Besides, V isn't going to have sex with you. Have you seen how broken she is?"

"I never did that to anyone, especially a girl and never to my friends."

"Yeah?" Terry started, "well you ain't rich and rich kids may suck but they have a whole set of other issues. V has issues and none of you are helping it."

The door dinged again and two females entered. Apparently, Veronica's face was red as she heard the entire thing over their comms. "Let's shut it and go."

Brent looked down clearly mortified. "Sorry."

"Going up?" Terry asked and ignored him. After he pressed the button, he told Mark, "We all saw it."

"Don't be a dick, Mark," Veronica said. "I didn't even know he'd been beaten by his had. C'mon hit the penthouse so we can take these clothes off. What happened?"

He replied, "Why, the other two have already beat me to it." He laughed. "Logan's ego and fist."

"What, he messed with one of ours."

Veronica rolled her eyes. Mark added, "Me and Brent here went after shitface to protect your honor." Mark also laughed at the beat joke, and Brent hit him over the head. "What? It was funny."

"And I thought they'd make a remark about girls taking their clothes off," Maria chided. "But no, always the dick jokes." She smiled up at Mac in the mirror apologetically. "Welcome to hell."

"Pretty boy was looking for you-the other you." Mark said to Veronica at Mac's wide eyes. "He has that relentless look you spoke of. I kinda get it now. He likes the role, I like the boots."

The body next to Veronica tensed, "guys!" she yelled. "Mac just got here and we are trying to feel safe in this hell hole. Said asshole lives here. Why'd you start shit? He's not stupid? His beatings or whatever don't change what he's done, but I have a handle on my own honor. Stop making excuses."

Mac said speaking about Brent, "he has a thing for you?"

Mark laughed, "everyone loves her. Doesn't shock me. Wait till he finds out she's richer than he is. Brent is like a dog in heat."

Maria hit him, and he came back with, "what's she's heard everything already."

The door opened and all of them walked into another world. The room…was an apartment-no house sized. "Frickin' rich people," Mac muttered.

Terry said, "I've got some x-military on the side walls out there so if anyone tries some shit, we are well ahead of it. I got guys on each floor in a room also. We got it covered. If we need to hide you, we got places."

Mark gagged. "What is that smell?"

"We ain't in Kansas, and I've been hiding in my own shit for weeks," Mac said and pulled off her hat. "Ok, I need a shower. If the world ends between now and then I'll die happy. Tell me you brought a razor?"

Veronica pulled off her backpack and sifted through it to hand Mac a bag full of toiletries. Everyone else panned out into the large living area. "There is a god."

Mac left while Veronica stood there open-mouthed. "Well, ok then," she frowned.

Maria poured herself a drink, "she's earned that shower. Let her take the damn thing as long as she wants."

Mac

Mac smiled at the remark Maria made. It is going to take me an hour to shave, she thought dismayed. I look like ass in front of …oh who the hell cares? She thought coming back to reality. And yes, why the hell were they in this hotel? She raised her head up to the ceiling. "There's nothing else I can do but hope I don't get caught for this shit." She sighed heavily. But then she remembered everything Veronica went through, and it was just one girl. It was more than worth it.

Weevil, I hope they get you out, she thought.

She ended up under the shower and let the water soak over her body. It felt like ages since she ate or felt clean. It was hard to feel unsoiled after seeing a friend…like that. Images of Veronica's attack settled over her. It was the first time she'd seen it outside the 1 and 0 code she'd stared at for months now. Binary code was not fun.

A good forty minutes passed and she made her way out. Right outside the door was a pile of new clothes and underwear for her tags and all. She smiled knowing her friend took care of it for her. Veronica…V…Harlequin…when could they just be who they were?

She made her way outside the bathroom and laid on the bed. A knock sounded and she grunted her approval. "I never saw it till now. I take back everything I said about living in luxury."

Veronica shrugged, "you lived in filth also." Veronica looked around with a type of empty expression that Mac saw. She narrowed her eyes as if trying to read Veronica.

"It's almost over. Not a chance in hell they will get a decent jury." She sat up, "the list of players went to all the news stations. Want to try the TV?"

"It was by choice," she said and rolled over to face her friend who sat on the edge of the band. "It's crazy you landed here. And they tried to kill you. Why would I want to relive any of this?"

"You are doing more than most people will in their pathetic lives. And why are we in Logan's hotel?"

She held herself close at sat up as her blond hair with its streaks settled on her shoulders, "yeah well…how many didn't make it out." Veronica nodded, "well…apparently, Terry was not on the up and up. He's got people here though. Pretty soon it will come out I am alive."

Mac took a long hard look, "survivors' guilt is just as bad. Don't put yourself back there. Take them out of it too." She cocked her head. "He has no idea what lengths Logan will go to… does he? That Mark is foul-mouthed and an asshole."

"Yeah, he is. But to go back to what I was saying…This isn't me," she mumbled close to tears. "Seeing a real person after so long…who fucking cares? I've missed you Mac. After everything…thank you. I want my life and my hair back. I don't like these clothes and I hate this role. I want to get Weevil out of this mess, too."

"But you can sing," Mac gave her a positive. "You should try out for a Disney movie. You know, like a voice-over. And your boobs look nicer."

They both laughed.

Mac sat up on her knees and embraced Vernonia. "I wish it was as simple as being taped to the school flagpole. And Logan…saw me. I don't think he's turned me in since I am alive. He'd gotten pretty pissed when he found me but-"

"I don't want to talk about him," She pushed Mac away. The understanding that he may have been beaten all this time was hard to reconcile with her hate for him.

"He's nosy and he won't be stopped. He was upset that you'd died...Duncan is off the rails; a few girls are missing. Life's a mess."

She laughed then, "after all that he felt bad. And more girls…high-end girls at that. They are getting too cocky. Soon I hope such things are cut off."

Mac asked her, "I thought you had a thing for Duncan still."

Veronica gave her a stony expression. "As if I'd feel a damn thing for anyone. Especially him."

"Well," Mac started, "there's always Weevil." After a seconds' pause, Veronica busted out laughing. "I think he's more your type."

"Cassidy is my type, but he wouldn't even look at me." He frowned and deflated, "nothing like his brother." She cringed and shook with disgust.

Veronica frowned, "isn't he kind of strange?"

"I like to think that he's mysterious." She smiled at her friend, "and you will get that back went the time is right. Rape, especially that kind of rape, it…does things. I've seen you hold it together and I know that it's in there. Please hang in there and we will all be there for you."

"It's not time. I have a lifetime ahead of me to mourn and run and hide. I need this Mac. I need to get them out and make an impact on lives. Is that too weird at my age?"

"We have all aged. Do what feels good. If saving them feels like saving a piece of you then do it. Oh," she said and handed Veronica a necklace. "I found this at Logan's and took it."

"You sly thief." Veronica smiled and opened the necklace and saw a picture of her, Duncan Lily, and Logan. "Old times." Her smile faded and she rubbed her finger over Lily. "She totally destroyed me. Both people that were my friends did that while the one I loved just watched it all go down. Duncan is on drugs, Lily is missing and Logan has this entire other thing going on." She closed her eyes and sighed. "Who knew we'd end up here."

"It's outdated but I thought you could use it to remind you of that time in life before the shit-fest of your life. Those you will help had lives too. Your history changed, the friends in the picture are different, but only you can write your own history."

Veronica looked it over and placed it in her pocket. "Thanks Mac. Always great at words," she laughed.

Mac said, "If only that worked on high school papers."

Veronica and Mac had settled in when a knock came to the door. Terry yelled, "we have to move the girls."

Both jolted up just as three men in large black attire came at them. "Separate rooms!" Terry barked. Mac took the stairs just as the front door opened, and the Elevator showed signs someone was three floors to arriving. "Veronica, do something someone is coming up -a lawyer. Apparently, Aaron is the assholes' dad and he's made a big stink about the throw down earlier. They had managed to unlock the doors. Cover your face."

Where's Maria, she thought. "Aaron?"

As if reading her thoughts, Terry shrugged. "Move! Get your face on. Do the girl shit you do." He rubbed just outside his face in a quick motion.

She gave him a strange face, "a mask? OH!"

He nodded, "That cream mask stuff, yeah."

She hauled her ass down to the bedroom and dug for anything she could cover her face in. If Aaron saw her…

The door outside opened and she felt her insides coil. Is Mac ok? Where are the others? There was a knock on the stairwell also.

Terry opened the door, "what is it?"

"We have a complaint," lawyer stated and through a warrant at his chest. Aaron and Logan entered the premises, along with a few crops. Her door opened next while she was at the vanity, and she pretended to be offended. "Actually several."

"I've got one of the girls here," a cop motioned her out. She grabbed her robe and covered herself as she made her way out.

Terry looked her over, "From what I gather, you said it was the boys. Feel free to look, but they are out. Check the phones for last calls made, under the bed, you know…closets." he trailed off.

One of the cops asked, "Where is the other girl? Don't get smart."

Terry countered, "Did she hit him too?"

They began to search after the cop gave him a dirty look, "drugs, and Brent has a temper issue. Sorry if that disrupts the tour, but we don't give a fuck."

"As I said, they are adults and went out."

Logan came in behind Aaron and his eyes settled right on Veronica, but of course, he didn't see her. Aarons presence seemed to take up the room, and he walked over to her. Veronica tensed under the weight of his stare and his presence this close to her. Lily had once said she'd taped herself and him having sex. Her stomach coiled at the thought.

He laughed, "Well, you're the one my son likes to listen too. Interesting hair-reminds me of the eighties."

She shrugged but said nothing.

Logan waited desperately to hear her speak.

Her eyes darted to Terry when she noticed his prolonged stare, "her voice is sore. When we left there was a commotion at the club. We couldn't hear anything. She's not gonna talk, man. That's her money maker."

Aaron tilted his head, "I've also heard that about her." His smile gave her the creeps. She did her best-bored face, but it was hard being covered with a facial mask and in a robe. His eyes traveled over her as she glared. He was a super movie star also…one looking at her and causing the rage inside her to build.

Logan pushed passed his father and went into her room. Terry yelled, "Whoa!"

When she went after him, the cop reached for her. "We have a suspicion of drug use. Girls included." Veronica pulled her hair out and handed it to him. She knew it would be drug-free and it was long also. The cop sighed and took the hair and placed it in a bag.

"Because some of the guys are bad assholes? Or because we are famous? We should test you for coming at night. I hear the same of movie stars."

The lawyer and his fancy suit spoke up. He was balding and Terry could almost make out the image of himself in the shine on his head. "Do you always let them hit someone else's kid?"

"He's an adult who acts like a child. I hear Aaron has one of those, too. I am not their daddy. They do their own thing. And Brent is at a hospital since your boy hit his nose."

"That should be the next cover of his album." Logan laughed as he came back from her room and eyed her pointedly as if he knew something.

"Shut up," Aaron scolded.

Veronica watched him tense, and subsequently nod and step back making himself smaller. This only confirmed her suspicions. Only her eyes moved toward Aaron as she made her distaste known. Yes, Logan had been an asshole, but she got it.

The cop moved Veronica up to where Terry was and handed her a glass. Terry took the warrant the lawyer had given him and read it. "I suppose we could do the same since you like to beat your kid also. Being born of fifth as we've so been called, we learn to see it when its presented."

Veronica's eyes landed on Terry and she could see Aaron grown uneasy at that. "What is this nonsense?" he looked to Logan who had an unreadable face.

Veronica, mid-sip, splattered water all over the floor and back into the glass.

Dammit, Terry thought. He couldn't resist men like this.

"Get out, you have no basis for drugs, just the people Brent and Mark. Post a guy at the door if you want once you are done, then get out." He handed the warrant to the lawyer. "All of this aside her hair is inadmissible since this was for people. The hair will show a bad dye job, but a perfect record of health."

The lawyer was about to get snarky when Aaron waved them off. "No bother." The way he looked at Terry left Veronica visibly shaken. Logan seemed to notice this and looked between the three.

Logan

He was in her room, looking for god knows what. From here he could see her arms crossed and it reminded him of someone. He was about to turn around when he noticed a pendant down on the floor by some jeans. The cop harshly moved her next to her bandmate and she was out of sight. He heard his father talking and dropped down to grab it. This was mine, he thought surely. He'd not seen it since Mac… "three coincidence is not gonna happen randomly. They know something."

He had enough time to open it and look to see the picture of him, Duncan, Lily, and Veronica. But how would Harlequin have this? His eyes darted around and he saw two bags of girl clothes. Maybe she is here? No, too many and separate bags. He saw two razors. Maybe Mac is actually here?

His dad called the cops off after he went back out and pocketed the pendant.

On their way out, he stopped next to her. "I know you have something that's not yours and if you want it back, come find me. I also know you are hiding a criminal so that would be a good idea." Then he stalked off with the rest looking back just once with his typical slow grin. Oh yeah, I've got her he thought. Of course, he wasn't about to hand over Mac, but she didn't know that. He could swear she looked pissed, but if she knew something about Mac or Veronica's disappearance, she was going to have to come to him.

-Veronica-

Damn everything, Logan. Nothing has changed for you. But God will it ever. Veronica stood there almost stoically as everyone left. Terry looked at her far away expression and waved a few times. She slid her eyes his way, and then turned and closed the door behind her without any other word. When she was alone, she let it all out and wept like a child.