a/n: Thanks to everyone who had enjoyed and reviewed this story so far.

Chapter Three

Dick held Mac close, still in stunned disbelief at how good they always were together. He had had to bite his tongue twice, trying to avoid saying things that would have Mac running from him as they had made love.

When he felt her squirming away, he reluctantly let her go but reminded her what the book had to say about increasing possibility of conception.

"I know I just got a bit too warm." She said unable to look him in the eye, her mind numb as she faced that the unrequited attraction she had felt that night they had slept together was still there for Beaver's big brother.

Resting her head on his shoulder, positive that he was only being this kind since it would get him his long wanted child, she hid the growing tears, unaware that Dick had felt their wetness on his shoulder.

Dick felt her, regretting that he hadn't stuck to his guns about using In Vitro. If they had used science he wouldn't be laying there, his mind in the past, thinking of a similar night when they had been close.

He didn't even think Mac remembered what had happened, he was sure that she had been convinced it was a nightmare. He had spent the night sobering up, watching her sleep, listening as she dreamed and muttered his brother's name after they had fulfilled some of Dick's most secret desires.

When he had finally fallen asleep at dawn, his last sight had been Mac resting her head on the pillow next to his, when he had awoken, she had been gone.

Keith had read the notes Veronica had sent him, set them aside after dismissing them as just Dick Sr. being Dick Sr. However early the next day, he had the nagging feeling that he had missed something.

Deciding to go see Dick, he drove to his office and saw his assistant arguing with a water delivery man. When the now cowed man had left, he said "Is there really a difference? Between the spring fed and the artisan wells?"

"Yes, one is from an actual well, the other usually is from a tap somewhere." Kayla turned around and greeted the Sheriff. "Am I under arrest?"

"For tormenting a lying delivery man, nah, I think that most people would suggest the Mayor give you a medal for that one. Actually, I am here to see your employer if he is available."

"Mac and he were married a few days ago; they are spending some time getting to know one another." Kayla replied.

"Mac and Dick, for what he wants, it makes sense." Keith replied then when he was on his way out the door, thought of the discussion he had had with the head of building security on the way in and looked at the woman.

"I understand Dick Senior showed up here a while ago and tried to take over. What was that about?" He asked.

When she didn't answer, he said "My daughter ran into him in New York and something he said triggered her bullshit antenna. She thinks he is up to something."

Kayla had an internal debate then said "The day Dick found out he was sick, his father showed up, claiming that he was going to take over the company since his son was dying."

"Strange, I got the feeling Dick wasn't that close to his dad." Keith probed.

"He isn't. He has monthly conversations with him, normally on the phone, but this time his father was in town. Dick had been having some headache issues and I had been trying to get him to go see a doctor. I simply thought he might need glasses because he was squinting when reading a lot."

"Instead it was cancer." Keith asked.

"Yes, his father mentioned that it was a medical issue for his side of the family apparently. He suggested that Dick talk to the specialist who he goes to regularly for a check up. Sure enough, he had cancer."

Keith felt his own nagging feeling turning into a sure thing, there was something off about this but what.

"Mr. Mars."

Keith turned to see Dick entering his office carrying a rolled set of blue prints. The young man did look a bit pale but otherwise seemed no different than normal as he greeted him.

"What's up, sir?"

"It might be nothing, but Veronica ran into your father, something he mentioned is nagging at both of us. I was hoping to talk to you about it, but I am not sure what I am looking for or what I expect to find."

"Well other than his trying to take over my company, he has for once in his life been a decent father." Dick replied. "I mean, I don't like that my doctor told him I was sick and when we saw the man today, Mac made it pretty clear that if he violated federal privacy laws again, she would sue him for everything he had, but otherwise…"

"He told your father you were sick?" Keith asked.

"Yes, must have been almost immediately after telling me." Dick said frowning. "I came straight back to the office and told Kay, then went for a drive. She said he arrived after I left, with plans to take charge."

"Dick, who is paying your medical bills?" Keith asked.

"I am, well our insurance company is paying most of them. I am paying the rest. Ask Kayla, they called asking for me to see their own doctor. It's why I stopped in, to pick up the name and when the appointment is." Dick replied. "They want me to sign a liability waiver since I am refusing life extending treatments."

"Dick, let me know what you find out." Keith said, not sure why the idea of his father supposedly paying his doctor was sticking with him. More than likely the con artist had used the money for something he didn't want his wife to know about.

Mac was talking to her dad, asking him what his doctor had recommended and when she suggested hiring someone to cook and help around the house, both of her parents refused the offer.

"But Mom, the doctor said that dad needed to be eating healthier. You need the help." She reminded them.

"Cindy, one minute they are saying don't drink coffee, drink red wine, then they are saying no wine then no vitamins, then do take vitamins. It sounds to me like even the doctors don't know what they are talking about." Sam replied.

"I like eating what I want and I have those statin drugs, that are supposed to help keep my cholesterol down, why should I change my diet to extend my life when all that means is years of eating bland meals that I won't like."

Mac shook her head, knowing that she would do better arguing with the wall. Standing, she hugged her father and whispered in his ear. "I want you around, dad."

"Go check and make sure that your brother and the rest have the store neat as a pin for your meeting with the buyers." Sam replied.

Mac left, knowing that there was nothing she could do to convince her parents to follow the doctor's suggestions. Arriving at the sporting good store franchise her dad owned, she entered and saw Madison directing the others about.

Greeting the blond, she said "You were right, he wouldn't listen to me."

"Now we do this my way." Madison said then looking around, her eyes narrowed when she saw the windows. "They didn't change the advertisements like I suggested."

Stepping back, Mac went to the office and double checked the books. Finding everything in decent shape, she looked at the messages and the upcoming events before going out the back door to where her brother was supervising the washing of the last big RV.

They discussed their father's stubbornness then Ryan looked at her before saying. "I think Madison's plan might work better, Cindy."

Shaking her head, Mac replied. "I hope so, look, I have to go meet Dick, are you going to be at the meeting tonight?"

"Nah, I have a game. You should come to the stadium sometime, watch me play." He said only for her to reach up and mess with his hair. "Hey, no touching the hair."

Dick was at home when Mac entered the main door. Seeing him rubbing his temples, she asked "Do you want me to turn down the lights?"

Watching as she sat down her keys and her phone, Dick replied "No, it helps to just stop reading for a while. I was just determined to get this done before you got home."

With that, he tossed the file back into his briefcase and closed it. "I had a visit from Mr. Mars today. Veronica called him about my dad."

"I wonder why she didn't mention that to me when we talked earlier." Mac replied a bit put out at her friend contacting her dad, but then remembering her suspicions that Mr. Mars knew where Logan was, she let it go.

When Dick didn't suggest that they go rest, Mac turned on her computer to do some work, never noticing the passage of time until she saw how dark it was outside.

Finding Dick asleep on the office sofa, she went to shake him awake when she saw the picture in his hands. "Oh Dick."

Resting her head against his arm, she sat on the hardwood floor and wrapped her arms around her drawn up knees. She knew he felt guilt about what his brother had become and that that was more than likely a big part of the reason he was so determined to be a parent, but at the same time, she couldn't help feeling he was still living in the past.

Dick woke up at the feeling of pressure on his arm and reached down to brush the soft curtain of hair covering Mac's face to behind her ear. "Hey, why are you on the floor?"

"I didn't want to wake you up." She answered as she yawned out loud. Looking at the clock, she saw it said midnight and suggested that they head off to bed. Holding his hand, not even realizing she had reached for it, Mac lead the way to their bedroom, then somehow found the strength to take the lead in what followed.

Logan read the letter right in the middle of Mail Boxes Etc. His eyes went wide as he read Dick's words. Cancer, terminal, and wanting him there were the main themes but it was what he hadn't wrote that had Logan feeling sick.

Closing his eyes, he heard the young clerk expressing concern for his health. Looking at her, seeing the pity in her eyes, he said "Its fine, just bad news from home."

When she went back to where her coworker was waiting, Logan heard the other girls comments about being nice to the hobo and shaking his head at her shallowness as she disparaged his rather unattractive look, debated between just heading to the airport and going home and grabbing his gear first.

Making a call from the satellite phone he kept in his pick up truck, he was told that there was a flight at ten but nothing earlier without a lot of transfers.

Booking it, he drove back to his cabin, grabbed his laptop, put his cat in the travel carrier to take her to the kennel, emptied out the milk and returned to town.

The woman at the motel didn't give him a second look as he took the key to his hotel room. Once inside, he looked in the soap scum covered mirror, chuckled at the grizzly Adams look he had been wearing for almost seven years and gave it a proper good-bye.

Pulling out a pair of scissors, writing down on his list of things needing a razor and shaving cream; he cut off the hair pulled back in a pony tail and most of the length of his beard.

The only hair place in town was one of those places where they cut heads without looking at the customer. Still the woman was clearly not thrilled with Logan's business as she looked around and made the newest employee take care of him.

The young girl stuttered for him to follow her and when she had washed his hair, directed him into the seat. A hair cut later and he almost looked like his old self.

Grabbing the necessary supplies at the local CVS, Logan soon found himself clean shaven for the first time in years. Rubbing his chin, he was about to shave the slight mustache when he left it, thinking about how white his skin already was.

A long drive into Albany later, he caught his only puddle jumper to La Guardia, then on an impulse delayed his flight and drove to the address he had for Mac.

Watching from across the street as Veronica left for work, he found his heart beating erratically even as he admitted that things would never work out for them, that she more than likely was happy with her life and didn't need his brand of chaos mucking it up.

Staying out of sight as he trailed her, he saw she stopped at the Warwick and curious as to why she was there, he went inside.

Seeing Dick's father, he shook his head and muttering same old Veronica, was on his way out when he bumped into a blond who smiled and said "That's okay, have a nice day."

When he saw Veronica and the woman talking, he saw the blond looking his way and ducked behind a pillar. Peeking out, he saw the blond greet Dick's dad who seemed to be in a good mood at her words.

Whatever was going on, Logan got the feeling that Dick's father was smirking when he greeted Veronica who seemed equally confused.

Seeing the time, Logan went to Times Square and picked up a prepaid cell phone before rushing to catch his flight. He would mull over what he saw later, right now, he needed to concentrate on being there for Dick.

Exhausted when he got off his flight in San Diego, Logan knew he wouldn't sleep but not sure where to locate Dick, he was on his way to the Neptune. Pulling into the Grande he did a U-turn and drove to the police station.

Finding Leo working, he asked "Is Sheriff Mars in?"

"Logan Echolls, wow, I thought you ran off and got eating by Carnivores in the Amazon or were in a dark cell of a Turkish jail or something." The deputy said with a frown.

"Nothing so exotic. Is Keith at home?" He asked.

"No, he is at his weekly dinner with some of the city council." He said. "I think that they are at Luigi's tonight."

Logan nodded and went to leave. Hearing his name being called, he turned and saw to his shock Weevil in a cop's uniform. "What the heck?"

"Don't laugh rich boy." Weevil said with smirk. "Besides, it's not as far fetched as you going all hermit and living in a cave."

"A, I don't live in a cave; it's a very nice two story log cabin with Internet access and everything." Logan replied. "B, A hermit implies no human contact. I see my fellow man; they just don't know who I am."

"Keith told me about Dick, tough break man. You know what he did right?" Weevil asked. When Logan seemed confused, he said "Casablancas helped redevelop the land that the Fitzpatrick's owned. Made it multi economic housing and reworked the warehouses and shit. Then built a place for kids, not like a community center but where they could go to discuss shit. It's been a draw for the community."

Shaking his head, Logan said "I think what his brother did still eats at him."

Scoffing, Weevil said "No, I think that the fact he fell in love with his brother's girl is what eats at him. Man after you left, I know he would get drunk and end up outside of her old dorm room. Since it was empty after Mac left, I gave him the key at the Dean's suggestion."

Shaking his head, Logan said "Wait, are you saying Dick has feelings for Mac?"

"I thought you rich boys were all touchy/feely and shit. That you were in touch with your emotions. Dick straightened out his act after he called your old cell phone. I was there when Mac took the call and went to get him from the roof of the Grande hotel. I heard he had another pitiful drunk incident at a bar near Pan high school that week then there was nothing."

"Stopped partying wildly except around the anniversary of Beaver's death; after which he would get drunk, be found on the roof even after he moved out of the Grande, then would get all maudlin and tell me shit I didn't want to know about Mac and how he had feelings for her."

"Two years ago, I showed up expecting our usual routine, instead he just sat there, sober as a judge, showed me this blueprint and asked how long does it take to fall out of love with someone who has died."

"What did you tell him?" Logan asked.

"That it depends on the person. He said he was going to give Mac four more years, then he was going to prove to her that she didn't have to crawl into Beaver's urn with him. When I first read in the paper that they got married-."

"Wait, what?"

"Yeah, they got married about a week ago." Weevil said. "I kind of actually felt good for him, you know. Keith told me what is going on, man you want to talk about life being a bitch."

Logan was confused but he was sure that it would make more sense when he finally talked to Dick and apparently Mac. "I was looking to talk to Keith, but I guess I had better talk to the happy couple first."

"Do you have his address?"

Being handed Dick's address by Weevil was surreal enough, but that he was giving it to him wearing a deputy's uniform had him thinking he entered the twilight zone. "Wait, I thought you were convicted of Thumper's death?"

"Overturned and expunged, one of the Fitzpatrick's turned on Liam. Turns out that Boyd and Liam put Thumper in the Shark's stadium bowels. He died during the explosion." Weevil said. "Otherwise, not a single conviction, I never went on trial either."

Shaking his head, Logan left the station, got into his rental car and read the street address. Arriving at the medium sized contemporary, he saw a car in the drive and a light on.

Knocking at the door, he was a bit shocked to realize that the young girl who answered looked vaguely familiar. "Hey, Logan. Dick isn't here right now and Mac just went upstairs to grab her wallet."

"Uh, hello." He said unsure where they knew each other from.

"Lauren, what do you say to having lunch at Java the Hut?" Mac dropped her wallet and her keys as she found herself being bear hugged by Logan Echolls. Gripping him equally as tight, she whispered in his ear "Dick is going to be glad you are back."

Not letting go, Logan just closed his eyes for a second then reluctantly loosened his grip. Looking at Mac's face he asked. "Weevil said you married Dick, is it true?"

"Yes, it's a long story. I know you have lots of questions, but would you mind waiting until Dick is here for us to answer them together." She said.

"Sure, I just feel like I entered the Twilight Zone, Weevil is a cop, Dick is apparently a philanthropist and you married him." Logan muttered "What's next?"

"Madison and I get along, well that is an exaggeration, more like we peacefully co-exist when it comes to our mutual parents." Mac said and saw his shock. "Longer story than Dick's and mine. Uh, Duncan is married and his wife's name is Devon and when you meet her, you are going to be reminded of his sister in some very uncomfortable ways."

"Really, Duncan is married and it's not to Veronica." Logan said lightly.

"You know Veronica doesn't and didn't feel that way about him, Logan." She gently said.

"It didn't stop her from running to him before." He replied a bit bitterly.

"No, it didn't." She answered, and then looking at him said "The two of you are simply marking days on calendars. You aren't living your lives, you are too stubborn however to admit that you need each other."

Lauren gave a slight cough then suggested that they reschedule lunch. "It's fine. Now that you are home, we have all the time in the world."

Lauren left and Logan looked at Mac. "How is he?"

"Good days and a few bad hours. I am more worried because it is mainly bad when he looks at blueprints a lot or when he has spent too much time at the office." Mac said then looking at him added "He is so tired on those days; he gets terrible migraines and feels sick to his stomach."

"When does he start chemo?" Logan asked.

This was the part that Mac knew was going to be difficult. "He is refusing to do the treatments; it's why we got married."

Logan said "I don't want to lose anyone else, Mac. I don't think I will survive it."

"You haven't lost Veronica, Logan. Duncan asks about you every single time he is home, Heck, even Trina has called me looking to find you since we are still legally business partners. Dick is scared but I am hoping he changes his mind. Yes, you lost your Mom and Lilly but that is all."

"It's not that simple Mac. Veronica is gone, out of my life; she has her own and is happy. I don't think that deep down I ever forgave Duncan for what happened with Veronica. He and I, things between us will never be the same. Trina probably only wants money and Dick, Dick and you, there is something I don't know about this, something that tells me that you two aren't exactly Ozzie and Harriet."

"He wants a legacy, a child. He is happy he won't be around to screw him or her up." Mac said softly.

"Why would you agree to do that and don't give me the Beaver excuse, either Mac. I think if anyone understands the truth about the Beaver and you, it's me thanks to Lilly. So tell me why?"

Mac heard the hard tone in Logan's voice and said "When you left."

Gaining the strength to talk to him about something she had never even discussed with Veronica, she said "When you left and asked me to look out for him, there had already been this, well incident. It tugged at my heart strings, shocking the hell out of me."

"What happened; Mac?"

"His father happened and I had to come and get Dick. I did and I brought him downstairs, I got him showered and I thought at the time, sobered up a bit." She said with a sigh, unable to look at him. "We uh, ended up. Well you know."

"Sleeping together?" Logan suggested not really surprised and not because Dick was a hound dog. When they had been working on Grade my Ass, he had seen the spark between them and had hoped that they could work out where Veronica and he hadn't. Still, he had believed all this time that nothing had happened, yet apparently something had.

"Yes, but it wasn't that that was the problem." She said then looking at him said "Let's just say that Dick opened up to me about a lot of things and what he said was a huge shock to my system. So I ran, breaking my promise to you, I ran and didn't come back."

"Mac, that isn't a reason for you to go through with this, whatever this really is. Whatever Dick said,"

"You don't get it, Logan." She said her tone broken. "It wasn't until he said what he did that I realized he wasn't the only one with those feelings. I had to run or I would have stayed, stayed and been unsure if what I felt was real or fake. When I came home, when I saw Dick, I realized I have spent the last eight years running from what happened."

"What did happen, Mac? What made you run?" Logan asked.

"Dick said that he finally, finally saw me that year; that it shook him because he didn't want to, that he preferred I stay pigeon holed in the little box he had labeled for me. I felt the same way about him, but when we talked at the beach that night we are all together last, he tried to kiss me."

Logan wasn't surprised, because Dick would always be Dick when it came to his feelings for a pretty girl.

"The thing is, I pushed him away but regretted it. And I only did that because I felt the same pull he did. It shocked the hell of out of me. When I got him from the roof, when he began talking, it touched me and then when we… finally, finally felt what Veronica talked about when it came to the two of you."

Logan ignored the Veronica comment and asked "What did you feel?"

"It was just a total and complete sense of belonging and the absolute terror of fucking it up." Mac said her eyes challenging him to deny what she said. "It's why when he asked me to do this, I couldn't say no. I was hoping that it would give him a reason to fight, but I screwed up, Logan."

"What do you mean?" He asked taking her into his arms when he saw her sudden tears. "Mac, what is it?"

"I think that if I am pregnant, that Dick is going to use that excuse as a reason not to fight." She whispered. "I went away, so sure that if there was space between us, I would stop having these feelings, yet there they are, still here. He is still tugging at my heart and I am going to lose him before we find out what this really means."

"Then tell him how you feel." Logan said softly.

"I can't. You don't understand; what if he changes his mind about the baby. I would at least have…" Mac's sobs had Logan figuring it out even if he didn't agree.

Mac got control and said "Dick said that one of the reasons he asked me to do this was because I am not in love with him, if he knew I was, he might take it back."

TBC