CHAPTER 9

Duncan pulled over just in time. Logan bolted from his seat and threw up on the grass. Duncan walked around the hood of the X-Terra as Logan heaved. Duncan handed Logan a breath mint with a little smile on his face. Logan popped it into his mouth with a self-effacing laugh. He was about to thank Duncan with an insult when he saw something he would never forget. Veronica was in Weevil's arms. His mind shut down then. He started thinking out of pure rage and anguish.

Veronica was just calming down when she heard her name being called. It sounded like Logan, in a rage. She looked up quickly to see him bearing down on her and Weevil from where his X-Terra was parked. Her heart lifted at seeing him safe. She didn't care if he was angry as long as he was safe. She left Weevil's arms before he could stop her and went quickly to Logan.

"Logan" she cried throwing herself at him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face into his chest. He stood there looking down at her, his mouth gaping. He was confused, hurt and angry, and she just expects it to go away because of a hug! He pushed her away angrily. "Logan, why didn't you answer my messages?" she yelled at him. Her relief had changed into a rage of her own. "I was so worried about you, you...you idiot!" she shrieked, pushing him back a step. That woke him up quickly from his stupor.

"You didn't look too worried a minute ago you little slut" he spat at her, grabbing her arms and shaking her. Weevil took a menacing step forward. "Back off Paco" Logan said harshly, quickly releasing Veronica's arms. "I'm not going to hurt the little bitch". Veronica started crying then. Weevil turned her into his arms again and started speaking to her quietly in Spanish. Logan wanted to rip her out of his arms, but he couldn't move. Veronica hardly ever cried in front of other people. His heart wrenched as he heard her sobs. Weevil walked her over to where Duncan was standing. Duncan put his arm around her shoulders and led her to back to her car.

Turning from her to where Logan stood, Weevil snarled "You bastard! Do you know how much you hurt her today?" he continued, ignoring the unbelieving look on Logan's face. "She was crying so hard that she nearly got in a car accident. If I hadn't have phoned her when I did, she probably wouldn't have made it home".

"What the hell are you talking about?" Logan asked. "I didn't do anything".

"That's the point Echolls. You didn't phone her to tell her you were okay" Weevil said it slowly in the way you would speak to children or the mentally handicapped. "She got so worried that she went looking for you. But surprise, surprise. You weren't anywhere to be found". He sneered at Logan's obvious tipsiness. "I guess I know where she should have looked". Logan shook his head, trying to clear it. She had been worried about him and crying? Why was that all wrong?

"She wasn't talking to Wallace" he said finally, grasping on to that fact as if it was his life preserver in a tidal wave. Veronica heard him from where she stood and walked up slowly. Duncan stayed out of her way and let her approach the two men alone.

"That's what this is about?" she asked incredulously. "You did all this to me because I wasn't talking to Wallace?" her voice had gotten more and more quiet as she spoke. "Did you even bother to listen to my messages? Or did you just write me off as a cheating whore?" He flinched at her words but she kept going. "But I already know the answer to that, don't I Logan?" she said looking at him until he met her gaze. "I lied to you because I knew you were jealous of Eli. I didn't want you to freak out again" she took a steadying breath. "It was wrong for me to do that, and I am sorry. But I can't do this anymore. I can't wonder if you're dead or just pissed at me. I can't wonder if you'll trust me or insult me. I can't... I just can't handle this kind of pain anymore" she said it quietly.

"Ronnie" Logan started, panic sounding in his voice. "We both made mistakes and..." Veronica cut him off with a raised hand. She shook her head sadly and he could see the tears in her eyes. That was when he noticed how swollen they were. What Weevil had said finally struck home. Logan's heart almost stopped. He had hurt her. His Ronnie.

"Goodbye Logan". He heard her words down to his very soul. Memories flooded his mind:

Veronica laughing as Logan chased her down the beach, Backup's barking added to the mix.

Veronica looking up into his eyes and telling him that she loved him.

Veronica gasping as he brought her to pleasure for the first time.

Veronica holding him as he finally came to terms with his mother's death.

Veronica walking away from the pool house after pushing him for information about the night Weevil's money had been stolen. He had watched her walk away and had craved her.

Veronica giving him footage of Lily for the memorial. Her eyes had softened and they had shared a moment he had cherished secretly for months after.

Veronica looking up at him with wounded eyes as he blamed her for choosing her father over her friends.

Veronica, laughing at one of his jokes as Lily tried to talk Duncan into doing something dangerous.

And finally, Veronica as a young girl in her soccer uniform. She had smiled at him. Smiled without asking for his father's autograph like most kids did.

"Goodbye Veronica" he said hoarsely, to her retreating form.