Hi, just some quick reminders:

I do not owned Veronica Mars or any of its characters, which are the property of Rob Thomas genius mind.

This is my first fanfiction, so please forgive me for beginner's mistakes!

English IS NOT my first language. I know my writing is definitely not perfect in terms of grammar, spelling, etc., but I still want to post this fanfic because I need to get it out of my head.

Thank you for your comprehension!

Chapter 4:

Uncle Vanya

Still breathless, Veronica was following the yellow cab with her eyes. Afraid of dreaming as well as meeting Logan, she practically threw herself in front a free taxi.

-"315 West, 54th Street, please".

She was trying to focus her mind on the address and the discovery she maybe about to make, but she seemed to have lost all P.I. analytical mind. NYC was way too big to have met him. It must have been somebody else. Her mind was tricking her into what she wanted, and not reality.

The taxi was slowing down and finally stopped in front of a little restaurant/shop. Stepping outside of the cab, Veronica was looking suspiciously at the front window of the location. The name of the place was Uncle Vanya, and it seemed to be an eastern European or Russian restaurant. It seemed quite simple, with a wood frame, wood walls and a Russian old-fashioned kitchen feel to it.

Getting in, Veronica was welcomed by a warm smile of a dark and handsome young man. All dressed in black, he seemed even taller and leaner than he probably was. His dark features as well as his tanned skin, with eyes reflecting deep tortured thoughts, he was as mysterious as any ex-KGB agent.

Am I playing the card of asking directly the questions, or am I playing the charming idiot? Veronica was not sure about the strategy to adopt. He was inspiring trust, but specifically that was what was worrying her. He was the kind of man to listen, but not spill the secrets.

I got to play it safe. Being too intrusive would definitely shut down any doors that could be open. But the idiot would be a mistake as well.

-"Hi!"

- "Hello Miss. How can I help you today?"

-"Well, I just heard about this place and I was curious, so I just came on the spot."

-"You heard about this place? Where did you hear about it? And mostly, PLEASE, tell me you heard about it in a GOOD way!"

She could not resist smiling.

-"Well, it's a friend of my father. They were just talking about his recent trip to NYC and he mentioned this little place, saying it was worth to just pass by if I had the chance."

-"Well then, thank him for us, and remind him next time that he comes that I will surely offer him a shot of vodka for bringing me such a beautiful girl in my domain."

Blushing naturally, even if it was cliché, Veronica decided to do her move.

-"Well maybe that will help you to remind yourself to offer him that drink! Here's a picture of him…. Aaahhh, good old days! Maybe you remember him? He was around about 2 weeks ago…"

All smiles, the young man took a look at the picture, taking the chance to move his body closer to Veronica. Suddenly, he became a marble statue: cold and stiff.

-"I see. That was a great pleasure to meet you Miss?..."

-"Goodwill. Mandy Goodwill"

-"Miss Goodwill. But I don't remember this man coming around. Maybe you mistook the restaurants. It is not the only Russian restaurant in New York. I wish you good luck in finding it. I must go back to my kitchen."

And he left quickly, eyebrows frowned.

Veronica wasn't sure if she had to be worried or curious, but she knew that something was definitely wrong. She was about to turn around and get out of the restaurant because of the bad feeling that was invading her, when she saw it. It was hanging in the entrance door, in the middle of other pictures. They were there, arms around each others neck, in a fraternal, familiar pose. Gory. His father. His uncle. And the owner.

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Logan got out of the taxi as quick as he could, screaming at him to stop, dropping a few bills and trying to open his door without getting killed. He ran to the intersection where he saw her, spinning around himself, trying to see over the heads a petite blonde. She could not have gone too far. And he was right. It was her. It was HER. It couldn't be anybody else. He knew it.

Either she walked away really fast, or she took a taxi. Either way, if she was over here, there were some chances that she would have a hotel around. Picking up his cell phone, he called his lawyer.

-"Hi Ken".

-"Good afternoon Mr. Echolls. What can I do for you today?"

-"I need to find somebody. Call a P.I., whoever, I don't care. I want you to find a reservation under the name of Veronica Mars in New York."

-"Anything less specific?"

-"Hum, let's find a reservation under that name in the whole state, would you? I saw her on Park Avenue, around the 51st street, so let's focus on this neighborhood. Call me as soon as you have any news."

-"Of course Mr. Echolls. Always at your service…"

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Back to her hotel room, Veronica's fingers were burning the computer keyboard. She was shaken by her discovery. What would Jake Kane do in a family business of the Sorokin? I know he is linked through the Castle with them, but he disappearing after going to one of their place is only an open door to bad news….

Veronica's research was not vain. She quickly unveiled the identity of "Uncle Vanya". Uncle Vanya, actually Vanya Sorokin, was the uncle of Gory's father, who raised him after the disappearance of his father. He seemed to always had follow his nephew wherever he went, and was always beneficing of a mansion or house entirely paid by Mr. Sorokin. He had been living steadily in Rhode Island for a few years, and was taking care of charities for young eastern European coming to USA. Uncle Vanya's restaurant was actually owned by his illegitimate son, whom he had with a Russian ballet dancer. He was a well respected man in its community, frequently seen in the gottha column, always surrounded by beautiful women and powerful politicians.

She even found a picture of Jake Kane and him in the New Yorker's archives. It was a few years ago, and Jake Kane was smiling, a cigar in its hand, like if life was a paradise. Written in small characters, the legend was praising the collaboration of the both men on a charity trust fund for eastern European students coming to Hearst University.

Veronica bites her lips. She knew she had to investigate deeper in that foundation and the relations between Jake and the Sorokin, but she knew how dangerous it could be for her and anybody close to her. She also knew that getting information would be hard and even harder. But she also knew that if they did something to Jake, they could also attack Celeste or Duncan. If they feared they also knew something. I can't let this happen. Maybe I dislike Celeste, but Duncan and Lilly always been good to me. I got to do it for them.

She was arguing with herself on what to do and where to start when she heard a knock on the door.

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He stopped breathing when she opened the door.

It didn't take long before he got the call from his lawyer, telling him that Veronica had a room at the Waldorf Astoria. Strange. Its definitely not her usual style. While he was getting up with the elevator, he felt his body becoming tenser as the floors where left behind. Was it its way to heaven or to even more hell, he wasn't sure. Was she there for him or for another of her god damn case? His palms were becoming sweaty, and he felt the need to push his sleeves up his arms, dry his palms on his jeans, and brush his hair with his hand. Saying that he was nervous was an understatement.

Ding. He was on her floor.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at the door. It took him time to know on the door. He was trying to hear through the walls. Was she with somebody? Was she simply there?

Toc Toc

No way back. There she was, in front of him, as beautiful as she always has been, looking about to faint…

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-"What are you doing here?"

-"Hum, considering that I am the one living in New York, maybe it would be more appropriate to ask YOU the question Veronica. But how about saying hello and how are you doing?

-"Hello, how are you doing and how in hell did you find me?"

-Well, Hello you too Veronica. I am doing fine, well was doing fine, until I saw you on the other side of the street. I then found myself mesmerized by your presence and called a few P.I. to find out where you were staying. And considering the warmth welcome you just gave me, you didn't come only to share with me all the moments we have missed in each other's life."

Veronica was feeling bad. She was overjoyed when she saw him at first, her body instantly relaxing at his smell and his proximity. But then again, she came back on her guards and she was astonished to see him there, terrified also, not knowing what to do or what to say.

-"Well I thought about it on the way over here, and then I told myself I just had to buy People Magazine or US Weekly and they would fill me in on all the details I missed Logan"

-"Aaaahhhh, gossip magazines. They should pay me for the work I am giving to them! "How the great Logan Echolls made it to number one again?, "Logan Echolls, building on his horrific past", "Logan Echolls, bachelor of the year", "Logan Echolls tries new sexual prowess on"….

-"ok, I got the concept, you like the spotlight".

-"What do you want me to say? I was raised by Aaron Echolls, the fallen Hollywood star!"

-"Well he was your father, but being raised by him is pushing it a little bit".

-"You're right, let's avoid discussing my dear father's parental skills and is genetic heritage. I have to keep some of this bullshit for Barbara Walters. People never get sick of it… So… can I come in or should I call myself the security to let them know that I plan to rent the specific space in between the corridor and your room for a while?"

Opening widely her door, she invited him by a gesture to come in.

Getting in the room, it didn't take long to Logan to realize that she did definitely not come for him. There were papers everywhere, her computer, pictures…

-"A case? I thought you worked for San Diego FBI's office, not NYC!"

-"Private case Logan. Have some days off from the services, so I took it to help my dad." She was picking up all the papers and pictures, closing her labtop before he would sneak too much in them and discover the specific reason of her presence, her "target".

-"Wow, that's what I call taking some days off!"

-"So, why are you here Logan?" Her eyes were distrustful as she was taking a deeper look at him. He was looking even better than before. He was wearing jeans with a plum shirt, which was softening his features. His hair were still bleached from a surf trip, his skin slightly tanned, his lips as inviting as before, his whole body tensed towards her… Looking at him was just reminding her how much she missed him and how much she wanted him. She felt herself blushing, but kept her eyes locked to his.

-"Because. Because I saw you. Because I hoped you came to see me, to talk to me. Because I listen to my instincts, not to my head. But as I can see, it was a waste of time to think that you even bothered about my presence in New York. Would you even have called if I wouldn't have come?".

He sounded furious. His jaw was crisped. His eyes were on fire, of angriness and of... desire? She turned her head on the side, biting her lips, trying to stay strong. Of course she wouldn't have called him, or go to his penthouse. She still remembered the Alterna-Prom, when she went to his hotel, when she knocked on his door, ready to share her feelings with him… until Kendall showed up. She knew he was no saint, and taking a chance to hear the voice of a woman over his phone line, or a woman answering his door would have killed her.

-"I don't think so Logan. You… me… it's all so far behind. I wouldn't have dared coming as an intruder in your new life…

-An intruder? An INTRUDER? What are you sincerely trying to say Veronica? That nothing counted in between us, that you are trying to forget everything?????" By this time, he was screaming, back on his feet, walking around the room.

-"Logan, that is not what I said…"

-"So what DID you say? I mean, why in hell am I bothering? Why the hell am I still doing over here? You threw me out of your life like if I was some kind of undesirable residue of your past life, you threw me out and never cared about it, you just got to your little quiet, stable and predicable life with Piz… I thought you understood how much I cared about you, I thought you cared as much…"

He was now facing the window. She was only able to see his back. She was wondering if she should tell him that she went to the hotel after Gory's beat up, that she wanted him back, that she wanted "US" back. Being next to him, seeing his anger and his vulnerability was hurting her, was killing her actually.

I should tell him how I feel, I should tell him how much I missed him, how much I love him, how much I can't stand the idea of being more than a few meters away from him, more than a few minutes without him. I am weak. He makes me feel weak, because I know with him I don't need to be strong.. he is strong for both of house.

Shaking her head vigorously, she tries to chase the tears in her eyes, to modulate her voice as emotionless as she can. Think about Duncan's father. You need to find him. And for that, you'll have to deal with the Sorokin. Logan go out the first time when he left. But if I ever meet Gory again during my investigation… and if he ever remembers Logan and what he promised to do to him… No Veronica. You got Logan out of your life a long time ago, and it was for the best. For him.

-"The past is the past Logan. You should go".