Chapter 16: Spy Work
A few weeks had passed since the confrontation with Aaron, and Veronica was still having nightmares. She woke up, sweating horribly each night, picturing Aaron's terrifying grin as Logan stood, helplessly watching her be tortured. Keith would run in, hearing her scream, and would shake her gently until she awoke.
Veronica never told him about the nightmares, as she didn't want to tell him what had transpired with Aaron. Keith didn't even know Aaron Echolls was a possible father to Lilly's child, and Veronica planned on keeping it that way as long as possible.
At school, things were almost the same as before. People had been unsurprised at Logan and Lilly's break-up, as the two of them had been off and on since the 6th grade. Lilly's new choice in boyfriend however, was discussed heavily. On her first day back, when she'd strode in defiantly clutching Weevil's hand, Madison Sinclair had walked up and asked if Lilly was playing a sick joke, all the while staring disgusted at Eli. Lilly had smiled sweetly at Madison and then proceeded to pull Weevil into a deep kiss. Madison's face screwed up into a grimace, and she stormed away angrily. Lilly only laughed as Veronica stuck her tongue out at Madison's back in a childish gesture.
Logan and Veronica were also a frequently discussed matter at Neptune High. No one had seen Duncan and Veronica's break-up on the horizon, and they were shocked when Logan and Veronica walked into school smiling and holding hands. Dick Casablancas had walked up to Veronica and asked if she was doing both Duncan and Logan. Before Veronica could formulate a sarcastic response, Logan had decked Dick, and Dick had stumbled away, clutching his bleeding nose. After that, people were less inclined to ask Veronica about the situation.
As Veronica readied herself for school nearly 3 weeks after Lilly's hospital stay, she smiled when she heard the knock at the door. She raced to open it, and was surprised to find no one there.
"Hello?" She called out nervously, peeking out the door. It seemed that whoever it was had left, and she sighed. She stepped inside to grab her back-pack, and locked the door behind her. She turned to head towards the stairs, and was instantly grabbed around the waist.
"Ah!" She cried out, and she jammed her elbow into the stranger's abdomen. The man stumbled backwards, and Veronica turned to face him, taser in hand.
"It's….just….me. Remind me….not…to sneak…up on you." Logan wheezed, trying to catch his breath. Veronica raced over to him, dropping her bag and wrapping her arms around him. Logan smiled at her, wincing slightly as she pushed against the tender spot.
"I'm so sorry, Logan. I had no idea it was you…I thought it was…" Veronica trailed off, not wanting to tell Logan she'd thought the person who'd grabbed her was Logan's father.
"Yeah, yeah. That's what every girl who elbows me in the stomach says." Logan managed to say a full sentence, finally catching his breath. He wrapped his own arms around Veronica, and leaned down to kiss her, and both of them were so wrapped up in each other, they didn't hear Veronica's door open.
"Can you two please save it for after I leave the house?" Keith begged, shaking his head at the couple outside his door. Logan and Veronica separated quickly, keeping their hands intertwined.
"Sorry, sir. Didn't know you were still here." Logan apologized, but Keith saw in his eyes that Logan wasn't sorry at all. Keith stared for a second into Logan's eyes, not believing the emotion he saw. There was certainly humor, but behind that was a strong affection. Keith would even dare to call it love.
"Dad? Why are you staring at Logan?" Veronica asked, waving her hand in front Keith's eyes. Keith snapped back to reality, and smiled down at his daughter.
"I'll tell you when you're older." Keith assured her, and Logan stood, pretending to be oblivious to why Keith had zoned out. He knew the older man had seen his true feelings for Veronica in his eyes. It was a look anyone who'd been in love would recognize in an instance.
"Whatever you say, Pops. Have a nice day catching criminals." Veronica hugged her father goodbye as they reached the parking lot. Keith nodded absently, still shaking his head in disbelief.
"I wonder what that was about." Veronica mentioned as she climbed into Logan's car. Logan shrugged.
"Hell if I know." He commented, still playing dumb.
"Hey, do you mind if we go to your house after school? I want to get those bugs in while your dad is on set and your mom is at her weekly massage." Veronica explained, and Logan stared incredulously at her.
"Were you stalking us?" Logan asked. Veronica rolled her eyes at him.
"I'm a super sleuth, remember? I've been watching for a time we could bug the house." Veronica defended herself, and Logan leaned over for a short kiss.
"Whatever. You could just admit you waited in the bushes to see me shirtless." He laughed when Veronica turned slightly pink.
"I'd hate to inflate your ego." Veronica retorted. Logan laughed again.
"By the way, I'll bug the house myself, thanks. You may be a super spy, but I can handle this mission on my own." Logan informed Veronica.
"Hell to the no. This is my mission as much as it's yours! Lilly is my best friend!" Veronica cried, outraged at the fact that Logan intended to do this on his own.
"And you're my girlfriend! I can't risk Aaron coming home while your bugging our phones? Or don't you remember the last time?" Logan hated to bring it up, as he knew Veronica was still haunted by it, but it was his only ammunition against her.
"You won't let him get to me again." Veronica tried to salvage what she had of her former argument. Logan looked at her, his eyes softening.
"Fine. You can come and wait in the car." Logan allowed, and Veronica shook her head determinedly.
"What if he tries to hurt you?" She started. Logan smiled at her.
"And what are you gonna do, Tinkerbelle?" Logan snickered, and Veronica smacked him on the shoulder.
"I may be tiny in stature, but I've got 500 watts of power." Veronica patted her purse, and Logan shuddered slightly at the knowledge of the weapon she'd almost used on him earlier that morning.
"Fine. But you don't get to leave my side." Logan commanded, and Veronica started to protest, but stopped when she saw the serious look in Logan's eyes.
"Deal." Veronica agreed, pouting only slightly.
As they pulled into school, and climbed out of the car, Logan took Veronica's small hand into his own. He walked her to her first class, and kissed her deeply.
"Veronica…I…" Logan started, and she turned her head to stare into his eyes. Logan lost his nerve, afraid she wouldn't tell him what he wanted to hear if he said the words that sat in his throat.
"I'll wait for you at lunch." Logan finished lamely. Veronica nodded, and when she smiled at him, Logan thought he might have seen the same thing Keith had seen in his own eyes for a split second. It comforted him as he walked towards his own class, his head filled with thoughts of the petite blonde girl that he was almost 100% sure he loved.
