A/N: Here's chapter twelve. I told you it was coming! :) Anyway, this one is rather short, but it's kind of just a set up for the next chapter. Enjoy, vote in my poll, and R&R! Thanks! –Mac

Disclaimer: I don't own.

Chapter Twelve

Out of Her Hands

The next morning Veronica was sitting on her hotel bed with her cell phone pressed to her ear. The automated voice on the other end responded to the inputted digit she was prompted to select with two words: "Status: delivered." When Logan exited the bathroom, fully dressed after his shower, rubbing a towel through his hair to dry it further, he found Veronica staring at her phone as it sat clutched in her hands in her lap.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I have a problem," Veronica answered with her eyes still down turned.

"What is it?" Logan prompted further and sat down beside her on the edge of the bed.

"The results of the paternity test, they uh, they got there early. I thought I would be back in time, but I'm not," Veronica explained. Her voice was even over the first few sentences, but then she dropped her phone onto the bed and stood. She began to pace a short path back and forth, the length of the foot of the bed, and when she spoke again she was frantic. "If my dad gets them before I—he just can't get them before I do. And if my Mom finds them first, I'll never see them. She'll probably burn them or something. I could never make it there in time and I don't know what to do."

"Okay," Logan took in everything she said. He tilted his wrist so he could check the time on his watch. "Well, mail must have just come. Your Dad is probably still at work, and there's only a small chance your mom has checked it. So, here's what you're gonna do," Logan picked up her phone and walked over to put it in her hands. "You're gonna call someone to run interference. Who would you rather have know, Lilly or Duncan?"

Veronica let out a shuddering breath, "Lilly."

Before she could stop herself, she pressed in her speed dial for Lilly's number. As the phone began to ring, Veronica pressed it to her ear. She held her breath as she waited for the other end of the line to pick up. There was a weight on her shoulders over having to drag either of the Kanes into the ordeal, but she had to have the results out of the hands of her parents. When she thought about what having those results could change about how she thought of her parents, a different kind of pressured tension closed in on her.

"Hello?"

"Hey Lilly," Veronica's voice cracked, despite trying to remain calm.

"Veronica?" Lilly exclaimed, "Where the hell are you? Everyone here is freaking out. Your mom has called my parents like a million times. Oh my god! Is Logan with you? Donut came back from his trip with Dick and Beav and he says he hasn't been able to get a hold of Logan for a week. And he hasn't been around. The two of you have been completely off the grid—"

"Lilly," Veronica finally cut her off. "I need you to do me a favor. It's vital."

There was a long pause on Lilly's end, "Okay, Vee, shoot, but know I'm only doing this because I want all the juicy details of your and Logan's getaway."

Veronica looked up at Logan, "It's not like that Lilly."

Logan frowned, seeming to wish he wasn't limited to only one side of the conversation.

"Whatever you say, Veronica," Lilly said. "Either way, you owe me a good explanation for going all MIA without so much as a heads up."

"This is Important, Lill," Veronica replied. "I can't get into it right now."

"Tell me what you want me to do."

"I need you to go to my house. Call me when you get there."

"Alright," Lilly agreed, "but remember: details…explicit details."

Veronica let out another ragged breath after Lilly hung up. Logan had returned to sitting on the edge of her bed and, with her phone clutched in her hand, Veronica joined him again. They sat silently waiting for a little more than twenty minutes before her phone finally rang. Logan reached over and took one Veronica's hands in his. She turned her gaze up to look at him, surprised. He nodded encouragingly and she took a deep breath before answering the call.

"Lilly?"

"Okay, I'm at your house," Lilly answered. "What now?"

"Is my Mom's car in the driveway?"

"No."

"Has the mail been checked?"

"I don't think so, no. Let me check," Lilly said. "No, the mail is still here."

Veronica breathed a sigh of relief, "Is there a large envelope addressed to me?"

"Um, let me see," Lilly replied. Veronica could make out the soft sound of shuffling paper. "Yes, there is."

"Take the envelope for me Lilly," Veronica directed. "You can leave the rest."

"It's done, Vee," Lilly confirmed. Veronica heard a car door close and an engine start before Lilly added, "This looks really important."

"You have no idea," Veronica said softly.

"So, do you want me to just hold on to it?" Lily asked. "Or do you want me to tell you what it says?"

Veronica hesitated for a moment, thinking it over. On one hand, if Lilly didn't open up the envelope then she would never have to know the exact contents of the letter it contained. Veronica could sell a bogus explanation to Lilly easily and she wouldn't know any better. Yet, there was a part of Veronica that wanted more than anything to have the truth right that moment. It would mean that Lilly knew as well, but Veronica couldn't really stand to wait any longer. The indecision was bearing down on her and she looked to Logan.

"What do I do?" Veronica whispered to him, as she held her hand over her phone. "Do I have her open it?"

Logan shrugged, but gave her hand a squeeze. "It's not my decision to make. It's entirely up to you. What do you want to do?"

"Veronica? Are you still there? Hello?"

"Lilly," Veronica said, making her final decision, "open it."

"Alright," Lilly responded. A second later, Veronica could hear Lilly ripping open the envelope and she held her breath. There was a crinkling of paper over Lilly's voice saying, "Here goes."