A/N: Concern was expressed about Logan deserting Dick in his hour of need. Sorry about that, but I needed to create a plot point to introduce Weevil to the story and to set up his realizing that just because they are 'rich boys' doesn't mean that Logan and Dick's lives are any easier than his. Also setting up for Madison was needed.

Keith lay awake, his mind on what he had learned that day about Dick. From all of his usual sources then from former teachers and professionals, the detective had a good idea what the blond surfer dealt with in regards to his parents and every day life. While he hadn't been physically abused, there had been clear emotional neglect and mental abuse. Dick Sr should be very glad he was on the run, if he was in Neptune, Keith would gladly kick the man's rear.

He had suspected from Cassidy Casablancas' mess that things weren't right, but he had no idea how wrong they were. Sitting up, realizing he wasn't going to get any sleep, he called Eli and asked "How is it going?"

"Doesn't anybody in Neptune sleep?" asked the former gang member. "Echolls slipped in to visit with Casablancas an hour ago, that blond has been back twice. She's rather persistent for a chick that I know checked out on the kid constantly."

"Like I said, her parents told her that they would cut her off financially if she didn't get a part time job, I think that Ms Sinclair feels marrying Dick would qualify." Keith asked if Eli wanted to head home. "I think that with Logan there it would be safe to get some sleep."

"Yeah, will head home, but have to admit, am fun dealing with the nutjob." Eli said then looking in at Echolls saw that he was speaking to Casablancas who was still asleep.

"Okay, well I have located that bail jumper, up for your first chase tomorrow." Keith asked. "Stop by the office and pick up the file."

"Sure thing, Sher-er Mr. Mars." he said then went inside to speak to Echools. "I was told to head home if you are going to be sticking around."

"I am. Weevil, I heard that Madison tried again to get to Dick, thanks for keeping him safe." he said as he watched his sleeping friend.

"Its the job." the bald man said, then quickly left for the night.

Logan sat there, watching Dick sleep, his mind still reeling from the cards and letters he had found. He had doubled checked his yearbook just to be sure and there was only one classmate with the initials CM. The one and only Cindy Mackenzie.

"You know, Veronica's dad is a detective, it won't take him long to figure it out." he was telling Dick. "I can't help wondering why you didn't tell anyone, I mean, no one would have ever suspected."

Then realizing that had probably been the point, Logan grimaced. Sitting back, getting comfortable, he couldn't resist telling the unconscious man in the bed all about their rescue of Mac today and her threats against Logan's bank account.

"The part that scares me, she probably could do exactly that man. What is it with us, why can't we chose the simple uncomplicated women, no, not us. You fall in love with the smartest girl in school and me, the scariest."

"Ronnie isn't scary, more like terrifying." said the man lying in the bed.

Logan jumped up, shocked to realize that Dick was awake. "When did you wake up."

"A few hours ago, I stayed silent because I had no idea what the fuck is going on dude. I mean, I have the hangover from hell, or whatever the fuck happened, I am in the hospital. I don't like hospitals, dude." Dick said glaring at the equipment hooked up to him. "Weevil was standing outside my door so I can't help thinking what did I do that has the bikers after me. I hear Madison shrieking and decided that it was much better to be asleep then dealing with her."

There was silence as Logan tried to find a way to bring up what had happened but before he could figure it out, Dick asked. "What happened. Did I get in a car accident or something?"

"Try or something. I found you passed out at the house in your bedroom. You were barely breathing." he said.

"I don't remember. Last thing I recall is my mother pissing me off and going to Beaver's room." he said. Something tells him he was angry with his brother, that something was also telling him that he had found something huge out.

"You trashed it man; with a sledge hammer." Logan said. "Dick, we have to talk about something. You were out of it, they had to contact someone to save your life."

"Oh shit, damn, is V pissed?" Dick asked as he tried to sit up.

"Only that she won't get to pull the plug." Logan said and saw the way Dick rolled his eyes. "Just kidding, but why her dad?"

Shrugging, Dick said. "He was the only person I could think of as a responsible adult. V's dad is honest, dude. I mean look how he didn't let them force him out over Lilly."

"He fixed things and is now dealing with the hospital. They want to put you in rehab, Dick. Mr Mars refused, said that you weren't a drunk."

There was silence again, which was very unusual around Dick and Logan knew that something was going on. "Veronica's back."

Then looking at the bag he had brought with him, Logan added "Mac is staying with her until the end of the month."

He heard the telltale sound of the machine measuring Dick's heartbeat speed up then suddenly go back to normal. "Yeah, I called Veronica and left a message asking them to meet me here today."

The machine sped up and this time didn't go back down as quickly. "Man, you shouldn't have done that dude. She doesn't want to see me, I am the reason Beaver lost it."

"No, that was Woody, Dick." Logan said. "You aren't responsible for this, man. You did tease your brother, but I don't get along with my sister. Yeah we were mean to Beaver, it wasn't only you, but that didn't mean that you are responsible for what he did."

"I am for what happened to Veronica. I put him in the room with her." he said softly.

"Yes, but did you expect him to do what he did." Logan said. He knew Dick and while he talked and acted like an idiot about girls, rape wasn't a game and that was all Dick liked to do was play games.

"Maybe not, but I put the idea in his head with my fucking joking around. I keep replaying that night in my mind. I was so angry with her, for hurting you, for hurting Duncan. I didn't mean for what happened to happen but I set in motion." Dick said clearly freaked out.

"Veronica and I talked about this, Dick. She said your an ass but not responsible for what he did. He made the choice man, not you."

Hearing Veronica's dad speaking to the doctor, Logan said "We still need to talk about Mac."

"Why?" asked Dick as he moved to his side trying to ignore Logan only for the alarms to go off. When medical personal entered the room, Dick snapped. "I'm fine, just get this crap off of me. I want to go home."

Nodding, the doctor went to unhook the monitors with the nurse while Logan stepped into the hallway with Mr. Mars. "Logan, how is he doing?"

Looking at the older man, Logan said "He is freaking out, and when I bring up Mac's name, he evades or like just now, he turned away."

"Do me a favor. Go home." Keith said with a smile. "While I am sure given,he could convince you to take him home, he can't me."

"Uh, Veronica and Mac are on their way." Logan said.

"I know, I dropped them off at the office to pick up her car." he said. "Just give me a few hours, I think that I can talk to Richard."

"Fine but I should tell you the only person who calls him Richard is his mother." cautioned Logan as he went to head out. Stopped, he looked at the other man who held out his hand for the bag.

"I might need that." he said taking the bag with the Valentines and other odds and ends.

"I need to tell Veronica about Mac." Logan said. "She knows he was crushing on someone and if I don't, she will go looking for answers."

"Fine. Just don't make Mac feel left out by trying for discretion. Wait until the two of you are alone." warned Keith then hearing the medical personnel leaving, he entered the room and looked at the young man laying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. "14,548."

"Huh?" Dick asked looking at the man.

"14,548, its the number of dots on the tiles. I counted them when I was a patient here last year." he replied then sitting down in the chair that Logan had vacated, he said "I sent Logan on an errand but in truth, I wanted to talk to you."

"I'm not a drunk." he said before Keith could speak.

"No, you aren't but if you don't change your ways, you are going to end up a drunk." he replied. Seeing the young man shrug, Keith sat the bag with him on the tray and set it in front of Dick.

"What's that." Dick asked as he looked at the unfamiliar bag.

"Open it and find out." he said.

When Dick unzipped the bag, then dumped everything in it on his lap, Keith watched as he turned sallow then at him before trying to return everything to the bag.

"How often did you wish you were your brother when he was dating her?" Keith asked. When Dick didn't respond, Keith asked another question. "Okay, lets go back to the beginning. How long have you been in love with Cindy Mackenzie."

"I'm not." Dick snapped but Keith saw how carefully he was placing everything back in the bag.

"Okay, how about this one. How much do you hate your brother for falling for the same girl you were already in love with."

"He didn't really love her." Dick snarled then froze as his head sank back down onto the pillow. The words from the journals returned and began to fill his head with his brother's anger and his plans to destroy everyone around him.

"Dick? What is it?" Keith could see the blond's emotions on his face as he went from anger to pain to looking like the world had ended and finally there was a blankness on his face that clearly was the reason for the drinking.

"HE used her, because of me." was the answer. "I know I owe you an explanation dude, but can it wait. I just want to sleep."

"I will let it go for now, Dick." Keith said then added. "We need to talk about your living arrangements. When you were brought in, the hospital contacted your mother."

"She won't come, thanks for trying." he said sarcastically.

"I didn't expect her to." Keith said. "However, due to your age and that you were drinking to excess, they had to turn your name over to child services."

"I'm eighteen dude." he protested.

"Yes you are, but until you are twenty-one they are required to investigate. Since I am normally the one they come to, I went to your place with Logan. Its fine, Dick, but they are going to be sending someone in to check up on you on a regular basis. If they find you drunk just once, they are going to have a PINS petition put out on you."

"What's that?" he asked.

"Person in need of supervision. I have an idea how to avoid that but I want to talk to both Logan and you together. For now, I want you to stay here, let them treat you for the alcohol poisoning. When they let you go tomorrow, the three of us will meet."

Getting a nod of agreement from Dick, Keith stood and was almost to the door when he added "I had Eli on the door yesterday but today he is on assignment, are you going to be okay with Madison Sinclair because she won't give up."

His lips twisting, Dick said "Her 'rents told her they would pay tuition and her insurance but that she had to get a job."

"I have already spoken to the the Sinclairs, I am aware what is going on." said Keith.

"She mocks me to my face, then decides that the solution to her problems is to marry me. Funny huh?" asked Dick bitterly. "Want to hear something else funny?"

Keith leaned against the door watching as Dick mirthlessly laughed.

"I dated her because I was supposed to."

"Why were you supposed to date someone, Dick?" Keith asked as he began to think about the quartet involving Veronica, Logan and the Kane siblings.

"Cause her mom and my mom made us attend cotillions, we were partnered up in sixth grade." said Dick. "Its how it works, you know."

Keith couldn't help thinking of one of the Neptune secrets he knew then looking at the boy and how screwed up one mistake makes things. "I will be back this afternoon. Do you want me to ask Logan to bring you something other than hospital food."

"Yeah, thanks, Lo and Ronnie know what I like."

Veronica had been worried about Mac, when she woke up her friend was already awake, reading a book and clearly depressed. "Mac, are you sure you are okay with visiting Dick?"

Looking up from where she had been staring at her shoe strings, Mac said "Yes, I mean, its not his fault Cassidy was who he was."

Arriving at the hospital, they were crossing the parking lot when Veronica's phone rang. "Hello Logan."

"Change of plans, your dad kicked me out of Dick's room for a few hours. Want to get some breakfast at Java?" he asked.

"We are just outside, meet us at the hut." she said then looked at Mac who asked if she minded if she skipped the second breakfast.

"I am going to head to the beach." Pulling up to the Hut, Veronica watched as Mac smiled at Logan who had pulled in behind them then crossed quickly over to the beach, still carrying her messenger bag.

"Is everything okay with Mac?" he asked when they had kissed hello.

"She wanted to head to the beach while I ate my second breakfast." Veronica said as they entered the coffee shop.

At the beach, Mac felt guilty as she pulled out the journal. Thanks to Veronica's stealthiness, she had Cassidy's journal which could answer the question once and for all what he had been thinking.

Beginning at the first one, reading about Cassidy's freshmen year, she found he was really no different than any other 09ner at that point. A bit angry with the world and convinced that the reason his mother didn't love him was Dick. But nothing that foreshadowed him killing a bus load of people.

Unfortunately there was foreshadowing of what had happened to Veronica. The boy in these journals was emotionally adrift and when it came to women, it was also clear that he felt anger and resentment at them for falling for Dick's easy charm.

Stopping at the last entry which was a month before the party were he had attacked Veronica, Mac stood and looked over at the coffee shop where Logan and Veronica were coming out.

Walking over to join them, she asked if someone could take her to go and pick up her car. "I miss my bug."

Logan looked at her then asked suddenly "Why a VW bug, there are cars cheaper that are nicer. And in less attention grabbing colors."

"I like my Bug." she said with a glare. "Its way better than driving around in a gas guzzling SUV whose paint job looks a lot like Big Bird."

When Logan began to pout then cross his arms as he glared at Mac, Veronica stepped back, enjoying the way the two of them seemed to be taking pot shots at one another without being mean.

"I will have you know that I picked out that color." he said with wave at the truck. "It had to be special ordered."

"Why is that not a surprise? Oh yeah, because for most of us our color palette has expanded past Sesame Street." she said with a smirk. "For your information my car color didn't have to be special ordered."

"Now that says a lot about Volkswagon Beetle owners and none of it good." Logan pointed out. Turning to his girl friend, wanting her to agree, he saw that Mac had done the same thing.

"Hey, leave me out of this, my car is a nice safe silver." she said holding up her hands as if to say the same thing.

"Hey, Mac!" Hearing her name being called, Mac turned to see Lauren Sinclair waving wildly at her from inside the book store. Waving back, she couldn't resist when her sister motioned for her to come over.

"Come back here, I am not finished arguing with you." Logan called out only to be hit with Veronica's elbow. "Ouch, that hurts woman."

Then watching as Madison's little sister enthusiastically greeted Mac, Logan couldn't help asked. "How does Madison's sister know Mac and why is Mac being so nice to her?"

"Long story and not mine to tell." Veronica said. "Now, I think you had better get that food to Dick."

"I can wait." he said curious as to what was going on inside the book store. "In fact I think we should go get Dick a book to read while he is in the hospital in case he gets bored."

"Wait, speaking of books." Veronica quickly explained about the journals. "I put them in the back of your truck. I think it explains why Dick got so drunk. I only read excerpts but it was bad, Logan."

"We should read them." he said as they hurried towards his truck.

At the book store, Mac and Lauren were discussing her summer reading list and she found it hard not to hug her little sister as the young brunette explained that she had already read the fifth grader list and had moved on to the list for the grade above hers.

"So, I already began with the A's. Aldabra was good. Did you read it yet?" Lauren was asking Mac.

As they went through the books that Mac had read and the ones that Lauren was reading, they came to the next book on her list. "Its called Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman."

"I remember that one, the girl is the daughter of a Knight and she wants to live the life and have the freedoms that boys get and doesn't want to be forced into marriage."

"I had to order that one so for now I am going to read Chasing Vermeer. Its about two kids who become friends as they try to find out who took a Vermeer painting. It reminds me of Veronica and you."

"But one of those kids is a boy." Protested Mac. "So its more like Veronica and her friend Wallace."

"Yes but you help her in her investigations, too. Don't you?" asked Lauren as she picked up her book. "So, where is your car."

"My car?" Mac asked surprised.

"You know the Beetle, I saw one the other day that was white with lady bugs painted on it." she reported. "And I really want a yellow one but with eye lashes like I saw online."

"Eye lashes?" asked Mac intrigued. "Really, I wonder how they do that."

"Its really cool, do you want me to send you a picture of it." asked Lauren asked as she began to search through her back pack for a pen and paper. "Here, give me your email address."

Pulling out her phone, Mac said "Why don't you give me yours and I will send you an email so that you can reply."

"Cool." Lauren said with a quick smile as she took the phone and began to type in her email address. Looking at her watch she groaned and said "I had better get going Mom only gave me twenty minutes and she starts to worry after five. I was already here about ten minutes before I saw you. So, are you friends with Logan Echolls, too. I think he is cute."

"Should I warn Veronica?" she asked as they moved towards the check out counter.

Lauren wrinkled her nose then said "Nah, hes too old for me."

Seeing her friends still waiting for her by Big Bird, she idly looked at Lauren and said "You want to help me play a joke on Logan as you head back to where your mom is?"

"Sure, what do I have to do?" she asked looking up at Mac and wondering why her own sister couldn't be as cool as Mac.

"Just say hello to him and ask him how Big Bird is doing."

"Oh, you mean his truck, right?" asked a giggling Lauren as she paid for her book. "That's funny."

"No, whats funny is that you knew what I was talking about." Mac said as they headed down towards the coffee shop and spa next door.

"Hey Veronica." Lauren said as she greeted the pretty blond. Then she looked at Logan, carefully avoiding looking at Mac. "Hey Logan. I have go, Mom's waiting for me, but can I ask you a question?"

"Sure." he said smiling as it hit him that Lauren oddly enough kind of resembled Mac.

"How's Big Bird doing now that you have stolen his car." with that she began giggling as she hurried towards the spa where her mother waiting in the doorway.

Discreetly wiping her tears, Mrs Sinclair greeted her daughter then asked if she had gotten her book.

"Yes, Mac and I were talking about the reading list and I forgot the time. Sorry Mom."

"Its fine." she said her voice hoarse as her daughter told her about her entire conversation. It killed her at times that she couldn't claim her biological daughter but it hurt even worse when she saw how easily Lauren and Cindy got alone.

"You told her to do that." Logan said glaring at Mac who had begun to laugh when the younger girl had ran away.

"Yup." Mac said with a smirk.

"Mac, did you see a dark green duffel bag when we took your stuff into my place?" Veronica asked.

Carefully looking at Veronica, knowing that she had to read them first, she said "No, why?"

"It belongs to Logan and I thought we might have taken it into the apartment last night." she said grateful that Mac hadn't seem the journals. There was no way that she was letting Cassidy hurt Mac even after he was dead. "It must be at the house."

"So, I have an idea." said Logan.

Seeing their surprise, he said "You know you ladies are not the only one with ideas."

"No, we know that, you and Dick often have ideas." said Veronica. "They usually involve surfer or getting arrested but since I doubt that is your plan today, I was just surprised."

Mac giggled at the glare then again a bit louder when he pressed a kiss onto Veronica's lips. "Anyhow, what is your idea, Logan?"

"Veronica, why don't you go find my bag. I will take Mac with me to the hospital to drop off Dick's food and then I will drive her to pick up her car." he stated.

"Why am I not driving my friend?" asked Veronica. "Its just as easy for me to take her home then go look for the duffel bag."

"Nope, its my idea and we are going with it." he said stubbornly.

"She's my friend." Veronica pointed out and never noticed Wallace joining them as she protested Logan's idea.

"Well she is my friend too. Wait, what are you two arguing about today?" asked the teenager as he looked at Mac.

"They alas are fighting over who is going to drive me to get my car. I feel so loved, so wanted. So cherished." mocked Mac only for Wallace to throw his arms around her and hug her tightly as he gave her a sad look.

"Well I hate to break up this whatever, but Veronica I am under direct orders to come and kidnap you." Wallace said looking at his bff. "On orders from my mom, sooooo..."

"I win." Logan said as he pressed a kiss goodbye onto his girl friend then grabbed her best girl friend and escorted her to the passenger seat. "Now, be nice to my car, Mac."

With a wicked grin, Mac patted the glove box and said " What a pretty car you are, big bird."

"Hey, you are giving me a complex." Logan said as he went around the hood of his car while Wallace had gotten into Veronica's Saturn while his girl friend had gotten into the driver seat.

"What is up with that?" Wallace asked. "I mean, Logan was awfully determined to drive Mac."

"He more than likely wanted to keep her away from the apartment." Veronica said with a sigh. "Do you remember taking in a green duffel bag to the apartment last night?"

"Yeah, ugly ass bag for Mac to be carrying." Wallace said.

"That's because it wasn't Mac's, its Logan's and it contains Cassidy's journals." she said with a sideways look at Wallace.

"Damn, that isn't good. Why are you calling him Cassidy?" he asked. "Kid almost killed you, he doesn't deserve the kindness."

"No, but Mac does and as unlikely as it sounds, so does Dick." she said as she explained about what she had read the day before. "Its bad, Wallace. What was in them, only a bit of it is already known."

"Oh man." said Wallace as he looked out the side window, his mind on how much darker could Cassidy have possibly have been, he was a murderer and a rapist already. What else could there be.

Arriving at the apartment, Wallace called his mom and promised they would be there later, before following Veronica inside to locate this mysterious bag.

Logan was silent until he had pulled out of the parking lot. "I know where you live, is that where you are car is?"

"Yes." Mac said. "Logan, whats going on? I mean, not that I am upset with you taking me to get your car, but it was hard to miss that you didn't want me to go with Veronica."

With a sigh, Logan said "I just think that you might be of help to me with Dick."

"How?" she asked looking at him in disbelief. "We don't get along at the best of times, right now I am sure that I am the last person on this earth he would want to see."

"No, that person is Madison Sinclair." he said as he drove through downtown and tried to avoid the crazy traffic.

Thinking for a second, Mac couldn't help laughing silently because in truth, she was Madison Sinclair. "What you mean, he isn't thrilled with how she has been behaving?"

"Something like that. As a son of a rich man, things are different for us. When we get to be a certain age we are warned of certain things." Logan said looking at Mac when they pulled up to a stop light.

"About poor girls wanting rich husbands." she said sarcastically.

"No, well yes but it was more like girls in general. Dick isn't the fool most take him for, he knows that most girls date him for what he has, Mac. Not just poor girls, he is well aware that Madison was only with him because of the Casablancas money."

"Then why date her?" she asked then muttered "Never mind, I don't want to know."

"He dated her because that was what he was supposed to do." Logan said bluntly. Arriving at the hospital parking lot, Logan pulled into a slot then shut off his car. "This is something only Ronnie knows, but did you know when I first got to Neptune, I didn't like Lilly?"

"No, why would I, it wasn't like we knew each other." she said looking at Logan.

"Well, I didn't, I liked, had a crush actually on Veronica. We spent a lot of time hanging out, I never realized that people expected us to pair off, Veronica with Duncan and Lilly with me. Looking back, I see that Lilly manipulated it that way and not because she really wanted me, but because she understood this stupid silent dating code that never made any sense to me."

"So, if left to your own devices... it would have been you dating Veronica all this time?" she asked. Seeing the answer in his eyes, she said "No wonder things got so screwed up between the four of you. I think Veronica liked you too, from what we have talked about. But she saw you as being Lilly's."

Gulping a bit as he realized he was going to have to do girlie gossip talk again, he said "Dick didn't want to date Madison, in fact there was another girl he liked but he got the rules and knew that his father would freak if he didn't obey them. By the time he was old enough to stop, he was already messed up emotionally."

"Logan, I don't think you should be telling me this, I mean it is none of my business." she said bluntly.

"I need to talk to someone about it and Veronica finds it hard because of the Lilly situation." he said. Seeing Mac relax but clearly not wanting to be there, he continued. "Anyhow, Dick was done with Madison because he was just with her because of the rules. Now, she is determined to become Mrs Dick Casblancas because her parents put some major restrictions on her because of what she did to you and Dick in the press."

"What?" Mac was stunned at the idea of her biological parents trying to rein in their daughter. "Madison gets whatever she wants, why would they do that?"

"Because after reading one particularly vicious article, I went to see them." Logan said looking at her. "Madison has always hated, I mean absolutely loathed Veronica even before Lilly's death, and I would hear her making comments about you, nasty stuff but since most people ignored her, I never thought anything about it. But now, after this latest bit after Cassidy's death..."

"I'm surprised her parents listened." Mac said quietly.

"Its strange because most parents would hate Dick for the way things fell out between their daughter and him but the Sinclairs were always kind to Dick." Logan said. "I think its because they are in constant contact with Madison so they know what a bitch she is, but anyhow, when I spoke with them, told them how Veronica and you were my friend, how Madison's been reacting and that she feels she can get away with it because she is rich, it was as if they were already aware."

"So they cracked down on her, but I ran into her on the day of the- funeral." he muttered.

Reaching out for his hand, Mac patted it and said "You can say funeral, you can say Beaver, I spent a lot of time in the woods, dealing with things, Logan. I know that the person I thought Cassidy or Beaver to be isn't who he really was."

"I just don't want to step on any landmines." he said. "Anyhow, Madison is determined to marry Dick all of the sudden. I don't know why, but she is on this path and refuses to budge."

"Well all Dick has to do is say no." Mac pointed out.

"See, Madison knows Dick well enough to know one thing, if he were to get her pregnant, she only has to say she is keeping the kid. He would marry her to protect the kid." Logan says. "She is trying to wait until he is drunk or unconscious to get what she wants."

"As much as he fools around, I am surprised he isn't a daddy already." she said looking at Logan and seeing him wince. "What?"

"Its just, there are times I want to slap Dick upside the head but kids, no, not yet. Thank god. Mac, yes, Dick is a bit of a hound dog, but he is a very careful hound dog."

Getting out of his truck, then waiting for Mac, he handed her the take out container from the back seat and handing it to her, grabbed the bag with clothes for Dick before locking up the car. "So, on a more serious subject, do you really know how to make all my money disappear?"

"At least for a few days, a really good forensic accountant would get it back for you." she said.

"Remind me never to piss you off." he replied as they got into the elevator and rode up to see Dick. When Mac tried to hold back, Logan placed his hand on her back and edged her forward into Dick's hospital room.

"We came bearing presents." he said as he saw Dick's eyes widen at who was with him then a mask seemed to settle onto the blond.

"Yo, dude, you had better not let Ronnie see you with your hands on her bff's backside." he said with a smirk.

Logan glared then noticed that Dick was now on top of the sheets in his hospital gown. Glad he had brought him some clothes, Logan knew that Dick was more than likely restless and would soon be trying to walk the halls, embarrassing hospital gown or not.

"If his hand was there, he would be here as a patient in the bed beside you." stated Mac.

"Ghostworld, not in these rooms, we don't share." Dick retorted. "So, come to place nurse, you forgot to stop and pick up the naughty nurse costume. Logan, if you were going to bring me a girl as a present, remember next time, not without the heels and short white uniform, dude."

"Are you sure he is a patient?" Mac asked Logan. "That he isn't faking it to get a whole new set of women who have no idea who he is to hit on."

"Sorry, nope, he is really sick." Logan said as he took the take out container from Mac.

"I never realized being a horn dog was an illness." Mac said as she smirked at Dick who forgot to return the insult when he saw the food on the tray. When he began to eat without silverware, she said "Oddly enough, I thought you would have better table manners, I seem to recall being taught them in the first grade."

"Really, well I seem to recall that you stabbed me with your knife." Dick said around the piece of bacon he was devouring.

"That was an accident." Mac complained. "You wouldn't sit down and kept moving. How was I to know you were there and its not like they were real knives, Jr. And stop talking with food in your mouth or did you forget that lesson too?"

Logan stepped back, he had brought Mac with him for another reason, he had wanted to see the two of them together while Dick was feeling vulnerable and now he was glad he did as they forgot all about him being there and traded barbs and insults without any heat to them, except for the almost recognized attraction both had not realized was there yet.

"Don't call me junior, Cindy." he said stressing her first name.

"How would you like to be a patient for real. All it would take was some tip toeing through the records and you could find yourself getting a prostate exam or how about your appendix or tonsils out?" she asked the blond who stuck his tongue out at her and continued to use his fingers to eat.

When he was reaching for the scrambled eggs, Mac said "If you do that, I swear, I will bite them."

"I knew it, Ghost World, you want me." he taunted. "You don't need an excuse to bite me, I am all yours anytime you want." with that he threw himself back and lowered the bed so that he was laying flat.

"Not in this life time." she said then added. "Or any other as a matter of fact."

"Why not?" he asked his eyes dancing as he looked her over. "C'mon, just admit it you want some of the Dickster."

Mac saw the white plastic silverware on her side of the tray, picked it up and removed the plastic covering it. Taking the spork out and placing the knife on the tray, she smiled at him then stabbed him in the fleshy part of the thigh.

As he shouted ouch, she said "Nope, not done just yet. Maybe later, Dickster."

"Mac attack that was cruel." he said as he held his leg. "I think you drew blood."

"Stop being a baby, Dickie." she said but looking just in case. Gulping as she saw the muscular leg that was still exposed, she felt her heart racing, so regaining her calm by reminding herself that this was Dick, she said "Your going to be fine, Dick."

"What do you know, your not medical personnel." he said his hand now rubbing where she had sporked him. "Seriously, why did you do that?"

"It was either that or smother you with your own pillow and I didn't want to get that close to your face." she said.

"I know." he said with a heavy sigh as he moved a bit trying to get comfortable. "Its just too perfect and you wouldn't want to mess up perfection. I understand, Mackie, I am just too much for you."

Mac was trying to ignore his comments when Dick suddenly realized that Logan had taken out clothes from the bag he had been carrying.

Watching in shock as he suddenly reached back and began to untie his hospital gown, before she could say anything, Dick was pretty much naked with only the fallen gown covering his private parts.

"Dick!"

"What? Mackie?" Dick asked as he was reaching behind him to untie the rest of the gown. "What is your problem?"

"I am in the room." she pointed out as her skin turned a nice shade of scarlet.

"Dah, I know that, you just sporked me so it would be pretty hard to forget that." he said as the last tie came undone.

Logan didn't know whether to lecture Dick or laugh as he just tossed the gown to the side of the hospital bed but hearing Mac begin to choke, he finally said "Dick, you shouldn't have removed your clothes with Mac in the room."

Mac had turned to face the wall and chair with the green bag on it, trying to pretend that she hadn't been watching as Dick exposed his body.

She had seen him in swim trunks and wet suits over the years. She knew he had a nice body, but there were some parts that she never expected to see. Now having seen them, she was well aware that her old sex dreams were going to be coming back.

Dick had forgotten he had nothing on under the gown, but deciding to brazen it out, he started to speak but then his eyes traveled over to Mac and saw she was staring at the chair, the chair with the open duffel bag with his secrets inside.

Not even thinking things through, just panicking at the idea of her learning what was going on, he quickly hopped out of the bed, reaching for the bag. Not stopping to realize his arms had gone around Mac's waist and that his naked body was now pressed up against her until he had the bag in his hands.

Mac froze at the feelings his naked body pressed against her was creating. Realizing that there was something in his bag he didn't want her to see for some reason, she turned to tell him that she wouldn't look only to end up against his now growing arousal.

"DICK, YOU IDIOT, GET BACK IN THAT BED!"

Stunned, unable to move while Logan's words were heard in the hallway, Dick found his eyes meeting Mac's and then looking down at his own body's betrayal, Dick cursed, dropped the duffel bag and reached for the clothes that Logan still held in his hand.

When they didn't get released, Dick snarled "Dammit, give me my clothes."

Starting to pull on his sweats, Dick saw that Mac had bent down to pick up the stuff falling out of the bag and reached for her. "No, I will get..."

"Awww." Mac held her head as she bumped into Dick's chin as he went to bend down at the same time as pulling her up. "Will you stop it. What is wrong with you?"

"Just let it go,I will get it later." Dick said then saw her eyes had moved to where his shorts were only half on his hips and the rather obvious reaction to her.

"I-uh, I-I have to go. Logan, I will be outside, waiting by the car." Mac said as she started to turn and ended up off balance as her foot stepped on one of the pink envelopes and began to slide.

Dick reached to catch her just as she went to grab onto the nearest stable thing. Stunned to realize EXACTLY where she was grabbing, Mac let go of his bare butt and fled the room, gasping as she tried to avoid crying.

Logan couldn't help it, he looked towards where Mac had fled then at Dick who was now kneeling half dressed, picking up the evidence of his feelings for the very woman who had just fled and said "I thought Veronica and I were messed up. Damn, Dick, just talk to the girl, already will you. I mean how long has this been going on?"

Still trying to deal with his emotions, Dick was accidentally honest with his best pal. "First grade, so about twelve years."

Shaking his head, Logan said "I have to go drive the love of your life to get her car, why don't you get that cleaned up and get back in bed. Damn, Dick, get your act together, will yea."

When Logan had left, Dick picked up the cards and was grateful to see that the lunch pal was still inside the bag, that at least Mac hadn't seen that.

In bed, biting the bacon strips, Dick found himself recalling the day he had made plans to sort of steal Cindy Mackenzie's lunch box.

"But Mom, I don't want a My Little Pony lunch box, I want a blue one, with some flowers on it. Not something so girlie." the five and a half year old was announcing to her mother in the middle of Kmart.

Dick was with his nanny who had brought him with her to run some errands. Seeing the girl from his class at school, Dickie waved, only to turn bright red when she waved back.

"But Cindy, all little girls want the My Little Pony."

At school the next day, Dick saw that Cindy was carrying the disliked lunch box and tried to find a way to say he was sorry but like usual when he tried to talk to Cindy, he began to stutter and the words wouldn't come out.

Standing in front of her, he saw her taking out the food inside and was envious when he saw the note inside. Reading from his side of the table, he saw that it said "Have a Good Day, love mom."

His mom didn't pack him a lunch, his nanny did or sometimes the cook.

When Cindy had eaten her peanut butter and jelly sandwich then began to eat her celery sticks, Dick once again tried to speak to her but still nothing would come out.

Biting into his own peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Dick grimaced when he realized it was on the funny dark bread with the seeds in it. Placing it back down, then crumbling it up in the napkin, he went to eat the applesauce that he didn't care much for either.

"Here." With that, Dick saw that Cindy was giving him the other half of her sandwich.

Flushing as he muttered thank you, he took a bite and offered her up one of his precious chocolate chip cookies. As they smiled at one another,he tried to speak, but all he could do was keep shoving the food in his mouth so that he wouldn't stutter.

After lunch, he watched as Cindy put her lunch box away with a slight shove into her cubby hole saying stupid purple ponies.

That night, after pretending to lose his lunch box, Dick talked his nanny into getting him a new one. "A blue one please, with nothing on it."

When his new lunch box had arrived, Dickie took it to his bedroom and went to sit in his closet. Taking out his markers, he carefully drew flowers all over it and put the initals CM on the bottom just like he had seen on Cindy's new box.

At school the next day, he had two lunch boxes, his regular one that he had told the nanny he had found in his closet and the one he was going to give Cindy.

When the bell rang at the end of the day, he saw Cindy going to get her lunch box and quickly stopped her by pushing her crayons on the floor.

While she picked them up, he hurried to the lockers and switched out the boxes, the blue one with the painted flowers for the purple box she hated.

Cindy soon came around the corner and couldn't find her lunch box. Upset because it was the second one she had lost in a week, she went to find the teacher while Dickie watched from his cubby where he was slowly getting his stuff ready to go meet the chauffeur waiting for him.

Miss Corinne came to help Cindy and Dickie watched as she located the blue box and showed it to Cindy, "See honey, your mom got you a new one, remember. Its got your initials on it."

Cindy looked at the box she had wanted then with a wide smile hugged Miss Corinne and rushed out to meet her Mom.

"Dick, is everything okay?" Miss Corinne asked the blond little boy who was zipping up his book bag.

"Yes." he said and quickly rushed out to the waiting limo. In the back seat, he knelt and watched out the dark tinted window as Cindy got into the back seat of her mom's car that then drove the opposite way.

At home, he went to his secret hiding place and placed the box inside. Smiling as he went downstairs, he heard his parents arguing and quickly went back up to his room...

Dick smiled wistfully as he recalled how happy he had been that day, now, too much time and too many things had happened for that innocent little boy to ever be truly happy again, but for at least an hour, his younger self had felt so good about making little Cindy Mackenzie smile.

TBC