Chapter Eleven:

"Good morning, sweetheart. Sleep well?"

"Surprisingly, being in a new house and all, I slept like a baby."

"Wonder if it had anything to do with that way too expensive mattress you slept on?"

"Hmmm," Veronica said, smiling. "I wonder?"

Keith was making breakfast and set a plate in front of Veronica.

"Umm, bacon, eggs, and toast? Please don't tell me we're having the 'Logan' talk right now."

Keith looked genuinely confused.

"You know, the usual suspects. First, he's hurt you before. Second, he will hurt you again. Third, I'm very unhappy about you living with him all summer. Fourth..."

"Actually, Veronica, I have no opinion of your love life right now."

Veronica nearly choked on her orange juice.

"What?"

"You two seem to be finally acting like mature adults. He's concerned with your well-being, and since I won't be there to look after you, I'm glad he is."

"Who are you and where's my dad?"

"Seriously honey. I trust your judgement."

"What are you not telling me, Mars?"

"Nothing, sweetheart."

"Don't play that game with me. I'm all FBI now," she joked.

"Veronica, no games. I'm just worried, that's all."

"Okay, okay, I'll let it drop for now, but don't think this is over by any longshot."

Keith saluted her and headed out to work.

Veronica spent the day trying to sort through her clothes to pack. She packed two suitcases and one large duffel bag. She figured she'd add a garment bag and cosmetic case and toiletry bag day after tomorrow and be ready to leave Tuesday.

At five o'clock, she stared at her phone. Not one single missed call or text. Nothing. Logan hadn't talked to her in almost twenty-four hours and she was getting a little...perplexed? Was that it? Definitely not worried. Worry about Logan was something Veronica would never bring herself to do. She had no concerns about Logan's ability to take care of himself, but he had never not called her unless they were broken up or he was out of town. She picked up the phone to dial twice, but decided not to. If he was really chaning, growing, she would give him that space. It wasn't like they were officially back together or anything, either. They were, but...it's not like they had said it out loud...there was nothing official...hell. Why hadn't he called her? Just as she reached for her phone, it rang. She grabbed it instantly without looking and hit the button.

"Hello?" she tried, nonchalantly.

"Princess! How about Chinese for dinner?"

"Dad?" she said, both surprised and a little dissappointed.

"Who were you expecting? The Queen of England?"

"Actually...so...Chinese. Sounds great."

"Super. I'll be home in an hour or so. I'll pick it up on the way."

"Great, Dad, thanks."

She hung up the phone feeling more conflicted than ever. She decided to to watch tv and take her mind off the whole situation until her Dad got home with dinner.

As Veronica got in bed that night her phone buzzed. She looked down to see a new text. It was from Logan.

Sorry I didn't call today. I was sort of busy. I've been on the phone to Virginia all day. Looks like I might be able to do some "interning" with this real estate agent for college credit. Cool, huh? I'll talk to you tomorrow. -Logan

Veronica nearly dropped her phone. She had no reason to think Logan was lying about his, but she had a really hard time believing the Logan Echolls she knew would spend all day trying to arrange anything educational or work related, for that matter. She decided not to text back and save that investigation for the morning.

...

Veronica smelled coffee.

What a nice smell to wake up to in the morning.

Then the bacon.

Oh, even better. Score two for the Mars house today.

As she fumbled for her robe she pulled her unruly hair back and headed to find the source of the aroma. She came in to the kitchen to find a sight more unexpected than the smell.

She glanced at the clock above his head and asked pointedly, "How are you awake before I am? Hell, how are you awake before noon?"

"And good morning to you, too, Sunshine," he said with that shit-faced grin that made her both irritated and happy at the same time. It was too cute not to love. He was too cute not to….

Whoa, there, girl. Not so fast!

"Sorry, I sounded like a bitch, huh? I'm just shocked to see you awake and alive before 9am."

"I did have an eight-o'clock class last semester, you know."

"Did you ever go?"

"Sometimes?"

"Did you pass?"

"C plus," he grinned again.

Damn, him, she thought and smiled.

She glanced at her dad who pretended to be hard at work cooking, but whom she could tell had been listening intently. He smiled at their banter. For a moment, she thought she had woken up in some alternate universe. Here she was, standing in the kitchen, of her NEW house, nonetheless; with her father and Logan, both of whom seemed to have been there a while since the coffee pot was half empty and both of their cups nearly that way, as well; and they were both alive and well. There had been no screaming, that would have woken her up. Since when did Logan come over uninvited early enough to have coffee with her dad? And she knew damn well that her father hadn't invited him. He couldn't have. What the hell?

"Ok, so either I'm in some alternate reality hell or there is something going on here?"

"What's the matter? I can't cook a nice breakfast for my daughter who is about to leave me for three months to go all the way on the other side of the country?"

"Oh, no, that's not what's out of place here?"

Both men stared at her as if they had no clue what she was talking about.

"You two? Logan up at a reasonable hour, sitting her, in my kitchen, having coffee with you while I sleep."

"Oh, that," Keith said, nonchalantly.

"Yeah, that. Exactly that? No offense, Logan, but what the hell are you doing here?"

"Wow, had I any idea that you were so peachy in the morning, I'd have given you an hour or two before coming over, or did you just miss me that much yesterday?"

"I'm not trying to be a bitch, Logan, it's just that I'm not so stupid as to think I've woken up and now all the world's become the freakin' Brady Bunch. I'm sure you're not here chatting with my dad to ask permission to come-a-courtin'."

"Permission is never something Logan seemed to desire, " Keith said, sarcastically.

Logan smirked and uttered a smile laugh.

"That would be somewhat uncharacteristic of me, yes."

"And you two don't even like each other."

"I'm hurt, Veronica, I thought I was your dad's favorite ex-boyfriend."

"Oh, you are my favorite EX boyfriend." Keith said with a smile.

True, there was a time he hoped Logan would not be "the one" for Veronica. That was a notion he had given up on long ago. The night Logan came to him and told him everything-a night Veronica was studying late at the library for a final- about the Sorokin's, Veronica's involvement, the danger they might be in, and his desire to do anything in his power to protect his daughter, Keith developed a new feeling about Logan. While he didn't think he would ever really be okay with Veronica and Logan together, he certainly thought he could learn to tolerate him. He had realized, by now, that he was in Veronica's life to stay. They might dance around it and move in and out of each other's immediate present, but he would always be there. That night Logan had shown, not so much told, Keith how much he loved Veronica. The unabashed way he begged Keith to let him help protect her told Keith all he needed to know. Logan had his share of problems. Most of which, Keith believed, had been caused by his wacked out parents and the trail of destruction they created called his childhood. He was convinced that Logan would give his life to protect Veronica's and because of that, he would learn to get along with Logan. He would learn to coexist with him, maybe even like him a little. And one day when Logan's child looked up at him and called him grandpa, hell, he would probably learn to love him. For now, sharing coffee and discussing how to protect his daughter would be as far as they would go.

"Well, honey, why don't you pour yourself a cup of coffee, eat something, then we'll talk."

"I really have been sucked into the fifth layer of hell," she mumbled as she poured a cup of coffee.

"Why don't you eat, Veronica, I'll be right back."

Veronica eyed her dad carefully as he retreated to the back of the house to his new "office". She loved that they actually had room to spread out now. There was a small home office that he had made himself quite at home in quickly. He was able to spread out and bring some of his work home now that he actually had a semblance of a home to come to.

She ate quietly while Logan watched her. She was beyond uncomfortable.

"You not gonna eat?"

"Already did. Your dad and I finished just before you got up."

"What is going on, Logan? Not that I mind or anything, but you just show up randomly for breakfast one morning after not talking to me for twenty-four consecutive hours and I'm supposed to act like nothing is weird as hell here."

"So, you did notice the time since we last spoke, huh? I was starting to worry you hadn't."

Veronica looked at Logan carefully. He was sincere. Did he really think she hadn't noticed he didn't call her yesterday? She hated giving in to this delusion, but seeing his sincere, loving eyes, she couldn't resist.

"Of course I noticed. I kept myself busy packing all day, but by the end of the day I started to get…"

Should I say worried, 'cause I wasn't really worried. I was…shocked? Yes, but that's not the right word.

"Well, I just thought it was odd."

As soon as she spoke the words, she saw disappointment cloud his face, so she quickly added, "I almost called, but I thought maybe you were out, or something."

She played with her eggs, but noticed that he perked up and almost managed a smile.

Damn, Veronica. No more games, right?

"Actually, I almost picked up the phone, but….damnit Logan. I don't know how this works. I'm not in middle school anymore, besides I thought the guy called the girl."

Logan actually managed a full-on grin at this. He slid a stray hair from out of Veronica's eyes and it sent a tingle down her spine.

"It's nice to know you really do care," he joked.

Before Veronica could regain her wits and respond, her dad came back in holding a stack of files and papers. He gently plopped them down on the counter beside Veronica and took a seat next to her. He looked at Logan, who nodded, and turned to Veronica.

"Ok, sweetie. Let's get down to business."

"I knew it…"

"Logan has, let's say, filled me in on some problems you've had with the Russian mob."

Veronica nearly choked on her orange juice and gave Logan a glare. He was focused on Keith.

"Don't look at him, Veronica. He is trying to protect you. And himself for Heaven's sake. Did you know he had been receiving thr…"

"Uh, hum…" Logan cleared his throat to get Keith's attention.

He shook his head ever so slightly, but not without Veronica noticing.

"What the hell? That son-of-a-bitch has been threatening you?"

Reluctantly, Logan picked up his head and nodded. "Well, us, really."

"Oh my go…Logan? Why didn't you tell me."

"You had a lot to deal with. I didn't want it messing up your finals. I figured we'd tell you before we left for Virginia. Just like we're trying to do now…"

Veronica's head was spinning. So how much about the whole video mess did her dad know? And how long at he and Logan been conspiring this little intervention?

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything before now, but I really didn't want you to worry about this right now. I still don't, but…it's not like you don't have to be involved in this."

Veronica looked at Logan. His eyes told the whole story. He was desperate to do the right thing for her. He was trying to protect her, but keep her from being angry at him being too protective at the same time. She could see the love in his eyes more clearly than ever. She felt a lump form in her throat.

"Okay, so what's the deal, here?"

"Logan came to me a couple of months ago. He told me that you two had managed to piss off some kid who has ties to the Russian mob. In a normal household, that would seem like a story that needs to be investigated further, but being you and Logan were involved…let's just say I chalked it up to another day in the world o' Mars."

Logan snickered and Veronica actually managed a smile.

"Though he still won't give me details," Keith said, and Veronica shot a very thankful glance at Logan who never took his eyes off Keith, but saw her in his periphery and was excited to know he'd done right with this situation, "he tells me that you have made a enemy with connections and that he had started to receive strange phone calls. At first, just general annoyances, but progressing in to full on threats. And then, just two weeks ago, he received this."

Keith produced a note. It was typed on plain white paper.

"Payback is a bitch. Just like your little girlfriend. Watch your back, even though it won't matter. You won't see us coming."

Veronica would normally be completely unaffected by such as this, but this was the Russian mob. Unless…

"Are you sure that this is them? Maybe it's just Gory trying to sound threatening. I mean, Jake did say he'd…"

"Ronnie, do you really think Jake has any control over anything? He can threaten his little flock as much as he wants, but you don't tell the Russian mob what to do."

"Why are you so convinced this is that big of a deal?"

"He wasn't, Veronica. That's part of the reason he brought this to me. He wanted me to look into it."

"And?"

"And after the first few calls, I bugged his phone."

Veronica raised an eyebrow.

"Just a tracer for his calls. Nothing invasive. And he knows about it."

Logan nodded. Veronica was now certain she had fallen into an alternate universe in her sleep.

"I managed to trace a few of the calls. They weren't trying to disguise the number. They traced back to a small deli outside of LA called "Bubusha's Place". There's several Russian business in that area. And lots of know mob associates hang out around there."

"But…"

"When I did a little more digging…I found out that one of Gory's uncles is a big wig with the mob in that area. He owns a dry cleaners right next door to the deli, which is run by some 'close family friends'. This is serious, Veronica."

"Ok, ok. So what if it is?"

"These people don't mess around. If they want to hurt us, Veronica, they will."

Veronica was frustrated.

"And you know this from your extensive dealings with the Russian mob, Logan?"

He stood up and slammed his fist on the counter.

"Damnit, Veronica, don't you ever take things seriously? The f*cking Russian mob wants to hurt us—mame us—revenge, hell, who knows what they do these days and you act like it's not a big f*cking deal?"

Veronica never worried about such matters, but she could see the genuine concern in Logan's eyes. He was taking this seriously, not because he gave a damn about himself, but because he was scared to death about Veronica. Realization dawned on her, and she immediately reached for his hand, still lying on the counter.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

"Logan, why don't you give me and Veronica a few minutes alone, okay? Then she's all yours."

Veronica wondered if there was a deeper meaning behind her father's words.

Logan nodded and silently slipped out of the kitchen in into the living room. He turned on the television and plopped in front of the tv.

"We've been here less than a week and he's already made himself at home."

"Well, he should. He's practically lived here every night since you two came back from Virginia."

"What?"

"Veronica…for someone who aced their PI exam, you sure aren't so keen on your own surroundings, huh?"

"Dad, what are you talking about?"

"You know, Veronica, Logan hasn't always been my favorite person, and he's never been my choice for you, but…"

Veronica stared intently at her father, now knowing he was giving her permission to be with Logan.

"But that boy has moved heaven and hell to make sure you are safe and protected. Every night since you have been back, he's been on that couch from after you go to bed until just before you get up."

"But…"

"Especially with me working late, he wanted to make sure someone was here. And during the day, there's a private security detail that watches your every move. A detail, which, I understand, will be with you in Virginia all summer."

Veronica knew she must be sitting there with her mouth open listening to all this.

"Why didn't he say anything?"

"Didn't want you to know. Hell, he'll mad as a snake that I told you, so don't say anything, okay?"

"Dad…I don't understand…"

"I do, Veronica. He loves you. Maybe just as much as I do. He's scared to death that the Russian mob is coming for you. He could give a rat's patootie about his own safety, but if something were to happen to you, he'd die."

"Makes sense now. Why he beat the hell out of Piz…and Gory…."

"What?"

'Damn,' Veronica thought.

"There's a lot more to this story, dad. I want to tell you…I need to tell you…"

"But?"

"But…it's…well, embarrassing doesn't quite cover all the bases."

Keith had suspected there was a lot more to the story than he knew, but despite his best efforts, Logan refused to give any further information than he already had.

"You know you can tell me anything, right, kiddo?"

"Dad, I'm not sure I can tell you EVERYTHING."

"Veronica, my hope for you being an innocent little girl that never grew up and never made mistakes faded a long, long time ago."

"Yeah, I guess that ship has sailed, huh?"

Veronica took a long, deep breath.

"Okay, so there was this tape…"

She searched her dad's eyes for a reaction, but he remained solemn and attentive.

"Logan got emailed this video of me and Piz…uh making out…heavily…and, as it turns out, it got spread over the whole school…"

Again, no reaction from Keith.

Veronica continued, "So I set out to track down where it came from, and turns out…it was Gory Sorokin. When I found out he was Russian mob, I let it go, but I managed to make a few bumps and thumps along the way. Turns out he was in this...organization, The Castle, at school. It's like Skull and Bones—best of the best of Freshmen men. Those with lots of potential for power and success type thing. Turns out, Jake Kane was heavily involved…"

"So that's why you stole the hard drive?"

"Yes. It had all of Castle's secrets on it. I was hoping to find some answers on it...something to use against them."

"And did you?"

Veronica lowered her head. She couldn't bear to face her dad right now.

"Yes, but had I known what trouble that would cause you, I never..."

"Veronica, I know. That's in the past. Let's move on."

"That's how I found out about Gory."

"Alright, so now I know the whole story," Keith started, gathering the files he had brought from his office. "I am going to head to the station. Talk to Logan. He has more details about the security detail that will be watching out for you."

"Security detail? Really, dad?"

"Well, what do you want to call it? Bodyguards?"

"How about, nothing?"

"Unfortunately for you, sweetheart, neither Logan and I will budge on this issue. You really have no choice."

"I'm going to the FBI for goodness sake. Don't you think that will be well protected enough?"

"Like I said, Veronica, not negotiable."

"Good grief," Veronica mumbled. She kissed her dad on the cheek and was grateful when he walked out towards the front door.

"Well, that went better than I expected. Glad he didn't press for details," she said out loud, still highly embarassed to think about telling her dad about her "sex tape."

She headed towards Logan in the living room. She plopped down beside him on the couch and he turned the tv off and placed the remote on the coffee table in front of him.

"So, I suppose you'd like to talk to me now?"

Veronica pretended not to notice his sarcastic, yet joking, tone.

"I just had to tell my dad that I now have something in common with Pam Anderson."

Logan turned to face her, worry on his face.

"I didn't tell him about the tape, Veronica."

"No," she said, softly, turning to meet his gaze, "and I am so grateful for that, Logan. But I had to. I had to tell them the truth. Well, mostly the truth. I didn't give him details of the tape, just a generalized overview."

Logan winced. He wasn't crazy about Veronica being taped in a compromising position, but he sure as hell wasn't happy that it was her with someone else.

Impulsively, and without warning, she lurched at Logan and enveloped him in a bear hug.

"What the hell?" Logan asked, completely taken off guard by Veronica's outburst.

"I'm so mad at you right now, you know that?"

"So this is how you show it?"

"No," she said, pulling away, "This is how I show you that I am eternally grateful for you trying to protect me. For going to my dad for help, for giving a damn that I might be in danger, and for hiring thugs to watch over me."

"I thought you said something about being mad."

"I am. But it won't do any good, will it?"

"Hell no."

"Logan, I..." she stumbled, feeling the lump return to her throat. She wasn't quite ready to completely shed her facade of toughness to let her guard down. "I understand how much you care, and even though I hate being treated like an incompetent teenager...I have never in my life felt so...so..."

"Loved?" he asked quietly?

She could only nod. She couldn't bring herself to say those words. Not yet.

He softly caressed her cheek. He saw the fear and trepidation in her eyes. But he also saw more behind that. He saw what was lurking just beneath all that shit she put up to shield her from being hurt. He would wait until she could let it all go and turn herself over to him. He would wait the rest of his life if he had to.

"You ain't seen nothing yet," he said with that stupid grin.

She leaned in for a quick kiss and hopped up.

"I need a shower. Then, I assume, you need help packing. I'm pretty sure you haven't yet."

"Pack what?"

"Your stuff, Logan. Hello? Virginia?"

"Don't they have stores in Virginia?"

"Good grief, Logan, just let me help you. Give me half an hour."

"I'll give you the whole hour. You'll need it and I could use a nap."

"Yeah, about that..."

Logan turned and threw his legs up on the couch and Veronica moved to him and leaned down to give him a deep, hard kiss. Just before he could grab her and pull her towards him, she pulled away.

"Thank you."

"You are very welcome."