Chapter 21: It's a Crazy, Crazy Dream
"Good morning, Logan."
"Morning, Sir."
Keith rolled his eyes at Logan, who was for once, not grinning like a jackass. He looked genuinely intimidated, and Keith loved it.
"So, what's on the agenda today?" Keith asked.
"Well, I'm meeting with my advisor this morning…iron out some stuff for school."
Keith nodded approval.
"Then I need to work on finding my own place," Logan added quietly.
"What?" Keith asked with genuine surprise. "I know our house isn't that big, but surely you can fit?"
Logan smiled, knowing Keith was enjoying toying with him.
"It's not, Keith, you know that. I just think…well, I'm not sure Veronica really wants me here."
Keith cocked his head to one side.
"Why would you think that?"
"I just think she needs a little space right now. Frankly, I think I freaked her out a little with my…well, you know," he said uneasily.
"I'm sorry about that, Logan. Sorry she didn't say yes, but, you know Veronica as well as I do. She'll come around, but I don't think that means she doesn't want you here."
"I just think she'd be more comfortable if we had a little space. Plus, let's be honest, Keith. I can't imagine you are really happy with our …um…living arrangements."
"Well, I appreciate that, Logan, but do you really think we would be more comfortable if you weren't here….or would YOU be more comfortable."
"I don't want to suffocate her…or get on your bad side. I think it might be wise to keep my points in the positive," Logan grinned.
"You don't have to move out. Look, I'll even give up my office if you'd rather have your own room."
Logan looked at Keith for a moment and realized that he was completely sincere in his offer.
"That means a lot, Keith. More than you know. But, I think it would be the best thing."
"Look, Logan," Keith said, placing a hand on the younger man's shoulder, "whatever you think is best, but you are more than welcome here, and I think we BOTH feel that way."
"Thanks, Keith."
"What is going on in here?" Veronica asked, stumbling sleepily into the kitchen where Logan and Keith were.
"Plotting what to do with our confounding girl here," Keith joked.
"Good luck with that," Veronica smirked.
"Morning, honey."
"Morning, Dad," Veronica managed, not looking too chipper.
"You're up early, " she remarked to Logan. "And you smell clean. Showered and ready to go. Where you headed?"
"School. I have to meet with my advisor. I'll see you in a little while, okay?" Logan said, leaving Veronica feel that there was something she had missed.
"Um, ok," Veronica replied, unable to form anything more coherent.
Logan kissed Veronica on the top of the head and grabbed his keys and headed out the door.
Veronica looked at her dad, throwing her hands up to the side as if to say, "What the hell was up with that?"
"Don't look at me, sweetheart. He's yours."
Veronica pondered who the man was that just walked out of her kitchen for a moment while her dad finished cooking.
"Breakfast?" he asked smiling.
The promise of pancakes made Veronica forget momentarily about her mysterious man.
…..
"Mars, how's it going?"
"Do you have some sixth sense, Nacombe?"
"Huh?"
"You always seem to know just when I am getting out of the shower. Inconvenient, a bit," Veronica spat, annoyed.
"Sorry the FBI can't plan its business around your personal hygiene habits, ma'am."
"Whatever. What do you want?"
"Back in California one day and you're already bitchy. Damn, I guess you're feeling a little cocky now that you're back at home, huh?"
"I guess I just wasn't expecting the Feds to bother me so soon. I should've figured...anyway, get to the point, please."
"We're heading over in an hour. Make sure no one is at home for a few hours. We need to set up the monitoring at your home, your vehicle. There's already a team handling your boyfriend's vehicle, too."
"What? You're bugging us?"
"Of course. We have to have all our bases covered, Mars."
Veronica was shocked. She had no idea this little mission would be so invasive. She would be so glad when it was over and she could go back to some semblance of privacy.
"Fine. See you in an hour."
Veronica got dressed and waited patiently for her team to arrive. They were just walking out the door when her phone rang.
"Hey, what's up?"
"I was hoping we could spend a little time together today. There's kind of a lot to catch up on."
"Yeah, I guess there is. Why don't I come pick you up in a few?"
"Great," Mac said. "I'll see you then."
Veronica grabbed her keys and headed out the door. She had missed Mac and felt very guilty for not keeping in touch with her friend better. She also knew she'd have to make some Wallace-time in her schedule. They surely had a lot to catch up on.
She vowed then and there that once this whole Russian mob business was over, she was making herself free for friend time.
…
"So, obviously you and Logan are back together…like, for real."
"Ok, you promise not to tell a soul in the universe what I'm about to tell you? And also, not to scream or throw something?"
"Veronica…"
"Promise."
"Ok, what are we, like 12? I promise. Pinky swear," Mac teased, holding up her little finger.
"Logan asked me to marry him."
"What! Oh my…"
"You promised," Veronica said, shushing her friend.
"Ok, ok," Mac said in a near whisper. "But marriage? Logan?"
"I know, right? I was more shocked than you."
"What did you say?
"Nothing."
"Nothing? Harsh."
"I mean, I didn't know what to say. He told me just to think about it. He wanted to make it clear to me how he felt."
"I'd say that was successful."
"And he bought us a house…two houses. And a bed and breakfast."
"What the hell?"
"Yeah. Logan being Logan. He's suddenly discovered his calling in real estate and is positioning himself to become the Real Estate King of Virginia."
"So now he wants to move to Virginia?"
"Well, he just assumes that I'll go to work for the FBI and we'll move there eventually."
"Oh my God, Veronica, what in hell happened to Logan? Has he had an alien abduction experience?"
"It gets better. Apparently both he and my dad have. My dad asked Logan to move in with us."
"Holy shit, Veronica. Now I get it. I'm dreaming. I'm in some horrible nightmare," Mac shrieked, holding her head. "That would explain Dick…" she muttered trailing off.
"Wait, what?"
"I said I'm in a nightmare."
"Uh huh, after that. I distinctly heard you say the name Dick. As in Casablancas?"
"Oh, no. Not now. I'm too shocked by this whole nightmare revelation to discuss my problems."
"Mac, are you trying to tell me that something is going on with you and Dick Casablancas?"
"NO!" Mac screamed. "I mean, not really."
"Yeah, you're right. That explains everything. This IS a nightmare. But how are we both in it?"
"Okay, V, so here it is: Dick called a couple of times. He's still really torn up about the way he treated me at the start of freshman year. He apologized a million times already. I told him it was okay, that I understood. Then we ran into each other at that coffee shop near the Grand. We talked for nearly an hour. Then we started hanging out a couple of times a week."
Mac noticed Veronica's mouth was wide open and her eyes looked like she had seen a ghost.
"I felt bad for the guy," Mac said in a way too whiny tone. "He has pretty much lost everything. His mom doesn't give a damn about him. His dad is a criminal who only cares about himself. His brother was a lunatic who killed himself. And to think I was feeling sorry for myself because I have three parents who love me."
"Ok, I get the sympathy, but…Dick?"
"I mean, he's not so bad, V. Once you get to know him…"
"Oh, I know him…"
"V, come on. Give me a break. Don't you think I know him, too. I know who is he is…or was. He's changed."
"Mac…"
"Logan's changed. Why can you believe Dick can, too?"
Veronica looked at her friend. She knew she was right. Besides, all this was a dream, right? Why not give Dick a chance – since it was just a dream, anyway.
"Ok, Mac. You're right. I guess he can. This doesn't mean you're into him, does it?"
"No, of course not. I mean, I …"
"Oh, my God, Mac. You are. Aren't you?"
"Don't laugh, V."
"Okay, okay. Since this is bizarro dream world – I guess I can give Dick a shot. So…you and Dick…"
"We're not together. I mean, he's never asked me out or anything. We just hang out sometimes."
"But if he asked you out…you'd say yes."
Mac nodded shyly.
Oh my God! It's true. It's all true! This is a horrible, terrible, unfathomable nightmare!
"So, what do you say we call up Wallace and find some pizza or something."
"Sounds like a helluva plan you got there, V."