Short chapter...more coming soon. Thanks for reading. And remember ... it's fiction. FAN fiction. It's not all supposed to be believable. It's F-I-C-T-I-O-N. And allow me a few liberties. I probably get a few things wrong. Just roll with it. ;) Thanks!

Chapter 26 : Fade to Black

"So, exactly what is your play here? Kidnap a blond, college girl because she ticked off the boss's son? I hope that makes up for the shit storm you've unleashed on yourselves over two dead FBI agents. I'm sure backup will be here shortly."

"Ha ha, little girl, you are amusing to me. If you are referring to those two black SUVs that have been following you for weeks now, do not worry. We lost them easily enough. We were not followed here. And your precious agents are not dead. They were drugged. And we dumped them far away from here. By the time they crawl their way home, we will be long gone."

"The sooner the better, I say," Veronica smirked.

"Your smart mouth has gotten you in enough trouble, no? Maybe you should shut it before I decide to."

"So, what am I to do? Sit here, all tied to the chair, and hum Chopsticks?" Veronica offered, all the while struggling to free her hands behind her and failing miserably.

"You are just play thing for my nephew until we are done with job at Kane software. He has been looking forward to seeing you again."

"I'm thrilled."

Veronica looked up to a very unwelcome sight.

"Veronica Mars…long time no see."

"Not long enough, Gory," Veronica said, rolling her eyes.

"I'm so going to enjoy shutting up that mouth of yours," he said with a crooked smile.

Veronica bit her lip.

I would enjoy kicking you right square between the legs, sshole!

"You see, after I gave my father a way to end Jake Kane for good, he promised me I could see you again. I SO wanted to see you again Veronica."

"And yet, the feeling was not mutual," she huffed.

Gory slapped her hard across the face and grabbed her hair, pulling it and her head backwards.

"It would be so much more fun with your boyfriend here to watch," he sneered, his face inches from hers, "then I could pay him in kind when I'm done with you. But sadly, there's just you. I'll take what I can get."

No amount of sarcasm could help the situation now. Veronica could only hope and pray that her friends at the bureau would find her. She hoped her transmitter was still working. She had a feeling she knew what Gory intended to do, and there wasn't much she could do to stop him. She sensed stalling wasn't going to work, but she had to try.

"And just how does a two-bit mobster like you bring down a man like Jake Kane?"

"Tsk, Tsk, Veronica. Your admiration for the man is understandable. After all, the way he protects you. I just don't get it. But nevertheless, he isn't invincible. He's stupid. And weak. It didn't take much to learn of his big government project. And when my father gets a hold of it and sells it to the highest bidder, Jake Kane will cease to exist."

"First of all, I do NOT admire Jake Kane. Not even a little. Personally, I couldn't care what happens to him. And why do you care a rats ss about him? Things slow at the dry cleaners these days?"

"Make your funny jokes, Veronica. I don't need Kane's money. But he pissed me off. And worse, he pissed my father off. No one tells a Sorokin what to do," Gory sneered.

The whole time Veronica had been trying to free her hands. His two companions had disappeared from sight, and she knew she could take Gory. It didn't look like he'd been working out since Logan beat the crap out of him. But the goons had wrapped her hands up with duct tape and attached her feet to the chair with it, too, so she was feeling pretty hopeless.

"Enough with the small talk. Let's get down to business, shall we?"

Gory straddled Veronica on the chair, and lowered himself where he was sitting on her. Veronica struggled against him, but with her hands and feet bound there wasn't much she could do.

"Please do put up a fight. It will make it much more fun," he sneered.

...

"Ok, Mr. Echolls, I believe we have all we need from you. If not, you will be hearing from Special Agent Fuller again," the random agent he'd been talking to for the last 30 minutes said.

"Any word yet on Veronica?" Logan asked.

"I'm afraid I haven't heard anything. I'm sure they'll notify you when they can. You can wait back in the lounge area for now."

Logan returned to where Special Agent Fuller had led him about thirty minutes ago. He had told this other agent everything he knew from beginning to end, which really wasn't all that much. He had given everything he had to Agent Thompson, anyway, so the feds basically knew everything he did already. He had tried to call the agent, but got nothing - not even a voicemail. He tried Weidman next, but did get HIS voicemail. He thought of at least a thousand things he wanted to say, but just opted to hang up, instead. He knew none of his anger would be bring Veronica back safe and sound, so why bother. Just when he thought he might go stir crazy, Keith came in the room from the same direction Logan had just come from. They must have debriefed him, as well.

"How long have you been here? Did they fill you in on everything?" Logan stammered at the Sheriff.

"Not long. And I sure hope not, because if that was everything - I'm more confused now about what's going on that when I walked in the door."

"Tell me about it," Logan sighed.

"You know, I knew Veronica had a knack for getting herself into some pickles, but this sort of takes the cake. And you, Logan. I'm not even sure where you fit into all this."

"Sherr…"

"It's Keith, Logan. For goodness sake…just Keith."

"Keith, I'm really sorry. I don't know what I can say. I thought I was protecting her…I thought that …"

Keith could tell Logan was very upset. He imagined that right about now Logan would be blaming himself for everything that was happening. Oddly, Keith wasn't even slightly irritated at Logan. In his opinion, Logan had done everything that he would have done himself if had he the resources Logan did. It was the damn FBI he wanted to string up a flagpole over this mess.

"Logan, Logan…I'm not blaming you. No one is. Well, the Feds probably are, but they always need someone to blame on their screw-ups. This is not your fault. Hell, I don't even think I can be mad at Veronica over this one. But when that Special Agent in Charge gets back here…we will have words."

"She's going to be ok, Keith," Logan said, in almost a whisper. It was more of a question than a statement.

Keith looked up at the young man sitting before him. Just a year ago, he thought him a kid. A stupid, rich kid who was no good for Veronica. He had wished for a long time now for Logan Echolls to be as far away from Veronica as possible. But life had a funny way of working out. And the kid Keith knew all these years had somehow grown into a man…a man that loved his daughter almost as much as he did. He reached up and placed an arm on Logan's shoulder.

"She is, Logan. She always is."

...

Veronica fought against her assailant. She writhed underneath the slime ball straddling her on the chair. She managed to kick up just enough to make the chair falter. Gory was taken off balance and his weight combined with the teetering chair sent them plunging backward. Veronica tried to brace herself, but she couldn't stop her head from pounding against the hard concrete. She felt Gory topple over her, but she couldn't tell where he landed. Her head pounded and her vision began to get dark around the edges.

"You stupid bitch!" Gory screamed at her.

Through the last cone of light in her eyes, she could see blood pouring from his face.

"You broke my nose, you…"

She didn't hear the rest of his diatribe. His voice faded like the light in her eyes.

Perfect. I break his nose, but I don't live to see it.

She felt the kick to her ribs, but that was the last thing she remembered. The world grew dark and everything faded to black.