LoVe Adjusts

A few weeks later Veronica is slowly finding her way with her role as an interrogator. She knows that her new team mates looked at her petite girly looks and wondered whether she would be of any value to the team. She was used to being underestimated; she would just have to show them they were wrong.

The psychiatrist, Phillip Bayner and lead of the team Mitch Wallup, watch her latest interrogation together. Phil had discussed the profile with her and asked her to see if she could get any of the possible suspects to give them more information and confirm each of their similarities to the profile.. He watches carefully and he has to smile at how she uses her petite frame and cheerleader looks to her advantage.

She knows that the killer was likely dominated by his mother and took some medical courses or grew up with a medical personal close by. She has immediately taken the dominant role with this suspect and he does not appreciate her tone or manner.

She kept him waiting and when he complained she said, "We are very busy here and I am sure you don't mind doing your duty by helping us."

She sat down and opened her file ignoring his irritation. After asking the basic questions she looks at her watch and sighs in exasperation. Finally she says, "We asked you here because you appeared on a street camera the night the woman was abducted. We're interested in why you were there and what you may have seen." Shrugging she adds, "We have a lot of people to interview. We're hoping you saw something that can help us."

She looks back down as she writes another note in her file. Continuing to ignore his upset she says, "Let's just get through the rest of these questions as quick as we can."

Phil watching sees the anger that passes over the suspect's face. When Veronica continues with overlooking him, he becomes more frustrated. She is barking out the questions and not even making eye contact with him. He is obviously very unimportant to her. After about half of the designated questions, Veronica sighs audibly and rubs a spot in the middle of her forehead like she is getting a headache. She says, "Let's just skip to the end where you tell me where you were when the murder took place. This is getting us nowhere."

She looks up bleakly at the suspect and waits for his answer with her pen poised. Sensing freedom he answers, "I don't know. I worked that night."

Routinely she asks, "Can someone verify you were there?" He nods and she says, "OK, tell me the names of who was at work with you." She dutifully writes down the names he gives her checking the spelling. She asks, "What time was your shift that night?"

He tells her and she looks up at him with confusion, "I'm sorry, I guess I wasn't clear. I need to know where you were after your shift..." She pauses and looks at her notes and finishes, "Say from midnight until four am."

"Oh,' he says, "Well I worked until one am and then I went home."

She asks about what time he left work and how he got home. He answers easily, "Well I walked home and got home around two."

She asks questions about why he walked and if he stopped to eat or buy anything. He says he went straight home because he was tired.

Finding out he has lived in the area for two years she enthuses, "Good you are familiar with the area. Maybe you can help me get a grasp on distances." Without waiting to see if he is willing to help her, she pulls out a detailed map of the area and starts asking him questions, "How far is it from the restaurant where you work to your house?" She carefully marks down his answer. "What about to the subway?" She throws in questions about distances between various businesses and his place of employment.

After she notes his response, she says, "OK from the restaurant to Haney's Bar?" The man frowns and shrugs his shoulders telling her he isn't sure. Frowning in confusions she asks, "So you didn't go up Dexter Street on your way home?" She pushes the detailed map of the area towards him.

He points his route on the map telling her he chose to cut through the park. Nodding her understanding she says, "So where did you cut into the park?"

He tells her about turning right on Midline Road. She looks at the map closely and then asks him if he saw anyone in the park. He denies seeing anyone. She looks at her file and says hopefully, "Maybe you saw someone from one of the bars on Thompson Blvd. when you walked past there?" Musing to herself she adds, "It was just after closing that you were walking there so you could have seen someone waiting there."

He shakes his head and regretfully tells her, "I didn't notice anyone waiting."

Ponderingly she asks, "Where do people park if they are going to one of the restaurants or bars on Thompson Blvd.?" She looks at the map as he explains that they park in the lot near the park. Frowning as she thinks about what he says, she comments, "They would have to walk all the way around the block to get to the bars though."

He answers, "It's only half a block if you cut through the alley beside Joe's Diner."

Veronica continues on as if he hasn't given himself away. She sounds a little excited when she says, "So it's possible that you saw some of the people who left the bar and walked towards the parking lot by the park?"

He tells her that he doesn't really remember seeing anyone in the parking lot. Veronica doesn't react but she has just put him behind the bar at closing time and he knows that there is an alley cutaway to the park beside Joe's which is across the street from Hogan's.

Mitchell leans forward and watches how Veronica handles this misstep closely. He had not been thrilled when she was placed on his team but he has come to see that she is a real asset as an interrogator. She is smart, ruthless and relentless; three things he loves in team members.

"That's too bad. I am hoping to find someone who saw someone waiting on Tompson Blvd or in the parking lot by the park," she tells him sadly. Veronica turns the conversation from the park to his apartment double checking that part of his route and asking if any of his neighbors could have heard him come in or maybe seen him. He explains the route he took and reiterates that he didn't see anyone on his way home. He tells her that area is quiet and it was very late. Veronica easily checks, "Well one am is not really that late. Maybe a neighbor was still up. Who lives below you?"

Mitch loves how she leads the conversation into his neighbors without letting him know they now really suspect him. He is telling her he doesn't know the neighbor beside him or below him. Frowning as if really puzzled she asks sweetly, "Well who watches your place when you leave town?"

Immediately he tells her, "I don't get anyone to watch my apartment."

Phil listens interestedly. This young man is fitting so many aspects of the profile. Veronica is really getting the information he wants to know and she is doing it so very skillfully. Phil wonders what he has in his apartment that he doesn't want anyone to see.

Meanwhile Veronica is flipping her papers and asks, "So how did you know the victim?" Looking him over she asks, "Did she come into the restaurant or something?" She says it in the tone that there was no way the young pretty girl was interested in him.

He denies, "I didn't know her."

Veronica writes a note in her file. She asks, "Are you sure?" as she rummages through the file and pulls out a picture of the victim wearing a short skirt and t-shirt. She shows it to him and waits while he looks at it.

"I see a lot of people at the restaurant," he says slowly, "I may have seen her there."

Accepting she suggests, "Maybe you saw her around the park? She was an athlete and jogged in the park?"

The suspect looks at the picture again and frowns, "No I don't think so."

Prodding she tries, "Maybe you saw her on the subway? She only lives a few stops down from your apartment?"

He slowly shakes his head and tells her he doesn't think so.

She sighs as she takes the picture back. "Perhaps you saw her at one of the bars or restaurants on Tompson Blvd.? She went there a few nights a week after work."

Looking at his watch, the suspect dismisses her question, "I don't go to bars much."

"Like ever?" she quizzes obviously disbelieving him.

He shrugs and tells her, "Rarely ever."

Frowning she questions, "Have you ever been to Haney's Bar?"

He shakes his head and meets her gaze. Mitch and Phil frown over this blatant lie. They have a picture of him sitting with the victim at Haney's Bar. Mitch wonders how Veronica is going to handle this. Is she going to press the issue or let him know they know he is lying? Leaning closer she asks, "Where do you and your pals like to go for fun?"

Mitchell gives a little smile. She is so unfailingly pleasant and has such an innocent face yet she is relentlessly backing him into a corner.

The young man frowns a little at her and answers, "I don't go out much."

"So you work and then go straight home? All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." she tilts her head and looks at him. He doesn't respond to her teasing and tells her that he is saving his money to go back to college. Seemingly impressed she asks, "What did you take in college before?"

"Pre med," he shares.

Veronica smiles at him and bounces a little in her chair as she asks, "Wow, are you still thinking of becoming a doctor?"

The suspect shakes his head and answers, "No, I am thinking of getting a business degree."

"Oh," she enthuses, "Are you thinking of running a restaurant or opening your own place?"

He looks a little bemused by her pep, "Maybe someday."

Nodding she shares, "Well I loved college. It was so much fun!"

He just looks at her and then comments almost disdainfully, "I imagine for you it was."

Smiling as if thinking about the memories she closes her folder and says, "Thanks so much for coming in. It was a long shot that you saw anything but you never know." She looks at him and continues, "I think I have all the information I need for now. Can I please have a number I can get a hold of you in case I have more questions or forgot to ask you something?" He gives her his work and cell number and she escorts him to the front desk area and says a pleasant goodbye.

When she gets back to the interrogation area she sees that her Mitchell and Phil waiting for her. She grabs a coffee and goes to sit with them. She says quietly as she sits down, "That is definitely our killer."

They both nod in agreement. Mitchell tells her that they are now checking him out. He is really impressed that she found out a lot about him without being obvious. He definitely fits the profile. The most impressive thing is she let him think he won her over. She was happy and perky at the end. He left here comfortable and confident; not suspecting they figure he is the killer.

Veronica takes a sip of her coffee and comments, "His obvious lie about not knowing her puzzles me. He was a very skilled liar until that point. I can't decide if he wants me to find the connection and follow up on him or he is sure we won't."

Phil is very impressed at her insight. They already have a picture of him with her so he must know that pictures of the two of them together were taken. That lie is out of his character for this guy.

Pondering Veronica asks, "What is so bad about him admitting he knew her? We are missing something."

Her phone beeps and she reads the text. Standing she stretches and tells the two men, "I am going to interview the others on my list. Maybe we will get lucky and they saw something. I will talk to you guys later."

Both men like that she is thorough. Even though they think they know the killer, she is following protocol and making sure they are leaving no stone unturned. In the meantime, they will check farther into this latest suspect. He looks very promising.

...

Saturday Veronica awakens wrapped in Logan's arms. Her back is to his front and she is warm and comfortable. Last night they had gone to a birthday party for Logan's assistant at the Foundation. It had been a fun evening but she had been tired from the long hours she put in interrogation and then follow up interviews. She looks at the clock and sees that it is after nine am. She feels that Logan is awake behind her and asks, "I thought you were going surfing with the guys this morning?"

He puts his nose in the back of her neck and murmurs, "I decided that we haven't seen enough of each other lately so I would spend the day with you before we meet the gang at the club."

"Sounds great," she enthuses as she moves her neck away from his tickling breath.

Pleased that she wants to spend time alone with him, he burrows closer and asks, "Is there something you would like to do today?"

She thinks as she enjoys their closeness, "Well I've been wanting to go the Anneberg Space for Photography. " She turns her head and looks at him stating, "It doesn't take long and we could be home in time to change for dinner and clubbing."

He pulls her even closer and agrees, "That works for me."

Excited to go to see the photography exhibits she looks at the clock on their bedside table again and thinks aloud, "Anneberg opens at ten. We could leave now, have a late breakfast and then see the exhibits."

"We're busy until lunch," Logan tells her.

Puzzled she asks, "Oh, what are we doing?" He doesn't answer as his hand slides up from around her abdomen to caress her breast. He kisses the side of her neck. "Oh," she exclaims, "I see."

In the late afternoon, Logan sits beside Veronica in the back of the car enjoying her enthusiasm for the exhibits they just saw. She has always loved photography and it is clear that she misses taking pictures. He wishes she had more time for hobbies, rest, family, friends...him. He is glad that she is making LA safer for everyone but at times like this when she is excited about spending time with him and seeing their friends tonight, he wishes she worked less. Neither of them needs to work. He has enough money for them both to spend every day together relaxing and enjoying life. Then he thinks about how much satisfaction he gets from his writing and from the Foundation he set up. He wants that satisfaction for Veronica. He knows that the FBI is her dream job but he worries about her discouragement at times.

Veronica cuddles into her handsome boyfriend and tells him, "I'm going to make time to take more pictures. I really want to explore using some of the angles Berenice Abbott used in her scenery shots."

Pleased that Veronica wants to get more use out of the new camera he bought her for her birthday, Logan thinks aloud, "You might want to get an external hard drive for your pictures. You can save them on your computer and to the external drive. That way you won't ever lose them if something happens to your computer."

Tiny wrinkles appear on her forehead as she thinks. She tells him, "I'll talk to Mac tonight."

After a great dinner, the group arrives at the club and the bouncer immediately lets them in. It is a large group as a few of Logan's Hearst friends are there, Mac has brought a couple of coworkers and Wallace brought his girlfriend. The wealthy among the group walk easily past the waiting public outside and then follow Logan past the bouncer who immediately recognizes him. Mike puts his hand on Logan's shoulder before the front door of the building and worries, "The bouncer stopped Veronica."

The front of the group turns to see that the bouncer let Mac, her friends, Wallace and his girlfriend through but stopped Veronica.

Doug holds the door open and comments, "Figures out of all of us, he stopped her."

Before Logan can even step back to get his girlfriend, the bouncer suddenly engulfs the petite blonde in a warm hug. When he releases her he says something to her and then laughs at her retort. The large man very gently put his hand on her back and made sure she was steady in her high heels on the first stair. She gives him a happy smile and heads up the few stairs to her waiting boyfriend.

Logan looks at Doug and dryly asks, "You were saying?" before he goes down the steps to assist his girlfriend.

The group outwardly laughs at Doug as they enter the building. Mac when she goes in the door that Doug is holding coughs out an 'asshole' as she goes in. Wallace following after Mac and his girlfriend openly smirks. Doug is embarrassed and annoyed; not many people treat him like Veronica's friends just did. He probably makes ten times what they make in a year. Who do they think they are?

Logan stops a few steps up from where Veronica is and puts out his hand for his girlfriend. When she looks up and sees him, her happy smile changes to a flirty look as she puts her hand in his larger hand. She tilts her head a little and meets his appreciative gaze with one of her own as she reaches the step he is on. Teasingly Logan asks, "An admirer?"

Squeezing her hand she shares, "That is Brad." She can see that he immediately recognizes the name.

He points out, "I see he is still working a second job."

Nodding Veronica looks meaningfully at him and tells him how even though the hospital agreed to write off his bill, he wants to stay ahead. She looks at him gratefully and shares, "He cut back though. He is only working every second weekend."

He gently raises their joined hand and kisses the back of hers. He briefly looks down at the burly man and back at his girlfriend. He adds, "I am just glad that his wife is responding to the chemotherapy."

Veronica smiles at him and agrees, "Me too."

Doug tired of waiting turns and goes into the building. Logan and Veronica tend to be in a world of their own once they get talking.

Veronica takes one last looks back at Brad and smiles. She had confided in Logan the money issues that Brad and Jeanne were facing due to her illness. Logan had called a friend on the hospital board where Jeanne had been admitted. Logan would pay the hospital bill and his friend would arrange for Doug to think that the hospital had written off his bill. She had been stunned and then excited. She had hugged Logan so proud of how generous he was. Brad's dignity was intact and he and Jeanne wouldn't have to worry so much about finances.

It turns out that Veronica is no slouch at taking care of the people she cares about. She continued to take her turn helping look after Jeanne until she was strong enough to be at home alone. Veronica also arranged for one of their cars to be at her disposal. Jeanne had been uncomfortable at first but Veronica had been persistent. Now Jeanne calls Logan's head of security and he sends a car to take her wherever she wants to go. This allows Brad to sleep or work without worrying about her. Mrs. H., when she knows that a driver was going to pick Jeanne up, sends treats or supper for her. They are all keeping good thoughts in their head for her full recovery.

A few hours later Logan, taking a break from dancing, watches his sexy girlfriend dancing with her best friend. They are obviously having a great time; Wallace is a skilled dancer with some excellent moves. Veronica is more than happy to cut loose and move to the music. It fills Logan's heart with joy to see her having fun with her friends. For so many years, Veronica has been closed off to most people. It is wonderful for Logan to see Veronica more open. It reminds him of when they were younger; when life was a little more carefree. Her openness in getting to know Mac's friends is heartwarming. She is letting them see the smart, caring and funny side of her. They are responding to her friendly overtures and they are all getting along well. Logan knows that Veronica is interested to hear stories of what Mac does at work. When they were dancing, she had confided that she didn't understand most of the technical jargon but she could see that they liked Mac and really respected her work. Proud of her friend, she joins in with stories of the cases they did together. The group is highly entertained that Veronica called Mac her Q in high school. Wallace's stories of the trouble Veronica got into in high school and college amazes Mac's friends. It is clear they are really enjoying their evening out together.

The other side of Veronica's happiness and openness with her friends is that it highlights how closed and quiet she is around his friends. He has to admit that tonight the gang has generally followed his edict to be respectful. He also has to concede that Veronica has been polite as usual. He just wishes they could get past their negative history and get along better. It would make going out a lot more comfortable and fun.

Veronica, as usual, deflects any potentially negative comments with ease. Logan smirks as he thinks about how during dinner, Rick had asked her how she liked living in a mansion. Of course the back side of his seemingly innocent question was the fact he pointed out that she was too poor to afford the place they lived in without Logan's money. She had very politely answered, "Well Logan is there so it is great."

Although he was unimpressed with Rick's comment, he was pleased at Veronica's handling of the situation. He can see that with her training in communication techniques and experience in interrogation, she knows how to better handle conflict now. The thing is, Logan also understands that with her quick wit and smart mouth, she has a return zinger that she holds back for his sake. Now he has to get this friends to hold their negative comments in as well. He rewarded her answer with a kiss and smile. Mac not happy with Rick's attitude, rescued Veronica from the situation by asking her to go with her to the bathroom. Logan stood politely as Veronica got up to leave the table with Mac. When she was out of ear shot, Logan had looked at Rick in frustration and said, "I think you know that Veronica doesn't like you either but out of respect to me, she keeps her comments to herself," adding meaningfully, "out with you and at home with me." He keeps his voice low enough not to draw undue attention to this conversation but loud enough that most of the guys at his end of the table can hear, "You are going to have decide right now if talking rudely to Veronica is more important than our friendship because out of respect for me, I am expecting you to be polite to Veronica." He looks around the table meeting each of their gazes before he adds firmly, "If you guys can't do that I will know that you are ready to end our friendship."

Logan sits back down and pointedly turns to talk to Casey and his date. Wallace sitting farther down the table can't hear the conversation because Logan has lowered his voice but he can read Logan's body language. From the look of upset on the faces of his friends and the looks of discomfort on the faces of their dates, Logan is unhappy with what was said to Veronica. Welcome back protective Logan, it's good to see you again. He inwardly smiles and turns to talk to one of Mac's friends.

Down on the dance floor, the tiny blonde must have felt his gaze or she just looked up to where they were sitting with their friends and she sees her boyfriend is watching her. She smiles at him and gives him a little wave. He immediately smiles back. When the song ends Wallace and Veronica make their way off the dance floor. Wallace's girlfriend meets them part way and firmly turns him around. Veronica laughs as she leaves the two of them to it.

Dick sits down beside Logan and notices him watching the dance floor and Veronica. As they look over the railing a dark haired man in expensive clothes asks Veronica to dance. She shakes her head in her usual manner of brushing off any guy she doesn't know. She is wary of reporters who would set her up for a story. She doesn't want her picture taken interacting with any male strangers. Dick feels Logan stiffen a little when the guy doesn't want to take her first refusal as her answer. He makes the mistake of trying to grab her arm. She easily side steps and knocks away his hand with a quick twist of her wrist. The guy looks shocked at the self defense move. Without waiting for his comment, Veronica turns and leaves the dance floor. Wallace quickly steps between Veronica and the man, and pulls his girlfriend closer as the song slows. The delay allows Veronica to leave without any further contact and the moment is over.

Logan watches as the guy goes back to his table to the teasing of table mates. He sees that Veronica was obviously a bet amongst the men. He remembers when he and his friends would pick a girl and see who could get the farthest with her. God they were idiots when they were younger!

Veronica arriving at the top of the stairs sees that Dick is sitting with Logan so she heads over to the other end of the table to sit with Mac. She squeaks a little in surprise as Logan's arm reaches out to hook around her and pull her into his lap. The guys around the table hearing the noise laugh as they notice Logan pulling his girlfriend into his lap. She looks at him in surprise and gives him a mock annoyed face when she sees he is laughing at her. He teases gently, "Did the big bad FBI agent just scream?"

The guys sitting close have to smile at Logan's jab. She retorts, "I wasn't expecting to be grabbed."

"Well looking sexy as you do, you should," Logan immediately rejoins.

Surprising the guys, the corner of her mouth twitches in humor. She puts her arm around his neck and admits, "Good answer."

Smiling he leans in and puts his forehead to hers and tells her quietly, "I just had this uncontrollable urge to hold you in my arms."

Touched she whispers, "Hugging closes the door to hate. Kissing opens the door to love... Tony Davis."

A huge smiles lights up his face at her retort and he leans in to kiss her. Before their lips meet he murmurs, "Let's see." .

The guys watching see her happy manner with Logan and his obvious happiness with her. They rarely saw her dressed up in college but she looks hot tonight with that tight dress and her long blonde hair hanging loose. She is so tiny; Logan's hand looks huge as he holds her in his lap. When the kiss carries on, the guys go back to their own discussions. Dick gets up and moves to the other side of the table. Mac seeing Dick move has to smile. Tonight Logan is definitely showing his friends that Veronica is very important to him.

A while later Logan and Veronica head back to the dance floor. Veronica loves to dance with Logan. He is a very accomplished dancer and she likes to watch him move to the music. She especially likes when the music slows and he holds her closely in his arms.

After a few fast songs where Logan enjoys watching his girlfriend move to the beat, the music slows. He reaches out and pulls her gently into his arms. She wraps her arms around his neck and, as always, he feels that deep contentment at how well they fit together. Relaxing into the feelings between them and the emotions of the music, he slides his hand slowly up and down her lower back until he finally rests it on her hip while he raises his other hand to her neck sliding it under the silky softness of her hair. He loves her hair any way she wears it but loose it reminds him of when they are in bed. Absently he runs his hand slowly through her hair while they dance. He is a little surprised at how much Veronica loves to dress up when they go out. When they were younger, she and Lilly liked to shop and get new outfits. Then she seemed to prefer jeans and boots through high school and college. Now he guesses that since she has to wear suits at work, she enjoys being able to dress up with they go out. He absolutely loves the dress she is wearing tonight. She and Mac found a small, out of the way, clothing store that they both now frequent. Logan likes the clothes she buys from there; they are unusual and stylish. Tonight she is wearing a short silver, grey and black dress. It is striking how the dress changes color as she moves and it definitely accentuates her curves. It is an attention catching dress. He can see why the guys at the table downstairs by the dance floor picked her to hit on. She doesn't have a voluptuous figure as such but he likes her curves. The swell of her breasts down to her tiny waist and hips. He loves how his hands almost span her waist. He has to admit that his favorite part of her body is her sexy ass. Who would have thought he was an ass man?

Veronica gazes up at her boyfriend and her breath catches at the desire in his gaze. She really loves when his eyes darken and he looks at her like he wants to be inside her. She is very used to his possessive way and relaxes easily into his touch.

The young men at the table by the dance floor see that the hot blonde they picked to hit on is with Logan Echolls. None of them really follow the tabloids so they didn't recognize her but they do know who he is. No wonder she wasn't interested in any of them. She is living in a huge mansion with one of the richest guys in California.

Although he has been seen dancing with a few different women tonight, it is clear that Logan Echolls is in a relationship with the tiny blonde. He is obviously comfortable with her body and he looks at her like she means the world to him.