A/N: Thank you for all the follows, favorites, and of course, your Reviews. Reviews are amazing. So simply put, Thank you. Reading these stories are optional and so it with that awareness that I want to extend to you all how much I appreciate that there seems to be a liking of this story. Thank you to the amazing Bond, without whom I would not have ended up where we end at this chapter, and the great counsel and advice for which the next chapter would still be hanging in the eternal balance of "What now?"

Chapter 10

As Logan approached the end of the drive, Bunk separated himself from his team and met him halfway down the drive.

As they neared one another, Logan motioned behind Bunk to the men at the gate and commented, "When you said crew, you meant army."

Bunk looked back at the front gate and shrugged indifferently. "Yeah, well, in this line of business, I've found it's best to be overly prepared than surprised. Everything out here is going as planned. Everything's secure. How's it going in there?"

Logan ran a hand through his hair, ruffling the ends. "She's mad as hell."

The smile on Bunk's lips grew wide. "Finding out about Carrie was a surprise?" With Logan's sharp look, Bunk grew more serious. "Did you tell her everything?"

"Most of it."

Bunk's eyebrow's raised. "Really? And why not all of it?"

"You know why not."

"You really ought to tell her," Bunk counseled. "It would probably help."

"Why should I be concerned about it helping?" Logan retorted bitterly, hating how vulnerable he felt. "All she cares about is her dad."

"Hurrumph." Bunk snorted, "If all that mattered to her was only Keith Mars, do you think she'd be keyed up here with you in the boonies? Now, I'm not saying he's not important, because of course he is. But just think about it for a minute. She has a car. She knew I was coming. She could have left you here at any time today, Echo, and she's still here. What does that tell you?"

Logan hadn't considered that. He looked behind him at the house, where a light flickered on in the upstairs guest room. Veronica's shadow was visible, moving around. All day the two of them had been at each others throats, arguing and bickering over everything. Though he'd spent that entire time defending and justifying himself to her, it had never occurred to Logan that Veronica truly did have the liberty to leave at any point.

Last night when she'd made the quip about not leaving a comrade behind, it had been made in half-jest and before he'd told her about Bunk. He'd told her to leave and she'd brushed it off. But the truth was that she really could have left.

Why hadn't she?

***Break***

Before Veronica crawled into bed, she'd watched Logan talk to Bunk from her bedroom window. The two men stood out on the driveway for quite some time before they'd separated. Logan had turned to make his way back into the house while Bunk headed to the front gate where a group of his men were working. Although she couldn't quite see how many men were there or what they were doing, Veronica hadn't been alarmed to see them there. She knew from what Bunk had told her earlier that there was a security team who would be patrolling the grounds and double-checking the alarm system that had been installed years before.

Thinking of the alarm system made Veronica think of Carrie the reality of who she had been, especially in regard to Logan. Or, more precisely, who Carrie hadn't been to Logan. They hadn't really been together.

They hadn't really been together?

Veronica had pretty much figured that out this morning. All the telltale signs had been there when she'd looked around the living room and found no sign of Logan throughout Carrie's personal pictures. That combined with things Logan had and hadn't said, had been resounding in her mind all day. Because of that, she'd purposely poked him every chance she'd gotten, trying to get him to fill in the blanks. But when he'd finally given in, she'd still been shocked at his admission.

The words had punched Veronica in the stomach; his expression had squeezed her heart like a vise. He'd looked seventeen again, and oh so vulnerable. The way he'd shouted out that Carrie was not his had been tragic.

And what had she done? Twisted the knife deeper and then plunged it in farther.

She sighed. Picking at him wasn't bringing her any satisfaction; it was only making her hurt for him more. It made her feel things that she'd never allowed herself to feel. She'd wanted to reach out and hold him tight, even though the thought of doing so made Veronica feel susceptible to being hurt herself.

He'd hurt her so many times in the past, and to just forget that…

Looking back now, Veronica tried to recall the worst of it—the most hurtful things Logan had done to her. But she couldn't. All Veronica could think of at that precise moment were the times when he'd been there for her.

Then why couldn't she be there for him now? She owed him that much, didn't she? She owed him some effort to be kinder, to be more patient, and less demanding of information she had no right to demand to know.

Veronica dropped the curtain and moved about the room, readying herself for bed. Tomorrow would be another day. There was no reason for her to obsess over Logan and his life now. What she could do was work at being kinder toward him. He deserved that much at least.

The kiss they'd just shared was something that would have to be forgotten, though. She couldn't let herself dwell on what it might mean. She pulled back the covers on the bed and crawled into it.

She found herself staring at the ceiling for a long time, her fingers to her lips. Eventually she dozed off.

**Break**

Veronica had been standing in front of the hotel door for ten minutes, talking herself in and out of knocking the entire time. Finally, she just did it and realized it was too late to back out. If Logan was here, he'd open that door and know, KNOW, why she was here.

After a moment, the door swung open and Logan stood there, staring, shocked, at her. She searched him, from his bare feet to his perfectly-coiffed hair and all she could think was that he looked just like home.

She was home.

It was as if she floated the three steps it took to be in his arms, and then they were wrapped up in each other, devouring one another. Logan's hands caressed her back and made their way into her hair, her hands wrapped around his neck. They pulled each other closer as Logan turned her slightly away from the door and slammed it shut with his foot before gently swinging her up and pressing her against the jam.

Their hands roamed down each other freely until he broke the kiss and stared at her, his deep brown eyes pools of desire, but she saw the question and she smiled at him.

"I missed you."

The soft smile he gave her was reassuring and their lips sought each other again, Logan's tongue dipping into hers delectably and she returned the kiss in kind. When he made his way down her jaw bone to nip greedily at her neck, Veronica nearly purred out loud.

"Ahh…" she murmured, her small body arching into his larger, harder one. Logan's arms felt so good around her. With the muscles of his biceps wrapped tightly against her, she let herself revel in the sensation of him devouring her. He'd propped a leg up against the door to hold her between him and the wall, enabling Veronica to merely enjoy the ride. Her fingers grappled at the edge of his shirt, making her way underneath to touch the coolness of his stomach. As she did so, Logan broke away from her neck and looked at her, his eyes so fiery with desire that Veronica felt dizzy.

"Veronica…" He started, and she tried to silence him with a kiss, but he shook his head and pulled further back. "No, Veronica, I need to talk to you first…"

"Whatever you have to say, Logan, I don't need to hear it. I missed you; I want to be with you. Nothing you have to say can change that. I…I…" Veronica stopped, the words refusing to roll off her tongue. She was so used to keeping herself closed up and shielded that to knowingly give Logan even a little bit of herself was almost painful. Just by coming here tonight was more than she'd ever given before.

God, what was wrong with her? Why couldn't she give him just a little bit more of herself?

Everything about him fit her so well; she wondered suddenly why she 'd ever chosen to let him go. When he'd turned away from her that day on campus, she should have thrown herself down on her knees and begged for him to not leave her. She'd wanted to so badly…the tears she'd cried that day still didn't seem to have dried on her heart. She'd been walking around in a fog, concentrating so hard on cases and the things around her that she had been able to deny how badly she'd needed him.

During all of her inner turmoil, Logan watched her, wearing a very serious expression. Suddenly, he flashed the smile Veronica loved so well, the one that said he knew what she was trying to say and that he wouldn't force her to say it. "I missed you, too."

Suddenly his embrace around her tightened and he twirled her around and around until the backs of her knees hit the arm of the couch. Together they fell onto it, Logan above her. His hands roamed up and under her the light cotton shirt she wore beneath her jean jacket and found a nipple; she arched into his hand and gasped out loud when he trailed his tongue down her neck. He sucked tenderly at the spot at the base of her throat that always made her mindless, and she tugged at the ends of his hair, unaware of anything else around them.

Together, they tugged off her jacket and discarded it; just as quickly her shirt joined the jacket on the floor and his followed soon thereafter. His hands were on her again, pulling at her bra as his mouth covered hers again. He pressed her smoothly to lie back on the couch as he dipped even lower, placing kisses above the cup of her bra and further down.

His fingers were now working on the belt at her waist, every so often dipping underneath, and Veronica involuntarily bucked against him in waves as he worked. Soon the jeans were off and all that was left were her panties and bra. Logan stood up and reached for her; when she stood up to join him, he picked her up and made his way to the bedroom. Veronica laughed giddily as she threw her arms around him, burying her head into his neck and lightly touching her tongue to where she could see his pulse beating.

When he laid her down on the bed, Logan took his time to finish undressing himself before joining her. She watched him with hooded eyes, her body humming with anticipation and longing. He never broke her gaze, and in it she could see the same desire mirrored in his eyes. Finally, finally, he lay himself beside her, on his side with an arm propping himself up so that he could look at her. She turned her head to watch him, and he took his free hand and drew lazy circles with his index finger around her belly button, gradually making the circle big with each full turn until he hit the band of her low-rise panties.

At that point, he rolled himself between her thighs and began the process of removing the underwear, methodically pushing them down and kissing the exposed skin. Her breath came out in choppy bursts; the dull ache within her was beginning its wonderful throbbing of awareness and near-completeness. She bucked up into his mouth when she felt his warm breath against the sensitive skin and she felt his tongue…

Veronica cried out, riding the wave of absolute pleasure as she dimly felt Logan's fingers trail down her thighs. Moments later, or hours, she really didn't know and really didn't care; she felt so good and was so content being there with him. But however long it was, Logan pulled himself next to her and pulled her into him. He nuzzled her neck, and though she felt weightless and rubbery, Veronica mustered enough energy to straddle him, letting her hair fall around her face and when she leaned down to kiss him; she let the ends feather his chest lightly. His fingers threaded through her hair and he framed her face, pulling her back slightly and she was forced to look into his face as he examined her.

The look in his eyes was so full of love and wonder…oh, how she could let herself get lost in his eyes. She let herself drown now, as she moved herself just right and she watched his eyes widen in surprise as she plunged herself down on him with a sudden thrust; he was in her, fully and completely. Slowly, they moved together and she loved the way she could see his control slip when suddenly Logan shuddered and threw his head back. His hands gripped firmly on her hips, rocking her back and forth so that she suddenly found another release and they cried out together, each of their names on the other's lips.

**Break***

When Veronica woke the next morning, she was still flushed. It had been many years since she'd dreamed of that particular memory. She clearly remembered that night, the night she'd thrown caution to the wind and had gone to Logan to do whatever it took to get him back. It had taken a lot for her to get to that point, but at that particular moment in time, she hadn't been able to see any other option. She'd needed him. Logan hadn't made her try very hard, she also remembered that. It seemed they had both needed each other and eagerly fell directly back into their old patterns without doing much more to work on their relationship. It had ultimately destroyed them as a couple.

The savory smell of bacon drifted up from the kitchen, and her stomach rumbled with hunger. Pushing the memory of Logan's touch from her mind, Veronica swiftly showered and dressed in a pair of jeans that was a little too snug and an oversized sweatshirt, both of which she found in the bottom of the guest room's dresser.

When she rounded the corner of the kitchen, the hum of voices stilled. She entered the room and saw Bunk standing over the stove, frying the bacon. Logan sat at the island, already digging in. He didn't look up from his plate, apparently absorbed with his bacon and eggs. His short hair was mussed from sleep and he had on a worn looking t-shirt with the sleeves cut off over long basketball shorts. The bandage at his shoulder poked out from the shirt's arm hole, and Veronica wondered guiltily if he'd been able to change it last night or if Bunk had helped him with it.

"Well, good morning, Goldilocks," Bunk said to her, motioning to a stack of plates. "Help yourself. I'm making enough for my guys out there, too, but there's plenty to go around."

In answer, Veronica took a plate and loaded up on bacon, eggs, and toast. She murmured her thanks and made herself a cup of coffee. Leaving a stool between herself and Logan, Veronica sat down at the island and tucked herself in.

Next to her, Logan chewed methodically, his eyes still downcast. Veronica focused on her plate and feigned great interest in her toast. She broke the bread apart and popped the pieces into her mouth, eating slowly. She set down what was left and picked up her fork to attack the scrambled eggs on her plate.

Finished with frying the last of the bacon, Bunk scooped the strips onto a plate covered with paper towel before returning the pan to the stove top and switching off the burner. He filled himself a plate. Instead of inching between them to take the extra seat, Bunk plunked the plate down across from the two of them and leaned over the island, propping himself on his elbows.

"I wanted to introduce you to the security team today," Bunk said a few moments later, around a mouthful of egg, "but it's gonna have to wait. We got word this morning that your dad's being moved."

"What?" Veronica's eyes shot from her plate, "Right now?"

Bunk looked over to the clock display on the oven. "Yes, actually right now. He's in transit."

The bacon she'd just swallowed lodged in her throat. "When can I see him?"

Bunk straightened and took a large swallow of coffee. "He'll be set up at a private hospital on the outskirts of San Diego. If we leave as soon as we're ready, we can probably get there approximately an hour after his arrival."

**Break**

Veronica wanted to leave right away and Bunk agreed, so they finished their breakfast quickly and then started rushing about the house. There wasn't much to do to get ready, which was nice, but it still felt good to keep busy; it kept her mind off of Logan and enabled her to think about the more important issue that was her dad.

Standing in the office, she took stock of the items there, deciding what was important enough to bring with and what could feasibly stay. She filled her black leather messenger bag with what she could: laptop, phones, the tablet. With one last look, she was out of the door. As she hurried out of the office, she adjusted the items better in her bag and slung the strap more comfortably over her shoulder. As she did so, she ran straight into Logan, who was walking down the hall.

"Oof," she exclaimed in surprise, automatically reaching out and grabbing his arm to steady herself. "Sorry."

He turned into her and automatically steadied her with his good hand, his fingers lightly digging into her bicep as he righted her. She looked up into his face and she smiled awkwardly, feeling unsure. Logan returned the smile cautiously and opened his mouth to say something.

"You two ready to go?" From the kitchen, Bunk poked his head around the corner and interrupted them.

Logan set her back and stepped away. He started down the hall and toward Bunk. "I'm ready when you two are."

"Logan." When he looked back at her, Veronica said, "Do you really think it's safe for you to go?"

"Well," Logan answered slowly as he turned back to fully look at her. "I'd really like to be there for you. Safety be damned."

Before Veronica could respond, Bunk called out, "Already taken care of."

***Break**

"Is this really necessary?"

"Relax, Echo, better safe than sorry," Bunk commented drily as he maneuvered the car into a parking space in front of the small private hospital. "I'd rather you feel like an idiot than be made."

"Yeah, relax, Echo," Veronica repeated, shooting Logan a grin when he glared back at her. At his scowl, she grinned wider. "Cowboy up."

Logan adjusted the large black cowboy hat and then grabbed the door handle to get out of the car. When the click of cowboy boots hit the pavement, he gritted his teeth in displeasure. "I always wondered what it would be like to be a Rhinestone Cowboy. I'm seriously disappointed that you two didn't want to join in on the fun and throw on some Wranglers, too."

Actually, he wasn't wearing Wranglers, thank God, but Logan still felt ridiculous. He opened the back door for Veronica to get out and when she slipped past him, she returned the guarded smile he gave her. He wondered if she felt as awkward as he did; this felt like after their first kiss back in high school when they both had tried to pretend that it had never happened for a while. Earlier at the house, they'd kept away from each other, exchanging very few words. In the car, they'd avoided eye contact the whole ride, which had been easy enough since Logan had sat in the front with Bunk. But now they were stuck stepping around each other again, unsure and awkward.

However awkward, Logan still knew Veronica well enough to sense her anxieties intensify the closer they'd gotten to San Diego. He'd immediately picked up on her nervous chatter and known it was a reaction to the prospect of seeing Keith. Her anxious energy had been steadily increasing with every mile.

Now as Logan looked up at the tall building before him, he hoped that Keith was already here and resting comfortably in his own private room. Because if that weren't the case, Veronica would likely become hysterical and Logan wasn't sure what to do if that happened. He'd rather be spared from finding out.

They approached the sliding glass doors together. The plaid, long-sleeved button-up shirt Logan wore was tight and pulled painfully at the bandage at his shoulder. He had to make a conscious effort to keep himself from drawing his arm protectively into himself to ease the discomfort. Bunk had threatened him to not exhibit any odd or suspicious mannerisms and Logan was pretty sure that babying his injured arm counted as unusual. Tensely, he adjusted the cowboy hat again and Bunk frowned.

"Son, if you keep that up people are gonna know you don't wear one of those normally."

"The lack of shit on the shit-kickers isn't sign enough?" Logan disputed under his breath, and Bunk narrowed his gaze. "What, man? This Stetson practically still has the price tag plastered to the side of it."

"Yeah, and Garth Brooks called, he wants his shirt back," Veronica quipped with a grin as she sidled past the two of them, entering the foyer first.

"So shut your mouth," Logan warned her gruffly, "You probably should have worn a Dolly Parton getup, too."

"Of course, that's your pick of disguises. Buxom-bottle-blond."

"Well, is there any better kind?" Bunk teased, "How can you blame him?"

***Break***

She felt a great sense of relief wash over her when Bunk introduced Veronica to Keith's nurse, Trevor. Not for the first time, Veronica was grateful that Logan had called his Navy buddy in for help. She'd known immediately upon shaking Trevor's hand that the RN worked directly for Bunk. The RN was both a nurse and a bodyguard. It had been hard to contain her emotion at the realization. Her dad had the best care possible, and it was because of Logan.

Logan had stood stoically beside her when the doctor had come to talk with her about Keith's prognosis. The news today was better than before; the plan was to lessen the meds so that Keith would come out of his induced coma sometime the next day.

It was with trepidation that Veronica pushed open the door that led into Keith's new room. Though it was dark, she could see her dad in the dim light. He was unconscious on the bed. Somehow, Veronica found herself beside the bed, staring down at him, feeling the shock of what had happened all over again. Nothing could have prepared her for how bad he looked; it was horrible seeing him strung up to multiple machines with tubes running all directions.

Tentatively, she set a hand on his. It felt cold. She searched his face, wishing fervently that his eyes would pop open and that a smile would form on his lips. There was nary a sign of life and she wondered just how close to death he actually was. The doctors hadn't been lying earlier when they'd told her how bad he was; seeing it with her own eyes was terrifying.

Logan and Bunk had waited in the hall when she went in. Now she wished for their presence and support.

She ran a hand up the length of his arm, yearning to hug him for all she was worth. Veronica was quite nervous to touch him more than she'd already done, afraid of dislodging a wire or pinching off an essential tube. Fighting hard to control the tears, and not knowing what else to do, Veronica started talking.

She told him about Mac's phone call and of her rushing to get to Neptune. She told him of the days that had followed, and how much she had wanted to be with him every moment, but how the doctors wouldn't let her in. She told him of the things she'd learned about the incident, and that Sacks had died. Then she told him of Logan and what she'd learned about adult Logan, about the Navy and Bunk and everything she'd learned about Logan's fake relationship with Carrie.

And then, when she felt braver, Veronica laid her head softly onto his chest and cried.

**Break**

Her face was a pale hue of white when she emerged from Keith's room.

Not thinking, Logan took her into his arms and held her close. There was nothing else he knew to do and from the way she melted into him, holding on to him tightly, too, he knew it was what she needed most. He ran a hand awkwardly down her back and patted her softly. "Hey, everything will be all right," he murmured, as if speaking to a child, "You heard what the doctor said; he's improving."

"Oh, Logan," Veronica sniffled into the plaid of his shirt, "He looks like death."

The vulnerable tone of her voice made Logan tighten his arms around her and he pressed a kiss onto the top of her head. "He might look that way, but he's not dead. He's going to be fine."

After a few moments, Veronica pulled slightly away from him. She kept her arms wrapped around him as she looked up at him. Drops of tears clung to her lashes like crystals, and Logan could see all the different tones of blue in her eyes; the cerulean speckled throughout the cobalt. His chest constricted.

She moved her arms away from him to tuck her hair behind her ears. Sighing heavily, she dropped her gaze away down to the floor. "Sorry. I thought I was prepared. How wrong I was."

Logan reached up and lightly cupped her cheeks in his hands. Looking startled, Veronica's eyes jumped to his, and he smiled at her as he searched her face. She hadn't aged a bit, he realized. There was hardly a trace of change; she looked just as she had in college. Except that the determined look she'd always had was now tinged with a vulnerability that he figured was being brought on by her dad's condition. He wondered if she'd ever age, or if Veronica had the type of beauty that would never grew old, no matter the years. His mind unexpectedly flashed to his mother, who had fought the aging process tooth and nail with procedures and tucks. Lynn had been a beautiful woman, but not like Veronica who had natural beauty. It was the kind of beauty that Logan had always appreciated and been attracted to.

They stood like that for a few minutes longer until Bunk interrupted their gazing at one another by storming down the hall with purpose. Logan dropped his hand and gave Veronica a fleeting smile before he turned his attention to the older man.

Bunk held up the tablet they had brought with them. "Your friend's little tracker, it's on the move."

Logan watched as Veronica turn from putty to business in two seconds. She full-throttled it down the hall to meet Bunk halfway and took the proffered tablet.

"Excellent," she muttered, all traces of her tears now gone. "Where is ol' Seannie Boy headed today?"

***Break***

The three of them made their way to the waiting room on the edge of the ICU wing. Glad to find it empty, Veronica led the others to a small table and sat down. On the tablet, Veronica zoomed in on the map out that showed the tiny beacon that was Dick's money move throughout the town of Neptune.

She wondered how long they should watch rather than just drive to Neptune and start following Sean.

Logan, who sat across from her, asked, "Where do you think he is going?"

Veronica shook her head. "Your guess is better than mine." She placed the iPad in the center of the table so they could all see it more easily. They all leaned over the table to get a closer look. "I think he's headed out of town."

"Do you think he's headed to the Mexican border?" Bunk leaned in closer and frowned. "Nah, that's the wrong direction."

"Mmm…no…" Veronica felt perplexed. "That's not the border and not toward…"

"You know," Logan said, interrupting her, his voice thoughtful, "That's the highway Santa Anita is on." He reached out and swiped at the screen, pointing at an area on the map that was marked as a point of interest. "It looks like he's almost there. And…I've seen him there myself, on race days. More than once."

Veronica's eyes bounced to his. "Horse races?"

Logan quickly looked back down and nodded. "Yeah, Dick goes most Sundays, and I go sometimes when I'm home. Sure."

"You think he's gambling that drug money on horse races?" Bunk asked incredulously, leaning in to look closer.

"Wait," Veronica said, barging over Bunk's question, "It's Sunday. Will Dick be going?"

"Well, maybe," Logan answered slowly, "I really don't know."

"Well, he should go." Veronica said, excited. "For that matter, get Mac or Wallace to go with him. Because if it's normal for Dick to be there, and you say Sean is there, then Dick needs to be there. Actually," she realized, "We all could go. Does anyone know you well there? Are you high stakes?"

"Uh," Logan sounded reluctant to answer her. "We place bets, yeah."

Veronica chewed on that for a moment. "Call Dick."

***Break***

"I need a favor." Veronica's voice on the line was urgent.

Mac stopped doing her dishes and dried her hands quickly so that she could hold the phone better. "What's going on?"

"Can you look up Sean Friedrich's history of betting at Santa Anita Park? We think he's headed there now since there's a race. We're wondering if he's gonna blow the money or what's really going on."

"You mean, you want me to hack into Santa Anita Park's mainframe?" Mac moved down the hall toward her office. "It'll take a while."

Veronica blew out a sigh. "Well, it was a long shot. We don't have that kind of time. What are you doing this afternoon?"

"Uhmmm, why?"

"Wanna take a ride to the horse derby with Dick?"

Why me? Mac thought, pushing the phone tighter to her ear. Out loud, with all the confidence she could muster she said, "Well-"

Through the phone, Mac heard a masculine voice and then Veronica cover the receiver to respond. A moment later, she came back, saying a little too cheerfully, "We'll all be there!"

Utterly speechless, Mac stared out her window and down to the parking lot. Stuck in a car with Dick for an hour to the race track? God help me.

At her silence, Veronica prodded, "Come on, Mac. Wallace can't go. It would be great to see you; we could go over some things."

"Veronica—"

"Please, Mac. I really need to see you."

Mac, alarmed at how despondent Veronica sounded, asked, "Is everything all right? You sound…you sound…"

"I know how I sound, Mac, I…" Veronica's voice dropped an octave and Mac could tell she was trying to be covert on her end of the line. "I just saw Dad."

Aha. But… "How, Veronica? I thought the doctors said—"

"We got him moved this morning. I just saw him and…" Veronica stopped. "He's still really bad. Whoever did this has to pay."

They were silent for a moment. Resigned, Mac asked, "How soon should I be at Dick's?"

A/N: Thank you again. If you have time, a Review would make my day :)I apologize to that I haven't personally gotten back a note of thank you to those of you who reviewed the previous chapters. It's been a crazy month and so I have made the executive decision to focus on writing instead, because I feel that it where you all would prefer I be at this point anyway. As always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!