Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

by SilverLining2k6

Silly Duncan stopped taking his meds. Now, one dead Fitzpatrick later, Logan and Veronica need to get him out of town. Too bad they hate each other. AU. Takes place mid 1x3 - Meet John Smith.

15. Ch15 Day 4 Lilly Knows Best

Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own

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Chapter Fifteen - Day Four - Lilly Knows Best

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A/N: I figured you all would rather have one super-long 15K word chapter where nothing really happens than two half-sized ones, where, still, nothing happens. The story should pick back up in chapter 16.

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Veronica – Day Four – Lakeview Court Motel – Dallas, Texas

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Several minutes past noon, Veronica returned the keys to Peggy's truck. The office was empty, but at the sound of the bell on the door, Peggy appeared in the open doorway behind the counter. "Come on back," she motioned.

Veronica followed her into a tiny kitchen rich in the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee, and a hint of lemon-scented cleaner. The room was white, from the floor to the walls, from the cabinets to the appliances, to the gleaming ceramic tile countertop. Scattered red accents pieces kept the space from appearing sterile.

Peggy gestured for Veronica to take a seat at the four-seater table, turning to putter around the room gathering items: two large red mugs, a carafe of coffee, a bottle of hazelnut creamer, small desert plates, forks, a spoon, a knife, and a foil-covered plate, tented in the middle.

"Any problems dropping off the truck?" Peggy asked, slipping into the chair across from Veronica.

Veronica let out a bitter laugh. "Nothing we couldn't handle. The Explorer won't be ready until the day after tomorrow, so we'll need to book our room for two more nights. Is that okay?"

"Of course! You stay as long as you want to." Peggy poured coffee from the carafe, handing one of the mugs to Veronica. "I spoke to Tony five minutes ago. Duncan hasn't shown any response to treatment, yet."

"Lovely," Veronica said, reaching for the bottle of hazelnut creamer, and drizzling some into her mug.

Peggy removed the foil from the plate, and Veronica's mouth watered at the sight. She hadn't had pumpkin roll since before her mom had left.

"Tony will bring Duncan by this evening. With any luck, he'll be able to make some progress between now and then." Peggy cut off two slices of the desert, sliding one to Veronica with a fork.

Today's caftan had a misty gray print, V-neck, and 3/4 length sleeves. She wore a large clunky necklace strung with flat silvery stones resembling hematite. "How'd you handle being alone in the room with Logan last night?" she asked.

"How do you mean?" Veronica added sugar to her mug and stirred.

"You survived a traumatic experience. Nobody would blame you if you were a bit wary around men now."

"Oh...I am, but not with Logan. To be honest...when I'm in his arms is the only time I feel truly safe."

"You mean when he hugs you?"

"There may have been some…" her voice dropped to a mumble. "...cuddling...too." She stirred her coffee, taking a sip.

"No, not in a romantic way!" Veronica was quick to clarify noticing the curious expression on Peggy's face. "I keep having these horrible nightmares, but whenever Logan wraps his arms around me, they go away."

"So he's offering you comfort?" Peggy asked with a gentle smile.

"Yeah…" Veronica answered, the tiniest of smiles curling up the corners of her lips. Her eyes widened when she tasted the pumpkin roll. "Peggy, this is delicious. Is it homemade?"

"Yep, old family recipe. I can make you a copy before you check out. You know I had a friend like that."

"Like what?" Veronica had forgotten everything beyond the desert in front of her.

"Logan. In my mid-twenties I was attacked and raped."

"I am so sorry," Veronica gasped.

"I know, hon. You get past it eventually."

"Did they catch the guy?"

"No, they never caught him. At first, I couldn't stand to be touched. By anybody. It made my skin crawl." She offered an understanding nod to Veronica before continuing. "A few weeks after the attack, while visiting my cousin William, I ran into Robert, an old friend from school. He pulled me into a bear hug, not having heard anything about my rape."

Veronica cringed in sympathy.

"I braced myself, but the revulsion never came." All of these years later, Peggy face still showed wonder at the memory. "I actually felt safe with him. I was so relieved to be touched by another human being again; I ended up breaking down in his arms. Acting like a blubbering fool."

"Oh no!" Veronica winced. "How'd he react?"

"He was a good sport after I explained everything to him. He had moved back to town the previous week, and had rented an apartment, coincidentally, in my building, one floor down from me."

"Awkward." Veronica said.

"No, he became one of my best friends. Like you, I was having nightmares. I kept dreaming that my attacker would come back and find me. One night, I woke up screaming from this nightmare...more vivid than usual. I don't even recall stumbling down to his door, but one glance at my face and he just held out his arms. He held me until I was able to sleep again."

Veronica's sinuses alerted her to the real possibility of tears. Peggy's story tugged at her heartstrings, but wasn't Logan was providing the exact same sort of comfort for her. Had she been taking him for granted? She took a deep breath to head off any embarrassing displays of emotion.

"It became a pretty regular occurrence after that." Peggy continued. "Every time I needed him, he came through, no questions asked."

"You speak of him in the past tense. Did you lose contact with him?"

"He passed away a year and a half ago from cancer."

"Oh Peggy, I am so sorry."

"Don't be," Peggy said, smiling through her brimming tears. "Robert and I had thirty wonderful years of marriage before he died. We had a beautiful son, and a love like no other. I have no regrets." She rubbed at her eyes, laughing at herself.

"You ended up marrying him?" Veronica asked, moved that Peggy had been able to find love from tragedy. Her mind made the natural leap to Logan, and her smile faltered, as she held up her hands. "Oh! No, it's not like that with Logan and me!"

"You're not attracted to him?"

Veronica hesitated. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to him - I always have been - but he and I are never going to happen. At least romantically."

"Because of Duncan?"

"Well, he's only a small part of it. Logan just doesn't see me that way."

Peggy smiled and shook her head. "Veronica, I've seen you and Logan together a few times. He looks at you the way Robert always looked at me. He exhibits a constant need for physical contact with you. He most assuredly does see you that way."

"You don't understand. That's just Logan. He's a very affectionate person by nature - or at least he always was with me...before this last year."

"Or...perhaps...he's always had feelings for you." Peggy suggested, in a gentle voice.

"No, not me." Veronica scoffed. "My best friend."

She stared wistfully off into space for over a minute before speaking again. "The first time I ever met Logan I felt such an intense connection. I told myself I was too young for a boyfriend, but for the next three weeks, almost every time I closed my eyes, I thought about him. I couldn't get him out of my head."

"You think he may have sensed the same connection?"

"No. I mean, yeah, I did at first. The next time I saw him, we shared this...moment. Just for a few minutes there, I thought…"

"You thought you were meant to be?"

"Yeah…something like that." Veronica closed her eyes for a moment, and then shook her head smiling regretfully. "Maybe...I was very young, but it doesn't matter, anyway. He stood up, walked away from me, and kissed my best friend right in front of me."

"Lilly Kane?"

"Yeah...Lilly Kane. They ended up dating for the next few years - on and off." She paused to sip her coffee. "Logan is a complete player now. He's only had two girlfriends since Lilly's death, and he has a specific 'type' - mean girls with fidelity issues. The opposite of me."

"You honestly think he would rather be with somebody who treats him badly than with a kind and beautiful girl like you?"

"Yes.

"Would you ever consider actually discussing this with Logan?"

"And ruin this fragile truce? Not a chance."

"You know, you told me you and Logan would never be together romantically, but your only reason is that you think that he's not interested in you. What are your own reasons?"

"Oh, I have plenty," Veronica asserted.

"Such as?"

"He's a pain in the...butt."

"He's a man, honey. That's why we love them."

"When I was dating Duncan, everything was nice. We got along. We had mutual interests."

"And he bored you to tears?"

"That's beside the point." Veronica tried to hide her sardonic smile. "If I tried to date Logan, we would fight non-stop."

"About what?"

"That's just it! We have nothing to fight about. We pretty much think the same way; see the world the same way. But that wouldn't stop him. He'd make something up."

Peggy chuckled.

"He's always pushed my buttons just for the fun of it. Sometimes I think he doesn't even believe his own arguments. He just wants to argue."

Peggy grinned. "That's known as foreplay, sweetheart."

"Well he...kind of scares me."

"I thought you said he makes you feel safe."

"Physically, yes. Emotionally?" she shrugged.

"What kind of outcome are you so afraid of?"

Veronica took a long time to answer, stirring her coffee again, taking a sip, and finally meeting Peggy's gaze. "The one person I need to be able to count on the most, is the one who has caused me the most emotional pain in the past... after Lilly's death..."

"So there's still some residual anger?"

"No. I was sincere when I forgave him. It was...liberating...to let go." she sighed. "But what if I try to put my trust in him, and he turns on me again?"

"Honey, what if you don't put your trust in him and he turns on you again."

"It's the same result." Veronica said.

"Exactly. If Logan turns on you again it's going to hurt badly, regardless of whether you've given him your trust or withheld it." Peggy explained. "In one scenario, you would curse yourself for being stupid enough to trust him again, and in the other case, you would wonder if offering him your trust might have made all the difference. Either way, it's gonna hurt."

Veronica looked away, focusing her eyes on a framed print on the wall depicting a Parisian café.

"Veronica, don't let fear of the unknown keep you from experiencing something that could potentially be beautiful."

"Beautiful?" Veronica shook her head, laughing. "Logan and I? Maybe a beautiful disaster."

Peggy raised an eyebrow. "Veronica, I've been on this earth a long time, and I've seen a lot of things. When I see you and Logan together, I see a love story about to happen, and I really hope that I'm right."

"Why am I even talking about this?" Veronica scoffed, pointing at herself. "Me? I never talk about my feelings. I'm not a sharer. You need to stop being so easy to talk to. Next thing you know, I'll be spilling my mommy issues."

"How do you deal with your feelings if you never talk about them?"

"I throw myself into my work. Take on more cases. Research. But there's no work now. No cases. No stake-outs."

"And you're feeling the lack of it?"

"Yeah...I really am." Veronica answered, finishing her pumpkin roll and eyeing the remainder of the desert.

Peggy noticed. "Veronica, would you like another slice of pumpkin roll?"

Veronica nodded enthusiastically.

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Veronica - Day Four - Lakeview Court Motel - Eastern Wing

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"Come on, Logan. Let's go on a crime spree." Veronica called out, as she opened the door to their room.

Logan, reclining on his bed, with his hands folded on his chest, lifted an eyebrow. "Um...what do you call the past four days?"

Veronica crossed to Logan's mini-fridge to stash the remainder of Peggy's pumpkin roll, before digging through her P.I. toolbox. "If you consider running for our lives a crime spree, you need to turn in your bad boy card," she said, holding up and wiggling a set of lock picks.

Logan sighed, and pushed himself off the bed. "So what's the plan, boss?"

After Veronica had expressed concern about becoming rusty, Peggy had amusedly given her permission to sharpen her breaking and entering skills at the motel, since their entire wing of the motel was unoccupied.

For the next hour, Veronica taught Logan how to pick locks on the empty motel room doors. As always, he was a quick study.

Ideally, they wouldn't be on the run for long, but it could end up lasting for years - or even the rest of their lives.

She wouldn't be opposed to opening another P.I. Agency someday, although she would need a more substantial false identity to pass the background checks required for a P.I. license. In the meantime, it couldn't hurt to train her first employee - or partner maybe, depending upon how things went.

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Veronica - Day 4 - Lakeview Court Motel - Room 118

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Back in their room, Veronica propped up a pillow against the headboard, made herself comfortable, and opened her laptop. Minutes later, Logan brought her a cup of coffee, and sat down at the foot of the bed, eyeing her feet with distaste. She offered him a grateful smile, and went back to her examination of the Lilly Kane file. For the past four days, they'd been either driving or sleeping, so she hadn't had much opportunity to study the scanned documents.

"Thank you," she said, taking a sip of her coffee and sighing with pleasure. Nice.

"You're welcome."

"Darling..." Veronica started. "When we're married will I still get this coffee-in-bed service? I'm growing quite attached to it."

Logan leered, delighted she was finally playing his game. "Darling, coffee is just one of many in-bed-services you'll be receiving when we're married." His grin drew her attention to his jawline, which had darkened to a sickening shade of mauve.

Better to match the rest of his bruises.

Veronica grew serious. "My 'thank you' wasn't only for the coffee, Logan. It's for standing up to Ciaran, and Liam, and those six guys today; and for all the bruises you've taken defending me."

"So you're grateful?" Logan asked, raising both eyebrows.

"Yes…"

"And you want to show me your gratitude?"

"Depends…," she answered warily. "What do you have in mind?"

Logan grinned widely, and stood up. Seconds later, he returned with Veronica's toiletry bag from the bathroom. He dropped down onto the bottom of the bed cross-legged, and pulled Veronica's bare feet onto his lap.

"What are you up to now, Logan?" Veronica attempted to tug her feet free.

Logan held her still. "The toenails. Have to do something about them."

"Excuse me?"

"This color?" Logan lifted and wiggled her right foot at her. "Looks like the nasty pink stuff in a bottle for making you puke."

"Pepto Bismal?" Veronica asked with a raised eyebrow. "It's not for puking, Logan."

"Well whatever it's for, it's ugly," he answered, reaching into the bag and fishing out nail polish remover and a package of cotton balls.

"Hey, I didn't give you the okay," Veronica complained, as Logan uncapped the bottle, saturated a cotton ball and began removing the polish on her right big toe. The scent of acetone was one Veronica had always had a love/hate relationship with and now was no exception. "Logan…"

"We can't have them not matching, can we?"

"This isn't some creepy foot fetish thing is it?" Veronica asked.

Logan paused, lifting and examining the foot. "They are rather pretty feet - as feet go - and I wouldn't consider them a turn-off, but no Veronica, your feet aren't headlining my fantasies."

"They better not be," Veronica warned.

Veronica sighed, taking a sip of her coffee and shifted her attention to her file, while Logan continued removing polish from the remaining toes on the right foot.

Wait, did he just implicate that other parts of me are headlining his fantasies?

Veronica shivered at the idea.

No, Logan was just being Logan.

"You looking at the Lilly murder file?"

"How do you know about that?" Veronica asked, jerking her foot out of his hand.

Logan gently pulled her foot back to his lap, and returned to his task. "I checked your laptop while I was on the phone with Weevil to get a bead on Liam's location. I noticed the Lilly file when I minimized the GPS app."

"How much did you see, and is this the part where you start screaming at me?"

"Not much. I opened one of the witness statements and the document on me and the one on Duncan. No, I'm not going to scream at you." He finished cleaning the polish off her second foot and began digging through Veronica's bag again, fishing out a bottle of nail polish in a true red shade. "But I want you to answer one question for me."

"What?" Veronica asked warily.

"Why are you so sure the Kanes fabricated the time of Lilly's death?"

Veronica lowered the lid of the laptop enough to stare at Logan over the top. She didn't say anything for a moment, holding Logan's gaze. He didn't appear as if he intended to rip into her. Finally, she sighed. "Lilly's estimated time of death was around 4:15 PM on October 3rd."

"Okay. I remember the time of death being mentioned at Abel Koontz' trial," Logan said, uncapping the red polish, and precisely painting three strokes of polish on her left big toe. He glanced up and gave her a half smile, urging her to continue, and then carefully painted the second toenail.

Veronica couldn't help but grin at the sight of big, bad, Logan Echolls treating her toenails as if they were his artistic masterpiece.

Veronica tapped on the touchpad for a moment before turning the laptop around to face Logan.

"What's that?" he asked, looking up from painting her third toenail.

"A scan of a moving violation ticket for running a red light on October 3rd at 6:02 PM. Almost two hours after her official time of death."

"Okay, but that doesn't mean anything. Duncan could have been driving her car." Logan completed polishing her left foot, and started on the right.

Veronica clicked another icon and turned the machine back around again. He finished the third toenail on her right foot and glanced up.

"Lilly…" he exhaled, his eyes haunted for a moment. "She looks like she's having fun...she's singing. When was this taken?"

"It's from the same red-light camera. Irrefutable proof Lilly was still alive two hours after her official time of death..."

Logan's jaw dropped.

"None of the Kanes have alibis for 6:02 PM," Veronica said quietly.

"But Abel Koontz didn't either."

"Maybe. My dad thinks he did. He had a standing...appointment...with an escort. My dad's been searching for her for almost a year."

"How? Are you saying they paid off the medical examiner?"

"They use body temperature to get time of death."

"So wouldn't the body temperature prove she'd died two hours later?"

"Not if they iced down the body," Veronica said.

"You think Jake Kane iced down his own daughter's body to falsify her time of death?"

Veronica nodded solemnly.

"Okay, assuming you're right, that's the how. What was the why?" Logan asked painting the final toenail.

"That's the million dollar question," Veronica answered.

Logan leaned over and blew warm breath on her toenails.

"Um...Logan? Completely unnecessary. Quick-dry polish."

"Oh…" he said, touching one of the nails with his index finger and then looking at the fingertip. He had done a nice job. Much neater than she would have been able to achieve.

"Yeah, I guess you may have a point," he said. "There's only one reason the Kanes would cover up the time of death: to protect the murderer."

Veronica nodded. "Exactly."

"Veronica, I was at their house after Lilly's death. Jake Kane was a broken man. He would have had to be a brilliant actor...I still can't - won't - believe he killed Lilly."

"What if it was an accident?"

"You think one of them accidentally bashed her in the head with an ashtray?" Logan asked.

"Well, when you put it that way…"

"I know what you're thinking, Veronica." He ran a hand through his hair and stared at the ceiling. "Veronica...he's my best friend." His eyes begged her to tell him he was wrong.

"Hey. We don't have to come to any conclusions at this moment, Logan," Veronica said.

"Okay," Logan grasped at the reprieve. "Let's drop the subject. For now."

Veronica closed the murder file, and accessed her tracking application. "Weevil is not going to be happy," she said.

"Why? Is Taco Bell running low on booster seats?"

Veronica glared at him. "Can you try to not be an ass for...I don't know...five minutes?

"Starting when?" Logan asked looking at his wristwatch.

Veronica could not help but smile. "Starting now. And Liam Fitzpatrick is cruising around Irving, Texas - as you predicted."

"So Thumper is a Fitzpatrick stooge?"

"Appears so. Great instincts, Logan."

Logan smirked. "And I look good, too! You going to call Weevil right now?"

"Tomorrow. After I've had time to think about it. We may be able to use this to our benefit."

"Good." Logan lifted Veronica's right foot from his lap and began kneading and massaging the arch with both thumbs.

Veronica moaned and her eyes rolled back into her head.

Logan laughed. "You like?"

"Marry me!" Veronica demanded with a laugh.

Logan's grin engulfed his entire face. "Ask me again in... six or so years." .

"Count on it," Veronica answered, with a coy smile.

With Veronica remembering and quoting of their first meeting, Logan's first instinct was to pounce on her and kiss her silly. He didn't think she would much appreciate that course of action, so he continued massaging - kneading with his thumbs a path from the ball of her foot to the heel and back up to pay special attention to the arch.

"God Logan, you have magic fingers!" Veronica sighed contentedly.

"I really do," he agreed. "Where would you like me to touch you next?" he waggled his eyebrows at her.

"Yeah...how about you just keep doing what you're doing." Veronica laughed. "And no, you couldn't even last five minutes."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "You question my stamina?"

"Five minutes without being an ass, you ass." Veronica shook her head and groaned at Logan's ability to turn everything sexual

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Veronica - Day Four - Lakeview Court Motel - Room 118

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After finishing the large dinner of takeout Logan brought back from the Moonglow, Veronica patted the bed next to her. "Get over here, we have work to do."

"Working together in bed?" Logan covered his mouth, scandalized. "I never signed up for hard labor."

"As if I'd lay back and let you do all the work..." Veronica teased, amused at the slight widening of Logan's eyes. "We're going to record a video statement telling our side of the story on my webcam. Then we'll email it to the press."

"We get to be media whores? My daddy will be so proud. Why?"

"Peggy and Dr. Tony volunteered to help us before they knew anything about Liam chasing us. I think once we show the world how dangerous and sociopathic he is half the country will be on our side."

"I wouldn't want to meet the other half," Logan said. "I'm mean who could resist us?"

"I'm hoping more people will try to help us and impede him."

Logan's dark eyes were soft with admiration. "And that's why you're the brains of this operation. Let's do it."

"I hoped you would agree." Veronica said.

"And when we're done, we can make the video statement too," Logan deadpanned.

"Huh?" Veronica said, and then, comprehension dawning, groaned at his cheesy line. She patted the bed again, and Logan obediently slid in next to her. She was surprised how every day she became less – not more – immune to his clean ocean scent.

Her laptop rested on a pillow on her thighs, and she adjusted its placement until both she and Logan were visible within the frame.

"Ready?" she asked.

Logan nodded, and Veronica hit record. They spent the next twenty minutes and several takes telling their side of the story to the web cam.

Veronica brewed them both fresh cups of coffee while Logan worked on editing the footage into a simple video statement. Afterwards, they reviewed the car chase footage together. There wasn't anything in the video that might be used to identify their vehicle, but Logan had to snip out several frames showing Duncan or freeway exit signs.

"Done?" he asked Veronica finally.

"Done. Excellent job, by the way. You're talented at this."

"No big," Logan ducked his head.

Taking the laptop back, Veronica logged on to her VPN, creating a new web mail account with false information. She searched the C-NOW website until she found an email address for Ann Marler.

"Why her?" Logan asked.

"Couldn't say. There's something non-conformist about her I like. She's not as plastic as the others."

Veronica carefully composed an email, attaching the photos of Danny Boyd and the three videos - their statement, Liam's threats at the motel, and the car chase. She hesitated. "Do you think I should attach the photos of my bruises?"

"Absolutely not. You were in your underwear."

"I know, but it's proof of the damage Ciaran did."

"Save them for the trial - if there ever is one." Logan suggested. "I don't want the whole world seeing you half naked."

"Do you think I do? Do you think it doesn't sicken me? But it will help to make our point."

"Veronica, please?" Logan asked. "How about we go through them and find some close-ups that only show the bruises?"

"Fine…" Veronica acquiesced. "Let's see if that will work." She brought up the photos Logan had taken of her bruises and paged through them one-by-one.

"How about these four?" Veronica asked, displaying four close-ups.

"Not that one," Logan said, pointing. "It shows cleavage."

"Logan…" Veronica said, sighing. "It's one of the best shots to show the damage he did."

"Fine." Logan pouted, glancing away.

Veronica could detach herself emotionally from the photos, but it wasn't so easy for Logan. His rigid posture, clenched jaw and anxious eyes showed her how much the photos disturbed him.

"I have a better idea," Veronica said. "How about I send all of the photos with the caveat that they can't show them on the air, but can report on the contents."

"It's the press. They'll never go for that."

"We explain that if they air the photos, we'll go to their competition next time."

Logan thought about it and shrugged. "If you're sure."

Veronica attached the photos to the email, before she could change her mind.

"You ready?" she asked. "We can't take this back once we hit send."

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Yeah…" she said, nervously. "Okay, here goes." She hit the send button.

Too late to take back now.

Veronica noticed Logan's fists were still clenched from seeing the photos of her bruises.

Great! I can't deal with an emo Logan the rest of the evening.

I will have to find some way to distract him.

She thought of his amazing foot massage.

Maybe I'll give him a job for those hands instead of clenching.

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Logan - Day Four - Lakeview Court Motel - Room 118

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The knot in Logan's throat was a good sign he was becoming keyed-up. The sight of Veronica's bruised body in the photos had left him itching for a fight. For the twentieth time, he wished Ciaran Fitzpatrick were still alive so he could do the honors himself.

A quick glance at Veronica told him she was aware of his agitation and was not thrilled at the prospect of dealing with him in his current state. He rolled his shoulders back to ease the tension, twice, and then closed his eyes and exhaled.

"So what now?" he asked, calm and collected now.

"How about you make yourself useful with those magic fingers?" Veronica asked, twisting to set her laptop down on the nightstand.

A giant grin spread across Logan's face. Veronica had obviously meant something innocent by the remark, but he couldn't resist pushing his luck. "I thought you'd never ask," he said, reaching for the top button on Veronica's shirt.

"LOGAN!" she yelled, shoving him away.

"Kidding!" he laughed, holding up both of his hands.

"Yeah right," Veronica muttered, shaking her head. "So if I hadn't pushed you away?"

Logan waggled his eyebrows. "Let's start all over, and we can find out."

Veronica's eyes rolled skyward.

"Okay...So how were you planning for me to use my magic fingers?" he wiggled them at Veronica. "They're at your disposal."

Veronica grasped his offered hand and relocated it to the back of her neck.

"Neck massage?" he asked.

"Please..." she said. "I've been so stiff...since the attack."

"Okay, come sit here," Logan said, spreading his legs wide and patting the space between them. He watched Veronica calculating the potential risks and, obviously finding him harmless, moved to kneel where he'd indicated, sitting back on her heels. She reached for a hair tie on the nightstand and handed it to Logan. He looked at it curiously for a moment, and then gathered her hair off her neck securing it into a messy ponytail.

"So now I've done your hair and your toenails. Is it almost time for the half-naked pillow fight?"

"If you play your cards right, I may not smother you with a pillow," Veronica countered.

"Deal!" he said.

As Logan began kneading the base of her neck with his thumbs, Veronica's eyes closed and her head fell forward in pleasure.

Logan's eyes softened. "I love watching how much you love being touched."

"You're crazy," Veronica mumbled.

Crazy for you!

"Didn't Duncan ever touch you?" Logan was compelled to ask.

"Innocently, for the most part - my face, my hands, my lower back."

"He ever rub your neck like this?"

Logan alternated the soft pressure of his fingers with the insistent pressure of his thumbs working his way up and down the smooth skin of her neck.

"Not that I can recall." she answered, and Logan smiled on the inside.

"He at least tried to get your shirt off, right?"

"God, Logan! Duncan wasn't like that!" Veronica insisted. "Not that it's any of your business, but he wanted to take his time and not rush into anything."

"So you were bored to tears and sexually frustrated?"

Veronica's snort of laughter was as good as confirmation, however unintentional it had been.

Logan leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "If you had been my girlfriend, I never would have taken my hands off of you." Below the coconut scent of her hair was another scent. More subtle. Marshmallow, maybe?

"Girlfriend? I'm only your platonic fugitive travelling companion, and you still never take your hands off me," Veronica said, in the voice people use when they're trying too hard to appear unaffected. It didn't matter. Logan had already witnessed her involuntary shiver at his words.

"Would you like me to take my hands off you now?"

"Don't you dare!" she said.

"Wouldn't dream of it," he smirked.

She seemed to particularly like it when his fingers worked the place where her neck met her skull, so he kept moving upwards.

He'd always found it heavenly when his stylist spent several minutes massaging his scalp during the shampooing, so he applied the same technique to Veronica, making large circular patterns with the pads of his fingers and thumbs. Strands of silky hair escaped from her ponytail, falling around her face, and Logan thought the effect was pretty.

Veronica's breath quickened, and she leaned back against his chest. "Perfect," she exhaled.

When his fingers found the top of her scalp, her head dropped back bonelessly onto his shoulder, eyes closed and lips slightly parted. She didn't realize her lips were mere inches from Logan's.

He let out a groan. "I think that's enough for now, Ronnie."

"No! Please don't stop," she pleaded.

"Um...you're kind of in my kissing space."

Logan watched Veronica's eyes fly open. When she realized how close they were, she jerked as if to jump up.

"Hey, you don't have to go," Logan said, putting a hand on each shoulder. "It's okay. Just maybe...don't put your lips inches from mine - unless you want to make out." he flashed a quick grin. "I'm only a guy."

Veronica hesitated, and then shifted so she was sitting on her butt instead of her heels. He returned his attention to her neck for several minutes and then moved to the tops of her shoulders, rubbing and kneading. He could feel the tension in her muscles.

"If you took off your shirt, I could give you a proper massage." Logan mentioned, helpfully.

"Topless, massage, Logan Echolls and proper." Veronica counted out on her fingers. "One of these things is not like the others," she sang, and he chuckled.

For fifteen minutes - give or take - they lapsed into silence, the only sounds the occasional sighs from Veronica when he'd manipulated a spot particularly well.

When his hands began to cramp up, he wrapped his arms around Veronica and she leaned back against him. He rested his chin on the top of her head.

"So three months on the yacht…" she said, finally breaking the quiet.

"Yeah, we should be safe for three months."

"And after?"

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "I haven't really thought about it."

"Well, we need to," Veronica said. "So we can plan."

"Well...I guess we'll move back to the mainland - Miami, or maybe North Carolina. I'll work on the docks. You'll work the diner all day."

"Livin' on a prayer, huh?" Veronica grinned.

"We've got each other and that's a lot…"

"But seriously, folks…" Veronica said.

She shifted her position, turning 90 degrees to her right, hugging her knees to her chest and pressing her ear to the heartbeat she knew so well. Logan's arms readjusted to their new position, his hands meeting and clasping near her left hip.

"I don't know, Veronica," he said. "I've never had a job before. I have no skills."

"That's not what I hear," Veronica said, winking at him suggestively.

Logan laughed softly. "You should know better to listen to rumors without a proper investigation," he whispered, brushing her bangs back. The affectionate look in Veronica's eyes almost floored him. He couldn't believe she was allowing him to hold her this way.

This is even better than when she looks turned on. She actually likes me again.

"What are your thoughts?" he asked.

"I don't know, I always thought I'd go to Stanford and then into the FBI. That's not likely now. I never had a backup plan."

"I'm sorry that your dream got crushed," Logan said with sincerity.

Veronica closed her eyes, but continued speaking. "Not just my dream. Duncan's dream of being President. Your dream of…?"

Logan shrugged. "Never had one, really, except to hold on to Lilly for dear life. I don't think Duncan ever really wanted to be President, either. He just wanted to please everybody else."

"You think?"

"Yeah."

"Well...you're good at surfing," Veronica said.

"What are you saying? I should go pro?"

"No, too visible, but maybe you could give surfing lessons. Eventually you could open a surf school."

"Surfing in Miami is a lot different than SoCal"

"People need lessons everywhere."

"Yeah...maybe. It's worth consideration. What about you?"

"I was thinking earlier when I was teaching you how to pick locks that maybe I could open my own detective agency someday. Maybe we could work together."

"You want to work with me?"

"Sure, why not. You said it last night, brawn and brains. We make a good team."

"Partners?"

"Maybe."

"Ronnie and Clyde Investigations?" Logan asked, bemusedly.

"Not exactly a name to inspire confidence in our clients."

"True. So...you mean you would get to drive around like a badass and I would get to punch people in the face?"

Veronica laughed softly, "If completely necessary. Stakeouts and research were more what I had in mind." She glanced up at his face. "You're not so bad to look at. You'd make a good honey trap."

"A honey trap? Whose honey?"

"Trophy wives. You're well qualified."

Logan pulled back, insulted. "Excuse me? You want to whore me out?"

"Shhh...No!" Veronica laughed, scooting her right hip closer so that she could sit up straighter. She moved her feet to the outside of Logan's right leg and leaned her head against his upper chest, her forehead even with his chin. Out of the kissing zone, but not by much. "You don't have to have sex. You just have to get them to proposition you."

"Oh…"

"Oh…hell." Her face fell, and she brought her hand up to touch his arm. "I'm so sorry. I forgot about our first conversation. You've been dealing with women propositioning you your entire life. I wouldn't ask you to do that."

Logan's eyes softened. The girl remembered everything. "Hey, it's okay Veronica. A strange woman propositioning me is a much different thing than scores of women using me to proposition my dad by proxy. I can be your honey pot."

"Honey trap," she laughed.

"That too. So you're saying I could actually make a living just standing around being my own hot self?" Logan asked.

"You wish! Most of the time, it's cheating spouse cases, which means boring old stakeouts."

"They look so sexy in the movies."

"No...Not so much."

"But the money shots have to be hot, right?"

"Sorry, Logan. You'd be disappointed. Most couples having sex just...aren't very interesting: Kiss kiss. Man on top. Hump hump. Groan. Light up a smoke."

Logan snorted in laughter.

"In fact, three seconds of your—" Veronica stopped, covering her mouth.

"Of my what?" Logan asked.

"Nothing."

Logan wracked his brain trying to figure out what Veronica could be referring to. "My sex tape?"

"Nooooooo," Veronica went overkill on the nonchalant eye rolling.

"Yeahhh. You're totally talking about my sex tape." Logan teased.

"Shut up,"

"Three seconds of my sex tape was what? Hotter?"

Veronica tried to pull away, but Logan tightened his arms around her.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"There's no room on this bed for me and your ego," Veronica pouted.

"You're not going anywhere until you admit it." Logan said lightly rocking her side to side.

"Fine, I admit it. You're crazy."

"Admit that you thought my sex tape was hot."

"Nope!" Veronica laughed trying again to pull away.

"Repeat after me. Logan. Echolls. Gives. Good. Sex. Tape."

"Logan. Echolls. Is. A. Slut." Veronica giggled.

"Could you at least write it down?"

"What do you want? Logan's Sex Tape - A Critical Analysis by Veronica Mars?"

"Yes, that would be acceptable. Except for the critical part." Logan's eyes sparkled. "What part did you like best?"

"The part where you turned it off."

"Liar! I bet you liked my ass."

"You'd bet wrong."

"Hell, even I like my ass. It's pretty impressive."

Veronica's cheeks flushed a bit. Logan smiled and filed that tidbit away. Veronica liked his butt.

"I'll let you off the hook. This time."

"I'll let you keep all your teeth. This time." Veronica said.

"Ohhh! She threatens physical violence." Logan laughed. He loved the way she leaned against him, smiling with her eyes closed. She looked happy and content. He leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose.

Her eyes opened. "What was that for?"

"Does a man need an excuse to kiss his hot blonde fiancée, who happens to like his ass?"

"Man? Is there a man in here? All I see is an overgrown little boy."

"Boy, huh?" His grin became challenging. You're going to eat those words, Mars."

Veronica's eyes twinkled up at him in amusement. He wondered if she realized that her thumb was tracing little half-circles on the back of his hand. He wondered if she even realized yet that there was something going on between them. Something inevitable. The girl could be a master at self-deception and stuffing down her emotions.

"You got serious all of a sudden," she said.

He shifted his focus back to her. "Just thinking about collision courses."

"Collision courses?" Veronica repeated, but her eyes told him she knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Yeah," he smiled softly, and she smiled back.

Logan wanted Veronica badly. The thought of the things he would do to her naked body was constantly at the back of his mind.

But in that moment, he realized that he would happily do this for hours – cuddling and bickering without ever even considering taking it further. He wanted to tell her about this revelation, but thought of calling attention to their cuddling might make her pull away. This situation was…delicate.

Veronica's eyes were closed, so Logan closed his own eyes as well. Maybe just a twenty-minute nap would be nice.

There was a knocking at the door.

"Go away," Logan called.

"Okay," came the voice from outside their door. "I'll just leave your catatonic friend here on the doorstep."

Logan groaned. "How much trouble do you think he could get into out on the doorstep?" he murmured under his breath.

"Well...he might wander into the pool, and he's not wearing his water wings," Veronica whispered back.

"I suppose we should let him in then?"

"Yeah, if we don't want the CFPS called on us," Veronica said. At Logan's questioning glance, she clarified as if it should be obvious. "Catatonic Friend Protective Services, duh."

"Ahh…We can't be having that. Guess I'll let Junior in."

"Don't sound so excited. He's your best friend." Veronica leaned forward allowing Logan to slip out from behind her and stand.

"Yeah, but these days, you're a lot more fun." He grinned, holding out a hand and pulling Veronica to her feet.

For a few minutes there, it had been almost perfect with her. There goes the mood.

"Hello," he said when he opened the door. Dr. Tony stood outside with his right hand on Duncan's shoulder. Duncan gazed vacantly off into space. "Thought you were going to call before bringing him back."

"Oops." Tony said dryly.

"How is he?" Logan asked, noticing the way Tony was studying Veronica. He glanced at her, and then looked back at Tony with a self-satisfied smirk.

"He's better off after the meds and the nutritional IV, but no change. You don't need to make any decisions tonight. I have to be somewhere right now, but I can come back tomorrow around lunchtime to tell you what Duncan's next options are."

"Okay," Logan said. "Hey, we really appreciate your help."

"Not a problem," Tony said reaching for and shaking Logan's hand. He smiled at Veronica, waved, and then left.

Together, they led Duncan over to the other double bed and made him lay down.

"I noticed some macho posturing between you and the doctor again," Veronica said. "What was that all about?"

Logan laughed. "He was noticing how your hair looks like you've been thoroughly fucked, and I was allowing him to think that I'm responsible."

Veronica gaped at him.

"Which I am," he said. "Responsible for the state of your hair, I mean. Just not in the way he suspected."

"How do you get all that from a single look?"

"Evil genius, remember?" Logan answered, pointing to himself. "Find weakness. Exploit it."

Veronica's eyes began to harden, so Logan backpedaled. "But I would never do that to you...um...anymore."

She crossed her arms over her chest.

"I've pissed you off again."

"You don't say."

Logan stepped up to her and gave her his I'm-too-cute-to-stay-mad-at grin. She continued to appear annoyed, so he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "I guess I'll just have to make it up to you then."

"How do you plan on doing that?" Veronica asked twisting out of his grasp.

"Be back in ten minutes," he said heading for the door.

He was halfway out the door when Veronica called after him. "You can't just hug me every time I get angry at you! I'm immune to your charms, Echolls!"

An arrogant grin stretched across Logan's face. Leaving the door half-open, he sauntered back to Veronica. Seeing the aggressive glint in his eyes, she took a step back, bumping up against the wall. Logan loomed over her, several inches too close, his dark eyes meeting hers - wide, blue, and nervous. His hand rose to cup her cheek, and he smirked when her breath hitched and her eyes closed involuntarily. Leaning over, he allowed his lips to touch her ear as he whispered, "No you're not." Snickering at her full-body shiver, he turned to leave.

"But at least you're finally admitting that I have charms." he called back as he closed the door. "That's progress."

---

Veronica - Day Four - Lakeview Court Motel - Room 118

---

Veronica spent several moments staring at the door. Had that really just happened?

Find weakness. Exploit it. Demonstrate this ability by exploiting my weakness.

Logan Echolls! Freaking arrogant Logan Echolls!

How could he talk about making things up to her in one moment, and act like a jackass in the next?

He knows! He knows how much he affects me, and he used it against me.

If he thought he was going to come back here in a few minutes and everything would be hunky dory, he had another thing coming. He might be used to girls falling all over themselves for him, but he didn't know Veronica Mars. Okay, so maybe he knew her better than most people did.

What was she supposed to say?

I'm angry because you've managed to figure out how much you affect me? I'm angry because you're ridiculously hot and you know it?

I'm angry because every time I think you're going to kiss me, you decide not to. Every. Single. Time.

But that was good, right? Kissing Logan would be the worst mistake she could make. It would ruin everything - especially this fragile truce.

So then why do I feel so bereft when it doesn't happen? As if he's playing keep-away with something that belongs to me?

So maybe she didn't have the words to express to Logan why she was angry, but that didn't mean she was going to let him off the hook. He was going to have to do better than hugs. She was pissed, dammit.

There was a pounding on the door.

"Veronica, It's me. My hands are full."

Veronica crossed to the door and flung it open with hostility.

"Forgive me?" Logan asked, with full puppy-dog eyes, holding out a hot fudge sundae in his hand.

She tried to fight it, but the grin was stronger than her resolve. It took control of her face. "Yeah…"

"I noticed an ice cream stand over by that theater. Anything yet on our video statement?"

"No, but I expect any minute now."

"Let's be naughty," Logan said.

"Naughty?" Veronica gulped.

"Get your mind out of the gutter, woman. I meant, let's eat ice cream in bed. Sheesh."

Veronica gave him a flirty little eyebrow flick. "Sounds decadent,"

---

They sat together waiting for their news segment and working on their sundaes. Afraid that she might begin again with the never-ending-ode-to-Logan's-eye color, she carefully avoided meeting them.

[C-NOW Logo fades to the 'official' media photo of Logan and Veronica with a Breaking News headline.]

Anchor: We have breaking news on the Neptune Three. This evening, our own Ann Marler received a video statement from Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls themselves. Ann, what can you tell us?

[Cut to split screen - Ann Marler on the left, the anchor on the right.]

Marler: Thanks Rebecca, about one hour ago, I received an email from Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls.

Anchor: Was there any indication of where the email was sent from?

Marler: It's impossible to tell. It was routed through the Seychelles.

Anchor: Tell me more about the email.

Marler: It contained three video attachments and a handful of photos. We were asked not to show some of the photos, but we are allowed to describe them.

Anchor: How would you describe them?

Marler: They're photos of Veronica in her undergarments from the day after the attack. They show dark bruises on Veronica's breasts, thighs, neck, stomach, back and upper arms. The bruises on the stomach are particularly bad. Her thighs are covered in deep scratches, as well as the side of her face.

Anchor: Is there any chance that the photos could have been staged?

Marler: The injuries in the photos are consistent with the footage from the park.

Anchor: And I understand one of the video attachments is a statement from Veronica and Logan?

Marler: Correct.

Anchor: Let's go to tape.

[Screen cuts to Veronica's video. Veronica and Logan sit together on the bed, very close by necessity. Veronica's hair is down and loose.]

Veronica: Hi. My name is Veronica Mars.

Logan: (sideways wave) Logan Echolls.

Veronica: Our friend, Duncan Kane was supposed to be with us for this statement, but he's on an important errand, and hasn't returned yet.

Logan:(Questioning look) Maybe we should give him a few more minutes?

Veronica: Not if we want to make the evening news. We can tape a separate statement when he gets back.

Logan: Okay.

Veronica: There has been a lot of speculation around what happened four days ago at Neptune Community Park and since. We would like to tell our side of the story.

[Veronica looks to Logan and he gives her a reassuring smile.]

Veronica: Four days ago, I accepted a case on behalf of Mars Investigations to obtain proof of drug dealing in the Neptune Community Park.

[Veronica takes a deep breath.]

Veronica: I made several mistakes that day, the first being, accepting a case I was not qualified for. I knew that my father wouldn't approve, but I was blinded by the size of the check. You see, my father works hard, and comes home exhausted more nights than not. I wanted to be able to significantly contribute to our household so that my dad could finally get some rest.

[Logan gives Veronica a half-smile of encouragement.]

Veronica: My second mistake that day was not taking backup. Between kids swimming at the pool, and teams playing baseball, football and soccer, most days of the week the community park is packed. The one thing I hadn't banked on was that the park would be empty.

Logan: Or me. She lost track of Fitzpatrick because I distracted her.

Veronica:(turning to Logan and putting a hand on his arm) You couldn't have known. Don't blame yourself.

Veronica: I spent nearly an hour photographing Ciaran Fitzpatrick selling drugs. After I'd lost sight of him, I jotted down some notes about what I'd seen, and began heading to my car. Ciaran snuck up behind me and grabbed me by the hair, dragging me across the parking lot to the fenced area around the maintenance shed.

[Veronica hesitates, as if steeling herself for the next part. She looks to Logan, who gives her a small nod.]

Veronica: Most of you have seen what happened next. He threw me against the brick building and attempted to rape me.

[Cut to split screen. Left side shows Logan and Veronica. Logan reaches for her hand and squeezes. Right side of the screen shows footage from the rape attempt.]

Veronica: What you cannot get from the video footage is that he threatened my life and my father's. He told me that his brother Liam had been meaning to get rid of my father. I was positive that I would not be leaving that park alive.

Veronica: You know what comes next. Logan arrived. Duncan arrived a moment later and had his…

Logan: ...episode.

[Split screen returns to full screen of Logan/Veronica's statement.]

Veronica: I knew Liam Fitzpatrick had been linked to several disappearances, so I had my worries. But after speaking to one of my contacts, I found out just how close Liam and Ciaran were.

Logan: We had a long discussion and ultimately decided we needed to get out of town.

Veronica: The deciding factor was when my contact told us how Liam Fitzpatrick would go after our families to get information about our whereabouts. That's when we knew we had to cut off all contact with our families and friends, for their own safety.

Logan: Veronica actually held-out the longest. So much for Deputy Lamb's theory that she's 'leading us around by the noses'.

[Veronica smirks at Logan's use of the word 'Deputy']

Veronica: Our suspicions about our safety were confirmed the next morning.

Logan: I was bringing breakfast back to our room when a man named Danny Boyd...

Veronica: Liam Fitzpatrick's cousin

Logan: ...captured me at gunpoint and handcuffed me in his car, torturing me.

Veronica: (Eyes worried) He tortured you?

Logan: Not physically...but his vehicle was a filthy roach-infested health-code violation, and he kept flashing me pictures from a porn magazine full of underage girls who looked just like my dead ex-girlfriend.

Veronica: That's not exactly torture.

Logan: Oh...and he ate my donuts.

Veronica: (smirking) Okay, that's torture.

Logan: I heard him call Liam Fitzpatrick. Liam was on the highway, only an hour away from where we were. Now he would have happily tortured me to get information on where Veronica and Duncan were hiding.

[Veronica shudders]

Logan: (his voice full of bravado, but his eyes, looking at Veronica are full of promise) But he never would have broken me.

Veronica:(soft smile) I know.

Logan: Luckily, Veronica came to my rescue. She snuck up wearing a disguise, and disabled him with her taser.

---

"Your disguise was the real torture of that day," Logan said, watching the video from bed. "When can you wear it again? You can teach me how to work…" He waggled his eyebrows. "...undercover."

He squealed when Veronica pinched him on the leg.

---

Veronica: We moved him to our motel and handcuffed him to the toilet with the cuffs he'd used on Logan.

Logan: to buy time for us to get away.

[Cuts away from footage of Logan and Veronica to three still photos of a clothed Danny Boyd handcuffed to the toilet.]

Logan: The next morning, Liam Fitzpatrick himself found us.

Veronica: He was going around motels showing our pictures.

Logan: I was loading our bags in the car when I heard Veronica screaming. She came running around the corner with Liam right on her heels.

Veronica: When he saw Logan, he attacked him. Logan fought back the best that he could but…

Logan: (looking disgruntled) Hey, I held my own.

Veronica: (grinning and patting his shoulder) Of course you did, but Liam is not only bigger and stronger, but…

Logan: He feels no pain. At all. I knocked him down a couple times, but he kept getting back up. Until…

Veronica: I tasered him.

Logan: We handcuffed him to the sink.

Veronica: And then he threatened our lives. I recorded it on my video camera.

[Video statement pauses and cuts to the footage of Liam making threats.]

---

Veronica, watching the footage, managed to keep her composure, but she could feel the tension rolling off Logan. She reached for his hand and squeezed it.

---

[Liam footage ends and cuts back to Logan/Veronica statement.]

Veronica: Logan was hurt. Turn your face, Logan.

Logan:(pouting) No, this is my good side.

[Veronica grabs Logan's chin and gently turns his head so that the bruised left side of his face shows on the screen. Logan sighs and rolls his eyes.]

Veronica: Show what he did to your ribs.

Logan: No. It's no big deal. I'll be fine.

Veronica: (warning voice) Logan…

Logan:(waits to see if she relents, and then sighs and lifts up his shirt)

[Logan's stomach is covered in bruises. A gash runs across his ribs. On-screen Veronica winces.]

---

"The things you'll do to get me naked," Logan said, with a wink.

"As I recall, I'm the one always telling you to put some clothes on"

"Obligatory protest."

---

Veronica:(reaching out to run her fingers along Logan's wound) He probably should have gotten stitches. Liam was wearing a ring.

Logan:(small indulgent smile) I'm fine, Ronnie.

Veronica: We left Liam behind in the motel, cuffed to the sink.

Logan: But we moved his car…

Veronica: To slow him down, so that we could get more of a head start.

Logan: But then we overheated on the freeway and had to wait for our vehicle to cool down.

Veronica: He caught up with us on the highway and began chasing us...

Logan: ...At 100 miles per hour. I caught it on video.

[Veronica/Logan statement pauses, and cuts to the car chase video.]

---

As they watched the car chase video on TV, Veronica noticed how Logan leaned forward, eyes shiny with excitement. She remembered him admitting how the car chase had turned him on, and shivered.

[Onscreen, Veronica spins Liam's car into a ditch and then smiles into the camera saying "Physics, darling".]

"You know, every man in America just fell in love with you, right?" Logan said.

"Every man?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well...unless they're gay

Veronica's eyes locked onto Logan's.

"...or blind," he said.

Questions ran on a loop in her inner monologue, but she knew better than to speak.

"...or have crappy taste in women." he bit his lip and broke eye contact, smiling down at his lap.

Veronica let out the breath she had been holding. "Like the girls won't be all over you for your cute little narration thing."

"You thought I was cute?"

"Maybe amusing was the word I was looking for. What was it you wanted to tell me anyway?"

"Tell you?"

"Right before we ran Liam off the road. You were trying to make some kind of deathbed confession. You said there was something you've always needed to tell me, and then complained when I ruined your dramatic moment."

"Oh...that." Was Logan actually blushing? "I'll tell you some other time. Maybe."

---

[The car chase video cuts to Veronica/Logan statement video.]

Veronica: We managed to lose Liam Fitzpatrick on a country road, and we haven't seen him since yesterday.

Veronica: I imagine most of you believe that we should turn ourselves in. Unfortunately, we can't do that. Even if Sheriff Lamb doesn't hand us over to Liam, the Fitzpatricks could easily get to us in jail.

Logan: All we want is to be left in peace.

Veronica: And safety

Logan: We're not the bad guys here. One Fitzpatrick tried to rape my...um...Veronica, and the other has tried to kill us on two occasions. Liam threatened to rape an already traumatized girl.

Logan: We just wanted to ask the viewers. If you see us, please just look away.

Veronica: We're not dangerous. This isn't about money or any type of personal gain…

Logan ...We just want to be left alone.

Veronica: I would like to tell my father one more time that I love him.

Logan: Hi mom. (Cheesy grin and a wave).

[Video statement ends. Cuts to news anchor.]

Anchor: We will keep you up to the minute on any developments in the case. Thank you for watching C-NOW.

[Cuts to C-NOW logo]

---

Logan - Day Four - Lakeview Court Motel - Room 118

---

Logan took care of Duncan's needs first and put him to bed. He cleaned up while waiting for his own turn in the bathroom, putting things away, and stuffing their dirty clothes in the drawstring bag. Peggy had mentioned a laundry room somewhere in their wing of the motel. He would have to go searching for it tomorrow - or the next morning at the latest.

Once Veronica was done, he brushed his teeth, washed his face, and dabbed Neosporin on his wound. He slapped on more deodorant and some facial products to keep his skin pretty and baby smooth. He decided he didn't like his hair color much. It was a bit darker than his natural shade, but he hadn't a lot of time at Target to search for a better match. With luck, it would grow out soon.

Veronica stood by the dresser examining the framed picture of the Fab Four, when Logan came out of the bathroom. He stepped up behind her looking over her shoulder.

"We were so innocent then," she said.

"Speak for yourself. I was never innocent."

Veronica's eyes met his in the mirror, and she quickly looked away, placing the photo back down. She adjusted it - twice - to find the perfect placement and crossed her arms over her chest, causing her shirt to ride up a bit.

Absorbed by the sight of her, Logan stepped closer and reached around Veronica, his fingertips tentatively brushing the sliver of skin.

Her eyes snapped up to find his in the reflection.

"May I?" Logan asked. "The bruises?"

Veronica gave him a barely perceptible nod, and he slid her tank up a few inches with his left hand. The bruises that had made his stomach clench two days ago had faded to a faint yellow discoloration. He ran his fingertips over them and glanced at her face. She took a shaky breath, and closed her eyes, as if she were afraid to watch him touch her.

"Does that hurt?" he asked running his fingers over her skin again.

Her eyes opened reluctantly, meeting his, flicking away, and flicking back. "Barely."

Logan brought his hand to his mouth, kissed three fingertips and pressed them to her belly where the largest bruise had been.

A range of emotions skittered through Veronica's eyes: need, desire, fear, suspicion, and finally, something resembling defeat.

Does she think I'm trying to hurt her?

Logan smoothed Veronica's tank down to cover her skin and wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her close and resting his chin on the top of her head. He held her eyes in the mirror until she sighed and closed them. He closed his as well, spending several moments just breathing with her.

He dropped his nose to her shoulder, inhaling her scent. He couldn't help but notice her nipples were hard under her top, and in his imagination, he bit the spaghetti strap of her tank and dragged it off her shoulder, baring her breast.

He shook the image free. Not the time for thoughts like that. She wasn't like Lilly or Caitlin. First, he needed to win her heart. He straightened and gave her a chaste kiss on the temple.

Veronica's eyes flew open, now firm with resolve. She shoved his hands away and stepped out of the circle of his arms.

"Is something wrong? Did I do something?"

"What is this, Logan?" Veronica gestured between him and herself. "I know we need to keep up our cover in public, and we can't help it when we're asleep, but…" She let out a deep sigh and dropped her arms. "What's the excuse now? This flirty stuff needs to stop."

Logan leaned back, sitting on the dresser. "I wasn't trying to upset you."

"I get it Logan. I know - that's just who you are. You're a toucher."

"And that's a problem for you?"

"No!...Yes!...I don't know!"

"It wasn't bothering you earlier. What's changed since then?" Logan asked carefully.

It was only for a second, but Veronica's eyes flicked to Duncan, and Logan felt his heart break.

"Oh. I get it." He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, and turned away so Veronica couldn't see how she'd hurt him. He walked to the nightstand, keeping his back to her, and fiddled with the charger for the burner cell.

"What's there to get, Logan?" she demanded.

"Duncan."

"You're not making any sense," Veronica said in exasperation.

"Makes perfect sense to me."

Veronica crossed her arms over her chest, eyes flinty. "By all means, elaborate."

"Fine," Logan spun back around to Veronica, eyes snapping. "Somewhere in that pretty little head of yours, you're hoping that this little road trip will lead to a reunion between you and lover boy. The prince and the princess - Happily fucking after."

"That's ridiculous," Veronica said.

"Is it? I asked you what's changed, and you looked at him." Logan dropped to the bed and hugged one knee to his chest. "Hell, if Duncan has any thought process in that zombie head of his, he's probably hoping for the same thing."

"He dumped me, remember?"

"And break-ups last forever, right? Ask Lilly."

"Logan…"

"So you and Duncan will end up getting back together. But you know what you don't realize? That would be the worst possible thing you could do."

"And why is that, Logan?" Her eyes were narrow and challenging. "Shouldn't you be standing up for your BFF?"

"Because he doesn't want you! He wants Vanilla Veronica."

"Vanilla Veronica?" her voice rose in pitch. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"The person you are now? You're too dark. Too edgy. You make Duncan uncomfortable."

"I'm not trying to be with Duncan!"

"But you will, and then you'll completely change yourself to be what he wants."

"Are you deaf?" Veronica yelled.

"I will be, if you keep shouting!

"Why would I change myself for Duncan?"

"I don't know, why did you do it before?"

"I didn't!"

"Yes you did! You traded in your pigtails and soccer uniform, jeans and silly tee shirts for sweater sets and sundresses."

"You're insulting my clothes, now?"

"You went from a cute little tomboy to a girly-girl."

"What do you have against girly-girls? I seem to recall you slutting around with enough of them."

"Nothing, but it wasn't you. It was you trying to be what Duncan wanted. Making yourself smaller. You weren't the fierce little soccer playing Veronica anymore, you were just…fake. A giggly, perfect, Politician's Wife Barbie. It wasn't you."

"What do you know about who I really am?"

"A whole lot more than Duncan, obviously."

"He was my boyfriend. Why wouldn't I want him to think I looked pretty? Why wouldn't I want to make him happy?"

"Forget it, Veronica," Logan said.

"No, let's have this out. Why do you think you even have a say?"

"I don't. Forget it."

"You think you're so damn important? You think I should be what you want me to be instead?"

Logan laughed bitterly, running a hand through his hair. "You always have been!"

Veronica paused on the verge of another outburst and stared at him - for three beats - before she picked right back up with the argument. "I can't believe we're fighting about clothes!"

"We're not! We're fighting about you running back to Duncan!"

"I'm not! And it couldn't be less of your business!"

"It is my business. This is about survival, Veronica!" Logan jumped up, becoming animated. "Would Duncan's Veronica be a badass in a car chase? Would Duncan's Veronica jump on Liam Fitzpatrick's back and try to scratch his eyes out before he could kick me? Would Duncan's Veronica pin a PCHer to the wall with a truck?"

Veronica only glared at him.

"No." he sighed, calming. "My Veronica is the one that does that stuff."

"I am not - nor have I ever been - your Veronica." she hissed.

"Guess not. My mistake." Logan's eyes dropped, and he turned away, but Veronica wasn't done.

"What is this, Logan? That jealous boyfriend thing again?"

"I don't—"

"You're not my boyfriend, Logan!"

"Thanks for the heads up."

"You never were!"

"I'm aware of that, Veronica."

"You never wanted to be!"

Never wanted to be? Never fucking wanted to be? What does she think...?

"What makes you—" he started.

"You just don't want anybody else to be with me, because then you wouldn't have my undivided attention," she interupted.

"Veronica…" he sighed. He reached up to fiddle with his pookah shells, forgetting they were no longer there.

"Even when we were fighting for the past year, you wanted all of my attention. You wouldn't let me be a part of your life, but you wouldn't let me move on, either."

Logan stared at her. She was so pretty when she was irate. She had a point, too. But he was still hung up on the fact that she thought he'd never wanted her. Could she seriously be that blind? He'd thought he'd been so obvious over the years. Lilly had known. Duncan had known.

Had her statement been a simple observation of the way she perceived his feelings? Or was it something that had bothered her over the years? Like it had bothered him? He knew he wouldn't be getting any answers right now – this was probably the worst time to get into that particular discussion.

"Veronica? Let's go to sleep, okay?" he asked quietly.

She looked at him as if he were crazy.

"We can argue in the morning, if you're still in the mood, but let's drop it for tonight."

"Don't patronize me, Logan!"

"I'm not trying to. What can I do to fix this? To make it better?"

"I don't know! I'm just So. Damn. Frustrated. right now."

"About our situation or Duncan? Or is it me?"

"All of it!"

Logan rose and went to her, holding out his arms. "Come here," he said in a gentle voice.

Veronica looked at him incredulously. "Seriously, Logan? This whole thing started over your constant need for physical contact, and you think the solution is try to touch me?"

Logan threw up his hands in resignation. "I give up!" he said spinning on his heel and returning to bed. "I apologize that my so-called need for physical contact is such a burden to you. And I'm sorry that I'm not fluent in mixed fucking signals."

He dropped down on the bed, crossing his hands behind his head and staring at the ceiling. "You know, all I've done since this entire thing started is to try to be there for you. I don't know what else you want from me! I can't take back the past year, and I can't take back the past four years."

He rolled to his side, facing away from her side of the bed. "Good night, Veronica."

Veronica hesitated for a second, and then walked over and snatched up her pillow before climbing in bed next to Duncan.

Logan sighed, and rolled back over to face her. "Veronica...you don't have to. If you don't want to sleep with me, you take this bed, and I'll sleep with Duncan."

In response, Veronica rolled over to face away from him.

Logan sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and then turned off the lights. "I'm here if you need me," he reminded her.

Several minutes passed in silence before he spoke again.

"He doesn't understand you, Veronica, and if you were to get back together, he would try to guide you back into the Snow White mold. Personally, I think that would be a complete shame, because the person you are now is amazing."

Veronica answered without facing him. "Like you're the poster child for healthy relationships, Logan? You would have done anything to make Lilly love you."

And here I am, about to fall right back into the same stupid pattern.

---

Logan - Flashback - December 2000

---

Logan curls up with Lilly on the couch watching The Matrix on DVD. He's somewhat sleepy after their earlier makeout session. Lilly can be very...enthusiastic. He leans over now, kissing her cheek, and her perfume engulfs him. It's sexy. Almost too sexy. Something more suited to a femme fatale than a thirteen year-old girl. But it's Lilly. Sexy is kind of her thing.

"It's always perfect when I'm with you. I could stay like this forever." he tells her. They've been together for over four months now.

Lilly rolls her eyes. "Will you cool it, Romeo?"

"What?"

"Pretending that this is some grand love story. Quit trying to make this something it isn't. We're too young for that crap."

Logan pulls back. "If it isn't a grand love story, what is it? Why are you with me?"

"For the same reason you're with me - Veronica."

Logan freezes, schooling his features into nonchalance. "What does Veronica have to do with anything?"

Lilly sighs. "You want to discuss this now?"

"Yes," Logan said, standing up and pausing the movie.

"My room looks out over the pool, you know?"

"So?"

"So I stood at my window that night - Veronica's birthday - and watched you two by the pool. The accidental hand brushes. The way you looked at her. Anybody with eyes could see that you wanted her."

Logan flinched at the reminder. "And what? You wanted me for yourself?"

"No. I couldn't allow you to date Veronica and break her heart."

"But—" Logan started.

"I was on my way outside to put a stop to it. To pull you aside and threaten you to stay away from her."

Logan stared at her, disbelieving.

"Don't look at me like that," Lilly said. "You were thinking the same thing. You knew you weren't right for Veronica."

"But—"

"Did you think I was stupid? That I would believe that after all the times you blew me off, you suddenly wanted to kiss me. I knew exactly what you were doing."

"And you let me?"

"Um...duh."

"Why did you kiss me back?"

"Because you were surprisingly good at it." Lilly winks.

"But, why weren't you…angry?"

"Why would I be? It fit my agenda. I was actually surprised that you ended up being so selfless. I was expecting a fight. Instead, I got a decent boyfriend out of the deal."

"A decent boyfriend?"

"The best one, so far." she flashes him a grin.

"Lilly," he sighs. "You're the only one I want to be with."

"Don't lie, Logan. You may want me more, but a part of you will always want Veronica, too. I see it every time you're around her. Of course, I know what to look for."

"Lil—"

"Don't worry, I'm not mad." she holds a hand up to halt his protests. "Well...If it was any other girl, I'd be mad, but how could I blame you for having feelings for Veronica? She's the best."

"So you don't think I'm good enough for her?" Logan asks, dejectedly. He's not really surprised. When has he ever been deserving of good things? "Not that I have any regrets about ending up with you," he hurries to add.

Lilly reaches for Logan's hands, looking up into his eyes. "It wasn't a question of being good enough. I'm super protective of her. She's rainbows, and puppies and ponies. She wasn't ready for a cynical boyfriend like you, although lately I've been seriously reevaluating that assessment."

"Why?"

"Because you're not the bad boy you pretend to be - you and your 'True Love Forever' crap. You're more like a needy little girl than I ever expected, and she's tougher than I realized."

"Lil," he says, sitting and kissing her forehead. "It may have started out that way, but my feelings are real. All I want is to be with you. You're everything to me."

Lilly sighed. "I stayed together with you because you're the best I've ever found, and I really do care about you, but I CAN'T BE your everything. That scares me, Logan."

"Why?"

"I can't be responsible for your ups and downs. I'm not looking for a forever thing. Just a 'for now' thing." Lilly gives him a deep kiss and rises to leave.

"Wait. Are we okay?" Logan asks.

"For now," she smiles, turning to leave.

"You wait, Lilly Kane," he calls out. "I WILL make you fall in love with me. Someday. Whatever it takes."

"Perhaps," she grins and blows a kiss over her shoulder.

Logan watches her go. It would become his worst habit over the next few years.

---

Logan – Day Four – Lakeview Court Motel – Room 118

---

Lilly loved Logan.

She'd told him so, and she'd meant it. No one had ever truly or completely held Lilly's heart, but he felt honored knowing that he had come the closest. He could admit now that Lilly was never meant to be shackled down. She hadn't been strong enough to bear the weight of his neediness.

Lilly eventually changed her mind about Veronica. During the last year of her life, she'd actively prodded and pushed Logan to pursue Veronica. She'd always claimed he and Veronica would balance each other perfectly, but he suspected it was also due to Lilly hating Veronica being with Duncan. It didn't matter. Every time the subject came up - regardless of whether they were 'off' or 'on' he refused to even discuss the subject, telling her she was the only girl for him.

---

Only one hour had passed, but he already painfully missed having Veronica curled up against him. He only had himself to blame for driving her away. How could he act so jealous of a guy in a catatonic state? Not that he hadn't meant what he'd said. The girl who dated Duncan had been like a Pod Veronica, but it hadn't been his place to tell her that. And yelling at her was not the best way to win her over. Duncan would never raise his voice to her. He was always the perfect gentleman. Logan Echolls, screw-up as usual.

She had been whimpering in her sleep for the past ten or fifteen minutes, and it was killing him. He wanted to go to her and make it all better, but there was no more room in that bed. He wanted to pick her up and bring her back to bed with him, but she'd made her decision, and would be furious if she woke up back in bed beside him.

But he missed her.

---

Duncan – Day Four – Neverland

---

"I thought I'd find you here, Donut."

Duncan looks up into his sister's green eyes. "Lil...How?"

"What? Did you think death would stop me from looking after my little brother? I made a promise to always protect you."

"I've missed you so much!" Duncan cries, twisting in his seat to wrap his arms around his dead sister.

Lilly ruffles his hair affectionately. "Let's walk down to the beach."

Duncan exits and locks his SUV, pocketing the keys. Lilly reaches out her right hand, and Duncan takes it with his left.

"Just like when we were little," he muses aloud. "My big sister, always taking care of me. Making sure I didn't get lost."

Lilly smiles affectionately and swings their linked hands.

"I haven't been doing my job lately," she says sadly. "You've never been more lost."

"Why do you say that?"

"You're parked outside of Veronica's apartment, even though you haven't had a decent conversation with her in over a year."

"Oh, does Veronica live here now?" Duncan asks, sheepishly.

"You know full well that Veronica lives here, Duncan Kane."

They're on the beach now, and Duncan is chasing his big sister, who twists and turns out of his grasp, laughing and teasing. They used to play like this when they were children. Eventually, they fall exhaustedly on the beach.

"Why are you here, Lil?"

"You've had a breakdown."

"That's crazy, I'm perfectly fine. Why would you say that?"

"You're not fine. Your life is a house of cards, constructed completely upon avoidance." Lilly grasps his chin to force him to pay attention. "You're in some kind of catatonic state right now."

"That doesn't even make sense, Lilly."

"That's because you're avoiding right now."

"So what, exactly, am I avoiding?"

"Well to start with…" She counts off one finger. "…you like to pretend that Veronica isn't your sister."

"Lilly, don't' say that."

"I'm your sister. Would you ever treat me the way you treat Veronica?"

"I don't treat Veronica any way."

"Right. You avoid her. You pretend that you're not in love with her. You also avoid the fact that you had sex with her."

"Oh God!" Duncan runs a hand over his face. "I can't think about that."

"Like I said, house of cards." Lilly smiles sadly. "You're so afraid of experiencing discomfort, that you fabricate your reality around you."

"What do you want from me, Lil?" Duncan's eyes are tortured.

"I want you to fucking experience discomfort." Lilly answers. "I want you to feel the pain of being in love with your own sister. I want you to feel the guilt for sleeping with her at the party. When you knew she was related and she didn't. I want you to really feel the pain, and then let her go."

"Why do you want me to hurt that way?"

"You're supposed to hurt that way. Feel the pain. Breathe it in. Let it go. Bottling it all up is what makes people snap," Lilly grins. "There's beauty in the breakdown, you know."

"I'm pretty sure that's from a song, Lilly."

"Doesn't make it less true."

"I also want you to feel ashamed for failing your best friend."

"Wait! What have I done to Logan?"

"You've stood idly by." Lilly answers in a very 'Veronica' voice. "While he slips further and further to the dark side."

"What am I supposed to do?" Duncan asks, frustrated. "You know how Logan gets! I'm not responsible for his actions."

Lilly laughs. "Logan loves you. You're the closest thing to family he has. He wants you to make him stop. You're supposed to be the White Knight. You're supposed to care enough about your best friend to call him on his bullshit - especially when Veronica is the victim."

"Lilly, why aren't you holding him responsible?"

"Oh, I do, but you could have stopped him. You were the only one who could have. Do you think that Logan couldn't lead the school? They all worship him - for the wrong reasons. They would listen to him. But he's always pushing you forward. He doesn't believe in himself, but he believes in your goodness. He wants you to step up and put him in his place."

"He wants to act like an ass and have no consequences."

"His jackass behavior is a persona. He wants to be himself again, but he doesn't remember how."

"So…what? I'm supposed to 'be the change I want to see in the world' or something?" Duncan asks sarcastically.

"No, you need to take him on when he's acting out. Get in his face. He'll back down. Not because he's afraid of you, but because he respects you."

Duncan shifts, laying his head on his big sister's lap. Her hand began absently rubbing his head, as she has always done when he needed comforting.

"So once I've done all of this 'feeling and experiencing', everything is going to magically get better?"

"Of course not." Lilly tells him. "But it's necessary for your sanity. You've been on the verge of a breakdown for a long time Duncan, due to this world of lies you've constructed all around you."

"If only you were still alive…"

"See? That right there." Lilly holds up a hand. "I'm dead. I'll never come back to life. Wishing like that is just another way of living in a fantasy world, and not facing the truth. You can't bring me back. But you can heal your relationships with Logan and Veronica."

"How?"

"By closing the circle."

"Closing the circle? Sounds like some kind of crazy occult stuff. When do you become all woo woo Lilly?"

"I could have said triangle, but that has negative connotations. Accurate, but negative. And…Hello? I'm a ghost. Hardly the poster child for sane and rational."

"Huh?"

"Never mind. What I mean is: you, Logan and Veronica. Apart, all three of you are broken, but together, each of you brings something to the table that the others need."

"Logan won't allow me to bring Veronica back."

"Did you hear a thing I just said?" She shakes her head in exasperation. "Take him on! He needs this as much as you do."

"Do you miss him a lot?"

"Who, Logan?" Lilly asks. "Desperately. But he has a new love coming his way, and it's going to be epic."

His sister's smile was one of excitement and anticipation.

"And you're OK with that? With being replaced in his heart?"

"I'll always have a small place in his heart. But I was never what he needed. I wasn't capable of accepting all of the love flowing from that huge huge heart of his. I wasn't interested in fidelity. Or romance. Logan breathes that stuff like air."

"So you're not jealous?"

"His new love has been battered and bruised by life. She needs all of those qualities that were way too much for me to handle - love, tenderness, romance. She'll be able to take everything he has to give. The real question lies in whether she'll be able to give anything in return."

"So if this girl is such a taker, shouldn't we be trying to put a stop to this?" Duncan asks. The Lilly he knows and loves would have wanted nothing more than for Logan to pine after her forever.

"No." Lilly answers simply. "They need each other."

"If you say so. Can I ask you a question Lilly?"

"Go for it."

"Why were you always against me and Veronica? Back before we knew she was related."

"I wanted better for both of you. Together, you could never surpass mundane. You were too much alike. You didn't challenge her, and she didn't challenge you. You both need people who can push you outside of your comfort zones."

"She made me want to be better."

"She made you want to be boring," Lilly rolls her eyes.

"Is that my girl I see?" A voice rings out nearby. Duncan looks up and sees Logan striding towards them on the beach. He feels like he hasn't seen him in ages, although it had to have been only yesterday when they'd hung out after school.

"Hey baby." Logan sits, giving Lilly a chaste kiss on the lips. "I've missed you."

"Scoot over Duncan." Logan says and Duncan slides down making room for Logan's head on Lilly's lap. His sister's hand begins to smooth and twist in Logan's hair, offering him the same comfort as she had offered Duncan earlier.

Lilly looks at Logan with love and longing.

"Still love me, Lil?" Logan looks up at her hopefully.

"Always." She answers. "But your true love will find you soon."

"True Love?" Logan covers his mouth in faux shock. "Is that romantic talk coming from the one and only I-don't-do-romance Lilly Kane?"

"I'm serious, Logan."

"Oh my God! Lilly?" Another voice calls.

Duncan looks up and sees his once love -Ex-Girlfriend-Sister running towards them. She drops to her knees and throws her arms around Lilly's neck.

"Oh Lilly!" she cries.

"I've missed you most of all Scarecrow." Lilly says, and Veronica laughs.

"Duncan, come sit up here so Veronica has room."

Duncan obediently abandons his place coming to sit on Lilly's left. Veronica lays her head on Lilly's lap next to Logan's. Veronica's feet point to the South, Logan's, to the North. Lilly's hands are in their hair, soothing, comforting.

"I was telling Logan that his true love is on the way." Lilly tells Veronica. "But he isn't the only one."

"If you're insinuating that true love is waiting for me, forget it." Veronica says. "I don't believe in love anymore."

Duncan feels a twinge of guilt for being the person who broke Veronica's heart.

Lilly laughs. "Love is coming for you Veronica Mars, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. In fact, you may find it right under your nose."

"Then it'll be sure to make me sneeze." Veronica quipped.

"So it's somebody...new?" Duncan asks.

"It's not you, Duncan." Lilly answers. "Does that hurt?"

"Yeah…"

"Good. Feel it. And move on. But don't worry. Even you will find a new love eventually. If you'll let it in."

Duncan thinks about the girls at school, wondering whom Lilly has in mind. "Any chance you know who?"

"Maybe...but allow a ghost her cryptic statements. They're all I have left."

Lilly's fingers are doing intricate things in Logan's and Veronica's hair, and Duncan realizes she's weaving Veronica's short blonde hair into Logan's shorter brown hair –tiny multi-colored knots and braids. Duncan laughs. They're not going to be too happy when they try to sit up.

"I love all three of you." Lilly tells them. "But my spirit can't rest until you three love each other again. You need to close the circle."

"Wait Lilly." Veronica starts. "Are you saying that the little vendetta between Logan and I has caused you to become a ghost, roaming the earth?"

"Of course not! I was just being dramatic, silly! Call it a little ghostly humor," Lilly laughs. "But I stand by what I said. It's time to close the circle. Everybody hold hands."

Duncan snorts at the idea of Veronica and Logan holding hands. They hate each other. So he is surprised when their hands find each other's without looking and slide into place as if it were a much-repeated habit.

Lilly entwines Duncan's fingers with the spares.

"Now this is a circle." Lilly declares. "Feel how strong you are together?"

Duncan feels a ripple of energy run through him. "What is it?"

"Love energy." Lilly answers. "Mine for each of you; yours for each other. You make each other stronger."

"I feel like Aquarius should be playing right now," Logan says. Duncan raises an eyebrow. "What? It's a song. From the sixties or something. Peace, Love, and Psychedelic drugs."

Duncan is more contented than he's been since before breaking up with Veronica. He thinks he may have napped, but now he's awake. Ripples of energy still run from Veronica's hand into his, and from his into Logan's.

Lilly smiles as he sits up.

"How are you feeling?"

"Stronger. Healthier."

"Good. Then you're ready."

Duncan glances down at Lilly's lap. Veronica and Logan are sleeping. Miniature roses and wildflowers grow from their entwined hair. Vines curl around their entwined hands. He turns to Lilly and raises an eyebrow. "What's the symbolism of that supposed to mean?"

"Why does everything have to be about symbolism with you guys?" she protests. "I just thought it would look pretty. They're both very pretty, aren't they?"

"Beautiful." Duncan agrees, love in his eyes.

"Beautiful." His sister repeats wistfully. "Together."

"It's time, Duncan."

"Are you leaving me?"

"In a moment." She points.

Standing above Duncan is a body. Its teeth are rotting and its abdomen is covered in stab wounds. Duncan closes his eyes again. He doesn't need to see this.

You're doing it again, Donut." Lilly says. "You're avoiding the discomfort."

"I can't. It's too grotesque."

"Open your eyes and face it Duncan."

Duncan opens his eyes. "Why?"

"You need to face what you've done before you can move on."

Duncan stares at the grotesque body for a long time. Suddenly, it's no longer night; it's day. It's no longer the beach, it's Community Park and he's in Logan's X-Terra. Logan looks as if he's seen a ghost. He throws his truck in park and jumps out, not even bothering to close the door. Duncan has no idea what is going on, but he reaches to take the keys of out the ignition, and pulls the driver door closed before climbing out to follow.

Logan, heading towards the maintenance building, stops at the gate, apparently paralyzed with shock. As Duncan approaches behind him, he hears him say. "You like to rape little girls you sick fuck?"

Rape? Who is being raped? Duncan picks up his pace, and steps behind Logan. Over his shoulder, he sees Ciaran Fitzpatrick - he used to go to Neptune High - with his hands around...Oh my God...Veronica! My love. My ex-girlfriend. My sister. Oh my God!

Duncan feels strangely 'Out of Body'.

He feels as if he's standing off to one side watching his body strangling Ciaran Fitzpatrick. Logan manages to pull him off Fitzpatrick, but as soon as he goes over to check on (my sister!) Veronica, Duncan's body has a knife in his right hand.

One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Nine! Ten! Eleven!

Eleven! - Eleven knife plunges.

Duncan's body pulls back and pushes up against a wall. He begins rocking.

The lights fade and Duncan is once again on the beach at night next to his sister. Veronica and Logan still sleep contentedly, heads on her lap.

"Why Lilly?" Duncan rasps. "Why did you show me that?"

"Because you were ready. They made you strong enough. How did it feel?"

"Sort of...out of body."

"Then you didn't do it right. You stabbed a man eleven times. How does that feel?"

Duncan runs to the surf and vomits. He remains there heaving, but only bile comes up.

He returns to where his sister and friends wait on the beach. Lilly watches him compassionately and indicates for him to again take the hands of the sleeping Logan and Veronica. Healing energy pours into him, as Lilly pulls him to her shoulder, where he sobs uncontrollably for several minutes.

"Shhh…" she says. "I know I wasn't the best sister, Duncan, but you need to know that I always loved you."

"I know."

"You're getting stronger."

"I'm not sure I am."

"You need to be stronger than ever now. They need you." Lilly points to Logan and Veronica.

"Don't leave me, Lilly."

"It's time"

"Time for what?"

"It's time, Duncan."

---

A/N1 - Unbeta'd because I wanted to get this up and posted before I get tangled up in Thanksgiving stuff.

A/N2 - I get it. I'm a dirty, rotten, UST-overkilling, tease. Forgive me? Imagine Logan's puppy-dog eyes here - the ones from when he watched Veronica get on the bus with Duncan in 2X1.

A/N3 - As usual, I'm floored by your reviews. Again, to all of the guests I couldn't address personally, thank you so much for your support.

A/N4 - Hope everybody has an amazing Thanksgiving - for those who celebrate. Watch out for that tryptophan. :)