Logan's Run (Veronica Mars) Part 2
Aug. 1st, 2008 06:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spankingfemmeHere's the second half of Logan's run... also the part with the spanking in it *snicker!*
Veronica turned the corner onto her father's street and saw her father and Logan in the driveway apparently waiting on her arrival. Veronica frowned wishing she could just keep driving on by as she pulled into the drive.
Veronica climbed out of her car and strode over to where Logan and her father stood. Logan gave her a remorseful and longing look that melted her heart. She had been so afraid for him that upon seeing him she immediately went to embrace him, "I'm so glad that you're alright," she declared before letting him go and turning to face her father, "Dad I know how this looks."
Keith cut her off, "We're not doing this out here," he stated coolly turning and heading for the front door stopping to hold the door open, all three entered and Keith gestured to the couch, "Have a seat."
Veronica and Logan did just that. As Keith looked at the two staring up at him expectantly, he was suddenly at a loss for words. Keith rubbed his temples feeling a headache coming on pausing momentarily to give them a long look before he began again, "I don't think I need to tell you that I'm really disappointed in you two. Not only did you break the law, but you could have gotten yourselves killed!"
Veronica interrupted, "Dad, I know what we did was dangerous, but we couldn't just stand by and let Vinny take your job!"
Keith's brow furrowed in frustration, "Veronica, you've put my job more at risk tonight than it's ever been. Can't you see that?"
Veronica stood walking quickly over to her father, "I know what we did was rash, but once Mac decodes Vinny's computer's hard drive, Vinny."
"Veronica! It doesn't matter what you find on his hard drive. It wasn't yours to take! You can't keep doing things like this! I don't know how much longer I can keep protecting you," Keith admonished.
"Protecting me!? I was trying to protect you!" Veronica replied defensively.
Keith shook his head, "You just don't get it do you? I don't know what else to say to you to make you understand!"
Keith wearily peered at his watch. It was almost 2:30AM, and Keith was physically and mentally exhausted. He sighed, "Look, it's really late. You two go ahead and get some sleep in Veronica's old room, I've got the day off tomorrow, so we can continue this conversation in the morning."
Veronica nodded solemnly as she gave her father a hug, "I'm sorry dad; I really was only trying to help."
Keith kissed her on the forehead, "I know you were. I'm just glad you two are ok. Now go on and get some sleep," Keith sighed dropping his car keys haphazardly on the kitchen counter as he walked into his bedroom and closed the door behind him.
Veronica watched him go. When Keith closed his bedroom door, Logan rose from the couch walking up behind Veronica to wrap his arms around her and give her a tender squeeze in an effort to comfort her.
She turned in his arms to face him her eyes on the verge of tears, "Logan, I was so scared something really bad had happened to you. I mean after waiting so many hours with no call."
"Shh." Logan hushed her, "I'm ok; everything is going to be ok."
Veronica hugged him tightly against her, "I hope you're right. If Mac doesn't find anything on Vinny's hard drive this debacle could escalate into something really bad and unmanageable."
"Somehow I doubt Vinny would have dropped the charges against me if he was clean," Logan replied with a smirk.
Veronica smiled up at him devilishly giving him a quick kiss, "I guess that means I won't have much to worry about."
Logan returned the smile, "Well now, I wouldn't say that." Logan smirked scooping her up in his arms, "...there is me, and a precariously close vacant bedroom we will be retiring to."
Veronica giggled, "I think that's an obstacle I'm willing to tackle."
Logan's grin spread into a wide smile as he carried Veronica into the bedroom using his foot to close the door behind them.
************************************************************
The smells and sounds of sizzling bacon permeated Veronica's nose as she rolled away from Logan's chest. He was already awake and staring down at her with loving eyes, "Morning sunshine," he beamed.
Veronica batted the sleep from her eyes and smiled, "Hello you."
Veronica glanced over at her nightstand; the clock blinked 10:06AM. "He's making us breakfast. That can't be good."
Logan's brow arched, "How can breakfast being made for you ever be bad?"
Veronica gave Logan a sidelong glance, "That's because you don't know my dad, breakfast will likely be followed with long instructive talks and disapproving stares."
Logan retorted, "It could be worse. I could be in jail, and we could be having said discussion downtown. I for one whole heartedly appreciate this alternative."
Veronica grinned seductively, "My alternative would be you laying here with me until sometime this afternoon."
Logan wrapped his arm around her waste pulling her to him so that her small frame pressed up against his. "I think I could go for that," Logan whispered leaning down to her stomach and trailing upward with slow soft kisses leading from her belly button up to the side of her neck right hovering right below her earlobe. His breath was hot on her nape coming out in a slow mantra, as he murmured "There's so many things I want to do to you right now." Veronica's heart raced as her skin broke out in goose bumps. He smiled slyly at her enjoying the way his touch made her quiver.
A sudden rapping at the door followed by Keith's unenthusiastic, "Rise and shine; breakfast is ready," remark ended their romantic moment as the two looked at each other somberly.
Veronica could not help a small groan from escaping her lips as she rolled into a sitting position on the bed, "Well, that's that. I guess we better go face the music."
Logan sat up giving her a quick kiss on her bare shoulder, "Lead the way; I'm right behind you."
************************************************************
Keith lay awake staring at the ceiling contemplating how he would handle dealing with Veronica and Logan. After almost two hours of self-deliberation, he gravely decided what needed to be done and finally let himself fall asleep.
Keith didn't sleep long waking at around 9AM. The decision he had made weighed heavily on his heart and mind. He knew Veronica would disagree with him, but he had made his mind up. Now the only foreseeable problem was how he planned to breach the subject.
As Keith contemplated, he cooked. It always seemed to help him put things into perspective, and before long he had prepared cheese omelets, home fries, bacon, and a side of toast for the three of them. He set the countertop table and waited patiently for Veronica and Logan to emerge from the bedroom.
Veronica had always been one to wake up before he'd finished cooking, so he gathered she and Logan were taking their time getting ready for breakfast and avoiding facing him, so he urged the progress forward by knocking on their door and announcing breakfast was ready.
Ten minutes later the two trudged out into the living room. Keith was leaning against the counter and motioned for them to have a seat next to their plates. Once they were seated, Keith silently dished out portions for each.
Veronica's mouth watered at the variation of food her dad had prepared giving him praise with a, "Thanks dad, this looks great."
Logan chimed in with a smile, "It's quite a feast Mr. Mars, and it smells delicious."
Keith smiled in appreciation at the compliments given, "You're welcome; now you kids eat up before it gets cold," he stated jovially. He'd already planned to wait until after breakfast to bring up the events of the night before. No sense spoiling breakfast.
The trio made small talk while they ate; it wasn't long before they were finished and Veronica and Logan were helping clean up the dishes and countertops. After everything was cleaned, dried, and put away, Veronica excused herself to go take a shower. Keith waited a few moments before he grabbed his car keys and asked Logan to step outside with him.
Once they were alone Keith stated, "I don't think I have to tell you that I expected more out of you Logan."
Logan lowered his eyes and nodded, "I know. I kind of expected more out of me to."
Keith sighed, "Veronica loves you, and I know you love her. But, you both need to start making better decisions; you two aren't in high school anymore. The antics you take part in could land you two some serious jail time. I'm asking you to please help Veronica stay out of trouble. She's got too much going for her to mess her life up now. Can I count on you to do that for me?"
Logan gave Keith a surprised look; he had been expecting Keith's disappointment, but he was honored that he believed in him enough to ask him to help Veronica keep her nose clean. It was a vote of confidence that he wasn't used to getting, and so he responded with a smile, "I'll do my best... and for what it's worth, I really am sorry we messed so much up for you."
Keith smiled back, "I appreciate the sentiment Logan, and I'm sure you will do your best. To start making things right, we need to get things back to the way they were. And to do that, the first thing that needs to be done is for you to go collect Vinny's hard-drive, and if you don't mind, take your time. I'm going to need about an hour or so to speak to Veronica." He then held out his car keys for Logan's use.
Logan stared at Keith's keys as he thought it over for a moment before reluctantly agreeing. He didn't really want to leave Veronica to face the music alone, but he knew that the two would need a little father/daughter time to hash out their current issues. He took Keith's car keys without another word and headed out to retrieve the stolen hard-drive from Mac.
By the evident silence that encompassed the room, Veronica knew something was wrong. Keith was sitting in the living room, and he motioned for her to come join him. Once Veronica was seated on the loveseat in front of him, Keith clasped his hands together and leaned forward as he spoke, "I'm not going to talk myself blue in the face by reiterating the many reasons why breaking an entering and stealing from both the sheriff's tech supply and Vinny is wrong and an overall bad idea. Words don't seem to get through to you anymore Veronica so, I'm going to try something else that will hopefully sink in where words have failed."
Veronica's eyes widened in trepidation and curiosity; the words her father said had a familiarity that she'd not heard in years. And if intonation held any link to impending doom, she would be in for a painful reminder.
Keith continued, "I know you're going to think that you're too old for this, but I've decided that a spanking is the proper punishment for all your recent transgressions."
As the words her father said sunk in, Veronica could only stare at him in disbelief before her face contorted into a mix of anger, embarrassment, and shock, "What? You've got to be kidding me! You can't really expect me to put up with getting spanked? .at my age! It's ludicrous!"
Keith grimaced at the onslaught of words. He had been expecting them, "Veronica, you think this is easy for me to suggest? Trust me when I say that this didn't just come to me. I did a lot of thinking last night, and to tell you the truth, I'm grasping at straws here."
Veronica was shaking her head no, "I'm sorry dad, I know you mean me well, but there's just no way I can deal with that."
It was Keith's turn to get angry, "But you've got no problem dealing with involving me in breaking an entry or stealing Vanlow's hard drive?" Keith ran his hand across his scalp, "I had to make a deal with Vinny just to keep the both of you out of jail. I had to compromise my beliefs in order to keep this incident out of the papers. If anyone got wind of what happened last night, I'd have no viable way of defending you. You would have lost your scholarship with the FBI, and I would have lost any chances at remaining sheriff of Neptune."
Veronica's face softened slightly, "We really messed things up."
Keith scowled, "Messed things up Veronica? That's an understatement."
Veronica sighed in dismay, "Okay, I get it, it was really bad. But a spanking? Don't you think that's a bit juvenile?"
Keith sighed feeling awkward but determined to go through with his set plan, "Veronica, talking to you has been like trying to pick up water with rice paper; it just goes through one ear and out the other. You need something that's going to make what I'm saying stick, and honestly Veronica, I really can't think of anything else at this point that will get my point across as effectively. It worked in the past, why not now?"
Veronica's face dropped into a pout, "The last time you spanked me, I was seven dad! Things are a little different now."
Keith gave his daughter a small smile, "You'll always be my little girl."
Veronica rolled her eyes in agitation, "I can't believe I'm even hearing this."
Keith's face became serious again, "If I didn't think that this would be beneficial to you Veronica, I wouldn't have come up with it as a punishment."
When her father's demeanor didn't falter she started to get desperate, "There's got to be some other way I can make it up to you and show that I'm sorry. I know what I did was wrong. Why don't you believe me?"
Keith shook his head no, "It's not that I don't believe that you know what you and Logan did was wrong, it's that I think you need an incentive to not do anything else like it wrong."
At her father's mention of Logan, Veronica finally realized he was gone. Her face contorted into anger once more, "Did you send Logan away?"
Keith sighed deeply before responding, "I asked him to go retrieve Vinny's hard-drive and to give me a little time alone with you to talk. I wasn't going to confront you about your behavior in front of him. So, why don't we get this over with before he comes back."
Veronica's face took on a sullen pout. She knew her father had his mind set, and he wouldn't back down. She couldn't think of anything else to do other than walking out the door. Her father wouldn't make her stay, but she knew deep down he was right. She had put his job at risk and her future as well as both her and Logan's freedom. Logan would be returning soon she was certain, and Veronica knew that logically now would be the best time if any to get it over with, so she nodded her head as she mumbled, "Okay."
Keith rose from his chair to sit on the couch next to her, and Veronica's whole body went rigid feeling instantly sick to her stomach. The two sat in silence for several minutes before Keith glanced at her sadly stating, "Come on, I know it's been awhile, but I think you know what comes next."
Veronica wanted to cry already from the embarrassment she felt as she complied laying herself over her father's knees. Keith wasted no time and spared her no dignity as he maneuvered her small frame into place and pulled the sweat shorts she had been wearing down along with her panties. The cool air and shock that her father had decided to bare her bottom for the spanking made her gasp in horror as she buried her face into the couch's throw pillow preparing herself for the inevitable swats that were soon to be forth coming.
Keith didn't leave her anticipating long as his hand came down hard as steel and in rapid succession. Veronica grunted as they hit; she had thought it wouldn't be as bad as she'd remembered a spanking being, but somehow it was worse than she'd remembered. The pain was instantly intense and after the sixth swat she was kicking her legs involuntarily.
Keith spoke as he spanked, "I have to get through to you Veronica that you can't keep living your life so dangerously! What you two did could have gotten yourselves shot or worse killed!" Keith came down with an extra hard swat for emphasis.
Veronica jumped as the swat penetrated through her pain threshold, and she let out an indignant squeal. She sucked in a breath looking back at her father with tears already pricking her eyes, "I know! Ow! I know! I'll be more careful, I promise!" she whined.
Keith continued to spank as he spoke, "I'm hoping to make sure that you'll think twice before you make any decisions that may land you in a precarious position."
Veronica was mortified at the sight of her father turning her bared ass a bright red as she bucked and squirmed when each smack made their intended mark. She had to turn away as her tears spilled down her cheeks and she couldn't help the yelps from escaping her throat. She buried her face once more into the cushion she was currently grasping to stifle her cries as Keith continued to punish her for what seemed in her mind an eternity.
Keith stopped as he listened to Veronica sob. When she had calmed enough to listen to him he spoke again, "Now I know it's in your nature to be curious and to seek the truth out, but you've got to promise me that from now on when you do, you'll be more careful. Do what you do best, just don't to get arrested or hurt in the process. Is that too much to ask?"
Veronica was still all choked up and couldn't speak but shook her head no in response.
Keith pulled her pants back up rubbing her back gently in small circles as Veronica continued to cry. She lay still over her father's lap as her emotions had been run ragged from the experience, and she was still too embarrassed to face her father. When she had finally contained herself, she backed off her father's lap with downcast eyes and rested her burning bottom on her feet.
As Veronica looked at her father fresh tears ran down her face, "I'm really sorry dad. I never meant to..." her voice broke with another sob as Keith reached out to her and embraced her in a hug to comfort his distraught daughter. The hug made Veronica cry harder; it was as if all of her pent up emotions that she'd been holding onto were released as she let her body become racked with sobs.
Keith held her tightly until her sobs subsided. Veronica was comforted by the hug, and her mind was oddly set at ease by the closeness she felt with her dad knowing how much he cared about her even if he did have a painful way of showing it! She pulled away from him still embarrassed and not sure how to react under the circumstances, but Keith understood and broke the silence, “I want you to know that I realize you had the best intentions at heart when you and Logan came up with your plot to take down Vinny. But he and this election are nowhere near as important as your future is to me.”
Veronica wiped the tears from her face and gave her father a small smile in appreciation for trying to make her feel better, “I know dad. I’ll stay out of mischief; scout’s honor.”
Keith smiled back at her, “Let me get you a glass of water.”
Veronica smirked, “Yeah, I am kind of dehydrated after crying that river.”
Keith rose from the couch and went to fetch Veronica a glass of water when a knock came at the door. Veronica hoped off the couch and wiped her eyes more thoroughly knowing it was Logan returning from Mac’s with Vinny’s hard-drive. She rushed to answer the door giving Logan a big smile as she opened the door, “Hey you.”
He smiled back at her but his smile faltered when he saw that her eyes were red and puffy obviously from crying. He whispered, “Is everything okay?”
Veronica blushed knowing that Logan had realized she’d been crying. She stepped outside closing the door behind her for privacy sake, “My dad and I had a pretty heated discussion.”
Logan gave her a concerned look as he slid his hand onto her neck and using his thumb wiped away a stray tear that had escaped. Veronica lowered her eyes overwhelmed with everything that had happened in the past day and a half.
Logan became uneasy knowing there was something she wasn’t telling him, “What happened in there?”
Veronica let out a small chuckle, “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you… hell I don’t even know if I believe it yet.”
Logan remained serious wanting to get the whole story, “Try me.”
Veronica hesitated unsure of what to tell Logan about what had happened in his absence, but she knew she had to say something. She inhaled deeply preparing herself mentally before she spoke, "Why don't I get my shoes, and we can go for a walk and talk about it."
Logan nodded his agreement as she took the hard-drive from him and went back inside to grab a pair of sandals. Keith looked up from in the kitchen as Veronica came inside. She gave him a small smile as she said, "I'm going to go for a walk with Logan; we'll be back later." She put the hard-drive on the counter top and went to fetch her sandals in front of the door.
Keith looked down at the hard-drive and replied, "While you're gone, I'll go ahead and take care of this," he motioned to the hard-drive.
Veronica nodded as she went to leave.
Keith called out to her, "I figured we could all go out to dinner around fiveish; my treat. Does that sound good to you?"
Veronica's smile broadened answering before she exited, "Well since you'll be paying the tab, I don't see how we could refuse."
Logan's head snapped up as he heard the door opening and Veronica came out. She smiled at him sweetly, and he returned the smile as he asked, "Ready?"
She nodded yes, and they walked in silence out to the street before she stated, "Dad said he was going to go return Vinny's hard-drive to him and straighten everything out." She trailed off not wanting to talk anymore about the events that had transpired changing the subject, "We're not that far from the beach, do you want to go there?"
Logan raised a brow; the beach was a good two miles from where they currently were, "Wouldn't it be easier to drive there and then take a nice long walk on the beach verse expending all that good walking time on canvassing the neighborhood?"
The last thing Veronica wanted to do was sit anywhere, and she surely didn't want Logan to notice her cringe when the seat made contact with her sore ass, so she diverted his attention by responding with a sly smile, "I was kind of hoping to take the scenic route..."
Logan smirked wrapping an arm around her waist and replied, "How scenic?"
Veronica smile grew, "Why if I didn't know better Mr. Echolls, I'd say you were trying to get a little frisky with me."
Logan's smirk became a Cheshire cat's grin, "And what if I am Miss Mars?"
Veronica turned in his arms and planted a kiss on his cheek, "I might have to oblige you."
Logan leaned down pulling her closer as he gave her a quick hard kiss and whispered, "Now that's what I'm talking about; who needs the beach, you said your dad was going to be leaving any minute, why don't we just take a walk to the convenient store and back. He should be gone by then right?"
Veronica was conflicted. She wanted to go with Logan's plan and wait for her dad to leave, so the two could have a little bit of one on one time to cuddle. After this morning she needed it! But she also didn't want Logan to see her ass in this shape which would surely be noticed if they did anything extra curricular. Then again she thought to herself that she was sure she could just do other fun things that didn't involve removing clothing.
Her bottom would be back to normal by the time they got back from diner, and she knew Logan's plan would be a definite distraction from discussing the inevitable chat to come. Logan would certainly ask questions about the confrontation if she opted to go for the beach walk instead. So all aspects considered, she decided Logan's plan was in her best interest; and nodded in agreement replying, "Sounds like a plan."
Logan smiled happy that Veronica was in agreement with his idea. His hand dropped to clasp around hers as they walked to the store. After plundering through the junk food station and grabbing a couple Slushies, the two walked back to the house. Keith had left already, so they continued to the house and went straight back to the bedroom.
Logan grinned goofily as he dived backwards onto the bed keeping his half drank Slushie held high so as not to spill it. Veronica laughed setting her Slushie on the night stand and crawled on to the bed and finally on top of Logan. She carefully straddled his hips and leaned down to lay on his chest so that they were face to face.
Logan studied her beautiful face as he gently pushed away the stray hairs that had fallen down to hide her eyes. His own eyes traveled hungrily across her body enjoying the view. He pulled one more mouthful of Slushie out from his cup before setting it beside Veronica's cup as he leaned up and pulled her into a deep kiss. Their soft lips collided, parting slightly, to allow the other's tongue to venture forth and explore while their hands did some exploring of their own.
Veronica bit Logan's lower lip tugging lightly in a feral gesture. He reacted in kind grabbing her waist and rolling her over so he was on top. Veronica's face contorted in pain as her sore flesh made contact with the bed beneath.
Logan sat up abruptly asking in concern, "Did I hurt you?"
Veronica blushed noticeably squeaking out, "No. No, I'm okay."
Logan's brow furrowed in suspicion, "Something tells me there's more to it than that."
Veronica's own brow wrinkled as she responded quickly, "Why would you say that?"
Logan studied her features; she never was one to hold a poker face well, "Oh I don't know, maybe the fact that your cheeks just turned three shades of red. What are you hiding? You know you can tell me anything."
Veronica was speechless. She couldn't think of a tactful way to say why she had winced in pain, but Logan would want an answer, and she knew she'd have to say something to him sooner or later about what had happened. She was just hoping that it would have been later rather than sooner, then maybe she could have left out the spanking part of the discussion between her and her father. Just thinking about it made her face grow crimson in embarrassment.
As Logan stared into Veronica's eyes, he could tell whatever it was she was hiding, she was hiding it from him in particular. She had been fine last night, and Logan knew whatever it was, it had to have happened after he had left this morning. The thought made him very apprehensive as he asked, "What the hell happened between you?"
Veronica took a moment to gather her thoughts as she looked over at Logan's concerned expression. He always cared so much about her even when they had been separated. She sat up slowly looking down at the comforter before beginning, "This morning when you left, my dad and I had a long talk."
Logan's brow furrowed in confusion as he asked slowly, "Did he hit you Veronica?"
Veronica's lips took on a small frown not wanting to talk about what had happened as she responded, "He didn't hit me per se'," she trailed off gesturing quotes after the word 'hit' to emphasis there was more to it then what was said.
Logan waited for her to continue as the anger he was feeling at the way he'd seen Veronica's drying tears this morning mixed with the thoughts of her being hit and him not knowing or being able to do anything about it.
Veronica could read the fury building behind Logan's eyes, and she knew she would have to elaborate, "It's not what you think; it's, it's complicated. Alright, listen; before you go getting mad, just hear me out. My dad wanted to make sure I got that he wasn’t happy with what we did... so he..." she looked down embarrassed as she muttered, "spanked me."
Logan's expression changed to absolute shock, "He what?!"
Veronica's embarrassment only grew at his aghast declaration, "I know! It's outrageous and completely out of the ordinary, but I only let him do it because he loves me, and we really scared him. He just wants me to be more careful, and I guess he thought I wouldn't have listened to him if he hadn't made sure I wouldn't forget..." she looked down remorsefully at the bed spread as she finished her sentence. She was ashamed to admit the fact she’d been spanked more so because she realized that she didn’t disagree with her father’s logic behind the spanking.
Logan was still in awe that Veronica would let her father spank her at her age. His father had used the belt on him on several occasions for publicly humiliating him or any other misgiving Aaron felt the need to take out his aggressions on Logan for, but even that was on his back like a flogging. He couldn't imagine getting 'spanked' as an adult. Then again his father was abusive and never had his best interests at heart like Veronica's father did.
He felt a pang of guilt that Veronica had been punished for what they had done especially after weighing the facts that he had wholeheartedly agreed with and helped plan the botched robbery. His anger began to take hold as he stated resolutely, "I'm going to have a talk with Keith when he comes back; I can't believe he had the audacity to do that to you!"
Veronica's eyes grew wide as saucers as she reached out to grab him as if he were leaving to talk to her father right then and there as she exclaimed, "No! Logan, you can't!"
Logan looked at her bewildered, "How can you be okay with this?"
Veronica sighed her lip contorting into a half frown as she replied, "I'm not happy about it, but he did what he thought was right. I can't be mad at him for caring about me and wanting to keep me safe."
Logan's expression softened, "I just feel bad that you had to go through that. If he'd wanted to take his anger out on someone, he could have just slugged me in the mouth."
Logan paused reflecting a moment and continuing again before Veronica could lose her look of astonishment, "It's not fair that you should have gotten punished like that when I'm the one who got us caught. I'm the one who put you in you in danger Veronica; he had a shot gun for Christ's sake! I never would have forgiven myself if something would have happened to you." The more he thought about it, the more he wished that Keith would have punched him or beat the crap out of him for letting Veronica go with him. Thoughts of Vinny blowing a hole through Veronica in the middle of his entryway came to mind and even worse, what was left to settle in his mind was the vivid imagery of watching her die in his arms as he stood by powerless to do anything about it.
Veronica sighed as she studied him. She could tell that Logan was really bothered by the situation and knowing how much he let things weigh on him, she responded, "Hey, it's not your fault! I came up with the majority of the plan, and think about it, you know there would have been no way you would have left me behind! I would have gone myself even if you hadn’t."
Logan wasn't convinced as he replied, "I could have talked you into to trying something else, something less dangerous." He shook his head angrily at himself. “No, there’s no way I can sit there quietly and have dinner with you and your dad knowing what I know now.”
Veronica couldn’t believe what she was hearing, “So what are you saying? Because of what happened, you can’t deal!? If I can get over it, surely you can!”
It was Logan’s turn to sigh as he took a hold of her hands and let his eyes settle on hers in all seriousness, “Veronica, I can’t look your dad in the face and just pretend what you’ve told me didn’t happen. Do you realize how bad it makes me feel to know that you were punished over what happened, and I basically got off Scott free? Hell, before I left to go get the hard-drive from Mac’s, your dad even asked me to watch out for you! It really made me feel good that he would ask that of me, and now… now, I just don’t feel right about even being in the same room with him.”
Veronica frowned, “You’re feeling guilty that I was punished and you weren’t? Is that why you feel that you can’t face my dad now?”
Logan knew what Veronica had said was true, but he only responded with, “I guess, maybe that’s it.”
Veronica thought about how she could make Logan feel resolved. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her dad entering the house. Both heads turned to face the front door, listening through Veronica’s bedroom door to Keith drop his keys down into the hallway’s change bowl and walk across the living room and turn the TV on to the news.
Logan growled his disapproval of Keith’s arrival since it cut off his ability to leave before Keith came home. Now he would have to face him, and it would be awkward.
Veronica squeezed his hand, “You know; it doesn’t have to be like this. Let me go talk to him, and then I’ll let you two talk okay?”
Logan’s brow furrowed in confusion, “What are you going to say to him?”
Veronica gave him a half smile, “I guess I’ll tell him that you know what happened and are a little upset about it.”
Logan shook his head no commenting, “No; I don’t want to talk to him about it! What the hell am I going to say to him?”
Veronica took in a deep breath, “Just trust me okay? I understand how you’re feeling, and believe me, you’ll feel better about this whole thing if you two talk it out. I’ll even take a walk so you two can have a little privacy. I really don’t want you to hate my dad Logan, please; can you just do this for me?”
Logan nodded as he ran a hand through his hair replying, “Okay Veronica, for you, I’ll talk to him.”
She gave him a quick kiss and a wide smile as she responded, “I knew you’d see it my way. Now let me go talk to him; you look like you need a moment anyway.”
Logan chuckled at how well she knew him as he watched Veronica walked out the door to talk to Keith. He strained to listen, but he couldn’t hear what Veronica and Keith were saying. They talked for a good twenty minutes, and Logan lay back on Veronica’s bed. After the first ten minutes of agonizing nothingness, he zoned out on the ceiling patterns. His eyelids drooped, and he was close to dozing off when he heard the front door open and close and a knock came to Veronica’s door. Logan sat bolt up right now fully awake.
He heard Keith’s voice on the other side of the door, “Logan? Can I come in?”
Logan almost wanted to say no, but he answered derisively, “It is your house.”
Keith silently listened to Veronica explain that she had told Logan what had happened, and that Logan was feeling guilty about the fact she had been spanked. Keith was at a loss admitting he didn’t know how he could really help. Veronica had reassured him he would think of something, he was a detective after all, who better to figure out what needed to be said?
Now Keith was standing at Veronica’s bedroom door, and Veronica was heading out to Mac’s. She had asked him to give her a call when the two had finished their talk. As Veronica left, Keith wondered what he would say to Logan. He knew how much Logan meant to Veronica, so he planned to make a real effort to help him.
He knocked on the door, and asked to come in. Logan gave a sarcastic yes, and so taking a deep breath, Keith entered.
Logan stood when Keith entered. He was taller than the man, and the extra height made him feel a little better about the confrontation. He tried not to grimace at Keith as he walked into the room letting his facial features remain cold and unreadable.
Keith nodded his head in recognition before addressing Logan in all seriousness, "Let's have a talk shall we?" Keith sat on Veronica's bed next to the spot Logan had vacated. Logan watched him sit before following suit and sitting down warily next to Keith. His whole body stood rigid with pent up anxiety.
Keith took in a deep breath as he leaned his elbows down onto his lap bringing his fingertips together to center his thoughts before leveling his eyes on Logan, "I spoke to Veronica earlier today about the stunt you guys pulled last..."
Logan couldn't contain his anger as he cut Keith off, "Talked? Funny, from what she said, there was a lot more than talking going on." He shook his head in disgust adding, "You told me that you wanted me to protect her; does that mean I should I protect her from you as well?"
Keith frowned. This wasn't going to be an easy conversation, but he knew Veronica needed him to make this right. She loved Logan, and even though he'd had his doubts about the boy, Keith realized that Logan also loved her. He paused long enough to let Logan finish his statement and to give him ample opportunity to voice any other disgruntlements before he went on. Once he was sure Logan had said what he wanted to say, he continued, "Look Logan; I know you don't agree with what I did earlier, but you need to understand that it was something I, as a father, needed to do. I love Veronica, and I never want to see anything bad happen to her. I had to make sure that she would think twice before putting herself in danger like that again."
Logan listened to Keith with a frown of his own before lowering his eyes to look at his hands at the mention of anything bad happening to Veronica. The guilt he had felt earlier had concentrated into the pit of his stomach and began to churn once more. He responded softly, "I don't think you had to go to such an extreme to get her attention."
Keith responded, "You and I both know Veronica is pretty bull-headed. Normally I wouldn't have gone to such lengths, but this isn't the first incident her and I have had this talk about. There has been a series of incidents in the past couple years that have led up to me taking this particular action. Veronica is leaving at the end of the summer to start training with the FBI, and if she doesn't start making safer decisions, she's going to get herself killed. I can't live with that, so I did the only thing I thought would open her eyes and get her to start thinking a little more clearly. I don't expect you to agree with me, but I figured for her sake, I owed you and explanation."
Logan found it hard to see a spanking as anything done out of care verses anger. When Aaron had struck him, it had always been in anger. His mother had drunk herself into a lulled stupor because of his father's vileness, and although not directly related, he had attributed the two as one and the same. Now hearing Keith speak on his fears and why he had spanked Veronica, his previous notion on the matter faltered. He had over reacted. He understood that now.
He found himself faced with the fact that he had not only helped to put Veronica in danger but that Keith must have been scared to death over the whole ordeal. He knew Veronica's dad was a good man and would never purposefully hurt her for anything but what he felt was for her own good. Grief welled up inside Logan making his chest grow tight as he said, "You don't owe me anything Mr. Mars. It's me who owes you something, namely an apology. I didn't have any right interfering with you two's family issues. I guess I just had my own head so twisted up over what happened that I lost sight of the fact that your relationship isn't like the relationship I had with my father."
Keith was happy that Logan was no longer seeing him as the bad guy, but he could tell that Logan was still really bothered by what had happened. He knew Logan was feeling guilty over the fact that Veronica had been punished and he'd been equally to blame as well as the fact that he'd put himself and Veronica in danger. The guilt was eating Logan alive, and Keith knew that the sense of resolve he and Veronica now shared was lost on Logan since he had been excluded.
So, Keith suggested the only thing he thought would make Logan feel better in the long run, "I'm glad you can look beyond your own family history to see that not all spankings are given out of contempt and rage. You've come a long ways since I first met you Logan, and I think you've proved that you are ten times the man your father would or ever could be. That's why you're feeling so badly right now. This may not be my place, but I know you're feeling guilty for the fact that Veronica was punished and you weren't. And as unappealing as the offer may sound, I'm willing to extend the same courtesy to you because Veronica cares about you and so do I. Are you willing to let this all get put behind you?"
Logan just stared at Keith jaw slightly agape as he was stunned by the question. This was completely unexpected and a little hard to believe. Yes, he did feel he needed to be punished, but he never would have thought Keith would have thought he was in need of a spanking as well. He blinked as he thought over the question. It was a now or never moment. Would he let Keith punish him? Could he? If he said no right now, he knew things would never truly be right between them, and if he said yes? Besides the fact that he was sure it would be very unpleasant, he also knew that it would absolve him of some of the guilt he was currently feeling. Logan looked away running a sweaty hand thru his hair before looking back at Keith's patient yet expectant expression. He gulped back the lump that had started to form in his throat and nodded his compliance, "Okay." Was all he trusted himself to say and even that has come out soft and slightly broken.
Keith rose off the bed and started to unbuckle his belt as he replied, "Alright then; let's get this over with. Go ahead and drop your drawers, and bend over the bed."
Logan stood when Keith entered. He was taller than the man, and the extra height made him feel a little better about the confrontation. He tried not to grimace at Keith as he walked into the room letting his facial features remain cold and unreadable.
Keith nodded his head in recognition before addressing Logan in all seriousness, "Let's have a talk shall we?" Keith sat on Veronica's bed next to the spot Logan had vacated. Logan watched him sit before following suit and sitting down warily next to Keith. His whole body stood rigid with pent up anxiety.
Keith took in a deep breath as he leaned his elbows down onto his lap bringing his fingertips together to center his thoughts before leveling his eyes on Logan, "I spoke to Veronica earlier today about the stunt you guys pulled last..."
Logan couldn't contain his anger as he cut Keith off, "Spoke? Funny, from what she said, there was a lot more than talking going on." He shook his head in disgust adding, "You told me that you wanted me to protect her; does that mean I should I protect her from you as well?"
Keith frowned. This wasn't going to be an easy conversation, but he knew Veronica needed him to make this right. She loved Logan, and even though he'd had his doubts about the boy, Keith realized that Logan also loved her. He paused long enough to let Logan finish his statement and to give him ample opportunity to voice any other disgruntlements before he went on. Once he was sure Logan had said what he wanted to say, he continued, "Look Logan; I know you don't agree with what I did earlier, but you need to understand that it was something I, as a father, needed to do. I love Veronica, and I never want to see anything bad happen to her. I had to make sure that she would think twice before putting herself in danger like that again."
Logan listened to Keith with a frown of his own before lowering his eyes to look at his hands at the mention of anything bad happening to Veronica. The guilt he had felt earlier had concentrated into the pit of his stomach and began to churn once more. He responded softly, "I don't think you had to go to such an extreme to get her attention."
Keith responded, "You and I both know Veronica is pretty bull-headed. Normally I wouldn't have gone to such lengths, but this isn't the first incident her and I have had this talk about. There has been a series of incidents in the past couple years that have led up to me taking this particular action. Veronica is leaving at the end of the summer to start training with the FBI, and if she doesn't start making safer decisions, she's going to get herself killed. I can't live with that, so I did the only thing I thought would open her eyes and get her to start thinking a little more clearly. I don't expect you to agree with me, but I figured for her sake, I owed you and explanation."
Logan found it hard to see a spanking as anything done out of care verses anger. When Aaron had struck him, it had always been in anger. His mother had drunk herself into a lulled stupor because of his father's vileness, and although not directly related, he had attributed the two as one and the same. Now hearing Keith speak on his fears and why he had spanked Veronica, his previous notion on the matter faltered. He had over reacted. He understood that now.
He found himself faced with the fact that he had not only helped to put Veronica in danger but that Keith must have been scared to death over the whole ordeal. He knew Veronica's dad was a good man and would never purposefully hurt her for anything but what he felt was for her own good. Grief welled up inside Logan making his chest grow tight as he said, "You don't owe me anything Mr. Mars. It's me who owes you something, namely an apology. I didn't have any right interfering with you two's family issues. I guess I just had my own head so twisted up over what happened that I lost sight of the fact that your relationship isn't like the relationship I had with my father."
Keith was happy that Logan was no longer seeing him as the bad guy, but he could tell that Logan was still really bothered by what had happened. He knew Logan was feeling guilty over the fact that Veronica had been punished and he'd been equally to blame as well as the fact that he'd put himself and Veronica in danger. The guilt was eating Logan alive, and Keith knew that the sense of resolve he and Veronica now shared was lost on Logan since he had been excluded.
So, Keith suggested the only thing he thought would make Logan feel better in the long run, "I'm glad you can look beyond your own family history to see that not all spankings are given out of contempt and rage. You've come a long ways since I first met you Logan, and I think you've proved that you are ten times the man your father would or ever could be. That's why you're feeling so badly right now. This may not be my place, but I know you're feeling guilty for the fact that Veronica was punished and you weren't. And as unappealing as the offer may sound, I'm willing to extend the same courtesy to you because Veronica cares about you and so do I. Are you willing to let this all get put behind you?"
Logan just stared at Keith jaw slightly agape stunned by the question. This was completely unexpected and a little hard to believe. Yes, he did feel he needed to be punished, but he never would have thought Keith would have thought he was in need of a spanking as well. He blinked as he thought over the question. It was a now or never moment. Would he let Keith punish him? Could he? If he said no right now, he knew things would never truly be right between them, and if he said yes? Besides the fact that he was sure it would be very unpleasant, he also knew that it would absolve him of some of the guilt he was currently feeling. Logan looked away running a sweaty hand thru his hair before looking back at Keith's patient yet expectant expression. He gulped back the lump that had started to form in his throat and nodded his compliance, "Okay." It was all he trusted himself to say and even that came out soft and slightly broken.
Keith rose off the bed and started to unbuckle his belt as he replied, "Alright then; let's get this over with. Go ahead and drop your drawers, and bend over the bed."
Logan stood feeling altogether light-headed as his nerves mixed with dreading anticipation of what he had just agreed to. His fingers felt numb as he struggled to undo his jeans. Logan paused after he'd unzipped his pants and glanced back at Keith unsure if he still wanted to go through with this. Keith gave him a small nod to encourage him that everything was going to be okay, and Logan begrudgingly turned back to face the bed as he did as he'd been instructed to do. Every second lurched in crystal clear clarity as Logan's flesh made contact with the cool fabric on Veronica's comforter. All he could think was that he was left feeling enormously exposed. Logan sucked in an anxious breath his whole body breaking out in a cold chill as he listened for Keith's next action refusing to look back because he no longer wanted to see Keith's face.
Keith understood how hard this was for Logan to agree to, and he honestly wasn't sure what Logan's reaction would be when he'd proposed the idea. Keith had been surprised himself; it wasn't his idea when he'd started the conversation with Logan, but deep down he knew that Logan needed this just as much as Veronica had. When Logan had gotten himself into place, Keith let the belt fly.
Logan did not even flinch in the slightest. He'd mentally prepared himself for the blow. It had hurt, but he had been used to blocking out physical pain. It wasn't until Keith had delivered three more swats that the protocol changed.
Keith asked Logan, "I want you to tell me why you deserve this Logan?"
Logan had never been expected to answer to his crimes during a whipping, but this punishment was different on a lot of levels. Aaron would make him take off his shirt and would lay the strap across his back, never saying one word throughout. It was just silent rage, and Logan had felt his anger laden within every stroke of his father's belt.
Keith was not angry in the least, he only wore an expression of disappointed sorrow. The look in itself made the discipline hard to deal with let alone the humiliation felt from having his bottom bared to feel the full extent the belt had to offer.
Logan had learned long ago to bury away any emotions he felt to the recesses of his mind which left only his body to feel the pain, but now, with this prodding question, he was jolted back into the present situation. He was forced to think about why he was currently bent over Veronica's bed receiving a spanking of all things. It made him an active part of his punishment, and it made avoidance impossible.
Logan grunted as a fresh lick descended. He knew why he was here, why he deserved this, but knowing it and saying it were two different things. He grimaced uncomfortably knowing he had to say something. The belt scorched his flesh again, but this time with a little bit more of a bite. Logan sucked in a quick breath before sputtering out, "I deserve this because I put Veronica in danger."
Keith brought the belt down again as he responded, "You both put yourselves in danger. You can't take fault for Veronica's actions. What's happening right now is about you, not her."
Logan tensed as another lick came; they came at an even tempo that let Logan discern he had about 3.5 seconds before the next one would fall. The calm that he had previously lulled himself into was now gone as his hands dug into the comforter sheet turning his knuckles white with each new impact. Logan thought about the gun's cold barrel buried in his back, he thought about Veronica's tears when she'd left him at Vinny's, and he thought about Keith coming to bail him out of the trouble he had gotten himself into. He had not only been a part of putting Veronica in danger, he'd also helped put Keith in a position where he could lose his job, and no, it wasn't all his fault, but enough of it was. All these moments collided with the each fresh sting, a constant reminder that he deserved this. A wake up call. And that's exactly what he was getting. It was then that the hot tears formed behind his eyes and began to spill silently down his cheeks.
Keith wasn't finished, but he was glad to see that he'd broken through Logan's shell. Now he wanted to insure that Logan would be alright. Keith spoke as he spanked, "We all make mistakes Logan; what you two did wasn't your brightest moment, but we're all human and entitled to screw up every now and then. Once we're done here, we wipe the slate clean alright? I want you to forgive yourself. Can you do that?"
Logan couldn't hold the escaping sob back as he nodded yes. Once the first sob had made its way out the bottled up tears that he'd held back poured out of him uncontrollably as he buried his head into the comforter praying for Keith to stop.
After another five swats, Keith did stop. Logan remained crying into the comforter unable and unwilling to face Keith. Keith put his belt back on and gave Logan the time he needed to get himself together.
Logan gingerly pulled up his pants with a small hiss. When he'd gotten his pants situated, he wiped away the tears that still cascaded down his face. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he looked back at Keith, he didn't know what to say. He wasn't angry with Keith like he'd always been with his father, Logan wasn't really sure how he felt now other than awkward and relieved that the punishment was over.
Keith sensed Logan's dismay as he walked over to him and pulled Logan into a hug. Logan was stiff, but relaxed after a moment and hugged Keith back. When Logan pulled out of the hug, Keith gave him a small smile as he said, "I guess you're really a part of the family now."
Logan shook his head unable to help the smirk that crept across his lips as he said, "If that's what it takes to be a part of the family I'm not sure I want in."
Keith chuckled giving him a pat on the back, "Well, I think it's too late for take backs."
Logan looked back down at the floor embarrassed at the thought of telling Veronica what had went down. As if sensing this Keith added, "I won't say anything to Veronica, if you don't want her to know. You can tell her we just talked, and I'll tell her the same."
Logan brought his eyes back up to meet Keith's as he gave him a small smile and responded, "You do realize who your daughter is right? Besides, I think I'm kind of done with secrets."
Keith nodded in understanding as he gave Logan a big smile responding, "She does take after her old man I guess." He turned to leave adding as he went, "Go ahead and go wash up. I'll go fix you a glass of ice water and give Veronica a call. I'm sure she's climbing the walls by now waiting to talk to you."
Logan's smile grew thinking about seeing Veronica as he headed into the bathroom to wash his face.
*****************************************************
Veronica had been awaiting her father's call anxiously and headed back home as soon as his call came in. She was pleasantly surprised as she entered seeing her two favorite men standing in the kitchen chatting and laughing. She smiled brightly walking up and giving her dad a kiss on the cheek before coming up next to Logan and wrapping an arm around his waist squeezing him tightly to bring him closer to her.
Logan responded in kind wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her into a kiss. Keith, feeling the two would want some time to talk, picked up the bills on the kitchen counter he had to take out to the out-going mailbox and stated, "I'm going to take a walk to the corner store, you guys want anything?" Both said no, and Keith stepped out leaving the two alone.
Once her father was gone, Veronica turned a concerned eye on Logan as she asked, "Is everything okay with you two now? Or are you still mad?"
He gave her an imploring sincere look as he responded, "If you're okay; I'm okay."
She gave him another kiss grinning as she asked, "So what did he say to change your mind?"
Logan couldn't help the blush that crept into his cheeks as he said, "Let's just say he put things in perspective."
Veronica raised an eyebrow suspiciously as she teased, "You do realize I'm going to want all the gory details."
Logan rolled his eyes to the ceiling before smirking down at her, "Like I didn't know that was coming. Don't worry, we'll have plenty of time for you to grill me about all that later, for now I was thinking you and I, your bedroom, a little cuddling, and maybe a nap before dinner tonight?"
Veronica beamed as she took hold of his hand and gave him a sultry glance before replying with a smirk, "I think we can manage that."
Veronica turned the corner onto her father's street and saw her father and Logan in the driveway apparently waiting on her arrival. Veronica frowned wishing she could just keep driving on by as she pulled into the drive.
Veronica climbed out of her car and strode over to where Logan and her father stood. Logan gave her a remorseful and longing look that melted her heart. She had been so afraid for him that upon seeing him she immediately went to embrace him, "I'm so glad that you're alright," she declared before letting him go and turning to face her father, "Dad I know how this looks."
Keith cut her off, "We're not doing this out here," he stated coolly turning and heading for the front door stopping to hold the door open, all three entered and Keith gestured to the couch, "Have a seat."
Veronica and Logan did just that. As Keith looked at the two staring up at him expectantly, he was suddenly at a loss for words. Keith rubbed his temples feeling a headache coming on pausing momentarily to give them a long look before he began again, "I don't think I need to tell you that I'm really disappointed in you two. Not only did you break the law, but you could have gotten yourselves killed!"
Veronica interrupted, "Dad, I know what we did was dangerous, but we couldn't just stand by and let Vinny take your job!"
Keith's brow furrowed in frustration, "Veronica, you've put my job more at risk tonight than it's ever been. Can't you see that?"
Veronica stood walking quickly over to her father, "I know what we did was rash, but once Mac decodes Vinny's computer's hard drive, Vinny."
"Veronica! It doesn't matter what you find on his hard drive. It wasn't yours to take! You can't keep doing things like this! I don't know how much longer I can keep protecting you," Keith admonished.
"Protecting me!? I was trying to protect you!" Veronica replied defensively.
Keith shook his head, "You just don't get it do you? I don't know what else to say to you to make you understand!"
Keith wearily peered at his watch. It was almost 2:30AM, and Keith was physically and mentally exhausted. He sighed, "Look, it's really late. You two go ahead and get some sleep in Veronica's old room, I've got the day off tomorrow, so we can continue this conversation in the morning."
Veronica nodded solemnly as she gave her father a hug, "I'm sorry dad; I really was only trying to help."
Keith kissed her on the forehead, "I know you were. I'm just glad you two are ok. Now go on and get some sleep," Keith sighed dropping his car keys haphazardly on the kitchen counter as he walked into his bedroom and closed the door behind him.
Veronica watched him go. When Keith closed his bedroom door, Logan rose from the couch walking up behind Veronica to wrap his arms around her and give her a tender squeeze in an effort to comfort her.
She turned in his arms to face him her eyes on the verge of tears, "Logan, I was so scared something really bad had happened to you. I mean after waiting so many hours with no call."
"Shh." Logan hushed her, "I'm ok; everything is going to be ok."
Veronica hugged him tightly against her, "I hope you're right. If Mac doesn't find anything on Vinny's hard drive this debacle could escalate into something really bad and unmanageable."
"Somehow I doubt Vinny would have dropped the charges against me if he was clean," Logan replied with a smirk.
Veronica smiled up at him devilishly giving him a quick kiss, "I guess that means I won't have much to worry about."
Logan returned the smile, "Well now, I wouldn't say that." Logan smirked scooping her up in his arms, "...there is me, and a precariously close vacant bedroom we will be retiring to."
Veronica giggled, "I think that's an obstacle I'm willing to tackle."
Logan's grin spread into a wide smile as he carried Veronica into the bedroom using his foot to close the door behind them.
************************************************************
The smells and sounds of sizzling bacon permeated Veronica's nose as she rolled away from Logan's chest. He was already awake and staring down at her with loving eyes, "Morning sunshine," he beamed.
Veronica batted the sleep from her eyes and smiled, "Hello you."
Veronica glanced over at her nightstand; the clock blinked 10:06AM. "He's making us breakfast. That can't be good."
Logan's brow arched, "How can breakfast being made for you ever be bad?"
Veronica gave Logan a sidelong glance, "That's because you don't know my dad, breakfast will likely be followed with long instructive talks and disapproving stares."
Logan retorted, "It could be worse. I could be in jail, and we could be having said discussion downtown. I for one whole heartedly appreciate this alternative."
Veronica grinned seductively, "My alternative would be you laying here with me until sometime this afternoon."
Logan wrapped his arm around her waste pulling her to him so that her small frame pressed up against his. "I think I could go for that," Logan whispered leaning down to her stomach and trailing upward with slow soft kisses leading from her belly button up to the side of her neck right hovering right below her earlobe. His breath was hot on her nape coming out in a slow mantra, as he murmured "There's so many things I want to do to you right now." Veronica's heart raced as her skin broke out in goose bumps. He smiled slyly at her enjoying the way his touch made her quiver.
A sudden rapping at the door followed by Keith's unenthusiastic, "Rise and shine; breakfast is ready," remark ended their romantic moment as the two looked at each other somberly.
Veronica could not help a small groan from escaping her lips as she rolled into a sitting position on the bed, "Well, that's that. I guess we better go face the music."
Logan sat up giving her a quick kiss on her bare shoulder, "Lead the way; I'm right behind you."
************************************************************
Keith lay awake staring at the ceiling contemplating how he would handle dealing with Veronica and Logan. After almost two hours of self-deliberation, he gravely decided what needed to be done and finally let himself fall asleep.
Keith didn't sleep long waking at around 9AM. The decision he had made weighed heavily on his heart and mind. He knew Veronica would disagree with him, but he had made his mind up. Now the only foreseeable problem was how he planned to breach the subject.
As Keith contemplated, he cooked. It always seemed to help him put things into perspective, and before long he had prepared cheese omelets, home fries, bacon, and a side of toast for the three of them. He set the countertop table and waited patiently for Veronica and Logan to emerge from the bedroom.
Veronica had always been one to wake up before he'd finished cooking, so he gathered she and Logan were taking their time getting ready for breakfast and avoiding facing him, so he urged the progress forward by knocking on their door and announcing breakfast was ready.
Ten minutes later the two trudged out into the living room. Keith was leaning against the counter and motioned for them to have a seat next to their plates. Once they were seated, Keith silently dished out portions for each.
Veronica's mouth watered at the variation of food her dad had prepared giving him praise with a, "Thanks dad, this looks great."
Logan chimed in with a smile, "It's quite a feast Mr. Mars, and it smells delicious."
Keith smiled in appreciation at the compliments given, "You're welcome; now you kids eat up before it gets cold," he stated jovially. He'd already planned to wait until after breakfast to bring up the events of the night before. No sense spoiling breakfast.
The trio made small talk while they ate; it wasn't long before they were finished and Veronica and Logan were helping clean up the dishes and countertops. After everything was cleaned, dried, and put away, Veronica excused herself to go take a shower. Keith waited a few moments before he grabbed his car keys and asked Logan to step outside with him.
Once they were alone Keith stated, "I don't think I have to tell you that I expected more out of you Logan."
Logan lowered his eyes and nodded, "I know. I kind of expected more out of me to."
Keith sighed, "Veronica loves you, and I know you love her. But, you both need to start making better decisions; you two aren't in high school anymore. The antics you take part in could land you two some serious jail time. I'm asking you to please help Veronica stay out of trouble. She's got too much going for her to mess her life up now. Can I count on you to do that for me?"
Logan gave Keith a surprised look; he had been expecting Keith's disappointment, but he was honored that he believed in him enough to ask him to help Veronica keep her nose clean. It was a vote of confidence that he wasn't used to getting, and so he responded with a smile, "I'll do my best... and for what it's worth, I really am sorry we messed so much up for you."
Keith smiled back, "I appreciate the sentiment Logan, and I'm sure you will do your best. To start making things right, we need to get things back to the way they were. And to do that, the first thing that needs to be done is for you to go collect Vinny's hard-drive, and if you don't mind, take your time. I'm going to need about an hour or so to speak to Veronica." He then held out his car keys for Logan's use.
Logan stared at Keith's keys as he thought it over for a moment before reluctantly agreeing. He didn't really want to leave Veronica to face the music alone, but he knew that the two would need a little father/daughter time to hash out their current issues. He took Keith's car keys without another word and headed out to retrieve the stolen hard-drive from Mac.
By the evident silence that encompassed the room, Veronica knew something was wrong. Keith was sitting in the living room, and he motioned for her to come join him. Once Veronica was seated on the loveseat in front of him, Keith clasped his hands together and leaned forward as he spoke, "I'm not going to talk myself blue in the face by reiterating the many reasons why breaking an entering and stealing from both the sheriff's tech supply and Vinny is wrong and an overall bad idea. Words don't seem to get through to you anymore Veronica so, I'm going to try something else that will hopefully sink in where words have failed."
Veronica's eyes widened in trepidation and curiosity; the words her father said had a familiarity that she'd not heard in years. And if intonation held any link to impending doom, she would be in for a painful reminder.
Keith continued, "I know you're going to think that you're too old for this, but I've decided that a spanking is the proper punishment for all your recent transgressions."
As the words her father said sunk in, Veronica could only stare at him in disbelief before her face contorted into a mix of anger, embarrassment, and shock, "What? You've got to be kidding me! You can't really expect me to put up with getting spanked? .at my age! It's ludicrous!"
Keith grimaced at the onslaught of words. He had been expecting them, "Veronica, you think this is easy for me to suggest? Trust me when I say that this didn't just come to me. I did a lot of thinking last night, and to tell you the truth, I'm grasping at straws here."
Veronica was shaking her head no, "I'm sorry dad, I know you mean me well, but there's just no way I can deal with that."
It was Keith's turn to get angry, "But you've got no problem dealing with involving me in breaking an entry or stealing Vanlow's hard drive?" Keith ran his hand across his scalp, "I had to make a deal with Vinny just to keep the both of you out of jail. I had to compromise my beliefs in order to keep this incident out of the papers. If anyone got wind of what happened last night, I'd have no viable way of defending you. You would have lost your scholarship with the FBI, and I would have lost any chances at remaining sheriff of Neptune."
Veronica's face softened slightly, "We really messed things up."
Keith scowled, "Messed things up Veronica? That's an understatement."
Veronica sighed in dismay, "Okay, I get it, it was really bad. But a spanking? Don't you think that's a bit juvenile?"
Keith sighed feeling awkward but determined to go through with his set plan, "Veronica, talking to you has been like trying to pick up water with rice paper; it just goes through one ear and out the other. You need something that's going to make what I'm saying stick, and honestly Veronica, I really can't think of anything else at this point that will get my point across as effectively. It worked in the past, why not now?"
Veronica's face dropped into a pout, "The last time you spanked me, I was seven dad! Things are a little different now."
Keith gave his daughter a small smile, "You'll always be my little girl."
Veronica rolled her eyes in agitation, "I can't believe I'm even hearing this."
Keith's face became serious again, "If I didn't think that this would be beneficial to you Veronica, I wouldn't have come up with it as a punishment."
When her father's demeanor didn't falter she started to get desperate, "There's got to be some other way I can make it up to you and show that I'm sorry. I know what I did was wrong. Why don't you believe me?"
Keith shook his head no, "It's not that I don't believe that you know what you and Logan did was wrong, it's that I think you need an incentive to not do anything else like it wrong."
At her father's mention of Logan, Veronica finally realized he was gone. Her face contorted into anger once more, "Did you send Logan away?"
Keith sighed deeply before responding, "I asked him to go retrieve Vinny's hard-drive and to give me a little time alone with you to talk. I wasn't going to confront you about your behavior in front of him. So, why don't we get this over with before he comes back."
Veronica's face took on a sullen pout. She knew her father had his mind set, and he wouldn't back down. She couldn't think of anything else to do other than walking out the door. Her father wouldn't make her stay, but she knew deep down he was right. She had put his job at risk and her future as well as both her and Logan's freedom. Logan would be returning soon she was certain, and Veronica knew that logically now would be the best time if any to get it over with, so she nodded her head as she mumbled, "Okay."
Keith rose from his chair to sit on the couch next to her, and Veronica's whole body went rigid feeling instantly sick to her stomach. The two sat in silence for several minutes before Keith glanced at her sadly stating, "Come on, I know it's been awhile, but I think you know what comes next."
Veronica wanted to cry already from the embarrassment she felt as she complied laying herself over her father's knees. Keith wasted no time and spared her no dignity as he maneuvered her small frame into place and pulled the sweat shorts she had been wearing down along with her panties. The cool air and shock that her father had decided to bare her bottom for the spanking made her gasp in horror as she buried her face into the couch's throw pillow preparing herself for the inevitable swats that were soon to be forth coming.
Keith didn't leave her anticipating long as his hand came down hard as steel and in rapid succession. Veronica grunted as they hit; she had thought it wouldn't be as bad as she'd remembered a spanking being, but somehow it was worse than she'd remembered. The pain was instantly intense and after the sixth swat she was kicking her legs involuntarily.
Keith spoke as he spanked, "I have to get through to you Veronica that you can't keep living your life so dangerously! What you two did could have gotten yourselves shot or worse killed!" Keith came down with an extra hard swat for emphasis.
Veronica jumped as the swat penetrated through her pain threshold, and she let out an indignant squeal. She sucked in a breath looking back at her father with tears already pricking her eyes, "I know! Ow! I know! I'll be more careful, I promise!" she whined.
Keith continued to spank as he spoke, "I'm hoping to make sure that you'll think twice before you make any decisions that may land you in a precarious position."
Veronica was mortified at the sight of her father turning her bared ass a bright red as she bucked and squirmed when each smack made their intended mark. She had to turn away as her tears spilled down her cheeks and she couldn't help the yelps from escaping her throat. She buried her face once more into the cushion she was currently grasping to stifle her cries as Keith continued to punish her for what seemed in her mind an eternity.
Keith stopped as he listened to Veronica sob. When she had calmed enough to listen to him he spoke again, "Now I know it's in your nature to be curious and to seek the truth out, but you've got to promise me that from now on when you do, you'll be more careful. Do what you do best, just don't to get arrested or hurt in the process. Is that too much to ask?"
Veronica was still all choked up and couldn't speak but shook her head no in response.
Keith pulled her pants back up rubbing her back gently in small circles as Veronica continued to cry. She lay still over her father's lap as her emotions had been run ragged from the experience, and she was still too embarrassed to face her father. When she had finally contained herself, she backed off her father's lap with downcast eyes and rested her burning bottom on her feet.
As Veronica looked at her father fresh tears ran down her face, "I'm really sorry dad. I never meant to..." her voice broke with another sob as Keith reached out to her and embraced her in a hug to comfort his distraught daughter. The hug made Veronica cry harder; it was as if all of her pent up emotions that she'd been holding onto were released as she let her body become racked with sobs.
Keith held her tightly until her sobs subsided. Veronica was comforted by the hug, and her mind was oddly set at ease by the closeness she felt with her dad knowing how much he cared about her even if he did have a painful way of showing it! She pulled away from him still embarrassed and not sure how to react under the circumstances, but Keith understood and broke the silence, “I want you to know that I realize you had the best intentions at heart when you and Logan came up with your plot to take down Vinny. But he and this election are nowhere near as important as your future is to me.”
Veronica wiped the tears from her face and gave her father a small smile in appreciation for trying to make her feel better, “I know dad. I’ll stay out of mischief; scout’s honor.”
Keith smiled back at her, “Let me get you a glass of water.”
Veronica smirked, “Yeah, I am kind of dehydrated after crying that river.”
Keith rose from the couch and went to fetch Veronica a glass of water when a knock came at the door. Veronica hoped off the couch and wiped her eyes more thoroughly knowing it was Logan returning from Mac’s with Vinny’s hard-drive. She rushed to answer the door giving Logan a big smile as she opened the door, “Hey you.”
He smiled back at her but his smile faltered when he saw that her eyes were red and puffy obviously from crying. He whispered, “Is everything okay?”
Veronica blushed knowing that Logan had realized she’d been crying. She stepped outside closing the door behind her for privacy sake, “My dad and I had a pretty heated discussion.”
Logan gave her a concerned look as he slid his hand onto her neck and using his thumb wiped away a stray tear that had escaped. Veronica lowered her eyes overwhelmed with everything that had happened in the past day and a half.
Logan became uneasy knowing there was something she wasn’t telling him, “What happened in there?”
Veronica let out a small chuckle, “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you… hell I don’t even know if I believe it yet.”
Logan remained serious wanting to get the whole story, “Try me.”
Veronica hesitated unsure of what to tell Logan about what had happened in his absence, but she knew she had to say something. She inhaled deeply preparing herself mentally before she spoke, "Why don't I get my shoes, and we can go for a walk and talk about it."
Logan nodded his agreement as she took the hard-drive from him and went back inside to grab a pair of sandals. Keith looked up from in the kitchen as Veronica came inside. She gave him a small smile as she said, "I'm going to go for a walk with Logan; we'll be back later." She put the hard-drive on the counter top and went to fetch her sandals in front of the door.
Keith looked down at the hard-drive and replied, "While you're gone, I'll go ahead and take care of this," he motioned to the hard-drive.
Veronica nodded as she went to leave.
Keith called out to her, "I figured we could all go out to dinner around fiveish; my treat. Does that sound good to you?"
Veronica's smile broadened answering before she exited, "Well since you'll be paying the tab, I don't see how we could refuse."
Logan's head snapped up as he heard the door opening and Veronica came out. She smiled at him sweetly, and he returned the smile as he asked, "Ready?"
She nodded yes, and they walked in silence out to the street before she stated, "Dad said he was going to go return Vinny's hard-drive to him and straighten everything out." She trailed off not wanting to talk anymore about the events that had transpired changing the subject, "We're not that far from the beach, do you want to go there?"
Logan raised a brow; the beach was a good two miles from where they currently were, "Wouldn't it be easier to drive there and then take a nice long walk on the beach verse expending all that good walking time on canvassing the neighborhood?"
The last thing Veronica wanted to do was sit anywhere, and she surely didn't want Logan to notice her cringe when the seat made contact with her sore ass, so she diverted his attention by responding with a sly smile, "I was kind of hoping to take the scenic route..."
Logan smirked wrapping an arm around her waist and replied, "How scenic?"
Veronica smile grew, "Why if I didn't know better Mr. Echolls, I'd say you were trying to get a little frisky with me."
Logan's smirk became a Cheshire cat's grin, "And what if I am Miss Mars?"
Veronica turned in his arms and planted a kiss on his cheek, "I might have to oblige you."
Logan leaned down pulling her closer as he gave her a quick hard kiss and whispered, "Now that's what I'm talking about; who needs the beach, you said your dad was going to be leaving any minute, why don't we just take a walk to the convenient store and back. He should be gone by then right?"
Veronica was conflicted. She wanted to go with Logan's plan and wait for her dad to leave, so the two could have a little bit of one on one time to cuddle. After this morning she needed it! But she also didn't want Logan to see her ass in this shape which would surely be noticed if they did anything extra curricular. Then again she thought to herself that she was sure she could just do other fun things that didn't involve removing clothing.
Her bottom would be back to normal by the time they got back from diner, and she knew Logan's plan would be a definite distraction from discussing the inevitable chat to come. Logan would certainly ask questions about the confrontation if she opted to go for the beach walk instead. So all aspects considered, she decided Logan's plan was in her best interest; and nodded in agreement replying, "Sounds like a plan."
Logan smiled happy that Veronica was in agreement with his idea. His hand dropped to clasp around hers as they walked to the store. After plundering through the junk food station and grabbing a couple Slushies, the two walked back to the house. Keith had left already, so they continued to the house and went straight back to the bedroom.
Logan grinned goofily as he dived backwards onto the bed keeping his half drank Slushie held high so as not to spill it. Veronica laughed setting her Slushie on the night stand and crawled on to the bed and finally on top of Logan. She carefully straddled his hips and leaned down to lay on his chest so that they were face to face.
Logan studied her beautiful face as he gently pushed away the stray hairs that had fallen down to hide her eyes. His own eyes traveled hungrily across her body enjoying the view. He pulled one more mouthful of Slushie out from his cup before setting it beside Veronica's cup as he leaned up and pulled her into a deep kiss. Their soft lips collided, parting slightly, to allow the other's tongue to venture forth and explore while their hands did some exploring of their own.
Veronica bit Logan's lower lip tugging lightly in a feral gesture. He reacted in kind grabbing her waist and rolling her over so he was on top. Veronica's face contorted in pain as her sore flesh made contact with the bed beneath.
Logan sat up abruptly asking in concern, "Did I hurt you?"
Veronica blushed noticeably squeaking out, "No. No, I'm okay."
Logan's brow furrowed in suspicion, "Something tells me there's more to it than that."
Veronica's own brow wrinkled as she responded quickly, "Why would you say that?"
Logan studied her features; she never was one to hold a poker face well, "Oh I don't know, maybe the fact that your cheeks just turned three shades of red. What are you hiding? You know you can tell me anything."
Veronica was speechless. She couldn't think of a tactful way to say why she had winced in pain, but Logan would want an answer, and she knew she'd have to say something to him sooner or later about what had happened. She was just hoping that it would have been later rather than sooner, then maybe she could have left out the spanking part of the discussion between her and her father. Just thinking about it made her face grow crimson in embarrassment.
As Logan stared into Veronica's eyes, he could tell whatever it was she was hiding, she was hiding it from him in particular. She had been fine last night, and Logan knew whatever it was, it had to have happened after he had left this morning. The thought made him very apprehensive as he asked, "What the hell happened between you?"
Veronica took a moment to gather her thoughts as she looked over at Logan's concerned expression. He always cared so much about her even when they had been separated. She sat up slowly looking down at the comforter before beginning, "This morning when you left, my dad and I had a long talk."
Logan's brow furrowed in confusion as he asked slowly, "Did he hit you Veronica?"
Veronica's lips took on a small frown not wanting to talk about what had happened as she responded, "He didn't hit me per se'," she trailed off gesturing quotes after the word 'hit' to emphasis there was more to it then what was said.
Logan waited for her to continue as the anger he was feeling at the way he'd seen Veronica's drying tears this morning mixed with the thoughts of her being hit and him not knowing or being able to do anything about it.
Veronica could read the fury building behind Logan's eyes, and she knew she would have to elaborate, "It's not what you think; it's, it's complicated. Alright, listen; before you go getting mad, just hear me out. My dad wanted to make sure I got that he wasn’t happy with what we did... so he..." she looked down embarrassed as she muttered, "spanked me."
Logan's expression changed to absolute shock, "He what?!"
Veronica's embarrassment only grew at his aghast declaration, "I know! It's outrageous and completely out of the ordinary, but I only let him do it because he loves me, and we really scared him. He just wants me to be more careful, and I guess he thought I wouldn't have listened to him if he hadn't made sure I wouldn't forget..." she looked down remorsefully at the bed spread as she finished her sentence. She was ashamed to admit the fact she’d been spanked more so because she realized that she didn’t disagree with her father’s logic behind the spanking.
Logan was still in awe that Veronica would let her father spank her at her age. His father had used the belt on him on several occasions for publicly humiliating him or any other misgiving Aaron felt the need to take out his aggressions on Logan for, but even that was on his back like a flogging. He couldn't imagine getting 'spanked' as an adult. Then again his father was abusive and never had his best interests at heart like Veronica's father did.
He felt a pang of guilt that Veronica had been punished for what they had done especially after weighing the facts that he had wholeheartedly agreed with and helped plan the botched robbery. His anger began to take hold as he stated resolutely, "I'm going to have a talk with Keith when he comes back; I can't believe he had the audacity to do that to you!"
Veronica's eyes grew wide as saucers as she reached out to grab him as if he were leaving to talk to her father right then and there as she exclaimed, "No! Logan, you can't!"
Logan looked at her bewildered, "How can you be okay with this?"
Veronica sighed her lip contorting into a half frown as she replied, "I'm not happy about it, but he did what he thought was right. I can't be mad at him for caring about me and wanting to keep me safe."
Logan's expression softened, "I just feel bad that you had to go through that. If he'd wanted to take his anger out on someone, he could have just slugged me in the mouth."
Logan paused reflecting a moment and continuing again before Veronica could lose her look of astonishment, "It's not fair that you should have gotten punished like that when I'm the one who got us caught. I'm the one who put you in you in danger Veronica; he had a shot gun for Christ's sake! I never would have forgiven myself if something would have happened to you." The more he thought about it, the more he wished that Keith would have punched him or beat the crap out of him for letting Veronica go with him. Thoughts of Vinny blowing a hole through Veronica in the middle of his entryway came to mind and even worse, what was left to settle in his mind was the vivid imagery of watching her die in his arms as he stood by powerless to do anything about it.
Veronica sighed as she studied him. She could tell that Logan was really bothered by the situation and knowing how much he let things weigh on him, she responded, "Hey, it's not your fault! I came up with the majority of the plan, and think about it, you know there would have been no way you would have left me behind! I would have gone myself even if you hadn’t."
Logan wasn't convinced as he replied, "I could have talked you into to trying something else, something less dangerous." He shook his head angrily at himself. “No, there’s no way I can sit there quietly and have dinner with you and your dad knowing what I know now.”
Veronica couldn’t believe what she was hearing, “So what are you saying? Because of what happened, you can’t deal!? If I can get over it, surely you can!”
It was Logan’s turn to sigh as he took a hold of her hands and let his eyes settle on hers in all seriousness, “Veronica, I can’t look your dad in the face and just pretend what you’ve told me didn’t happen. Do you realize how bad it makes me feel to know that you were punished over what happened, and I basically got off Scott free? Hell, before I left to go get the hard-drive from Mac’s, your dad even asked me to watch out for you! It really made me feel good that he would ask that of me, and now… now, I just don’t feel right about even being in the same room with him.”
Veronica frowned, “You’re feeling guilty that I was punished and you weren’t? Is that why you feel that you can’t face my dad now?”
Logan knew what Veronica had said was true, but he only responded with, “I guess, maybe that’s it.”
Veronica thought about how she could make Logan feel resolved. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her dad entering the house. Both heads turned to face the front door, listening through Veronica’s bedroom door to Keith drop his keys down into the hallway’s change bowl and walk across the living room and turn the TV on to the news.
Logan growled his disapproval of Keith’s arrival since it cut off his ability to leave before Keith came home. Now he would have to face him, and it would be awkward.
Veronica squeezed his hand, “You know; it doesn’t have to be like this. Let me go talk to him, and then I’ll let you two talk okay?”
Logan’s brow furrowed in confusion, “What are you going to say to him?”
Veronica gave him a half smile, “I guess I’ll tell him that you know what happened and are a little upset about it.”
Logan shook his head no commenting, “No; I don’t want to talk to him about it! What the hell am I going to say to him?”
Veronica took in a deep breath, “Just trust me okay? I understand how you’re feeling, and believe me, you’ll feel better about this whole thing if you two talk it out. I’ll even take a walk so you two can have a little privacy. I really don’t want you to hate my dad Logan, please; can you just do this for me?”
Logan nodded as he ran a hand through his hair replying, “Okay Veronica, for you, I’ll talk to him.”
She gave him a quick kiss and a wide smile as she responded, “I knew you’d see it my way. Now let me go talk to him; you look like you need a moment anyway.”
Logan chuckled at how well she knew him as he watched Veronica walked out the door to talk to Keith. He strained to listen, but he couldn’t hear what Veronica and Keith were saying. They talked for a good twenty minutes, and Logan lay back on Veronica’s bed. After the first ten minutes of agonizing nothingness, he zoned out on the ceiling patterns. His eyelids drooped, and he was close to dozing off when he heard the front door open and close and a knock came to Veronica’s door. Logan sat bolt up right now fully awake.
He heard Keith’s voice on the other side of the door, “Logan? Can I come in?”
Logan almost wanted to say no, but he answered derisively, “It is your house.”
Keith silently listened to Veronica explain that she had told Logan what had happened, and that Logan was feeling guilty about the fact she had been spanked. Keith was at a loss admitting he didn’t know how he could really help. Veronica had reassured him he would think of something, he was a detective after all, who better to figure out what needed to be said?
Now Keith was standing at Veronica’s bedroom door, and Veronica was heading out to Mac’s. She had asked him to give her a call when the two had finished their talk. As Veronica left, Keith wondered what he would say to Logan. He knew how much Logan meant to Veronica, so he planned to make a real effort to help him.
He knocked on the door, and asked to come in. Logan gave a sarcastic yes, and so taking a deep breath, Keith entered.
Logan stood when Keith entered. He was taller than the man, and the extra height made him feel a little better about the confrontation. He tried not to grimace at Keith as he walked into the room letting his facial features remain cold and unreadable.
Keith nodded his head in recognition before addressing Logan in all seriousness, "Let's have a talk shall we?" Keith sat on Veronica's bed next to the spot Logan had vacated. Logan watched him sit before following suit and sitting down warily next to Keith. His whole body stood rigid with pent up anxiety.
Keith took in a deep breath as he leaned his elbows down onto his lap bringing his fingertips together to center his thoughts before leveling his eyes on Logan, "I spoke to Veronica earlier today about the stunt you guys pulled last..."
Logan couldn't contain his anger as he cut Keith off, "Talked? Funny, from what she said, there was a lot more than talking going on." He shook his head in disgust adding, "You told me that you wanted me to protect her; does that mean I should I protect her from you as well?"
Keith frowned. This wasn't going to be an easy conversation, but he knew Veronica needed him to make this right. She loved Logan, and even though he'd had his doubts about the boy, Keith realized that Logan also loved her. He paused long enough to let Logan finish his statement and to give him ample opportunity to voice any other disgruntlements before he went on. Once he was sure Logan had said what he wanted to say, he continued, "Look Logan; I know you don't agree with what I did earlier, but you need to understand that it was something I, as a father, needed to do. I love Veronica, and I never want to see anything bad happen to her. I had to make sure that she would think twice before putting herself in danger like that again."
Logan listened to Keith with a frown of his own before lowering his eyes to look at his hands at the mention of anything bad happening to Veronica. The guilt he had felt earlier had concentrated into the pit of his stomach and began to churn once more. He responded softly, "I don't think you had to go to such an extreme to get her attention."
Keith responded, "You and I both know Veronica is pretty bull-headed. Normally I wouldn't have gone to such lengths, but this isn't the first incident her and I have had this talk about. There has been a series of incidents in the past couple years that have led up to me taking this particular action. Veronica is leaving at the end of the summer to start training with the FBI, and if she doesn't start making safer decisions, she's going to get herself killed. I can't live with that, so I did the only thing I thought would open her eyes and get her to start thinking a little more clearly. I don't expect you to agree with me, but I figured for her sake, I owed you and explanation."
Logan found it hard to see a spanking as anything done out of care verses anger. When Aaron had struck him, it had always been in anger. His mother had drunk herself into a lulled stupor because of his father's vileness, and although not directly related, he had attributed the two as one and the same. Now hearing Keith speak on his fears and why he had spanked Veronica, his previous notion on the matter faltered. He had over reacted. He understood that now.
He found himself faced with the fact that he had not only helped to put Veronica in danger but that Keith must have been scared to death over the whole ordeal. He knew Veronica's dad was a good man and would never purposefully hurt her for anything but what he felt was for her own good. Grief welled up inside Logan making his chest grow tight as he said, "You don't owe me anything Mr. Mars. It's me who owes you something, namely an apology. I didn't have any right interfering with you two's family issues. I guess I just had my own head so twisted up over what happened that I lost sight of the fact that your relationship isn't like the relationship I had with my father."
Keith was happy that Logan was no longer seeing him as the bad guy, but he could tell that Logan was still really bothered by what had happened. He knew Logan was feeling guilty over the fact that Veronica had been punished and he'd been equally to blame as well as the fact that he'd put himself and Veronica in danger. The guilt was eating Logan alive, and Keith knew that the sense of resolve he and Veronica now shared was lost on Logan since he had been excluded.
So, Keith suggested the only thing he thought would make Logan feel better in the long run, "I'm glad you can look beyond your own family history to see that not all spankings are given out of contempt and rage. You've come a long ways since I first met you Logan, and I think you've proved that you are ten times the man your father would or ever could be. That's why you're feeling so badly right now. This may not be my place, but I know you're feeling guilty for the fact that Veronica was punished and you weren't. And as unappealing as the offer may sound, I'm willing to extend the same courtesy to you because Veronica cares about you and so do I. Are you willing to let this all get put behind you?"
Logan just stared at Keith jaw slightly agape as he was stunned by the question. This was completely unexpected and a little hard to believe. Yes, he did feel he needed to be punished, but he never would have thought Keith would have thought he was in need of a spanking as well. He blinked as he thought over the question. It was a now or never moment. Would he let Keith punish him? Could he? If he said no right now, he knew things would never truly be right between them, and if he said yes? Besides the fact that he was sure it would be very unpleasant, he also knew that it would absolve him of some of the guilt he was currently feeling. Logan looked away running a sweaty hand thru his hair before looking back at Keith's patient yet expectant expression. He gulped back the lump that had started to form in his throat and nodded his compliance, "Okay." Was all he trusted himself to say and even that has come out soft and slightly broken.
Keith rose off the bed and started to unbuckle his belt as he replied, "Alright then; let's get this over with. Go ahead and drop your drawers, and bend over the bed."
Logan stood when Keith entered. He was taller than the man, and the extra height made him feel a little better about the confrontation. He tried not to grimace at Keith as he walked into the room letting his facial features remain cold and unreadable.
Keith nodded his head in recognition before addressing Logan in all seriousness, "Let's have a talk shall we?" Keith sat on Veronica's bed next to the spot Logan had vacated. Logan watched him sit before following suit and sitting down warily next to Keith. His whole body stood rigid with pent up anxiety.
Keith took in a deep breath as he leaned his elbows down onto his lap bringing his fingertips together to center his thoughts before leveling his eyes on Logan, "I spoke to Veronica earlier today about the stunt you guys pulled last..."
Logan couldn't contain his anger as he cut Keith off, "Spoke? Funny, from what she said, there was a lot more than talking going on." He shook his head in disgust adding, "You told me that you wanted me to protect her; does that mean I should I protect her from you as well?"
Keith frowned. This wasn't going to be an easy conversation, but he knew Veronica needed him to make this right. She loved Logan, and even though he'd had his doubts about the boy, Keith realized that Logan also loved her. He paused long enough to let Logan finish his statement and to give him ample opportunity to voice any other disgruntlements before he went on. Once he was sure Logan had said what he wanted to say, he continued, "Look Logan; I know you don't agree with what I did earlier, but you need to understand that it was something I, as a father, needed to do. I love Veronica, and I never want to see anything bad happen to her. I had to make sure that she would think twice before putting herself in danger like that again."
Logan listened to Keith with a frown of his own before lowering his eyes to look at his hands at the mention of anything bad happening to Veronica. The guilt he had felt earlier had concentrated into the pit of his stomach and began to churn once more. He responded softly, "I don't think you had to go to such an extreme to get her attention."
Keith responded, "You and I both know Veronica is pretty bull-headed. Normally I wouldn't have gone to such lengths, but this isn't the first incident her and I have had this talk about. There has been a series of incidents in the past couple years that have led up to me taking this particular action. Veronica is leaving at the end of the summer to start training with the FBI, and if she doesn't start making safer decisions, she's going to get herself killed. I can't live with that, so I did the only thing I thought would open her eyes and get her to start thinking a little more clearly. I don't expect you to agree with me, but I figured for her sake, I owed you and explanation."
Logan found it hard to see a spanking as anything done out of care verses anger. When Aaron had struck him, it had always been in anger. His mother had drunk herself into a lulled stupor because of his father's vileness, and although not directly related, he had attributed the two as one and the same. Now hearing Keith speak on his fears and why he had spanked Veronica, his previous notion on the matter faltered. He had over reacted. He understood that now.
He found himself faced with the fact that he had not only helped to put Veronica in danger but that Keith must have been scared to death over the whole ordeal. He knew Veronica's dad was a good man and would never purposefully hurt her for anything but what he felt was for her own good. Grief welled up inside Logan making his chest grow tight as he said, "You don't owe me anything Mr. Mars. It's me who owes you something, namely an apology. I didn't have any right interfering with you two's family issues. I guess I just had my own head so twisted up over what happened that I lost sight of the fact that your relationship isn't like the relationship I had with my father."
Keith was happy that Logan was no longer seeing him as the bad guy, but he could tell that Logan was still really bothered by what had happened. He knew Logan was feeling guilty over the fact that Veronica had been punished and he'd been equally to blame as well as the fact that he'd put himself and Veronica in danger. The guilt was eating Logan alive, and Keith knew that the sense of resolve he and Veronica now shared was lost on Logan since he had been excluded.
So, Keith suggested the only thing he thought would make Logan feel better in the long run, "I'm glad you can look beyond your own family history to see that not all spankings are given out of contempt and rage. You've come a long ways since I first met you Logan, and I think you've proved that you are ten times the man your father would or ever could be. That's why you're feeling so badly right now. This may not be my place, but I know you're feeling guilty for the fact that Veronica was punished and you weren't. And as unappealing as the offer may sound, I'm willing to extend the same courtesy to you because Veronica cares about you and so do I. Are you willing to let this all get put behind you?"
Logan just stared at Keith jaw slightly agape stunned by the question. This was completely unexpected and a little hard to believe. Yes, he did feel he needed to be punished, but he never would have thought Keith would have thought he was in need of a spanking as well. He blinked as he thought over the question. It was a now or never moment. Would he let Keith punish him? Could he? If he said no right now, he knew things would never truly be right between them, and if he said yes? Besides the fact that he was sure it would be very unpleasant, he also knew that it would absolve him of some of the guilt he was currently feeling. Logan looked away running a sweaty hand thru his hair before looking back at Keith's patient yet expectant expression. He gulped back the lump that had started to form in his throat and nodded his compliance, "Okay." It was all he trusted himself to say and even that came out soft and slightly broken.
Keith rose off the bed and started to unbuckle his belt as he replied, "Alright then; let's get this over with. Go ahead and drop your drawers, and bend over the bed."
Logan stood feeling altogether light-headed as his nerves mixed with dreading anticipation of what he had just agreed to. His fingers felt numb as he struggled to undo his jeans. Logan paused after he'd unzipped his pants and glanced back at Keith unsure if he still wanted to go through with this. Keith gave him a small nod to encourage him that everything was going to be okay, and Logan begrudgingly turned back to face the bed as he did as he'd been instructed to do. Every second lurched in crystal clear clarity as Logan's flesh made contact with the cool fabric on Veronica's comforter. All he could think was that he was left feeling enormously exposed. Logan sucked in an anxious breath his whole body breaking out in a cold chill as he listened for Keith's next action refusing to look back because he no longer wanted to see Keith's face.
Keith understood how hard this was for Logan to agree to, and he honestly wasn't sure what Logan's reaction would be when he'd proposed the idea. Keith had been surprised himself; it wasn't his idea when he'd started the conversation with Logan, but deep down he knew that Logan needed this just as much as Veronica had. When Logan had gotten himself into place, Keith let the belt fly.
Logan did not even flinch in the slightest. He'd mentally prepared himself for the blow. It had hurt, but he had been used to blocking out physical pain. It wasn't until Keith had delivered three more swats that the protocol changed.
Keith asked Logan, "I want you to tell me why you deserve this Logan?"
Logan had never been expected to answer to his crimes during a whipping, but this punishment was different on a lot of levels. Aaron would make him take off his shirt and would lay the strap across his back, never saying one word throughout. It was just silent rage, and Logan had felt his anger laden within every stroke of his father's belt.
Keith was not angry in the least, he only wore an expression of disappointed sorrow. The look in itself made the discipline hard to deal with let alone the humiliation felt from having his bottom bared to feel the full extent the belt had to offer.
Logan had learned long ago to bury away any emotions he felt to the recesses of his mind which left only his body to feel the pain, but now, with this prodding question, he was jolted back into the present situation. He was forced to think about why he was currently bent over Veronica's bed receiving a spanking of all things. It made him an active part of his punishment, and it made avoidance impossible.
Logan grunted as a fresh lick descended. He knew why he was here, why he deserved this, but knowing it and saying it were two different things. He grimaced uncomfortably knowing he had to say something. The belt scorched his flesh again, but this time with a little bit more of a bite. Logan sucked in a quick breath before sputtering out, "I deserve this because I put Veronica in danger."
Keith brought the belt down again as he responded, "You both put yourselves in danger. You can't take fault for Veronica's actions. What's happening right now is about you, not her."
Logan tensed as another lick came; they came at an even tempo that let Logan discern he had about 3.5 seconds before the next one would fall. The calm that he had previously lulled himself into was now gone as his hands dug into the comforter sheet turning his knuckles white with each new impact. Logan thought about the gun's cold barrel buried in his back, he thought about Veronica's tears when she'd left him at Vinny's, and he thought about Keith coming to bail him out of the trouble he had gotten himself into. He had not only been a part of putting Veronica in danger, he'd also helped put Keith in a position where he could lose his job, and no, it wasn't all his fault, but enough of it was. All these moments collided with the each fresh sting, a constant reminder that he deserved this. A wake up call. And that's exactly what he was getting. It was then that the hot tears formed behind his eyes and began to spill silently down his cheeks.
Keith wasn't finished, but he was glad to see that he'd broken through Logan's shell. Now he wanted to insure that Logan would be alright. Keith spoke as he spanked, "We all make mistakes Logan; what you two did wasn't your brightest moment, but we're all human and entitled to screw up every now and then. Once we're done here, we wipe the slate clean alright? I want you to forgive yourself. Can you do that?"
Logan couldn't hold the escaping sob back as he nodded yes. Once the first sob had made its way out the bottled up tears that he'd held back poured out of him uncontrollably as he buried his head into the comforter praying for Keith to stop.
After another five swats, Keith did stop. Logan remained crying into the comforter unable and unwilling to face Keith. Keith put his belt back on and gave Logan the time he needed to get himself together.
Logan gingerly pulled up his pants with a small hiss. When he'd gotten his pants situated, he wiped away the tears that still cascaded down his face. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he looked back at Keith, he didn't know what to say. He wasn't angry with Keith like he'd always been with his father, Logan wasn't really sure how he felt now other than awkward and relieved that the punishment was over.
Keith sensed Logan's dismay as he walked over to him and pulled Logan into a hug. Logan was stiff, but relaxed after a moment and hugged Keith back. When Logan pulled out of the hug, Keith gave him a small smile as he said, "I guess you're really a part of the family now."
Logan shook his head unable to help the smirk that crept across his lips as he said, "If that's what it takes to be a part of the family I'm not sure I want in."
Keith chuckled giving him a pat on the back, "Well, I think it's too late for take backs."
Logan looked back down at the floor embarrassed at the thought of telling Veronica what had went down. As if sensing this Keith added, "I won't say anything to Veronica, if you don't want her to know. You can tell her we just talked, and I'll tell her the same."
Logan brought his eyes back up to meet Keith's as he gave him a small smile and responded, "You do realize who your daughter is right? Besides, I think I'm kind of done with secrets."
Keith nodded in understanding as he gave Logan a big smile responding, "She does take after her old man I guess." He turned to leave adding as he went, "Go ahead and go wash up. I'll go fix you a glass of ice water and give Veronica a call. I'm sure she's climbing the walls by now waiting to talk to you."
Logan's smile grew thinking about seeing Veronica as he headed into the bathroom to wash his face.
*****************************************************
Veronica had been awaiting her father's call anxiously and headed back home as soon as his call came in. She was pleasantly surprised as she entered seeing her two favorite men standing in the kitchen chatting and laughing. She smiled brightly walking up and giving her dad a kiss on the cheek before coming up next to Logan and wrapping an arm around his waist squeezing him tightly to bring him closer to her.
Logan responded in kind wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her into a kiss. Keith, feeling the two would want some time to talk, picked up the bills on the kitchen counter he had to take out to the out-going mailbox and stated, "I'm going to take a walk to the corner store, you guys want anything?" Both said no, and Keith stepped out leaving the two alone.
Once her father was gone, Veronica turned a concerned eye on Logan as she asked, "Is everything okay with you two now? Or are you still mad?"
He gave her an imploring sincere look as he responded, "If you're okay; I'm okay."
She gave him another kiss grinning as she asked, "So what did he say to change your mind?"
Logan couldn't help the blush that crept into his cheeks as he said, "Let's just say he put things in perspective."
Veronica raised an eyebrow suspiciously as she teased, "You do realize I'm going to want all the gory details."
Logan rolled his eyes to the ceiling before smirking down at her, "Like I didn't know that was coming. Don't worry, we'll have plenty of time for you to grill me about all that later, for now I was thinking you and I, your bedroom, a little cuddling, and maybe a nap before dinner tonight?"
Veronica beamed as she took hold of his hand and gave him a sultry glance before replying with a smirk, "I think we can manage that."
