Exit Wounds

Chapter 8/19

The next morning, Logan woke up and immediately noticed that Veronica wasn't in bed with him. He blinked as he wiped sleep from his eyes and he looked around the room. Dawn was just breaking and there was a soft blue light coming in the small window. He sat up and listened. He didn't hear a shower or kitchen rattlings. He threw the blankets off and stumbled out of bed. He walked out into the hall and noticed the bathroom was empty. The shower and tub were dry. Stepping into the main room, he noticed it was also lacking a petite blonde. A glance to the kitchen revealed the coffee maker was on. Turning to enter the living room, he noticed a note taped to the back of the couch. His heart stopped as the feeling of dread took over him. He thought what it could mean. She was already tired of him and yet again, she ran. He wondered if he would continue to chase her or if he would let her go this time, finally accepting her lack of desire to have any type of relationship with him. He sighed and pulled the note off the couch and opened it up.

Logan,

I just went for a run and will be back probably before you get

up. If not, have some coffee and read the paper. I'll see you

soon. Today. Maybe an hour or so. Breathe.

V

Logan smirked and let out a sigh of relief. He had to remember that she wasn't the same person she had been. He made a mental note to trust she wouldn't run out on him again, probably. He poured himself some coffee. He looked for cream, but couldn't find any. He checked the milk by smell and poured some into his mug. He sat down in the chair, mostly because it faced the door and picked up the paper. He didn't get very far into it before the door opened.

"Hey, you're up." Veronica smiled and walked in. She looked sweaty and messy, but seemed to be walking normally. She closed the door and put her keys up in a basket.

"Hey. Yea, thanks for the note. That didn't bring back any bad memories." Logan folded the newspaper and set it on the coffee table. He smiled just the slightest, not wanting to encourage these notes, but able to appreciate her sense of humor.

"Really? Good." She smirked at him. "I got bagels." She walked in towards the kitchen and put the bag down. "I wasn't sure what you wanted so I got a veggie and a fruit. Hungry?" She turned and looked at him.

He stood up and walked over to her. "Fruit me." He looked her over. All her injuries looked so minor today. Her arm was still bandaged. She had bruises and cuts, but they seemed less intense than last night. He took the bagel she handed him and watched as she walked to the couch and sat down. He turned and gave her a smirk.

"What?" She looked up at him, peeling the paper off the bagel in her lap. "Did you expect me to get the silver out for breakfast?"

"No, just watching you." He returned the chair and sat.

She took a big bite and watched him. "What about me?"

"This is your normal. It's always been your normal, well, since your dad opened up his office." He opened the wrapper around the bagel and licked some cream cheese off his finger.

Veronica chewed and watched him. She nodded. "Same ole."

"You alright? Feet ok?" He took a bite of his bagel.

"Yea, I'm fine. I plan to take it easy today. No explosions on the schedule. Just talk with Lamb and send them back to Neptune."

"But not me?" Logan looked over at her. He was scared of the answer. He didn't have a real reason to go back to Neptune, at least nothing that compared to her.

Veronica grinned a bit before taking a big bite. She shrugged. "I'm not sure what to do with you."

"What are your options?" Logan was smiling, but he knew the mood could turn at any moment.