A/N This is the alternative to "With the help of an angel" so I hope you like it. Please please read and review! I will love you forever and ever if you do!! P.s. Aaron might be slightly OOC so sorry about that.

Rating: PG13 Language in one place.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, all Rob Thomas' awesome imagination!

Chapter 1: Attitudes a'changing

"I'm home," Logan called walking into his front room and closing the glass door quietly behind him. He looked around for a sign that anyone was home, hoping they weren't, and took a seat on the couch placing his bag by his feet. Logan now treasured any time alone, the only time he was able to let down the barrier, even temporarily, that he'd been gradually building around himself since his mother's death. Every moment spent in his father's company was an awkward pretense that made his anger rise to the surface with fear, ominous dread trailing closely behind.

Unfortunately for Logan his father then appeared in the room, "Finally Logan… it's time," Aaron said calmly to his son.

"For what?" Logan asked in a hopeful way, as though the answer would be different from all the other times his father had spoken these words.

"You know what," Aaron answered; remaining calm.

Logan swallowed, "Why?" he said quietly, barely audibly, subtle fright evident in his voice.

"Logan…" Aaron began with quiet exasperation, "You should know why."

The truth was Logan didn't know what he had done to deserve it; but he had a good idea of why he was being given it all the same. He was the vent. Since his mother died it had gone from being once a month, to once a fortnight, to once a week and the future, unlike the marks, was anything but bright.

It had become routine for his father now and the worst part was the power and threatening nature he projected with the calm, far worse than shouting or throwing punches. Aaron Echolls was delicate in the way he approached beating his son, no shouting meant there was no route for Logan to shout back on. His life had been getting gradually worse ever since his cheating became public knowledge and Logan was the one thing he still had control over.

Aaron left the room to wait in his study for his son to hand him his weapon of choice. Logan took as much time as he dared to stay on the couch, postponing the pain that was inevitable. He got up slowly and carefully and went to the closet to retrieve what his father was waiting for. Once a regular item to Logan, it had become an enemy personified by its deadly intent.

Logan knocked lightly on his father's study door before entering; carrying his next fifteen minutes of pain in his palm. He handed it to his father and pulled his T-shirt over his head with a careful precision not usually required to remove an item of clothing. This had the double purpose of delaying the agony awaiting him and lessening the pain of material on already raw skin. Logan knelt down on the ironically cheerful sky blue carpet and heard his father's footsteps moving behind him, heard the creaking of the door as it was closed. He felt his body tense involuntarily, though he knew this would not help. His one remaining escape, though he would never take it, had been blocked. Time was up and Logan felt the first cracking sound of leather hitting bare skin and knew that it would be the first of many.

The next morning Logan began his day as usual: get up, experience the pain of a shower, get dressed carefully covering any marks that his father had been careless enough to make on his lower back, take a couple of pain killers and head off to school.

"Sure you can't help me after school Wallace?" Veronica Mars said hopefully to her best friend backing away towards the lockers.

"Sorry Veronica, basketball practice, how would they cope without me?" Wallace replied cheekily.

"Who else do I know qualified to help me with this?" she pleaded as Wallace gave her a skeptical look. "Fine, but you owe me!"

"I owe you," Wallace said indignantly. "Exactly how many favours have I done you since we've known each other; including the ones that could have landed me in deep you know what?"

"Okay," Veronica relented. "Then you've used up one I.O.U."

"Yeah," Wallace said sarcastically starting to move off in the other direction as the bell rang, "Because that's fair."

"See ya, Wallace," Veronica said cheerfully, smiling and tilting her head to one side using the old Mars charm to stay in Wallace's good books.

Wallace just shook his head, laughing and left.

Veronica turned around and bumped straight into Logan Echolls, knocking all her books out of her hands and onto the floor.

"Watch it!" Logan said harshly as Veronica bent down to pick up her books.

"Sorry Logan, but gee it's nice of you to help," Veronica said sarcastically.

Logan bent down to help regretfully as Dick appeared and completely ignoring Veronica's situation spoke to Logan.

"Dude, are you gonna come to the beach after school for a surf or what?" he asked Logan as though he was just asking out of courtesy without really expecting a yes.

"No man, I can't. I've got things to do," Logan said predictably and sincerely though of course he was lying. It would be bad enough for his friends to see the welts he'd been so careful to hide but if paparazzi were around it would be ten times worse.

"What's the deal man? You never come out anymore, what happened to you?"

"Look Dick," Logan said standing up, "I said I can't, now leave it alone!" he said in a tone that let Dick know the conversation was over and if he pressed anymore he was likely to get attacked.

"Fine, whatever!" Dick said before turning around to leave.

Logan turned back to Veronica who had been watching the exchange with mild interest and curiosity.

"Since when do you turn down a surf?" she asked.

"Since when is it any of your business?" Logan said turning to his locker with more a tired expression than an angered one.

Veronica thought she'd try a different approach, "Are you okay Logan? It's just that there must be a reason for this attitude because I've got to tell you I'm kind of tired of just taking it."

"What?" Logan turned back to Veronica, "…like my Mom killing herself you mean."

Veronica's smug expression was wiped off her face, "Sorry Logan, of course that's tough but I'm kind of…"

"Concerned?" Logan suggested angrily. "I don't need your concern Veronica. I need you to leave me alone!" a point he emphasised by slamming his locker door shut.

"Sorry Logan, but I thought…"

"That we were chums now because you did me a favour?"

"It was a fairly big favour for an enemy," Veronica said letting her anger get the better of her but bowing her head in shame, realising it was a harsh thing to say.

"Nice, Veronica. Real nice," he said nodding his head, before walking away. Veronica waited a moment before saying something else.

"It was nice well it lasted," she said softly to Logan's distant back, the intensity of conversation seeming to have come down a scale or two in one way and up three or four in another.

"What was?" he said standing still and only turning his head to look back at Veronica over his shoulder.

"The calm."

"…and we've just had the storm."

"Think it'll pass?" Veronica said hopefully.

Logan turned back to face the way he was going before replying sadly, "Maybe."

Veronica came out of school at the end of the day and headed towards her car pondering how she was going to get this done without Wallace's help. She was digging around in her bag for her car keys and was surprised to see Logan stood next to her car when she looked up.

"What do you want?" she sighed not wanting to deal with another encounter with Logan Echolls that day.

"That was my question," Logan said with a small smile that was heading towards apologetic.

Veronica was puzzled, "Explain."

"What did you need Wallace's help with?" Logan asked.

"Are you offering you're services?" she asked; shocked.

"I might be."

"What about earlier?" Veronica asked skeptically.

"The storm passed," he explained with a small shrug of his shoulders and a twinkle in his eye. "Veronica, I'm sorry. I was a complete jerk earlier and the truth is I really did appreciate what you did for me and... I don't want to be enemies any more."

"Good to know," Veronica said surprised at the sincerity in Logan's voice. "I feel the same."

Logan smiled, "So what do you need me for?"

"You told Dick you had things to do?" Veronica interrogated.

"…and now I do."

Veronica wasn't blind to Logan's obvious dodge of the question, there was something else going on with him and her curious side couldn't help but try and find out what it was.

"Jump in, I'll explain on the way. Let's see if you're father's acting skills have been passed down to you," Veronica said intriguingly.

"Oh they have," Logan said strapping himself in the passenger's side, begrudgingly reminiscent of the constant lies to everyone he knew. "...believe me."

Veronica wondered what Logan meant by this and supposed she'd see if he was telling the truth later on. They left the school car park and headed for The Neptune Grand Hotel.

Veronica approached the reception desk of the Neptune Grand purposefully and with an expression of going to war. Logan was following behind her looking guilty.

"Excuse me," Veronica said rudely to the receptionist, a pretty young blonde woman, pressing the bell multiple times as well.

"Yes, can I help you?" the receptionist asked sweetly; obviously trained for ignoring the rudeness of some customers.

"I hope so. I've just found out that my boyfriend here…" she gestured to Logan who raised his hand in acknowledgement and then looked guiltily down at his feet, "…is a lying scum bag cheat."

"Right, what can I do about it?" the receptionist asked; puzzled.

"Well, two days ago the bastard checks into a room here with a woman. He was too drunk to remember the woman's name or even what she looked like. But he tells me she signed for the room. Luckily he was stupid enough to accidentally bring the room key home with him so at least I know the room number."

The receptionist looked over at Logan who was playing the guilty boyfriend very well, "You know you're really not supposed to take the room keys out of the hotel?"

"Yeah sorry about that," Veronica said quickly, "But can we concentrate on the real problem? Do you think you can do that?" she carried on patronizingly. "Can you tell me the name of the woman who signed for the room, number 414. Here's the key, I thought I could return it at the same time."

Veronica was knocking the receptionist off her stride and it was clear she wasn't sure how to proceed with the situation, "I'm not sure were supposed to do that."

"Look," Veronica said gently trying to display a sweeter side. "What would you do if you were in my situation? I just want to know who the woman was who caused my boyfriend to cheat on me after two years of loyalty. You can understand that right?"

"Honey, I've said I'm sorry. Do you really have to do all this?" Logan interrupted placing a hand on Veronica's shoulder which she then slapped off, turning to face him.

"Yes Bob I do, because apparently, unlike you, I care what happens in this relationship!" Veronica said quickly, angrily and with exasperation. "Please?" she said turning to the receptionist.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt," the receptionist said finally relenting. She typed something into her computer and looked up at Veronica. "Room 414 was signed for by a Penelope Foster."

"Thank you," Veronica said, "You've been a great help."

She turned around swiftly and commanded to Logan, "Let's go Bob."

Once they were safely back inside the car, Logan turned to Veronica and said, "Bob?"

"I was thinking on my feet!" Veronica defended laughing. "You were very convincing by the way, you definitely helped to sell it."

"Thank you," Logan said appreciatively and smiled. "It was fun. Where did you get that room key from anyway?"

"A magician never reveals her secrets," Veronica said playfully.

Logan laughed, "What happens next?"

"Now I have a name, which by the way is very interesting considering my clients maiden name is Foster."

"Scandalous!" Logan said jokingly.

"Now I need to get the money shot which means a very boring stake out."

"Want some company?" Logan offered.

"Haven't you had enough of me yet?" Veronica joked.

"I don't have to. If you'd rather do it on your own; I mean…" Logan started trying to find the right words.

"Logan," Veronica saved him, placing her hand on his, "That would be nice."

Logan smiled and looked up at her kind face.

"We've got a while before we really have to be worrying about staking out the place so you can go home for a bit if you want?" Veronica suggested.

"Um…" Logan said really not wanting to go home. He knew the consequences would probably be worse if he waited longer to, but he was having fun for the first time in ages and it would be worth it. "Do you think maybe we could get a bite to eat or something instead?"

Veronica noticed his reluctance to go home and added it to the mental list of clues she'd been making since she'd started seeing something was wrong.

"Sure," she answered. "Do you mind if we stop at mine first, I want to get changed?"

"No, that's fine," Logan said pleased to be going anywhere but home.

"So here we are," Veronica said placing her keys on the kitchen counter, "...home."

Logan followed her in and scoped out the place, "...where the heart is. It's… cosy."

Veronica scoffed, "Is that you're nice way of saying cheap?"

"Sorry, sometimes it's hard to turn off the rich kid attitude. Where's you're butler? I quite fancy a sandwich."

"Haha," Veronica said in response and logan laughed gently. "That's okay, I've learnt not to take it personally," Veronica said smiling. "Take a seat on the couch I won't be long. You can watch TV if you want."

Logan watched Veronica go into her bedroom and shut the door. Instead of taking a seat though, he wandered around her front room looking at the pictures of her and her Dad happy and smiling. He couldn't deny that Veronica's relationship with her father was enviable. Then again any relationship between parent and child would have to be better than the one he shared with his own father.

Thinking about this, Logan's back began to sting, the material of his T-shirt sticking with sweat to the welts on his back. He decided he should let them breathe and went to find Veronica's bathroom. He went in without closing the door properly. Was Logan's subconscious finally doing something that his conscious self wasn't willing or ready to do?

Logan took off his T-shirt carefully; the air on his back was a relief to the pain. He bent over the sink and washed his face. When he stood up again, he looked in the mirror to see a tiny blonde girl, in the frame of the door, looking with horror at his back. Logan was in shock for a moment, but the fact that Veronica was too; allowed him to jump across the room, slam the door shut and lock it until he was ready to deal with what was on the other side.

A/N Okay, so I hope you like it. It's more what I was intending when I started to write, "With the help of an Angel" But if you preferred the other version let me know and I'll keep going with both although they might have the same destination.

And now the begging begins:

"Please, please Review?" I shout from the rooftops to the world. But who will answer a young girl's plea?

J x