FIC: Damn, Damn the Circumstance (14/?)
Feb. 10th, 2008 09:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
invida_ficTitle: Damn, Damn the Circumstance (14/?)
Author: invida
Characters: Veronica, Logan, Ensemble
Word Count: 6220
Rating: R
Spoilers: knowledge up to 2x22
Timeline: goes AU from the Pomroy party, and a few liberties are taken with the timing of certain events. See Author's Notes for more details.
Disclaimer: I know the law, and the law would win.
Summary: if Logan hadn't left with the easy freshman that night.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
aud_woman_in and afrocurl for all the help!
Previous Parts
"God, I've missed you," Veronica blurted out breathlessly between kisses.
Logan drew back, eying her with surprise. It was almost enough for her to take her declaration back or to make some smart ass remark to cover her vulnerability. But there was no returning to denial through arm punches and snarky comments to hide what she was feeling, no matter how turbulent or confusing. Two threats on his life in two days had seen to the end of that. Faced with very real fear of losing him brought out her possessiveness. And though their circumstances were inopportune, she'd lost enough people in the last few months; being coy and resigned was something she didn't feel she had time for anymore despite the nagging voice in her head that tried to remind her about Logan's past misdeeds. But that didn't mean she was going to tell him any of that. So she merely shrugged helplessly when he continued to study her.
He shyly and sweetly grinned back at her, and it was almost enough for her to not regret saying anything. He tucked her hair behind her ear, then let his fingers dance down her neck and along her collarbone, causing her to shiver under his touch. She wasn't sure what it was that could turn such an adorable, coy smile into that devilishly smug smirk. All she knew was it warranted closer inspection.
"Yeah, this pretending to be broken up thing? Not my idea," Logan whispered despite being in an empty classroom.
She gaped at him in mock protest and the lull gave Logan the opportunity to hoist her up on top of a desk. He insinuated himself between her knees as she urgently tugged him by the shirt collar into another kiss.
"But if it makes you this frisky," he murmured against her mouth, "I won't complain."
She felt herself blush even more. "Well, what did you expect? I haven't seen you in days except at school where we can't --" She gasped, feeling his lips kneading the skin just below her ear, his hands warm and travelling up her thighs, "--do this. And then you ditched me last night-"
He pulled back, wounded at her dig. "I told you --"
"I know, I know. I got your text and watched the news. And the blow-by-blow e-mail you sent later was particularly droll." Veronica leaned forward, bringing him back to her with another kiss. "But watching you on TV, in the background at a press conference, looking all petulant and miserable really doesn't do it for me. I'd much rather you were petulant and miserable in my presence."
"Tough. In your presence, I'm so cheerful, I'm practically giddy." Logan held his hands up and wiggled his fingers daintily.
"Really? You were pretty miserable looking just a few minutes ago in the quad."
"You were watching me?" Logan gasped teasingly. "Where people could've seen you? What happened to 'someone's always watching'?"
"Shut up." She smacked his chest lightly. "At least I wasn't being obvious about it, unlike some people. I'm surprised everyone around you didn't notice."
"Some of them did --"
"Did Duncan?" she asked impulsively. When Logan's face dropped, she added reassuringly, "I just meant that I saw you getting kinda agitated with him when he sat down. I don't want you setting him off and getting hurt again."
His features relaxed. He cupped her face and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry that pretty little head of yours. Now that I know he's certifiable, I can handle him."
"So he really doesn't remember?"
Logan shrugged. "If it's an act, he hasn't slipped yet."
She shook her head. "That's so weird. I mean, what the hell is wrong with him? He freaks out, attacks you, passes out and then can't remember any of it?"
"No, what's weird is that it wasn't the first time he's done that," he said in her ear as he resumed his assault on her neck.
"He attacked you before that?" Veronica asked incredulously, trying to get a bearing on her thoughts while he was doing that to her neck. It was unbelievable to her that anyone could get the upper hand on Logan once, never mind twice.
"Not me. Jake."
"Wait. He attacked his dad, too? Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, pushing him back.
"It was before. I was pissed with you then." He glanced down momentarily as he added, "Lilly had just broken up with me."
Surprised, she held her hands up to stop him as he tried to move in again. "That long ago?"
He sighed in frustration, finally realizing the moment was gone and backed up. "Yeah. You know, when you guys broke up."
She hopped down from the desk and got in front of him before he could turn away. "Hey, I'm just trying to figure out what all this means."
She held out her hand to him apologetically. He reluctantly took it. She was getting tired of having to defend herself whenever he'd get sullen at the mention of Duncan. It wasn't like she still loved Duncan that way any more obviously. She couldn't. But Duncan was a huge part of the intrigue that was their lives now. They couldn't help talking about him. Besides, she would never get bent out of shape if he started talking about Lilly. Of course, when she really thought about it, Logan almost never talked to her about Lilly anymore.
Logan was looking down at their entwined hands. "Well, what it means for the time being is that he still doesn't know that you know about Jake and your mom, or Shelly's party. And he and I are best buds again. In fact, we're such good pals, he wants me to go on a double date with him Saturday," he said nonchalantly.
Stunned, Veronica yanked his hand hard to get his attention. "Excuse me? Who with?"
"Meg for him and Pam for me."
Veronica frowned. "Meg? Didn't she just break up with Cole? Like, yesterday?"
Logan returned her frown. "Umm...The correct response there should have been insane jealousy over your boyfriend."
"Excuse me? Did you need another demonstration of the violent reaction I had before I heard who your potential date was? Or was I supposed to rip your arm out of your socket like a wookiee?"
He closed his eyes and sighed. "God. There is nothing hotter than angry nerd talk. Nothing."
She rolled her eyes. "Am I really supposed to be jealous of a girl who is -- how did you once so colourfully put it -- such a sycophantic uptight bitch, she probably uses sanitation wipes on every 09er ass before she kisses? If you want me in a possessive hissy fit, at least start with someone I know you can stand."
"So if I get set up with a better girl, promise to be jealous then?"
"Just try and stop me from clawing her eyes out. So are you going to complete Duncan's happy foursome?"
Logan shrugged. "I dunno. Like you said, I do hate Pam."
"But if you do go, it solidifies our cover."
"But if I don't, I can spend more time with you this weekend."
"My dad's around this weekend."
He slapped his hand to his chest sarcastically. "I'm shocked that you immediately thought my intentions were lascivious. We'll be studying, of course. We do have a chemistry final next week."
"Uh huh. I knew you were just with me for my brains."
"Yes, big sexy brains. Mmm, you know, hot zombie talk might just win out over hot nerd talk." He kissed the tip of her nose. "So what do I do if Pam tries to sully my virtue?"
"You have virtue left to sully?" she quipped. "You'll handle it. I'm sure you've had to let down plenty of horrible girls in your time." She glanced at the clock in the room. "C'mon. Lunch is almost over, we're gonna get caught in here." She started walking towards the door.
Logan tugged her back. "Let's skip."
She shook her head. "We can't. When neither of us show up to classes this afternoon, that'll be just as bad as us getting caught in here."
"C'mon, Veronica. It's the last week of classes. No one's showing up. And no one'll miss us. And you know chemistry like this –" he took her hand and kissed the back of it gently. "And like you said, we haven't seen each other in days. Besides, I got something I wanna show you."
"What is it?" she asked excitedly. When he did nothing but shrug, she sighed. "Damn you, appealing to my curiosity. Okay. I've got something I want to show you, too."
His eyebrows rose hopefully as he looked her up and down. She smacked his arm. "Mind out of the gutter, mister, or you're going to be tremendously disappointed." She peeked out the door, making sure no one in the hall would notice them. "I'll go first. See you at Dog Beach in twenty?"
He nodded and she pecked him on the cheek before she ducked out the door and made her way down the hall. She didn't dare look back and risk drawing attention to the classroom she just left in case Logan was leaving.
Fortunately, a diversion in the form of Mac stepping out of the Vice Principal's office appeared.
"I hope you got a good right cross in," Veronica said, getting Mac's attention.
Mac pulled her down the hall away from the office. "What the hell happened to you?"
"I stopped, dropped, and rolled? Wait. That's fire. Not fights. I always get those two mixed up. They begin with the same letters."
"Biggest fight of the school year breaks out because of you, then you disappear and your only answer is a joke?" Mac looked her up and down. "Ah."
"Ah, meaning what?" Veronica asked self consciously, wondering what she'd seen.
"Ah meaning a boy must be involved," Mac answered matter-of-factly.
Veronica shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure. You just get all flushed, your hair gets mussed, and your lipstick smears for no reason."
Veronica's fingers involuntarily touched her lips, glaring at an amused Mac who continued to tease her. "And if I go back in the general direction from where you came, I won't find any boy stealthily sneaking out of any empty classrooms or broom closets." Mac turned and started for her locker. "And certainly not any particular boy. Especially not any particular boy that you had a virtual staring contest with at lunch before bedlam broke out." She opened up her locker and started rummaging.
Veronica tried to look blasé. "You are imagining things. Letting yourself get swept away by gossip and far-fetched slander. And here I thought you were above all the rumours around this stupid school."
"If I believed any of the rumours I would have said boys, as well as teachers, janitorial staff and the vending machine delivery guy. I said boy. One boy. One dreamy boy who just happens to --"
Veronica pointed at Mac. "Finish that and I'll rescind my offer to do a more thorough investigation of your parents," she said sternly.
Mac snorted and waved her off. "Idle threat. If there's one thing I've learned it's that you like this kinda thing too much."
Veronica sighed. "True dat. You're absolutely sure you want to do this?"
"You saw the test results, Veronica. I'm not their kid. Neither one of them is my real parent. Which, while that explains a lot, still leaves me wondering where the hell I came from. Do you know what that's like?"
In a manner of speaking, Veronica thought, but just gave Mac a sympathetic arm squeeze.
"Hey Veronica."
She spun around to find Cassidy Casablancas at the next bank of lockers. He ambled up to her awkwardly. "Sorry about Dick."
She smiled politely, but coolly, trying to quell the anxiety that surged through her at the sight of him coming towards her. "You say that like you could control him."
He shrugged meekly. "He's not always so bad."
"Well, you'll excuse me if I don't share your opinion."
"But I guess you share my opinion about Logan though, right?" he said quietly as he walked by her, giving a nod to Mac.
Veronica turned back to Mac, who looked puzzled at the exchange she'd just witnessed. "Well, that wasn't the least bit creepifying."
"Dick Casablancas's little brother." Veronica said, shrugging, more for her sake than Mac's.
Mac grimaced. "Huh. Too bad. Before that, I thought he was kinda cute."
"Let that be a warning to ya. Hey, was Clemmons looking for me?"
Mac shrugged. "He didn't care what the fight was about and he seemed satisfied with my explanation."
"You continue to rock, my friend. I'm bailing for the day." She jerked her thumb towards the exit, as she started to back away.
"Right. Well, if you happen to run into any of my history classmates in your truancy --"
"Hey! Zip it!" Veronica sternly cautioned with a finger to her grinning lips, then waved at Mac before blending in with the crowds of kids on their way to classes, while she made her way out the doors to the parking lot.
----------
"So what do you think?" Logan asked, arms spread, as Veronica got out of her car at the deserted beach.
She shoved her hands in her coat pockets for warmth and stood back, taking in the brand spanking new vehicle he stood by. "It's yellow."
Logan's arms dropped dejectedly. "That's it?"
"It's big and yellow?" she tried hopefully as she neared him.
"You don't like it," he said, sighing.
"I didn't say that. I just meant it's -- I don't know -- flashy? I mean, the SUV itself is okay. Very appropriate for the rugged terrain of Neptune." She nudged him with her shoulder.
"Shut up," he replied, his eyes betraying his amusement. She nudged him again with a grin and this time he caught her before she could pull back and held her against him.
"Why yellow?"
"You mean you don't know that Aaron Echolls' least favourite colour is yellow? I'm sure he mentioned it on Inside the Actor's Studio. Isn't that one of the questions? It just gives me a little thrill knowing that whenever my dad goes anywhere near our driveway, something this big and this yellow will be right there for him to see."
Veronica shook her head, laughing with him, trying to hide the worry that knotted in her gut every time Logan mentioned his father. Despite trying to hide any sign of pity or fear for him that she knew he'd despise, all she could picture was Aaron looming over Logan with his hand raised.
She changed the subject. "So I can see that you like it. Why's it so important that I like it?"
"Because you're the girl I want to impress."
Veronica searched his eyes, waiting for a punchline. When none came, she gave him a shy, contented smile. She still didn't expect him to be so sweet. She knew he could be, she'd just never seen it directed at her. She decided she could get used to this, while ignoring the insistent voice in her head that continued to remind her of how suddenly Logan could turn on her -- had turned on her -- and all his recent transgressions with her.
He's changed, she reasoned, we both have. "Well then. I guess I like it." She reached up and laced her fingers behind his neck, rocking up to kiss him.
"So it's your turn for show and tell. Think you'll have better luck?"
"Oh, probably. You've wanted this for a while now."
"Well, well, well. Veronica Mars!" His hands around her waist yanked her against him.
She let go of him and smacked him in the arm. "I told you, it's not like that!" She reached into her messenger bag and pulled out an envelope and passed it to Logan.
Logan frowned as he scanned the envelope. "GenetiFind Labs? Addressed to Erica Cartman?"
"You didn't think I'd use my real name, did you? Cute, huh? His mom's a Liane, too."
"You got the test done? But how? You left Jake's brush --"
"I happen to live with the other candidate." Keith barely questioned her when she asked for a blood sample for extra credit in health class. It worried her that her lies to him were becoming more frequent. And it worried her even more how much more frequent they might become having the test results now.
"So this is it. This'll say whether your dad is your dad. But you haven't opened it." He held the envelope out to her to take back.
She pushed his hand back to him. "I want you to."
Logan blinked in confusion. "Me? Veronica, this is --"
She held her hand up to stop him. "I'm still not ready. I thought I was until this showed up. God, I even put a rush on it, thinking I wouldn't change my mind. And here I am scared of what a piece of paper says." She laughed, shaking her head. "Everything you said is true though. And I know it's important, not just to me. So I want you to hold on to this until I am ready. You can, you know, look if you want -- later, of course, when I'm not around."
Logan stared dumbfounded at the envelope. "Look, Logan, I know this is weird. It's not every day that your girlfriend who hasn't even had a first date with you asks you to hold on to her paternity tests. But regardless of the last few months, you've been my friend since forever and you're the one person in my whole life that could look at that paper and you wouldn't treat me any differently knowing the results. Do you understand?"
There was that shy sweet grin again, the one that made Veronica wonder how she never saw it before. "Yeah, I think I do," he said. He tucked the envelope into his inside pocket before he looped an arm around her waist and drew her to him, kissing her.
Looking up at him hopefully, she asked, "So do I win show and tell?"
"What kind of kindergarten class were you in? Nobody wins show and tell. Besides, you haven't seen the nice big wide backseat yet."
"But you're impressed, right?"
"This wasn't supposed to be a competition, you know. And most girls would find it romantic that a boy was trying to impress them."
"Most girls haven't heard you belch the alphabet."
"We were thirteen and excuse the fuck out of me for thinking everybody would be impressed by that."
"I was -- then. But you know, I'm a simple girl with simple needs. And there's something else you've got that would impress me more."
"Oh yeah?" he said, raising his eyebrows hopefully.
"Yep. It's so simple and free, too. I'm surprised you haven't thought of it yet," she said, feigning innocence.
"Veronica --" There was warning in his voice as he pulled her arms from him.
"Just tell me the truth, Logan."
"We've been over this, Veronica." He pressed his splayed fingers to his temples in frustration.
Veronica crossed her arms. "Yes. If by 'over this' you mean you've told me nothing and asked me to trust you." She didn't mention how he pleaded with her that night his car was blown up. And she agreed then, or at least didn't refuse because she was too worried about him being in shock and possibly having a concussion.
"Fuck." Logan spat out, stalking towards the beach. "I told you what happened the morning I came back from Mexico and what happened the rest of that day. You said you believed me."
Veronica followed. "I do believe you. And I'm going to find that note you left Lilly, and I'm going to find someone who saw you."
Logan was shaking his head, but she continued, "What I want you to tell me is why Beaver is blackmailing you and why he wanted to break us up and why he's trying to make sure we stay apart."
Logan spun around, stopping abruptly. "What do you mean?"
"He came up to me at school just before I left to meet you here."
Concern replaced anger in his voice. "Did he threaten you?"
Veronica shook her head. "He just apologized for Dick and reminded me about what he said about you in Mexico."
Logan grabbed her arm, and pulled her to him. "I'm sorry. I know --"
He was cut off by the roar of an approaching motorcycle.
"If it ain't the little lovebirds sneakin' around," Weevil said sarcastically after taking off his helmet. He strode over to where they stood.
Logan smirked. "Cheep, cheep."
"Seeings how our little deal just got me suspended, I wouldn't be jokin' around so cavalier like."
Veronica grimaced. "Sorry about that."
"You got nothin' to be sorry about, V. Casablancas had it comin'. In that respect, it was worth it. You," Weevil pointed at Logan, "on the other hand -- you got something to say to me? You say it to me. Not Felix. Not Hector. Got that?"
Logan shrugged. "What can I say? You all look alike."
Veronica rolled her eyes at Logan's insolence, hoping Weevil wouldn't take him seriously. Weevil didn't seem to notice. "You're not gettin' out of this, you know. I've held up my end. No one comes near her. Now you hold up your end."
"Look, man. Can we talk about this later?" Logan asked, pointedly nodding his head towards Veronica.
"No, man, we talk about this now. The bum fight goes on."
"Bum fight?" Veronica turned to Logan. "What's he talking about?"
"Nothing. Let's go somewhere else." Logan moved to block her view of Weevil and tried to push her back towards their cars.
Weevil called after them. "You mean, your precious rich boy here didn't tell you about arranging homeless boxing matches? And here I thought you were gonna be the ring girl. Oh whoops! Was it gonna be a surprise? My bad."
Veronica stopped dead and looked up at Logan for an answer. He looked away guiltily.
"Thanks a lot, Weevs," Logan said, saluting him.
Weevil grinned. "Don't mention it, bro. Like I said, show goes on."
"Fine. It goes on, but it goes on without me. Okay?"
Weevil marched into Logan's space. "No, not okay!" he spat. "You're the one who started and organized the whole damn thing. I'm takin' the bets, but you're the one who's bringin' in the 09er dollars. They won't deal wit' me without you. So it goes on wit' you 'cause otherwise I get nothin' out of this arrangement. Less even when I got the Sheriff on my fuckin' ass about your inability to keep your vehicle. Now who gave him that idea?"
Logan didn't back down. "It's my fault your reputation precedes you? I didn't tell Lamb a fucking thing other than my car was stolen. I can't help it if he jumps to the easiest and most probable conclusions."
"Enough!" Veronica said, stepping between them. She turned to Weevil. "Logan didn't say anything to Lamb. He didn't imply anything about the PCH Club. I was there. And you know Lamb doesn't have anything on you, otherwise he'd have taken you in by now."
"He doesn't have to take any of us in. After Rich Daddy Echolls' latest performance, Lamb's assigned one of his clowns to tail us whenever we ain't in school. And even though I don't have any faith in Neptune's finest, it still tends to severely limit business."
Logan snorted. "Wow. The hubcap trade is that lucrative these days?"
Veronica frowned, lost in thought for a moment as the boys volleyed insults back and forth. When she turned her attention back to them, they were shouting again, fingers pointing in each other's face. She separated them again, asking Weevil, "Where were you the night Logan's SUV was taken?"
"Are you accusin' me --"
Veronica waved him off. "I'm asking you for your alibi because I'm about to offer you a deal of my own."
"And what do you think you can do for me, baby? 'Cause your secret boyfriend here probably won't wanna watch any of the ideas I got in mind." Weevil leered at her.
Veronica's arm shot out, halting Logan before he launched himself at Weevil. Veronica continued to stare at Weevil indifferently. "Stop. You're gonna make me fall in love with you. Where were you?"
Weevil shrugged. "I may have been doing some business that night with a mechanic at one of the garages in the more stuck-up parts of town who like to get parts for luxury cars at a discount. So you can see why I'm not anticipatin' much of an alibi."
Logan chuckled. "Oh my God, the hubcaps thing really wasn't a joke to you."
"And maybe I'll find out how much yours are worth on that dope new ride daddy gave you!"
Veronica, clearly exasperated asked, "Are we through with the sweet talkin' here, boys? Okay, Weevil, I'll get you an alibi and get Lamb off your case, and in return Logan finds you a new 09er manager for the bum fights and he can bow out honourably." She levelled Logan with a disdainful glare as she emphasized, then turned back to Weevil and asked, "Deal?"
Weevil took a moment to gauge her sincerity before he answered with amusement, "Deal."
"Good. Give me the name of the garage and the mechanic and I'll take care of the rest." Veronica dug out a pen and notebook from her bag and handed them to Weevil.
"This'll be somethin' if you pull this off, V," he said as he wrote.
"Yep. And impressing the leader of a biker gang is every girl's dream come true," she said, taking back the pen and notebook. "Give me a couple of days."
Weevil nodded to her, then trudged back to his bike, leaving her alone again with Logan. She waited until she could no longer hear the rumble of Weevil's bike before she even looked at Logan again.
"Shouldn't be too hard for you to find someone depraved enough to replace you, should it?" she asked, crossing her arms. She found it surprising that the walls she had built for situations like this weren't going up as easily as they used to. But then she hadn't felt let down like this in a long time.
"Veronica. Just listen, okay?" His hands were up, already surrendering. "I was trying to get out of it -- God. Does that fucking count for anything?"
Veronica swallowed. She wanted desperately to give him an out. "It does if you were getting out for the right reasons."
"Are you the right reason?" he asked, his voice cracking earnestly.
It might not have been exactly what she wanted to hear, but it was damn near close, and she felt her willpower waver. Until that nagging voice insisted that this was the problem -- that she still can't resolve the cute, charming guy standing before her trying to win her over with the cruel boy who would humiliate her on a daily basis, and exploit the homeless.
Logan was still looking at her expectantly, but she shook her head, backing away from him. "I -- I can't deal with this right now, Logan. I've got work to do." She ran to her car and saw him in the rearview mirror watching as she drove away.
----------
After a background check, Veronica figured this little showdown would go fairly smoothly. But it didn't stop her from bringing Backup along for the ride.
"Didn't think I'd ever be coming back here," she muttered. She swallowed thickly, steeling her nerve before she pulled Backup out of the car and walked through the open bay door of Symbolic Motor Car Company.
"Excuse me?" she called out.
From around a toolbox, a bald man in overalls appeared, wiping his hands on a rag. "Can I help you?"
Recognizing him, Veronica approached and asked, "Curly Moran, right?"
"Yeah," he said, squinting at her. "You're a friend of the Echolls kid, right? The one with the LeBaron. If you're here about your car again, I can't help you. We only service luxury cars. I was just doing a favour for the Echollses."
"And it was much appreciated. She's still purring, rest assured. I'm actually here to talk to you about Weevil Navarro."
Curly frowned. "Sorry. Don't know the name."
Veronica wrinkled her nose in doubt. "Well, here's the thing. He says you do. And he says that the night the Echolls kid's SUV was stolen, you're his alibi."
Curly shook his head with annoyance. "Maybe that's true. And maybe it isn't. But I don't have to say nothing one way or the other. And I don't plan to. So you can be on your way now, girl." He waved her off.
Veronica didn't move, even though every instinct was telling her to get out of there. "You know, I get it. A guy who had a career like yours reduced to working on cars of the people he helped make famous. I can see why you'd be making a buck any way you can. And a guy who had a rap sheet like yours --"
"And you just answered your own question about why I'm not gonna stick my neck out for that greasy little turd. How's it gonna look to everybody if they know I'm associating with the local biker gang? Even a twat like Lamb will eventually put two and two together."
She stood ramrod straight, trying to look more confident than she was feeling. "Yes, but how much worse is it going to look when he finds out you've also been supplying minors with incendiary devices? And how's it going to look when one of those devices was used to blow up Logan Echolls' SUV when they eventually find its remains?"
"What are you talking about?" Curly's frown deepened.
"Oh, I think you know exactly what I'm talking about. Logan's SUV was blown up, Curly, and you're a former stunt coordinator with a specialty in explosives. You had two kids in here putting together detonators at that workbench." She pointed to a table in the corner with his name on it. "So putting two and two together -- why, that makes you complicit."
He genuinely looked surprised at her accusations, but recovered quickly to snarl at her. "You can't prove any of that!"
A low growl emanated from Backup, making his displeasure known at a raised voice at his mistress. Curly wisely backed off a step.
Veronica innocently continued. "Do you really think in this time of heightened homeland security that authorities won't figure out where the parts for the bomb that blew up a movie star's son's car came from?"
Curly eyed her irately. "What do you want?"
"Simple. An alibi for Weevil the night that Logan's car was taken. I mean, you won't be lying. He was with you."
"And just what am I supposed to say we were doing?"
Veronica shrugged. "Tea party? Bald dude support group? Be creative." She tugged Backup's leash, and on her way back out the bay door, said, "Ten o'clock, tomorrow morning at the Sheriff's Department. Or I'll have a story of my own for that twat Lamb."
Once outside, she took a couple of deep breaths, trying to come down. But she wasn't even given a moment of relief when she was surprised by another voice. "What are you doing here?"
"God, Logan, you scared the crap out of me." She clutched her chest. "Are you following me?"
Logan frowned. "You left me high and dry yesterday and ignore my calls and you think I'm gonna follow you around today? I'm here to set up detailing on my car." There was a definite edge to his voice. He knelt down to pat Backup. Veronica was surprised to find herself jealous of the attention he was giving the dog. But she assumed that was the point.
"You're mad? Two words, Logan: Bum fights."
Logan straightened up. "And I told you and that tattooed chihuahua, I'm out. Sean's taking it over. Guy gets chauffeured to school every day and he can never resist making a buck no matter how. So you can quit throwing that in my face."
"But it was your stupid idea, Logan."
Logan shoved his hands in his pockets. "That was before, when I didn't give a shit what anybody thought of me. When you being disappointed in me was the last thing I cared about."
"And now?"
Suddenly, his shoes were very interesting to him. "Now, I can't take the way you're looking at me."
A breath hitched in her chest, and she glanced away uncomfortably. "I'm -- I'm just trying to figure this out Logan."
"Christ, Veronica, do you think that maybe we could figure it out together?"
She turned back to him, finding him watching her expectantly. The intensity, apprehension, and need she saw there shook her and she couldn't help saying, "Yeah."
She let him pull her into an embrace, silently begging him not to make her regret her capitulation. Behind her, tires squealed and the distraction gave her a reason to pull away. They both looked out towards the road, but the car was already gone.
Veronica said, "I've gotta go. Call me and we'll do something this weekend."
Logan grimaced. "Uh, yeah. Any time except Saturday afternoon. Duncan wouldn't give up about the double date thing."
Veronica glumly replied, "Right. It's okay. I said you should go. Just don't fall in love with Pam. And call me after, okay?" She pecked him on the cheek and started to go.
Logan grabbed her arm. "Hey, hang on. You didn't tell me what you were doing here."
"Taking care of Weevil's alibi."
"You did this alone? I thought you were going to bring Weevil with you or me when you stopped being mad at me."
Veronica waved him off. "I handled it. I had Backup." She gestured to her dog and grinned at him winningly.
Logan's mouth was set in a grim line. "Cute."
"That's me." She shrugged sweetly with a tilt of her head as she walked away.
----------
"'Bout time," Veronica muttered as Curly Moran came through the doors of the Sheriff's Department. "Some of us have exams to study for, you know."
Curly rolled his eyes. "You've got some weird pastimes, girl. Let's just get this over with."
They went up to the reception desk. Veronica dinged the bell and waited as Deputy Sacks ambled over. "Hey Veronica."
"Deputy. I've got a gentleman who'd like to make a statement in regards to Eli Navarro's whereabouts the night Logan Echolls' SUV was stolen."
"Uh...okay." Sacks looked around confused. "You're gonna have to wait a bit though. Sheriff's gonna want to handle this one himself and he's in with someone right now."
As if on cue, Cliff McCormack walked out of Lamb's office still talking "Sheriff, regardless of my client's notorious crime, he has rights and not allowing him access to proper medical attention is a violation --"
"Had to be sure he wasn't faking. You know, maybe trying to make an escape attempt." Lamb shrugged.
One of Cliff's eyebrows rose skeptically. "Doubled over and vomiting blood wasn't enough of a sign that he wasn't faking? Just get him a doctor, or I'm sure the media won't hesitate to run with the story about how the Sheriff mistreats inmates in his custody."
Lamb gave Cliff a thumbs up, then made a face at him as soon as his back was turned.
Meanwhile, Veronica's mind was whirring with the possibilities, and she had to confirm her suspicions. Veronica turned to Curly and said, "Hang on. I've gotta talk to that guy."
She ran to catch Cliff in the hallway, calling after him.
"Veronica! Lovely portfolio of the ADA schtupping her gardener. Really helped me out with that harassment case. I had the one that showed her birthmark shaped like Michigan blown up to poster size. It's in my office," he said proudly.
"I don't remember any birthmark."
"Well, let's just say it wasn't on her face." Cliff smirked.
Veronica winced briefly. "Right. Awesome. Anyway, Cliff, back there with Lamb, you were talking about your sick client --"
"Ah yes. Heard that did you? Pretty good bluff, huh? I can't actually take any story to the media or he'll fire me. He doesn't want it getting out that he's sick. Guess it would ruin the crazy tough guy image he's trying to cultivate." Cliff rolled his eyes.
"Who is it?"
"Can't tell ya, kiddo. Attorney-client yadda yadda yadda. Or something like that. Law school was so long ago," he said with a wistful sigh. "But it shouldn't be too hard for a junior detective to guess who it could be. Besides, I don't have that many clients facing a murder charge."
Nope. Just one: Lilly's alleged killer, Abel Koontz.
Part 15
Author: invida
Characters: Veronica, Logan, Ensemble
Word Count: 6220
Rating: R
Spoilers: knowledge up to 2x22
Timeline: goes AU from the Pomroy party, and a few liberties are taken with the timing of certain events. See Author's Notes for more details.
Disclaimer: I know the law, and the law would win.
Summary: if Logan hadn't left with the easy freshman that night.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to
aud_woman_in and afrocurl for all the help!Previous Parts
"God, I've missed you," Veronica blurted out breathlessly between kisses.
Logan drew back, eying her with surprise. It was almost enough for her to take her declaration back or to make some smart ass remark to cover her vulnerability. But there was no returning to denial through arm punches and snarky comments to hide what she was feeling, no matter how turbulent or confusing. Two threats on his life in two days had seen to the end of that. Faced with very real fear of losing him brought out her possessiveness. And though their circumstances were inopportune, she'd lost enough people in the last few months; being coy and resigned was something she didn't feel she had time for anymore despite the nagging voice in her head that tried to remind her about Logan's past misdeeds. But that didn't mean she was going to tell him any of that. So she merely shrugged helplessly when he continued to study her.
He shyly and sweetly grinned back at her, and it was almost enough for her to not regret saying anything. He tucked her hair behind her ear, then let his fingers dance down her neck and along her collarbone, causing her to shiver under his touch. She wasn't sure what it was that could turn such an adorable, coy smile into that devilishly smug smirk. All she knew was it warranted closer inspection.
"Yeah, this pretending to be broken up thing? Not my idea," Logan whispered despite being in an empty classroom.
She gaped at him in mock protest and the lull gave Logan the opportunity to hoist her up on top of a desk. He insinuated himself between her knees as she urgently tugged him by the shirt collar into another kiss.
"But if it makes you this frisky," he murmured against her mouth, "I won't complain."
She felt herself blush even more. "Well, what did you expect? I haven't seen you in days except at school where we can't --" She gasped, feeling his lips kneading the skin just below her ear, his hands warm and travelling up her thighs, "--do this. And then you ditched me last night-"
He pulled back, wounded at her dig. "I told you --"
"I know, I know. I got your text and watched the news. And the blow-by-blow e-mail you sent later was particularly droll." Veronica leaned forward, bringing him back to her with another kiss. "But watching you on TV, in the background at a press conference, looking all petulant and miserable really doesn't do it for me. I'd much rather you were petulant and miserable in my presence."
"Tough. In your presence, I'm so cheerful, I'm practically giddy." Logan held his hands up and wiggled his fingers daintily.
"Really? You were pretty miserable looking just a few minutes ago in the quad."
"You were watching me?" Logan gasped teasingly. "Where people could've seen you? What happened to 'someone's always watching'?"
"Shut up." She smacked his chest lightly. "At least I wasn't being obvious about it, unlike some people. I'm surprised everyone around you didn't notice."
"Some of them did --"
"Did Duncan?" she asked impulsively. When Logan's face dropped, she added reassuringly, "I just meant that I saw you getting kinda agitated with him when he sat down. I don't want you setting him off and getting hurt again."
His features relaxed. He cupped her face and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry that pretty little head of yours. Now that I know he's certifiable, I can handle him."
"So he really doesn't remember?"
Logan shrugged. "If it's an act, he hasn't slipped yet."
She shook her head. "That's so weird. I mean, what the hell is wrong with him? He freaks out, attacks you, passes out and then can't remember any of it?"
"No, what's weird is that it wasn't the first time he's done that," he said in her ear as he resumed his assault on her neck.
"He attacked you before that?" Veronica asked incredulously, trying to get a bearing on her thoughts while he was doing that to her neck. It was unbelievable to her that anyone could get the upper hand on Logan once, never mind twice.
"Not me. Jake."
"Wait. He attacked his dad, too? Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, pushing him back.
"It was before. I was pissed with you then." He glanced down momentarily as he added, "Lilly had just broken up with me."
Surprised, she held her hands up to stop him as he tried to move in again. "That long ago?"
He sighed in frustration, finally realizing the moment was gone and backed up. "Yeah. You know, when you guys broke up."
She hopped down from the desk and got in front of him before he could turn away. "Hey, I'm just trying to figure out what all this means."
She held out her hand to him apologetically. He reluctantly took it. She was getting tired of having to defend herself whenever he'd get sullen at the mention of Duncan. It wasn't like she still loved Duncan that way any more obviously. She couldn't. But Duncan was a huge part of the intrigue that was their lives now. They couldn't help talking about him. Besides, she would never get bent out of shape if he started talking about Lilly. Of course, when she really thought about it, Logan almost never talked to her about Lilly anymore.
Logan was looking down at their entwined hands. "Well, what it means for the time being is that he still doesn't know that you know about Jake and your mom, or Shelly's party. And he and I are best buds again. In fact, we're such good pals, he wants me to go on a double date with him Saturday," he said nonchalantly.
Stunned, Veronica yanked his hand hard to get his attention. "Excuse me? Who with?"
"Meg for him and Pam for me."
Veronica frowned. "Meg? Didn't she just break up with Cole? Like, yesterday?"
Logan returned her frown. "Umm...The correct response there should have been insane jealousy over your boyfriend."
"Excuse me? Did you need another demonstration of the violent reaction I had before I heard who your potential date was? Or was I supposed to rip your arm out of your socket like a wookiee?"
He closed his eyes and sighed. "God. There is nothing hotter than angry nerd talk. Nothing."
She rolled her eyes. "Am I really supposed to be jealous of a girl who is -- how did you once so colourfully put it -- such a sycophantic uptight bitch, she probably uses sanitation wipes on every 09er ass before she kisses? If you want me in a possessive hissy fit, at least start with someone I know you can stand."
"So if I get set up with a better girl, promise to be jealous then?"
"Just try and stop me from clawing her eyes out. So are you going to complete Duncan's happy foursome?"
Logan shrugged. "I dunno. Like you said, I do hate Pam."
"But if you do go, it solidifies our cover."
"But if I don't, I can spend more time with you this weekend."
"My dad's around this weekend."
He slapped his hand to his chest sarcastically. "I'm shocked that you immediately thought my intentions were lascivious. We'll be studying, of course. We do have a chemistry final next week."
"Uh huh. I knew you were just with me for my brains."
"Yes, big sexy brains. Mmm, you know, hot zombie talk might just win out over hot nerd talk." He kissed the tip of her nose. "So what do I do if Pam tries to sully my virtue?"
"You have virtue left to sully?" she quipped. "You'll handle it. I'm sure you've had to let down plenty of horrible girls in your time." She glanced at the clock in the room. "C'mon. Lunch is almost over, we're gonna get caught in here." She started walking towards the door.
Logan tugged her back. "Let's skip."
She shook her head. "We can't. When neither of us show up to classes this afternoon, that'll be just as bad as us getting caught in here."
"C'mon, Veronica. It's the last week of classes. No one's showing up. And no one'll miss us. And you know chemistry like this –" he took her hand and kissed the back of it gently. "And like you said, we haven't seen each other in days. Besides, I got something I wanna show you."
"What is it?" she asked excitedly. When he did nothing but shrug, she sighed. "Damn you, appealing to my curiosity. Okay. I've got something I want to show you, too."
His eyebrows rose hopefully as he looked her up and down. She smacked his arm. "Mind out of the gutter, mister, or you're going to be tremendously disappointed." She peeked out the door, making sure no one in the hall would notice them. "I'll go first. See you at Dog Beach in twenty?"
He nodded and she pecked him on the cheek before she ducked out the door and made her way down the hall. She didn't dare look back and risk drawing attention to the classroom she just left in case Logan was leaving.
Fortunately, a diversion in the form of Mac stepping out of the Vice Principal's office appeared.
"I hope you got a good right cross in," Veronica said, getting Mac's attention.
Mac pulled her down the hall away from the office. "What the hell happened to you?"
"I stopped, dropped, and rolled? Wait. That's fire. Not fights. I always get those two mixed up. They begin with the same letters."
"Biggest fight of the school year breaks out because of you, then you disappear and your only answer is a joke?" Mac looked her up and down. "Ah."
"Ah, meaning what?" Veronica asked self consciously, wondering what she'd seen.
"Ah meaning a boy must be involved," Mac answered matter-of-factly.
Veronica shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure. You just get all flushed, your hair gets mussed, and your lipstick smears for no reason."
Veronica's fingers involuntarily touched her lips, glaring at an amused Mac who continued to tease her. "And if I go back in the general direction from where you came, I won't find any boy stealthily sneaking out of any empty classrooms or broom closets." Mac turned and started for her locker. "And certainly not any particular boy. Especially not any particular boy that you had a virtual staring contest with at lunch before bedlam broke out." She opened up her locker and started rummaging.
Veronica tried to look blasé. "You are imagining things. Letting yourself get swept away by gossip and far-fetched slander. And here I thought you were above all the rumours around this stupid school."
"If I believed any of the rumours I would have said boys, as well as teachers, janitorial staff and the vending machine delivery guy. I said boy. One boy. One dreamy boy who just happens to --"
Veronica pointed at Mac. "Finish that and I'll rescind my offer to do a more thorough investigation of your parents," she said sternly.
Mac snorted and waved her off. "Idle threat. If there's one thing I've learned it's that you like this kinda thing too much."
Veronica sighed. "True dat. You're absolutely sure you want to do this?"
"You saw the test results, Veronica. I'm not their kid. Neither one of them is my real parent. Which, while that explains a lot, still leaves me wondering where the hell I came from. Do you know what that's like?"
In a manner of speaking, Veronica thought, but just gave Mac a sympathetic arm squeeze.
"Hey Veronica."
She spun around to find Cassidy Casablancas at the next bank of lockers. He ambled up to her awkwardly. "Sorry about Dick."
She smiled politely, but coolly, trying to quell the anxiety that surged through her at the sight of him coming towards her. "You say that like you could control him."
He shrugged meekly. "He's not always so bad."
"Well, you'll excuse me if I don't share your opinion."
"But I guess you share my opinion about Logan though, right?" he said quietly as he walked by her, giving a nod to Mac.
Veronica turned back to Mac, who looked puzzled at the exchange she'd just witnessed. "Well, that wasn't the least bit creepifying."
"Dick Casablancas's little brother." Veronica said, shrugging, more for her sake than Mac's.
Mac grimaced. "Huh. Too bad. Before that, I thought he was kinda cute."
"Let that be a warning to ya. Hey, was Clemmons looking for me?"
Mac shrugged. "He didn't care what the fight was about and he seemed satisfied with my explanation."
"You continue to rock, my friend. I'm bailing for the day." She jerked her thumb towards the exit, as she started to back away.
"Right. Well, if you happen to run into any of my history classmates in your truancy --"
"Hey! Zip it!" Veronica sternly cautioned with a finger to her grinning lips, then waved at Mac before blending in with the crowds of kids on their way to classes, while she made her way out the doors to the parking lot.
----------
"So what do you think?" Logan asked, arms spread, as Veronica got out of her car at the deserted beach.
She shoved her hands in her coat pockets for warmth and stood back, taking in the brand spanking new vehicle he stood by. "It's yellow."
Logan's arms dropped dejectedly. "That's it?"
"It's big and yellow?" she tried hopefully as she neared him.
"You don't like it," he said, sighing.
"I didn't say that. I just meant it's -- I don't know -- flashy? I mean, the SUV itself is okay. Very appropriate for the rugged terrain of Neptune." She nudged him with her shoulder.
"Shut up," he replied, his eyes betraying his amusement. She nudged him again with a grin and this time he caught her before she could pull back and held her against him.
"Why yellow?"
"You mean you don't know that Aaron Echolls' least favourite colour is yellow? I'm sure he mentioned it on Inside the Actor's Studio. Isn't that one of the questions? It just gives me a little thrill knowing that whenever my dad goes anywhere near our driveway, something this big and this yellow will be right there for him to see."
Veronica shook her head, laughing with him, trying to hide the worry that knotted in her gut every time Logan mentioned his father. Despite trying to hide any sign of pity or fear for him that she knew he'd despise, all she could picture was Aaron looming over Logan with his hand raised.
She changed the subject. "So I can see that you like it. Why's it so important that I like it?"
"Because you're the girl I want to impress."
Veronica searched his eyes, waiting for a punchline. When none came, she gave him a shy, contented smile. She still didn't expect him to be so sweet. She knew he could be, she'd just never seen it directed at her. She decided she could get used to this, while ignoring the insistent voice in her head that continued to remind her of how suddenly Logan could turn on her -- had turned on her -- and all his recent transgressions with her.
He's changed, she reasoned, we both have. "Well then. I guess I like it." She reached up and laced her fingers behind his neck, rocking up to kiss him.
"So it's your turn for show and tell. Think you'll have better luck?"
"Oh, probably. You've wanted this for a while now."
"Well, well, well. Veronica Mars!" His hands around her waist yanked her against him.
She let go of him and smacked him in the arm. "I told you, it's not like that!" She reached into her messenger bag and pulled out an envelope and passed it to Logan.
Logan frowned as he scanned the envelope. "GenetiFind Labs? Addressed to Erica Cartman?"
"You didn't think I'd use my real name, did you? Cute, huh? His mom's a Liane, too."
"You got the test done? But how? You left Jake's brush --"
"I happen to live with the other candidate." Keith barely questioned her when she asked for a blood sample for extra credit in health class. It worried her that her lies to him were becoming more frequent. And it worried her even more how much more frequent they might become having the test results now.
"So this is it. This'll say whether your dad is your dad. But you haven't opened it." He held the envelope out to her to take back.
She pushed his hand back to him. "I want you to."
Logan blinked in confusion. "Me? Veronica, this is --"
She held her hand up to stop him. "I'm still not ready. I thought I was until this showed up. God, I even put a rush on it, thinking I wouldn't change my mind. And here I am scared of what a piece of paper says." She laughed, shaking her head. "Everything you said is true though. And I know it's important, not just to me. So I want you to hold on to this until I am ready. You can, you know, look if you want -- later, of course, when I'm not around."
Logan stared dumbfounded at the envelope. "Look, Logan, I know this is weird. It's not every day that your girlfriend who hasn't even had a first date with you asks you to hold on to her paternity tests. But regardless of the last few months, you've been my friend since forever and you're the one person in my whole life that could look at that paper and you wouldn't treat me any differently knowing the results. Do you understand?"
There was that shy sweet grin again, the one that made Veronica wonder how she never saw it before. "Yeah, I think I do," he said. He tucked the envelope into his inside pocket before he looped an arm around her waist and drew her to him, kissing her.
Looking up at him hopefully, she asked, "So do I win show and tell?"
"What kind of kindergarten class were you in? Nobody wins show and tell. Besides, you haven't seen the nice big wide backseat yet."
"But you're impressed, right?"
"This wasn't supposed to be a competition, you know. And most girls would find it romantic that a boy was trying to impress them."
"Most girls haven't heard you belch the alphabet."
"We were thirteen and excuse the fuck out of me for thinking everybody would be impressed by that."
"I was -- then. But you know, I'm a simple girl with simple needs. And there's something else you've got that would impress me more."
"Oh yeah?" he said, raising his eyebrows hopefully.
"Yep. It's so simple and free, too. I'm surprised you haven't thought of it yet," she said, feigning innocence.
"Veronica --" There was warning in his voice as he pulled her arms from him.
"Just tell me the truth, Logan."
"We've been over this, Veronica." He pressed his splayed fingers to his temples in frustration.
Veronica crossed her arms. "Yes. If by 'over this' you mean you've told me nothing and asked me to trust you." She didn't mention how he pleaded with her that night his car was blown up. And she agreed then, or at least didn't refuse because she was too worried about him being in shock and possibly having a concussion.
"Fuck." Logan spat out, stalking towards the beach. "I told you what happened the morning I came back from Mexico and what happened the rest of that day. You said you believed me."
Veronica followed. "I do believe you. And I'm going to find that note you left Lilly, and I'm going to find someone who saw you."
Logan was shaking his head, but she continued, "What I want you to tell me is why Beaver is blackmailing you and why he wanted to break us up and why he's trying to make sure we stay apart."
Logan spun around, stopping abruptly. "What do you mean?"
"He came up to me at school just before I left to meet you here."
Concern replaced anger in his voice. "Did he threaten you?"
Veronica shook her head. "He just apologized for Dick and reminded me about what he said about you in Mexico."
Logan grabbed her arm, and pulled her to him. "I'm sorry. I know --"
He was cut off by the roar of an approaching motorcycle.
"If it ain't the little lovebirds sneakin' around," Weevil said sarcastically after taking off his helmet. He strode over to where they stood.
Logan smirked. "Cheep, cheep."
"Seeings how our little deal just got me suspended, I wouldn't be jokin' around so cavalier like."
Veronica grimaced. "Sorry about that."
"You got nothin' to be sorry about, V. Casablancas had it comin'. In that respect, it was worth it. You," Weevil pointed at Logan, "on the other hand -- you got something to say to me? You say it to me. Not Felix. Not Hector. Got that?"
Logan shrugged. "What can I say? You all look alike."
Veronica rolled her eyes at Logan's insolence, hoping Weevil wouldn't take him seriously. Weevil didn't seem to notice. "You're not gettin' out of this, you know. I've held up my end. No one comes near her. Now you hold up your end."
"Look, man. Can we talk about this later?" Logan asked, pointedly nodding his head towards Veronica.
"No, man, we talk about this now. The bum fight goes on."
"Bum fight?" Veronica turned to Logan. "What's he talking about?"
"Nothing. Let's go somewhere else." Logan moved to block her view of Weevil and tried to push her back towards their cars.
Weevil called after them. "You mean, your precious rich boy here didn't tell you about arranging homeless boxing matches? And here I thought you were gonna be the ring girl. Oh whoops! Was it gonna be a surprise? My bad."
Veronica stopped dead and looked up at Logan for an answer. He looked away guiltily.
"Thanks a lot, Weevs," Logan said, saluting him.
Weevil grinned. "Don't mention it, bro. Like I said, show goes on."
"Fine. It goes on, but it goes on without me. Okay?"
Weevil marched into Logan's space. "No, not okay!" he spat. "You're the one who started and organized the whole damn thing. I'm takin' the bets, but you're the one who's bringin' in the 09er dollars. They won't deal wit' me without you. So it goes on wit' you 'cause otherwise I get nothin' out of this arrangement. Less even when I got the Sheriff on my fuckin' ass about your inability to keep your vehicle. Now who gave him that idea?"
Logan didn't back down. "It's my fault your reputation precedes you? I didn't tell Lamb a fucking thing other than my car was stolen. I can't help it if he jumps to the easiest and most probable conclusions."
"Enough!" Veronica said, stepping between them. She turned to Weevil. "Logan didn't say anything to Lamb. He didn't imply anything about the PCH Club. I was there. And you know Lamb doesn't have anything on you, otherwise he'd have taken you in by now."
"He doesn't have to take any of us in. After Rich Daddy Echolls' latest performance, Lamb's assigned one of his clowns to tail us whenever we ain't in school. And even though I don't have any faith in Neptune's finest, it still tends to severely limit business."
Logan snorted. "Wow. The hubcap trade is that lucrative these days?"
Veronica frowned, lost in thought for a moment as the boys volleyed insults back and forth. When she turned her attention back to them, they were shouting again, fingers pointing in each other's face. She separated them again, asking Weevil, "Where were you the night Logan's SUV was taken?"
"Are you accusin' me --"
Veronica waved him off. "I'm asking you for your alibi because I'm about to offer you a deal of my own."
"And what do you think you can do for me, baby? 'Cause your secret boyfriend here probably won't wanna watch any of the ideas I got in mind." Weevil leered at her.
Veronica's arm shot out, halting Logan before he launched himself at Weevil. Veronica continued to stare at Weevil indifferently. "Stop. You're gonna make me fall in love with you. Where were you?"
Weevil shrugged. "I may have been doing some business that night with a mechanic at one of the garages in the more stuck-up parts of town who like to get parts for luxury cars at a discount. So you can see why I'm not anticipatin' much of an alibi."
Logan chuckled. "Oh my God, the hubcaps thing really wasn't a joke to you."
"And maybe I'll find out how much yours are worth on that dope new ride daddy gave you!"
Veronica, clearly exasperated asked, "Are we through with the sweet talkin' here, boys? Okay, Weevil, I'll get you an alibi and get Lamb off your case, and in return Logan finds you a new 09er manager for the bum fights and he can bow out honourably." She levelled Logan with a disdainful glare as she emphasized, then turned back to Weevil and asked, "Deal?"
Weevil took a moment to gauge her sincerity before he answered with amusement, "Deal."
"Good. Give me the name of the garage and the mechanic and I'll take care of the rest." Veronica dug out a pen and notebook from her bag and handed them to Weevil.
"This'll be somethin' if you pull this off, V," he said as he wrote.
"Yep. And impressing the leader of a biker gang is every girl's dream come true," she said, taking back the pen and notebook. "Give me a couple of days."
Weevil nodded to her, then trudged back to his bike, leaving her alone again with Logan. She waited until she could no longer hear the rumble of Weevil's bike before she even looked at Logan again.
"Shouldn't be too hard for you to find someone depraved enough to replace you, should it?" she asked, crossing her arms. She found it surprising that the walls she had built for situations like this weren't going up as easily as they used to. But then she hadn't felt let down like this in a long time.
"Veronica. Just listen, okay?" His hands were up, already surrendering. "I was trying to get out of it -- God. Does that fucking count for anything?"
Veronica swallowed. She wanted desperately to give him an out. "It does if you were getting out for the right reasons."
"Are you the right reason?" he asked, his voice cracking earnestly.
It might not have been exactly what she wanted to hear, but it was damn near close, and she felt her willpower waver. Until that nagging voice insisted that this was the problem -- that she still can't resolve the cute, charming guy standing before her trying to win her over with the cruel boy who would humiliate her on a daily basis, and exploit the homeless.
Logan was still looking at her expectantly, but she shook her head, backing away from him. "I -- I can't deal with this right now, Logan. I've got work to do." She ran to her car and saw him in the rearview mirror watching as she drove away.
----------
After a background check, Veronica figured this little showdown would go fairly smoothly. But it didn't stop her from bringing Backup along for the ride.
"Didn't think I'd ever be coming back here," she muttered. She swallowed thickly, steeling her nerve before she pulled Backup out of the car and walked through the open bay door of Symbolic Motor Car Company.
"Excuse me?" she called out.
From around a toolbox, a bald man in overalls appeared, wiping his hands on a rag. "Can I help you?"
Recognizing him, Veronica approached and asked, "Curly Moran, right?"
"Yeah," he said, squinting at her. "You're a friend of the Echolls kid, right? The one with the LeBaron. If you're here about your car again, I can't help you. We only service luxury cars. I was just doing a favour for the Echollses."
"And it was much appreciated. She's still purring, rest assured. I'm actually here to talk to you about Weevil Navarro."
Curly frowned. "Sorry. Don't know the name."
Veronica wrinkled her nose in doubt. "Well, here's the thing. He says you do. And he says that the night the Echolls kid's SUV was stolen, you're his alibi."
Curly shook his head with annoyance. "Maybe that's true. And maybe it isn't. But I don't have to say nothing one way or the other. And I don't plan to. So you can be on your way now, girl." He waved her off.
Veronica didn't move, even though every instinct was telling her to get out of there. "You know, I get it. A guy who had a career like yours reduced to working on cars of the people he helped make famous. I can see why you'd be making a buck any way you can. And a guy who had a rap sheet like yours --"
"And you just answered your own question about why I'm not gonna stick my neck out for that greasy little turd. How's it gonna look to everybody if they know I'm associating with the local biker gang? Even a twat like Lamb will eventually put two and two together."
She stood ramrod straight, trying to look more confident than she was feeling. "Yes, but how much worse is it going to look when he finds out you've also been supplying minors with incendiary devices? And how's it going to look when one of those devices was used to blow up Logan Echolls' SUV when they eventually find its remains?"
"What are you talking about?" Curly's frown deepened.
"Oh, I think you know exactly what I'm talking about. Logan's SUV was blown up, Curly, and you're a former stunt coordinator with a specialty in explosives. You had two kids in here putting together detonators at that workbench." She pointed to a table in the corner with his name on it. "So putting two and two together -- why, that makes you complicit."
He genuinely looked surprised at her accusations, but recovered quickly to snarl at her. "You can't prove any of that!"
A low growl emanated from Backup, making his displeasure known at a raised voice at his mistress. Curly wisely backed off a step.
Veronica innocently continued. "Do you really think in this time of heightened homeland security that authorities won't figure out where the parts for the bomb that blew up a movie star's son's car came from?"
Curly eyed her irately. "What do you want?"
"Simple. An alibi for Weevil the night that Logan's car was taken. I mean, you won't be lying. He was with you."
"And just what am I supposed to say we were doing?"
Veronica shrugged. "Tea party? Bald dude support group? Be creative." She tugged Backup's leash, and on her way back out the bay door, said, "Ten o'clock, tomorrow morning at the Sheriff's Department. Or I'll have a story of my own for that twat Lamb."
Once outside, she took a couple of deep breaths, trying to come down. But she wasn't even given a moment of relief when she was surprised by another voice. "What are you doing here?"
"God, Logan, you scared the crap out of me." She clutched her chest. "Are you following me?"
Logan frowned. "You left me high and dry yesterday and ignore my calls and you think I'm gonna follow you around today? I'm here to set up detailing on my car." There was a definite edge to his voice. He knelt down to pat Backup. Veronica was surprised to find herself jealous of the attention he was giving the dog. But she assumed that was the point.
"You're mad? Two words, Logan: Bum fights."
Logan straightened up. "And I told you and that tattooed chihuahua, I'm out. Sean's taking it over. Guy gets chauffeured to school every day and he can never resist making a buck no matter how. So you can quit throwing that in my face."
"But it was your stupid idea, Logan."
Logan shoved his hands in his pockets. "That was before, when I didn't give a shit what anybody thought of me. When you being disappointed in me was the last thing I cared about."
"And now?"
Suddenly, his shoes were very interesting to him. "Now, I can't take the way you're looking at me."
A breath hitched in her chest, and she glanced away uncomfortably. "I'm -- I'm just trying to figure this out Logan."
"Christ, Veronica, do you think that maybe we could figure it out together?"
She turned back to him, finding him watching her expectantly. The intensity, apprehension, and need she saw there shook her and she couldn't help saying, "Yeah."
She let him pull her into an embrace, silently begging him not to make her regret her capitulation. Behind her, tires squealed and the distraction gave her a reason to pull away. They both looked out towards the road, but the car was already gone.
Veronica said, "I've gotta go. Call me and we'll do something this weekend."
Logan grimaced. "Uh, yeah. Any time except Saturday afternoon. Duncan wouldn't give up about the double date thing."
Veronica glumly replied, "Right. It's okay. I said you should go. Just don't fall in love with Pam. And call me after, okay?" She pecked him on the cheek and started to go.
Logan grabbed her arm. "Hey, hang on. You didn't tell me what you were doing here."
"Taking care of Weevil's alibi."
"You did this alone? I thought you were going to bring Weevil with you or me when you stopped being mad at me."
Veronica waved him off. "I handled it. I had Backup." She gestured to her dog and grinned at him winningly.
Logan's mouth was set in a grim line. "Cute."
"That's me." She shrugged sweetly with a tilt of her head as she walked away.
----------
"'Bout time," Veronica muttered as Curly Moran came through the doors of the Sheriff's Department. "Some of us have exams to study for, you know."
Curly rolled his eyes. "You've got some weird pastimes, girl. Let's just get this over with."
They went up to the reception desk. Veronica dinged the bell and waited as Deputy Sacks ambled over. "Hey Veronica."
"Deputy. I've got a gentleman who'd like to make a statement in regards to Eli Navarro's whereabouts the night Logan Echolls' SUV was stolen."
"Uh...okay." Sacks looked around confused. "You're gonna have to wait a bit though. Sheriff's gonna want to handle this one himself and he's in with someone right now."
As if on cue, Cliff McCormack walked out of Lamb's office still talking "Sheriff, regardless of my client's notorious crime, he has rights and not allowing him access to proper medical attention is a violation --"
"Had to be sure he wasn't faking. You know, maybe trying to make an escape attempt." Lamb shrugged.
One of Cliff's eyebrows rose skeptically. "Doubled over and vomiting blood wasn't enough of a sign that he wasn't faking? Just get him a doctor, or I'm sure the media won't hesitate to run with the story about how the Sheriff mistreats inmates in his custody."
Lamb gave Cliff a thumbs up, then made a face at him as soon as his back was turned.
Meanwhile, Veronica's mind was whirring with the possibilities, and she had to confirm her suspicions. Veronica turned to Curly and said, "Hang on. I've gotta talk to that guy."
She ran to catch Cliff in the hallway, calling after him.
"Veronica! Lovely portfolio of the ADA schtupping her gardener. Really helped me out with that harassment case. I had the one that showed her birthmark shaped like Michigan blown up to poster size. It's in my office," he said proudly.
"I don't remember any birthmark."
"Well, let's just say it wasn't on her face." Cliff smirked.
Veronica winced briefly. "Right. Awesome. Anyway, Cliff, back there with Lamb, you were talking about your sick client --"
"Ah yes. Heard that did you? Pretty good bluff, huh? I can't actually take any story to the media or he'll fire me. He doesn't want it getting out that he's sick. Guess it would ruin the crazy tough guy image he's trying to cultivate." Cliff rolled his eyes.
"Who is it?"
"Can't tell ya, kiddo. Attorney-client yadda yadda yadda. Or something like that. Law school was so long ago," he said with a wistful sigh. "But it shouldn't be too hard for a junior detective to guess who it could be. Besides, I don't have that many clients facing a murder charge."
Nope. Just one: Lilly's alleged killer, Abel Koontz.
Part 15
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-02-10 05:54 pm (UTC)The play between Logan and Veronica through the whole thing worked so well--you can feel how much they want to be with each other, but also how nervous and cautious both of them are about the past.
That car driving away from Curly's has me nervous (and I think with good reason), but you know that I'm so captivated by the way you work Logan and Veronica together and apart that I easily get over that.
I'm sure there's something else I can say, but I can't think too well right now. Great work as always, though.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-10 08:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-10 08:35 pm (UTC)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and of course that whole dilemma v has is the running theme of the LoVe affair in canon. love that nice little link there.
oh God, WHO SAW THEM!!!!!!????????? GAH.
man. do i LOVE this story. thanks for updating!!!!!!!!!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-10 10:22 pm (UTC)mac is awesome.
i dont see how v does not get what logan is not telling her about beaver...
again, love this story, love this update!
hope the muse kicks ass again soon. :D
(no subject)
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From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-12 04:45 pm (UTC)Glad you enjoyed this part. As for who saw them, tune in next time!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-11 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-12 04:56 pm (UTC)...to be continued...! :) Thanks for reading and commenting!
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-02-11 03:40 am (UTC)Who saw them at Curly's?? I hope it wasn't Cassidy :o
no subject
Date: 2008-02-12 05:39 pm (UTC)Dun-dun-dun!
Thanks for reading!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-11 12:23 pm (UTC)I love this story! I hope you continue soon. I'm always happy when you update.
I really like how drawn Veronica is to Logan but how tentative she is at the same time. =)
no subject
Date: 2008-02-12 05:40 pm (UTC)Me too! Heh. I'll try my best, but at least I didn't take as long to update as last time! ;)
Thanks for reading and commenting!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-11 02:19 pm (UTC)-"If it ain't the little lovebirds sneakin' around," Weevil said sarcastically after taking off his helmet. He strode over to where they stood.
Logan smirked. "Cheep, cheep."-
TOTALLY had me laughing. It was so definitely something Logan would say and the Logan and Weevil interaction you had it down to an art! Ugh I hate Cassidy he's such a creep, sighhh Mac should've been with Dick :) I can't wait for more! Keep up the amazing work :)
<3
no subject
Date: 2008-02-12 07:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-11 03:24 pm (UTC)Anyway, this chapter did not dissapoint. I love love love the Veronica/Logan interaction. You write them so well. I like that Veronica still has her reservations about Logan, but is working past them.
You've definitely hooked us in with the Beaver thing and I love how you're mixing in the Mac paternity thing and obviously, Lilly's killer in with all of this.
This is one of my favorite multi-chapters fics and the quality doesn't go down with each chapter, as a lot of WIP's tend to do! Great job!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-12 07:40 pm (UTC)Thanks so much for continuing to read despite my erratic updates. Glad you're enjoying it so much.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-11 04:48 pm (UTC)I like how you've developed the L/V relationship...it seems realistic and in character.
Mac and Cliff... hee, I love them :D
This was another great chapter, looking forward to read more!
Henna L.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-12 07:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-11 09:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-12 07:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-11 10:51 pm (UTC)I lurved! the chapter. The L/V sneakiness is so remniscent of S1 canon, but yikes! scary!Cassidy makes it so much cooler. I can't wait to see where you are going with this. S'riously. No, really. :D
no subject
Date: 2008-02-12 08:13 pm (UTC)Absolutely! It's all part of my dastardly scheme...mwa-hahahahaha!
But unlike last time, which took me 4.5 months, I only took 3 months with this part, so can you really complain? :) Glad you're still enjoying the story despite my erratic updates!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-13 02:43 am (UTC)Suddenly, his shoes were very interesting to him. "Now, I can't take the way you're looking at me."
Ahhh. That Mars girl is made of stone !! Just wanted to let you know that I am so enjoying your take on Season 1. Just the right snark, lust and wariness, with less damage.
I'm especially liking the physical affection from Veronica to Logan, I always thought that high school boy needed more reassurance :)
no subject
Date: 2008-02-14 03:14 am (UTC)Nah! Just stale marshmallows!
Thanks so much for reading. Glad you're still enjoying the story!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-15 04:12 pm (UTC)This story is always worth the wait, though I hope we get more soon. The suspense of Veronica finding out about Beaver is killing me - I'm expecting this huge explosion but at the same time hoping Veronica understands why Logan has kept it from her for all of this time.
I'm very particular about pre-series AUs, but this one is just outstanding. I can't wait for more.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-17 12:12 am (UTC)Now I don't feel quite so bad about the delay. :)
The suspense of Veronica finding out about Beaver is killing me
The suspense is killing me too!
Thanks for reading despite my long delays!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-16 06:54 am (UTC)Anyway.
Is don't know that there's anything new I can say about this that I haven't already. Let's see... I love it, your dialogue and characterization is scary spot-on, the plot's got me hanging off the edge of my couch, and dear lord I miss Logan Echolls. Yeah, I think that's all been covered before.
Thanks for the update. I look forward to more, and I'm glad that I can always count on you to update. I'd be heartbroken if this was one of those fics that just vanished into the ether.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-17 12:43 am (UTC)I will try very, very hard not to break your heart, even if it takes me forever. Thanks for continuing to read. Your comments always make my day!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-17 12:44 am (UTC)The dialogue in this is especially wonderful, the characters are so alive in this story.
Can't wait for more! :)
no subject
Date: 2008-02-17 12:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-20 01:03 am (UTC)You do such a great job of intertwining Logan and V, and tearing them apart and bringing them back together again, I love it. It's very reminiscent of S1.
Great job, as usual. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-02-20 06:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-07 11:41 pm (UTC)I usually try not to read unfinished WIPs because I have been disappointed too often by ones that never get updated, so I am really glad that you have kept going on this one and that I found it again by accident after I assumed it was on permanent hiatus.
Like you story and characterization. Looking forward to seeing what comes next!
no subject
Date: 2008-03-10 03:11 pm (UTC)Glad you re-found it!
I usually try not to read unfinished WIPs because I have been disappointed too often by ones that never get updated
This is the first WIP I've ever undertaken. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be.
I found it again by accident after I assumed it was on permanent hiatus.
Nope. No permanent hiatus here. I intend to keep going, but I do apologize for the long waits in between installments.
Thanks for reading and commenting! It's greatly appreciated!
no subject
Date: 2008-03-11 09:45 pm (UTC)I hope you will update soon. What will I do until than?
no subject
Date: 2008-03-14 05:01 pm (UTC)Thanks again!
no subject
Date: 2008-05-01 02:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-03 05:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-22 06:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-23 04:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-01 04:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-03 02:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-15 07:09 am (UTC)Hopefully soon at least. You can't leave us hanging. So much good stuff here-- the passing moment between Mac and Beaver, Curly Moran, and the ending. I like how you are combining S1 and S2 and of course, the burgeoning Veronica/Logan relationship.
Veronica swallowed. She wanted desperately to give him an out. "It does if you were getting out for the right reasons."
"Are you the right reason?" he asked, his voice cracking earnestly.
Brava!
no subject
Date: 2008-06-19 03:19 pm (UTC)Glad you're still enjoying it though! And thanks for making my day with your very kind comments.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 02:44 pm (UTC)I really like how you linked everything together so far and the characters are definitly believable. got me to laugh out loud a few times too!
i'll look out for the next part!
thanks
laure
no subject
Date: 2008-07-08 08:26 pm (UTC)