Title: Resolution

Summary: Veronica disappeared from Neptune and Hearst College after being raped by Mercer. I know he didn't really rape her, but for the sake of this story, he did. I started writing this a couple of years ago, and have only just returned to the world of fanfic. Now I'm rewriting what I already had posted and just generally making it better... and finishing it this time. =]

Rating: M for language and adult themes.

Prologue

Keith Mars knocked on his daughter's bedroom door and saw a sight that broke his heart: Veronica curled on her bed in a tiny ball, a blanket wrapped around her tightly as if a shield from the world. He sat beside her, his weight causing the edge of her waterbed to sink, forcing her to roll towards him. Lightly he stroked her hair.

"You wanna talk about it, honey?" he probed, his voice low.

"No," she whispered, scared to speak. Veronica knew that talking about 'it' would break her father's heart and no matter how bad she felt, she didn't want to destroy him like that.

"Okay. I'm here when you do, though. You know, Mac and Wallace came by today. I told them you were sleeping, but they're worried about you, honey. Maybe you could call them, and talk to them?"

"No," she whispered again. Her friends only knew her as tough, and she didn't want to disillusion them. More than that, though, she didn't want to talk about what had happened on the night of the PiSig party. Which would leave them thinking that she was this traumatised over the break-up with Logan. She shuddered at the thought.

"Okay," Keith rose to leave, but paused before he did so. "If Logan comes by..." he started, but got a response quickly.

"No."

"Alright, honey," he whispered, closing the door gently as he left.

The Mars duo played the same scene for over a week and the truth slowly dawned on Keith. The level of anguish in his daughter could only have been caused by one thing. He rushed in to Veronica's room, but struggled to find the words.

"Mercer, he... he raped you." The words were the catalyst for Veronica's break down. She tried to blink away the tears but within ten seconds her cheeks were soaked with hot brine. Keith rushed to his daughter and clung to her, unsure whether he was trying to comfort her or himself. "Why didn't you tell me, baby?"

"I didn't want it to be real. God, if I'd've just listened to you, dad. None of this would've happened," she wiped her face with her sleeve.

"You can't think that, honey. It wasn't your fault. You know that," he paused, trying to work out what to do with his newly found information. "We'd best get you down to the police station and make sure that boy pays for it."

Veronica shook her head and spoke barely audibly, "I don't want anyone to know, dad."

"But, V'ronica," Keith started. He stopped the moment he saw his daughter's shaking head. "It's up to you. If you don't want anyone to know that's your choice. He'll do plenty of time, anyway."

Veronica smiled weakly, her eyes still glistening, "Thanks, dad."

"Hey, it's what I'm here for. Now, is there anything else I should know?" he tried to laugh, but neither he nor Veronica could see the funny side.

"Dad... I don't think," she stammered, fearing the words she was trying to say. "I don't think he used anything, I don't think he used a condom."

The blood drained from Keith's face, his skin turned ashen as he tried to work out whether he could smuggle his shotgun in to the cell where Mercer was being held.