Spoilers: All of VM is spoiled, through the end of the series.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Veronica Mars is owned by Rob Thomas, et al. No celebrity endorsement is implied by the use of product placements. Any real person's name is used in the sense of "wouldn't it be cool if this actor had this gig?"

Rating: Soft R, for violence, drugs, and cussing; some light sex (use your imagination).

Characters: Ensemble. Eventual LoVe. Eventual Mac/Dick. Everyone you love or love to hate who's not dead (and even the dead come back in flashbacks).

Summary: Future Fic. Veronica Mars' junior year at Hearst College; there are two new murders to occupy her time (when does she go to class?). Keith lost the election. Logan is trying to reinvent himself, but can't seem to get away from Veronica. Mac, Wallace, and Weevil are still VM's BF's. Old enemies are holding a grudge, and Veronica is in serious trouble.

Feedback, including concrit, is greatly appreciated. I love to hear from everyone.

Eventually there is a VERY slight crossover to "Private Practice" (the Grey's Anatomy spinoff). If you missed the completely absurd pilot, check out 'Chris Lowell' on YouTube

THIS VERSION HAS BEEN EDITED AS OF 12/12/07, INCORPORATING CHANGES AND EDITS (MOSTLY TYPOS-BUT ONE BIG CHANGE). HOPEFULLY, ALL TYPOS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED ME: Kou Shun'u, Candlewaxdreams, kwatchingoverme, poniesforall, and especially VMLoVeR87 and Kazy.

I've just been notified that my scene change markers have all disappeared (AGAIN! THANK YOU, FANFICTION FOR SAVING US ALL FROM SPAMMERS-NOT!) I will fix them at some point. In the meantime-if this irks you, please read this story on my livejournal or my dreamwidth (see my profile).

Any errors are my own, this story has not been 'officially' beta-ed. I tried to tie up a few of Rob Thomas' loose ends (a Sisyphean task, let me tell you).

Welcome to October 2008
Virtual Season 5: Veronica Mars: The Year of Living Dangerously, on the new TFX network (Teen FX, where you are allowed to use the "F" word, the "S" word, and have a little nudity, as long as it's 10:00 p.m. EST; and, since this is my fantasy season, there are as many episodes/chapters as I want).

Previously on Veronica Mars: In my imaginary world, season 4 is about 10 episodes on the CW (Clueless Wonders) network as a midseason replacement. Episodes are shot around Kristin Bell's schedule on "Heroes". The season features Veronica together with Piz for a short while; Logan has left Hearst College. Veronica and Piz halfheartedly try to have mind-blowing sex but settle for cuddling, then Piz transfers to UCLA to get away from Veronica's soul-suckingness. Veronica is actually single for a couple weeks and then begins to resume her formerly interesting personality by throwing herself into work at Mars Investigations. Veronica solves one little mystery each week; some new viewers drop in to try the show, attracted by the lack of a season-long mystery arc that might tax their wee little brains. But something's missing in season 4...by about the sixth episode, in an effort to prop up the ratings, there are cameos by Jason Dohring, who sometimes forgets to take out his vampire teeth.

Timeline of LoVe (interrupted)

April-May 2007-End of freshman year spring semester
- Veronica and Piz break it off.
- Logan and Veronica try to be 'just friends' unsuccessfully.
- Veronica gets back together with Piz, begins avoiding Logan.

Summer 2007
- Veronica at FBI internship, has long-distance relationship with Piz.
- Logan applies to UCLA film school and is accepted.

Sept. 2007-Sophomore Year, fall semester
- Veronica and Piz try again, it's boring.
- Logan takes acting and writing classes in UCLA.

Nov. 2007-Sophomore Year, fall semester
- Pizonica is history, Piz applies to UCLA for communications, takes part-time job at fertility clinic.
- Veronica is single and throws herself into classes and working at Mars Investigations.

Jan. 2008
- Logan emails Keith, semi-maudlin due to the holidays; he asks Keith not to tell Veronica. They begin corresponding.
Feb. 2008-May 2008 Sophomore Year, spring semester
- Veronica begins to date again, it's not epic. She reapplies to the FBI internship and is accepted.
- Logan is also dating, but is having a lot more sex than Veronica.

Summer 2008
- Veronica at FBI internship again, she starts a torrid affair with older FBI trainee who is about to graduate. They become embroiled in an investigation which almost gets them both kicked out of the program. Her new BF is amused by Veronica's misbehaving ways.
- Logan has a prolonged affair with a very much married, and significantly older, trophy wife. After a nasty encounter with said wife's husband, he breaks it off and, as Keith advises him, he decides to see a psychiatrist for help with his self-destructive tendencies.

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VERONICA MARS
10:00PM TFX ch: 92 60min 2008 TV-MA
Jailhouse Rock
Veronica is accused of murder; an old friend
comes back to town to bail her out. Veronica:
Kristin Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring. Leo: Max
Greenfield. Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Cliff:
Daran Norris.
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CHAPTER ONE: "JAILHOUSE ROCK"

VERONICA

Through the jail cell bars, I watch him approach. I haven't seen Logan Echolls in a year and a half, but he hasn't changed. He stops in front of me, and plays with his hair, that old gesture still a familiar part of his repertoire. I see by his expression that he too is remembering the harsh words that finally drove us apart for good at the end of freshman year.

"Hello, Veronica."

I search for a witty comeback, but my exhaustion and fear overwhelm me, and I settle for, "Just like old times."

"Well, I hear this is a little more serious than aiding and abetting a fugitive, Mars. I'm here to bail you out," he says.

Leo comes around the corner and says, "You're a lucky girl, Veronica Mars, not everyone has an ex-boyfriend with $2 million to spare."

I wince, and picture yesterday's hearing.

FLASHBACK: The evidence was presented and Cliff protested the admissibility, the chain of evidence, the relevance, basically threw in the kitchen sink, but to no avail. My dad was as pale as I've ever seen him. What was worse was the doubt I saw in his eyes; he too thought the evidence was incontrovertible. I had to admit, I was worried; they had blood, hair and fiber evidence tying me to the scene of the crime. I kept fading in and out, losing track of what was being said.

The judge banged his gavel and said, "Veronica Mars, you are hereby ordered bound over for trial in the murder of Clarence Wiedman. Bail is set at two million dollars."

Cliff looked over at me and my dad, and said, unconvincingly, "It's just the prelim. I'm sure we'll be able to prevail at trial. You know that we had to hear what evidence they have, free discovery and all. Keith, you worry about raising the bail money. We have lots of time before trial to investigate and we all know Veronica couldn't have done this."

Dad said, "It might as well be two billion dollars. Honey, I don't know what to say."

Deputy Sacks came over and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Mars, I have to take her now. Veronica, put your hands behind your back." As he cuffed me and led me away, he said, "You know the drill, Mr. Mars. She'll be transferred to Valley State Women's Penitentiary in a few days. She'll be okay, you just worry about bail, I'll make sure she's taken care of in the meantime."

Keith grips Sacks' arm in an unspoken thank you. "I love you, honey," he said to me, his voice breaking.

"Dad? Daddy, please tell me..." I cried out.

That it was a mistake. That they don't really believe I killed Clarence Wiedman, who killed my mother two weeks before.

I look at Logan. I've had twenty-four hours to ponder my situation sitting in this cell, and, despite my fatigue, I'm beginning to think more clearly. "Logan, I can't let you do this."

Logan sighs, "What good is money if you can't bail out murdering ex-girlfriends? No, seriously, Veronica, do you think I could leave you in here when it's within my power to get you out?"

Leo clears his throat. "Okay, Veronica, can we save the reunion for later? Mr. Echolls has already signed the paperwork and we need to get you fitted with the ankle monitor for house arrest." He unlocks the cell door, and gestures, 'after you'.

I flush deep red. I have forgotten; the prosecutor insisted that house arrest be a condition of my bail, due to my contacts in the FBI, my previous experience with fake ID's, and my connection to the disappearance of Duncan Kane, who was still wanted for questioning in the kidnapping of Faith Manning (aka Lilly) and the murder of Aaron Echolls.

Logan says, "Your dad's here too. He's signing paperwork that he'll be responsible for you."

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VERONICA MARS
10:00PM TFX ch: 92 60min 2008 TV-MA
Reefer Madness
Veronica's lack of alibi. Veronica: Kristen
Bell. Mike Fields: Michael Trucco. Keith:
Enrico Colantoni.
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CHAPTER TWO: "REEFER MADNESS"

Keith sits on a bench at the sheriff's office, his head in his hands.

It's a nightmare. My baby girl, accused of murder. I know, I know, you're thinking, "Veronica Mars, she's not exactly an upright citizen." She's been known to plant evidence, to taser a suspect, to hack into computers, etc., etc., etc. A father worries, you know?

But this, this...

They found my baby's blood and hair, and fibers from her favorite Hearst sweatshirt. Admittedly, a miniscule amount of blood. Cliff tried to make something out of the amount of blood found. And the hair and fibers, well, any private detective worth their salt could come up with a scenario that would explain them.

What killed me, what made me die inside, was Veronica's refusal to tell me where she had been during the time of the murder. "Honey, it doesn't matter!" I screamed at her. "You have to tell me what you were doing!"

She turned white as a ghost and walked into her bedroom, closing the door quietly. I wouldn't have worried as much if she had slammed the door. I heard her sobbing as I paced around the living room. Could she have killed Wiedman? I don't even know, and I've never doubted my daughter like this before. She was upset enough about her mother's murder to do almost anything, and when the witness came forward i.d.'ing Wiedman, she freaked. Two days later, Wiedman was shot; hell...he was executed.

I know that her alibi has something to do with Mike Fields. Damn, why can't she find an EASY boyfriend? Really, I never saw what was so bad about Piz.

VERONICA

"Dad, can I just be alone for a minute? I want to call Mike." I say, knowing that Dad wants to fuss over me. The ankle monitor is incredibly annoying. I feel like I've left one prison for another with my dad and Logan hovering.

As we drove to my house, Logan said matter-of-factly, "I've engaged the best criminal defense attorney I could find. My dad's agent said that this guy has gotten off more Hollywood stars than Angelina Jolie." I couldn't help rolling my eyes.

Logan continued, "And I'm not going to argue with you about it. You can owe me, or whatever. You are going to accept help, from me."

Dad chimed in, "And of course Cliff and I are going to work the case too. With any luck, this won't even go to trial. Even Leo said he would help." Logan dropped Dad and me off and left without a backward glance.

I have friends. I don't deserve them.

Finally alone, for the first time since I was arrested, I go to my bedroom, pull out my cell and speed-dial 3.

After one and a half rings I hear an anxious voice,"Veronica, what's happening? How are you calling me? Did you get released?"

"Mike, try to calm down. An old friend put up the bail money and I'm at home. Actually, I'm under house arrest," I say as calmly as possible.

I can picture Mike pulling his fingers through his dark, wavy hair, the way he does when he's stressed.

FLASHBACK TO THE SUMMER: The FBI internship is much harder the second time around: I'm expected to master various self-defense techniques and to qualify on the weapons range. I don't have any trouble with the course work, from the courses on "Investigative Procedure" and "Internet Crime" to the legal work on racketeering statutes, bias crimes and various other federal offenses, but I'm out of my element in hand-to-hand combat. I haven't managed to pass even the first level of coursework due to my petite size and lack of experience. I know I'll pass the weapons range eventually, but I've been wishing I'd taken Logan up on his pleas to play first person shooter videogames more often.

This time my partner in "Defensive Tactics" is a tall, dark-haired man, older than me. He's at least 12 inches taller than me! He said, "Hi, I'm Mike, I'll be throwing you to the mat today." I replied, "You got that right. This will be an easy day for you."

Mike laughed and said, "Did you miss the part about using your opponent's force and strength against them? I think you'll be the one in control today."

"Since you're the force and strength?" I snarked back.

He just smiled smugly.

But what was amazing was that I actually began to get it that day, with Mike's help. The instructor came over and said, "Good, Veronica, you actually might survive more than a day in the field. Mike, don't go easy on her."

Mike said, "Are you kidding? She's been scaring me to death."

Just for that, I had to pin him to the mat later in the class, and to my bed that evening. I have to admit, we had a lot of fun practicing for the Handcuffs Exam. Mike was just brushing up his skills in the Defensive Tactics class and it was only by chance we met. He was close to finish his seventeen-week agent training program and if everything went as planned, he expected to get his first real posting in the fall. He was 26, smart, strong, gorgeous, an NYU graduate and former NYC policeman, and my dad hated him on sight.

When I asked my dad about it, he just said, "I don't know why, but I don't trust him, and it's not a Logan thing." I have to admit that I sometimes wonder about Mike too. He's just a little too perfect.

-

"Veronica? Veronica! Are you still there?" Mike's voice comes faintly through the cell. I realize I've dropped the phone, spacing out again. "Veronica, I think we should tell the police about your alibi. It doesn't matter."

"It DOES matter," I say, a little too harshly. "You're not going to give up your career for me."

"You don't know that will happen. Besides, it's not that big a deal, maybe it won't matter, you know that..."

"Shh!" Veronica almost squeaks. "You know they're investigating me, don't say another word. Can I see you? I'll go nuts on house arrest, please come."

"You know, Veronica, your dad...he doesn't like me much. I think it's a bad idea."

"He doesn't know you..." I start.

"Veronica, this is not the time to play Meet My Daddy. I need to think about this. The consequences are real, for both of us."

We hang up. The truth is, my alibi is nothing too sordid. When the news broke that my mother's body had been found, I was desolate. My dad wasn't making things any easier, he was full of self-recriminations that he should have tried harder to find her and to make her go to rehab again. The funeral was a nightmare for both of us. Two weeks later, an eyewitness turned up, who claimed to have seen Clarence Wiedman gunning my mother down, and then fleeing town in a Lincoln town car. My dad made me promise not to try to find Wiedman, and I wouldn't promise. We argued, as intensely as we ever have, and fought to a draw. I called Mike the next day, and sobbed out the whole story.

The press coverage was intense; reporters waited outside our door to snap lurid photos and to call out to us, "How are you taking the news? Give us a quote!" I told my dad I needed to get away for the weekend. Mike is posted in San Francisco. He flew down that weekend to be with me. He wanted to comfort me and make me forget, just for a little while. He knew all about Lianne, what I had given up for her, and knew that I shouldn't be alone.

I met up with Mike at a local motel. Mike had paid cash for the room and checked us in as Mr. and Mrs. Lebowski. The desk clerk never saw me, I went directly to the room and fell into Mike's arms. Later that day I made a phone call to one of Logan's old dealers...he brought over some pot, and Mike and I got completely wasted. Not a big deal, except...the FBI is very clear.

"The unlawful use of drugs by FBI employees is not tolerated...Under the FBI's current Employment Drug Policy, an applicant will be found unsuitable for employment if they have used marijuana/cannabis within the past three years, or have extensively used marijuana/cannabis or over a substantial period of time."(1)

So, not only would Mike lose his career, I would lose my chance at an FBI career as well. Of course, a felony conviction for murder would blow my chances as well, not to mention that whole twenty years to life business.

Why can't we just lie and say we were together without mentioning the drug use? Well, let's just say we never left the hotel room and the only witness who saw us together was the dealer. Room service? Nope, no room service at this seedy no-tell motel; Mike ordered food from a local deli, charged it to his credit card, and told them just to leave it outside the door...we didn't want to bother getting dressed and going out. I have to say, Mike has his talents.

We didn't come up for air for 48 hours. During which time, no one but Mike and a skeevy drug dealer saw me. During which time, Mr. Wiedman rudely managed to get himself shot. With the same kind of gun I just qualified on over the summer.

Now that the preliminary hearing is over, I'm very afraid. I'm afraid that this weak alibi, if it has to be used, will not suffice. I was so sure that, even with Sheriff Vinnie Van Lowe in charge, the hair and blood evidence would turn out to exonerate me without blowing it for Mike. If we had come clean right away, my charges might have been dismissed, but I had been confident that I didn't need Mike's alibi. I can't believe I might fry for smoking pot.
1: FBI Employment Drug Policy .

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VERONICA MARS
10:00PM TFX ch: 92 60min 2008 TV-MA
The Prince of Tides
Logan finds out about Veronica's arrest.
Echolls: Jason Dohring. Dick: Ryan Hansen.
Carrie: Amber Heard. Dr. Friedman:
Lorraine Bracco.
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CHAPTER THREE: "THE PRINCE OF TIDES"

One week earlier.

FLASHBACK: Logan is sitting on the deck of his Venice Beach house, watching the sunset and stroking a blonde woman's hair. He leans down and kisses her forehead. Maybe this one will last, he muses. Carrie's pretty and fun, and pretends she doesn't know who Aaron Echolls was. Although Logan is pretty sure Dick coached her on that. He sips at his beer.

The door to the deck banged open, and Logan looks up, annoyed that his perfect evening is being interrupted.

"Dude..." Dick starts. He's actually panting; something is really wrong.

Carrie sits up and Logan says, "What the fuck, Dick? You don't knock anymore?"

Dick stammers, "It's Veronica, man. She's been arrested. They're saying she killed Clarence Wiedman."

Logan says, "Veronica did what?"

"Wiedman offed her mother and Veronica went gunning for him," Dick says. "It's all over CNN, I can't believe that there aren't any reporters here, they're calling it the Neptune Curse, and they're rerunning all the footage of Lilly and your dad, and the bus crash, and...shit, man. I don't know..." his voice trails off.

Logan picks up the phone and call Keith, who fills him in. Lianne's murder didn't rate much attention in L.A. Logan has been enjoying the distance from Neptune and all of Neptune's crazy residents. He had transferred to the UCLA film school at the beginning of sophomore year for a new start, without Veronica; just one semester later, he bumped into Piz, and realized he probably came here for the same reason Logan did. Logan thought about making a club, "Ex-boyfriends of soul-sucking amateur detectives", but he realized the commute would be hard for Duncan.

Logan still hangs out with Dick a lot on the weekends, but Dick knows better than to make Logan party with Hearst kids or '09ers. They usually ended up at Logan's place or down in TJ when they were in the mood for a major blowout. Dick goes to more than his share of frat parties at Hearst, but he never gives Logan shit about not coming with him. Of course, he knows that L.A. pussy is perfectly fine ("Primo, man!") and there's nothing wrong with the alcohol either. Dick and Logan: it's not exactly a complicated or even a healthy relationship, but it's the best one Logan has.

Now, Dick looks at Logan expectantly. "What?" Logan says, rubbing his forehead.

"Logan, don't you think we should, I mean you should, help her? I mean, I know she's like a succubus or something but..."

"Succubus?" Logan can't believe his ears.

"Yeah, you know, like a perverted sex ghost that steals your soul by fucking you. I've been watching Buffy in reruns." Dick mutters. "Damn, that girl is HOT!"

"Am I supposed to run to her? You know she never pays any attention to her safety, just runs off doing whatever the fuck she wants. And nobody ever calls her on it. No fucking consequences. That's why I'm here, remember, because I couldn't take it anymore," Logan says, defeatedly. "Even her dad lets her get away with murder..."

Dick stares at him, and Logan realizes what he just said.

Dick says, "Dude, I don't care. You'll regret it if you don't help her. I know you, you'll mope around for the next ten years and you won't be any fun at all."

Logan morosely thinks it's time to call an emergency meeting of Veronica's ex-boyfriends' club. Or at the very least discuss this with Dr. Friedman.

-

DR. LEAH FRIEDMAN
Patient notes on Logan Echolls

7/30/08
LE reticent about reason for therapy now. Talks about Lilly Kane, her murder in 2003. When I ask about family, says "I have a half-sister, she's not worth talking about. There's no one else."
8/7/08
LE misses appt, leaves message, "surf's up."
8/14/08
LE shows up 15 minutes late. He refuses to talk about his dad. I ask about his mother, he calls her a bitch who left.
8/21/08
LE tells me about his last affair. The woman was much older, 40 years old, and married. She's married to an actor, an action-adventure star. I ask LE if that reminds him of anyone. He tells me I'm sick and storms out.
8/26/08
LE shows up without an appt. He hasn't slept. He talks for an hour about his father beating him and his mother just letting it happen, then abandoning him. I ask him what happened to his father. LE just stares at me like I'm from Mars, then laughs manically.
8/28/08
LE talks about Veronica. Once he starts it's like a dam bursting. I can't make sense of it. I press him as to why he would try again and again with someone who always pushes him away and he shrugs and says, "We're epic." I ask him if Veronica reminds him of anyone else in his life, if anyone else ever pushed him away. He shoves the chair back violently and leaves.
9/4/08
LE quiet today. Says he's been thinking a lot. I ask about school, he says that he's signed up for a directing class at the film school this semester. Although he's done well in his acting classes, he laughs and says what he really wants is to control all the characters. I ask about control, he says that would REALLY be epic. I'm not sure of the reference.
9/11/08
LE talks about Veronica again. He admits he's angry at her for fingering his father as the murderer of his girlfriend. He's angry at his father for killing his girlfriend Lilly and trying to kill Veronica. He's angry at his best friend's brother for raping his girlfriend Veronica, trying to kill her, then jumping off a roof. Also claims he was falsely accused of a gang murder. Patient has deep sense of worthlessness. Could this patient be delusional? This can't be fact-based. Need to research.
9/13-14/08
Researched LE this weekend. Patient not delusional. This Veronica Mars sounds like she has a god-complex. Control issues up the wazoo.
9/18/08
Armed with my research, I try to get LE to open up about his mother and Veronica. "Everyone leaves me, ok?" he finally says and slumps in his chair. I ask LE if he would consider antidepressants. He snorts and says, "Not after what they did to Duncan." Who is Duncan? Possibly a brief homosexual fling? Possible latent homosexuality.
9/25/08
LE talks about Veronica. I ask if they ever considered couples counseling and he looks at me as if I'm nuts. He rambles for a while, then says, "It wasn't her fault, about running away. I'm responsible for her getting raped, and later I almost did it again by alibi-ing that freak Mercer." I tell LE I would like him to start coming twice a week and I ask again about antidepressants. Again he mentions Duncan, then he says Lilly's ghost told me "that stuff will kill you, Logan." Possible psychotic break, with delusional thinking. Would really like to put LE on anti-psychotic medication, to see if hallucinations decrease.
10/2/08
LE expresses deep shame over punching a rival at a party over the weekend. I ask about previous violent episodes, he mentions purposely being arrested to beat up Veronica's alleged rapist. I ask if he feels in control when he hits, and he sneers, "you mean like my DAD?" LE clams up and won't speak for the rest of the session.
10/9/08
LE talks about sex with Veronica. I find myself blushing, and just a little turned on.

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VERONICA MARS
10:00PM TFX ch: 92 60min 2008 TV-MA
The Breakfast Club
Veronica's friends plan how to help her.
Veronica: Kristin Bell. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Eli: Francis Capra.
Logan: Jason Dohring.
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CHAPTER FOUR: "THE BREAKFAST CLUB"

Mac and Wallace meet for lunch at the Hearst Food Court. Neither seems to be able to swallow more than a few bites.

"What does Keith think?" Mac says.

"I don't know, he won't really talk to me either. I am getting pretty sick of being BFF on Veronica's schedule," Wallace grouses. "I know Keith's worried. Yesterday, Keith just came in and shut the door to his office. I've been working there for a year and he never does that. But I think this lawyer that Logan hired-"

"What?" Mac almost screams. "Logan? Since when is Logan back in the picture?"

"Oh I thought you knew. Didn't you talk to Veronica yesterday?"

Mac sighs. "I'm not exactly BFF either. She just said she was released on bail and is on house arrest. Logan hired a lawyer?"

"Not just a lawyer. This guy got Michael Jackson off. Logan is sparing no expense," Wallace replies. "Cliff is so impressed he went and bought a new set of law books just to keep up. But wait, didn't Veronica tell you that Logan put up the bail money?"

Mac looks stunned. "Why would he...I guess he...oh I'll never understand those two."

"That's two of us."

"Well, I want to help. With Veronica on house arrest, she'll need us to do the legwork for her," Mac says firmly.

"Mac, the girl's gotta come clean. There's somethin' she's not tellin' us." Wallace tries another bite of lunch and ends up pushing it away. "She was probably there at the murder scene."

Weevil drops down onto a chair, joining them. "Nah, that's not it."

"Eli, do you know where Veronica was?" Mac says.

Weevil shakes his head no. "But I heard a rumor that she was being a bad girl that night...my cousin's girlfriend told me that Veronica and her man scored some weed that weekend."

Wallace asks, "Weed? That's what she's hiding? That's total bull, no one cares about weed."

Mac says, "Wait a second" and opens her laptop. Her fingers dance over the keyboard. "It's so simple really if you know what to look for. I just googled "employment FBI drug" and look what came up."

[fbi dot gov slash employment slash policies dot htm]

"Shit, that boyfriend of hers will lose his job. And Veronica is out of the FBI forever." Wallace says. They kept reading down the page.

"Polygraph Examination

Each applicant who successfully completes the initial application process to include testing and interviews will be required to successfully complete a polygraph examination in order to continue processing. You will be notified of the date, time, and location of the polygraph test. Polygraph results are not official until they are approved by FBI Headquarters officials in Washington, D.C."

"Veronica is totally screwed, she'd have to pass a polygraph exam, too," Mac says.

"Actually...I don't think she'd have any trouble passing that. Have you SEEN our girl lie? But still...you can't think she would go to jail to protect him," Wallace says.

Weevil says firmly, "I owe Veronica a lot. If she hadn't helped me with that crap with the fake college IDs, I never would have gotten the maintenance supervisor position. I'll alibi her."

Mac and Wallace both shake their heads. "Sorry, Weevil," Wallace says ruefully, "you're just not credible. But now that we know what she's hiding maybe we can actually find a way to get her an alibi. I want us to meet over at Veronica's tomorrow and see if we can make a plan."

They agree to meet up around 9 a.m. the next day.

Mac is waiting in the parking lot at the Sunset Cliffs for Wallace and Eli to arrive so they can talk to Veronica. She considers what she's learned. Logan put up Veronica's bail money? My god, that's like...romantic...like...epic. Veronica hasn't even talked to him for a year and a half. Whenever his name comes up in conversation, she changes the subject.

About six months ago, before this whole mess started, I caught Veronica reading a tabloid. "Logan Echolls-Bad Seed" Complete with topless, pixelated pictures of Logan with not one, but two, bimbos. When Veronica looked up, she blushed; then, recovering her usual cynical poise, she pointed at the ad for male enhancement on the opposite page, saying, 'Can you imagine how big a jackass you'd have to be to order this stuff?'

'Unh-huh,' I mumbled. 'Totally, like, a jackass.' I looked at her sympathetically.

An SUV pulls in. The light green BMW X5 parks in the furthest corner of the lot. Mac watches as Logan shuts off the engine. He doesn't get out.

Mac walks over, hesitatingly. "Logan?"

He's sitting behind the wheel with his eyes closed, listening to Kurt Cobain. He opens his eyes. "Mac?"

"Logan, thanks for what you did for Veronica."

Logan sighs, "I couldn't help it. Dick forced me. He said I would be unbearable to be around if I knew I could have helped and instead I let her rot in prison."

Mac thinks, 'Dick forced me', what the hell?. "Well for whatever reason you did it, I'm really grateful and I'm sure Veronica is too."

Logan smirks, "I'm a real humanitarian, just like my daddy."

Mac stares at Logan, who stares back, then drops his eyes and sighs again, ruffling his hair. "Logan, Wallace and Eli are meeting me here in a few minutes. We have some ideas about Veronica's alibi and we're trying to convince her to let us help. Do you want in?"

"I'm actually here to meet Keith. I was terrified that Veronica would see me so I parked over here."

"Keith?" Mac asks.

"Well, I've been emailing back and forth to Keith for about nine months now. He encouraged me to find a shrink after my latest debauched adventures and I wanted to thank him. I can't say she's helping me but it's definitely...interesting."

Mac thinks, Shrink? LOGAN? She mumbles, "Gee, that's great, Logan."

Keith pulls up. Logan hops out and gets in the passenger side of Keith's car. Keith leans out the window, "Hi, Mac. I assume you're here to visit Veronica?" Mac nods. "Try to talk some sense into her, willya? I won't be back for awhile. I see your boys are here," he nods toward Wallace and Eli pulling into the lot, "I hope you have more success than I did." Keith pulls out into traffic with a small wave and a grimace on his face.

VERONICA

I peek through the peephole. Shit, it's an intervention. No point delaying the inevitable. I open the door. "Well, lookie the gang's all here." I flop on the couch. I still have my cute-as-a-bunny pj's on, since there's no point getting dressed if you're a psychopathic murderer.

Wallace, Mac and Weevil look nervously at each other and I take pity on them. "Thanks for coming by. I'm pretty lonely what with this doodad on my leg keeping me inside." I show off my pretty ankle bracelet. "I never fully appreciated what this must have been like for Logan." I glare at Mac.

Mac sucks in her breath. I saw her talking to Logan in the parking lot a minute ago and she knows I know.

Wallace says, "Veronica, we know about your alibi. We know about the weed."

I just look at him.

Weevil continues, "We know you bought some weed and we think you won't tell where you were that night because it will blow it for your FBI dude."

It's really amazing. I don't do drugs as a rule. In fact, I can probably count on the fingers of one hand the times I did any drugs at all, and one of those times was Madison's fault, and another was Mercer's. Three simple words to live by, "just say no", and I had to screw up on this particular night.

I start to cry. Mac is horrified. I don't think she's ever seen me cry. It's not heart-wrenching sobs, this is just water streaming down my face uncontrollably. "I couldn't believe the evidence was going to hold up. I didn't think I would need an alibi. Now no one will believe it. Mike and I holed up in a motel in the next town over. He checked us in, the desk clerk never saw me. I had been fighting with my dad, and I just needed someone to hold me and tell me it was going to be okay. At one point, it seemed like a good idea to get some grass. I think it was Mike's idea, but I don't remember, I was upset the whole weekend. I remembered Logan's dealer and we called him on Mike's cell. We didn't even use my phone, so I can't prove I called him. He came over, and we bought a little weed. He tried to sell us some ecstasy but we weren't interested. He was a little pissed to come over for so little, and called me a bitch. He definitely would remember me. But he would also remember the tall man I was with."

My friends are silent, thinking about the problem. Mac said, "Did you use the phone in the room at all? What about maid service?"

I shake my head. "No and no."

Wallace says, "Why can't Mike just say he was with you?"

Weevil says angrily, "Don't you get it? They won't believe him now, they'll think he's just saying it to get his girlfriend off."

"Unless they have a corroborating witness," I add. "And they won't. There's no point for Mike to lose his career too."

"That's ridiculous, Veronica," Mac says. "You can't compare losing a career to a life sentence for murder. And what about Logan?"

"What about Logan?" I spit back at her.

She stares at me shocked. "Veronica, he's paying a fortune for your attorney. Plus your bail. He's not even your boyfriend anymore, you can't use him like this. You have to tell the truth."

"Get out!" I yell. The tears are flowing harder than ever. "You probably think I did it. So does Logan. You can all go to hell." I push them out the door and sink down to the floor sobbing.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM TFX ch: 92 60min 2008 TV-MA
Hoop Dreams
Wallace gets a new case; Logan & Keith talk.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Selma Rose:
Patty Hearst. Logan: Jason Dohring. Keith:
Enrico Colantoni.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CHAPTER FIVE: "HOOP DREAMS"

Damn, Veronica. You are going to jail if you don't let us help. Wallace sits behind the desk at Mars Investigations thinking about the whole mess. He says aloud, "I wish I was Veronica, maybe I'd have some idea how to come up with an alibi." Using the letter opener, he opens the mail. He notices one particular envelope and doesn't open it. "Shit, this is another one of those letters." He walks into Keith's office and drops the unopened envelope on his desk.

The exterior door opens. Wallace walks back into the outer office and says, "May I help you?" before he realizes it's Selma Hearst Rose. There's an awkward silence. "Dean Rose, my name is Wallace Fennel, did you want to make an appointment to speak with Keith Mars?"

Selma clears her throat. "I can speak with you. You're a student at Hearst, a basketball player, correct?"

Wallace nods. "I've been one of Mr. Mars' assistants for a little over a year."

Selma says, "I'm sorry for Mr. Mars'...'troubles' lately. I don't want to disturb him at this time, but a matter has come up the college that needs to be addressed, and I know I can rely on Mars Investigations to be discreet."

"We can certainly be discreet. Tell me about the problem and I'll go over it with Mr. Mars as soon as he comes in."

Selma stands and paces around the room. "Since I've assumed the post of dean, I have had reason to review many of Dean O'Dell's decisions. The fraternity situation was regrettable, but we do depend on alumni support. It's essential that we maintain our endowment at its current healthy state. If alumni giving is reduced, we risk cutting programs in other areas. The basketball program is an important source of alumni revenue. The new coach..."

Wallace frowns. The team had been disastrous last year. The new coach, Coach Robbins, had led the team to its worst record in twenty years (6-13).

Selma continues, "Coach Robbins doesn't seem to be who he said he was when he was first hired to be assistant coach. One of our more prominent alums has said that Robbins didn't attend the school he claims to have graduated from."

Wallace says, "Didn't O'Dell check his references?"

Selma sighs. "I believe he did. I rechecked them myself and they seem okay, both at his previous post and the one before that." She drops a folder onto Wallace's desk. Wallace opens it and looks at a list of references and a curriculum vitae. Selma continues, "The problem is that this alum personally went to Robbins and accused him of being a fraud as well as a complete failure as a coach. Robbins then told me that if I dismissed him, he would file suit for wrongful termination and sexual harassment."

Wallace repeats incredulously, "Sexual harassment?"

Selma blushes. "I made the unfortunate mistake of dating him for a short time before I became dean. I broke it off, and he didn't take it well. When Coach Barry died, we naturally assumed it was best to promote from within, but as you know..."

"It's been a disaster," Wallace finishes for her. "If he isn't who he claims to be, it won't be a problem to fire him."

"Even if I did...date him."

"Uh, right," Wallace says. "Date him." Is that what the kids are calling it? "I'll get Mr. Mars up to speed right away and we'll report back to you as soon as possible. Hopefully, long before basketball season. In the meantime, I think a $2000 deposit would be appropriate."

Selma stands and shakes Wallace's hands. "Well, Mr. Fennel, I have every confidence in your and Mr. Mars' abilities. I'll have the accounting department messenger over a check and I'll be in touch."

At Java the Hut, Keith stirs his coffee and looks at Logan. "She's my only daughter, my only family, what you've done for us is...well I can't thank you enough."

"Mr. Mars, you don't know how much your emails have meant to me." Logan say quietly.

"It's Keith, okay? Logan, I never thought about...how alone you were, how much you depended on Veronica. I think you two never had a chance with all that pressure. I wish I did some things differently; I wish I had welcomed you a bit more the summer your dad was arrested."

"Yeah, I needed a family. Veronica's lucky to have you for a father."

Keith sighs. "There have been times when I really let down Veronica as well. I am really regretting teaching her the PI business. She needed something when her mom left but I think that was a wrong choice on my part."

"As if you could have stopped her, " Logan snorts.

Keith looks up, and starts to laugh as well. "Okay, you're right, Logan, Veronica is an army of one, no one could have stopped her." He pauses. "On another subject, how goes the therapy?" Keith says gently.

Logan shrugs. "There's a lot to tell. I'm pretty sure the shrink thought I was making most of it up. Then one session, she looked at me differently. I think she went back and looked up the news stories. But I don't think I'm really getting any better, you know? I just feel like crap when I leave there."

"It's not your therapist's job to make you feel instantaneously better. You've been trying to do that with alcohol for quite some time and that doesn't work either."

"Well, at least I've stopped sleeping with married women."

Keith grimaces. "That's something I suppose. Logan, you need a purpose in your life. It can't be Veronica. Even if you were together, she wouldn't be an appropriate purpose for your life."

"Why can't the therapist just say it like that? It's always, 'How do you feel about it, blah blah blah'. Who cares how I feel about it."

Keith puts his hand on Logan's arm. "In the first place, you should care about how you feel about it. In the second place, I care, and not just because you bailed out my daughter. I've never heard you talk like this before, Logan, I think you're making great strides."