Disclaimer: I do not own Veronica Mars.
Author's Note: This is my new story. It's a What If scenario. What if Dick Casablancas was the one who found Veronica the morning after her rape and helped her? What if they became friends and he supported her that awful year? Btw I'm changing a lot of what happened that night on the show. I'll explain some in the story but you guys should know Madison still drugged Veronica and Dick had none of the GHB. Plus, he didn't pressure Cassidy into doing anything with Veronica. It is still a LoVe story but I made Dick an important character because I love him and think his interaction and relationship with Veronica could be more awesome. I get that he's OOC but that's my whole point.
Chapter 1
Dick Casablancas stumbled through the rooms of Shelley Pomroy's house, holding his pounding head and searching for his car keys. He wasn't sure what lucky girl had been the latest notch on his bedpost, but he hoped it wasn't Madison Sinclair. His on again-off again girlfriend was a pain in the ass and Dick wanted to spend a week of free off-again time drinking and partying. He had a flashback of the prior night and of a certain blonde in a virginal white dress doing things no virgin would do. Miss Veronica Mars. The 09'ers had shunned her and hated her for taking her dad's side on the Lilly Kane investigation and though Dick did whatever 09'er king Logan Echolls demanded, he didn't get the big deal. Veronica chose her family member instead of a crowd of people who were vicious and catty like Madison and Shelly. Even her best friends Logan and Duncan Kane had turned on her so quickly. Sticking with family seemed okay.
Dick groaned at the sudden contact of a table with his knee and stopped in front of a room with a large bed and his precious car keys on the night table.
"Hurrah!" he exclaimed and felt his head ring more.
The covers of the bed also moved and a blonde head was now visible. A girl. In a virginal white dress. Veronica Mars.
"What do we have here? Miss Pure staying overnight at a wild party?" Dick grabbed his car keys and was about to exit the room when he heard Veronica gasp.
He saw her sit up and examine the bed and then something under the covers. She jumped out of the bed, tears in her eyes and ran straight into him. She apparently hadn't seen him before.
"Oh god." She sobbed and fell to the floor.
"Veronica? What happened? Why are you crying?" Dick asked, not sure why he cared so much. Veronica was hot, but she was also off limits to the cool crowd. There was just something about her that made his inner gentleman and good guy persona want to come out.
"D-D-Did we sleep together?"
"You and me? Frankly, I wish. You're hot enough for me. And not as complicated as Madison."
"Dick, did we or did we not?" she repeated forcefully.
"No, sorry. You must be devastated at the loss." He grinned but soon frowned when she burst into tears again.
"Whoa. Are you this tore up at not sleeping with me? Well. I could do it quick if you want me to."
"No! Stay away from me!" She got up and glared at him.
"What's with the mood changes? I found you here and saved you the shame of waking up alone."
"Shame? What about the revulsion and the depression I feel?"
"What do you mean?" the surfer boy wrinkled his brow.
"Somebody drugged me and then raped me last night, Dick. I don't even know who." She said before a fresh wave of tears overcame her and she ran into Dick's arms, not caring who could comfort her.
Oh shit, he thought.
"I don't want to report it." She said again, but Dick ignored her.
After she'd cried for twenty minutes he looked her in the eyes and told her they were telling the Sheriff about this. She had begged him not to make her, but he said it had to be done. Could they let this rapist off the hook so easily? He pulled up in front of the Sheriff's department and opened the passenger door of the car.
"I'll go inside with you."
He led her inside where she entered Sheriff Lamb's office, giving him a sad face before the door closed behind her. Dick sat in a wooden chair and checked his cell phone. 7 missed calls and 2 voicemails. 4 calls from Madison and 3 from Logan. He deleted the voicemails without listening. He was dealing with something more important that crap from Madison and orders from Logan. Veronica, the sweet girl he'd been friends with years ago had been violated in various ways and she couldn't be alone. He was aware he wasn't the best person, he mistreated those around him on daily bases, but rape was something low and filthy. Something Veronica did not deserve.
Sheriff Lamb's office door opened and shut quickly. Veronica came out, fresh tears falling and she ran out of the building. Dick instant followed and grabbed her hand outside.
"What happened, Ronnie?" he reverted to the nickname he used when they were both 14 and weary friends through Logan and Lilly.
"He d-didn't believe me. He told me to see the w-wizard and ask for a b-backbone." she cried into Dick's chest, his blue shirt stained from all her tears.
"Fucking asshole."
"No one will care, no one will believe me. I have to live with this and resign myself to the fact that my virginity was taken from me. Just like that." She said, face blank and cold.
"No, Veronica. I won't let that happen. I believe you, I care and we are going to find out who did this to you. You have me now, okay?"
"You're an 09'er, Dick. Logan's your best friend and Madison is your girlfriend. I'm the shunned slut. It said so on my car, remember?"
Dick grimaced at the mention of her spray painted car. Probably done by Madison too.
"That doesn't matter to me. You matter now, Ronnie. I was a dick to you before. It's my nature and it's my name, but that changes now. I will help you find out who did this to you and I'll help you survive this school year. Deal?" he held out his hand.
"Deal." She said softly, placing her petite hand in his.
"How do I look?" Veronica asked her friend, posing with her newer, shorter haircut.
"Sexy and sassy."
"Do I look tough?"
"Hell yeah. You ain't gone be nobody's bitch, better recognize!" he snapped his fingers in the air.
"Please stop watching bad prison movies."
"Agreed."
"I want to be ready. School starts tomorrow, our dreaded junior year. Most of the school hates me, and one of them is the guy who raped me."
"Don't worry, Ronnie. You're ready. New haircut and new attitude, Aaaand new bestie! Dick Casablancas is the man for you. Not only am I amazingly handsome but I have a secret weapon. Intelligence."
"It must be more secret than Area 51."
"Hey! Wait, Area 51? Is that a stadium?"
Veronica's jaw opened.
"Just kidding! It's the alien place. I read the magazine article you recommended."
"Really? There were big words in there."
"I know, I used a dictionary when I needed help."
"Ah. True growth, ladies and gentlemen. True growth."
They both laughed.
Dick pulled into his regular parking spot at Neptune High and looked over at Veronica.
"Ready?"
"For what? Humiliation and hate?"
"Yes."
"I am. Are you ready?"
"For what?"
"Isolation and the loss of popularity?"
"Yes."
Veronica breathed in and out.
"Let's go."
Dick opened her door and carried her book bag. They were almost to the door when a yellow X-terra came to a dangerous stop in front of them.
"Hey there Dick, old buddy. Veronica Mars? Look what the prostitute dragged in?" Logan Echolls gave a malicious grin.
Here we go, the two friends thought.
