Not mine...belongs to CBS...belongs to CW...and anyone else that's not me...just my idea of fun...not meant for anything but entertainment.
This is a continuation of my first Moonlight/Veronica Mars crossover (Who are You?). It would help if you read the first one. This takes place 3 months after that one.
This is a redo so most of you've read it.
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"Son, it's time you realize that some times you are going to do things that are shall we say "not inside what the law allows" in order to keep what's yours or get what you want. When you have the kind of power and money we have and want to acquire more or keep what you have, you play by a different set of rules than the rest of the world. For instance there are people that are trying to take things away from me and I'm going to take care of all of them."
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Veronica thinks about the last three months and the impact that Josef and Logan are still having on each other's lives. Josef gives Logan a security that he's never experienced from family. His mother and his stepfather were not strong people. They were erratic at best, abusive at worst. The strength and confidence that Josef irradiates washes over his son and makes him feel safe for the first time in his life. After a while Josef doesn't even have to be present for Veronica to be able to see the difference in Logan. He is much more relaxed than she's ever remembered him being. Certainly he will still beat anyone to a pulp who gets on the wrong side of him or hurts Veronica but his quick temper is slowly fading. He is less apt to go off on a whim of anger and do something destructive. Part of it she thinks is because Logan knows that no matter what happens Josef will be there for him like no one else ever has been, even herself, she has to admit.
Logan already has the same code Josef does when it comes to those he cares for. Each of them believes you only get to their loved ones through them. At times they can be over protective and it drives Veronica to distraction, one is bad enough, but two is maddening. Her own father isn't as bad as these two. Veronica chides herself; he would be if he knew as much as they do. That's how she's dealt with her father most of her adult life. She keeps him out of the loop, especially now that he's sheriff again. They are all learning where to give and take on the subject of Veronica and Logan's safety. Veronica is allowing help before things get too crazy and Josef agrees to call off his watchdogs.
Of course Josef still has an ace in the hole, as Logan and Veronica don't realize Weevil is one of his watchdogs and he isn't about to tell them either.
Logan for his part is teaching Josef how to enjoy life at a more basic level. Surfing on the weekends is a big part of that. Josef had forgotten how much he enjoyed the sport when he had done it 50 years earlier. They have developed a nice camaraderie and competition that has a very comfortable feel to it.
Josef bought a beachfront house in Neptune that boasts some of the best waves in the area. At first it's just Josef, Logan and Veronica spending most weekends there. Mick and Beth start dropping in now and then when Mick's caseload is light and Beth isn't in the middle of a story.
After awhile even Dick and Mac and some of their other friends start hanging out on weekends. It seems so odd to Josef that they don't seem to have any real curiosity about him beyond the fact that he looks remarkably like his "brother". He's just Logan's brother and he likes to surf. Josef discovers it's a pretty nice escape.
Josef manages to feed just fine on bottled blood over the weekends from a hidden fridge without wasting away and no one is the wiser. He hasn't quite turned that particular corner with Logan and Veronica yet. They haven't seen him feed except from a glass. They know how he usually feeds but they haven't actually seen him do it. They have spent a good deal of time together over the last three months but all of it at either their place or the beach house. He knows the day is coming when he will have to invite them all the way into his life but he is afraid it will put one more target on them and he's not ready for them to be targets for vampires. They seem to have enough threats from the human variety. Between Logan's temperament and Veronica's P.I. work they do seem to have their fair share of people who are not overly fond of them.
Work stops dominating every single aspect of Josef's life. Mick watches this with quiet amusement. It is something he would have never thought possible.
Josef is slowly learning to be more comfortable with the company of humans, which irritates him no end. He wants to be part of Logan's life but he is loath to be pulled back into the human experience.
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It's one of those odd weekends were everyone is tied up doing something else and so the three of them have the beach to themselves. Veronica likes company but sometimes it is just so relaxing when it's just the three of them. This is one of those perfectly clear moonlit nights, with a warm breeze. Veronica marvels at how peaceful it is.
And then the roof falls in and all hell breaks loose.
She watches them walk across the sand. Each of them is dripping wet, just emerging from the surf. They both carry identical surfboards. When they are dressed alike, most people have to stop and really look at them to tell them apart. If you know them you will look at the eyes and that is enough to tell one from the other and if it is moonlight like tonight you will have to watch the way they move. She knows Logan and the way he moves well enough that even if they try, they can't fool her. As they approach she studies them. They are so much alike except Logan moves like a 19-year-old human and his father moves like a 400-year-old vampire. She smiles; it isn't something you can fake. Josef has a strength and assurance that comes with more time than humans ever get. Veronica doesn't know if Logan will ever move like that but she doesn't care. She loves him just the way he is. Logan and Veronica are perfectly matched. They live, love and fight like 19 year olds. Life is good...to good it seems...
Josef takes the first two bullets in the shoulder. He is thankful that fate has stuck her finger in him and not Logan. He doesn't like bullets much but he can take it. He realizes immediately what's happening and he pulls Logan down with him. Veronica is watching Logan walk across the beach appreciating the view in the moonlight. When they go down she knows right away what is wrong. She is already on the ground sitting by the bonfire. She crawls away into the dark and hides in the deep shadows of the dock. As soon as Logan realizes they are under attack he looks to her and sees her disappear into the dark. He knows she isn't hit. No one will find her until she is ready. Veronica grew up by the water. She doesn't surf but she swims like a fish and if she has to, she will go into the sea and surface somewhere else.
One of the things that Mick and Josef taught them is that if something happens and they are separated that they need to have a contact point, some place to meet later or someone to call. They have both. Josef insists on buying a small house on the outskirts of Neptune and another in LA just for this purpose. Neither is anything special just nice middle class neighborhoods nobody will look twice at. He has people who come and do the yard work and keep them up just waiting in case something happens and they need to hide. They are always supposed to go to whichever one is closest. The hope of course is they will never need them. Also, they are suppose to call Mick and Beth, who will do whatever needs to be done to help. The thought is that if Logan or Veronica is in trouble that Josef most certainly will be also. As it turns it is the correct assumption. Personally Veronica has always worried that if the three of them are in trouble than someone will have Mick covered as well since he and Beth are so much apart of Josef's life.
When Logan sees Veronica disappear into the shadows it is hard to let her go and not run after her to protect her but this is what they had drummed into them in order for them to survive. Josef and Mick know that they are both capable of making it on their own. Logan also knows that Josef needs his help right now. He has only taken two slugs but they must be coated with silver because Josef is struggling and his body should be starting to repair itself by now and it doesn't seem to be happening at the rate it normally does. Logan has seen Josef and Mick heal and this isn't near as fast as it was before, something is wrong. He can hear Josef's labored breathing. He doesn't sound good. It is starting to scare Logan. He has to find a way to get Josef off this beach and get him some blood. Even if it is his own. More importantly he has to get the silver out of Josef's shoulder.
Veronica sees them move across the beach. She can see that Josef is the one who is hurt and not Logan. Josef will heal and then somebody is going to be sorry. Veronica has her cell phone with her. She always carries it in case of emergency. She learned long ago to keep it in a watertight bag at the beach to keep out the sand and surf. She and Josef share a heightened sense of security. She doesn't dare make any noise by voice but she will be damned if Mick isn't going to be warned. Mick and Beth have their first child on the way and Veronica has to warn them. Veronica gets into the shelter of a dock piling and puts it between her and where she believes the bullets are coming from. She leans over the small phone and sends a text to Mick.
Josef shot. Heading for the contact point. Cover yourself V.
She turns the phone off and returns it to the watertight bag and into the water she goes. She knows that she can easily swim south and that she will run into the highway and can catch a ride from there and disappear into town and make her way to the safe house. It is killing her to leave. If it were Logan or Josef alone out there nothing would make her leave but she knows the two of them are more than a match for whoever is stupid enough to shoot at them. For once she does what she is told. She hopes Logan realizes she left the gun for them.
Logan has to find a way to get them off this beach. It is so wide open. It is either up to the house and hope like hell the whole thing is an accident, although with silver coated bullets that is doubtful or go for the water. Logan crawls over to where Veronica had been sitting and under her towel and the cooler is her gun and two clips. She left it for him. He knows that means that she's going for the water. She won't risk the house without a gun. He grabs the gun and clips and snakes back to the shadows.
Josef sees Logan with the gun. "Logan, go. Leave. Go into the water and get to the safe house."
Logan doesn't even bother to look over at his father. He has no intention of leaving him on the beach waiting for someone to put another bullet in him or worse.
"Come on Josef. We need to get you off the beach. There is only one place to go. Veronica left me the gun. I'm going to the house. I've got both clips. I'll clear it however I have to and then I'm going to get those bullets out of you. Damn things have to be coated."
Josef hears Logan's voice but is too weak to argue with him. Logan half carries Josef as close as he can to the house and leaves him behind a small storage building. Josef helplessly watches as Logan in a very low crouch goes against everything he and Mick taught him as he goes for the house. Damn kid.
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Mick hears his phone go off and looks down to see the text Veronica sent him. He immediately goes to the panel in the wall and hits the metal blinds for the skylights that he had installed after Shepherd managed to go through them. He isn't going to have that happen again. Shepherd almost killed Beth and Audrey.
He runs upstairs to find Beth. When he gets there he is so intent on her being in the bedroom that he doesn't listen for her heartbeat so when he gets there and she isn't there he panics for half a second and then he hears their heartbeats loud and clear. She is relaxing in the tub. He goes into the bathroom. Her pregnancy is just starting to show. He thinks she's more beautiful by the day. Beth thinks he has come into wash her back for her. She turns to look at him and knows by the look on his face that whatever it is, it is bad.
"What's happened? Is everyone ok?"
"I don't know. There is no way to tell." He tells her the message that he got from Veronica. Beth gets out of the tub and starts drying off. "I'll get dressed and we can be on the road in 10 minutes."
"You might as well sit right back down. We aren't going anywhere. The three of us are staying right here. Veronica probably took a big risk getting a text off to me and she did it for one reason. To make sure that we're in a safe place."
Beth continues to dry off and gets dressed. Mick turns and walks out of the room. He can see that it is going to be one hell of a fight, but if that's what it takes to keep her and the baby safe then so be it. The only person that ever comes before Beth isn't born yet and he isn't going to risk her for anyone.
When Beth comes down the stairs he is braced for her anger but he has underestimated her again. "You go. You and I know that if they can get through the security in this place that it won't matter if you're here or not so you might as well get out there and help Josef and the kids. I know I can't go. It's different now….."
Mick starts to argue, but he knows she is right. Anyone would have to level the building to get in here. "You give me your word that this time you really will stay put?"
She was standing at the bottom of the steps absently rubbing her stomach. "Only because of the little one. Normally I'd tell you to go to hell but I have a responsibility to someone else now."
He nods. "There is something you can do to help." That gets her attention.
"What?"
"You can be a relay for information. It sounds like everyone might be scattered and it will help if you can find out where everyone is and let me know who is where and if they are hurt or not."
Mick looks at his watch. "Starting in thirty minutes, I want you to start calling everyone's cell numbers and the beach house and you might even try Josef's house and the kids place. Hit 'em all. Try again every fifteen minutes until you reach someone. If you reach anyone find out how they are where they are and call me and let me know what you find out. I'll be on the bike so just leave a message and I'll get it as soon as I get where I'm going. If anyone asks I'm headed out to the beach house. It's going to take me probably an hour to get down there."
Beth smiles. He can see how much it means to her to be able to help. He kisses her deeply, grabs his gun and leaves the apartment. She puts everything back into lock down once he gets out the door.
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Logan stays low and very slowly works his way up the side of the yard. He stays in the deep shadows. He knows if there are vamps in the house he is screwed. They will hear and smell him long before he gets there but if they are humans he has a chance. He thinks that that since they are using a gun it means that they are probably human, at least that's what he tells himself. Logan approaches the house and tries the side door to the garage. The side door opens with a small click. He scans the area in the dim light and looks for anything that is out of place. He can see where the moonlight streams in against one wall but it isn't on the wall as it should be. There was something altering the way the light shows up against the wall. Logan takes aim and then stops as the neighbor's cat jumps from the shelf. Damn. How does that thing keep getting in? He figures out that there isn't anyone in the garage so he goes back to check on Josef. He seems to be doing better. Even with the silver it seems his body is slowly healing some of the damage at least the bleeding has stopped. He helps Josef travel the same shadows he had a moment ago. They enter the garage and Logan looks at Josef questioningly.
Josef holds up one finger. So, there is one human inside. Josef grabs at his son's arm to try and stop him but he misses. Logan gently pushes the connecting door to the house open. He slowly and as quietly as possible walks farther down the hall to the living room. Logan turns the corner into the living room and no one pops out at him.
Logan holds the automatic just as Mick taught him. He is just about to go around the corner to the kitchen when he feels his father's hand on his shoulder. He jumps a little, as he is so intent on listening for any noise in the next room he doesn't realize Josef is behind him. Josef takes the gun from him and motions for Logan to stay put. Josef isn't sure how much the man in the kitchen knows and since he is a human he will deal with him on human terms until he finds out what the hell is going on. Josef knows if Logan goes through the door he will be forced to try and kill the man because the shooter will be sure he is better and faster than the young man and Logan may end up taking a bullet himself. Josef can't risk that, so by force of will he gets himself moving and takes the gun from Logan. Josef is putting everything he has into controlling the predator inside him. Between the pain and the anger he's having a hell of a time.
Josef silently moves through the open doorway and puts a bullet in the floor next to the man. He doesn't say anything; he just stands there letting him realize that he will kill him in a heartbeat if he moves. Josef knows that he doesn't look all that much older than Logan but attitude is what it's really about. If you have the confidence to kill people and they believe you will do it, then you're already ahead. Logan just doesn't have that attitude, probably because thankfully he hasn't had to kill anyone. The man looks into Josef's emotionless eyes and raises his hands. He's seen death before.
"Here's how it's going to play out. Logan here is going to tie you up and you are going to let him. If you screw this up your dead it's that simple. I won't risk him or me for you so if I even think your going to make a play I'll take the easy way and just kill you. If you behave there is a chance you may get out of this alive. Do you understand?"
Wordlessly the man nods.
Josef watches the man and realizes this is high priced talent. This isn't just some guy who Logan got the better of or some cheating husband Veronica crossed in her P.I. work. He isn't sweating with fear; his heartbeat isn't off the charts. This man is a professional, calm, collected and ready for anything. So the questions start to pop into Josef's head. Who sent him? Was he shooting at Logan or Josef? Josef is sure in the end this man won't be alive but he needs answers and wants him alive for now. Josef never leaves anyone behind him who means him serious harm.
Logan comes back from the garage with a roll of duct tape and proceeds to make short work of getting the man bound and gagged. Once he is done Josef hands him the gun and drops to the floor in the living room.
Veronica sits on the beach side of the highway, down below where she can see anyone coming at her from the water and have running room if anyone comes from the highway. She's glad it's a warm night because she's dripping wet. She's in a small park that thankfully has cover for her to hide in. She decides to wait for morning. She knows that there is a free bus that the city runs that goes from the park back into town but it doesn't start until 6am. The city is always trying to find ways to get people to leave their cars. Veronica waits off the road and stays out of site waiting for the bus. Hopefully she'll be half way dray by morning. She is scared to death for Logan and Josef. As soon as he turns her phone on to see if someone will give her the all clear sign it begins to vibrate. She sees it is Beth but doesn't answer. She's afraid to make a sound. She waits till Beth disconnects and sends a text to Beth telling her where she is. Beth's phone starts to ring before she can make the next call. She sees it's a text from V and relays the information to Mick.
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