Veronica hated being late. She rushed into the office juggling her leather messenger bag, 3 large case files, and her Venti Caramel Macchiato. More than being late, she hated being stood up. When she waited at the coffee shop that Friday morning, 30 minutes went by as she watched both doors and got up to examine the odds and ends being sold. She was going to give him a piece of her mind the minute she had the chance. When she walked into the office only to find him chatting with 'The Boys Club' to which all the rookies save two belonged, she was out and out pissed off. She dropped everything but her macchiato on her desk and glared in his direction. If he was trying to convince her that their relationship meant more to him than her assumed booty call status, he had lost his last chance. Not only did he make her late to work by not showing, he didn't even appear to care. Veronica walked purposefully over to Callie Farmer as she observed a sort of buzz about the office.
"Hey Callie. What's going on around here? I thought the big debriefing would've started by now."
"Apparently we're waiting for some big shot profiler to come in from Virginia. Rumors are flying all over the place about how we're all in for a big treat." Callie answered with mock excitement. "Oh my God!" She gasped.
"What?" Veronica asked sipping her macchiato as she turned to look in the direction Callie stared with wide eyes. The next thing Veronica realized, her macchiato was on the ground.
"Smoothe, V." Callie laughed. "Celebrity crush, much?"
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Veronica voiced, forgetting the drink all over the floor as she stomped over in the direction of the celebrity. "What the HELL are you doing here?" She growled loudly.
"I thought you were assigned to NYC?!" He sighed.
"Try LA. I repeat. What the hell are you doing here?" Veronica grabbed his elbow and dragged him to a corner to cut down on the stares coming from her colleagues.
"I'm here on a job, Veronica. How 'bout we hold this conversation another time?" He warily eyed the growing crowd of eyes.
"You disappeared on me three years ago and never said anything about leaving. Then you show up at MY work and expect me to just let it go?!" Her emotions were getting away from her.
"No. I expect you to act professionally and not dredge up a bunch of high school bullshit in front of 15 prying Feds." He was pushing her buttons desperately trying to get her to compose herself.
"Stupid high school bullshit?! That's what you think this is about?"
"Mars! I see you've met Mr. Echolls." Agent Hendricks stated. As he rushed into the office, the crowd dissipated. "Briefing room. Two minutes!" He announced to the room at large. He escorted Logan into his office.
"What the hell was that?!" Callie asked, unsure if she was impressed or offended that she knew nothing about this development in the life and times of Veronica Mars.
"That. Was Logan Echolls," Veronica said, her mind clouding over as she walked toward the briefing room.
"Veronica! What the hell?" Seth quizzed territorially.
"Coffee this morning was great, Seth! Thanks for asking." Veronica slammed past Seth into the large briefing room and slumped down into her regular seat. Anger enveloped her as she began to come to grips with the fact that her bad mood caused a temporary bout of insanity. Oh holy shit. Did I just completely lose it in front of everyone?! Shit. Shit. Shit!
"You realize you just left your coffee on the ground for me to clean up." Callie smirked as she sat gingerly next to Veronica.
"I plead temporary insanity. I owe you one, Cal."
"Damn straight. You also owe me a BIG explanation."
"Good morning." Hendricks stated authoritatively as if there were no doubt anywhere in his mind that no one in this room could possibly disagree. Logan stood back at the entrance to the room as Hendricks walked up to the podium. Veronica stared at Logan without regard to her co-workers sideways glances. He looks good. Maybe a little older, and his hair is darker, or shorter? Hotter. God, what am I thinking? Logan observed the environment as Hendricks led in to his announcement. Veronica could tell he was sizing people up. She had seen him do this in high school like a lion estimating the competition. He was preparing himself to take over as king. No wedding ring. "So I think we'll have a better chance cracking this case with the help of Special Agent Logan Echolls, who is quickly becoming the most requested profiler in the business." Veronica attempted to prevent the look of shock on her face. Unsuccessfully. Wait, which case? Crap, why wasn't I listening?
Six hours later, the entire office was enthralled at the insight Logan offered into the suspect and his patterns and how to go about nailing him to the wall. Veronica was wondering who on earth had switched bodies with Logan Echolls. I saw Face/Off. That is, until she realized he had dropped a not on her desk.
Veronica,
We should talk. Dinner's at 7:30. I'll pick you up.
-LE
PS…What do you say we try a cease-fire for a change?