A/N: Thanks for the reviews, folks :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 4 - The Morning After

When Veronica woke, she had a moment of panic, unable to recall where she was or why. As her vision cleared and her head ached, she remembered first the drinking and then her partner in that particular activity. Weevil was a good man, despite his rap sheet and whatever the good people of Neptune might say or think. He had been a real friend when she needed one last night and not for the first time. In all their years of owing each other favours, after this, she was pretty sure she was in debt to him for a good long while.

Shifting her body and meaning to get up from the couch, Veronica hadn't realised that her head was not on a pillow, but on the chest of Eli Navarro himself. In fact, he had his arm around her too, holding her close, keeping her safe. Veronica couldn't help but smile. She probably just had the best sleep she had managed in a while, despite the fact she was more perpendicular than horizontal. Maybe the booze helped, but it wasn't the whole reason, that much she was certain on.

Carefully, even regretfully, Veronica picked up Weevil's arm and removed it from her body, gently slipping out of his grasp and away. She didn't want to wake him, not least because he probably needed the sleep. They had him working like a dog at Hearst most days and Veronica doubted it was the only job Weevil was holding down right now. Besides, if he was awake they might have to talk about how they ended up all snuggly and that would just be awkward. There had definitely been some walking on a very fine line lately for the both of them, between the friends they were and what might've been, what could yet be, Veronica supposed. Now didn't seem like a smart time to think about it.

Reaching into her bag, she grabbed a notepad and pen. Scribbling a quick note, she folded it in half, wrote his initials on the outside, and propped it on the coffee table where Weevil would see it as soon as he woke up. Stepping back, Veronica gave him one last look and then turned to go, silently closing the door behind her as she finally left.

The moment the door clicked shut, Weevil opened his eyes and sighed. He had been awake for a good half hour but just hadn't been able to bear the idea of disturbing Veronica. She was always beautiful, but practically angelic when she slept. He hadn't known that before this morning, of course, though he always suspected.

When she woke up, he had closed his eyes and feigned sleep again, stupidly hoping she might just decide to stay a little longer. Unfortunately, she hadn't. It would've been awkward, Weevil knew that, but they could've handled it. Two friends falling asleep on each other after too much to drink, it didn't have to be a big deal. Of course, with them, it was bound to be, especially after the way their conversations had been going lately.

Weevil had a feeling he was an idiot for ever thinking Veronica wanted him as more than a friend, even though she had admitted to thinking about it in the past. The future was a whole other ballgame, as confirmed to Eli Navarro when he leaned forward and picked up Veronica's note from the table and read it.

'Eli,
I'm sorry about last night but thank you for everything.
You're the best friend a girl could hope for.
V.'

"Best friend," he said to himself, rubbing a hand over his face. "You're killin' me, V. You're really killin' me."

It was ridiculous to play avoidance tactics with such a good friend. After her classes were done for the day, Veronica decided she was going to go find Weevil and that was just that. It was three days now since she woke up from a peaceful sleep with his arm around her and snuck out of his apartment before he woke up. Veronica didn't feel guilty about much, but running away from a good friend without any real explanation and then avoiding him for days afterwards did not make her feel good about herself, that was for sure.

"Hey," she greeted him from the corner of the hallway, making a conscious effort not to tilt her head like she always used to when she was usually after a favour.

"Hey, you sought me out," he said, glancing up from the work he was completing on something electrical that Veronica sure didn't understand. "I was starting to think you were actually avoiding me."

"To borrow a well-known phrase from another blonde, 'As if!'" she declared, grinning as she walked over to him. "I've just been busy with class and I figured you were busy with work."

"Plus, despite what you like to tell people about having no shame or cares in the world, you felt weird about falling asleep on me the other night," he told her smartly.

Veronica realised one more time that of all people it was Weevil that could still cause her to blush on occasion, something very few others ever managed these days.

"Yeah, that was a weird situation," she said, ducking her head and smiling in spite of herself. "Kind of new territory for us."

"Hey, don't sweat it, V," he told her, the moment she dared look at him again. "It's cool. You drank too much, probably we both did. Besides, I take it as a compliment. You don't fall asleep on guys you don't trust."

"That is true." Veronica nodded.

She really hadn't thought of that one, but Weevil made a valid point. Leaning on the wall next to the box he was working on, she sighed.

"So, you been fixing anything real interesting lately?"

Weevil smiled at that.

"You're lousy at small talk, Mars. How about you ask me what I was doing outside of work, because that you might actually want to hear about."

"Ooh, do I really wanna know?" she asked with a look.

"Get your mind out of the gutter," he told her, rolling his eyes. "You remember when I came into your class and told them all how I stole some guy's car and had it crushed?" he said, leaning in closer and speaking in a low voice.

"Sure. Why?"

"Maybe I was thinking of reliving the old days," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

He moved away from the wall and towards a bag of tools lying on a nearby table. Veronica followed him, intrigued as ever, especially when Weevil handed her a scrap of paper. On it was an address she vaguely recognised and the details of a car that she definitely didn't.

"A Mercedes with plates that read 'gotzmine'?" she said, frowning and shaking her head at the same time. "I respect your want to crush that car, but why specifically?"

"Thought it might make you feel better." Weevil shrugged, not even looking at her anymore.

Veronica was at a loss for all of thirty seconds before she put the clues together just like always.

"This is Madison Sinclair's address," she realised, "and Madison Sinclair's car?"

"See, you always were smart."

"Weevil, you're not serious," said Veronica, looking around and hoping that nobody had overheard any part of this conversation.

"You ever known me be a real funny guy?" he checked, giving her a look. "C'mon, V, the bitch has it coming, for all kinds of reasons. We both know Daddy'll just buy her a new car, but I figure it'd make you feel better to see this one cubed at least. Hell, I think it'd make me feel better."

Veronica snickered at that, she couldn't help it. As gestures went, this was a pretty weird one, and yet kind of perfect all the same. Of course, she would like to see Madison Sinclair's precious car crushed. Of course, it would make her feel better about that whole horrible situation.

"I'd say you've done enough favours for me lately," she told Weevil with a sigh, "but is it really a favour if it's something we'd both enjoy?"

She hadn't mean it to come out in quite the way it did, but when she met his eyes, Veronica knew he took it that way. Maybe she meant it that way too, she was having trouble telling these days.

"Say the word, V. I'll get it done."

Veronica had to shake herself, remind herself they were talking about getting a car crushed, because quite honestly the things in her head when he looked at her like that were not appropriate. Of course, she couldn't remember why they weren't appropriate right now since she was single and he was single and they liked and trusted each other well enough. 'Mind on the task at hand, Mars,' she thought then, forcing herself to focus.

"Do it," she said then with a terrible smirk.

"Consider it done," Weevil agreed, grinning right back at her as he raised his fist for her to bump.

Veronica didn't leave him hanging. She never would.

The case of Bonnie Capistrano's unintentional miscarriage was all very unpleasant. Veronica took no pleasure in uncovering Bonnie's best friend and dorm-mate as the culprit and was glad to be done with the whole sorry situation. At least she had something to look forward to in amongst all the drama. Weevil had called her a few hours before, reminding her that if she wanted to see German engineering reduced to a cube, to come by the yard around two o'clock. She was there with time to spare, not caring that it was raining at all, though her smile was as much for Weevil as for the car waiting to be crushed.

"You actually did it," she said, shaking her head as she walked around the car to join him, umbrella in hand.

"You doubted me?" he checked, faking hurt.

"Never," she promised, moving in closer to keep the rain off of him as well as herself.

"So, we're all set to go as soon as they finish. I even washed it so it'd be shiny when we crush it. I know it doesn't sound logical, but trust me, it's much better."

"I'll take your word on it." Veronica nodded.

She ought to feel guilty, she knew that she did, but Madison so had this coming. Like she told Weevil days before, she wasn't jealous. This really wasn't about Logan anymore. Yes, what he did had hurt her, despite them being broken up at the time it happened and had broken them up all over again when she found out. He did something she knew would cause maximum pain if Veronica ever found out and it was awful knowing someone she had loved would ever want to do that to her. Still, that was all over now and Veronica felt she was adjusting pretty well to life with Logan Echolls, but that didn't mean she was over what Madison had done. She had to have known what she was doing, the pain she would cause, the hurt. She could have any man, Veronica was sure, but Madison had gone after Logan with intent. She had done so many awful things, Veronica felt not a hint of remorse about what she and Weevil were about to do here today.

"You're doin' that thoughtful thing, Mars," he said, nudging her elbow with his own. "Please don't tell me you're backing out now."

"Not a chance," she promised, looping her arm through his own and squeezing. "I only wish I'd've thought of it myself."

"Your devious mind could use a vacation anyway," he told her, smirking some.

The guy operating the crusher came over then, spoke a few words, then started to load the Mercedes into the machine. As far as Weevil could tell, Veronica either forgot she had a hold of his arm, which seemed unlikely, or she liked hanging onto him. Honestly, he had no problem with that whatsoever.

As Madison's car slipped into the crusher, 'gotzmine' plates and all, Veronica sighed. Weevil looked sideways at her and could've sworn he saw a weight lift off her shoulders as the Mercedes was well and truly destroyed. The money he laid out to make this happen, the risk he had taken too, it was all worth it, every cent and every second.

"Thank you for this, Eli," she said then, turning to meet his eyes. "It's what I needed."

"No problem, V," he told her, mirroring her infectious smile.

He wasn't quite ready when she suddenly moved closer, laying her lips on his own, but Weevil wasn't dumb enough to let a chance slide by. His hand moved quickly to the back of her head, holding her there while he kissed her back. The moment didn't last long. When he felt her trying to get away, he let her, despite his dented pride. He wasn't about to push his luck too far.

"Um, okay," said Veronica, seemingly stunned for a moment. "I didn't... I mean, it was a thank you, right? I wasn't... I didn't mean for you to think-"

"Veronica?" he said, shaking his head. "Do me a favour, stop talking," he urged her, turning quickly away.

Before she could stop him, Weevil had turned up his collar and started walking against the rain towards his car, leaving her alone. Veronica sighed and internally cursed herself for being so stupid. So much for feeling better about things.

To Be Continued...