Title: Could This Be Happening? Part 4
Author: christykq
Rating: M for language and innuendos mostly, some sex
Characters/Pairings: LoVe, ensemble
Spoilers: Begins with 3.05 and goes through S3.
Disclaimer: I own nothing in the VM universe, it all belongs to the master RT. I also do not earn a profit from any one of the many brand names named in my story and no copyright infringement is intended. Transcripts from Indigo Mantoya at twiztv dot com.
A/N: Character's thoughts are italic.
Part 4
VMVMVMVM
During 3.07 Of Vice and Men
Early November 2006: 5 weeks pregnant
Veronica is packing a few clothes in an overnight bag in her bedroom. Keith appears at her door.
"Where you staying these days?" Keith questions softly.
Veronica doesn't stop what she's doing.
Keith continues, "If I can be so bold. You didn't come home last night."
Veronica doesn't acknowledge Keith's presence.
"I called Logan's room at the Grand. He… said you didn't stay there with him. I think he thought you were staying here last night."
Finally, Veronica responds to Keith. "I didn't come home last night, you didn't come home the other night." She looks away and zips up her travel bag.
"That's what this is about? Don't you think we should talk?"
"Do you?" She snarks and brushes past her father, out the front door.
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Veronica's worst nightmare is happening right before her eyes. She and Logan are having a screaming argument in the middle of the Hearst College's quad. Their voices are loud and angry. Their walk isn't so much a walk but a I-stomp-away-you-catch-up dance. People are gawking. Veronica is irate and emotional. Logan is aggravated and tense.
"How bad does your alibi have to be if Mercer would rather stay in jail then divulge it? Huh?"
He doesn't respond. She laughs to herself, disgusted and walks away.
Logan chases after her again. "When have you ever not wanted to know anything?" He tries to control his temper. "Your dad called me last night. He woke me up wanting to know where you were."
"Is that so?" She stops and takes a breath.
He lowers his voice. "So, where are you staying these days?"
"God damn it, Logan!" She looks up at him with tears in her eyes. She exhales loudly. "You want me to trust you but you don't believe in me enough to tell me what you were doing with Mercer." He steps closer to her. She looks down and sniffles.
He moves within a few inches of her and holds her hands in his.
Veronica blinks back tears and watches Logan's thumb make circles on the back of her hands. She speaks softly, "Every person in my life right now is disappointing me. I feel so lost, Logan. My dad is sleeping with a married woman. My mentor could be a murderer. And, you, you can't even tell me where you were when someone was raped this summer." She slowly glances up to his face.
"Oh, I see now. You think I helped Mercer do this." He spits. He drops her hands from his. "You're unbelievable, you know that!"
Veronica starts to cry harder and grabs for his hands again, but doesn't deny his claim. He steps away from her and runs his fingers through his hair. There is a long moment of silence.
"You know, I was just offered an amazing shot at getting into the FBI internship this summer." She speaks just above a whisper, looking at the ground. Tears run down her cheeks. "Do you know how long I have dreamt of being FBI?" She shakes her head incredulously.
"I can't do this right now." She says so softly he barely hears her. She turns and walks away from him. He freezes in his spot, unable to move his feet. Veronica wipes her tears diligently walking in the direction of her next class. She knows Logan didn't follow her. He was tired of following her. Running away was her specialty.
With swollen eyes, blotchy red checks, smeared make-up, and foggy vision, Veronica decides to sit on a bench at the edge of the sidewalk and tries to gather herself before attending English 101. God, when did my life get so disappointing? I'm going to have a baby. I should be bouncing to my next class. Where is all the love and support from everyone noticing THE GLOW? This sucks in so many ways.
She finds her cell phone to make a call and notices one new voicemail and one new text message in the last ten minutes. She listens to the voicemail: "Hey… it's me. I… I don't really know what to say… I didn't enjoy the Logan and Veronica show in the quad… I'm thinking about you… I know you're upset just please call me." Veronica pressed delete and read the text message: 'ILY' Tears begin to fall once again. Damn hormones.
She speed dials Mac's number after a few minutes of crying and gets Mac's voicemail. "It's Mac. Call back." Veronica chuckles to herself. "Hey Mac-attack, I haven't seen you around in a while. I was hoping we could get together for a girl's night out? Call me back." She closes her phone, decides to ditch her class and buy some ice cream before heading back to Wallace's room to study.
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Veronica glances around the food court and notices Dr. Landry across the room. She dismisses herself from Meryl and Scarlett's conversation and approaches Professor Landry. "Dr. Landry?"
He turns in her direction. "Veronica. Have a seat. Share a rib."
"I don't like to get my hands dirty."
He ignores her jab. "How's your application?
"Well, here's the thing, I thought about it, and I'm gonna pass on the FBI thing. So, you'll get my 'plan a perfect murder' paper along with everyone else's."
"I don't quite understand. Why?"
"Why? Because..." Because I am pregnant and my life is a mess she wants to scream. "…Because I'm not sure I'll get much out of a special summer program if I feel I've been bought off.
Landry puts his tray down on the empty table. His eyes burn into her. "Why would you feel bought off?"
"I was never gonna tell anyone about your... situation with the dean's wife. I guess I don't think any less of you as a professor. I just don't feel right about taking this. The internship feels like hush money."
Professor Landry stresses, "Take the internship. There's no quid pro quo here. I'm not worried about what you might say about what you saw at the Grand. This is about nothing more or less than the fact that you are, by far, my strongest student. Forget me, Veronica. Think about you. Think about how this would look on your résumé.
"My résumé?" She says incredulously. My résumé is the least of my worries right now, she scoffs to herself.
"Three more years, and that's all that's gonna matter about what happened here. Think it over."
Veronica stares at Dr. Landry for a few extra seconds and thinks. Three more years? Oh my god, my life is going to be so different in three more years. She exhales and exits the food court.
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Veronica approaches a sleeping Logan in his bed at the Neptune Grand and turns on the lamp. Logan stirs and sees Veronica standing next to his bed.
Sleepily, rubbing his eyes, Logan says, "Something tells me this isn't a booty call."
"I got what you need to get Mercer out of jail. It's yours, Logan. No one has to know where you were that night... no one except me." Veronica doesn't look at his face.
Logan moves to a sitting position, still in his bed. "Can you leave it alone? Can you trust me?"
They stare at each other for a long moment, Veronica's eyes filling with tears. "No, I can't. I'm not built that way." She pauses. "You ask me to trust you. I'm having your baby, for God's sakes, Logan. You don't think this isn't hard for me to think you might be involved in these rapes…"
"So I'm involved in these rapes. You really th-…" He shouts cutting her sentence off.
"… You didn't let me finish. Involved in these rapes, guilty by association, Logan." She looks directly in his eyes and emphasizes the last part of her sentence. "You would never hurt any woman like that, but I'm not sure Mercer isn't taking advantage of your loyalty and friendship."
Logan exhales. "Who gets blackmailed by his girlfriend?"
Veronica drops her head, but doesn't back down. He stares at her. "Oh, I guess I do."
He drops his head and sighs. Veronica risks a glance at him, waiting for his explanation.
"We were in Tijuana."
Veronica nods.
"You know, we partied all night. I mean, it was no big deal. And when we got back to our rooms, he started making these drinks, flaming DPs. You know, you set a shot glass of rum and amaretto on fire, and you drop it in a beer."
"Hold on. Let me get a pen. I want to jot down this recipe."
"He set the room on fire."
"He did? And where were you for all this fun?"
"Asleep in my room."
"Alone?" Veronica struggles to say and unconsciously rubs her stomach in a circular motion.
"Yeah, alone." He says quietly.
She scoffs. "Well, then, you're not really much of an alibi, are you?"
"We were in Mexico, Veronica. We had adjoining rooms. I g-... I mean, the door between the rooms was open. I could hear them."
"Them?"
"There were girls in his room. Is that what you want to know?"
Veronica turns away from him. Logan throws back the covers and slides out of bed, angry. "I am your boyfriend and the father of your child, Veronica, and you're treating me like a criminal."
"You could have told all this to Lamb."
Logan continues, "By the time we got out of the room, the fire was spreading. The whole motel was going up in flames. Okay, w-…" Logan runs his hand through his hair. "And, I don't know, we had to get out of there."
"You didn't stick around to try to help?" She is appalled. "You didn't see if everyone was okay?"
Logan looks down at the floor before responding. "You know, it's because of the look on your face right now that I didn't want to tell you. I did what nine out of ten guys in my situation would have done. I ran. You know, so, either Mercer sits in jail here, or he gives his alibi and sits on his ass in some Mexican jail. At least here he's innocent."
She gathers her thoughts. "Tell Lamb to check the log at the campus radio station." Veronica turns and starts walking out of the suite. "That should get your friend released."
"You're just going to leave? Don't you think we should talk about this? What about your internship? Are you staying at your dad's?" He spits out quickly before she can leave the suite.
Veronica has tears running down her face when she turns to look at him. "I can't talk about that stuff right now, Logan. I'm trying to keep your ass out of jail so that you can be with me when our child is born." She rubs her stomach again.
They step closer to each other. He puts his hand over her hand on her mid-section.
"I am not going to jail, Veronica. I didn't have anything to do with this. I promise, I will be here for you and our child. Always." He bends down and kisses her stomach.
She wipes her face free of any tears. "I have to go." She says quietly and leaves the Presidential Suite.
Logan watches her go, then sighs deeply as he leans down with his hands on the bed.
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Veronica is leaning on her Saturn's back bumper and breathing heavily. Meryl is standing next to her, "Are you okay?"
"Just give me a minute." Veronica rests her head in her hands, trying not to hyperventilate.
Vinnie Van Lowe runs across the street from the River Styx and walks up next to Veronica. "Hey!"
Veronica and Meryl look at him.
"What, are you just gonna cut out of there without so much as a 'gracias, señor'?" He gives the Saturn a once over. "Ooh, sweet new ride. Hybrid, right? I'm waiting for the hybrid Camaro."
Still trying to calm herself. "You sobered up pretty quick."
"What the hell are you thinking, Veronica? You got no business being in a place like that. You got me?"
"It was..." Veronica glances at Meryl who drops her head in shame. "…Unintentional. Hey, you didn't really send that picture message to my dad, did you?" She stands to look into Vinnie's face.
Vinnie winces. "Ah, yeah. Actually I did. I-…"
"What! Are you kidding me? Do you know how much trouble you just got me in?" Veronica paces around the back of her car. Meryl and Vinnie watch her, confused.
"Shit! I wonder if I could intercept it before dad sees it." She thinks out loud. Her eyes widen as she continues her thoughts audibly. "Oh no! He is going to tell Logan about this. This is not good." She suddenly realizes she's not alone and looks at Meryl. "We have to go. Now!" Meryl and Veronica climb into the Saturn ready to drive away.
Vinnie sticks his head in the driver's side window and leans his arms on the ledge of the door. "Hey, that kid you were looking for? I saw him come in last night, like he just came back from the beach, only wasted. Couldn't remember his name. Danny got his wallet, said he'd help him get back home, then took him on some kind of wild shopping spree. After that, the Fitzpatricks got bored and kicked him out."
"Any idea where he might be now?" Veronica questions.
"Best guess. The drunk tank?"
Veronica pulls out of the parking lot quickly and sprays gravel in her wake.
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Keith is sitting at his desk, distracted. His work is not holding his attention and his mind won't stop rewinding his conversation and break up with Harmony.
A beep from his computer brings him out of his reverie. A new email from Vinnie Van Lowe. Interesting, what is Vinnie sending me now. Probably a virus or porn.
"What the Fuck is this?!" Keith yells when he sees the photo attachment of Liam manhandling Veronica in the River Styx.
The office phone rings and Keith snatches the phone out of its base. "Hello." Forgetting any cordial introduction.
"Hey, Mr. Mars." Logan paces in his hotel suite.
Keith pries his eyes off the photo on his computer screen. "Oh, hello Logan. Everything okay?"
"Yeah. Uh, I'm looking for Veronica. I think she's trying to hide from me, actually."
"Yeah, she's been keeping me out of the loop, too." Keith rubs his hand over his head and exhales. "I'm not sure I should send you this but we're both trying to keep our girl safe. I just received an email from Vinnie Van Lowe. He didn't write anything in the email but he sent me a photo of Veronica." He pauses. "Logan, I'm going to send it to you against my better judgment. Don't make me regret my decision."
"Mr. Mars, what is it? What's wrong with Veronica? Where is she?" Logan says anxiously.
Keith sends the photo to Logan. Logan turns on his computer and waits for it to boot up.
"Logan, it seems Veronica has been acting alone and I do not want you to do ANYTHING stupid. Do you hear me?"
"Is she okay?" Logan clicks on his new email and sees the photo of Liam with Veronica. "What the Fuck is this?" He snaps to his feet and begins pacing again.
"That's exactly what I said." Keith chuckles. "Now, Logan, you need to listen to me."
"I'm going to kill him." Logan growls.
"No! Listen to me Logan! You are not going to go near the Fitzpatricks or the River Styx. Do you understand me? They are dangerous. You're going to get yourself or someone else killed. We need to get to the bottom of this before we jump to conclusions."
"Did you see how he's grabbing her!? She's pregnant! Damn it!"
"Logan, look, let's…" Keith's cell phone rings. He sees its Veronica. "Logan, hold on. She just called my cell. Hold on."
"Veronica, are you okay? Vinnie sent me…" He asks frantically.
"I'm fine. I'm on a case and I'm driv-…" She spouts.
"Veronica. What is going on? Why did I get a picture from Vinnie, of all people?"
"Geez, I'm going to kill him. My client ran into the River Styx before I could stop her and Danny Boyd and Liam were there. We are both fine and Meryl knows she messed up and put us both in danger. I'm fine. Vinnie is in cahoots with the Fitzpatricks and he took the picture with his phone to distract Liam so Meryl and I could get away."
"Veronica, hold on a second. Logan is on the office phone." Keith puts the cell phone down and picks up the office phone. "Logan?"
"Yeah, I'm here. Is Veronica okay?" Logan quizzes.
"Yes, the photo was taken to help her get away from Liam and Danny Boyd. She's working a case. I'm not sure why Vinnie sent the picture to me, probably to blackmail me but, anyway, she's fine. And she's going to get an earful from me so I'm going to hang up with you. Oh, and Logan, I would try Wallace's or Mac's."
"Oh, okay, thanks Mr. Mars. And tell Veronica that she better answer my phone calls now because I need to give her a piece of my mind too. Bye." Logan hangs up.
Keith shakes his head and picks up his cell phone again. "Veronica?"
"Yeah."
"Logan says you better answer his phone calls because he needs to give you a piece of his mind." Keith chuckles. Veronica sighs.
"Why did you tell Logan about this, Dad? I can't believe this. As if my life isn't a big enough mess already." Veronica whines.
"Honey, I got the email from Vinnie right before you called. I was looking at the photo when Logan called looking for you. What is going on with you two, Sweetie?"
She huffs. "Dad, I'm fine. Okay? I just wanted to let you know not to worry."
"Veronica?" Keith continues more serious. "I ended things with Harmony, and… I'd… I'd just like to see you, okay? Are you coming home tonight?"
Veronica smiles. "I'm glad. I'm not sure if I'm going to come home tonight. I kind of have to talk to Logan."
"He's really worried about you, Honey. Give him a chance. Let him in, Sweetie. He cares about you a lot… and the baby… just wait until he holds his baby, your baby for the first time…" Keith struggles to keep his voice from cracking. "Talk to him, Honey. Stop avoiding him."
"Okay, Dad. I love you. I'll talk to you soon." "I love you too. See ya." They hang up.
Veronica looks at her phone, thinking about the conversation she needs to have with Logan and puts the phone back in her bag.
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Veronica sits down at her table in the Hearst Food Court with a fresh plate of pasta, sans hair. She takes a big sip of her drink and checks her cell phone messages. Logan left four messages before her adventure to the River Styx and two in the last hour.
She sets the phone to play her voice mails, taking another swig from her drink.
"Hey, Veronica. It's me. Give me a buzz." Logan's first message says. She hits the button to play the next message.
"Veronica, is everything all right? Call me." His second message and he is starting to sound very frustrated with her. She takes another drink from her cup.
"Hey, Veronica, where are you? Give me a call." Oh he is pissed now, she thinks. She suddenly doesn't feel well. She reaches for her drink and pauses. Her plate of pasta and the Food Court around her are a psychedelic blur. Veronica rubs her eye. She looks up again and takes a deep breath.
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Piz swings his dorm room door open wide responding to the knock. He and Logan stand and stare at each other for a moment.
"Logan"
Logan looks into the dorm room, past Piz. "Hey, I'm looking for Veronica."
"She was around earlier, but I haven't-…"
"Is she with Wallace?"
"He's out of town a-at a motel... studying." Piz smirks in an all-knowing way.
"Hey, 'cause Veronica's dad thought that, uh..." Logan looks into the room again as his words trail off. "Hmm." Logan looks down at the floor for a moment. "Well, if you see her, a-ask her to call me?"
Piz nods in agreement. Logan backs away. "Thanks." He retreats down the hallway.
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Veronica staggers across campus and reaches the top of the flight of steps leading to the parking garage. She is increasingly unstable on her feet. I know this feeling. I can't believe this is happening to me... again. She grips the handrail firmly but stumbles on the first step.
Her feet get caught on the steps and she tumbles awkwardly to the base of the steps. Everything goes black.
/tbc