I don't own VM or any of its franchise, but like I've said before, I'm waiting for Santa to give me Jason.
Thanks to lilybetrox whose continued speedy return time is half the reason you get so many chapters these days. Thanks lils!
A/N Logan is finally gonna show his face in this chapter. Hope you like him;) And I hope my action sequense (so to speak) will be good enough for ya all! Enjoy!
Chapter 3: Crossing The River Styx
The tall dark-haired man sat in his office with his back turned away from the office door, he was busy looking out his large bullet-proof window. His face showed clear signs of lack of sleep and exertion, but the glint in the man's eyes made sure no one thought he wasn't a dangerous man.
Logan Echolls was lost in thought until a sudden knock on his door interrupted his musings. With a sigh he leaned back in his chair, keeping his back to the door and casually said, "Enter."
Another tall male opened the door running a hand through his blonde locks, trying to look more confident than he really was.
In fact Dick inwardly gulped at the sight of Logan's big black chair. It was never a good sign when Logan's penetrating gaze wasn't the first thing you noticed upon entering his office.
There was a heavy silence and Dick was contemplating breaking the tension with one of his silly comments. "What took you so long?" Logan's smooth voice stopped him before he could make a fool out of himself.
Dick shrugged, but then remembered that although Logan was powerful nowadays, he didn't have eyes in the back of his head. He rubbed his neck awkwardly and answered out loud. "It wasn't as easy for me to get away as I thought it would be."
Logan didn't move from his spot and Dick added with a bit of exasperation in his voice. "Come on dude, you know how she is when you're on her bad side…I have to look over my shoulder whenever I go to the bathroom."
Dick's whining made Logan chuckle quietly from behind the chair. The blonde wasn't really much for admitting it, but the bitter sound actually made the hairs on his arms stand up.
"Yeah," Logan added a moment later when he finally spun the chair around to lock eyes with his old friend and now second in command. "I know a thing or two about being on Veronica Mars' bad side." For one nanosecond Logan's eyes glinted mischievously like they'd done in his teenage years. "Do you need some pointers?"
Dick grinned and shook his head. Logan didn't grin back, but Dick hadn't expected him to. Logan hardly ever grinned or even smiled anymore. It's like his face has forgotten how to do that, Dick thought to himself as he sat down on the chair Logan nodded towards.
Before Dick could continue debriefing, Logan's phone rang and the Echolls heir quickly answered it. It suited Dick just fine because it left him with a rare opportunity to examine Logan.
Logan was no longer a young kid with a faked carefree attitude, with sarcastic remarks for everything. These days he left the replies for his brute bodyguards and they usually weren't all that talkative unless you counted the grunting they used as actual speech. The infamous smirk that Logan used to sport almost all the time had grown into something downright frightening to watch. Even Dick hesitated whenever Logan looked at him with his smirk in place – it never bode well for the receiver.
Logan also looked older then he was; there were lines around his eyes as though the man never slept through the night. And I don't think he does, Dick pondered as he noticed the bags under his friend's eyes when he leaned back in his chair causing the harsh lamplight to hit his face and thereby revealing everything.
"…me worry about that Liam, I know how to handle her. And trust me when I say this, if you or yours interfere without my approval, it'll be your funeral I'll go to next."
Dick snapped out of his reverie, watching silently as Logan ended the call without another word. Damn, man, time's really screwed you over good.
Logan stood up from his seat and walked around his huge desk, placing himself right in front of Dick – completely unaware of the intense scrutiny he'd just been submitted to. "In case you didn't guess, that was Liam Fitzpatrick calling to warn me about a certain blonde detective wandering around the town after dark. Wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?"
Dick blinked, and blinked again as he remembered what Veronica had said right before she'd let him go earlier that evening.
"Have fun investigating tonight, Dickie boy, I know I will."
He vividly remembered the look of mocking in her cold blue eyes and the thought he'd had that she was only teasing him as usual. Apparently I need to remember that Veronica Mars always does what she says she's gonna do. Fuck!
"Fuck," Dick's curse left his mouth a second after he'd thought it. He quickly stood up facing Logan with an earnest expression on his face. "Believe me Logan; I didn't think she'd be crazy enough to wander around on her own already! I swear, I told her how bad things get after dark around here." Dick shook his head in disgust over his naivety, "I guess she didn't trust my word, huh?"
For once Logan's dark eyes actually briefly lit up with a faint emotion. Dick was so surprised by that that he barely heard Logan's reply, "Yeah, I guess she still has her trust issues. Really I don't know where she gets it…"
For a few minutes both men stood frozen, both of them contemplating their eventful past with that tiny blonde.
Eventually Logan sighed, walked over to a painting of a boring landscape on the wall and pressed a few buttons on the panel next to it. The painting slid aside with a soft hiss, revealing a gunman's version of paradise. Weapons of all shapes and forms hung in perfect condition, all ready to be used.
Without a word Logan reached up and grabbed two of the closest Beretta handguns, making sure to them load up on ammo. It never hurt to be prepared in his line of work.
Dick watched silently as Logan seemingly prepared himself for battle. "What are you planning to do?" The question was asked a moment later after he'd caught one of the other pistols that Logan suddenly threw towards him. Dick glanced down at the weapon and expertly loaded it, feeling the same need for preparation that Logan had just shown. In the back of his mind Dick was debating whether or not he should be happy that Logan actually seemed to remember that Dick's weapon of choice was a type of glock. At least he hasn't brought up the fact that I'm always unarmed whenever I'm not with him again, Dick decided and put the glock into the waistband of his designer jeans – waiting for Logan's answer to his earlier question.
"What I'm planning to do, me amigo," Logan said as he strolled over to the hidden passageway behind his bookcase door that only Dick and he knew about, "I'm simply gonna go do what I always do; keep Veronica from getting herself killed."
Dick frowned at the bitter tone of his usually so emotionless friend and quickly followed him out the door. He's giving off a lot of emotions today – I knew having Ronnie back would help kick him back into the land of the living.
Dick felt the gun on his bare skin and the uncomfortable feeling made him cringe. I just hope all this emo shit ain't gonna wind up getting all of us killed in the process.
Logan was waiting for him when he reached the end of the passageway and Dick resisted the urge to shuffle his feet awkwardly when Logan's intense stare swept over him and within a couple of minutes the two men were on their way to The River Styx.
--
The darkness hid her intentions as she snuck through the house as soundlessly as possible. There was a faint creak of a floorboard and she swallowed a curse as she waited with baited breath. Okay, I don't think she heard me, so I'll just-
"And just where do you think you're going?"
This time Veronica couldn't repress a curse as she looked over her shoulder at Mac, who stood in her polka dotted pajamas with her arms crossed and wearing a very – very- stern look on her face.
"Hiya Mac…Ehm," Veronica tried to think of a valid excuse, "I just felt a bit peckish and then I remembered that my favorite Italian restaurant actually resides right here in Neptune – which is where I was going…because I was hungry…?"
Damn Mars, you're out of practice with the quick lies – better work on that before you meet up with Logan, Veronica decided, just as Mac raised a dark eyebrow and said in a very unconvinced tone of voice. "You do realize it's after midnight and said restaurant, which I too remember having visited numerous times with you by my side, has been closed for hours?"
Veronica blinked owlishly and nodded with a sheepish smile. Damn she's still got the ability to make me squirm like a little girl. How does she do that?
The two young women stared each other down for a few more minutes until Veronica finally conceded defeat with a loud sigh. She turned around to fully face the clever brunette.
"You already know what I think I'm doing Mac. Would you mind not trying to stop on this…please," she added softly when Mac's stern gaze didn't waver.
After another long minute of silence, Mac mutely turned around and disappeared into the bedroom. A few seconds later Veronica heard some sounds of drawers being opened.
"What are you doing?" she asked, unable to fight her curiosity as she entered the bedroom. She stopped in the doorway and realized belatedly that Mac was in the midst of changing clothes.
"Contemplating whether or not I should become a nun – join their choir and eventually sing in front of the pope because that's been a lifelong dream of mine…What does it look I'm doing?"
Veronica crossed her arms and glared heavily at Mac, who finished dressing and began rummaging through her drawer again. A second later she pulled out a gun off all things, neatly tucking it in the strap she had around her ankle and then covered it with her long pants leg.
"First of all Mackie." Veronica stated when she realized her glare wasn't having its usual effect, "A nun probably wouldn't be allowed to surf the net and hack into various government sites just to wreak havoc, so that's a career move you don't have to worry about." Mac mutely nodded her agreement and brushed past Veronica as the blonde continued her speech, "Second of all – You're not coming with me."
Mac just huffed, grabbing the car keys from the dinner table and left the apartment. Veronica scowled as she quickly followed. "I'm guessing there's a third of all in there too," Mac said while she waited for Veronica to get in the car.
"Well, yeah brainiac." Veronica said as she buckled in – she already knew Mac couldn't be persuaded to stay behind, but it didn't stop her from trying to discourage her. "Thirdly; someone has to wait around for the goofball to return from his rendezvous with Echolls. I sort of assumed that'd be your job."
Mac smiled and reached out to pat Veronica's knee with a patronizing smile. "Okay but you know what they say about assuming." Mac smiled, removing her hand and then turning serious. "I heard you Bond, I get where you're coming from, but we're in this together…So if you're done being Miss Solitary for the night, tell me where we're headed and why, please?"
Veronica sighed; she knew convincing her friend to remain behind had been a long shot at best. She answered the question while she checked her own two guns, which were hidden in the shoulder straps underneath her leatherjacket.
"I wanna check out The River Styx to see if Dick's version of Neptune holds up before I start my real job here. Maybe Liam and the rest will be willing to believe that I'm a renegade cop with a grudge against my workplace or something." Veronica smiled and continued with a hopeful glance at Mac. "If they believe me, maybe I can work my way in there and things will get started faster than we anticipated."
Mac sighed and coughed out some irritation in her throat as they pulled into the parking lot at the bar. "Look Veronica – although it pains me to say this; maybe you should listen to Dick on this one. I mean he's actually the one who's been living here the entire time." Mac hurried along when Veronica's face darkened. "He's in this deeper then we are and whether you like it or not; we're the rookies in Neptune now."
Veronica clenched her jaw painfully for a second, before she stepped out of the vehicle saying curtly, "stay here then – I can hold my own. I want this stupid job over with and to get back to my normal life."
Veronica began to walk towards the entrance without another word. She heard Mac's quiet curse before she felt her running up next to her.
"Maybe you think you can hold your own, Mars," Mac whispered as they stepped inside the familiar bar, "but the weight is easier to carry if it's divided between two people, you know."
Despite herself Veronica felt a surge of happiness at Mac's words, but she shook it off and concentrated on the present.
They were greeted with the usual bar scene of smoke and the smell of beer, sweat and something Veronica suspected might actually be blood. The normal chatter noise was almost deafening before they got used to the sound level.
The two women acted casual as they went up to the bar itself and ordered a couple of beers in an attempt to fit in.
"Why, now I never! My favorite geebag has returned!" A male, Irish voice suddenly spoke out from behind them. The chatter in the background instantly quieted down.
Veronica smirked evilly and turned around to face her old acquaintance; Liam Fitzpatrick.
"Howdy Studley. How's it hanging around here?"
Veronica's gaze had upon entering the bar noticed a certain old colleague, the current sheriff of Neptune, Vinnie Van Lowe, hiding in the corner with a dozen bottles of beer in front of him. She knew from her research that he was still on the Fitzpatrick family payroll and of no use what so ever. He wouldn't interfere with what was going to happen, she knew.
Liam narrowed his eyes and flexed his muscles threateningly, causing several of his men to step closer – all in an attempt to frighten the tiny woman in front of them. Veronica resisted the urge to chuckle mockingly. After all she'd been through in her life; Liam didn't scare her one bit. She would shoot him in the head without any hesitation whatsoever if he made a wrong move.
He wouldn't be a problem.
Or so Veronica thought before a large hand suddenly placed itself around her neck and squeezed hard. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mac receive the same treatment, instantly paling in fear. Damn, they had to touch her neck, Veronica thought, the one place she can't stand to be touched. I hope she can keep it together long enough for me to come up with some kind of workable plan.
Liam's slightly slurred voice brought Veronica out of her frantic thoughts, "Jaysus little miss Mars; you've got some big ones I'll give ya that. Coming in here uninvited – again." Liam's eyes glinted in triumph. "Especially since I know you're a wee little FBI worker now."
Veronica ignored the almost choking fingers around her neck, acting as though she was just having a somewhat friendly conversation. "Well, at least one of us has big ones. And I'm not referring to you since obviously I don't think attacking two youngsters without due cause is a very brave thing to do."
Liam's grin widened and Veronica tried to beat down her discomfort. A moment later the Irish gang member took out his cell. "Well, who said anything about bravery in the first place? Now you two ladies just relax and I'll be with ya shortly and then we'll have a little session to find out what the hell you're doing here."
Veronica watched Liam leave to talk to someone on the phone. I'm not letting that scumbag touch either one of us; she swore, glancing over at Vinnie, who didn't seem to want to meet her eyes.
Veronica stopped herself from snorting; yeah I wouldn't wanna look at me either if I was you. Come on Vinnie, the last time you saw me isn't a great memory for me either, you stupid wimp…
The last encounter Vinnie Van Lowe and Veronica had had was on the day of her dad's death. Vinnie had shown up with his usually otherwise tanned face extremely pale. He had taken one look at Keith's body, the blood smeared Logan and the sobbing Veronica, who had been clutching her father's body on the ground and then he'd shattered the few remaining illusions that Veronica had had, saying shortly to Logan. "Leave, you were never here…"
Veronica hadn't even been able to react when Logan slowly rose from the couch and left the apartment with one last scorching look down at her. Vinnie had then said neutrally, before he called in the rest of the force and an ambulance. "Mention Logan's part in this and I'll make sure people will think you killed your dad." Neither she nor he had mentioned Logan's presence with a word and Veronica had added another person to her hate list.
Veronica forced herself away from the memories of that horrible time in her life when she heard Mac gasp loudly at the strong hold on her neck.
Immediately Veronica glared at the man holding Mac. Her voice sounded more like a hiss than anything else. "I'll remember your face and make sure you die before the night is over if you don't release my friend right now."
The man seemed to hesitate at the fierceness in Veronica's words or more specifically the look of pure determination in her eyes, but then Liam's voice was heard in the distance and the muscle strengthened his hold, leaving Mac wheezing for air.
"Still a bitch to the core I see."
Veronica met Liam's eyes. She noticed that unlike before the Irishman now looked a bit pale and more importantly nervous. "What's wrong Liam? Mommy threatened to take away your lucky charms?" she sneered in that fake concerned voice she'd perfected over the years.
"Shut up!" Liam yelled, lunging for her. A hard blow to the jaw forced the small woman to turn her head at the impact, but instead of crying out in pain and shock as she suspected Liam had counted on, Veronica simply smirked and licked the blood from her lip, saying. "Uh, sore subject. Note to self; do not mock Liam with his mommy, he's got issues."
Mac giggled hoarsely in the background. The unexpected sound seemed to shock Liam out of his momentary frozen state of mind. "You little bitch!" He jumped at Veronica once more with a wild look in his eyes that would probably have scared her if she hadn't had the life she'd had.
This time Liam forgot one thing though; that the blonde was ready for his attack. The moment he was close enough Veronica jumped up with her legs, wrapping them tightly around Liam's throat and twisted him enough to make him fall down head first.
The man who was still holding her in his grasp intensified his hold on her neck, pulling her over the bar to subdue her. Black spots began darting around in her line of vision and Veronica desperately kicked her agile legs up high enough to hit her attacker on the head, which fortunately made him release her at last.
Quickly Veronica took in large gulps of air, checked on Mac, who seemed to be holding her own as she'd somehow in-between Veronica's own fights, broken a bottle of beer on the bar counter and was now busy cutting her own attacker up into little pieces. The hand that had been around Mac's neck was already a bloody mess.
Seeing that Mac was able to handle herself, Veronica concentrated on the rising form of Liam – knowing that Mac wouldn't thank her for stopping her fun.
Veronica straightened up. She quickly kicked out towards the approaching man, but slipped in some of that beer from Mac's broken bottle and misplaced the kick, thus giving Liam the perfect opening. He grabbed her leg roughly and simply swung the much smaller body over his head – intending to smash her onto the floor mercilessly, but Veronica twisted her frame around and lodged herself on his back trying to choke the life out of him while he jumped around trying to shake her off with all his might.
I need to get to my gun! Veronica thought with a grunt as she received one of Liam's men's punches on the back. The unexpected hit loosened her grip on Liam and he instantly took his advantage, swinging her off his back. A second later she landed hard on the floor, knocking her breath away. When Veronica opened her eyes a second later, she was staring straight into the barrel of a gun.
"Damn," Veronica muttered and in the back of her mind she heard Mac curse as she too was obviously defeated. "Double damn."
Liam grinned, his breathing was heavy and his nose was bleeding from his meet and greet with the floor earlier, but Veronica knew, judging from the crazed look in the man's eyes, that unless something miraculous happened she'd never fulfil her dreams of revenge.
"I distinctly recall a conversation with you not ten minutes ago where I mentioned the consequences of this sort of thing…" A deep voice suddenly drawled. The noise in the bar disappeared instantly.
Veronica blinked and turned her head a fraction to see the person, whose voice she'd recognized right away as he continued. "Take a few minutes to decide what kind of casket you want Liam and I'll take that into consideration…Now leave."
The barrel and the crazy gun holder moved away from Veronica faster than she could even blink. Veronica slowly sat up, ignoring the throbs of pain throughout her body. Her eyes sought out Dick first. He was staring at Mac, who was completely unaware of it, with a weird expression on his face. He didn't acknowledge Veronica's stare and she finally moved her gaze into those dark depths she'd never been able to escape, not even in her sleep.
"My, my Ronnie, fancy meeting you here…"
Veronica sighed and begun picking herself up from the dirty floor while she said coolly. "Likewise Logan, likewise."
TBC…
A/N Thanks to those reviewers who review even though I can't reply to them, it means a lot to me! (Not that I don't love all reviewers - I do - especially mine(=). Shameless begging aside, please take a moment to review. I'll try to post again before christmas, but I can't promise anything, because I'm gonna be swamped with a crazy job and an even crazier family...
Until then
Ditte Mai