Disclaimer: The characters of "Veronica Mars" belong to Rob Thomas, UPN, CW.
Part 7
It's a murmur of soft voices arguing in the hallway the draws him back to consciousness. The pain at the back of his head shoots though his entire cramped body on the cold floor and he squeezes his eyes shut tighter against the wave of nausea. When he figures he won't end up lying in a pile of his own vomit he loosens his eyes, but still doesn't open them as he tries to recall where he is and how he got there. He vaguely recalls a bail jumper and a motel, but after that everything is foggy.
The voices spike in volume and he concentrates on listening but the men, definitely men, have moved further away from the door and he can no longer hear even murmuring. Deciding he needs more information he carefully, slowly opens his eyes. Relieved and slightly panicked that the darkness prevails. He's relieved because he's sure even the dimmest of lights would have increased the splitting pain in his head, but worried because he's run out of ways to gather information if he can't even make out his own location.
His eyes scan the room waiting to adjust properly, but it's an empty room with only a single window and from that he knows its nighttime now.
Closing his eyes again he takes a deep steadying breath, not too concerned about his captors since he heard them move away and down a set of stairs. He thinks of all the cases he was working on, even the active cases he was recently a part of in his brief stint as Sheriff.
Nothing, absolutely nothing warrants a kidnapping. It's not like he's…Veronica.
It's then that the worry really kicks in and Keith wishes that their was a blinding spotlight in the room if only it would give him a clue onto what was going on. He can't believe it took as long as it did to think of Veronica.
He prays that she's nowhere near this, that she's safe at home watching a movie with Wallace. Hell, he's even willing to hope she's spending time with Logan.
Keith ponders how many days he's been gone and knows that even if right now Veronica is safe in Neptune it won't stay that way long. Not if he doesn't get himself out of whatever this was soon.
XXX
Veronica would be more impressed with their tactics if they spent more time stalking each other. As it was they have already forced her from her apartment and she doesn't think her professors appreciate her alternatively leaving class early or coming in late. She knows she hates it, but it's the only way to avoid. And avoid she shall.
Duncan is much easier to avoid than Logan. She can't decided if its because of his personality in general or because he's now busy with Lilly who Veronica has decided to call Lila as a combo of Lilly Ann, but mostly to prevent the ache of memories from another Lilly Kane.
Wallace and Mac had taken up quick with the name and even Dick had started using Lila when the four would hang out. Through sometimes it comes out as Lola before he breaks out in song.
Don't worry folks I know how weird that sounds. Veronica Mars hanging out with Dick? Freely? For recreational good ole fun? Bizaro.
Whatever the reason Duncan is easier to avoid because he only stops by at Mars' Investigation or the apartment, hence the new digs.
Speaking of new digs…
Veronica looks up from her book as she hears the key turn in the lock.
"Honeys I'm home!"
"Sorry Parker, Mac's not here. Just me."
Laughing, Parker floats around the room dropping stuff off and searching for other items that she picks up. It takes a minute before Veronica can piece together she's getting ready for a shower.
"No worries Veronica! I'm not staying long anyway. I have a lunch date."
"Lunch date with Piz, how charming."
The smile on her face really is genuine for her newly instated friend, even if Parker hasn't made it as close friend yet. Veronica hopes for the possibility.
"Nope not Piz, we broke up silly."
The book falls from her feeble grasp and her mouth hangs open, "What?"
Parker, though, is clueless to Veronica's angst and apparently indifferent to the break-up. It takes a few seconds for the silence to register for Parker and when she does she finally pauses in her whirlwind of motion to look at Veronica still looking ridiculous with her mouth half open as she sits up straighter on the futon.
"It's no big deal Veronica. We're both fine. I think we more bonded over being rebounds of two people who are completely helplessly in love with each other and the safe choice. It was fun with Piz, but I mean it's not like every one gets to find their epic love story in high school right?"
Veronica has no answer, but Parker doesn't mind as she grabs her towel and slips out the door for the showers.
Did she just say epic love? Of course she did.
Veronica picks the book back up, but now epic thoughts are floating in her head and she all too readily goes back to her previous wandering thoughts finally throwing the book to the floor.
So Friday didn't exactly go how Veronica was hoping, but even before she walked into Java the Hut she knew her expectations were too high, the bar she wanted everyone, herself included, to measure up to was set too high.
Saturday was much less dramatic. At least it started out that way.
A morning shift at the library where she spotted Logan not once, which she could have shaken off as coincidence, but he was there waiting when she walked through the front doors and then at some random point halfway through her shift he emerged from a stack of books she didn't realize he'd been hiding behind. She was sure she saw him leave, but when she finally left at two in the afternoon there he was leaning against her car.
"Logan?"
"That's me."
Rolling her eyes she hoped her annoyance as well as her frustration with his presence was evident. It must have been because before she could ask he answered her next question.
"DK mentioned you thought your dad was MIA?"
Skipping the dad part she jumped on his first two words, "You talked to Duncan?"
Grinning at the way her face lit up he nodded, "A bit." The grin only grew bigger when her smile turned into a curious frown.
She folded her arms expectantly, remembering her plans to avoid both of them until they had at least reconciled their differences concerning her and could be civil to one another.
"We're working on it?" Logan hedged hoping she wouldn't call him on his BS. Truth was, Duncan had made a passing comment about it as they both left Java the Hut the night before. Something about stress and all that, "Is it true, about your dad I mean?"
Relenting just a little she uncrossed her arms, reaching in her bag to find her keys but more importantly to avoid looking into his searching gaze.
"Not sure yet, we're working on it."
He took a step forward into her space and giving her no choice but too stop the task of trying to locate her keys and look at him. He didn't particularly like that answer, granted the we part was an improvement for her. However, Logan needed to make sure they were clear on other things before he pushed the missing dad thing.
"Don't think…just because…" Running his hand through his hair Veronica realizes he's nervous and couldn't help but meet his eyes to try and find out why.
"You finally admitted to loving me, don't think I'm gonna let you run off by yourself to test out how invincible you are before we figure this out."
Stepping back Veronica wants to glare at him, after all wasn't it him who put the breaks on them with his simple 'I know' only yesterday, when she was ready and willing to pour out everything to him. Did she maybe read him wrong when she realized his face was telling her not yet?
Not yet! Did he think she'd wait for him forever? Okay self don't answer that.
She couldn't glare though because his next words made it impossible to look at him and not want to kiss him. And wanting to kiss him and not being able to might crush her right now.
"You know I love you Veronica. You're too smart and clever not to by now. I just wanted to try and avoid some bloodshed and ruined lives. Particularly ours. Is that so bad?" He touched her arm gently to draw her wandering eyes back to him before continuing. "Years…we have years."
"Spanning years…" she mumbles before nodding her head in a certainty she didn't quite feel, not like he did.
"I gotta go."
He nodded with a sly grin, "Of course you do."
"No really. Mac and Wallace are coming over." Impulsively she reaches out to give him a hug pulling back and getting into the car before he can even think to hug her back.
When she pulled up to her apartment it was not to a waiting Mac and Wallace, but to Duncan.
"Oh great."
"Hi Veronica."
"Umm…hi Duncan. I don't want to be rude, but Wallace and Mac should be here soon."
"Oh…no that's fine. I can't really stay anyway. I just wanted to maybe set up a lunch for sometime next week? I get Lilly back on Monday. Wallace and Mac could come too if you want?"
"I'll check with them and get back to you okay?"
He nodded simple and got back into the SUV without another word. Mac and Wallace had showed up twenty minutes later to find Veronica rubbing Back-Ups head and starring mindlessly at the wall. They didn't push for answers to any of their many questions merely hung out with their friend and avoiding talking about Friday and both of the exes.
Sunday Veronica had been hopeful for a peaceful day, catching up on some filing at the office. However, when she drove by Duncan was out front. Instead she went to the library to do some research and contacted a few clients who's case she had wrapped up. Monday morning it was Logan again, always in the distance, but she knew he was keeping an eye on her before and after classes. When she tried to get that filing done it was him leaning against the front door of Mars Investigation in the early afternoon and it was Duncan who was waiting in his car when she got back to the apartment later that night.
She'd called Duncan to let him know lunch would not be possible this week-too much homework or casework or something. She doesn't remember the exact excuse she used and when Tuesday turned out to be very similar to Monday with more appearances it seemed from both of them, Veronica couldn't find it in her to care that she didn't remember what excuse she'd used to hold Duncan off.
Wednesday morning she had knocked pathetically at Mac's door seeking out a place to crash where at least Duncan wouldn't think to find her and hopefully it would take Logan a couple days. She didn't know what they were up to or what it was they could possibly want to talk to her about so much, but she was refused to indulge them.
There were two quick knocks on the door before Dick just walked right in not even bothering to wait for an answer. Veronica sighed giving up on the book all together and looking around for Parker who had left her alone to her thoughts ten minutes ago in favor of the shower. Veronica stood up and grabbed a water bottle from the fridge offering him one, but Dick declined.
"Mac's not back yet."
"I know that. I came here to talk to you."
Veronica wondered if her day could get any stranger.
"What do you want Dick."
He hesitated for the briefest of moments and she couldn't help but smile at how he really had grown to fear her.
"Logan and Duncan request that you stop avoiding them." He closed his eyes tight and held his arms up as if to ward off her attack. And when she started to laugh he was only willing to crack one eye open making sure it was safe.
Yes, of course it can get stranger.
She stopped laughing and took a sip of water. "Why are they stalking me?"
"Rich dude kryptonite." He nodded convincingly.
Parker chose that moment to come back from the shower. Startled by Dick she tightened the towel before sending a glance at Veronica who could only shrug. Dick's eyes followed Parker in the towel until she found some clothes and slipped back out the door.
Veronica was glaring at him now and not because of the insult.
"Chill with the glare Ronster. I'm hot, rich, and single. I can look all I want."
"You didn't answer my question and don't call me that!"
"You have them whipped? I don't know why they keep following you. Here's an idea ask them."
"Are they friends again?"
"Ask them."
"Did they send you here?"
"Ask them."
"Do you have any balls?"
"Ask…haha. You think you're so cute don't you?"
"Ask them."
They were grinning at each other when Mac walked in with Parker now dressed and feeling more comfortable.
"This can't be good."
Parker laughed light heartedly, "Nah, Dick's been here for at least 10 minutes and there is no blood smear on the carpet. Toodles I'm late for my date."
Mac frowned. "Why isn't there blood smear on the carpet?"
"Geeze Mackie you act like I'm totally uncivilized."
She smiled big.
"Well, at least I haven't resorted to stalking." He pouted at her.
"So they are stalking me!"
"I'm sick of this! Logan and DK can deal. I'm done."
Shaking his head, Dick lets himself out.
"There is something very wrong when Dick is the more sensible of those three boys."
Nodding in agreement Veronica sinks back onto the futon, "You're telling me. Hey, you're back early?"
"Yeah, I…ah… I got that security feed you wanted. Not for that last place unfortunately, but the two ATM sites and the car rental. I'm still working on a couple places around the last credit charge though."
"Did you see anything?"
"I only watched to make sure I had the videos feed without corruption."
"Well, do we want to watch some black and white, illegally obtained security videos?"
"Hell yeah we do."
Mac went about setting up the video she had gotten hacking into the security systems and Veronica gradually made her way over to sit on Mac's bed with her.
"Parker and Piz broke up."
"Really?"
Veronica looked at Mac, surprised the girl didn't already know and smiled fondly at the thought of Parker just knowing it was her way to make Veronica feel included in her life.
"Yeah."
Clicking on the keyboard Mac typed away while she chewed at her bottom lip in thought. "I got more video feed then you said, to see if there would be any suspicious cars or people before your dad shows up and for how long. That way we could maybe figure out if this was random or tied to one of his cases."
"Or mine."
Glancing at Veronica sideways Mac knows she doesn't really have to respond to that. Waiting the few minutes for the video to load she's surprised when Veronica expands.
"Dad doesn't have cases that would…I mean not like the stuff I get into to. Senior year, it was the Fitzpatricks. The only person they hate more then me, outside the Mars family, is probably Logan at this point. Then last year Jake Kane, the Castle, Gory…"
Veronica trails off her eyes worried and thoughtful.
"Whatever happened with that?"
Mac watches as her friend frowns, only causing her to fret, "Nothing happened."
Apprehension fills Mac's gut and she can feel her own face twist with concern. "And nothing is bad?"
"Nothing is very bad."
Biting her lip Mac can't help but ask, "Worse then dealing with your exes?" Veronica's deep concern leaves her face and frustrated annoyance takes its place. Mac supposes it's the best she'll get and carries on, "What are you going to do about them popping up everywhere?"
"Ignore them till they go away?"
Mac looks doubtful and the false cheery smile drops from Veronica's face.
"Well, I need to get into the office so I guess I have no choice, but to do as Dick said and talk to them. And merely because its Dick's idea I think I hate it most of all my options."
Chuckling, Mac shook her head at her friend. "He's not so bad."
"Please he was totally ogling Parker when she came back from the shower in her towel."
Mac froze next to Veronica and she felt like slapping herself for mentioning it at all. "Mac…"
"It doesn't matter, really."
But Veronica knew that it did.
"If it makes you feel better, Monday, at lunch, I saw Dick trying to spoon food into his mouth through his cheek because his eyes were glued on you."
Not being able to help the smile Mac shakes her head, "I don't feel bad, but thanks."
"You sure this won't interfere with class?"
"Seeing as how I bailed on my last class of the day that ends in" checking the clock by her desk she went on "20 minutes. I'm yours for the rest of the day."
"Thanks Mac."
Mac returns the grin, "It's got to be at least a few months since you've done anything so criminal? Right Auto?"
Veronica laughs recalling the first time they met and she broke into Mac's car for her. She nods more grateful then she could express to the blue haired girl she first met for becoming her friend. A grin covers her face, "A few months might be stretching it."
Shaking her head at Veronica's antics, Mac hits play regretful to have to put an end to the smile on the other girl's face but knowing how important it is to find Keith.
XXX
Two days earlier.
At the knock on the front door of the beach house Logan looked up. No way was it Dick; they've already had two conversations about him forgetting his key this week alone. Plus, he just left and as Logan finally got up he realized the door was unlocked which Dick would know since he left it that way. And he wasn't naïve enough to even hope it would be Veronica. Knowing she had spotted him hanging out in front of Mars Investigation earlier this afternoon and avoided him.
Opening the door, his eyes widen in shock at the sight of the very first person he ever had the privilege to call friend. More so because of the almost two-year-old girl in his arms not the friend himself.
Logan watched as Duncan took in his surprise and smiled sheepishly. A smile Logan hadn't seen for far too long, and not only because his best friend had fled the country with out a good-bye or so much as a sayonara sucker. Duncan hasn't had that sheepish smile for his best friend since Logan had fallen in love with his ex.
She wasn't just an ex though which is why that smile that reminded Logan of happier times, reminded him of a friendship forged from more than just video games and chasing around blonde girls with pig tails has been painfully absent.
Getting passed the shock, Logan reins his emotions in attempting to keep the situation from becoming any worse between them and also to keep Duncan from knowing anything he doesn't want him to know.
Duncan sees Logan do this too and if anything the smile becomes a little bit wider. He is after all Logan's oldest and at one point closest friend. In all those years of friendship Duncan learned a surplus of things, not just how to pull awesome pranks on an unsuspecting sister.
Instead of backing away like Logan's blank look is telling him to do he offers up a half shrug, "I tailed Dick's car."
Logan snorts at the idea before he can catch himself and just like that most of the anger fades away leaving him with nothing but the pain of a friend who abandoned him, more than once. Letting go of the anger towards Duncan leaves Logan no choice but to be mad at himself and he grasps at that to keep himself rooted in the doorway.
A gurgling draws both of their attention towards the little girl who doesn't enjoy being forgotten by an always-doting father. Kissing the top of her head, Duncan adjusts the toddler "Right, so Logan this is lil Lilly Ann and Lilly this is your Uncle Logan."
Duncan points at him and Logan watches her follow her father's outstretched arm towards him. Immediately, Logan recognizes Meg's dark brown eyes, mature and all knowing even in the toddler. He can't help but smile as she turns away burying her head on Duncan's shoulder.
If there was any remaining anger towards Duncan, Logan finds it impossible to hold onto now. How many times had he wished he had a father who would do so much to protect him?
"Hi…" he pauses at the sting before he even gets the name out. Another Lilly Kane, shaking his head he tries again, "Hi…Lila."
Duncan grins at the nickname and chuckles at little Lilly noticing from the corner of his eye how Logan smiles and his stance in the door way slackens a bit. He uses his free arm to tickle Lilly's side, "Hey there now, none of that. This is Uncle Logan, remember I told you about him?"
He feels Lilly nod in agreement as he casts a quick glance at Logan only to find him studying his daughter. Pulling his own head back to try and see her, he prods further, "Can you say hi to daddy's friend cupcake?"
She pulls away slowly and she never actually says anything, but she smiles. A radiate, beautiful, smile, so full of life that it causes Logan to pull in a sharp intake of air. It's a smile he hasn't seen in even longer, worse yet one he thought to never see again.
"It's disarming isn't it? She's not even two yet and everything about that smile just screams Lilly Kane."
She goes back to hiding in her father's shoulder and Logan knows he doesn't mean the toddler. He recalls that smile on another face on a hundred other occasions, most of which include Duncan even more that include Veronica.
With one hand at the back of his neck Logan sighs in acceptance, "I have this pesky blonde ex who had this interesting comment on my longest standing friendship the other night. Now, she has this tendency to hold these expectations of people that no normal human being could ever achieve, but damn if she doesn't make you want to try anyway."
Logan kicks the door open with his foot and steps back leaving it up to Duncan to decide. Stepping over the threshold Duncan nods, a look of fondness on his face, "I think I know the one you mean."
Closing the door behind Duncan, Logan can't help but grin.
Veronica Mars really can do the impossible.
TBC.