Note: I know I told some people this would be the chapter for the L/V reunion, but as I was writing it was getting kinda long and I didn't want to crowd the chapter, so… it'll be in the next one, promise:D
CHAPTER 9: MARS IN NEPTUNEHelping the Manning, as it turned out, had an effect opposite to what Keith had hoped for. A day had passed and he'd spent most of it on the couch, watching television with a dog on his lap. Then around ten, as he was starting to doze off, a beeping sound brought him back. The silent alarm at Mars Investigations had been tripped. Welcoming the distraction, Keith got into his car and headed over.
He was held back a few minutes by some cars parked in the way, forcing him down a different route. Finally parking a short distance from the building, Keith craned his neck to look up at the windows of his office. The faintest hints of a flashlight's beam moving about could be recognized.
Keith got out of the car and crept up to the office. He unlocked the door and walked in, careful not to let the intruder be aware of his presence. He came upon her, as he discovered it was a girl, sitting in front of the open safe. She was reaching in for something as he aimed his own flashlight on her.
"Not another move."
That got the redhead to freeze. He continued to instruct her, getting her to stand and show her hands. He looked down at the area around the safe and saw it – Veronica's file. The thought of this person putting her hands on those things… He hadn't shown them to anyone, hadn't let anyone hold them… The thought of her invading the file made him livid.
"You went through it, didn't you? You have no right…" he went to take her arm, to look at this intruder. She tried to twist away, but he wouldn't let go. He spun her around and shined the flashlight up as she finally spoke.
"Wait! Dad, it's me!"
It nearly broke his balance, the sound of that voice. Haunted for so long by their last conversation, there was no way he could mistake it… Her voice. His arm steadied, aiming the light better so it didn't blind her. The hair was different, but the face was the one he'd ached to see for so long.
"Veronica?" his own voice shattered as the grip on her arm turned from one urgency to another, the one that had to see she was real, not another invention from the mind of his grieving heart. It was no illusion, she was truly standing there.
As she realized he was no longer threatening, that he'd recognized her, she turned her eyes up to meet his, tears springing forth in force. "Dad…"
"Veronica…" he started crying as well, dropping the flashlight to the ground as he placed his hands on her cheeks. "It's really you…" She snatched him up in a desperate hug squeezing tight with all the sorrow of months missing him. He returned the gesture as they faltered to the ground together, holding on for dear life.
"Dad… Daddy… I've missed you so much! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" she spoke shakily.
"Shh, it's alright. I'm here…"
All the bravado had been stripped from them, all the emotions melding in a mass release. They remained this way for a while, neither willing to let go even a little. Veronica kept her head on her father's chest and he kept his arms around her as they finally released the tight grip.
"I can't believe you're finally here…" he spoke with the same joy laced into his words. "I'd almost lost hope it would happen."
"Me too…" she whispered. "But I… I couldn't come back, not until now… and I can't talk about that yet."
"It's okay." After a pause, he looked down on her with a small smile. "Nice hair." She laughed through her tears.
"Don't worry, I'm going back blonde."
"Oh good. So… where'd you go?"
"Many places. Last one was Philadelphia."
"Far…"
"Yeah, no kidding."
"Does… does your mother know…"
"No. She knows I'm gone, but not where. She'll probably figure it out though."
"You should call her."
"I know, I will… but later."
"Sure."
He couldn't help looking at her, his daughter… the same sweet baby girl he'd held in his arms and gently rocked to sleep… it still seemed like yesterday. Her eyes had seen things in life he would have given anything to save her from experiencing.
"You're probably wondering what I was doing in there…" she looked up at him.
"It's crossed my mind a couple of times," he admitted. She nodded.
"I got into town last night. Before I came home, I wanted to find… something, anything… to help confirm that everything that happened wasn't in vain."
"About what?" he asked. She paused. She wasn't sure if he knew… about Lianne's infidelity, the possibility… If he didn't, then giving this news to him just as they were reunited…
"Mom said… the reason she took me was because someone sent her a threat, that they'd hurt me." The effect on her father was instant.
"What kind of threat?"
"Pictures, with a gun sight." She gave him a moment to process the information. "I found the site, the letters; I wanted to keep in touch with the town somehow… After she told me about this, I tried to get a closer look." This gave Keith pause.
"How'd you manage that?" She closed her eyes. She'd hoped she wouldn't trip on this.
"Promise you won't get mad?"
"Honey, I'm just glad to have you back, I won't get mad at you…"
"That's not who I don't want you to be mad at." She took a moment. "During the summer, I was in Tennessee. I worked as a waitress in a diner. I didn't realize it was him until he'd heard me, recognized me… Cliff," she continued before he could ask. Understanding her leniency request now, he remained silent. "I begged him not to tell you, he was just following my wishes. I knew if you knew where I was, you'd come running. Knowing the risks, I had to put my emotions in check. But at least I was able to rely on the fact that someone was looking out for you when I couldn't."
He looked at his daughter understanding her actions on some levels. He leaned forward to kiss the top of her head. "So what kind of a closer look?" he asked. She reached over to her bag, sitting on the ground nearby, fishing out the disc case. She held it out to her father.
"The fountain dedication…" Keith held the case, twirled it in his hand with a chuckle.
"So that's why he was wearing that ugly thing…" Veronica laughed.
"After seeing that, I confronted Mom about the threat. That's when she told me about the pictures." She took a moment then. "We had decided to move one more time, then… we'd settle in and that would be it. I got freaked out by what things had become and I just… gave up. I called Cliff, told him I wouldn't be calling again, that… I wasn't coming home." She looked to her father. He still had the comprehensive look on his face, not one bit of anger. "Next few months… I tried to live this new life, but… I couldn't get away from who I was I guess… Then this guy in my journalism class talked about Abel Koontz, the case. I just… I couldn't take it anymore, I had to get to the bottom of things. So… I came home."
"Do you know where the pictures are?" She shook her head. "Okay. Does she know who sent them?"
'It's about your father Sweetie… He might… not be…' Veronica hadn't really considered what this could mean – maybe she just couldn't accept what this would force her to consider. But then an image popped into her mind, wrestled itself out of many other little moments that hadn't seemed important. Even more so, she'd been small and semi-unconscious. But now with her father's questioning, she was finding herself back there – the lake by the Kanes' summer home.
She hadn't been able to keep up with Duncan and Lilly, had been struggling against the splashing water. The next thing she remembered, she was on the deck and couching as her eyes blinked open.
The key moment was before she started coughing, before the sound drew Celeste Kane's attention to the young Mars. Celeste was looking to her husband. Jake was working to revive Veronica, and Celeste's gaze couldn't be ripped from his reaction to the whole situation.
Back then it hadn't meant anything to her. Not it was telling her that if Keith Mars wasn't her father… Jake Kane could be. And Duncan…
"Veronica?" Keith spoke, seeing her face take to a green tone. She looked to him, shaking the thought away.
"Can we not do this tonight? Please… Dad?" she whispered.
"Absolutely. Shop talk will wait as long as you need. Besides, I'd much rather stay away from the depressing talk, wouldn't you?"
"Yeah," she smiled, then startled. "Backup! Is he okay?"
"You can see for yourself. Let's go home."
A SHORT TIME LATER – MARS HOME"Think he won't recognize me?" Veronicas asked as they walked through the door. No more than three seconds later she was crouching to receive the eager canine without being plowed over. "Hey Buddy, hey! Oh, I've missed you too!" she laughed as Backup went on barking and wagging his tail as she hugged him. Keith grinned, taking in the scene.
"That's the most I've seen him move in months. Most of the time he just kept guard at your door."
"That's my Backup," she scratched at his ears. She remembered then that Wallace was probably wondering what she was up to by now. "I need to make a call," she told her father. After explaining how Wallace had helped her, she went to get the receiver. Backup trailed behind her, not ready to let her out of his sight again by far. She found the notebook page where she'd had him write his number and dialed it.
"Hello?" she recognized the voice as that of Wallace's mother.
"Hi," she winced. "Could I speak to Wallace, please?"
"It's a bit late…"
"I know, I'm sorry. It's a school project, I need to ask him something." Telling a lie was better for the moment than informing this woman she'd slept in her son's closet.
"Alright, just make it quick."
"Okay. Thanks." A minute later, Wallace came on the line.
"Hello?"
"How's that report coming?" she smiled.
"Hey… About time. I was this close from sending a search party."
"Aww, that's sweet…"
"So how's it going? Did you find anything?"
"More like something found me… or someone."
"What?" he startled.
"It's okay, it was a good someone," she looked back to her father, who seemed busy preparing a snack for an army. After hanging up with Wallace and seeing her father was still busy, she looked to her closed bedroom door. She'd been waiting for this moment since they'd left the office.
She walked up to the door, putting her hand around the knob, turning it and pushing. The room was just as her fuzzy memory had left it, only better. Every little detail seemed to jump out at her and make her more and more happy. She walked around the space with reverence, finding the items waiting for her to be pieces of herself coming back. Her camera still sat by her bed, and she had it in her hands before she knew it, welcoming it like a long lost friend. Sitting on her bed, then lying back on it, she took a deep breath and she knew she was home at last, right where she was supposed to be.
"Hey, sugar coma, living room, come on," her father came to get her and she bounced up to follow him with a laugh.
THE NEXT MORNING, MARS INVESTIGATIONS"Hey Cliff, thanks for coming in," Keith stood to greet him in the main office.
"Your message was… well, cryptic. How could I pass that up?" The smile on the P.I.'s face was odd, which left Cliff cautious and at ease at the same time.
"Had a walk-in case last night," Keith explained, coming to stand by the man and lead him into his office. Sitting in front of the desk with a grin on her face was Veronica.
"Hey," she spoke.
"She told me about your conversations, and she convinced me not to lose my head over your not telling me about it. Say thank you," Keith patted his shoulder.
"Thank you," Cliff responded, then smiled.
"You're welcome," Veronica nodded, walking up and hugging him. "I owe you one too. Thank you for helping me, and for keeping your word."
"When did you get back?" he asked.
"Two nights ago."
"So I can call you 'Veronica' now, right?" Keith looked confused there.
"Yeah, you can," she laughed, then turning to her father. "When we ran into each other, I was going by 'Eve'. I was also Nina, Laura, and Sarah… It got kind of mixed up after a while."
Shortly after, the three sat around the desk to get down to business. Backup, having refused to be left behind, sat at Veronica's feet.
"Look, I don't know how much help I can be at this point, but I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you," Veronica nodded to Cliff.
"I'll head to my office and check the files," he nodded before standing, shaking hands with Keith. "And welcome home, Miss Mars," he turned to Veronica before leaving.
"Dad?" she looked to him.
"I know. You want to look at the file," he guessed, making her smile. "If you must…" he nodded, going to the safe.
"Maybe there won't be anything in there. Maybe… my thoughts were wrong."
"Hey, they got you here, so as far as I'm concerned your brain is spot on," he reassured her, placing the file on desk. Veronica smiled. "I haven't looked at these in months…" he sighed.
"Well let's see what we have," she came to stand next to him. Before they could start pulling things out, they heard the sound of steps coming up the staircase – the clicking of high-heeled shoes. Father and daughter shared a look as Keith went to the window.
"It's Celeste Kane," he spoke barely above a whisper as he shook his head. Veronica's eyes grew wide as she went up to her father.
"Don't tell her I'm back, she can't know. Please?" she looked up at him. He nodded and pushed her into his office. A second later, Mrs. Kane walked in. Keith stood with an unreadable expression on his face. He didn't know what was going on, but if his just-returned girl wanted him not to let that cat out of the bag, he'd make sure that bag stayed firmly closed.
"Hello Keith," she greeted him, always with the same 'refined pride'.
"Morning," he nodded.
"I'm sorry for just dropping in like this."
"Not at all. It's no problem. Unfortunately, I still have nothing for you." She produced a disappointed smile, pausing and humming before going on.
"So how are you doing?"
"Same as usual," he shrugged.
"Well don't lose hope. I'm sure she'll come home eventually."
"Thanks." Celeste nodded and, after some good-byes, she was gone. Once he'd seen her drive off, he went into his office, where Veronica stood from her corner. Both of them had question marks in their eyes over what had just happened. Veronica spoke up first.
"What was that all about?" Keith sighed.
"She's had me working this case for months now. It's bogus, I've figured that much. But she pays, so…" He paused, laughing. "If it were anyone else, I'd think she felt bad for everything that had gone down…"
"Oh God…" Veronica whispered, understanding dawning on her.
"Honey?" Keith noticed.
"She's checking up…" she continued to whisper to herself. She looked up to her father. "She's not remorseful… she's making sure I'm still away."
"What?"
"It's her. She sent the pictures to Mom…"
"Why would she do that?" Keith asked. She had to tell him, no way around it now. Could he already know? Even if just pieces, it would be less of a blow.
"Dad…" she started slowly. "Have you ever… had any reasons to believe… Mom was ever unfaithful?" The question blindsided him, though she couldn't tell if it was discovery or surprise that she knew. He walked around her, going to sit behind is desk. She followed with her eyes but didn't move. As he sat, he indicated the chair across from him. After a moment, she sat as instructed. He took a minute, perhaps choosing his words.
"It's not something easy… to admit to yourself your wife is either not happy enough with you or just not over the past… or both. But hey, I'm a cop. What kind of investigator would I be if I didn't pick up on the signs?"
"Dad…" she could see the emotions on his face, wanted to stop them. He raised his hand.
"It's okay." She got quiet again, waited for him to go on. "I didn't see it. Not at first… When I did, I was too angry with myself…" She looked up at him, the next part of the questioning being harder than the first. He must have understood that. He saved her the trouble of having to say it. "None of it… ever mattered… as far as you and I are concerned. You're my daughter, always have been and always will be. It doesn't matter what anyone says, doesn't change anything for me."
She was crying now, and he came to sit next to her, letting her take comfort in her daddy's arms. "I love you, you know that?" she tried to stop crying.
"Yeah, I do," he smiled against her hair. When she pulled back, the only remnants of her momentary breakdown were drying tears and the need for a deep breath. "I think it's time we took a look at those files. The rest can wait."
They started pulling documents, envelopes, bags, everything that was in the box. For over an hour, Veronica looked through the items as her father explained certain things. He still wasn't telling her everything, she could tell, but it was okay. There was only so much information she could take at one point.
"I need a break…" she sighed, rubbing at her eyes. Backup trotted over and rested his head in her lap as she sat back. She smirked, scratching him.
"Veronica…" Keith spoke up. "We need to figure some things out. At one point or another, people are going to know you're back. If I may suggest, don't let them figure it out first."
"So I have to 'out' myself?" she sighed. He nodded. "What do you think? Would it be too much to rent one of those airplanes that write messages in the sky? 'Veronica Mars, back in Neptune! Pass it on!'" she mimed word placements with her hand.
"Might be, just a bit," he admitted.
"I'll have to call Mom too," she sighed. "Either way, before I can let the word hit the streets, we have to deal with this Celeste thing."
"What do you have in mind?" She gave him a tiny smile.
"You're probably not going to like it."
LATER THAT DAY – KANE RESIDENCEVeronica sat in the car, parked just outside the perimeter, for some time. She knew she had to do this, the rest of… whatever would happen… wouldn't be as smooth running if she still had this hanging over her head. But at the same time, it was sort of frightening to be back there. This was where Lilly had died, that already made her skin crawl. The kicker was facing the other Kanes.
If she saw Jake, she knew she wouldn't be able to help herself and prevent looking at him long hard for any features they may or may not share – and finding some would only increase the ick. Celeste… she wasn't afraid of her. After everything she'd gone through because of this woman… she was almost looking forward to the look on her face when she'd see her now.
But then there was Duncan. So many things came to mind with him – their relationship and subsequent breakup, his help with the text message, and the possibility that they were half-siblings most of all. Was this why he'd ended things so abruptly? Had he found out and jumped back in fear? If that was the case, she was willing to bet it was Celeste's doing. Lilly had said Celeste would try to break them up, and though there still was no confirmation that it was for sure true, she'd banked on it for her own benefits.
Veronica took a deep breath and stepped out of the car. Poor Backup had to be promised she'd be back before letting her go. Every step she took, getting closer to the door, she felt her courage strengthen and shatter all at once. She had to remind herself of what she was trying to do, and hope it would be enough to keep her legs working.
She got up to the door and, after another minute of inner palpitations, she pressed the doorbell. It was done now, and she took a breath to celebrate that. She paced about waiting for someone to answer. She really hoped Celeste would answer, and she wouldn't have to face anyone else just yet. No such luck.
She heard the door open and turned to meet whomever had answered. She found herself face to face with Duncan. Neither of them spoke for a minute. Duncan was speechless, seeing her standing before him. He was awake, it was real – he knew this – but it was still so hard to believe. For her part, Veronica was fighting back the crushed floodgates of emotions she had feared just a few minutes ago.
"Hey… Duncan," she finally broke through, finding balance again.
"You… you're back?" She nodded.
"Can I come in?" she asked after he seemingly lost his voice again.
"Uh, yeah, of course," he blinked and stepped aside. She walked in and he closed the door.
"I know you probably have a lot of questions…" she looked up at him. "All I can say for now is it's complicated. You're going to have to be patient about this."
"Okay," he answered, mostly for a lack of anything else he knew to say at that instant.
"Most importantly, you can't tell anyone I'm back, no one. Okay?"
"Are you leaving again?" he asked, worried again.
"No, no, I'm not. I just… I need to be the one to let them know." He nodded. Neither was too sure of what to say next, and Veronica could feel the thoughts returning, so she got back on task. "I, uh… I actually need to talk to your mother." He stood there, then blinked.
"My mother? Why would you need to…"
"Complicated, see?" she smiled shyly. "Please, Duncan. It's really important."
"She's out right now." Veronica sighed. "She should be back soon though," he continued. Relief set in as he then offered to keep her company until then. They went into the living room and sat. "What happened that day?" he asked.
Observing him, she could tell that he'd changed since she'd last seen him. He seemed more at ease, something she could see despite the shock of seeing her still occupying his face. She wasn't sure how it had happened, if it had anything to do with her… He couldn't have been glad about this, could he?
"I, well… I woke up in my mother's car and we drove to this motel…"
"The Calder," he filled in and she nodded.
"I wanted to escape, return home. That's when I sent you that message. But then…" She stopped as she heard the door.
"Duncan?" they heard Celeste call out.
Veronica looked to him and, giving him a silent request to stay there and stay quiet, she stood and carefully followed the sound. She stopped outside of her sight, but within her own viewpoint. She looked just as she remembered, if only with shorter hair. She'd stopped at a small table near the entrance, where the mail had been left. She picked up the stack and started going through it.
"Duncan!" she called again, prompting Veronica to wave her arm behind herself to urge him once again to stay quiet. No doubt he was asking himself many questions right then, but they would have to wait.
At last, she stepped into the open. Celeste's back was still turned to her. The sound of her shoes alerted her to the presence, though she mistook their owner.
"Your father's going to be working late tonight, so we'll be dining alone. How about we head over to Chez Michel?" She finished going through the mail, noticing the continuing silence. "What's the matter?" she asked, turning and expecting to find her son.
What she did find made the envelopes in her hand tumble down to the ground. Veronica found power in this.
"Hello Mrs. Kane."
TBC
