Broken Lives

Chapter 14: Hardships Castle

Veronica

"Logan, are you guys almost ready," I call out as I pass his office. It has been 6 months since we figured out Liam Fitzpatrick was behind everything. Our lives have changed so much, my dad helped bring a case against the Manning's for what they did to their daughters. Logan and I got temporary custody of Lilly. Duncan was back in the states, but he was remanded into custody for kidnapping by the FBI. His dad and my dad have been working hard at getting his sentence reduced, but they have hit a road block.

"Aunt Veronica how does this look," Meg asks as I pass by her. Lilly had been going by Meg while on the run, and she wanted to keep that name. It made her feel closer to her mom. She was wearing a flowered sundress that came above her knees, with flip flops. She had braided her hair to one side.

"Meg you look perfect. Could you go check on the girls?" I ask as I walk into the living room to find Logan struggling with the puppy he just had to get for the girls.

"I said sit," he snaps at the puppy as he jumps up against his leg.

"Taze, sit" I command the puppy quickly sits down. Logan looks over to me smirking.

"Great another dog has fallen in love with you," he says as he picks up the puppy and places him in his puppy cage. Taze still hadn't been fully potty trained, and we were going to be gone for a while.

"Come on, Lilly, Lynn, we're going to be late," Meg says as they come running down the stairs. All three of them looked like one another. If you didn't know any better you would think they were sisters. They shared the long blonde hair and the sparkling blue eyes.

We loaded up in the Land Rover that Logan had been so thankful he owned because it fit all of us in it. He headed down our drive toward the middle of town. We were going to visit with Duncan who had been brought to the court house for a hearing. He would then be taken to the county jail where my dad had set up for Meg to visit with her dad for half an hour. It was tough on her, and this was something she had been looking forward to. Since we had her she had only seen her dad after his hearing because he didn't want her traveling to the prisons.

I walked into the Sheriff's station and was greeted by Deputy Leo. He explained that the hearing was running over, but as soon as it was over Duncan would be over. It was late in the afternoon which meant he would probably be staying the night here instead of being transferred by right away. He had another hearing the next day in the Manning's case that was unexpected.

"Veronica, Meg," Jake Kane says as he enters the room.

"Mr. Kane," Meg says as she looks anywhere but at him.

"Meg, please call me anything but Mr. Kane," he asks softly.

"I will try," she mumbles. Meg had a hard time calling Jake her grandpa because she really never knew him. Duncan had also declined his dad from getting her while he was away because he didn't want Celeste anywhere near her. The Manning's couldn't have her because they were both being charged with child abuse. Logan wasn't sure we were the best choice, but a judge thought we were more stable than a foster home for her.

"Mr. Kane," my dad says as he comes into the small space. "Meg, Veronica," he smiles as he says our names.

"I hear Duncan will be here over night," I say as Logan comes in with Lilly and Lynn.

"Yes, it was all last minute. I will see about getting an hour or so if Meg would like to see him," he says as Lilly jumps into his arms.

"Grandpa, daddy got us a puppy," she says as she begins to explain in detail how Taze is the best puppy ever. He takes the girls into his office while Logan and I wait with Meg for her dad. I am leaning my head on Logan's shoulder when I see Deputy Norris leading him into the back area.

"Veronica, Logan," he says as Duncan lifts up his head. He looked like he aged so much in the last few months. "You must be Meg. I will set him up in his cell and then come get you guys," he says as he goes through a door.

"My dad looks so sad," Meg says softly with tears in her eyes.

It killed me to see Meg in so much pain. She is too young to have to do this. I hated that even though Mr. Manning was charged as a bad guy; he still had just enough pull to bring Duncan down the way he was. I half listened to the conversation between Logan, Duncan and Lilly. I felt pulled by all the over shelling conflicts going on around us.

I was still on the edge with Liam being on the loose. He was like a ghost; there are no records of him anywhere to help us. The only links we have really are the two separate partial finger prints. Logan has hired a private security firm to keep tabs on the Fitzpatrick's. He asked if I wanted to know the details and I was sure I didn't. It was hard enough for me to know that one was after me I didn't need to know what they did all the time.

"Veronica, you ready," Logan asks as he has his hand out. I notice Meg was already gone.

"Sure," I mutter thinking of how lost I was n thought. "Duncan I'll be by tomorrow sometime with Meg," I say as I pass him.

"Yeah, maybe we can talk," he says smiling. Logan leads me to my dad's office where the three girls were all chatting with my dad and Jake. After half an hour of listening to the girls telling their stories of Taze, and small talk about what we were doing for the weekend we headed out.

Logan ran inside of Lugi's to pick up dinner while I waited outside with the girls. I was trying to figure out a way to help Duncan out, but without getting too involved. I knew something that might help him, but I would need help to do it.

"Mac how have you been," I ask after I decided to take a walk. I wasn't really hungry and needed sometime to myself. I knew there were two people following me, but I could still call her.

"It is crazy. I swear I have three children instead of two," she says as I groan hearing Dick's voice ringing in my ears. I laugh.

"Well I could have told you Dick would never grow up," I smirk as she laughs. I had to give it to Dick he had stepped up majorly when he got Mac, but he still liked to play.

"I know this isn't a social call, so what do you need," she finally asks causing me to stop walking.

"I want the information we gathered on 'The Castle'. I think its time to start playing hard ball," I mutter knowing I was opening a can of worms.

"I thought you promised Jake, you wouldn't use that information," she questions knowing the story behind Jake actually helping me.

"Yes, well he can't get anywhere to help Duncan. I think it's time to call in a few favors or even blackmail," I say as I can see Logan walking toward me.

"I will have Dick bring the list by later. I need to check on the children before something is broken," she says softly. I knew this wasn't how things should happen but I couldn't let Meg watch grow up with her dad.

"Hey," Logan says as he wraps his arms around my shoulders. "Is everything alright? It's not like you to turn down food," he says softly as if he was gauging my demeanor.

"I have just been thinking. I didn't mean to worry you," I say honestly.

"It's alright. I know things aren't perfect, but they'll get better," he whispers as he nuzzles into my hair.

"I called Mac to get the list from her," I say breaking the peace. Now it was my turn to see if he was mad or not.

"What do you plan to do with it once you have it," he asks a little harsher than I would have liked.

"I am going to make a few calls, see if I can't get some people on his side," I say as I turn to walk toward the house.

"What if they don't want to help?" he questions not following me.

"Then I'll make them," I say ending the conversation by walking away. I knew he would wait a while before coming back to the house. He wouldn't want to make things worse so he would think things over before coming after me. That was his new process. It scared me sometimes to know how much effort we were making to keep the peace in our lives, but neither one of us wanted to lose the other. I would give him all the time he needed, but it wouldn't change my mind.

*****LoVe*****

Logan

I knew her silence in the car meant something was up with her. Veronica had a way of letting people know she wasn't up for a lot of things just by the way she handled herself. I think I knew something was up when she closed herself off in with Duncan. She was in her own little world thinking up some scheme if I knew her. When she declined to eat I definitely knew it was bad.

I waited for almost 45 minutes before I went after her. I decided whatever it was she needed time to think it through before being confronted. Mac called me to let me know that Veronica was about to get into something deep and she was worried about her. I knew I needed to find her. I went halfway down the beach to where she was.

When she bluntly told me what she planned on doing I wanted to yell at her. I wanted to make her see reason, but I also knew if it was me she would be doing the same thing to help me. IT was something she just had to do. Did I like the chances she took? Was I willing to let her get hurt? Would it be wrong of me to demand her to stop? I had thousands of questions running through my head, but I couldn't follow her because I knew I needed to cool down.

We had come a long way in the past 6 months. Veronica had brought out the old me in so many ways, especially the hot headed punch wielding bad boy I was. For all the progress I had made, it changed that night we were left alone after finding out who was truly behind the whole vendetta. It didn't help that we slept together which complicated the whole thing the next day when I lost it as a guy was staring at her.

Yes, when it came to the madding blonde that made my world begin and end she was what made me crazier than anything else; more so when she had no regards to her own life when faced with danger. What she was about to do with going up against these powerful men was more dangerous than anything she had ever done before and she would need my help. I wouldn't let her do this alone; no I would help in any way just to keep her safe. As I decided on my action plan I headed back to the house. She had a plan already in place; I would enforce mine to keep her with me.

"V, is there anything I can do to help you," I ask as I enter the bedroom. She turns to look at me with tears in her eyes.

"I don't like fighting," she says as I sit down beside her.

"We aren't fighting. We're talking, that's what couples do when they have disagreements," I smirking as she smiles a little.

"Yes, I guess you're right. I think if I contact Judge Reynolds and Senator Michaels, they would be the best choices," she says looking over the names and professions of the members of the Castle.

"Um, Judge Reynolds will be easy to get on board. He is on the pay for Kane industries, but Senator Michaels. He is a hardnosed man," I say leafing through the papers in front of her.

"Okay, I bet you are planning on helping me out with this," she says smiling a bigger smile as I nod my head softly.

"I just want to make sure you aren't doing something that could hurt you," I say as she kisses me. I call the Judge at home on speaker so that Veronica could hear the whole conversation. Reynolds was on board with us, not even asking for anything in return. He was surprised Jake hadn't come to him for help with the situation. I had to call Gia to get the Senator's number. Her boyfriend worked for him. She wanted to know why I needed the number, but gave it to me anyway.

"I'll call him," Veronica blurts out as I was getting ready to dial the number. "Senator Michaels, my name is Veronica Mars and I need your help," she says.

"Veronica Mars, your name sounds familiar. Do I know you?" he questions as I get a frown from Logan.

"I don't think so. I live in Neptune," she says as she shrugs her shoulders at my curious look.

"Veronica Mars, yes you were the Detective injured in the bombing of an apartment a few years ago. You were one of the lead Detectives in the Kidnapper cases in LA," he says as if he was reading from a file.

"Yes, that's me," I say trying to think of what to say next.

"What can I do for you?" he snaps like he is losing his patience.

"I want you to help me get the FBI to drop charges against Duncan Kane for kidnapping his daughter," I say as the Senator begins to laugh.

"Ms. Mars, why would I do that," he snaps.

"I know that you are part of 'The Castle', and that you told certain secrets that could ruin your career. I mean who would trust you once they learn about…" he begins to snap at me.

"How the hell would you know any of that? I mean, I mean there is no," I stop him this time.

"I stole the information from a reliable source almost 7 years ago. I know all about your early relations to the underage kids in your community. I even know about you killing and getting rid of the body of one of the girl's father," I say as Logan just stares at me.

"Who the hell did you get that info from? Oh my god, you are the one who deciphered the information from Kane's hard drive. You have no idea the hell the whole lot of us, went through. I will call you tomorrow. I need to make some calls," he snaps as he hangs up the phone.

"Remind me Sugarpuss never to get on your bad side," I say as she tosses the papers on the floor.

"Logan I love you," she says as she begins to assault my lips. I have to pull back just to catch my breath.

"God I love you as well Bobcat," I smirk as we begin to undress to make slow and perfect love. I couldn't be mad at her if I tried in this moment.

****LoVe****

Jake

"Mr. Kane, Senator Michaels is on line 1 for you," my secretary says as she buzzes me.

"Kane, what the hell is going on," he snaps at me. I wasn't ready for a second member to call me.

"John, I don't know really. Reynolds just called me, but I assure you I am going to handle this," I say trying to think of how to handle Veronica.

"Why didn't you come to us?" he snaps angrily.

"I thought this would be an open shut case," I say as I picture him seated in his expensive suit getting ready to hire a man to take her out.

"Kane, you should have come to us yourself. I admire Ms. Mars, but mark my words if she had of pissed the wrong person off she'd be dead," he says. He didn't need to remind me I knew that for a fact.

"Yeah, I make sure to speak with her," I say looking toward Clarence who just entered my office.

"I'll help you out with your son. I made a call or two. He will have to stay in County for a few more months, but all charges will be dropped. Kane, I would hate to see what that girl could accomplish with the right set of names," he says before hanging up the phone.

I knew exactly what he meant. I also knew from experience with Veronica she would chose the two people she knew from reading their file would help with no strings. I also believed without a doubt Logan Echoll's was helping her out from what Reynolds told me.

"Sir," Clarence says as my right hand man looks to me.

"I guess Veronica has pulled some strings from the Castle," I say getting a smirk from him. Yes, some days I worry that girl will be the death of me, but other days I wonder why Lilly chose her. I mean did Lilly know that our families would be so involved or was she really trying to drive everyone crazy.