Please don't hate me for the end… Beware the angst. Please ask me any questions or post your criticisms so I can explain any character actions or why I wrote things a certain way. I always enjoy feedback and reviews.
Chapter 21
Veronica put her head in her hands and cried; not caring there was a storm around her. How had things gone so wrong? Why was she being punished like this?
-Four Days Earlier-
Day 1 of the Aaron Echolls trial was already making Veronica want to throw up. Opening statements had been made by both attorneys and then Aaron was called to the stand. He'd denied sleeping with Lilly and implicated Duncan as the killer, keeping a somber expression on his face to bullshit the jury.
Apparently, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth means lie your ass off to Aaron. God, Logan is so far from being like his father. If there was no DNA causing the family resemblance I'd think Logan was adopted. The irony is that Trina is the adopted one yet she acts exactly like Aaron.
Veronica shook away the pointless circles of the Echolls' family drama when the judge banged the gavel to sat court would be in session the same time tomorrow. Keith took Veronica and Logan out a back exit so they could go respectively to school and work without the paparazzi mobbing them.
"You know, it's good to know being famous has such perks. For instance, the privilege of lying under oath." Veronica expressed her earlier thought with bitter sarcasm and Keith sighed.
"The Oscar with Duncan's hair on it will create doubt, leaving all this down to the tapes. And who are the witnesses responsible for proving those tapes had Aaron having sex with Lilly on them?"
"Logan and I."
"Ah, and who's going to have to work to keep their cool on the stand so Aaron's lawyer doesn't rile you with his sleaziest tricks?" Keith gave his daughter a pointed look.
"That's where you're wrong, Pops. I'm unrilable! Easy going Veronica Mars… That's what the kids at school call me."
"You know how fat men are sometimes called Tiny?" Keith said and she glared.
"I can handle it, Dad. All I want is to watch the exact moment when Aaron realized he'll never be a free man again and he'll pay for what he did to Lilly."
Logan placed his arm around her and she gratefully leaned into his warmth.
"What about you, Logan? Are you prepared for your testimony?"
"Honestly, prepared to condemn my father to life in prison after murdering the first girl I loved is something I can never be. Let's just say I'm ready to do my part to bring Lilly justice."
Keith nodded, respecting the boy's answer.
"Take care of my daughter."
"Always." Logan promised, leading her to his car.
===================================================================================================At lunch Veronica was busy cramming for her finals as Logan absent mindedly rolled an apple in his palm, his thigh touching Veronica's to keep a constant connection between them, even in the simplest ways.
"Ta-da!" Gia's high pitched chirp startled the coupled from their separate concentrations.
The pink box with 4 brightly frosted cupcakes was open in front of Veronica.
"What's this?" she asked.
"This is my thanks to you and Logan for saving my life."
"That's nice of you. Thanks." Veronica went back to her textbook and Gia pouted, not affecting Logan in any way although Veronica's pouts would drive him crazy.
"I knew you were still mad over what happened with our dads. You're rejecting my cupcakes!" Gia exclaimed and Veronica's eyes widened at the mini tantrum.
"It's not that, Gia. I have to study for this final. I'm grateful for the cupcakes, okay? Why don't we study for the Health final tomorrow?"
Gia's face instantly brightened.
"Great! You can come over and I'll have ice cream and candy and chips!"
"Yeah! See you then!" Veronica forced enthusiasm in her sentences, hoping that would make Gia leave.
Thankfully, it did.
"At the Sadie Hawkins dance, Gia and I were in charge of selling the tickets and she was grating on my nerves. She told me I used sarcasm and anger as a way to push people away from me."
"Sounds about right." She said dryly.
"Pot, meet kettle." He remarked and continued the story. "Anyway, she asks me to tell her what I think about her and to be completely honest."
"Judging by the fact that she's still in one emotionally sane piece I'm assuming you didn't tell her?"
"No. At that moment I saw you enter the room and everyone else faded away."
Veronica smiled and was leaning in to meet his kiss when abruptly she pulled back and Logan almost fell forward.
"Hey! What gives?" he demanded.
"I have to study, Logan! No distractions by my sexy, romantic boyfriend." She turned her attention back to her book, but another interruption hit a minute later in the form of Jackie and Wallace.
"Where'd you get the cupcakes, V?" he asked.
"Saved someone's life." She answered, without looking up.
"Who's?"
"I need to study right now."
"Right. I forgot that some people were still slaving away on finals, but no not I."
"You will survive?" Logan put in and Wallace glared.
"I am free of finals and gave my scholarship from Hearst secured."
"Do you want me to cry?" Veronica dead panned. "Cause I'm willing to cry if you walk away now."
"Why so frazzled, Supafly?"
"I have to ace all my finals and pray that Angie Dahl does badly on one of hers. Even that doesn't guarantee me the Kane scholarship."
"Why are you so eager o go to Stanford with Angie Dahl when your friends, your dad and your boyfriend are here in Neptune?" Jackie asked.
"I've been dreaming of Stanford since elementary school. Oh, and Logan wouldn't be in Neptune. He'd come with me to Stanford."
The other couple looked at Logan, who shrugged.
"She holds my heart and I am forced to follow it."
Jackie giggled and Wallace rolled his eyes at the sappy line.
"Can I have a cupcake?" Jackie asked Veronica.
"You can have them all if you take the box and go."
"Thanks!"
"Please take Wallace with you." She added.
"That's cold, V." he said, but followed Jackie and the cupcakes to get some milk.
"Veronica-
"I can make you leave too." She cut off her boyfriend.
"You have a gentleman caller." He gestured to Weevil. "Actually, gentleman is too liberal a word."
Weevil gave him his standard glare and stepped closer to Veronica.
"Do you have a second?"
"Not really." She said in a stressed voice, but Weevil's expectant face made her add. "Only a second."
"I need your help with something."
"I have to save any illegal activities for after finals."
"No… I need you to help me with Algebra."
"Like the math?" Logan asked and Weevil ignored him.
"Please, I need this class to graduate."
"I'm sorry, Weevil. I'm swamped with my own finals." Veronica frowned apologetically and he stepped back.
"Right… Right I'll see you around then. Or you'll see me repeating my senior year for the… oh yeah 3rd time." He walked away and Veronica felt guilt for saying no.
"Don't Veronica." Logan said and she furrowed her brow at him. "I know you. You're blaming yourself for Weevil's troubles and considering running after him to give up your time for his. You want to help everyone who needs it, even if it means stretching yourself thin."
"You know me too well. Cut it out." She grumbled, obediently turning back to her World History textbook.
It was something in the wind that made her feel a strange cold on the back of her neck, a sixth sense of something coming. She looked up and saw Gia, alone at a table, texting on her phone. Then, she looked to her left and saw him. Lucky. Approaching the quad with a gun. She gasped and ran towards Gia, who was just standing with her purse to leave. In the split second that she pushed Gia down, Lucky had jumped onto a table and shot into the sky. After initial screams people cried and sobbed as he ordered them to get down to the ground.
"My God, you're just like animals! Scurrying around and whining about the troubles in your lives. I mean, so you broke a nail or Daddy took away the Black Amex. Whoop-di-freaking-do!" he shot another bullet into the air, causing more startled screams. "You know who used to clean up after your messes? Me. Yeah, until a few days ago when I was suddenly unfit. I guess I'm good enough to drive an armored troop transport truck to Tikrit, but not to polish the floors at Neptune High." He gave a maniacal laugh and Gia whimpered.
She knows what's coming next.
"The real reason I'm here is to collect something that's mine. My girl. Where are you, G-G-G Gia?!" he scanned the quad, jumping down from the table and beginning to search all the tables.
Veronica pulled out her cell phone and began to rapidly dial 911 when Lucky found them.
"Who are you calling, Ms. Mars?"
Suddenly the gun was pointed at her.
"You already took my girl from me once. I won't allow it to happen again." His finger was nearing the trigger when a flash of motion hit him from the side and sent him sprawling to the ground of the pavement next to the quad area.
"Logan." She cried out, seeing him wrestling Lucky and trying to push the gun from his hands.
"Not this time, buddy! I will be the last one standing here!" Lucky pushed Logan off him and stood, aiming the gun at his chest.
"NO!" Veronica screamed as Lucky pulled the trigger and the whoosh of a bullet leaving the chamber sounded.
Yet, Logan was unharmed and he touched his chest in shock at still being alive.
"Ha! Surprise!" Lucky laughed and a second shot rang through the air.
Lucky dropped to the floor, narrowly missing Logan's body. The long overdue security of the school came to take him away and students began climbing out from under tables, still grabbing each other protectively.
"Oh my God, Logan" Veronica ran to her boyfriend, falling to her knees next to him.
She was crying freely and Logan sat up, confused by her tears.
"What happened, my love?"
"What happened?! You almost died trying to defend me!"
"But I didn't."
"But you could have! God, Logan I saw a psycho with a gun and instead of staying with you I just left you! You could have died and I would have been with you. You were taking a bullet for me, to protect me, and I was hiding under a table without considering you!"
Logan's expression was torn between love and amusement. He stood, pulling her with him, and dragged her to this X-terra to gain some privacy in the school. He took her face in his hands and forced her misty blue eyes to meet his.
"Listen to me, Veronica Mars. You were doing the right thing running to help Gia. He was after her and if you hadn't done that and I hadn't stalled him, the security wouldn't have made it in time. He could have hurt Gia the instant he came looking for her. We distracted him."
"What if it had been too late? What if the shot had an actual bullet and the Russian Roulette would have ended the wrong way? What if you had died, Logan?" she stressed the word with pain in her eyes and he pulled her to his chest.
"I didn't die, Veronica. You can't blame yourself for leaving me alone. I'm a big boy. You aren't responsible for me and you were busy helping the right person."
"Then why are you responsible for me? You were willing to face the gun-wielding psycho!"
"Would you have done the same for me?"
"Of course." She said without thinking and he gave her a tender smile.
"That's why I did it and why I always protect you. I know you'd do the same for me, Veronica. We're in this together and we both put everything into the other's safety. It's how real love works. I love you."
"I love you too, Logan." She sighed, taking in his solid warmth on her cheek. "I was sacred I'd lost you and I'd be alone in this world."
"You would still have your dad. And Wallace and Mac."
"No, it wouldn't be the same for me. Ever. After Lilly was taken from me and my mom left me I felt scarred. Broken and unwanted. You had turned the school against me and I felt so alone. Then, we found a way to be together and broke up and went through an emotional whirlwind and whatnot and Duncan left. That was 3 people that had disappeared from my life. 4 if you include Meg. A sweet girl that didn't deserve to die just like Lilly didn't. I love Wallace and Mac. My dad is my family, but so are you. And more so. Without you, Logan… I don't think I could survive. And wow I never thought I'd say such a pathetic, melodramatic statement like that." She shook her head and buried her face in his chest to hide away.
He chuckled and she felt it reverberate through his body.
"I don't think it's pathetic. If it is, I'm just as pathetic as you are. We've lost the same people, obviously my mother instead of yours. I lost my father and my sister and my friends weren't there for me when I needed them that awful summer."
They both unconsciously thought of Duncan, who had distanced himself from Logan and pursued an unwilling Veronica.
"All I had was you and after we broke up I went semi-catatonic. I don't remember drinking that much alcohol any other time in my life. The day of the bus crash, when I thought you had died, I had so much vodka I passed out and woke up hours later, missing time. Then, I went to the beach and I saw you were alive… and my universe was stable again."
She pulled back her face and smiled at his wonderful hazel eyes.
"When you're telling me all this romantic stuff your eyes are golden brown." She whispered and pushed her lips to his.
Soon, they were making out in the driver's seat and Veronica pulled away, lips swollen and eyes slightly hazy.
"Let's go to your suite."
Logan put her gently but quickly into her seat and drove to the Neptune Grande in less than 5 minutes. When they got to his room, their clothes were off in seconds and their skin was heated against each other. When he finally entered her they both gasped in pleasure and relief. After Logan's near-death experience a part of Veronica had been restless and incomplete. But, now in this moment as they moved together she knew he was okay and that he was with her again. Safe and sound.
When her climax hit she almost sobbed with pleasure and she bit Logan's shoulder to smother her moan as he kissed her neck affectionately and whispered how much he loved her.
==========================================================================================================
"I think we need a break!" Gia said, slamming her textbook shut and looking expectantly at Veronica, who had been trying to study.
"Gia, you took one ten minutes ago."
It was the night before the Health final, a crummy Tuesday, and the girls were in the Goodman's dining room with books and laptops on the table.
"And I need another one. Who's up for ice cream?!"
"Sure." Veronica sighed and before Gia could head to the kitchen she made a big show of seeing her computer "crash".
"What happened?" Gia looked at the black screen.
"It just crashed on me, right in the minute of that practice test I was telling you about."
"Well, we have dozens of computers. Use the one in the guest room down the hall." She waved over her shoulder, continuing to the kitchen.
Easier than I thought. Veronica stood to use the mentioned guest room and sat at the computer, taking out her USB and putting into the laptop. Dad needs Woody's e-mails and already knowing his password all he needed was access to the Goodmans' home computer network. I told him it would be easier for me to do it than for him to PI his way in.
Veronica logged in as Woody and got to his inbox, quickly copying e-mail to the USB. There were some from Lucky that she skimmed but her eye caught one that said "kill incorporation." She opened it and lowered the volume on the computer as a male voice began to talk of Woody being a pervert for what he did to them. Then, another voice joined in agreeing and saying it should be taken to the Sheriff. Veronica heard footsteps in the hallway, heavier than Gia's skip, and quickly added the e-mail to the USB, her arm shaking at the slow progress of the files. As the door to the room pushed open Veronica pulled the USB from the computer, put it in her pocket, and closed the e-mail program leaving it on the regular search engine.
"Veronica." Woody gave a friendly smile, that served to send a shiver down her spine.
"Mr. Goodman, Gia told me I could use the computer for my practice test."
"Ah, so are you as smart as you think you are?" there was a sinister look in his eyes and she gulped.
"I hope so." She pushed past him and got to where Gia was, placing the ice cream bowls on the table.
"There you are!" she said happily but frowned when Veronica began to pack her things. "Are you leaving?"
"Sorry, Gia, I get headaches and I can feel one coming on." She put her bag on her shoulder and went to the door.
"Must be from all the squinting. On the computer." Woody said helpfully, creepy grin still in place.
"Thanks for everything Gia and Mr. Goodman." She nodded nervously and practically ran from the house and into her car.
She didn't feel safe again until she was at her apartment, showing the e-mails to her father and holding in gasps of disgust at the content of the mayor's e-mails. She focused on the one lead they got from the tapes. The 2 voices on the tape mentioned a third person but no third voice was on the tape, meaning someone had been edited out.
"It explains the gaps in the audio." Keith said with a grim countenance.
"It has to be his Little League team. He had the perfect chance to get the kids alone then." Her voice was hoarse at the thought of what innocent children had suffered at Woody's hands.
"We can think about this after tomorrow."
"But-
"Get some rest, Veronica. You'll need it."
==========================================================================================================
"State your name, please." The judge said.
"Veronica Mars."
"Bailiff."
The bailiff approached the witness stand with the customary Bible and Veronica put one hand on it, another hand upwards. As she was sworn in she shared one final look with Logan, who looked grave. And she couldn't blame him. They knew what was coming. The defense would bring out whatever they had to make her look like a whore. And chances were they would succeed. She couldn't explain the rape and the subsequent STD without making herself look worse. The one comfort was that she'd forced herself to tell her Dad about the incident, and after he screamed and cried with her he told her she had to be strong. He was shaken at the violation of his little girl but he realized she'd recovered, not just from that, but from most of her life's obstacles. He saw how she depended on Logan and how he helped her heal.
Keith had promised to add her case to his priorities, but she told him to forget it for a while. There were more important issues at hand, like Woody Goodman and Aaron Echolls. Keith hadn't answered, but Veronica's head tilt got a reluctant "okay" from him. It was nice to feel both her dad and Logan's support.
"Miss Mars, do you find wealth and fame attractive?"
Veronica was unsure of the question and he added.
"According to this file, you have been part of it for a long time. Your boyfriends have certainly fit that description, haven't they? First, Duncan Kane and then Logan Echolls. It's accurate that you and Mr. Echolls still maintain a relationship, is it not?" Mr. Lavoie asked.
"Objection! What does this have to do with the case?" the prosecution protested but the judge waved it away.
"Yes, I am dating Logan."
"Right, it was just a question nothing accusatory." The defense lawyer gave a slimy grin. "Now on to Lilly Kane. She was your best friend, was she not?"
"Yes." Veronica's voice held leftover longing for the deceased girl.
"You looked up to her?"
"Yes."
"Emulated her?"
Veronica's eyes narrowed.
"To a degree."
"Is that why you prepositioned Mr. Echolls on finding the tapes that could have put your best friend in a bad light?"
And there it is. The Sleazeball had to go there.
"Tapes with your friend engaged in kissing with my client." Mr. Lavoie continued.
Veronica's tone was hard as she spoke.
"You mean naked kissing? With Aaron on top of Lilly, gyrating? Are those the tapes you mean?"
There was a murmur of disapproval but Veronica didn't care where it'd come from. Mr. Lavoie smiled, almost in triumph, at having upset her and continued his spiel.
"You found the tapes and told my client he could earn them back." He looked at the jury when he said the word earn and it was clear what his meaning was.
"I didn't preposition Aaron or say any of those words. He hid in the back of my car and tried to kill me for those tapes."
"You're an 18 year old teenager with freedoms and wanton desires that are perfectly normal for this age. However, one relationship must have gone too far." He gave an ignominious smile and Veronica knew what was coming the second before he said it.
She had time to shoot Logan one glance as the words erupted into the silent courtroom.
"You underwent treatment for a sexually transmitted disease."
"That was a month ago. I completed it." She said, voice hard but it was too late.
The jury was giving her looks of mixed distrust and repulsion. Mr. Lavoie said he had no further questions and Veronica was allowed off the stand as the judge called for a short recess. Veronica didn't look at the faces of any of the people in the too cramped room. She kept walking, out of the court room, out of the court, and down the street until she reached a small empty field. She went to the center and sat down, not caring about the rumpling of her skirt and getting dirt on her sensible heels.
"Veronica."
It was Logan, of course. He sat next to her and didn't speak again, allowing her to initiate conversation because he knew she needed some time.
"Where's my dad?"
"He was talking to Sacks. Lamb got some new information on Terrence Cook's whereabouts at the time of the bus crash. He trusted me to handle you. The surprise at Keith Mars allowing me private time, no questions asked, with his daughter almost gave me a heart attack." He gave her a crooked smile and she pushed herself into his lap, laying her head over his heart.
It was always a comfort to hear the steady beat of his heart under her ear and to feel Logan's interminable warmth on her own skin.
"Tell me what's wrong, my love." He whispered.
"I felt dirty." She gasped and he realized she was fighting back tears. "It was like I was back at Shelley Pomroy's party the morning after. I was alone and so… violated. My skin felt tainted and my soul felt black. I hadn't done anything wrong and yet I was wrong. Then, I picked myself off the floor and built my new persona to face school and the people who hated me so much that one had raped me." She winced at the word and Logan closed his eyes at the mention of a school hating her only because he'd ordered it. "When I learned more about that night and confronted Duncan and questioned the 09'ers I felt in control. It hurt, but I was finding things out because I wanted to. The STD… made me rethink things. Obviously, I couldn't leave it in the past. I had no further leads or suspects but someone had left a mark on me, in the worst possible way. I felt disgusted with myself and my body again, making me fear what you would think. I can't tell you how thankful I was that you didn't make me feel worse about it."
"I would never." He said vehemently and she laced their hands together.
"I know. I know who you are and I trust you. After the lawyer announced it I couldn't breathe. The court had become Shelley's trashed house and the jury were the jeering 09'ers, laughing and talking about me. Did you see how they looked at me?" she shut her eyes to prevent any tears and Logan stroked her golden hair.
"They're fuckers, alright? They don't know you or me. They sure as hell don't know who Aaron Echolls is or else they'd be sending him to prison or a psych ward without a second thought. Life isn't fair, Veronica. I think we've both seen it firsthand."
"He's going to win, isn't he?" she asked in a broken whisper and this time Logan was fighting tears.
"This battle? Probably. But not the war."
"I'm tired of fighting, Logan."
"I am too, my love. I am too."
The remainder of that day in court had been boring and unhelpful, or so Keith said. Logan and Veronica had gone to Mars Investigations to do homework and order food without being bothered by paparazzi. Keith arrived later, with good yet slightly suspicious news on Terrence's alibi during the bus crash time and with a lead in Woody Goodman's case.
"I haven't been able to get Rich Pickett on the phone." Keith commented, grabbing an extra eggroll from the couple's food setup.
"The batboy?" Veronica asked.
"One of. He lives in NY. Hey, feel like flying there to track him down?"
"You know I don't fly coach." She shot back and he gave her a gentle smile.
"You okay?"
"A little." She shrugged and Keith nodded, letting the issue go.
"There are 2 other batboys but one is in Europe and one has disappeared from the face of the planet."
"I was looking through Lucky's e-mails but it's like wafting through ancient riddles with crazy pseudonyms everywhere." She complained.
"I can't believe Lucky would do that. He used to be a cool guy." Logan said sadly.
It seemed like all his friends turned out to be either assholes or psychotic. At least Dick was only an asshole. Duncan could be considered both.
"Let me see those." Keith picked up a printout of Lucky's e-mails and jokingly read a line. "What, you can't understand 'Time is a timeliness of the present. You should respond. I've left you so many presents if you don't find them they'll find you."
"Wait." Logan's face darkened. "Presents?"
Veronica had seen her boyfriend's countenance and had slowly thought back to Anti-prom night and the memorable encounter with Lucky in the janitor's closet.
"He was showing Gia a scar he got in Iraq from a "present" left by the insurgents"
"Lucky called roadside bombs presents." Logan added, looking up to see Keith's eyes widening.
He put on his coat and ran out the door.
"I have to warn Woody, for the sake of his family." He called over his shoulder and Veronica shook her head.
"We're always saving criminals. Can't let scumbags die, can we?"
Logan kissed her chastely to show he was there for her. He knew her extremely jaded moments covered deeper feelings.
"Life's a bitch. I've said it before; I'll say it again."
"You know it's for Gia's sake and for her brother, Rodney and Mrs. Goodman. They aren't responsible for what Woody's done."
"I know."
"A father doesn't always reflect his children or his wife."
"I'm completely sure of that." Veronica's blue eyes were fierce, holding his gaze.
She was showing the firm resolve on Logan being the polar opposite of his father.
"Can you help me with something?" she asked him moments later.
"What is it?"
"Did Lucky ever mention anything about Woody Goodman or his time as a batboy with the Sharks? He and 4 other boys were the batboys but my dad can't get in touch with any of the others."
Logan thought about it and recounted a story of Lucky wearing a catcher's mask and pouring bleach on his feet.
"He was wearing a catcher's mask, really?"
"And I thought the strange part was the foot bleaching."
She rolled her eyes.
"He wore it whenever we were going into "battle". I thought it was an affectation."
"I'm sorry your friends are so crappy." She said bluntly. "You can borrow mine if you want. Wallace is great at all sports and he never spills your secrets. Mac is a genius and she can help you destroy any enemies."
"Thanks, babe." He grinned, kissing her more passionately that time. "Although, don't I have enough with Dick?"
"I'd prefer to sidestep that question so as not to offend you, your friend and fleas."
"Fleas?"
"You don't want to know. Trust me."
=========================================================================================================
"State your name."
"Keith Mars."
Veronica sat, holding Logan's hand, watching her father take his turn on the stand. She feared any questions Aaron's lawyer asked because she knew how efficiently the man would morph the truth into lies that left the innocent coming out guilty. Veronica waited with bated breath as Keith explained what happened that night and then bit her tongue when Mr. Lavoie explained Aaron's side of the story, lies dripping off every syllable. There had been no witness. The owner of the house where Veronica had tried to find refuge had disappeared, leaving Mr. Lavoie free to weave more lies.
"Mr. Mars, has your daughter ever lied to you?"
Veronica tensed and Logan rubbed her hand soothingly, his own nerves on edge. It was a double-edged question.
"I'm sure she has told an occasional fib. She is a teenage girl, after all." Keith said and Mr. Lavoie gave another slimy grin.
"Apart from the occasional fib. Do you consider your relationship with your daughter as a close one?"
"I'd say very close."
"Then I'm sure you knew about your daughter breaking in to the Manning's home without any legal reason."
Keith was silent and Mr. Lavoie gave another slimy grin.
"You must also know that Veronica was listed in Deputy Leo D'Amato's disciplinary file after she manipulated him to get into the records room while he was on duty."
Keith began to get angry and Veronica saw his tell-tale sign of slightly narrowed eyes and deeper breaths.
"You were called into the Sheriff's office to help investigate the missing tapes. You listed Duncan Kane as a possible suspect into the case, is that correct?"
"Yes." Keith's teeth were almost gritted.
"I think we can all put the pieces together. Your daughter manipulated this deputy in whatever way pretty young girls have to make older men bend to their wishes. Then, it was handed off to Duncan Kane and who's to say she didn't enlist Logan Echolls help in it? She knew the tapes didn't show what she wanted them to show so she convinced one "boyfriend" to give them to another "boyfriend" with the help of yet another "boyfriend."
Keith yanked the lawyer roughly by the tie and basically growled into his face.
"Be careful with those air quotes, Mr. Lavoie."
"Mr. Mars!" the judge admonished and Keith let the lawyer go, still glaring.
==========================================================================================================
"That didn't go well." Veronica said when she and her father got to the apartment.
Logan had gone to his suite, giving the Mars some family time but claiming he had some studying to catch up on.
"I guess I'm not the only 'Unrilable' one huh, Pops?" she tried for humor but his face was closed off and she knew he was reigning in anger.
"You've been lying to me and keeping things from me, Veronica. And I don't understand why." He sat in his armchair and Veronica slowly sat on the couch.
"I didn't want you to worry."
"I still worried. I didn't know what I was worrying about, but I knew you were struggling and suffering with something." He referred to the rape. "I didn't know you were pursuing criminal as a profession."
"The Mannings abused their children. Meg wanted me to help her little sister. I had to try." She said with her chin held high and Keith knew not to question that.
"Leo?"
She immediately lost the confidence and looked down.
"I apologized to him before. For using him… It started out as a way to get to Lilly's case files and evidence. Then, I started to like him but then…" she trailed off and Keith had to smile because he knew.
"Logan."
"Yeah." She said shyly.
"I don't blame you for what you've done, Veronica. Despite what that scumbag is painting you to be, you are a good person. You do things to help others and you don't think of the consequences that will affect you. And I love that about you, honey."
"I love you too, Dad. I'm sorry for lying." She hugged her father and he rubbed her back.
"I'll forgive it for now, kiddo, but no more life-threatening skeletons in your closet. Deal?"
"Deal." She smiled.
=========================================================================================================
It was the last day. The last day to prove Aaron's guilt and get justice for Lilly and all the other illusions Veronica had in her head about law and order. It was also the most painful day for Veronica, as Logan was on the stand and she was resisting the urge to bite her lip so hard it would bleed with the nerves she felt for her boyfriend so vulnerable on the stand against the lawyer she now hated as much as Aaron.
"State your name."
"Logan Echolls."
Logan spoke of the tapes and what he witnessed on them: Lilly and Aaron having sex.
"Are you sure what you saw was the physical act of intercourse?" Mr. Lavoie asked and Logan couldn't contain the sarcastic retort.
"I have watched Animal Planet and Health class documentaries before."
"You're an interesting youth, Logan." Mr. Lavoie began with his signature smile of incoming danger. "I have here the record of your more public occurrences."
Veronica wanted to shoot him.
You fucking scumbag. You fucking motherfucker. Veronica's thoughts were a never-ending loop of colorful curses as Mr. Lavoie read off the bum fights, Logan's suspensions or discoveries of alcohol. And then came the final kick of the puppy.
"There are also many visits to hospitals with strange injuries that you attributed once to abuse, but ladies and gentlemen of the jury this boy has a history of lies and violence. He has been in various tangles with the local gang. I'm sorry to say it like this, Logan, but your history disproves any statements you have against your father. You've lived a troubling life and probably felt that your father wasn't around enough, but he was bust providing for the family. It must have been hard for you growing up with only your alcoholic mother and even worse when she committed suicide. You took out your anger on anything available. Still, it wasn't right to try to blame your father. All he wanted to do was love you and make sure you had a better life. Yet, you never allowed him to and here you are lying to hurt the man who gave you life." Mr. Lavoie acted like he was truly moved by the rift between father and son, like Logan was the demon child that wanted to make Aaron's life hell.
Veronica didn't care that she bit her lip hard enough for serious blood to flow from the force. It was the only thing that prevented her from strangling Mr. Lavoie and Aaron with her bare hands for placing the pale, helpless and lost little boy look on Logan's face.
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Veronica didn't speak to Logan when he got off the stand because he went out a side exit and she wanted to wait for the lawyer's closing statements. She impatiently heard the judge tell the jury their instructions and for them to take their time to reach a verdict. As soon as the judge dismissed the court she jumped from her seat and to her car for the drive to school. It was the last day of the week, of finals and she only needed 2 more tests to determine her future. Yet, her mind couldn't get off of Logan and that heartbreaking expression on his face from earlier. She looked everywhere for him but he was either hiding in the boys' bathroom or he wasn't at school. She didn't see his X-terra in the parking lot so it was probably the latter option.
"Thanks Veronica." Weevil had appeared in the hallway behind her and she almost jumped.
"What did I do?"
"Got your friend Mac and that geeky boyfriend of hers to help me with math. I got a B." he held up his final with joy on his face and she couldn't help smiling back because she had never seen Weevil so openly happy.
"This means you can graduate with us?"
"I'll be there center stage tomorrow. Getting the diploma and wearing the lameass gown." He was smiling and Veronica hugged him.
"See you then."
"Alright." He waved and left the school.
Two hours later Veronica was had forces herself to focus on studying and she'd taken the Bio final without a problem. There were three minutes before the big English final and she was leaning against a wall opposite her classroom devouring the pages of the textbook and her notes to make sure she knew everything.
"I'm on my way to clean out my locker! Can you believe it?" Wallace had strolled up to her.
"I still have one more and my time for last minute cramming is dwindling."
"I won't bother you, Supafly, I know what the tests mean for you."
"My future."
"Right. So I'll leave you with one nostalgic statement that you better appreciate."
She looked up at him, waiting.
"It was worth getting tied to the flagpole. I'll miss you, Veronica Mars." He smiled and she grinned.
"And my stupid ass face?"
They laughed.
"I have to pick up my stuff and then my lady, but we can meet up for a double date/ celebratory dinner later."
"Uh, yeah." Veronica didn't mention Logan's current AWOL status and instead jumped at the bell.
"Good luck, BFF." Wallace winked, walking off to his locker.
Veronica took a deep breath to clear her mind before entering the classroom and sitting down, seeing the last test on her desk.
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It was at that moment that a whirlwind of events took place. Jackie boarded a plane to the wrong destination, a place of solitude and acceptance. Keith proved to Lamb that Lucky had an alibi for the time of the bus crash and Woody was the last suspect. Lamb called someone to pick up Woody as Inga told a lady with two children to take a seat and wait for the Sheriff to tell their story. The lady said it was urgent, involving the murder of a teenager and the identity of the killer. As Lamb finished the phone call for Woody's pickup Sacks ran into his office, alerting both Lamb and Keith to the news.
"The verdict is in." he gasped from the long run.
Seconds later Veronica, who had been about to turn off her cell phone received the text from her father.
Verdict in 10.
In that instant she made a decision that changed her life and ruined elementary school dreams. She stood, cell phone in hand, and left the classroom already planning the quickest route to the court house.
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"Please rise." The bailiff said as the jury came in and the judge nodded for the Head Juror to begin.
"Have you reached a verdict?" the judge asked.
"We have your honor." The woman said and after a short pause. "On the count of second degree murder we find the defendant… not guilty."
The fans of the great Aaron Echolls, film star, cheered. Veronica felt tears pool in her eyes and not even her father's firm grip on her elbow eased any pain. Aaron was being congratulated by his lawyers on team. He gave her a pointed look of victory and her heart ached for what she and her father had survived at his hands. She ached for Lilly and the failure for her long-awaited justice. She ached for Logan, who wasn't in the court with her.
"Innocent on all counts" her father whispered, in a state of utter disbelief.
Veronica looked down at her hands, devastated, and Keith took that cue to lead her out of the exit, unnoticed by all the cheering fans. Keith got a phone call and he stopped near Veronica's car to answer it. He was talking about Woody and his fleeing the country in an angry tone and usually Veronica would have eavesdropped but now her eyes were narrowed to see the far away outline of an X-terra and her boyfriend leaning back on it. He gave her an intense look and slowly got into his car, driving out of the parking lot at a pace that made it obvious he wanted her to follow.
"Dad, I have to go." She said and he nodded distractedly.
The phone call must have been important because he wouldn't have let his daughter drive alone after what had just occurred in that court. She took his distraction as a blessing and got into the LeBaron, pushing it to top speeds to follow the X-terra. Logan drove to a small beach on the outskirts of Neptune and Veronica frowned, wondering why he didn't stop at Dog Beach or his suite or why he didn't call her. He was set on the beach, though, and sped up as it started to rain.
"It never rains in Southern California." Veronica whispered, squinting through the soaked windshield.
When he finally stopped and got out to walk on the beach, Veronica thought he was crazy.
"Logan! What are you doing? It's raining cats and dogs!" she had to shout because the rain was violent and thunder sounded from above.
She ran to her boyfriend and noticed an emptiness in his eyes, coupled with resigned hopelessness. It was a look she'd never seen in his vibrant eyes before and it scared her. He'd lost discernible emotion.
"Logan?" she asked tentatively and he stared down at her, a trace of the old love in his eyes at her use of his name.
"He did win."
Veronica frowned.
"You were there?"
"Every second. Every fucking second!" the thunder picked up, raising with Logan's voice.
"What's wrong, Logan? Why did you run out on me after you testified? Why are we here?!" her voice had to adjust to the loudness of nature around them.
On top of that she was blinking away raindrops at a constant rate.
"We're over, Veronica."
"What?!" her voice was louder that time after Logan's had dropped to a painful hush with three words that affected her so much differently than the 3 words of love.
"I'm breaking up with you. Ending this. We're over."
Veronica felt like he punched her in the gut.
"W-Why?"
"You told me you were the scarred one, but it's me. I'm the bad, the cursed. Just like my father."
"No, Logan you're nothing like-
"But I am, Veronica." He cut off her assurance. "I lie, I hurt people, I take pleasure in the pain of the weak. When I turned the school against you I got off on making you cry. It wasn't a good day unless you weren't sobbing behind your long hair and regretting turning against me."
"No, no. Logan, I forgave you for that." She wanted to push away his cutting words and forget the past but he was giving her a broken smile and continuing.
"I'm not even capable of love. What the fuck do I know about that word, huh? My father told me he loved me, but he still whipped me. My mother told me she loved me and she still drank her way to oblivion. Lilly told me she loved me and the next day she was fucking Weevil. Duncan said he loved me like a brother and he's gone."
"What about me?! Me, Logan?! I love you!" Veronica was crying, the salt of the tears mixing with the purer rain.
"Yeah, but… I don't love you. You see, I don't love anyone." His tone was emotionless and detached which made the words that much more painful.
Logan wasn't trying to hurt her. For some twisted reason he believed it.
"You do! You love everyone! You have the largest heart I know! You've shown me at every turn that you love me. You gave your life for mine the other day, Logan!"
"I care about you, Veronica, the way you would care for friends and people who are there for you. But, we can't be together when I know you'll be hurt without love and damaged by who I am."
"I love who you are! Please, Logan, don't do this. I d-don't understand." She was losing clear thought among the physical storm and the internal pain she was feeling.
"I'm sorry, Veronica. I really am. You deserve better. You deserve someone who isn't the son of Aaron Echolls." His voice was quieter now and she strained to hear against the storm.
"No." she protested weakly, feeling fatigued from the day.
"I feel like a disappointment and it isn't fair to you, Veronica. I think it's a choice. We can have a tough, but survivable amount of pain now or stay together and deal with unbearable pain later. I vote for the pain now. You'll be better without me." He stepped closer and for a second as his lips descended she thought he would say he was kidding or being an asshole and none of the past ten minutes mattered, but all he did was press cold lips to her forehead. "Goodbye."
He walked away and Veronica stood there, shivering from cold and pain that was more unbearable than anything she could have imagined. It wasn't survivable pain and it wasn't unbearable. It was excruciating and ripping.
-Present Time-
Is this punishment for Meg? Lilly? What have I done? Why? Why?
Veronica sat in the sand, shivering, but unable to move. She was breathing heavily and staring at the turbulent waves bleakly. She had nothing now. She had worked to find Lilly's killer for nothing. She had changed herself and used her rape as incentive to get justice for her best friend and move on from the despair she'd felt for nothing. Aaron was free. Veronica had skipped her last final, therefore skipping the promise of Stanford and the future she'd dreamed of since childhood. As if that wasn't enough, she'd lost the love of her life. Logan was struggling with things and had pushed her away, going as far as doubting the idea of love. Doubting that he loved her.
She cried for the loss of innocence, love and direction. She cried for the evils of the world and for her own evils. She cried because there was nothing else to do. She couldn't bring Lilly back or persecute Aaron or reach Logan.
"Veronica. Hey, Supafly. We have to go."
"Wallace?" she asked, confused.
It had been hours since she'd left school and it felt like an eternity of suffering on that beach without Logan. She had lost sense of time and of her surroundings. She felt unwhole. There was a gaping hole inside.
"We have to get home. Your dad's worried. I'm worried. Come on. Come on." He basically carried her to his car and drove her home.
"My car." She said in between the clattering of her teeth and the constant trembles of both cold and emotional duress.
"Later. You're more important." He said firmly and Veronica focused on him until her gaze grew fuzzy and she fell into unconsciousness.
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"Honey?"
Veronica came to the next morning, opening her eyes to see her father, Alicia, Wallace, Daryl and Back-up.
"It hurts." She whimpered and they all knew she didn't mean physically even though she had a cold with fever and body aches.
"I know it does, sweetheart. It will pass." Her dad hugged her and she cried into his chest.
Wallace hugged her when Keith let go as Alicia made her hot cocoa and Daryl added cookies. Back-up moved around everyone and stopped near his owner, sensing her pain and sadness somehow.
Veronica fell asleep, after copious amounts of cold medicine, to her father promising her it would be better tomorrow and Wallace telling her they would be best friends forever and he would never leave her. Alicia tucked her in and allowed Back-up to jump on her bed to curl at her feet.
No matter how much the Fennels and her dad added warmth Veronica felt a despairing cold deep inside her and all her dreams had Logan's face, before and after the encounter on the beach, on a loophole. It hurt too much to forget, but ached when she thought about it.
Veronica felt lost inside herself. How was she to get back without Logan?