AN: Today, my thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the 9-11 attack. If you haven't yet today, please spare a thought for all affected.
On a lighter note, I hope you enjoy this update :)
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." – Wayne Gresky
Chapter 24
Tuesday, November 16th rolled around, and it was brisk 54 degrees. The sun was shining, the air was crisp, and the sky a clear blue. Veterans Day had just passed, and Thanksgiving was almost upon them. Tom Echolls had just turned ten, and they had celebrated with a family trip to see The Lakers play in L.A.
The Echolls family were still living with increased security, as there was yet to be a break on the case, colloquially referred to as 'The Aubrey Attacks'. As of yet, Aubrey had been the only one targeted. There had been no more attacks on her yet, and the tension regarding this grew with each passing day, as all felt another attack was inevitable.
"It's just cruel," Eva had commented to Duncan only a few days prior. "Every time I see Veronica, or Logan, or Keith, they look more tired and worried. Aubrey puts up a good front, but when you think she's not looking, she looks scared and worn. She's a kind, gentle, fifteen year old girl who's done nothing to deserve this. It's just wrong.
Duncan had put his arms around his visibly distressed wife, and held her.
"I know, it's awful. I've known Logan as long as I can remember, and it's killing him that he can't buy or punch his way to a solution, especially because it's his baby girl," Duncan had replied. "He's lost a lot over his life, but he's never had to wait around, with the fear that he might lose someone. When he lost his mom, and Lilly, those were shocks that came out of the blue."
"I'm sorry babe, this must be hard for you too," Eva had said softly.
"I know I have this warped, awful vision of finding Aubrey dead one day, just like Lilly, so I'm pretty sure it's crossed both Logan, Keith and Veronica's minds," Duncan had said in a strained voice.
"Well, we're all praying for them, and Veronica is on the case, as well as Keith and the FBI," Eva had said comfortingly.
Duncan had chuckled at the way Eva had listed the FBI last, for that was the way Veronica Mars was viewed, especially in Neptune. Her crime solving skills were that of legend.
For all that, there had been no leads on the case. The 'fern bug' Keith had found had led them exactly nowhere. Veronica and Agent Owens had hit a dead end with all of Veronica's old FBI parolees. It seemed that it was completely impossible that any of them could have been responsible for the threats.
So Veronica, Casper and Owens had gone back to the drawing board, and had spent hours going over every past case of Veronica's, familiarising themselves with everyone Veronica had come up against in the past, and pinpointing each of their current locations. They had even been going over the criminals who were still in prison, however unlikely it was that they had masterminded the attacks from gaol.
Regardless of these facts, the days continued, with the children going to school, cheer practice, football games and work.
In accordance, Aubrey was at school, sitting in her last period class of World History, when her phone vibrated.
She snuck a look at her teachers, who was writing, with her back to the class.
She then took a moment to read the message she had felt come in.
Daddy: I'm picking you up today, Aub. Daddy/daughter time. Meet me out the front after the last bell. See you then
Curious, Aubrey waited impatiently for her class to finish, and when it finally did, she made her way to her locker.
She had a new locker following the whole 'bleeding Barbie doll' fiasco, for obvious reasons. Her new locker was in the same corridor as Caroline's.
"I hate Geometry," Caroline groaned, flouncing over to Aubrey's locker.
"But you love having me in your class," said the deep voice of Josh Andrews, a tall, attractive 09er.
He had come up next to Caroline, and flirtatiously put an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek.
Caroline giggled and replied, "Well, it certainly does make up for the evils of math. But I wouldn't try anything more now, Josh. My daddy announced that he's meeting me here, after school, and you've probably heard about how overprotective he is."
Josh jumped a few feet away from Caroline, and said, "Oh, I'll be good. I'd like to live to take you to the Winter Formal."
"You keep that in mind, then," Caroline said cheekily, and went over to her locker.
Aubrey watched the exchange in amusement, interested by the fact that Dick was meeting Caroline.
Aubrey grabbed her things from her locker, and moved over to Caroline's.
"So, I actually didn't get to say anything to you before. You were a little preoccupied," Aubrey teased.
"He wants to take me to the dance, and I'm enjoying making him wait for an answer," Caroline said impishly.
"Of course you are," Aubrey retorted. "Anyway, Uncle Dick is picking you up?"
"Meeting me here," Caroline corrected. "At least that's what his message said."
"My dad is picking me up," Aubrey revealed. "I believe they're in cohorts."
"Who's in cohorts, beautiful?" Dan asked, arriving in time to hear Aubrey's last words.
"Our dads," Aubrey answered, pecking him on the lips.
"Well, that's a potentially frightening prospect," Dan remarked in partially feigned horror.
"Well, it is a little, actually," Caroline said thoughtfully. "Surprises from our fathers can range from extravagant to terribly embarrassing."
"So, we'd better go and face the music," Aubrey said melodramatically.
"Have fun, Aub, I'll call you later to see what you end up doing," Dan said, kissing her goodbye.
On their way out to the parking lot, Caroline and Aubrey collected Justin, who was headed for the bus.
"Man, I can't wait to get my car," Justin moaned. "The days when I have to take the bus are the worst."
"How long until you can get it?" Aubrey asked sympathetically.
"Dad and I are going car looking this weekend," Justin said with relief.
"Well, I'm sure one of us can give you a lift home," Aubrey offered. "Dad is picking me and Uncle Dick is meeting Caroline, and we're not really sure what they're up to, but I'm sure it won't matter if we drop you home."
"Okay, thanks," Justin agreed easily. It would have been a matter of pride to refuse a lift from any other 09er, but the long running family friendship between their families made it a different matter.
"Look, there's Daddy and Uncle Logan, standing with Uncle Logan's Audi. They look very pleased with themselves. They've clearing been plotting," Caroline surmised.
"Maybe I will just catch the bus," Justin said teasingly. "I don't know if I want to be a part of whatever they've planned."
"Oh no, you're definitely coming," Aubrey insisted.
"You might prove to be a good buffer," Caroline agreed.
"Not that you're not our favourite brother who isn't our brother," Aubrey continued.
Justin grimaced at this description. He had been out a few times with Emma, and enjoyed her company, but she wasn't enough to completely dull his feeling for the unavailable Aubrey.
Still, he put on a brave face, and said playfully, "Your wish is my command."
They ambled over to Dick and Logan, who both waved in an embarrassing manner.
When the three teenagers were close enough Logan said, "'You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.'"
"Wayne Gretsky," Dick supplied helpfully.
"Is that your Inspirational Greeting for the day, Uncle Logan?" Caroline asked in confusion.
"That it is, missy, but it's more than that for today," Logan answered. "We're going to take the advice of dear old Wayne, but we're going to interpret it a little differently."
"So there's no hockey involved?" Justin concluded.
"No, we're going for literal shooting," Dick announced. "It's time you two learnt how to shoot."
"We're going hunting?" Aubrey asked, puzzled.
"No, we're going to the shooting range," Logan corrected with gentle amusement.
"Justin, you come too," Dick decided. "Some healthy competition might be good for the girls."
"Yeah, you can already shoot a bit, can't you? The girls probably won't be able to catch up to you, but it'll be fun watching them try." Logan agreed.
Dick and Logan got their desired result, as both Aubrey and Caroline's eyes glinted at the challenge. Them, not be able to be as good as Justin? Not if they had anything to say about it.
"We're up for it," Caroline said confidently.
"Definitely," Aubrey echoed.
"And it appears I don't really have a say in the matter," Justin said with good humour.
"Come on, let's get going," Logan said. "Justin, you can come with us."
"Are you going to let me drive your car, Princess?" Dick asked his daughter.
"Do you really want to drive my car, Daddy?" Caroline asked with a giggle.
"What, you think I'm not masculine enough to drive your little red car without becoming a woman?" Dick asked her in amusement. "I'll take that challenge."
Aubrey giggled, and Caroline mouthed, "Take photos," at her.
Justin let her mother know he'd been kidnapped by the Echolls and would be home for dinner.
The five of them made their way to the shooting range, a mere fifteen minutes drive.
At the indoor shooting range Dick and Logan spent forty-five minutes teaching their daughters the basics of shooting a handgun.
Justin worked on his own, working on his own skills.
Once they were confident, Dick and Logan left the girls to practice on their own. They both went to work on their own marksmanship, but kept an eye on their daughters.
Talking was close to impossible, due to the noise and the necessary hearing protecting that had to be worn during firing, but Caroline and Aubrey didn't need to discuss why they were being taught to shoot.
They knew it made sense to their fathers, particularly due to the attacks on Aubrey.
Veronica of course, was a better marksman than either Dick or Logan, but was happy to leave them to teaching their daughters to shoot.
Aubrey had been working on her own for a little while, with growing frustration. She was nowhere near hitting the target, she always went wide, getting the edge of the paper that the target was printed on.
Hearing her groan in frustration, Justin, who was next to her, said, "Do you want any help, Aub?"
Aubrey nodded in defeat.
Justin put his own gun down and walked over to her.
"So first of all, just relax, you're really tense," he said, putting a hand reassuringly on her shoulder.
"It's hard not to be tense," Aubrey said dryly.
"Well, just try. Then make sure you take a firm stance, then when you aim, take your time, steady yourself," Justin instructed.
Aubrey tried what he said, but her stance was letting her down.
Justin stepped closer to her, putting a hand on her shoulder, and another on her waist, to help her be more comfortable.
"Better?" Aubrey asked, smiling questioningly at him.
Justin was still standing up close to her, his hand still on her shoulder and waist.
Her smile took his breath away, and his mind barely registered the question she'd asked.
"Justin?" she said, trying to get his attention.
"Sorry," he said with a smile. "Lost in thought."
"Do I look okay now?" she asked, referring to her stance.
"You're just fine," Justin said, thinking that really, she looked beautiful, her stance be damned.
"Do you want to step back then, and let me try again?" Aubrey asked softly, a little thought floating into her mind, prompted by Justin's odd behaviour.
"Yeah, yeah," Justin said, shaking his head. "You should be okay now. I'm going to go back to my lane."
They finished the afternoon with both Aubrey and Caroline being able to regularly hit part of the target, but having quite a way to go before they were reliable shots.
Logan and Aubrey dropped Justin home, their drive largely silent, Aubrey and Justin lost in thought.
As Aubrey and Logan pulled into their driveway she said, "Thanks Daddy, that was fun, or perhaps more useful than fun."
"So you understand?" Logan said, uncharacteristically serious.
"Yeah," Aubrey said quietly. "It's something worthwhile learning, for my own protection, particularly because of what is going on."
"I always want to be there to protect you, and if by some chance I can't be, I at least want to know I've taught you to protect yourself," Logan replied. "Which is why I'd also like you to take a few more self defense classes. You've taken a few in the basics, but I'd like you to take some more."
"Sure," Aubrey answered quietly. "Maybe Vi could come with me."
"As far as I am concerned, you can all take some more classes," Logan said with a smile as they walked into the house.
"Of course," Aubrey said with a giggle.
"Now, if we're lucky, Mom might've baked this afternoon," Logan said hopefully.
"She bakes a lot lately," Aubrey replied, "So you're probably in luck."
Logan didn't say anything in reply to Aubrey's offhand comment. To him, it was more than an offhand comment, it was thought provoking. He knew why Veronica was baking a lot, she used baking as a way to relieve stress or worry, and she liked to think while she baked. She'd mull over the case details and hope for a breakthrough, a habit she'd started in high school. Additionally, she knew her kids liked her baking, and with the way things were with their family, it was something she could do to bring them comfort.
No one did comforting eating like Veronica.
AN: So that was really just a little filler chapter, with more character development :)
Hope you enjoyed it!
Up next, Thanksgiving fun.
Drop me a review with your thoughts :)