Title: Could This Be Happening? Part 36
Author: christykq
Rating: M for language and innuendos mostly, some sex
Characters/Pairings: LoVe, ensemble
Word Count: 3333
Spoilers: Begins with 3.05 and goes through S3.
Disclaimer: I own nothing in the VM universe, it all belongs to the master RT. I also do not earn a profit from any one of the many brand names named in my story and no copyright infringement is intended. Transcripts from Indigo Mantoya at twiztv dot com.
A/N: Character's thoughts are italic.
Part 36
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During 3.18 I Know What You'll Do Next Summer
Mid-May 2007: 32 weeks pregnant
"Okay, I'm outta here." Veronica yells to Logan in the living room, sprawled out on the sofa watching a Padres game as his fingers absent-mindedly tickling Backup's head.
"Where are you off to, Babe?" Logan asks without taking his eyes off the large TV.
"My second stress test of the week. I'm in there so often now, that I know every nurse in the office by their first names and when I walk up to sign-in, the secretary just nods and says 'Hi Veronica'."
Logan crawls off the couch, walks into the kitchen and encloses his wife in a big bear hug. Backup comes into the kitchen and wanders around their legs as they hug.
When Veronica approached Keith about taking over custody of Backup, Keith was thrilled, not because he didn't want the dog but because he was so busy in the Sheriff's department and Backup was alone in the apartment eighteen hours a day.
Logan welcomed Backup into their home with open arms. Backup is a well-behaved, specially trained attack dog and his protectiveness over Veronica is rivaled by only Logan's need to protect the tiny blonde. Backup and Logan had always had a connection and throughout time, Logan grew to love Backup as much as Veronica and Keith did.
Backup was always in Veronica or Logan's shadow and, in the last two weeks, Logan noticed a few of Backup's protective traits: Backup always placed himself between the door and the person in the room he was protecting; he never went upstairs if Logan or Veronica were still on the first floor; whenever someone was at the door, Backup was the first one there to greet the visitor; and Logan suspected Veronica slipped Backup extra treats if he growled at Dick.
The dog was not stupid and he loved to keep Dick on his toes, growling or barking in Dick's direction whenever the opportunity arose. Dick now knocks then stops just inside the door before entering the Echolls' house cautiously.
Although Backup knows Logan would never hurt Veronica, he isn't sure what to think about the couple's hugs. He usually circles their legs and occasionally he'll bark a sharp, warning bark at the couple before lying down nearby.
Logan kisses Veronica's forehead as Backup barks and sits at their feet. "I think he wants to go with you, Honey."
Veronica looks at her pitbull sitting nicely at her feet. "Sorry, Buddy. No can do." She looks up at Logan again. "I have to study after I get back from my appointment. Why did I decide to take my P.I. exam the same time I have finals?"
Logan's fingers play with the ends of her hair. "Snookums, you'll do fine. You can do this P.I. exam with your eyes closed."
"Do you think I can beat my dad's score?" She smiles and kisses his lips quickly. "Think of what you want to do for dinner tonight. Mrs. Navarro said she'd be back at four. Bye. I love you." Veronica walks to the garage door and stops. "Oh and I'll get a birthing class schedule when I'm at the doctor's office today. We need to sign up for those classes soon if we want to get them in before we have the baby. Bye." She waves quickly and shuts the garage door.
"Great. Birthing classes." Logan looks at Backup lying on the tile floor. "Do you think anyone would notice if I send you as my proxy?" He leaves the dog lay and walks into the living room, turns off the television and goes upstairs. Backup is at his heels by the time he's at the top of the steps.
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Veronica is setting the kitchen table as Mrs. Navarro pulls a large pan out of the oven when the doorbell rings. Backup runs to the door and barks a few times. Veronica opens the door to see her dad standing on the front porch. "Dad? What are you doing here? Come in."
Keith enters and pets Backup then follows Veronica back into the kitchen.
"Dad, have you ever met Letti Navarro?" Veronica smiles warmly at the older Mexican woman. "She's Weevil's grandmother. She worked in the Echolls' mansion for years before Lynn died."
Keith offers his hand and Mrs. Navarro wipes her hand on the dishtowel then shakes Keith's hand.
"How is Eli doing these days? He hasn't been around the station much lately." Keith says with a smirk.
"Ms. Veronica, here, helped him get a job on campus and, thank God Almighty, Eli's days in jail are behind him." Mrs. Navarro says and turns to complete Veronica and Logan's dinner.
"That's good to hear." Keith says softly then turns to Veronica. "I just stopped by because I was patrolling in the area. A wave of burglaries has been reported in the last six days in this zip code. Lock the doors even if you're home. Do you have an alarm system?"
"Yes. It's state-of-the-art and new since we moved in." Veronica says as she sets another place setting. "You eating with us? Mrs. Navarro made enchiladas." Veronica smacks her lips imagining the yummy Mexican food.
Keith nods no. "What does the Omnibus Crime Control and Sage Streets Act make illegal?" He says nonchalantly.
Veronica answers promptly without looking up from folding napkins. "Electronic surveillance without judicial authorization."
Logan walks into the kitchen. "Mmm. Smells wonderful Mrs. Navarro. Keith…" Logan nods to Veronica and continues around the kitchen island to investigate the food. He peeks under the aluminum foil and gets his fingers smacked. He mocking glares at Letti then smirks at Keith. "…you nervous about Ronnie beating your score?"
"He should be nervous. I'm gonna beat his score. Then I'm gonna dine on that shared knowledge for a lifetime." She smiles brightly. Logan smiles at her confidence.
Keith glares at Veronica, thinking of another, harder question. "A passive infrared detector would not be the best choice under which of the following conditions: A. overhead doors; B. significant changes in temperature; C…"
"C. Why don't you bother Logan for a while?" Veronica carries the salad to the table.
Logan steals a carrot from the top of the salad, chomping loudly as he leans against the counter.
Keith turns his attention to his son-in-law. "So, Logan, what's new with you?"
"I just started reading Apollo Bukenya's memoir. He goes to Hearst." Logan shrugs and nods to the book on the counter, near Keith.
Keith picks up the book and examines it closely. "What could a college kid possibly have to put in a memoir? Surviving Spring Break on ten bucks a day?" Keith laughs at his own joke and lays the book back on the counter.
"He was a child soldier in Uganda." Logan says seriously to make Keith uncomfortable. "He never knew his father. The rebel army killed his mother; put a gun to his hand when he was six years old."
Keith stops laughing and his grin fades. "Oh."
Veronica shakes her head at Keith's faux pas.
Logan swiftly changes his attitude from serious to happy. "In other news, Veronica and I are going on our labor and delivery tour and class next weekend."
"Oh really?" Keith says as he sits at the kitchen table with his daughter and Logan.
"Hey, I thought you weren't eating?" She narrows her eyes at her dad and continues. "Yeah, and no more cases for me. I am on super-duper restriction from now on. I would be on bed rest if it wasn't for finals next week."
"Oh really, why do you have to be on bed rest?" Keith asks as he shovels a huge forkful of enchilada into his mouth.
"Her blood pressure is still up even with medication and they don't want her to go into labor too early." Logan finishes Veronica's sentence just as she told him earlier.
"How far are you now? Thirty weeks?" Keith asks as he chews a mouthful of food.
"Thirty-two weeks…" Veronica sips her water. "…and I could go into labor at any time now, even though I still have eight weeks in my term."
Logan rubs her knee under the table. "It won't be long now and Will will be pooping all over the place."
"You guys are probably getting nervous but you'll do fine." Keith wipes his mouth and stands up from the table. "Thanks for the grub. I really do have to get back to work now. Thank Mrs. Navarro for me too please. And you…" He points at Veronica. "…no sleuthing until after that baby is born. Good luck tomorrow." He leans over and kisses the top of Veronica's head.
"Bye Dad."
"See ya Keith."
"You totally set him up about Apollo's memoir." Veronica tsks Logan. He shrugs and continues eating his meal.
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"Hi." Veronica sits next to Logan on a bench in the quad.
He leans close to her, touching her cheek with his thumb. "I missed you." Logan kisses her lips solidly, slowly running his tongue along her bottom lip. Veronica inches closer as she grabs the back of his neck with her hands and opens her mouth for his tongue.
"Mmm." She moans and moves Logan's hand from her hip and places it on the side of her belly.
"Geez." Logan breaks the kiss and looks at his wife's pregnant belly. "He's really kickin' today."
"I know. You should of saw the looks I got when I sat down in the classroom to take my test. I was the only woman in a room holding about twenty men older than me by, easily, two decades and when they saw my belly… their eyes just about popped out of their heads." She laughs. "I had those old guys shakin' in their shoes."
"When do you find out your score?" Logan says while he moves his hand around Veronica's belly.
"Already did."
Logan whips his head to look at his wife. "And…"
"…and I called my dad to rub in my higher score of ninety-five only to be put-in-my-place with his score of ninety-seven." She shrugs. Logan winces at Keith's higher score.
Logan settles back into the bench, stretching his arms over the back of the chair as they look across the quad at the rows of decorated tables and tents promoting potential employers and internships.
"The job fair has everyone here in a feeding frenzy." Veronica says as students collect flyers and pamphlets from the various stalls.
"You want to go get a smoothie, my Sweet? It's getting hot out here and Apollo Bukenya is doing an interview with Piz in about ten minutes." He stands and lifts the love of his life off the bench. "Let's go show our support, shall we?"
"You just want to meet Apollo. First Desmond Fellows and now Apollo Bukenya, man, Piz has all the cool connections." Veronica jests as they walk down the sidewalk through the middle of the career fair.
"No, one celebrity meeting in a month is more than enough for me, but Apollo's book is unbelievable. I just might donate to one of the charities that helps the children in the war-torn countries of Africa." Logan says as he sees the Invisible Children booth and takes a flyer to page through later.
"You're a wonderful person, you know that Logan Echolls." She squeezes his hand, brings it to her mouth and kisses the back of his hand lightly.
This brings Logan's attention back to his wife. "It's really nothing, Veronica Echolls. We could help a lot people with the money we have." He says humbly.
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Veronica is studying her notes at a table at the Hearst Food Court while Logan is sipping his fruit smoothie and listening to Piz's radio interview with Apollo Bukenya broadcasted throughout the eating area.
Logan watches Piz and Apollo through the glass studio window as Piz signs off and shakes Apollo's hand. Apollo leaves the radio station quickly and a few minutes later Piz walks over to their table.
"Nice interview, Piz." Logan offers his fist to bump. "I just finished Apollo's book."
"Oh yeah. Thanks." Piz stands behind a chair at the table awkwardly.
Veronica looks up from her notebook. "You realize you're the radio-host version of a rock star, right? I don't know what the groupie procedure is for this scenario, but I might have to throw my panties at you." She smiles warmly.
"Or I could just sign your…"
Logan quirks an eyebrow at Piz.
"…um… your arm." Piz stutters. Logan nods with acceptance and Veronica laughs.
"So, I have news. I got offered an internship with, uh, Pitchfork Media. It's pretty much the most highly regarded music-review publications on the internet." Piz says excitedly.
"Cool."
"Piz, that's fantastic." Veronica chirps.
"Yeah, I'd work with the most important critics in the business, see bands when they're on the verge of breaking, might even get to do a few reviews myself, so I can really get my snob on. Their offices are in New York, which could be cool, right?"
"Supercool." Logan jokes.
"You lucky dog!" Veronica says cheerfully.
"Yep, twelve weeks in the Big Apple." Piz says, uncertainty creeping into his voice.
"That's awesome. New York is an experience." Logan states and Piz swallows audibly.
Logan continues. "There's no other city like it in the world. Now you can say you've been there, done that and get some mad connections in the process."
Piz's demeanor visibly relaxes. Veronica watches Logan soothe Piz's nerves so simply, she laughs. Echolls you are so smooth.
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Veronica and Logan stop at Mars Investigations, against Logan's better judgment, so Veronica could pay a few bills and keep the business' finances under control.
He is laying on the small sofa, flat on his back with his feet hanging over the sofa arm, throwing a wad of paper in the air and catching it, repeatedly.
The office phone rings and Veronica answers it in her professional receptionist voice. "Mars Investigations. Detective Echolls speaking." She beams and Logan rolls his eyes.
The voice on the other end of the phone speaks softly. "Yes, I believe I have discovered a son I never knew I had."
Veronica reaches for a small notepad. "Okay, and you'd like us to track this boy down?"
Logan grunts his disapproval.
"No, I know where he is. I want proof he's, in fact, my son. His name is Apollo. Apollo Bukenya." The man responds.
"Um. Okay, could you hold on for one minute?" Veronica pushes down the hold button on the phone.
"Psst. Logan..." She whispers loudly, acting as if she's telling a secret. "Guess who this is."
"Someone you're going to give Vinnie Van Lowe's number to." Logan says with a touch of anger.
"No, it's Apollo's father, allegedly." She grins as Logan sits up and processes this information. "Do you think Wallace could help you figure out if he's the real deal?"
Logan nods yes and Veronica presses the hold button down again and begins speaking. "Sir? Mars Investigations would like to help you out. If you could give me all the information you can think of that can help our investigation, we can get started as soon as possible."
Veronica jots down Kizza Oneko's information down on her notebook and hangs up the phone.
"I. Do. Not. Want you investigating, Veronica." Logan says sternly. "Wallace and I will deal with Kizza Oneko and Apollo Bukenya. You will be sitting on your butt, resting." He gives her a pointed look. "Do we have an agreement?"
"Yeeeesssss. Logan, I will be home alone, bored out of my mind while you and Wallace go save the world." Veronica whines. "Let's see if Wallace is up to the challenge."
She picks up the phone and dials Wallace's cell phone.
Wallace is lying on his stomach on his bed, his head at the foot end, is reading from Apollo's book when his phone rings. He sits up, keeping his place in his book with his finger. "Yeah."
"Wallace, my dear friend, whatcha doin'?" Veronica says in an overly cheerful voice.
Wallace's face drops. "What do you want, V?"
"Ever heard of Apollo Bukenya?"
"Yeah, I was just reading his book. It's pretty intense. Why?"
"Imagine what it'll mean if you can reunite him with the father he's never met." Veronica says.
Wallace is silent.
"What?" Veronica asks nervously.
"It's like the NBA. Fatherless boy makes good, the dough starts rolling in, and here comes long-lost daddy expecting a payday."
"It's not the same thing."
Wallace snaps. "The world is upside down. Veronica Echolls wants to believe in miracles, and I'm the cynical one."
"It's not like he can lie about it. There will be a paternity test."
"So what are you gonna do? Steal a DNA sample from Apollo?" Wallace chuckles.
"Nooooo. This will be the Logan and Wallace show. I will be home resting my poor, tired, aching, pregnant body and Kizza doesn't want you to steal anything. He doesn't even want Apollo told about the possibility until he's more certain they're father and son." Veronica bats her eyelashes at Logan as she speaks.
"So how are we supposed to prove it?"
"He emailed me a PDF of a letter he has from a woman he claims is Apollo's mother. So if I can get a look at anything Apollo might have with his mom's handwriting..."
"Maybe we can make miracles happen. So, how does it feel to be a professional detective?" Wallace asks as he puts his book down and tosses a basketball around.
"Great. Know how much I'm making on my first professional case? Nada, except the right to boss you and Logan around."
Wallace rolls his eyes and Logan scoffs, "As if."
"Guess Kizza's scraped just enough together for a cheap plane ticket if the news is good. He had to email me the letter from a Kinko's. You guys will have to wait on his daily calls from the pay phone in his New York boarding house."
"Yeah, that's not a guy looking for a payday. Let me talk to Logan, he's there, right?"
Veronica dismisses the pessimism and glances at Logan holding the phone out for him to take.
He takes the phone from her hand and blows Veronica a kiss. "Yo, so you're going to help me with this Kizza guy?"
"Do I have a choice?" Wallace laughs.
"Same one I got." Logan smirks at his wife. "Do you think you could talk to Apollo, maybe interview him, and get a copy of his handwriting?"
"I'll try."
"And under no circumstances is Veronica to be involved in this case. Got it?" Logan gives Veronica a pointed look. "Not even if she offers a year's supply of snickernoodles."
Veronica snaps her fingers with mock frustration.
"Damn, that will be hard to turn down but I'm up to the challenge." Wallace jokes.
"Good. Talk to you soon." They hang up.
"I guess I'll leave all the work to the big, strong men." Veronica says seductively, crawling across the desk, the best an eight-month pregnant woman can crawl seductively, and kisses Logan on the lips with a sexy, searing, hot kiss.
Logan enjoys the kiss and breaks away from Veronica's lips slightly. "Not gonna happen, Bobcat. You're not helping us."
"Rats." She purses her lips and crawls back down to her chair with the added help of Logan's hand.
/tbc