Recap: Logan, Veronica and their friends start their senior year of high school, along with new and old friends. LoVe are going strong, but ghosts of the past are never far behind. Newly engaged Keith is running for Sheriff. Kate's nightmares lead to revelations about her past and draw Veronica more firmly into the 09ers orbit. Duncan struggled to figure out where he fit in now that his (former) best friend was dating his (ex) girlfriend. An ill advised affair with Kendall finally ends and Duncan takes steps to mending his peer relationships. Wallace likes Jackie and thinks they have moved from dating to exclusive, but the friction between Jackie and V makes things difficult. Dick's interest in Mac continues to grow, causing friction with Enbom, and making Mac face down the hard choice of moving on, going back or going it alone. After run ins with both Lizzy and Nash, Meg ends her relationship with Richie, but Nash is sending mixed signals. Veronica works with Logan's friends to pull off a surprise laden birthday weekend for him, just as the fracture in Veronica's friendship with Wallace widens. Finally Wallace opens his eyes to see Jackie a bit clearer, but their status is ambiguous at best. An explosion rocks Neptune High leaving emergency services scrambling and seven students in various states of health. The mole is revealed, Kate's fundraiser happens and Logan's surprise birthday weekend goes off without any (much) drama, despite a freshly single Enbom deciding that Mac is the one he wants even as she grows closer to Dick. A small hiccup tarnishes Keith and Alicia's pre-election trip to Chicago, but all bets are off as a field trip to Shark Stadium ends in tragedy with several lives hanging in the balance.

Chapter 35:
(Friday, October 28)

The following morning, Veronica grabbed a muffin (from her mom) and a cup of coffee, before sitting down on the couch. She broke off a piece that looked particularly chocolaty and popped it in her mouth before glancing at the front page of the local paper that Keith had left open on the coffee table.

Glancing up as she heard Rogers voice from the TV, she grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.

Rogers (on tv): Our investigation is ongoing, but we have focused on the bus driver, Edward Doyle, as a person of interest. Mr. Doyle had worked for the Neptune Unified School District for 18 years with no history of issues at work. However, our investigation has revealed that Mr. Doyle had a history of mental illness and recent marital problems. He was recently prescribed an anti-depressant medicine that was never filled and he had previously attempted suicide. Our investigation turned to Mr. Doyle as a possible contributing cause to the accident that took eight lives due to the lack of skid marks at the scene.

Reporters: Can you tell us more about his mental illness?

Rogers (on tv): No.

Reporters: What does the lack of skid marks at the scene mean?

Rogers (on tv): It means that he either didn't hit the brakes deliberately, didn't have time to react, or was unable to react.

Reporters: Doesn't it also imply that he could have driven over the cliff on purpose? If he was depressed, maybe he meant to kill himself.

Rogers (on tv): The bus did not go over the cliff directly. Something caused the bus to destabilize and flip onto its side. From there the impact and the weight of the bus destabilized the cliff. We are working with CHP to determine what caused the bus to flip onto its side, when we have that answer, we'll be better able to determine the cause of this tragedy. Until then we will continue to investigate any and all leads. For now, my office is focused on answers, but we also want to send our condolences and prayers to the families of the victims.

Veronica: (frowning) You tell them, Rogers.

Keith reappeared, dressed in a suit.

Keith: Where's Logan?

Veronica: Shower.

Keith nodded and poured himself a to-go cup of coffee.

Keith: Are you going back to the doctor today?

Veronica: Only to get a prescription for a pain killer.

Keith approached her and pushed her wet hair out of her face.

Keith: I'm sorry you're still hurting, honey.

Veronica: I'm fine. (pausing) Dad, I don't think that the driver caused the crash.

Keith: (jaw tightening) I can't talk about it Veronica.

Veronica: But-

Keith: It's an open investigation.

Veronica: So you are still investigating?

Keith: That's what I said.

VVO: But it's how he said it. Something is bothering him.

Keith: I have an election event this afternoon, but I'll be home for dinner. Lasagna?

Veronica: Sounds good.

Keith: Call me if you leave school early? (Veronica frowned.) You might be feeling better, but don't push it, you're still recovering.

Veronica: Permission to cut class, awesome.

Keith: You have your ACTs on Saturday, I don't want you over tired-

Veronica: I know. Gotta get a good score so I can get into Yale.

Keith: (wiping away a fake tear) You'll make me proud, honey.

Veronica: (smiling) Yeah, yeah. You just want to brag that your kid is 'Ivy League.'

Keith: You know it. Love you.

Keith pressed a gently kiss to her forehead, his hand resting on the soft silk of her hair for a moment. She'd given him a hard scare the day before, and more than ever he just wanted to wrap her up in his arms and keep her safe from the world, but Keith knew that she wouldn't allow it for more than a minute, and what she needed from him was the reassurance of normalcy. So despite the fact that he'd like to wrap her in bubble wrap and ground her until she was old and grey, he savored the moment for only a few seconds and left her to get on with her day.

Veronica: (smiling) You too.

-VM—LoVe—VM—

Neptune High School. The media presence was visible from blocks away. Logan drove Veronica through the throng and pulled into his usual parking space. Veronica looked around and saw several students speaking to reporters on camera.

Logan opened her door and Veronica forced a smile.

Logan: Ready for this?

Veronica: Sure.

Logan took her bag from her hands, the old messenger bag familiar and back in use now that her new bag (a birthday gift from Mac) was lost, and watched as she slid down from Xterra. She'd taken half of one of his pain pills, and was moving easier than she had the day before, but Logan still hated seeing her hurt.

Logan: (seeing her favor her hurt shoulder) You want your sling?

Veronica: No. I'm OK.

Rams and a few others approached them, greeting them warmly and asking how they were, how Meg and Duncan were, and expressing their happiness to see them.

Dick: Show's over folks, go fawn over some other good looking heroes.

Veronica rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile and the hangers on dispersed.

Rams: (giving Logan a one armed hug) Good to see you man. Seriously, how's Duncan?

Logan: Still unconscious.

Luke: Dude, this sucks.

Rams: And Meg?

Veronica: She's in and out. How's Kate? How did the meeting with her grandparents go?

Rams appeared surprised for a moment at the quick change of topic, but rolled with it, telling Veronica about the emotional reunion and the large BBQ that Kate's grandparents had thrown to introduce Kate to her extended family and their longtime friends and supporters. Rams walked with Veronica towards the school, Logan and the others following behind.

John Sawyer: Hey Logan, you've seen Meg? Is she still hot? It would be a shame if she's all scared and ugly now.

Veronica glared at John then turned away and walked towards her locker without another word. The 09er boy who only occupied the outermost of Logan's friend circles didn't seem concerned until Logan's dark gaze landed on him.

John Sawyer Sorry man, didn't mean to upset her.

Logan: You're an asshole, Meg's alive which is what matters.

Rams: And she'd never let you touch her with a ten foot pole so her hotness doesn't matter one bit to you. (John Sawyer scurried off and Rams turned to Logan.) Is Veronica OK?

Logan: She's feeling guilty.

Rams: Guilty?

Logan shrugged and went after Veronica, catching up with her at her locker.

Logan: Hey, you're going to have to get better at ignoring stupid people saying and asking stupid things.

Veronica: You mean like you do? (Logan froze and her face fell.) Sorry. I… I'm not mad at you. I shouldn't have snapped at you.

He studied her face then taking her French textbook from her, walked her towards the empty journalism room, closing the door partially behind them.

Logan: You can snap at me if you need to, but you shouldn't feel guilty. Meg's not blaming you. Jake's not blaming you. Duncan… DK won't blame you when he wakes up.

Veronica: (ignoring Logan's hopeful sentiment about Duncan) Of course not, Duncan as a hero is practically Jake's wet dream.

Logan: Thanks for the visual.

Veronica: (faint smile) You know what I mean.

Logan: Yeah, I do, and I know that people are going to be asking questions for a while. A long while. You're the only one who walked away, Veronica. The only one who's visible and available to them. That means that for now, it's your story.

Veronica: (getting upset) Eight people died, two are still seriously injured in the hospital, it's not my story.

Logan: (calmly) You're the one here to tell it.

Veronica: (stressed) And what am I supposed to say, how Duncan helped us get off the bus? How Meg pulled me up? How you and Dick came down the cliff like idiots after us?

Logan: I thought we had all agreed that we came down the cliff like brave idiots? And why don't you include you getting Meg to that tree then holding on for dear life until help came? (She scowled at him.) Because you feel guilty, because you survived with the least amount of injuries.

Veronica turned her head away from him, glaring at the wall.

Logan: It was a terrible situation Veronica, and none of your faults. You wouldn't have been on the bus if Meg hadn't wanted to talk to you. Does that make her responsible?

Veronica: (indignant) Of course not!

Logan: What would you say to her if she was feeling guilty about that? If you two had been in the limo two other people would probably be dead right now. (cupping his hands around her elbows and pulling her closer to him, making her look up or have her face pressed into his chest) You and Meg are brave and smart and lucky you got yourselves off the bus. All three of you did the best you could in a bad situation, and the fact that you lived is a miracle. I understand that you feel guilty, but you gotta let that go or it's going to eat you alive.

-VM—LoVe—VM—

In his first period class, Wallace listened as two 09ers talked about Cervando, a PCH biker who apparently was a great person and on the honor roll. Wallace looked exasperated. It was nice that people wanted to remember the dead kids in a positive light, but Wallace would bet every dollar in his bank account that neither of the 09ers who wouldn't shut up about what a 'loss it was' would have even known who Cervando was before the accident let alone have talked to him.

Pulling out his phone, he scrolled through the messages, including one from his mother reminding him to bring home some milk after his shift at the Sack-n-Pack, and one from Jackie that was more gibberish than actual words.

Wallace would have liked to be able to convince himself that it was because she'd sent the text late at night, and been sleepy, but he knew she'd likely been drunk, or worse. At the beginning of the year, he'd been all about Jackie, more into her than he'd ever been with any other girl. He'd thought that they'd settle into a happy relationship once he broke through her shell of jaded reserve. But instead he'd only found more issues and more drama. With the amount of drama that came his way from the town of Neptune and being Veronica's friend, Wallace was second guessing if Jackie was worth it.

-VM—LoVe—VM—

Veronica was in the bathroom between third and fourth periods, listening to idle chatter about school gossip (Alexis Wadlow claiming she had nailed her audition for the new TV show, Supernatural and Lenny Sofer's family declaring bankruptcy) but most of the conversation was about the bus crash. Suddenly the room fell silent and as Veronica exited the stall, she saw an unfamiliar girl giving and receiving death glares from a few sophomore 09er girls before the preppy 09ers scurried away.

The girl was rough and tumble, dressed all in black, with roots showing in her dyed blonde hair. As Veronica started to wash her hands, trying not to look at the bruises visible on her face and shoulder in the mirror, her eyes met the girl's hard gaze in the mirror.

Jessie: G'morning.

Veronica didn't reply, not sure she was ready to deal with one more upset or insensitive person.

Jessie: (flatly) You know who I am, right?

Veronica: (carefully) I do.

Jessie: Just out of curiosity, did you know who I was last week?

Veronica: Nope.

Jessie: Your dad drives one bus off a cliff and your days of being under the radar are over.

Veronica grabbed a paper towel and began to dry her hands, turning to face Jessie Boyle, who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over her chest, dressed in black, well-worn clothes.

Veronica: I'm sorry, did you want something?

Jessie came off the wall to stand closer to Veronica, losing her tough vibe and looking more lost and afraid and desperate to hide it.

Jessie: (strained) Yeah, so I need proof that my father didn't kill himself. Um, I have a mother and a little brother and we've become accustomed to having a place to live and, like, food. Insurance companies don't pay if they decide it's suicide.

Veronica: Jessie, I wouldn't even know where to start with that. I mean, how do you prove that someone didn't kill themselves?

Jessie: If I knew, I wouldn't be waiting for Veronica Mars in a bathroom.

Veronica: (shaking her head) I'm sorry. I can't.

Veronica disposed of her paper towel and turned slowly towards the door, her body still sore and unappreciative of any quick movements. Jessie watched her go, giving a resigned, sarcastic smile.

Jessie: Great. Because "I'm sorry" is so helpful.

As Veronica reached the door, another girl entered, followed by three friends. The lead 09er girl saw Jessie and went straight in for what she thinks is the kill.

Shelby: (sneeringly) Jessie, you know, if my dad killed a bunch of people I went to school with, I don't know if I'd have the nerve to show my face at school.

With hardly a breath, she spins around to face Veronica. Her voice turns nauseously obsequious.

Shelby: Hey, Veronica, are you and Logan coming to Dick's Life's Short party? It's gonna be-

Jessie stepped forward, pulled the girl's arm to turn Shelby to face her and punched her in the face. Shelby's friends twittered nervously, unsure if they should help their friend or run for it.

09er girls: Argh! Shelby! Are you OK?

Shelby's friends attended to her as Veronica stepped forward, blocking Jessie from attacking again.

Veronica: (smiling faintly) OK, I'll help you, but you must chill.

-VM—LoVe—VM—

In Journalism, Veronica pulled up web clips of the bus crash news coverage, hearing various accounts of what happened, from the field trip to the stop at the convenience store to the bus flipping onto its side (cause still unknown). With no new information to report, the media were focusing on the human interest angle- a bit of coverage on the kids who'd died, but mostly on Duncan, Veronica, and to a lesser extent Meg, as well as Logan and Dick's insane rescue mission.

Jake's PR machine had gotten word out that Duncan had helped get the girls off the bus, risking his own life, which was true, but still made Veronica cringe.

Reporter: On the bus when it went over the cliff were Duncan Kane and Veronica Mars, famous for solving the case of murdered heiress Lilly Kane's murder then unveiling the existence of a serial pedophile who operated with impunity across the country for over a decade before he made the fatal mistake of taking a girl from Veronica Mars's hometown. Some eye witness accounts say that Veronica and a friend, the only other survivor, were on top of the bus as it went over the cliff. We're told that the girls clung to the cliff for the precious minutes it took Mars's longtime boyfriend, Logan Echolls, son of accused murderer Arron Echolls, and a friend to rappel down the cliff with a rope made of clothing.

News anchor: It really is a remarkable story, so tragic, yet heartening with so many heroes stepping up in a time of crisis. While most media portrayals of teenagers are negative, here we see the best of the younger generation, stepping up and acting bravely in the face of danger.

Reporter: We've requested interviews with Veronica Mars, as well as Logan Echolls and Dick Casablancas, the other boy who attempted to rescue the girls on the cliff at risk of his own life, but our calls were not returned. In related news, Dick Casablancas is the elder son of Richard Casablancas who is currently a fugitive believed to have fled the country after his real estate investment firm was revealed to be a Ponzi scheme.

News anchor: While the teenagers involved are remarkable in their own ways, we also want to acknowledge the work of the first responders on the scene.

Reporter: Yes, in the end it was a coordinated effort between Lifeguards and Firemen to get the survivors to safety. They risked their lives to retrieve four teenagers from a cliff that was rapidly crumbling, and later lifeguard divers were the ones who pulled Duncan Kane from the watery wreckage…

Veronica tuned out as memories rushed back. Her fear and relief at seeing Logan coming for her, then her fear for his life as the rope ran out and Logan let go. The lifeguards, firefighters, sheriff's deputies and paramedics had all preformed their jobs to perfection, even as Veronica had made it more difficult for them by resisting their commands at first.

The sound of Celeste Kane's voice drew her attention back to the monitor.

Celeste: I'm not surprised to hear that my son acted heroically, he has always been an amazing example of what a man should be. But, if you'll excuse me, I must get upstairs, my son is fighting for his life and without me he would be alone in his struggle. But I'm here, and I will see to it that he gets the best of care.

Veronica flinched at Celeste's characterization of Duncan, and wondered at how both Kanes were using the tragedy to score points. Making Duncan into a national hero, while scoring points off of each other.

News anchor: In other local news, the election for chairman of the county board of supervisors and county sheriff are set for this coming Tuesday. While both candidates are running uncontested, they're still revving up to get out the vote. While they are pretty much guaranteed to be elected, formerly ousted sheriff Keith Mars needs a mandate from the community to retake the position he lost in the aftermath of Lilly Kane's murder, and Woody Goodman, owner of Woody's Burgers and the San Diego Sharks, needs to show that the voters support his ambitious bid to incorporate the city of Neptune.

The newscast cut to video of Terrence Cook stumping for Woody Goodson before a mostly minority audience.

-VM—LoVe—VM—

Leaving Journalism to walk to lunch, Logan at her side, Veronica was lost in thought. She knew that no one would be happy if she started looking into the bus crash, but she felt for Jessie.

VVO: And anyone who's willing to come to school and face down the gossip and meet it with a punch to the nose is my kind of person.

Veronica had never ridden the bus regularly, so she had no feel for who Ed Doyle had been as a person, but he had a family and they deserved the benefit of the doubt. Rodgers was a good man, a good deputy and between him and her father, Veronica hoped that the case would be settled quickly, but she couldn't help but doubt it.

VVO: This is still Neptune and if you can blame the bad stuff on someone who no one important cares about and placate the masses, then so much the better.

Veronica was drawn from her musings by two 09er girls talking in the hall while one opened her locker.

Cordelia Harmony (cheerleader): I'm so glad almost everyone who mattered got off the bus.

Harmony (cheerleader): Not Cole.

Cordelia Harmony (cheerleader): No, he was too cute to die. And Duncan Kane.

Harmony (cheerleader): Ug. Who cares about Duncan Kane? He's rich, but he's so boring. No major loss there.

Cordelia Harmony (cheerleader): (shrugging) I wonder if Meg's going to be all disfigured like in that movie?

Harmony (cheerleader): (laughing) What movie?

Cordelia Harmony (cheerleader): The one where the kids crash their car and the girl…

Their laughter and inane conversation was cut short as Veronica slammed the first 09er's locker closed, narrowly missing her fingers, and walked away.

Cordelia Harmony (cheerleader): (gasping) What's her problem?

Harmony (cheerleader): She's just a bitch.

Logan looked from the girls to Veronica's back as she sped outside, moving faster than he'd seen her since the crash.

Outside, Veronica was still fuming when Wallace sat down beside her at the table carefully nudging her with his shoulder.

Wallace: (crowing) So I heard some girl punched out another girl in the bathroom, and it wasn't you.

Veronica: (forcing herself to relax, feeling the growing stiffness in her shoulders and neck) But I was there. It was a nice hit actually.

Logan frowned.

Logan: Who was it?

Veronica: Jessie, the bus driver's daughter punched out Shelby, so I guess it's true.

Wallace: What?

Veronica: (smiling) If you wait long enough karma does work out.

Mac smiled, but Logan was frowning wondering if there was any way it was a coincidence that Veronica and the bus driver's daughter had been in the bathroom at the same time. Veronica had a tendency to use the girls' bathroom as her office, a place to talk in private when she was working a case.

As they settled in to eat, their table crowded with Veronica, Logan, Wallace, Mac, Dick and Rams, Veronica kept pushing her hair back out of her face, but the silken strands refused to stay behind her ear and since lifting her arm up to reach her hair and tie it back was not an option as the pain meds wore off, she grew more and more frustrated with it.

Seeing her struggle, Logan attempted to pull it into a pony tail for her, but the band slid out within minutes.

Logan: Sorry.

Veronica: (quick sigh) I just want it off my neck and out of my face.

Logan: I can… or maybe Mac?

Mac shook her head.

Mac: I can barely manage my hair.

A feminine hand wearing a complicated metal knuckle ring set down a reusable water bottle on the table beside Veronica's lunch (Mexican take out that day). Veronica turned to see Emily standing behind her.

Emily: Let me?

Veronica shrugged and Emily quickly untangled the strands Logan had unintentionally knote then braided it into a loose French braid and artistically messy knot at the base of Veronica's neck.

Emily: Better?

Veronica: Much.

Logan smiled at Emily, who he'd known, along with her sister, from his childhood in LA. Unlike her sister, Alexis, Emily had kept a relatively low profile since arriving at Neptune High School.

Emily: Sorry about what happened. I didn't really know anyone on the bus except for you and Meg. Is she…?

Veronica: She's recovering.

Emily: That's good.

Emily didn't linger, which Veronica appreciated, since small talk was not normally something she enjoyed and with the dull ache that was her constant companion slowly ratcheting up as the day wore on, she really wasn't in the mood.

Logan was doing a lot better than she was at putting on a happy face, talking and smiling with his friends, even though she knew he was still freaked out about what had happened and was worried about Duncan and Meg.

Leaving lunch, he took her hand in his.
Logan: What's up?

Veronica: Nothing. (She shook her head.) Totally normal day here. So, are you helping plan Dick's Life is Short party?

Logan hesitated.

Logan: No, but I was planning on going.

Veronica: (bitter edge to her voice) Of course you were.

Logan: We could all use something fun, Veronica. Something to take our mind off of what happened.

Veronica: Meg and Duncan-

Logan: Meg and Duncan wouldn't want us to be miserable. It's almost Halloween, we should go out. They wouldn't begrudge us that.

Veronica bit her lip and turned away from him.

Veronica: Meg and I were talking about taking Shi and Grace out trick or treating.

Logan: But now-

He hugged her gently to his chest, his hand rubbing her back softly. When she pulled away he handed her the remaining half of her pain pill and a bottle of water. She huffed out a breath, looking askance at his plastic disposable bottle, but accepting both.

Veronica: We really need to get you to start using a reusable bottle.

Logan: Would that make you feel better?

Veronica: It might.

Logan: OK then.

She smiled.

Logan: (playful but pointed) Look at you, exerting control over the world.

Veronica: (happy) Shut up.

-VM—LoVe—VM—

Veronica pretty much zones out in her last two classes, unable to focus on the lessons when there was something real outside the school walls that needed her attention. She could feel it building, the rage, the need for justice, the thirst for truth. She wanted to know what happened. She needed to know who was responsible and see them punished. It was who she was now, and she wasn't going to deny it.

VVO: Though I may need to hide it a bit from Dad. And Logan.

Logan and Veronica walked out to the parking lot after the final bell, heading straight for his x-terra.

Logan: Do you want to go home, or-

Veronica: I'll go to the hospital with you. If you're-

Logan: I am. A bunch of the guys are. (cautiously) Probably some of the girls too.

Veronica smiled tightly, not looking for another disagreement with Logan.

Veronica was silent most of the way to the hospital, the radio filling the silence between them. Arriving at the hospital Logan turned to Veronica after killing the engine.

Logan: Veronica stop.
Veronica: I'm not, (he gave her a look of patent disbelief). I'm… It's not just guilt. Meg is my friend and Duncan… I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about him, but I didn't want this

Logan: No one said you did.

Veronica: And I'm happy too (insistently, whipping away her tears angrily). I am, I'm happy I'm alive, happy you weren't on the bus, but…

She broke off, her breathing choppy and uneven.

Logan: I know, you're worried about Meg and you're hurting, and there's the election on top of everything else. (She nodded, her eyes meeting his.) And you're not supposed to feel any way about Duncan. You can feel… you have the right to feel how you feel. And you don't have to explain to anyone, not me, not Jake and definitely not Duncan.

She smiled tentatively.

Thanks.

Logan: For what?

Veronica: For understanding.

Logan nodded, accepting her thanks.

Logan: I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding.
Her smile grew.

Veronica: Quotes.

Logan: Always.

He leaned over to kiss her then jumped out of the vehicle to circle to her side and open her door, helping her out.

Veronica: What's your voice mail greeting right now?

Logan: (faux wounded ego) If you called me you would know.

She gave him a stern look even as she slid her fingers between his, clasping his hand as they moved towards the service elevators that would take them inside, unmolested by the media who were camped out front.

Logan: Heroes are not known by the loftiness of their carriage; the greatest braggarts are generally the merest cowards. Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Veronica: Ah, a Frenchie.

Logan: He was Swiss actually.

Veronica: My mistake. And tomorrows quote?

Logan: My heroes, my dreams, and my future lay in Yankee Stadium. And they can't take that away from me. Derek Jeter.

Veronica: (laughing) Yesterday's?

Logan: If we mean to have heroes, statesmen and philosophers, we should have learned women. Abigail Adams.

Veronica: (channeling Kenneth Branagh) There's a double meaning in that.
Logan grinned as they entered the elevator, happy to see Veronica smiling and gratified that he was able to give her a few moments of levity.

-VM—LoVe—VM—

Inside the hospital Veronica was not surprised by the crowd of 09ers in the waiting room, but she was surprised to see Jason Nash there, separate from the rest, standing with his back against the wall in the hallway across from the nurses' station. The students were being let up one by one to see Meg, but no one was being allowed to see Duncan.

A beautifully suited woman with stiletto heels on approached Veronica and Logan.

Jake's PR person: Logan Echolls and Veronica Mars? I'm-

Logan: We know who you are. We saw you on the news.

Jake's PR person: Well, yes. Mr. Kane asked me to-

Veronica: What do you want?

Jake's PR person: Mr. Kane, Jake, asked me to escort you both up when you arrived.

In the elevator, the woman tried to convince Logan and Veronica to take part in a press conference that was being organized for the following day, and when they refused that, she offered to issue a statement on their behalves to the press. Veronica ignored the woman, and Logan tried to shut down the conversation.
Logan: It's not going to happen so stop asking or we'll tell your boss that you're bothering us.

She clammed up after that, looking annoyed.

Jake greeted them like they were all old friends, with no issues or years of lies and distrust between them, and Veronica tried to bear it, just before she was about to snap at him, Logan took her hand and squeezed it gently.

Logan: Veronica's still hurting, maybe she could sit and visit Meg for awhile.

Jake: Of course. Meg's doctors are confident that she'll recover quickly. She should be home in another week at the most.

Veronica smiled awkwardly and giving Logan a grateful look slipped away to sit at Meg's side.

Veronica: Hey Meg.

Meg's eyes blinked open drowsily.

Meg: Veronica. Hey. You look terrible.

Veronica laughed then clutched her ribs.

Veronica: Oh. Ouch.

Meg: Sorry.

Veronica: No. It's good. Laughing is good.

Meg: Right. It's just ribs that-

Veronica: Aren't. How are you? Feeling any better?

Meg: I don't really know, they keep giving me these magic white pills.

Veronica: I'm familiar. So, while you're feeling… magical… (Meg smiled) I think we should talk about Halloween.

Meg:: Oh, right. I was thinking… about what we were talking about on the bus… Lizzy has the wings, she can bring them-

Veronica: No, I was thinking, I'm not in the mood for it, and I couldn't possibly party while my saintly friend was laid up-

Meg: (groaning) Veronica.

Veronica: So I say we postpone.

Meg: Postpone the biggest party holiday of the year?

Veronica: Yep. And when you're back on your feet and feeling better, we'll do it up right.

Meg smiled.

Meg: I'd like that.

Veronica: Good, then it's settled.

Meg: Yeah, but you should still go out. (V frowned) No, I mean it. Have some fun, hang out with Logan, dance, laugh at Dick. (Meg's expression sobered.) We should have died Veronica. We almost did. Don't waste time feeling bad because I'm in here. I's be dead if it wasn't for you.

Veronica: And I'd be dead if it wasn't for you.

Meg: Then maybe we have a responsibility to each other.

Veronica: To watch out for each other.

Meg: You already do that. But I meant, to live. No regrets, no games, no made up drama.

Veronica: Those magic pills must be good, 'cause you seem to have forgotten that we're in high school. In Neptune.

Veronica: Oh yeah.

The girls laughed softly, Veronica forcing down the lump in her throat.

Veronica exited Meg's room and immediately felt a sense of dread as she saw Logan inside Duncan's room. Jake wanted them to talk to him, try to keep him company or draw him back from wherever he was. Logan glanced over and seeing her, quickly ended his one sided conversation with his old friend.

Logan: You going in?

Veronica: I don't… I…

Jake: Veronica, if you want to see Duncan, you can now.

Veronica: I…

Logan: She's pretty tired.

Veronica: No. It's OK.

Logan looked surprised, but covered it quickly enough as Jake beamed at both of them.

Jake: Duncan really wants to repair his friendships with both of you. Maybe this accident will have a silver lining.

Veronica's expression was pinched, but she nodded in agreement before going into Duncan's room and closing the door most of the way behind her.

She stared down at Duncan, his face bruised and slack, obviously unconscious.

Veronica: Hey, Duncan. You know… If you can, you should try to wake up now. I don't know how your dad will take it if you… and your mom. There's not a lot of good things I can say about Celeste, but she loves you. Duncan… Meg's OK, and so am I. Thanks in part to you. Did you hear that Logan and Dick came down the cliff after us? Well…

Her attention was drawn by Lizzy's voice outside.

Veronica: I should go. Get better, OK?

Outside, Veronica tried to smile reassuringly at Logan, quickly stopping Lizzy from entering Meg's room.

Veronica: Hey, Lizzy.

Lizzy: Veronica Mars. What can I do for you?

Veronica: All the people downstairs…

Lizzy: Yeah? Her to pay tribute to my beautiful sister.

Veronica: Maybe too many? She's seeing all of them isn't she.

Lizzy laughed in response.

Veronica: You could limit it, you know. Make a list.

Lizzy: Lizzy stopped laughing and looked honestly interested for the first time.

Veronica: Meg needs to rest.

Lizzy: And some of those bitches are just here to say they were here.

Veronica nodded.

Lizzy: I still don't like you.

Veronica: I'm crushed.

Lizzy snorted and entered her sister's room shutting the door behind her.

Logan: What was that about?

Veronica: Meg is seeing everyone downstairs, but she needs to rest.

Logan: So you and Lizzy are going to control who she sees?

Veronica: No, I just made a suggestion.

Logan shook his head, but wrapped his arm around her shoulders stepping towards the elevators.

Logan: Let's get you out of here.

Veronica held back.

Veronica: Uh, no.

Logan: (surprised) You want to stay awhile?

No, but you should. Hang out with your friends, go to the game, whatever.

Logan: Without you?

Veronica: I need to go home. Sleep. I while I've grown to accept your overzealous watchfulness, I have to draw the line at you watching me sleep.

Logan was clearly reluctant to let her go.

Veronica: I already called Wallace, he's picking me up. (Logan looked resigned.) Call me later?

Logan: You know I will.

Logan's phone rang as Veronica punched the button for the lobby.

Logan: (cautiously) Yeah?

Tom Barger: Logan, buddy, it's Tom Barger. How you doing? Lot's going on, right? It's crazy.

Logan: What do you want?

Tom Barger: You're in a hurry, I hear that. Listen, I was thinking we never talked about whether you wanted to follow in your mom and dad's footsteps, but-

Logan: To be an actor or a murderer?

Tom Barger: (laughing uncomfortably) God, what a wit. I could totally sell that. Listen kid, if you're considering going into the business, I can line you up some small roles, some talk shows, capitalize on this good publicity.

Logan: No.

Tom Barger: It could help your mom too. Raise her profile, show that you're a good kid, not some spoiled Beverly Hills brat, which can only help with the divorce proceedings.

Logan: I'm not testifying at the divorce, it's being handled by lawyers in chambers.

Tom Barger: Right, well, how about your dad's trial then? You'll be testifying at that, right?

Logan: Did my mom ask you to call?

Tom Barger: Of course not, but Lynn –

Logan hung up, looking disgusted.

Downstairs Veronica stepped off the elevator to see Jason Nash standing in the hallway.

Veronica: Why are you here?

Nash: Meg… We were supposed to be at the observatory tonight. For our class assignment.

Veronica stared him down, unimpressed with his reasoning.

Nash: I just wanted to see that she is OK.

Veronica: Did you go see her?

Nash: No.

Veronica nodded.

Veronica: Do you want to see her?

Nash: I… No. I shouldn't have come.

Veronica frowned at him as he backed away from her.

Veronica: (loudly) You're right. You probably shouldn't have come. But you did. (He had stopped at her words, reading something in her face that gave him pause. Veronica waited until he came closer, keeping their words private.) Look, I'm going to be honest here, you're crossing a line. And I'm not really comfortable with that, but it would probably make Meg smile to see you, and it would take her mind off everything else if you did go upstairs, so if you want to see her, just say so.

Nash: I-

Veronica: But if you're going to do your kiss and run thing again, then fuck off right now.

He blinked.

Nash: I guess that was pretty honest.

Veronica: I'm on pain killers and my tolerance for BS is pretty low to start with. So, what's it going to be?

He appeared unsure.

Veronica: Then just go.

Nash: She's OK?

Veronica: Not really, but she will be. Meg's tougher than she looks.

Nash: I believe that.

Veronica: Get out of here. And stay away from my friends.

He started to walk away.

Not the first time I've heard that.

Veronica: Good.

He paused once more at the corner of the hall that led away from the main waiting room.

Nash: Will you tell her that I asked about her? That I hope she's alright?

Veronica's mouth tightened but she nodded. Nash flashed her a smile, or what she supposed passed as a smile for him.

-VM—LoVe—VM—

Wallace drove Veronica towards her apartment, but she directed him to another location altogether.

At the site of the accident, an spontaneous memorial had sprung up with people placing flowers and candles as well as papers with written notes.

The sun was just setting as Veronica stepped to the front of the gathered crowd, looking out at the ocean, then down at the crumbled cliff. She saw a man struggling to light a candle and stepped forward kneeling down to block the ever present wind with her hands.

VVO: I don't know why I came here. There's nothing to see. Nothing to help me figure out what happened. And nothing I find will help Meg or Duncan. But it might help Jessie.

Veronica saw Jessie in the crowd and nodded to her. Seeing Jessie get upset that no one had come to memorialize her father, she started to argue with a few of the mourners, causing a scene and Veronica stepped forward.

Veronica: Jessie. Enough. Nothing you say now will change anyone's mind.

Jessie: (belligerent) Then find something that will.

Wallace looked sharply at Veronica, a knowing look on his face as he realized what Veronica meant to do.

Veronica: Let's go.

Wallace shook his head but walked behind the two girls back towards where cars lined the road.

-VM—LoVe—VM—

At the football game that night at Neptune High School, there was a moment of silence at the beginning of the game for the bus crash victims and a slide show presentation during half time as a tribute to the dead.

Rams stood next to his brother, Andy, on the sidelines. When the picture of Cole flashed on the screen, his frown deepened.

Rams: Rest in peace, man. Rest in peace.

Andy frowned, looking at his brother. He hadn't really known anyone on the bus who'd died. He knew Pam and Cole in passing, but none of the others. Still it was sad. He wasn't even 17 years old yet, and the number of people his age he knew who'd died violently seemed unnaturally high already.

-VM—LoVe—VM—

Later that night in the Mars home, Veronica and Keith had just finished eating lasgna together with the TV on in the background. Veronica hands Keith her plate and opens a plastic container to remove the last chocolate muffin that Leanne had dropped off the day before.

Keith: (watchful) How many of those did your mom bring over?

Veronica: A few.

Keith: More than a few.

Veronica: They're good. I'm injured. Aren't you supposed to feed an injury?

Keith shook his head, but let her get away with it.

Veronica: You'd be the best poppa ever if you made me some hot chocolate to go with it.

Keith looked unimpressed, but set aside the dishes to pull out the milk and chocolate powder.

They heard a woman's voice on the TV talking about the bus driver.

TV REPORTER: Duane Andrews was the last person Ed Doyle spoke with before driving off the Pacific Coast Highway.

Keith and Veronica turn their attention to the television, to the extent of getting up from the counter and standing in front of the TV. A clerk in a convenience store is featured. He is wearing a tasteless sweatshirt that has a yellow school bus, topped by a halo and wings, under which is written, "We'll never forget."

DUANE: He was kind of a weird duck, I mean, you could tell that right off the bat. Guy comes in, buys a couple of things, pays, goes to leave, then stops, right? Then comes back to the counter, all serious-like, picks up one of these.

He picks up an item and holds it up to the camera.

DUANE: Okay, you guys see that? It's a St. Christopher medal. My man pays for it then throws it out, just like that.

TV REPORTER: Neptune's local sheriff's office...

Keith shook his head, using the remote to turn off the TV before putting his arm around his daughter.

KEITH: (emotional) I can't imagine where I'd be if you hadn't gotten off the bus in time.

He kisses the top of her head, both in affection and relief.

VERONICA: (deliberately irreverent) You'd be sad for a while and then you'd probably turn my room into some sort of sewing nook or yoga studio.

KEITH: [seriously] You don't have to make a joke, you know.

VERONICA: Sure I do.

Veronica pulled herself out of his hold and headed for her room. She slowed, then turned around.

VERONICA: You know, I wonder what else the bus driver bought. The couple things the clerk mentioned, well what if it was No-Doz or Red Bull? That would tell us that he's sleepy, right? And if he fell asleep, that would explain why there are no tire marks.

KEITH: Veronica, you can't try to make sense out of this.

VERONICA: (sadly) I know the bus driver's daughter. I think a little rhyme or reason would probably make a big difference to her.

KEITH: (whispering) Yeah.

-AN, Anyone have a good chapter title? I do not.

There are probably a ton of typos in this, I pushed through the last third of this chapter tonight to get it out to you. This chapter wouldn't end. I wanted to get to the end of the day, but… 7143 is a lot of words esp since 3000 of them were written today.

I've been altering my timeline right and left in the last few chapters, I'm giving myself a headache. I move one thing and tons of subsequent events have to slide down… but in addition to the drama following the bus crash you got a pretty big hint about another 'unsolved' mystery in this chapter. You guys are pretty good at picking up on what I don't actually say, so I'm sure some of you will get it.