Title: Could This Be Happening? Part 38
Author: christykq
Rating: M for language and innuendos mostly, some sex
Characters/Pairings: LoVe, ensemble
Word Count: 3429
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 38
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
During 3.18 I Know What You'll Do Next Summer
Mid-May 2007: 32 weeks pregnant
Wallace runs up to Apollo's girlfriend, Olympia, in the quad. "Olympia, you wouldn't happen to know where I might find Apollo?"
"I know he's avoiding you. Wallace, I think he should meet the guy, get tested. If I see him again, I'll keep working on him."
Wallace clasps his hands together in a begging motion before hurrying away.
VMVMVMVMVM
Dr. Tonin addresses Wallace as she fingers through one of her filing cabinets. "I wish I could help you. To tell you the truth, I'm starting to worry about him. Will you let me know if you find him?"
Wallace nods unhappily before turning to leave the office.
VMVMVMVMVMVM
Logan wanders through the job fair and finds the booth for the African Students Alliance. He approaches the table and glances at a number of books on display.
"Hi, Zeke?" Logan asks politely.
"Yes."
"I'm Logan, I'm working with Mars Investigations. I'm trying to find Apollo Bukenya."
"You're looking in the wrong place. We don't talk anymore."
"I heard. This is kind of last-ditch. Sorry to bother you." Logan sighs and turns to leave.
"What do you need him for?" Zeke calls after Logan.
"Um, my friend is doing a story on him." Logan lies.
Zeke bends forward, resting his hands on the table and drops his voice. "In that case, I've got your lead. He didn't write Soldier of Misfortune. His adviser did. He knows it, and he knows I know it."
"So Apollo told his adviser the story of his life, and she wrote the book?" Logan inquires.
"Not exactly. The stories in Apollo's book are true for many others. They simply didn't happen to him."
Logan's eyes widen.
"He was never conscripted." Zeke continues.
Logan is shocked.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVM
"Zeke was Apollo's roommate freshman year. He says Apollo told him all about his life, but until Soldier of Misfortune came out, never included anything about being a child soldier in the LRA." Logan explains as he paces Wallace's room.
Wallace sits at his desk, thinking.
"So what should we do?" Logan asks running his fingers through his hair nervously.
Wallace rolls his chair into the center of the room. "I don't know. Nothing?"
Logan gives him a 'what the fuck' look.
"I'm serious, Logan. It's a fact that there are child soldiers in Africa." Wallace hands Logan leaflets. "There's this organization, Invisible Children..."
Logan looks through the same pamphlets he took from the job fair earlier, when he was with Veronica.
"...that sends volunteers over to Uganda to help protect the kids there. They have a booth up at the job fair. There was a crowd around it today about five people deep." Wallace continues.
"I think I'm missing the point."
"Everyone is there because of Apollo's book. If we expose his book as a hoax, I promise you'll be killing a lot more than his literary career."
Wallace's cell phone rings. Logan reads the leaflets in his hand as Wallace answers his phone. "Hello?"
"Wallace, hi, it's Olympia. Here's Apollo. He's ready to talk."
Apollo speaks quickly into the cell phone. "This man who claims to be my father, Olympia convinced me. I want to meet him. I'll take the blood test."
"I'll arrange it." Wallace hangs up his phone and looks at Logan. "We did it. Apollo is willing to take the paternity test."
VMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Dick walks to the door and swings it open, expecting Mac to be on the other side of the door.
"Hello, Son." Richard Casablancas, Sr. says with a big smile.
Dick freezes and turns to go into his bedroom but stops at the door. "How did you find me, Dad?"
Big Dick laughs sarcastically. "It wasn't easy, Son. I went to the Neptune Grand first and had to pay a cute girl at the front desk to give me your forwarded information." He looks around the room. "This is nice. Small, but nice."
"Why the hell do you care what I'm doing or where I live?" Dick snaps.
Big Dick walks slowly towards him.
"I, uh...I turned myself in. My lawyer made all the arrangements. I have a couple months before my incarceration. Uh, tired of running, Dick. I want to pay my debt to society and get it over with."
"And what kind of debt did your lawyer negotiate?" Dick asks with little interest.
"A year."
Dick snorts. "That's exactly what this biker I went to high school with got for stealing the Huntingtons' lawn jockey. It's good to be the king, huh?" Dick walks into his bedroom leaving his father alone in the living room.
"You know, I'll consider our societal flaws during my yard time in the big house." Big Dick says in attempt to get some sympathy from his son. He sighs and walks towards the bedroom, standing at the door, peering into Dick's room. "Look, I turn myself in at the end of August but... at least we have a few months before then. I've rented a room at the Neptune Grand. I want to spend as much time as possible with you."
"I'm gonna be gone most of the summer. I'm going away with my girlfriend." Dick lies.
"You're going away with your girlfriend? I'm going to jail, Dickie." Big Dick whines like a child.
"I know. I'm sorry. I just..."
"This is the only chance you have to be with your father, and you're talking about a trip with your bimbo of the month?" Big Dick taunts.
Dick glowers at his father. "Don't you dare assume you know my girlfriend."
There's a knock on the door and Dick pushes past his father to answer it. He opens the door slightly and sees Mac standing there with the cutest smile on her face and the shortest skirt he's ever seen her wear. Dick smiles warmly. "I'm gonna a be just a minute. Okay?"
"Why don't you invite her in, Dick?" Big Dick calls from the other side of the living room, trying to catch a glimpse of the girl taking up his son's time over the summer.
Dick winces. "I'll be right out." Dick closes the door most of the way, leaving it open a few inches as he turns on his heel and looks for his wallet and keys, ignoring his father. Mac's smile fades and she is suddenly interested in the mulch flower garden at her feet.
Dick finds his keys on his bedside table and his wallet on top of the TV, he shoves his belongings into his pockets and glares at his father. "Leave your info where I can reach you and maybe I'll give you a call before you get locked up." Dick leaves his father standing in his living room stunned.
"Sorry about that." He says as he opens the door and kisses Mac on the cheek as they walk arm-in-arm to his truck.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Kizza Oneko sits on the small sofa in the outer office of Mars Investigations. Veronica stands behind her desk and walks forward slowly, coming to rest against the front edge of the desk. "My point is... there's not going to be a movie of Soldier of Misfortune. There's not going to be a big check. I suspect Oprah may tear Apollo a new one on national TV."
"What does Oprah have to do with-..." Kizza questions, confused.
"Mr. Oneko, if you tracked down Apollo in hopes of finding financial security, I'm urging you to simply walk away. He needs people around him who care about him. If that's not you, I can't let..."
Kizza rubs his hands over his face and sighs. "Mrs. Echolls, had it not been for the war, I never would have left Uganda. I came to New York, a place where I had no friends, no family, as a means of survival. I'm still alive, but I've been alone for twenty-one years. I drive a cab." He rises from the couch. "I go to school. But I am lonely. If this is my son, please, let me be there to comfort him in this difficult time."
Veronica nods as Kizza leaves the office.
VMVMVMVMVMVM
Apollos sits in the chair in Keith's office while a medic takes blood from his arm. Wallace is sitting in Keith's leather chair, swiveling from side to side nervously. Logan is pacing in the outer office and Veronica is looking out the window in Keith's office, fingering her necklace, deep in thought.
"I don't think he's coming." Apollo says as the medic applies a bandage to his arm.
"He'll be here." Veronica mutters.
Skeptically, Apollo leans back in his chair and watches the three others fidget.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVM
"It's been an hour." Apollo says as he collects his jacket and walks to the outer office.
Veronica sighs deeply. "I'm so sorry, Apollo." She follows him to the outer office. Wallace is sitting on the sofa quietly and Logan is surfing the internet from Veronica's desk.
"Sorry for what? I expect nothing, so I'm rarely disappointed. So, did you tell this Kizza person that I'm a fraud and that I won't be coming into money as all the articles say?"
"I told him there was that possibility." She bites her lower lip.
"Good. Thank you. You did your part."
"What do you mean, my part?" She narrows her eyes in question and Logan looks up from the computer.
Apollo turns to face her. "Soldier of Misfortune, the story is mine. I wrote every word of it. I needed to know whether this Kizza gentleman would show regardless of my stature and financial situation."
Veronica shakes her head. "So, everything we told him was..."
"Disinformation, a plan to separate those I can trust from those I can't, a plan like so many others. Zeke is actually a very good friend of mine." Apollo looks at Logan and Wallace as he explains his actions.
Veronica is astonished Apollo played the three of them. Before she can react, the office phone rings.
"Take care." He acknowledges Logan and Wallace with a nod and slowly walks to the door.
Logan answers the phone. "Mars Investigations."
"Logan?"
"Yeah."
"So I'm wondering why there is a detainee in my jail named Kizza Oneko who asks for his one phone call to be made to this number?"
Logan gasps and yells for Apollo.
"Apollo, wait." Wallace runs to the door and gets Apollo's attention, escorting him back into the office.
Logan locks eyes with Apollo. "Why is he being detained?" He asks into the phone.
"He was picked up driving a rental with plates from a stolen car."
Logan smiles as Apollo watches him. "Okay, we'll be right down. Thanks Keith."
Logan hangs up the phone and looks directly at Apollo. "Come on, we have a visit to make."
Wallace and Apollo walk out of the office while Logan takes Veronica's hand, leaving the office, shutting off the light and locking the door behind them.
VMVMVMVMVMVM
Kizza sits in one of the interrogation rooms at the Sheriff's station and looks up when the door opens. Veronica and Apollo walk into the room and Kizza stands and smiles broadly at the sight of Apollo. He takes a step toward him. "Apollo."
Apollo looks over Kizza carefully. "Mr. Oneko, I'm happy we have this chance to meet."
"As am I. Overjoyed, in fact. I'm not surprised your mother named you for the God of music."
Apollo looks at him quizzically.
Kizza continues. "She had a book of mythology that she treasured."
Apollo's shoulders relax. "I... I remember it well. It... it is the book she used to teach me how to read." He thinks through the possibilities. "Father?"
Kizza steps forward and takes Apollo in his arms. Apollo sobs and Kizza is ecstatic.
Kizza pulls back, keeping his hands on Apollo's arms. "Would you like to hear about your mother as the young girl that I fell in love with?" Apollo nods.
Veronica quietly backs out of the interrogation room and shuts the door. She turns and steps into Logan's waiting arms, crying. Wallace turns away from the couple and inconspicuously wipes his tears. Logan blinks back his tears and holds Veronica a little tighter, kissing the top of her head.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Logan rips a check from his checkbook with a flourish and hands the check to the volunteer.
The volunteer's eyes widen when she sees the amount written on the check. "Thank you, Sir. Thank you so much."
"I just hope that will help a lot of kids, maybe build a school or something." Logan says humbly and turns to walk away only to walk right into Wallace. "Whoa."
"Sorry, man. You signin' up too?" Wallace grins knowing Logan would rather write a check then to get his fingers dirty.
Logan looks surprised that Wallace is going to Africa for the summer. "You're goin' over, huh?" Wallace nods and looks at the paperwork more thoroughly.
"You sure you want to do this? It's quite a commitment, and Africa's a long way away." The volunteer takes Wallace's paperwork, cautiously.
"I'm positive." Wallace smiles and looks at Logan. "I guess we're both doing what we can to help out."
The two friends walk toward the end of the career fair booths, where Veronica sits on a bench in the quad.
"Isn't your girlfriend going to freak when she finds out your not going to be around all summer?" Logan asks as they dodge career fair goers.
Wallace looks at Logan. "Dude, that was over weeks ago. Where you been?" Logan shrugs.
"I would go over to Africa with you but... um... you know, I'm having a baby in a few weeks. That kind of kills the plans for sun and fun." Logan jokes and pats Wallace on the back, proudly.
Wallace smiles, happy and confident in his summer plans.
Both men sit on either side of Veronica on the bench and look out over the career fair frenzy with smiles on their faces.
Across campus from Logan, Veronica and Wallace, Mac sits patiently, watching people pass by her place on a bench, shaded by a tree.
Dick vaults over the back of the bench, swinging his legs around and landing next to Mac gracefully and tosses his notebook aside. "Hi. Miss me?"
She smiles. "Maybe. Why don't you remind me what I'm missin'." She giggles as Dick leans in and places a deep kiss on her mouth that quickly moves to her neck.
Mac giggles as Dick's tongue tickles her outer ear. "Alright, alright, I remember you now." She pushes on his chest to stop his assault in such a public place.
Dick adjusts his position and throws his arm over the back of the bench. Mac snuggles into to the nook of his arm as they sit silently, enjoying the warm day and the closeness of each other.
"I have to go over to the Grand and see my dad." Dick says softly, scanning the quad.
Mac's muscles tense at the thought of Dick's dad and her thoughts quickly jump to Cassidy. Oh God, Cassidy. Gosh, I wonder what he thinks of me and Dick dating? If you're up in heaven, Cass, I hope your looking down on me and your brother and smiling. She smiles slightly. 'Cause we're happy together. He's grown up a lot since graduation night. He's a good guy under that surfer boy exterior.
"Hey." Dick squeezes her arm and looks into her eyes. "Where did you go, just then?"
"Oh, um, sorry. We're you saying something?" Mac blushes.
"I was just saying that I'll go see my dad and then come back and spend time with you, if you want." Dick says as he watches Mac's expression carefully. She nods in agreement.
"Mac..." Dick tilts her head up and locks eyes with his girlfriend. "I'm not embarrassed by our relationship but I don't think this is the time to introduce you to my dad. We have some shit to hash out first."
"Okay. I'm not really ready to meet him yet anyway. Being around him reminds me of Cassidy too much."
"Do I remind you of Cass?"
She smiles warmly. "Sometimes. But only the good parts."
He narrows his eyes in question. "Like what?" He smirks.
Mac blushes. "Like... the way your ass looks in jeans." She says so quiet Dick almost doesn't hear her.
He laughs out loud. "Dude, at least you picked one of my best ass-sets."
Mac slaps his stomach and laughs. "You know… I've been thinking…" Mac lowers her voice.
"Yeah." This can't be good.
"I'm sleeping with a married man, aren't I?" Mac says jovially.
Dick face drops as he looks anywhere but Mac's face. "Oh… um… the paperwork has been filed… but, um… yeah, I'm still married. Does that bother you?" His eyes slowly meet hers.
Mac smiles warmly. "Well, in a normal situation, I would never sleep with a married guy but I don't think this was a real, long-lasting relationship to begin with…" Mac gives Dick a pointed look. "… and the divorce papers are being processed?"
Dick nods vigorously. "Yeah, I should be hearing from the lawyer soon."
"Then I'm okay with it." Mac smiles, pats Dick's thigh with her hand and snuggles into his side.
VMVMVMVMVMVM
Big Dick is unpacking his suitcase when he hears a knock at the door. He walks over and opens the door. Dick marches in. "Son."
"Just so you know, the world doesn't stop because you decided to show up." Dick says confidently.
"Well, had I known it was interfering with your time with your girlfriend, I would have come sooner."
"Like maybe for Cassidy's funeral? This is where he died, you know? I walk by the spot he splattered on almost every day." Dick says loudly.
"You think I'm not sorry about Cassidy?"
"What are you sorry for, Dad? That he's dead?" Dick yells.
"Of course." Dick Sr. surprised by Dick's question.
"You ever think he's dead because of us, or that he killed those people because of us?!" Dick yells, tears falling at a steady rate.
Big Dick tries to reach out to his increasingly hysterical child. "Son."
Dick sobs. "We used to have contests to see which one of us could make him cry! I can barely live with myself sometimes, and it's so much easier when you're not around!"
Big Dick swallows audibly, feeling a small amount of guilt.
VMVMVMVMVMVM
Mac opens the door to her dorm room. Dick is standing there, leaning on the doorjamb with a red, blotchy, tear-stained frown.
He steps forward into Mac's open arms. She holds him as he cries on her shoulder. She kicks the door shut behind him with her foot.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVM
"Logan! Check this out." Veronica yells from her spot on their living room sofa, watching television.
Logan walks in the room from the office and stands at the end of the sofa watching Vinnie Van Lowe's commercial.
On the screen, Vinnie portrays himself as a pillar of the community. He is shown in a shirt, tie and hardhat at a building site, as if the builder or project manager. There's a couple of black and white shots of Vinnie working at a desk in an office befitting a district attorney, complete with flags and a bookshelf stuffed with law books.
Logan shakes his head.
"Well, from the ridiculous to the sublime, Apollo and Kizza's blood test checked out. No surprise." Veronica shines. "Hey."
Logan looks from the television to Veronica.
Veronica rubs his hand in hers, affectionately. "I didn't get a chance to tell you how proud I am of you for donating to Invisible Children." She smiles up at her husband.
"It's the least we could do." Logan shrugs modestly.
"You did good." She yanks his hand toward her and he grins wickedly as he slides onto the couch and slithers up Veronica's body.
"Good?" He devours her mouth. "Fuck, I'll show you good."
"A good fuck?"
"An earth-stopping fuck, Bobcat!"
/tbc