Chapter Five

Veronica and Cliff entered the assigned courtroom and made their way to the front. The room was full, with many standing along the back wall, but Mrs. Steadman had seats reserved for them right behind the prosecution's table. Veronica glanced to her left and noticed two empty seats behind the defense's table. She could guess who they were for. She dug an elastic band out of her bottomless bag (where she'd already stashed the cumbersome wig) and put her hair up in a pony tail. Mrs. Steadman walked by, giving her a brief reassuring smile before settling at her table.

Logan crossed his arms over his chest and put his feet up on the table, gracing Katie Campbell with his most polite look of attentiveness. There was a slight tightening of her mouth as she leveled her gaze at him.

"What can you tell me about Veronica Mars?"

"You mean what can I tell you that would be damaging to her and her father? What would destroy her credibility and divert attention from Aaron Echolls? Hmmm, lemme think . . . " He paused as if considering. "Not much," he told her finally. "Both upstanding citizens. Sorry I couldn't be of more help." He stood up to leave, but Katie blocked his path.

"It doesn't matter, I have my own sources and I've already discovered a number of very interesting things about her. Things that could precipitate her own legal problems." Logan felt a sudden chill as he stared into her ice blue eyes, but Logan Echolls was never one to be easily intimidated. He stepped up to her, invading her personal space, their noses practically touching.

"You leave Veronica alone," he told her, his voice hushed and intense. Katie seemed momentarily taken aback, but then gave him a chilly smile.

"I don't work for you, Logan, I work for Trina. She hired me to help your father and I will do so by whatever means necessary." She picked up her briefcase and opened the door. "Time to look pretty for the cameras." Logan wondered whether she meant him or herself as he followed her out.

Veronica was glancing at the empty seats across the aisle for the umpteenth time when the back door opened. A tall attractive blonde woman strode confidently up the aisle with Trina and Logan trailing behind.

"Holy shit," Cliff said under his breath. Veronica looked questioningly at him. "Katie Campbell," he told her. Veronica frowned, thinking the name sounded familiar, then her eyes widened.

"The baseball player?" she asked. Cliff nodded. "Holy shit," she echoed. She watched as the lawyer took her place at the defense's table while Trina and Logan seated themselves. She hoped Logan might look her way, but he didn't even seem to be aware of his surroundings. She finally gave up and turned forward just as the judge entered.

Logan mechanically stood with everyone else when the judge entered and sat just as woodenly. He was scared. But not for himself - for Veronica. He had no doubt that Katie could ruin her. Many of Veronica's escapades were legally . . . iffy. And he doubted he knew about half of them. They hadn't exactly been chummy over the past year. An idea rose, half formed, into his mind, but before he could focus on it, he noticed Sheriff Lamb lean across a seat behind the prosecution's table and speak to its occupant. When the sheriff backed away, Logan was startled to see Veronica rise and follow him out. As she passed, she caught his eye and gave him a small but genuine smile. He was so flustered, he immediately looked away without acknowledging her and missed the hurt expression on her face. When she was gone, he tuned in to the lawyers as they argued over bail.
Sheriff Lamb guided Veronica into a conference room and closed the door behind them.

"We have a situation," he told her. He paused and Veronica looked at him expectantly.

"Okay," she said finally. "Sounds intriguing. Something I can help you with?"

"It's about your mother," he told her reluctantly. Veronica sucked in a breath and nodded slowly.

"What happened to her?" At Veronica's stricken tone, Sheriff Lamb shook his head.

"Oh, no, nothing bad. Well, nothing physical anyway. We got a call from a bank in San Diego about an hour ago. She tried to cash a $50,000 check made out to your father." Veronica was shocked and had to lean against the wall before she fell. Alcoholic, okay. Deserter, sure. But a thief? To steal from her and her father? She had to take a steadying breath before speaking.

"What's going to happen to her?"

"San Diego P.D. is bringing her out. Since the check was in Keith's name, it's his call whether to press charges or not. I'm about to head over to the hospital now, I just wanted to let you know."

"Thank you." Lamb nodded and left her.

"Mr. Echolls has considerable wealth," Mrs. Steadman was saying. "And property in several countries that do not extradite to the United States."

"Mr. Echolls has two children," Katie countered, "one of whom is a minor. They've just recently lost their mother. It would be cruel to keep them apart."

"Cruel?" Mrs. Steadman asked incredulously. "This family man locked a 17 year-old girl in a freezer and set it on fire." There were several shocked gasps in the audience as Mrs. Steadman continued talking, but Logan was no longer listening. He sank down in his seat and held his head in his hands. He'd heard on the radio about his father attacking Veronica, but not the details.

'He tried to burn her alive,' Logan thought, unable to really wrap his mind around the meaning. He couldn't think, couldn't listen to anymore of his father's atrocities. He shot up from his seat and started edging past people. Trina grabbed his arm, but he slung her off and finally stumbled into the aisle. He walked quickly, flinging open the doors, heedless of the eyes following him. As soon as he was out in the hall, he leaned against the wall and bent over, hands on knees, breathing deeply.

Veronica spent a few more minutes in the conference room to collect herself, then walked out. She stopped short when she noticed Logan bent over outside the courtroom. She started to walk over to him, but hesitated, remembering back to that morning when he'd avoided her touch and just now in the courtroom when he'd pointedly ignored her. She took a fortifying breath and continued walking to him. Regardless of his current feelings, she cared about him and liked to think they could at least be friends again. If she was honest with herself, she wanted more than his friendship, but she pushed the thought aside. Logan had made it clear she was pretty much persona non grata, but she could still offer a sympathetic shoulder. She approached him slowly and placed a tentative hand on his back.

"Logan?" she asked softly. He went still and rose to a standing position, neatly and deliberately dislodging her hand. The look on his face - a mixture of fear, anger and desperation - was enough to make her take a step back. "Logan?" she asked again, even more softly. "Are you all right?"

'Am I all right?' Logan thought insanely, on the verge of wanting to laugh and cry at the same time. 'How can she care after what my Dad did to her? To her father?' Before he could voice an answer, they heard their names shouted.

"Logan! Veronica!" Duncan Kane called as he walked towards them. Jake and Celeste followed behind at a more sedate pace.

"Veronica," Duncan said, addressing her first and rubbing her arm. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she told him, nodding but still looking at Logan. Duncan let go of her and turned to Logan, who had finally found his voice.

"Duncan. I - I'm - " Duncan just shook his head and enveloped Logan in a hug, then backed up and gripped his shoulders.

"It's okay, man, it's okay." Veronica felt like an extra especially conspicuous third wheel with the added bonus of Duncan's parents closing in.

"I'd better get back inside," she announced, opening the courtroom door. Duncan lunged for her and grabbed her hand.

"Veronica, I'd like to talk to you." She snatched her hand back.

"Later," she told him, entering the courtroom. Logan watched Duncan's face as Veronica disappeared from view, the naked love and desire plain to see.

'He wants her back,' Logan realized, his gut twisting at the thought. Before he had time to dwell on it, Jake and Celeste arrived. Logan swallowed, but met Jake's eyes.

"Mr. Kane - " Jake held up a staying hand, then offered to shake, which Logan gratefully did.

"We know you loved Lilly, you're not responsible for any of this."

"Thank you, sir," Logan replied sincerely. Jake nodded and looked at his wife expectantly.

"Honey?" he prompted. Celeste compressed her lips together and glared at him, then turned and stalked away. Jake sighed and gave Logan an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, she's . . . " his voice trailed off and he suddenly looked old.

"I understand," Logan said quietly. Jake nodded and turned to Duncan.

"We're gonna meet with the lawyer, we'll see you back at the car."

"Okay, Dad." Jake squeezed his arm and followed his wife down the hall.

"You seem more chipper than usual," Logan remarked. Duncan grinned sardonically.

"My parents took me off the mood stabilizers, I feel better already."

"It'll be nice to have the old Duncan back."

"It'll be nice to be back," Duncan agreed. He paused and eyed Logan. "You're not seeing Veronica anymore, right?" Logan ducked his head, hoping his face didn't give away the sudden surge of anger and jealousy he felt. If there was one thing he excelled at, it was hiding his emotions.

"Hey," Logan replied finally, holding up his hands. "Veronica's a big girl, she doesn't need my permission to do anything." Duncan smiled, one of the few genuine smiles he'd given in a year and Logan immediately felt guilty for his traitorous feelings. There was something he was wondering about though. "Just out of curiosity, why did you break up with her last year? You never did really explain that." Duncan sighed.

"My dad and - " he paused and traced his finger along the wall, averting his eyes. "My dad and Veronica's mom . . . well, it's possible we're siblings." Logan was shocked.

"Veronica's your sister?" he practically shouted. "Jesus."

"No," Duncan told him quickly, looking around. "Her dad had a paternity test done. We're not related, she told me last night. So . . . maybe we can start over and I can make it up to her." Logan nodded mechanically, wishing fervently to be anywhere but where he was.

"Yeah, sounds good. Listen, man, I'd better get back to Trina, you know how she gets." Duncan gave him a sympathetic look.

"Yeah, I do. I'll call you later, okay?" Logan nodded and waved as Duncan headed down the hall, then turned and pounded his head on the wall. He took a deep breath and shook himself, then reached for the courtroom door. Before he made contact, both doors flew open and dozens of people rushed out at the same time. Logan quickly backed away before he was crushed. When most of the wave seemed to have passed, he ventured a look inside. Veronica was just rising from her seat with her lawyer when she glanced Logan's way and saw him. Their gazes locked and held. People continued to walk in and out of the room, but neither seemed to notice. Logan was about to rush over to her, despite Duncan's feelings, when Trina stepped in front of him, jumping in excitement.

"Logan?" she asked, following his gaze to Veronica. She rolled her eyes and waved her hand in front of his face. "Hey, that's the enemy. Snap out of it." She clapped her hands enthusiastically and shook him by the shoulders. "Guess what! Dad got released on bail! Katie is brilliant." Logan looked at her disbelief. "Well, he's confined to 'his Neptune residence and the courthouse', but he's getting out!" Logan's earlier plan started to click into place and he grinned.

"That's great news!" Trina gave him a funny look, but then smiled and hugged him tightly.

"I knew you'd come around!" she said happily. Veronica passed by at that moment, studiously avoiding looking at him. He realized she'd heard his positive response to his father's release. She turned and glanced over her shoulder and the look on her face made his heart drop - disappointment and sorrow. He wanted to pull her aside, explain his intentions, but Trina was herding him outside to the limo.

It was time to bring Dad home.

Author's Note: I do appreciate and treasure all feedback I receive for my work. Enthusiasm is great and infectious, intelligent knowledgeable readers are a special treat, but this is just fiction. It's set in the 'Veronica Mars' universe, which is itself fiction (and not always logical or legally accurate). All of this legal stuff is incidental to the story, necessary because of events in the season finale. I'm trying to just get through it as quickly as possible so I can get to my passion - Logan and Veronica angst! Are they just the epitome of angst or what? So, dear readers, enjoy the story for what it is - a story. Until the next chapter . . .