Spoilers through 1.22.
A/N: Thanks to lex, my muse. Hope you guys enjoy, and thanks for the tons of feeback I've gotten. I just love you guys.
"You ready?" Duncan asked, clipping Backup's leash onto his collar. Veronica slid her jacket on, but not before he noticed some more of her injuries from the night before.
"How'd that happen?" He asked, reaching out and touching the edge of her tank top lightly. Veronica flushed, but she wasn't sure if it was embarrassment, or Duncan's light caress against the bare skin of her shoulder that caused it.
Welcome to Denial, Veronica. Enjoy your stay.
She awkwardly shrugged off his touch, and slid her purse on her other shoulder.
"Seat belt." Veronica answered, grabbing her keys. "I ran the LeBaron into a tree." She rushed out, cringing at his possible reaction. Only her father knew the full events of last night. Duncan knew more than most, but he hadn't heard that.
"What?" Duncan exclaimed.
"Not my brightest idea." Veronica admitted, as they left her apartment. She locked the door and took Backup's leash from Duncan.
"You're ability to leave me speechless is mind blowing." He said, laughing a little. She grinned.
"People are always so surprised when they find out I know something I shouldn't." Veronica replied, a little gleeful. "Why is that?"
"Before Lilly died, you were so..." Duncan trailed off as they got into his car, looking for right word.
"Boring?" Veronica supplied with a small smile.
"You weren't boring." Duncan gave her a look as he pulled out of her apartment complex.
Good to know.
"Naive." She tried again.
"Maybe." Duncan was staring straight ahead, clearly avoiding looking at her, so she changed the subject.
"I think you're right...a walk will be good for me." Veronica said.
After that conversation with Weevil, I really do need to clear my head.
"It'll be just what the doctor ordered." Duncan replied.
"Actually, my doctor ordered bed rest and aspirin." She told him. He gave her a sheepish grin.
"Well, then pretend I never said that." He turned the car into the Dog Beach parking lot.
"Done." She agreed, getting out of the car. Veronica let Backup out of the back seat and joined Duncan on the driver's side. The three of them set out along the beach, heading down towards the water line.
This is a little too Twilight Zone for me. Any minute now, the theme song is sure to play...and then I can wake up from this Logan's missing nightmare. Speaking of Logan...
Veronica's gaze drifted over to the spot where she and Logan had broken up the day before.
Was it really just yesterday?
"What is it?" Duncan asked, following her gaze.
"Nothing, just..." She debated on telling him. "The last time I saw Logan, we were standing right over there." Veronica pointed towards the spot. "Breaking up."
"Veronica, I..." Duncan began.
"Don't." She said, softly. "What was I thinking, really, getting involved with him?"
"Is that a rhetorical question?" Duncan replied. She glared.
"It was doomed at the start. Before it started." Veronica continued, as they walked along.
"How did it start?" Duncan asked, catching her off guard. She stopped and looked up at him
"Do you really want to know?" She wasn't sure she wanted to get into with him. He hesitated, then nodded, and they started walking again.
Ok. I can do this.
"He save my life." Veronica began. At Duncan's wide-eyed stare, she laughed. "Sort-of."
"How does someone sort of save a life?" He wanted to know.
"You remember the bomb threat story?" She asked. Duncan nodded.
"Well, I found out Ben was undercover because he hijacked me at gunpoint, or so I thought. I happened to be talking to Logan on my cell when it happened. I got Ben to drop where he was taking me and Logan enjoyed making his face turn colors." Veronica answered.
"Got it." She looked down at her feet.
"It really started when he had me searching for his mother." Her voice was quiet, and Duncan stopped this time. Veronica wrapped her arms around her waist, careful not to tug on Backup's leash. "I think that's when he stopped blaming me."
"Blaming you for what?" He sounded unsure if he actually wanted to know.
"For Lilly. For not being with her the day she died." Veronica finally answered, her eyes tearing up.
Pull it together, Mars.
"Do you love him?" He asked.
"Duncan?" She said his name, uncertain of what to say.
"I just need to know." He answered. "Do you?"
You're asking me?
"I...don't know." She replied, truthfully. "I think...that maybe I could." Their gazes locked.
Backup chose that moment to bark loudly, and jerk on his leash, nearly pulling Veronica's arm out of socket. Backup started to run, dragging Veronica after him, towards a shape spread out across the sand, along the ocean's edge.
As they neared at a rapid pace, the shape began to take human form...and Veronica's heart leapt into her throat. Backup approached the body joyfully, sniffing it. Veronica's mouth went dry, as Duncan caught up with her. She sank to her knees, and managed to get out one word.
"Logan?"