Summary: Yet another finale aftermath fic.
A/N: Thanks, as always, to my muses lex and forcedmovment. Feedback is a lovely, lovely thing. :) Beware, this chapter was hard to write, and I'm not sure I liked the way it turned out.
Veronica wiped her tears away roughly, angry at herself for crying over Logan yet again.
It's not like I can blame him. I hate myself for what happened with Duncan.
She sighed, wishing for the hundredth time that Wallace would hurry up and get there. Veronica checked her watch, pacing a little. She didn't have too much time left before the press conference, and she wanted no traces of tears in front of the press.
Wallace finally pulled up in front of her. She slid into the car silently, as he took in her expression.
"Am I gonna have to beat him up or whatever it is that bff's do in situations like this?." He said, leaning back in the seat.
"No." She smiled, wiping away her last tear. Veronica pulled out her compact, and started dabbing at her eyes. "I'll tell you everything later, I swear.."
"I'll bring the tissues." He offered, putting the car in drive, and pulling away.
"We'll have ice cream and everything." She promised, giving him a little grin.
"What?" He asked, glancing at her.
"Look at you bein' all girly." Veronica teased. Her smiled slipped away though, as they neared their destination.
When they pulled up to the police station, their car was mobbed with flashes of light, as the photographers took every photo they could of her arrival. This was big news in Neptune.
Veronica Mars gives statement alongside Kane family. If I had seen that headline last year, I would've laughed til I cried.
She got out of the car, thanked Wallace for the ride, and approached the front steps of the station slowly. A makeshift podium was set up at the top of the stairs, with a group of officers nearby. Veronica caught sight of Cliff, and made her way over to him, trying to ignore the flashes going off in her direction.
"Cliff." She said, getting his attention.
"Great, V. You made it." He replied, looking at her.
"This is a zoo." Veronica told him, starting out at the sea of reporters and biting her lip for the second time in the last twenty minutes.
Why do I have a feeling I'm going to regret this?
She spotted Jake and Celeste making their way towards her and Cliff, Duncan and their lawyer in tow.
Oh, that's why.
"Hello, Veronica." Jake greeted her warmly. She managed to give him a small smile.
"Veronica." Celeste's greeting was icy. Veronica nearly shuddered from the frost in her voice.
She gave Duncan a glare as the lawyers starting instructing them on how to answer the difficult questions.
"Don't answer anything you don't want to, and if they get too pushy, say the word and it's over, ok?" Cliff told her. Veronica nodded absentmindedly. "I wrote out a statement for you, but feel free to embellish." She took the paper from him and glanced over it.
"Are we ready to get started?" The Kane lawyer asked.
"Veronica?" Cliff double checked.
"Yeah, let's get it over with." She told them, heading over to the podium with the Kanes.
"All right, folks, we're ready to get started." Jake Kane shuffled some of his papers, and began reading a prepared speech. "I've done some things this last year that I'm not proud of. I've made a lot of mistakes, and I'm here tonight to make it right." Jake gestured for Veronica to stand next to him, and moved reluctantly. "My whole family is here tonight to personally thank Veronica Mars for figuring out who really killed my daughter."
With that, Veronica found herself once again enveloped in Jake Kane's crushing arms. A sea of flashbulbs went off, blinding her for a moment. Finally, Jake released her, and she had to stop herself from shuddering in front of the crowd of reporters. Veronica stepped up to the podium slowly, heart pounding in her ears.
Why, oh why did I agree to this?
She cleared her throat, quieting the crowd of reporters down.
"I'm here tonight to say two things." She began, leaning towards the microphone. "I'm here tonight to ask a favor for someone who can't. Lilly Kane was my best friend, and regardless of the things she did, her killer deserves to go jail." Veronica paused, clenching the paper in her fists. "And I'm here to apologize. I hurt a lot of people in my quest for the truth, and I'm sorry." She finished, staring at her hands. Luckily, the Kanes seemed eager to get on with things, and Jake leaned in next to her to speak.
Who's got the first question?" He said, into the microphone. Several hands shot into the air, voices ringing out questions.
"Mr. Kane, did you really cover up you're daughter's murder?" One of the female reporter's asked.
"I did what had to be done to protect my family." Jake answered, smiling a little. Veronica tried not to dry heave.
"Veronica Mars, is it true that you were dating Logan Echolls?" She glanced at Cliff, who nodded. She could answer it if she wanted to.
"Yes." She answered, sending a wave of murmurs throughout the crowd. Jake and Celeste seemed taken aback as well.
"How do you feel knowing it was his father who killed your best friend?" One of the male reporters shouted from the back.
"It's a horrible situation." Veronica sidestepped. She could feel Duncan eyes boring into the back of her head.
"Were you sleeping with Aaron Echolls, Veronica?" The shouted question came from the back of the crowd. She was horrified.
"No comment." She spat out, stalking away. Veronica heard the Kanes cover for her hasty exit, as she headed into the police station. She heard a voice calling her name, and turned to see who it belonged too.
"I just came to see if you were ok." Leo said, touching her arm. She smiled sadly.
"Honestly, I don't think things will ever be ok." She told him, hugging her arms around her waist.
"Is there anything I can do?" He offered. She shook her head slowly.
"No...but thanks." Veronica replied.
"Need a ride home?" Leo asked.
"In a minute." She answered, spotting Duncan as he entered the police station.
First I have to deal with my ex.