Summary: Yet another finale aftermath fic.
A/N: This chapter is for forcedmovemnt, as I bribed her with certain people being in a scene together in this chapter. As always, thanks to my loverly muses, lex83 and forcedmovement, who are just awesome. As always, italicas are VMVO and feedback is mucly appreciated. :)
Veronica bit her lip.
I can't believe they actually used that headline.
"I can explain." Veronica said, setting her bag on the floor and settling into the chair next to her dad's hospital bed.
"This had better be good, Veronica." He was in full protective dad mode, his voice stern. Guilt swelled up...it was because of her that he was in the hospital in the fist place.
Because I couldn't let it go. Because I had to know the truth. There's merit in that old saying, 'the truth will set you free'. What they don't tell you is that it comes with a price, and sometimes the cost is more than you can bear.
"Cliff set it up...he thought that it would help get a outcry going to help get Aaron convicted." Veronica explained, hands clasped tightly in her lap.
"When were you going to let me in on this plan?" Kieth asked, folding the paper up and laying it on his lap.
"I didn't want you to worry. You'd have tried to be there or something, or even tried to talk me out of it...and I had to do it, Dad." She began. "Lilly's killer needed to pay for what he did to her, to Logan, to you..." She trailed off.
"And to you." Kieth said gently. Veronica stared at her hands. She didn't want to think about what Aaron had done to her. "You look tired." He pointed out.
"I haven't been sleeping well." She replied stiffly.
"I read that too." Keith gestured to a second article below the first, handing the paper to her.
Local Teens Find Missing Echolls Boy.
"How is Logan?" He asked.
"About as well as can be expected." Veronica answered. "He hates me, of course."
"I'm sure he angry, Honey." Kieth consoled. "But he could never hate you. Not after what his father did."
"There's something else, Dad, that you should know." Veronica changed the subject slightly. "It's what I came here to tell you."
"What is it?" Keith wanted to know.
"Aaron died this morning." Veronica got up at that point, began pacing around the room.
"Are you sure?" Her father was shocked. "I'd heard he was going to be fine with time."
"Apparently it was unexpected." Veronica said, facing away from her father. "He confessed."
"He confessed?" Kieth parroted.
"He confessed and then he died...and no matter how glad I am that he's dead, I can't help thinking that..." She stopped mid-sentence when the sound of a voice clearing in the doorway filled the room.
Logan shifted on his feet warily.
"You heard?" He asked quietly.
"One of the nurses told me." Veronica replied, getting a narrow eyed stare from Logan. "I'm sorry, Logan."
"No, you're not." Logan laughed bitterly. "And neither am I. The bastard deserved what he got."
"Can't say that I disagree." Kieth spoke up from his bed. Both of them turned to look at her dad.
"I just came to see how you were doing." Logan told Kieth. "And to apologize."
"You didn't do anything wrong." Kieth reassured Logan. "Except for dating my daughter behind my back." Veronica groaned. Logan almost smiled.
"Next time, we'll make sure you're in the know." Logan said. Veronica whipped her head around to stare at him so fast, she nearly got whiplash.
Next time?
"You do that." Kieth told him. Veronica shifted uncomfortably. Logan crossed his arms over his chest. Kieth fiddled with the paper.
"Is this a private moment?" Cliff's husky voice interrupted from the doorway, just behind Logan.
"Cliff, come in." The lawyer brushed past Logan, eyeing him, but saying nothing.
"How are you, Kieth?" Cliff asked.
"Getting better every day." Kieth answered.
"I just have some papers here that need signing." Cliff held them out to Kieth, who took them.
"What kind of papers?" Veronica asked, moving forward to see.
"Just business, Veronica." Kieth answered, glancing at them. Cliff picked up the newspaper and whistled.
"We do good work, V." He told her. She managed to look slightly embarrassed. Logan grabbed the paper out of Cliff's hands, and glanced at it, anger settling over his features.
"I guess that's that, isn't it?" He spoke softly.
"Logan." She replied, not really wanting to have this conversation in front of her dad and Cliff. He replied by dropping the paper on the floor and leaving the room.
"Dad, I'll be back." Veronica said, picking up her bag and following Logan.
"Their relationship seems very..." Cliff began, trailing off as he saw the look on Kieth's face. "Right, the paperwork. It's your basic petition for divorce. Just sign here." Cliff pointed, handing Kieth a pen. "And we'll get things started."