A/N - Hi, Hello. I'm back at it after EIGHT!? Years. I promise one day I will finish this story, hopefully in months rather than years.
Obviously, this story is AU after 3.14 and was started before the Movie/Books/Season 4…with that said, I do not plan to spoil any events from any of those media. I will likely continue to borrow characters from Rob Thomas, potentially characters who were introduced in those storylines (mostly due to lack of creativity on my part when it comes to making up characters.) If I mention anything explicitly from beyond season 3, I'll include a spoiler alert.
Now back to the story, picking up where we left off.
Veronica – driving south to Neptune
Her foot hadn't let off the gas pedal for nearly 8 hours. She'd stopped twice to refill her gas tank and coasted into Neptune on fumes. She knew the best route to the sheriff's department – hell, she could probably drive it blindfolded having spent years of her adolescence there.
She parked in front of the courthouse and as she emerged from the car she suddenly stopped in her tracks. She hadn't been in the building in a decade. Hadn't seen any of its employees in the same amount of time. What was she going to say? Her mind had been so clouded with thoughts of Anna over the duration of her drive that she hadn't given a thought to what she would say to Lamb. What could she say? Congratulations, it's a girl! Sorry I cut you out when we were finally starting to get along for the first time in years, you know me, running when things start to turn ok. Oh yeah, this kid…the light of my life is the result of a drunken night with you and apparently failed contraception, please feel free to forget we exist and go about your life.
Veronica walked into the courthouse and quickened her pace, navigating the familiar halls toward the sheriff's department. She was taken aback by the huge portrait of her father outside the entrance to the department. She'd heard through Wallace that the department was renamed for Keith following her death; she didn't travel to Neptune for the ceremony. Veronica blamed the new baby for her absence but both she and Wallace knew Neptune held too much baggage.
She let herself into the department and through some small miracle, there was nobody in the reception area. Veronica could see suits milling about near the interrogation rooms and she knew the FBI was taking over. There were a few deputies huddled around desks; knowing the Balboa County Sheriff's Department as she did Veronica was almost sure those deputies were pretending to work until their boss left for the day.
Veronica stepped toward Lamb's door, pausing slightly to notice the "quiet" sign taped to the door and smiled, assuming the sheriff was trying to create some peace for a presumably exhausted Anna – that was a sweet gesture. She knocked lightly out of courtesy before letting herself into the office.
The sight of Lamb behind his desk took her back, it was like nothing changed over the last 9 years, but as her gaze into the room shifted to her sleeping daughter, she was reminded of how everything had changed.
Approaching Anna, Veronica shared a look with Don that neither could interpret. In that moment, Lamb realized how much he missed seeing Veronica around, of course he was sorry for the pain that she'd experienced over the past 12 hours and finally he was relieved to see her reunited with her daughter – but none of those feelings would override his suspicions that he fathered the child now sleeping in his office. Veronica was so relieved to be reunited with her daughter that she pushed the upcoming difficult conversations with her child's father from her mind.
Veronica crouched down and kissed a snoozing Anna on the forehead. "Hey kiddo," she whispered, "time to wake up." Anna opened her eyes slowly but as soon as she registered who was waking her she smiled and threw her arms around Veronica's neck. Both Mars women shed a few tears of happiness to be reunited after such an eventful day.
Don and Veronica could hear some sort of a commotion going on outside, Veronica ignored it, assuming it was a rowdy arrestee. Don, assuming the same thing excused himself to investigate, he was looking for a reason to slip out and give Anna and Veronica some space before the Feds realized she was here and swarmed them with questions and updates.
Meanwhile – In the Sheriff's Department bullpen
"Hey Jerry, what's with all the suits?" Cliff McCormick asked as he entered the department to pick up a file containing evidence relating to his latest not-so-innocent client. He hadn't seen this many federal agents in Neptune since Duncan Kane kidnapped his daughter a decade ago.
"You didn't hear," Deputy Sacks responded, "kidnapping case. Veronica Mars' daughter was taken, the perp stopped here in Neptune to refuel before crossing the border and the kid escaped from the car and ran screaming straight into the sheriff."
"Anna's here? In Neptune?" Cliff asked, completely taken aback by Anna's kidnapping and the fact that of all the small towns in Southern California her kidnapper stopped in Neptune and she escaped.
"Yeah," Sacks responded, "she's here in the building. The Sheriff has her in his office, I think she was watching movies on the TV Keith used to keep for Veronica in the closet in there." Sacks pointed toward the sheriff's closed door, then he realized Cliff was not at all surprised to learn about Anna's existence, "Wait, you knew about Anna?"
Cliff nodded and explained, "Veronica called shortly after she was born. She wanted to make sure provisions were made should something unexpected happen to her. I've been Anna's 'Uncle Cliff' ever since, never missed a birthday." Cliff conveniently left out that part of the plan should Veronica no longer be able to care for her daughter includes informing Anna's father of her paternity and potentially shifting custody to him. That's right, Cliff was one of the only people in the world who knew that the illustrious Sheriff Don Lamb fathered the child of Veronica Mars.
"You should have been here earlier." Sacks told Cliff, "Anna could have used a familiar face after her day. The FBI was grilling her on her captor and her paternity – the kid was almost in tears; you'd think the FBI agents who handle kidnappings would be better at taking to kids. Don finally stepped in and ended it. Told them to wait and talk to Veronica."
By no means does Cliff think he is a brilliant legal scholar, but he knows that there are protections in place for children, especially for children who are victims of traumatic experiences such as this one. Plus, he liked the idea of putting the FBI in their place given the chance.
"Who is in charge here?" Cliff asked, rather loudly, approaching the suits milling in the corner outside of the interrogation room. As Agent Jones stepped forward, Cliff continued "Cliff McCormick," and stuck out his hand for an aggressively firm handshake, "I represent Anna Mars and her family. What was the nature of the interview conducted with her earlier today, and why was I not notified?"
Before the agent could respond, Cliff continued, with his voice raising, "Miss Mars was out of immediate danger and there is no excuse for engaging her in an interview without consent of her parent or guardian."
"Furthermore," at this point, Cliff was almost shouting, really, he only wanted to make the agents who subjected Anna to further questioning after her eventful morning uncomfortable but he couldn't resist a little bit of a threat, "If I hear that anyone stepped out of line with regard to the interview conducted with my client…"
"What is going on out here?" Before Cliff could complete his empty threat of legal action, Lamb interrupted.
Cliff turned to the sheriff and explained the situation before Agent Jones had a chance, "I was simply explaining to our friends in the FBI that their treatment of the interview process with Miss Mars was out of line and that if they wish to speak with my client further requests can be made through my office." With that Cliff produced a business card and handed it to the federal agent who subsequently read it and rolled her eyes, for the first time in his career Cliff briefly considered that the tagline Call Cliff and Get Off might not be appropriate in all situations. Oh well, his point was made.
Lamb couldn't help but laugh to himself as he witnessed Cliff's macho act with the FBI Agent, he didn't disagree – their line of questioning toward the young victim had been abrasive but he knew what it was like to need information when time was of the essence; still, he couldn't imagine grilling the young victim of a kidnapping to the point where she was in tears again.
"Well Cliff, your client and her mother are in my office and I'm sure that they will be pleased to know their interests are so well looked after." The way Lamb said the word client, indicating Anna suggested to Cliff that the sheriff had more questions than answers about the younger Mars woman.
Cliff gave Lamb a look that said something along the lines of I might not be the most ethical member of the California State Bar but I have a solid foundational understanding of attorney client privilege and if you want to know more about Anna you'll need to talk to her or her mother. Agent Jones missed the look between the two Neptune residents but picked up on the fact that Veronica was in the building. "If Agent Mars is here, we'll need to discuss today's events with her. It's imperative that we understand all possible motives and any potential connections to ongoing investigations."
With that, Lamb led Agent Jones toward his closed office door. Cliff tagged along too, eager for an opportunity to see two of his favorite people, even if the circumstances were less than desirable. For the first time, Lamb felt like he was intruding on his own office as he tapped on the door and stuck his head in. For a brief moment he took in the sight of Veronica and Anna smiling on the plush chair in the corner of his office as Anna recounted her afternoon in Neptune to Veronica. "They, uh, want to talk to you." Lamb said to Veronica, hating to interrupt what had to be precious time with Anna.
Veronica and Anna both looked up at the interruption, Anna almost immediately jumping off Veronica's lap and darting straight toward the public defender "Uncle Cliff!" Anna nearly shrieked with a giggle as she jumped up for a spin around hug. "Kiddo, you're getting so big," Cliff said by way of greeting to Anna, "next time, I'm going to jump up and you're going to have to spin me around!"
Cliff put Anna down and greeted Veronica, "Veronica Mars in the Balboa County Sheriff's Office. At least you're not under arrest this time." Left unsaid but conveyed through aggressive eye contact and a knowing eye brow raise was messaging along the lines of Lamb's a little smarter than you've ever given him credit for and now is probably the time to tell him he has a kid.
Agent Jones was not amused by Cliff's supposed joke about Veronica's arrent record, shaking his head he greeted Veronica, "Agent Mars, I'm Special Agent Jones. I've been tasked with determining the motivation behind your daughters attempted kidnapping and assessing if there are any further threats to your family or the Bureau. Given the sensitive nature of our work, it is best that we discuss these matters privately." Veronica shook the agent's hand and nodded. Then turned to Anna, "why don't you tell Cliff about your visit to Neptune so far. He can let you know if you went to the best ice cream shop."
As Veronica followed Agent Jones toward Interrogation 1, another agent approached Lamb, "Sheriff, we'll need to confirm your statement as well as that of the arresting officer." Lamb nodded and pointed out Sacks to the agent. Veronica paused on her way into the room and followed Lamb's indication to Sacks. She'd know that mustache anywhere, Sacks made the arrest? Things sure have come a long way since I've been gone.
Veronica took a seat across from Agent Jones in the interrogation, this sure brings back memories. Veronica noted that the camera in the corner of the room was off and with the blinds drawn, this would be a private conversation – free of the prying eyes and ears of the department. "Agent Mars," Agent Jones began before being interrupted, "Veronica, please. I'm not working right now." Veronica dismissed the formalities; Agent Jones didn't return the sentiment but nodded and continued.
"Veronica, I am doing everything in my power to determine the reason for the abduction of your daughter, Anna Mars, but I will need full cooperation from you to determine if the threat is still present and if additional action needs to be taken." Veronica nodded, equally eager to get to the bottom of this.
"The man who abducted your daughter is named Elias Olivaris. He is from Fresno and does not have any visible ties to organized crime. He has, however, claimed that the attack was in retaliation to a recent case you worked on. About six months ago, you were involved in taking out a northern California ring of cocaine dealers, they were affiliated with the Ramirez Cartel, based in Chihuahua." Veronica nodded in response, trying to figure out how a seemingly random man in Northern California had ties to one of the larger criminal organizations she'd gone up against.
"It is possible we've missed a connection." Agent Jones continued, almost reading her mind – they'd had the same training and presumably would follow the same thought process in investigating. That means identifying personal connections to me is next, Veronica thought, great, love to talk about my personal life. "While we continue to establish Mr. Olivaris' possible criminal connections, we need to rule out any other possible motivations behind this crime."
Veronica nodded, and Agent Jones continued, "Do you have any enemies?" Veronica almost laughed, "Enemies? I've got a filing cabinet of criminals I put away and probably a basement full of individuals those investigations impacted."
"Believe me, we have a team of investigators looking into your cases and professional history, I'd like to discuss more personal vendettas. Any resentful exes? Any large transactions that could have left someone frustrated?" Veronica shook her head in response to both questions, knowing this had to be related to work somehow – she didn't live an exciting enough personal life anymore to result in this kind of action.
"What about Anna's father, could he be involved? Anna indicated that he wasn't involved but is it possible there's something else going on?"
"You asked Anna about her father?" Veronica was incredibly frustrated now, "That is absolutely inappropriate, you have access to her vital records and could have pulled her birth certificate to see that the "father" section is clearly blank. That is none of your business and you should not have pressed her about it."
"Agent Mars, you know how it is in the middle of an investigation," Agent Jones said by way of excuse, "I needed to ask to confirm the paperwork was accurate. And it was, besides, the conversation didn't last long. The local sheriff shut it down and insisted we wait until you arrived." Veronica tried not to show how uncomfortable she was with Lamb being involved in the conversation about Anna's paternity, she knew she was going to have to have a difficult conversation with him and this sealed the deal.
"Look, her father doesn't know about her. He's never been involved and there is absolutely no way he would have been involved in something like this." Veronica left no room for interpretation in her response.
"Is there anything else pressing to discuss? I'm exhausted, I would like to see my daughter and she needs to get to bed. If the team cannot find any additional information on the man in custody by morning we can get back together and talk STDs." Veronica snarked and stood from her seat before she was excused.
Veronica exited the interrogation room and made a beeline to Deputy Sacks' desk; she could put off talking to Lamb for a few more minutes. "I hear you made a pretty big arrest this morning," Veronica said to get Sacks' attention; he looked up, smiled and gave her a slightly awkward side hug. She was not a hugger and she didn't know the deputy to be one. Sacks blushed and replied "it was nothing, a rookie could have done it. Anna was brilliant, I can't imagine a lot of kids her age would have acted the same way." Veronica just smiled softly and nodded I can't imagine a lot of other kids are put in that situation.
Sacks continued, "It's been a long time, Veronica Mars, what? Ten years?"
"About nine," Veronica corrected, crediting her daughter as the time keeper for exactly how long it had been since she'd set foot in Balboa County.
"Well, Neptune missed you. Hell, I think even Don missed dragging you in here once in a while. With you gone, he actually had to do some crime solving." Unsaid was "with Keith gone" but Veronica knew the sentiment extended to her father. It was true, without the Mars Family's patented pursuit of justice, the sheriff's department was stuck handling all the crime in town.
"Well, everything looks the same, including your mustache." Veronica continued to make small talk, changing the topic from the Sheriff. "The interrogation room furniture sure is timeless. Did you redecorate the holding cells like I suggested? Something cooler would work well with the fluorescent lighting."
As Sacks laughed in response to her comment, Veronica noticed Lamb crossing the room toward his office. Time to bite the bullet.
She nodded a quick farewell to Sacks and followed Don into his office, stopping the door before it fully swung shut. "Hey" was all she said, letting herself into his office and shutting the door. The look on her face said it all, before Lamb even asked he knew what the answer was going to be.
"Is she…" mine? He couldn't even get the words out; he'd been contemplating the possibility since he met the young girl, more and more sure as the day went on. Now is suspicion was confirmed, Veronica silently nodded.
Lamb sat down and rand his hands through his hair, "We need to talk about this." Again, Veronica silently nodded. Had the situation not been so dire, they both would have recognized this as the first time Veronica stood speechless in Lamb's office.
Veronica opened her mouth to speak and no words came out. Lamb looked from her to his desk, absentmindedly twisting a pen between his fingers. Veronica opened her mouth again and this time, "I didn't know," he looked up, confused, "when I left, I mean. I didn't know about her until I was already across the country."
Lamb's eyes shot up to Veronica at that admission. Did it make it better that she hadn't knowingly withheld it? That she didn't lie to his face in the times he saw her following Keith's passing? Maybe. But that didn't get him the last 8 years of watching Anna grow up.
This time, it was Lamb who opened his mouth to speak and no words came out. They sat silently looking at each other, but not quite making eye contact. Each was trying to formulate a next step, it was Lamb who finally spoke, "we need to talk about this, but not now." Lamb was frustrated, he'd gone at it with Veronica before but never about something this serious. There was likely to be yelling and exchanges of personal information that he did not wish to share with everyone who worked for him.
"Stay with me tonight," Lamb blurted out. Veronica tilted her head, questioning his suggestion. Lamb continued, explaining himself, "the FBI wants you in protective custody overnight. My guest room is nicer than whatever motel they're going to try to stick you in."
Veronica thought about it and nodded in agreement. Whether or not she wanted to continue this discussion, she knew it was going to happen one way or another and she didn't want to air her personal life (or Don's) in front of the whole department. Plus, she couldn't argue that she'd rather not subject Anna to a night in the Camelot or whatever other motel with a competitive government rate the FBI would select.
With her hand on the doorknob, Veronica turned back and told Lamb "I'm sorry you found out this way, but I really am grateful you were there for her." Lamb acknowledged her comment with a small smile, not showing any teeth. He rose to join Veronica, who found Anna and Cliff waiting in the bullpen.
As Anna recounted in great detail her tour of the courthouse, Cliff gave Veronica a You and Lamb were alone in the office for quite some time, does Anna have a sibling on the way look. Veronica narrowed her eyes in response to Cliff but smiled, then directed her attention to Anna's adventure in the after-hours courthouse. Lamb joined silently and joined Veronica in listening to Anna; her story, however, was interrupted by Agent Jones's approach.
"Agent Mars, we've arranged for accommodations at the, uh, Sandpiper Resort," the Agent said, confirming the location against his notes, "from the website, it looks lovely – oceanfront. And we'll have an agent stationed in the parking lot right outside all night."
"Actually," Veronica interjected, "my daughter and I will be staying with Sheriff Lamb tonight." Sensing Agent Jones's objection, Veronica qualified, "It's been a long day and Don's a friend of the family. We'll be more comfortable at his house. I'm sure he will not mind having one of your colleagues in his driveway overnight." Lamb flashed Agent Jones with a you're not winning this argument smile and nodded.
To his credit, Agent Jones didn't push the issue. He simply jotted down Don's address and told Veronica to let him know when they were leaving so he could have someone tail them to the house.
Cliff was a little surprised by this development, as far as he was concerned the only evidence that there was a time when the sheriff and Veronica weren't eternally at each other's throats was the blonde eight-year-old who had resumed talking a-mile-a-minute about all she'd seen in the courthouse that evening.
"I've got a couple of spare toothbrushes at the house; do you need to get anything else?" Don turned to ask Veronica as they walked out of the Sheriff's department. Anna's hand was securely held in Veronica's as they approached Lamb's car. Veronica shook her head, "I've got my go-bag and Anna will be fine. We just need to put this day behind us."
Lamb stopped in front of an extended-cab pickup truck and unlocked the door, Veronica turned to him, taken aback by the large pickup truck that you don't see every day in Southern California.
"What can I say, you can take me out of Texas but you can't take the Texas out of me." Lamb said with a bit of a laugh, helping Anna into the backseat before opening the passenger door for Veronica. "I bought it on a whim a couple of years ago, totally impractical. I only ever drive it to and from work and occasionally out to the beach. Oh, and every time one of the deputies moves, the truck and I are invited to help." Veronica laughed at his comment, appreciating the levity of the conversation.
There wasn't much conversation in the car on the way to Don's house, a classic rock station played softly on the radio as Lamb navigated through town. Thank goodness it's not country music. The drive from the sheriff's department in Neptune's small downtown to Lamb's house in a middle-class neighborhood on the edge of the 90909-zip code gave Veronica the opportunity to see what had changed – and what had stayed the same in the years since she left.
They passed Neptune High which didn't hold too many fond memories, Veronica was happy to see Cho's Pizza was still intact and, at least from the outside, hadn't changed at all. Finally, they passed the street that lead to the apartment she shared with her father, Lamb didn't turn down it but they both knew the memories that lived down the road.
Fifteen minutes later they pulled into the driveway of a well-maintained bungalow, Don's house had three bedrooms (though one was used as a home office/gym), two and a half bathrooms and a fenced-in back yard that was home to Don's pride and joy, a state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen.
Lamb went to talk to the FBI agent who had followed them while Veronica helped Anna from the back seat of the truck. She looked around the neighborhood and noticed that Lamb had done very well for himself. She felt something in the pit of her stomach, was it guilt that Anna didn't get to grow up with this? Jealousy that she didn't have this lifestyle (or that her father's salary as sheriff had gone to sustaining her mother's alcoholism and inability/lack of desire to hold a job)? Or was it regret for not giving Don the opportunity to be present while his daughter was growing up?
Don unlocked the door and let Veronica and Anna inside, giving them a brief tour and showing them to the guest room and bathroom, taking care to set out clean towels and showing them where extra toiletries were. While Veronica set Anna up with a shower, Lamb tracked down a clean t-shirt for Anna to sleep in. It was getting close to her bedtime and Veronica knew that although her daughter was tired, she was going to fight to stay up since they were in a new place with a new person.
Veronica told Anna that if she brushed her teeth and put her pajamas on, she could stay up and watch a movie until bed. Veronica tried not to encourage too much screen time at bedtime but once in a while wouldn't hurt – and she knew Anna would be out like a light in 10 minutes in front of the TV. While Anna was brushing her teeth, and singing the ABC song to herself – twice, Veronica changed into the lounge pants and t-shirt in her bag. The best part about the FBI is literally always being ready for an overnight trip.
When Veronica walked out into the living room, Anna was managing the remote control from Don's loveseat, scrolling through all of the movie channels. Don looked up to see Veronica, "she said you said she could watch a movie until bed – I'm not sure when that usually is."
Veronica smiled, "usually eight," Don looked to the clock on the wall and realized they'd missed that by almost two hours, "but tonight my guess is by 10:15." As if on que, Anna let out a big yawn and selected Despicable Me on the TV. Veronica joined Anna on the oversized chair, allowing the child to curl onto her mother's lap. Don sat across from them on the sofa and the three watched the minions dance across the screen.
As Veronica predicted, minutes later Anna was snoring softly on her lap. She and Don watched the children's movie silently for a few more minutes before he offered to help get Anna to bed. Veronica could have managed on her own, she had eight years of experience transporting the sleeping child without waking her, but she accepted Don's help.
He scooped Anna off of Veronica's lap and effortlessly carried her to the guest bed, after he set her down, he left Veronica to tuck her in. Veronica spent as much time as she thought she could get away with without looking like she was stalling settling Anna under the covers and turning out the lights – leaving the adjacent bathroom door cracked with the light on – Anna liked a night light and this would have to suffice.
Veronica carefully pulled the bedroom door shut and met Don in the kitchen; he'd just opened a bottle of beer and gestured an additional bottle toward Veronica, who accepted. "I probably have a shit bottle of wine somewhere, and liquor." Don said by way of offering alternatives.
"I'm good with beer, thanks." Veronica replied, popping the twist top off her own bottle, "Unless you think I'm going to need something stronger." Even as she made the joke, she knew it probably wasn't the most appropriate timing.
Don took a sip of his beer and asked Veronica "Why? Why didn't you tell me about her?" When Veronica didn't reply immediately, he continued, "Do you think I'm such a terrible person that I didn't deserve to know that I have a kid?" Lamb was expressing how upset he was with the situation for the first time that day, but he was careful to keep his emotions in check and his voice low. He did not want Anna's first memory of him to be waking up to hear him yelling at her mother.
"You didn't sign up for this, Don. It's not like we were dating, hell we weren't even friends when she was conceived." Veronica recognized how hurt he was by her decision to omit him from the early years of Anna's life but stood by her conviction. "I didn't want to drag you into a situation where you were going to be a parent who didn't want to be there. I was not going to put my child through having a parent who didn't want her."
Don didn't know what to say, there was no way to convince Veronica that she had been wrong about him all those years ago. But he had to try, "You could have given me a chance."
"When I found out about Anna, I was alone and scared. Part of me wanted to call you, but I was scared. Terrified that you would reject me, and even more concerned that you would reject the baby."
They both remembered a time when Veronica felt scared and alone and she turned to Sheriff Lamb for help – they both remembered him laughing in her face. He knew as well as anyone that his track record with Veronica was less than desirable, but he had to try.
"I want to be her dad." Don said after letting Veronica's revelation sink in. "I want to be involved. As much as you'll let me."
Veronica was a little surprised by this. She'd assumed his upset earlier was mostly ego talking, but seeing him want to put the past behind them and take a role in Anna's life was refreshing, although somewhat unexpected.
"I want to go to the soccer games and the school plays. I'll deal with the bake sales and the car washes and whatever else kids are doing these days. If she's selling Girl Scout Cookies, I'll make everyone in the department buy a case."
Veronica smiled at his eagerness to be involved. "You're off the hook on the cookies, we did one year of Daises and confirmed that Mars women are not made for organized group activities. Or Camping."
Don smiled at Veronica's admission, he assumed there was a story associated with this experience and he genuinely wanted to hear it – and all of the stories from Anna's early years.
"You have to be all in." Veronica was back to a serious tone, "You can't back out when it gets hard or when you decide I'm too much to handle. You have to promise me right now that you will fight for her, even if that means clashing with me. I meant what I said, I'm not going to ever let her think that a parent doesn't want her."
Lamb knew this was bringing back feelings about Lianne walking out, he remembered when she left after Keith was kicked out of office. He knew about the drinking problem for some time, probably before teenage Veronica noticed it – he'd grown up with an alcoholic father and absent mother and he knew the signs. But this wasn't a contest, there was nothing from his past that would bring Veronica any solace in this moment. They were focused on the future – Anna's future.
