Season 1 Episode 19: Ice Breaker

Episode Guide: Veronica helps a friend and finds some information that could change her perception forever.

"Uh-oh someone's got their eye on the Miss White Trash title." Veronica looks up from the fuming hood of her car to glare at him and Beaver.

"You know you've got solid effort in the talent portion but I'd like to see that car up on some blocks." Before Veronica can respond Logan has his hands tightly clenching the back of each of the boy's necks.

"Dick your nose just healed from the last time you insulted my girlfriend. Apologize, I would hate to have to break it again." Logan's voice is a forced calm, something both Veronica and Dick had come to recognize as his most dangerous.

'C'mon Logan we we're just playing." Dick mumbles defensively. Veronica smiles at Logan over Dick's shoulder obviously trying to hold in a laugh at both Dick's expression and Logan's over-protectiveness. Realizing he misjudged the severity he let's go of Dicks neck but not without giving him a little shove for good measure. The Caasablancas brothers walk off grumpily as Logan strolls over to Veronica.

"Need some help?"
"I'm sorry, you know how to fix a car? I thought you had people for that?" Logan snorts and cuts a piece of his apple off with his pocketknife. Veronica holds her hand out and he hands it to her and she cuts a tube, re-positions it then smiles with satisfaction as the car starts up. He waits for her to park the car, flipping off a grumbling jock behind her. The second they walk into the school Logan pulls her into the bathroom and slaps up an out of order sign.

"Are we ok?" He says his lips a tantalizing few inches from hers. Sighing, Veronica runs her hands through Logan's hair and leans her forehead on his.

"I'm not mad at you Logan. None of this is your fault I know that." He nods without making eye contact and steps away a bit so Veronica is only holding his dangling fingers. Veronica has been so adamant at telling him that Aaron's twisted pastime isn't his fault that he is almost beginning to believe it. Unfortunately, he doesn't believe her enough to dare gauge her sincerity.

"I'm just scared that one day he is going to go too far and…and I don't know I just can't stand the thought of you in pain. Can you understand that?" Veronica continues. Reluctantly Logan nods and Veronica takes a deep breath. "There are ways to make him pay, make him stop. Ways that won't require police or the media." Immediately, Logan lifts his head to respond but Veronica silences him and holds his hands. "I'm not going to force you to do anything Logan. I just need to you to think about it ok?" It seems a little funny to Logan that neither his teachers, mother or other family members ever 

threatened to make Aaron pay but Veronica did. The people who were designed by both nature and society to keep him safe had failed miserably but his pint-sized girlfriend was more than willing to declare war on the great Aaron Echolls. Someone suggesting he do something about Aaron should by all rights make him angry. Logan decided long ago he didn't need anyone to fight his battles for him. Shockingly, he's grateful for her promise of justice. It was sincere and non-judgmental, just a simple offer he knows will be carried out. Knowing she is nervous about how her comment will be received Logan gently rubs the crease in her forehead and kisses the tip of her nose.

"I'll think about it ok?" Logan agrees tentatively.
"That's all I ask."
"Now, no more talk of my father, I have far more exciting uses for this bathroom."
"Really..waaa" Before she can finish her quip Logan devours her lips, back her into the counter. Veronica recovers from her initial shock and hooks her legs around his waist as he picks her up and seats her on the counter. His hand is snaking his way up her shirt when an uncomfortable cough comes from the doorway. For a moment their lips stay pressed on each other's and their eyes fly open as they make identical oh shit gestures. Veronica stealthily wipes her lip before hoping of the counter and pulling her shirt down.

"Hey Carmen." Veronica says, blushing fiercely as Logan smirks behind her.

"Hey I'm…uh…I can come back…" Carmen was already distressed about something and the added embarrassment of walking in on Neptune's golden couple didn't do anything for her nerves.

"It's alright." Logan says quickly. "I'm beyond tardy for my physics class and, if I remember correctly, time travel is not yet possible." Logan heads towards the door throwing a little smirk at Carmen who turns around still apologetic.

"Wallace told me you'd be in here." Carmen mentions as means of explanation.

"That reminds me, one of Michael Jordan's tardy excuse slips." Logan asks putting his hand out expectantly. Veronica hands it to him and he kisses her on the cheek before waving to Carmen and heading out the door.

Carmen tearfully recounts the humiliating clip of her pleasuring a Popsicle that her ex-boyfriend was planning to use against her.

"Do you think he's serious?" Veronica always remembered the couple as being super lovey-dovey. It seems unnaturally harsh to threaten her like this.

"I don't know, but I can't take the chance I need you to get me that phone Veronica." Veronica nods her agreement and rushes out to find Wallace to help her get Tad's phone.



"Wallace." Veronica says quickly grabbing his arm through a throng of students. He jumps 3 feet in the air before placing a grateful hand over his heart and breathing deeply. "Woah…Didn't mean to scare you." She says with a smirk holding her hands up in Logan's signature gesture. "Are you ok?"

"I took Mac out last night. Her parents came home to find us making out on the couch. I've been expecting a riffle being shoved in my face ever since then." He says with a grimace as he opens his locker. Despite Wallace's stricken expression Veronica can't help but chuckle a little.

"Well my Dad hasn't killed Logan yet so I think you're safe from Mac's father." At that moment Carmen's piece of crap boyfriend – exboyfriend?- starts walking down the hall. "Hey can you help me with a bump and bait here?" Wallace nods and plays along with Veronica's airhead routine as she backs in to Tad and makes the switch. Carmen is just one confiscation away from freedom.

"Ready Babe?" Logan says coming up behind in her and planting a kiss on her cheek. "My Dad's driver picked up the rust bucket so I am your chauffer."
"Can you wear a funny hat?" The only response Veronica gets is a turned-up nose followed by a deep kiss. "My alternator should act up more often." She whispers breathily. "Come on champ we have a Kane to track down." Logan wordlessly grabs her bag and her hand leading her out to the Xterra.

Logan has become a more permanent fixture at Mars Investigations ever since Duncan went missing. Despite, or maybe because, of his pampered lifestyle Logan has a bullshit detector that can rival Keith Mars and surpasses Veronica's. She has only been jaded and cynical for a year or two, Logan was probably born thinking his doctor wanted an autograph. The time has significantly softened Keith towards Logan. It started with that first flinch. Being in law enforcements for 20+ years , Keith has seen his share of child abuse and dealt with a fair number of children he was sure were just keeping quiet, so he knew. Really, it wasn't the actual flinch, it was the look in Logan's eyes afterwards, a rare mixture of shame, bravado and hurt that unwittingly sold his story to Keith. The damn flinch forced him to casting Logan as a jackass and look at him as person, with actual depth. It was even more surprising when Keith liked what he saw.

"Hey Dad." Veronica chirps dragging Logan in to the office by his hand.

"Mr. Mars." If someone could be cocky and shy at the same time that would be Logan, leaning against the doorframe, smirking a little while keeping his eyes slightly downcast.

"Any news on Duncan?" A dismal shake of the head causes both parties to sigh miserably. "Mac is still working the eBay angle. I know Duncan doesn't seem like…" A soft humming that comes across as creepy to the younger members of the room cuts Veronica off and all three people stare at Alicia Fennel.

"Hi Mr. Mars" Her expression is so drippy that Veronica wants to wipe the stupid smile of her face but she settles, instead, for sharing a slight eye-roll with Logan. "Hi you two. How's school."

"Hi Mrs. Fennel its…fine." Veronica says with a tight, awkward smile as Logan gives an a-ok gesture and backs out of the room with a newspaper. The gym bag stares Veronica in the face and she tries to ask them where they're headed only to be made by an evasive 'out'.



"Ah, alone at last." Logan says with a lecherous grin. Slowly he walks her back to the couch, kissing the hollow of her throat.

"What do you think my Dad and Alicia do every Wednesday that requires an overnight bag?" The disgust in her voice is so evident that Logan doesn't know whether to be concerned or laugh.

"Uh…play Bingo? I hear it's big these days." With a smile that borders on sympathetic, Logan wipes the bangs from her forehead and kisses her forehead.

"The best way to deal with things like this is pretend they don't exist." With a determined nod, she sandwiches Logan's face and kisses him long and hard. Good thing she has a super hot boyfriend to distract her from the evils of relationships gone wrong.

"Wow you guys really do a lot of that." In a moment of surprise Veronica goes to jumps off the couch and ends up falling hard on to the floor causing Logan to erupt in unfeeling laughter. The death glare she sends him does nothing to quell his hysteria and she rolls her eyes at Carmen.

"Boyfriends suck." Veronica says landing a punch square on Logan's shoulder.
"Oh I'm sorry did you want me to pretend that hurt." Logan says casually.

"Yours is better than mine." The regretful smile on Carmen's face causes the laughter to cease. "So did it work?"

"Success." Relief is written all over Carmen's features as she gratefully takes the phone.

"You didn't watch it, did you?" This is directed more towards Logan who just raises his hands in innocence. He tried to bribe Veronica into letting him watch it but she had smacked him upside the head and refused. Of course he was joking…mostly.

"You saved my life Veronica." Logan watches with affection as Veronica gives a humble smile and informs Carmen that the guy might have the raw file. Carmen had definitely been a member of the anti-Veronica movement following Lilly's death. Not being exceptionally mean or vocal by nature, the Latino princess didn't do a whole lot on her own but Tad did and she always stood by him. It wasn't until that moment Logan realized how forgiving Veronica was. He probably should have realized it when she shrugged off a year's worth of petty insults and pranks but seeing her, sympathizing with a girl who sneered at her, makes his heart swell with pride.

They were enjoying a comfortable moment of satisfaction. Logan was staring at Veronica trying to figure out how he deserved her. Veronica was enjoying the symbolic nature of Carmen crushing Tad's phone with a statue of the lady of justice and Carmen was just happy. Of course, this is Neptune and life sucks and Tad did, in fact, think ahead and keep the raw file. A heavy, awkward silence fell over the room as a naked Carmen drifted on screen.

"You definitely are hot." Logan quips trying to break the tension. The only response is glares from the two other girls.



"Oh my god." Carmen's horrified voice rang out. "What am I going to do?"

"You need an exit strategy." An elaborate plan involving Seth, Neptune's token flamboyant gay student, and a fake website was set in motion in an effort to clear Carmen's name.

As soon as Carmen left, the couple retreated back to Veronica's apartment. Veronica and Logan have reached that point where they were beginning to take each other for granted. When Logan silently takes her books and presses a kiss to her temple, Veronica no longer flushes from flattery. For Logan's part, he no longer warms with surprise and amazement when she tenderly cups his cheek. This development is inevitable and healthy. Veronica no longer flushes because she expects Logan to treat her well and Logan is no longer surprised at her tenderness because he trusts she'll be there for him. Seeing Tad's despicable behavior reawakened them to how lucky they were as they lay, snuggled on the couch.

This is the second time Keith comes home to Logan and Veronica intertwined on the couch. Still not accustomed to the pair, he stares at them thoughtfully remembering the first time he met Logan Echolls

flashback

As much as Keith loves his daughter he does not love going to the stupid Parent-teacher meetings with her. It was the same every time: "Sheriff Mars you're daughter is an excellent student", "Sheriff Mars, Veronica is a delight to have in the class" blah blah blah. Nevertheless, he sits on the hard plastic chair outside the classroom as Veronica rattles on excitedly about how much she likes Mrs. Bell. The sound of a man's raised voice permeates through the wall and Veronica stops talking to listen as some parent gives out to their child.

Moments later a lanky, but nevertheless good-looking boy, is shoved out of the classroom looking pale and frightened as the parent apologetically promises to discipline his son. Veronica hops off her chair and runs over to the kid who smiles almost gratefully at her as she charms the father with innocent questions.

"Daddy." She calls dragging the boy over. "This is my friend Logan Echolls."
"Echolls I've heard that name somewhere." Keith thinks for a moment not noticing the darkening across the boy's face. "Echolls that's right you play on the soccer team with Veronica don't you?" Logan is completely taken aback at having his name recognized for something so common, yet something only he accomplished. With a broad smile he shakes Keith's hand before dropping his head and returning to his yelling father.

end flashback

Keith knew how close the boy was with Duncan Kane as well. When Veronica still dated Duncan, Keith would often hear his daughter and Lilly Kane grumble that Duncan and Logan should friggin date each other because the girls had been ditched for guy time. Duncan's disappearance couldn't have been easy on the kid. Sighing Keith walks over to Veronica and gently shakes her awake.



"Honey, you're bed is that way." He says with faux-cheer. The look on Veronica's face is priceless but Keith gently stops her before he wakes up Logan.
"Let him sleep he's obviously tired." The fading black eye from Weevil increases the look of utter exhaustion on Logan's face and Keith is willing to bet this is the first goodnights sleep he's gotten in awhile. Veronica gives Keith a look of surprise and he just gives a non-committal shrug. When Veronica is in her room Keith looks at Logan for a moment then reluctantly pulls a blanket over his sleeping form wondering when the hell he started caring about Logan friggin Echolls.

Logan wakes with a heavy weight on his chest. No, not metaphorically, literally a huge heavy thing was on him. In a half-asleep haze Logan's attempts to process this and is promptly licked by said weight.

"Veronica?" He groans in confusion. Why was she licking him? And why did she smell so bad?

"Is that a covert way of telling me I need to hone my kissing technique?" Veronica's playful taunt causes him to open his eyes to be faced with…Back-up. Logan whistles sharply and points to the ground causing Back-up to immediately hop down. Veronica, on the other hand, was in the kitchen pouring a bowl of cereal. He was about to quip when suddenly he realizes that he is in Veronica's apartment, in the morning, and Keith wasn't in Texas.

"Your dad is going to have my balls." He yelps immediately jumping up only to get an amused glance from Veronica.

"Considering he was the one who checked you in to Hotel Mars, I think you're good." Now that's a jaw-dropper. "He's also at work. Your balls are safe." Logan sighs in relief and Veronica brings him over a breakfast of Cocoa Puffs.

"So can you drive me to pick up my car from the impound yard?"

"Why don't we just get my driver to pick it up?" It is Saturday and all Logan wants to do is make-out on the couch.

"I want to talk to Weevil." A skeptic glance from Logan makes her rolls her eyes and fake confidence. There is no way Weevil would have hurt Lilly…right? However, Logan is less convinced and insists on accompanying her in to the impound yard. For some reason, the sight of Weevil fixing a car and throwing them a lazy smile convinces Veronica he's not the guy. He's too comfortable, too calm in front of her and Logan to have done it. Plus, he knew Veronica was coming close to solving the crime. If he really did it, she'd probably be dead. To add to the evening's excitement, Weevil informs Veronica that a beat-up Impala was bought by a certain missing ex-boyfriend. She nods her thanks and drags Logan away before he can find some reason to beat on Weevil.

"Hey Dad, do you have a pen I have a lead for Duncan's car." She and Logan hop into the car as Keith quickly roots throughout his desk. "A '69 Impala California license plate 6GU C788 and he bought it for 800 cash a couple weeks ago. Love you too bye."



"It's always business with you." Logan quips as they drive back to his estate. Mac and Wallace meet them there and both couples decide to take the day off sleuthing. Instead they watch movies and curl up on the over-stuffed couches. Since Mac and Veronica insist on 'Legally Blonde' Wallace hides behind a basketball magazine and Logan flips, impassively, through a newspaper.
"Hey Veronica did you see this?" Half-asleep Veronica is stretched on the couch with her head in Logan's lap. She barely acknowledges the newspaper being shoved in front of her until Logan points to the advertisement saying that legal proceedings have begun in Leanne Mars' name.

If you had asked Veronica 2 years ago if her father would divorce her mother on grounds of abandonment she would have laughed at you and gave you one of her mother's homemade cookies. The fact that Leanne had been such a good mother for so long makes the sting worse. With concerned glances from the other three people in the room, Veronica quickly dials Cliff to get the lowdown on the divorce laws. The advertisement has to run for 7 days before Keith could petition for divorce, Leanne's ran for 6.

"Are you ok?" Logan asks with concern when she hangs up.

"Our parents are at the Dunnes Hotel, we could go find them." Mentions Wallace, equally concerned. A hotel…lovely. Could she really do that to her Dad? Petulantly demand he stop seeing Alicia, the first woman he seems to really care about since Leanne. He deserved to be with a woman he loves and a woman who loves him.

"No. He's happy." Veronica whispers softly, curling into Logan who just holds her closer. Moments later she declares she has to go help Carmen with the phone call to Tad and develop the pictures she and Logan had quickly snapped on the way back from picking up the LeBaron.

After the disturbing almost phone-sex between Carmen and Tad, Veronica quickly prepares dinner only to be interrupted by her father who gleefully exclaims that Duncan's car has been spotted outside Tijuana. She is even more surprised when he mentions that he already called Logan who is sleeping on the couch while he is away. At least her Dad's share of the chicken won't go to waste.

"We should go out." Logan comments as he strokes her hair.
"Um…I thought that was kind of established."

"No I mean like I should take you on a real date." Instead of commenting Veronica just presses her head to his neck and strokes his arm. "So what do you think of us skipping school Tuesday for a little ride on Dad's boat? Dinner and a movie?"

"Sounds nice." Logan may not be Romeo but he definitely knows how to treat a woman. During the school day Veronica finds little notes in her locker or wedged in her textbook. He always orders her favorites for lunch and never skimps on cuddling. She hadn't even noticed they didn't really 'go out' much but it was like Logan to feel the need to go big. Not that she is complaining of course. To be honest she kind of likes the way Logan pampers her.



Wanting to do more on Duncan's case on Sunday, Veronica fires the website off to Tad in an email with an accompanying warning note that every plebe at Annapolis would get the same email should he choose to expose Carmen.

"Good morning." Veronica says gleefully running up to a newly free Carmen.

"It is isn't it?" The threat of sending the website detailing Tad's 'special relationship' with Seth was surely enough to hold off the Neanderthal jackass and finally allowed Carmen to breathe.

"Hey Carmen?" With a big smile Carmen turns around to acknowledge one of the football jocks. "Are you hungry?"

"No." Veronica suddenly gets the feeling that this is going to end very badly.

"Cause I thought you might want to suck on my popsicle." The girls exchange horrified looks as they realize what this means. Their least favorite amateur pornographer pushed the button and dragged Carmen's name through the mud.

School was hell for Carmen. People had downloaded the clip onto their phones and she couldn't go anywhere without some jerk offering her a frozen dessert. At Veronica's insistence, Logan instructed the 09ers that Carmen was to be left alone and the video wasn't to be watched. Weevil hit a few of the more obnoxious jerks to quell the frequency of insults but nothing can stop Carmen from sobbing her eyes out in the back of the computer lab. She doesn't strike back though, just rolls with the punches and deletes the incriminating email leaving Veronica sitting in shock. A moment after Carmen leaves the room the sound of the video being played streams in to Veronica ears and she quickly rushes over to stop the freshmen boys from oogling her

"Oh my god." Veronica whispers to herself as she looks at the paused video. Those stars and Chinese lamps were amongst the only things she remembers from that night. Sure, the morning was clear. Popping a morning after pill because the stickiness on the inside of her leg was clearly someone else's, a trip to the gynecologist's office where they told her she was raped and tried to get her to go to counseling, the awful visit with Lamb. Veronica remembers the morning alright; she will carry it around with her forever. The night, on the other hand, was a little hazy.

In a daze Veronica drives home, not even remembering to give Logan his usual goodbye kiss. Did her and Carmen not remember the same night? If so she was a hell of a lot closer to getting the answers she thought she'd lost forever. She sits down at her Mars Investigations desk and takes a deep breath trying to collect her thoughts as her Dad rattles on about Duncan.

"Roberto Nalvandian." Mac's voice rings out from the hallway. Grateful for the distraction Veronica turns to her with a smile.

"Who's Roberto Nalvandian?"
"I have no idea."
"Ok so then you'll forgive me if, as of yet, I am unimpressed."



"I don't know who he is but I do not his Argentinean passport was shipped to the airport Marriot a week ago." After few moments of joking around Veronica finally works up the courage to ask Mac about the time stamp on Carmen's video. August 7, 2004. Veronica was right, her and Carmen were both drugged at Shelley's party.

The next day Veronica runs to school early to drop of an English report before her date with Duncan. Not surprisingly, the bikers taped Tad to the pole Wallace-style. After a moments banter she opens her switchblade to cut him down.

"I want a simple answer to a simple question." Willing to do anything to prevent the school from seeing him in this situation Tad nods in agreement. "Who gave you the Rohypnol the night of Shelley Pomeroy's party? I know you ruffied your girlfriend. Class with a capital K." Tad doesn't answer and Veronica shuts her switchblade and looks like she is about to walk away.

"Wait…It wasn't Rohypnol, it was GHB." Veronica glares at him and he continues hesitantly. "It was Logan Echolls."

!!PLEASE REVIEW!!

Thank you for those who have already reviewed…I am thinking of doing a sequel (ie rewriting season 2). However this will only happen if the interest is there. Anyways I would love to hear what you guys would like to have happen in my 'season 2' (obviously there will be no DuVe as that doesn't really work with what I have set up for the characters).