Summary: Set near the end of A Trip to the Dentist. This is how the scene with the ceiling fan should have went down… LoVe style.
Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars, lucky Mr. Rob Thomas does.
Author's Note: Hey everybody! Thanks for all of your wonderful reviews. You're all amazing. Anyway, I hope that this chapter is long enough and juicy enough for you. : ) Oh and another thing... I just want to share with you all my absolute loathing of Logan's love life right now. I'd say more, but I don't want to give anything away for those who haven't seen the recent episodes. But it's not good, not good at all... :( So here, live in my fantasy world for a bit, where all is as it should be. Enjoy!
Veronica sauntered up to the gate and put on her cheeriest, sorority girl persona for the guard. She flipped her hair and smiled sweetly at him.
"Name?" he asked succinctly, holding up a thick pile of papers, presumably listing all of the confirmed guests.
"Oh… I'm Christy Reynolds," she started to continue, but he held up his hand.
He kept it up, relatively close to her face, until he'd searched the list briefly for the name she gave him. "You're not on the list," he said without emotion, "I'm going to have to ask you to leave the premises."
"But sir, if you'll just let me explain," she pleaded, leaning towards him just slightly with the best pouting look she could muster.
He remained stoic for a moment before sighing, "Alright. Let's hear it."
She let out a little giggle, "Well, you see… I'm on staff with the caterer working the party, and I'm a little late. She said it would be okay. I had a meeting with my sorority, Alpha Phi. We're planning this totally awesome party for next weekend to help raise money for the local homeless shelter. And I just happen to be the Secretary, so I had to be there to record everything-"
He held up his hand to silence her once again, "That's more than enough information. Go ahead." The guard backed away from the her quickly, to avoid hearing anymore and pushed a button which opened up the gate.
Veronica waved her hand at him and yelled back, "Thanks!" as she jogged towards the entrance. She was quite relieved as she heard the clank of gate shutting behind her. The clicking of her heels on the pavement could just be heard over the music and commotion going on inside the house. The doors were left wide open, and she was glad to see the Celeste was not greeting her guests. Once inside she nonchalantly went to the kitchen and picked up a tray of hors d'ouevres and began slinking through the party guests. She'd nearly made it across the great room the party was being held in, on her way to Lilly's room when she spotted Jake and Celeste Kane.
Just my luck…
Veronica held the tray up so that it was even with her shoulder, and the empty wine glasses placed on it covered her face somewhat.
Celeste simply continued talking, and even placed her own empty glass on Veronica's tray, without skipping a beat or noticing that her young arch-nemesis was walking past. Once Veronica was out of hearing range she let out the breath she'd been holding. She was feet from the hallway that led to Lilly's room. Out of sheer paranoia, she turned around to make sure that Celeste wasn't following her ready to rip the wig off of her head and alert the local authorities. She turned back around with relief, just in time to feel her tray bump into the person in front of her. It fell and she immediately bent to try and pick it up quickly, without the incident being noticed by anyone.
"You just can't find good help these days," a voice from above her said. She ignored it for a second, before she recognized the distinctly sarcastic, witty sound. Veronica froze, unsure of whether she should let him know it was her or not.
Logan saw this and laughed, "Oh don't worry, I won't get you fired or anything. But I would suggest you clean this mess up before the lovely Mrs. Kane discovers it. I doubt she'll be as forgiving."
Veronica began to quickly shovel the items back onto the tray and sensed him beginning to walk away from her. Once she'd cleaned it up and was confident that Logan was gone, she stood and set the tray on a table. She took one final glance behind her before sneaking down the hallway. Within moments she was inside the room she'd spent so many sunny afternoons gossiping about nonsense, and had many a slumber party, doing mostly that same thing. It seems ridiculous looking back on it, but at the time it was her life. Most all of her happiest, most carefree times were spent in this room with Lilly, and that meant everything to her, no matter how silly it all was. She pulled out Lilly's desk chair and reached into her back pocket for the screwdriver she brought with her. Veronica stepped up onto the chair and began to unscrew the air vent when she felt arms encircle her waist and pull her down to the ground roughly. She lost her footing and landed on her butt.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?" that same sarcastic voice asked her, "Haven't you caused enough damage for one evening."
Veronica looked up at him, simultaneously removing her glasses and wig. She shook out her hair, "It's me, Logan."
Logan was taken aback by this, and remained speechless for a moment. He then bent over, extending his hands to her, to help her off of the ground. "Sorry about that…" he started sympathetically, and then changed his tone slightly, "I thought you were going to call."
"I was going to call when I knew something," she interjected, somewhat defensively, "I don't know anything new, yet. Not until I see what's in that vent."
Logan nodded, and Veronica returned to the work she'd begun earlier. Once she pulled the vent open she saw a tiny, folded sheet of paper. She removed it slowly and carefully, before stepping down onto solid ground. Veronica stared at it a moment before looking up at him, silently asking him if she should open it. He nodded grimly, and watched her as the emotions flickered across her face. She silently began to open it when she remembered something. Her fingers stopped their actions immediately as she looked up at him, questioningly, "Where were you coming from when I ran into you earlier?"
Logan sighed and looked up at the ceiling in distress, "Of course. Really, I had to know it was coming." He looked back at her slightly ashamed, but still firm face, "No, I didn't plant the note before you got here. You did actually intercept me from getting to Lilly's room but I was going to look for the note, not plant it." Veronica lost her strong stance and hardened face as he went on, "You know, when you didn't call, I was a little worried you'd lost faith in me, thrown in the towel, or even turned me in. I didn't know. So when my dad suggested I come to this, saying how it would help "restore my reputation." Well I figured it would be a good chance to try and save myself, in case you weren't going to." He finished speaking in a quiet tone, looking at her, hoping he'd find that his fears were unfounded.
Veronica swallowed, "I'm sorry you felt that way Logan. I've been doing everything I possibly can to save you today. It's all I can think about. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't manage to find a way to prove that you're innocent… If I knew that I'd failed you." She shook her head, strangely feeling as if she could cry out of frustration at that thought. The clock was ticking and she still didn't know if even the note they'd found would be enough for Weevil. She looked up into his eyes.
I'm not going to fail. I won't. I can't.
The corner of Logan's mouth turned up in a half-smile, "There's no way you could fail me. Not if you stick by me. That's all I want, all I've ever wanted, from you. For you to be on my side, fighting for me, not against me. Everything else…" he threw his hands in the air and let them fall at his sides, "It just comes naturally from you being you. Your trust and loyalty are the only things that I've ever lacked."
She watched him take in a deep breath before speaking, "I hope you stick around for the day when I can give you those things unconditionally. I'm trying, little by little, to get past-"
"I know you are," he interrupted, taking a step towards her, bridging the gap. "And don't worry that pretty little head of yours about whether I'll wait around for you. As long as you'll have me, this is the only place I want to be." He looked deep into her eyes before taking the sides of her face and kissing her. The kiss was one of passion, stemming from the high drama that was currently overtaking their lives. Veronica started to move her hands behind his neck, to further the kiss. As she did this, however, the note slipped from her fingers and she noticed the lack of paper between them.
Veronica broke the kiss, reluctantly, knowing that time was of the essence and that she needed to read that note. She had a lot of work to do if the note had nothing convincing in it, and she only had a few hours to complete that work. "Logan… the note," she whispered against his mouth. He understood and bent to pick up the discarded piece of paper and handed it to her.
There was no trepidation in her this time as she began unfolding it. She took a deep breath just before pulling apart the last fold, revealing to her Logan's scribbled words, and dried teardrops.
Lilly,
It seems so ridiculous to be writing you a letter. We've been together for years, and I'm sure I've never written you one before. Now that we're apart, I find it's the only way I can really explain how I feel. At least without you interrupting or brushing me off. So here goes nothing…
I came back early from Mexico to see you. I can't explain why, other than to say that I just had this feeling that I needed to. I drove and drove, not thinking about much of anything, other than you. I tried to think of what I was going to say to you, but I still didn't know if I wanted you to take me back, or if I never wanted to speak you again. Then I saw you, and everything just clicked. You looked different. There was something in your eyes and your smile that just spelled it out for me. Even though you didn't see me, I knew that we were through, over with. We weren't going to give it another shot. At that revelation, a strange combination of relief and sadness overcame me. On the one hand, all of the torture you put me through while we were together is over forever. I never have to wonder if you're talking, flirting, or kissing a guy who isn't me. That pain is over. But now I have a new pain. The pain of knowing that you never loved me nearly as much as I still love you.
So I leave you with these paring words and my final gift to you. I'm sure you'll like it, and get a lot of use out of it. I hope that years from now when you've completely forgotten about me, and long since thrown this note away, that you'll maybe still have it. Enjoy it, and enjoy your life. I want you to be happy, and I'm sorry you couldn't be happy with me. Maybe someday I'll stop loving you so much and be able to be your friend. Until then…
Logan
Veronica reached up to wipe the single tear from her eye, but she was too slow. Logan's finger was already there. She smiled at him, sorrowfully, "I'm sorry…"
"For what?" he asked wistfully, cupping the side of her face.
"I don't know…" she took a deep breath, "For everything."
He shrugged, "You make me forget about everything. None of it matters now that I have you."
Veronica wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him sweetly. She pulled back from it sooner than she would've liked, "There's still quite a bit I need to do, even now that I have this. And we should get out of here before we get caught."
Logan nodded and Veronica hopped back up on the chair and started to replace the vent when she noticed something. Her eyebrows scrunched up, "That's funny…" She reached into the vent after seeing that it apparently went nowhere. After pushing gently on the back wall it slid down, falling with a little clink of metal on metal.
"What was that?" Logan asked, coming up behind her. Veronica reached into the vent a little further before coming back with three tiny tapes. She held them out to him, in confusion.
"What do you think these could be?" Veronica asked as Logan took them out of her hands.
"I don't know," he answered, looking them over. "Oh my God," he said quietly, staring at one tape in particular.
"What is it?" she asked anxiously.
"This one," he held the tape up, "It's dated on the day that Lilly died."
Veronica's gaze stayed on the tape for a second, in awe, before looking up at Logan, "We need to find somewhere to play these."
"I bet Duncan's got a video camera that would work," Logan mused dejectedly, wishing they were on better terms.
"Alright, here's the plan. You stay here and put the air vent back on. I'll don my caterer disguise again and go find him," she explained. Logan's face immediately fell and he started to protest, remembering the events of earlier in the day. "Don't worry. I'll take care of myself. He's probably calmed down from earlier. Plus, he's much more likely to talk to me than to you. So just do as I say."
Logan mock-saluted her, "Yes, ma'am."
Veronica glared at him briefly as she replaced her wig and glasses, "I'll be right back." She turned and started to walk out, but Logan reached out and took her wrist, pulling her back to him. He brushed a big strand of black hair away from her face and kissed her.
"You can go now," he said, moving back away from her and up onto the chair. Veronica looked at him with her mouth opened slightly. He simply went to work at replacing the air vent cover, "Are you going to go or just stand there staring at my ass?" Logan deadpanned.
Veronica laughed, "I wish that were possible, but I can hardly get past your huge ego enough to even tell you have one." Logan turned around to fight back, but she was already gone. He smiled before turning back to his work.
Veronica walked quickly down the hallway, picking up her tray along the way. She went stealthily around the outer edges of the room, scanning it for Duncan. After a few minutes, she spotted him talking to an older couple she didn't recognize. She took this as a good opportunity and wove her way through the crowd.
"Can I offer you an hors d'oeuvre?" Veronica asked the couple, sweetly.
"Oh no, thank you," the woman responded, holding her hand up gently.
Veronica nodded, before looking hard at Duncan. She caught his eye and he squinted his eyes at her briefly before they widened in realization. He glared at her, but she looked pleadingly at him. His face softened as she wiggled her eyebrows at him and then turned and walked back towards the hallway she came from. After depositing her tray on the same table and walking safety around the corner where she couldn't be seen, she stopped and waited. She heard footsteps coming, and stepped back into a doorway, hoping that it was Duncan, but taking that precaution just in case it wasn't.
"What do you want, Veronica?" Duncan asked her with little patience.
"I need your help," she said seriously, knowing he wouldn't take that answer very well.
He laughed ironically, "You've got some nerve."
"You know I wouldn't ask if it weren't important," she sighed.
Duncan took a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling before looking hard at her, "What is it?"
"Well, I don't know exactly what it is yet, but it might have something to do with Lilly's murder," Veronica explained.
He swallowed, "You've got my attention."
"This way," she started to lead him down the hallway.
This is where things start heating up. I only hope that Logan and Duncan can control their emotions until after we find out what's on those tapes.
Veronica stopped briefly as she put her hand on the door handle, needing to prepare herself before putting Logan and Duncan in the same room together.
These tapes could end up saving Logan's life in more ways than one, and solve Lilly's murder all in one. This is a big moment. After all this searching, the answers could be on the other side of this door.
She turned the handle and walked inside, Duncan close on her heels.
I hope you loved it. Please send me some feedback! You know I live for it!