Story Title: They're Baaack.

Chapter Title: Doubt That The Sun Doth Move

Pairings: LoVe, Mac/OC

Rating: T

Word Count: 2153.

Summary: Veronica had 3 people stand by her and her father after Lilly's murder. They had to move, but they're back now, and helping her stir up trouble with a capital T. Season 2 Redone. AU

Chapter 2- Doubt That The Sun Doth Move

Okay Veronica. So you have the clap. Get over it. You lived with the possiblity that something could have been wrong for nearly two years. You ignored it. Besides, the good doctor said that you could still have mindless, snot nosed, little ones.

I sat in my car at the beach, just thinking. My mind seemed numb. They Grayson Triplets would want to the information, and I knew I had to lie. Emmett and/or Mike, plus guy who raped me, equal murder. And not Emmett's either. My phone rang Lilly Dreams On, snapping me out of thoughts.

Speak of the devil. Toughen up Mars, you've got a part to play.

"You alright?" Emmett's gruff voice answered.

"God, what is this? A relay race? Pass the Veronica? And whatever happened to Hello?" I snap.

Okay, not exactly ok to say to someone trying to watch out for me, but this was getting really annoying!

"We worry."

Perfect. Typical Emmett. Short, sweet, simple, and to the point.

"I'm fine. Doctor gave me some antibotics for a little stress rash you guys are giving me, but I'm good."

"The rash is from case withdrawal."

Hold the phones! Serious Emmett just cracked a joke.

"Did you just crack a joke?"

"Probably."

"You are not normal."

"Would you love me if I was?"

"Nope."

"Then maybe I should be thankful."

"Bye Emmy Bear!"

"Did I annoy you so much you're going to use a name like that?"

Pause.

"Yes."

"Bye."

"Bye!"

When will those guys ever stop worrying? Now what was I thinking before I was so rudely interrupted. Oh yeah. The clap. Nice Veronica.

Here's my To-Do list. Go on the fieldtrip and attempt to get an autograph for dear old dad. He did pull be out of a burning firdge, and can you believe Halmark hasn't come up with one of those yet? 2- Find out who raped me, and disembowl them. I'd get Emmett or Mike to do it, but then I'd have to admit to lying. 3- Get a date, because my life is seriously dull right now. Hey who know! Maybe this one can be a jackass, drug dealer, AND a possible half-brother! Ok, Leo was the only normal guy I've ever dated, and that is kind of pathetic. You're a real catch Mars.

Crap. Is the PI buisness like the mob? I just finished proving that my, cartoon-birds-braid-her-hair, friend isn't a druggie. And now I have to ride on a bus with people I hate. Save 3. Maybe 4; the Beav ain't so bad.

I stretched out on a seat and pulled the strings to my hoodie, trying to muffle the smell. Mike and JB walk over to the seat behind me and start gasping. Meg and I laugh, while I look towards the back of the bus.

Two possible suspects are here within disembowlment range. Too bad I can't prove it.

"Ms. Dumb-ass, this bus is rank!" Dick yells from the back, and I roll my eyes. Filthy habit.

"It's Dum-as, and you're welcome to sit in front," teach replies.

I hear Dick make his witty retort, plug my head phones in, and walk back to sit in between my protectors. I gave JB the once over. He was cute, I guess, and definetly Mac's type. Computer savy.

I close my eyes and lean into Mike, listening to the sounds of Breaking Ben's Rain. I feel like drowing, just for feel of it; the water taking over, and me, breaking free like I always do. For the first time all summer, it feels like Lilly's faith in me is the only thing pushing me foward.

Solving her murder made her leave me, and now trying to solve myself brings her back. I should get internally screwed every year. If only to bring her back.

We get there and I feel Mike, half drag me off the bus. I didn't want to have to leave the music, the sanctity. We all have to wake up sometime though.

I listen through Goodman's speech, when he introduces his daughter.

"Okay, just so everyone knows, I don't always dress like this," she starts.

I can't resist, I cock my head to the side and nudge Mike, who can't hide his laughter.

"I didn't know if you guys were doing, like, relaxed beachy, or the West Coast wannabe East Coast urban, so, FYI, it's not a statement. I'm just doing the new-school blend-in thing."

We get up and JB and Mike look at me with the "Is our generation that hopeless?" look. I laugh and see Goodman and some guy fighting.

"Look, a lover's quarrel," JB teases.

Out of nowhere Duncan comes up to us. "Isn't that Terrence Cook? Wow. In the flesh."

"What is he like the next Sammy Sosa? Minus the cork of course," I ask. Mike and, again out of nowhere, Logan give me a look. "Get your minds out of the gutters!"

Dick approaches.

Why are all these guys crowding around us?! Oh yea, since my dad and I were right about the murder, and Mike and JB made up with Logan, the 09ers are my friends.

"Hey, we're not taking that stank-ass bus back to Neptune. My dad's sending a limo. Would you guys and your friend(I think that was me), whose quick wit I find enchanting(Yup, definitely me), like to take the trip back in style? Miss Dumbass said it was cool. Meg's coming."

Logan and Duncan were in, no friggin duh. Mike looks at me with pleading eyes.

"Please?"

"You don't need my permission."

"Yes, I do. Your father has a gun and he wouldn't hesitate to use it on me if I left your side without permission. Besides, life is no fun without you."

The gathering people made it a show.

"One good reason."

"You love me," he sounded hopeful.

"Try again."

"Because I love you?"

"Wrong."

"Because I know all your secrets."

"Not even close."

"Because when you were bringing justice to your best friend, you kept me informed of all your moves, which in turn gave me the oppurtunity to give you half of your theories, on of which solved the case."

All in one breath. Impressive. Just wish everyone would stop gaping. Is it that hard to believe that I trusted someone enough to give them details?

"Sorry. Still no go."

This time his tone was defeated, "Because I am the brawn behind your beauty and brains."

"All right you can go. I just wanted to get you to make a fool of yourself."

"JB you coming with?" Dick asks.

"Uh..." he replies. He turns to me with hopeful eyes.

"What am I your mother? You don't need my permission!"

"Gun Veronica. Besides, I'm the Q here. I am not trained to endure that kind of torture."

I laugh and tell him to have fun. Goodman introduces Terrence Cook and I whip out my notebook. I approach him.

"Excuse me, Mr Cook?"

"Yes ma'am," he answers.

"I just wanted to say…you are my dad's favorite baseball player ever. He keeps your rookie card vacuum-sealed inside a safe. Can I get an autograph for him?"

"Well, that is an honor. You tell him thanks for me."

He shakes my hand and hands me the signed notebook.

Wait until dad gets ear of that.

"When my dad finds out about this, he's not gonna let me wash this hand."

An honest answer. He laughs.

"So, who's your favorite player?"

Bad question. I hesitate. JB and Mike come to my side.

"Tell him," Mike encourages.

"Be honest," JB warns.

"It's Johnny Damon, isn't it?" Terrence asks.

"He's just so pretty," I sigh.

The guys laugh and we thank Mr. Cook for his time. Ms. Dumass says its time to go and they guys hug me and leave for the strectch limo. I sit in silence on the bus again. The stink was so much better than sitting with some guys who could have possibly raped me.

We get off at the gas station, and I wait in line for water. The guy at the counter gives me the creeps. I walk out back and I walk towards the bus when I freeze in my tracks. A chill runs through my veins. The Finsterwallies.

"Veronica," I hear Lilly whisper. Whipping around I see her in her pep squad outfit, running around the corner. "Come on Dorkus!" I have no choice but to whisper her name and follow. I turn the corner to see her gone, and Weevil fixing his bike.

"So, did you like your taste? Your little year of living dangerously? Did you get your fill? As soon as they'll have you back, you go running to the 09ers. And as a little bonus, you give it up to the richest boys in school. Wow. Well, I'm sure their sheets are clean," he snarks at me.

He doesn't just mean Logan. He means the Grayson's too.

"You don't know anything about me or them! Year of living dangerously? I wanted my friend to rest in peace. I wanted the nightmares that her murderer was still out there to end. I haven't even talked to the 09er's. I thought we were friends Weevil. You don't know anything."

"Yeah, I do. I know that Logan killed Felix. And he got away with it because he's rich and he's white."

"Six guys jumped Logan. They broke his ribs. They gave him a concussion. Yet somehow he managed to wrestle away one of their knives and stab Felix? You didn't see it. You were out cold."

Naive Veronica wouldn't buy that Weevil, why would a jaded biker? Do you hate Logan that much?

"So I guess, Felix stabbed himself."

"Well, somebody stabbed him."

"My boys? Nothing goes down in the club without my say-so."

The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem Paco. My mother's an alcholic, the 12 step progam applies to life. I would know.

"So I guess you know about the shotgun blast that almost killed Logan and me? Bikers ride up, blow a hole through Logan's car. We all loved Lilly, and if her supposed killer was framed, why couldn't Felix's?"

I hear the bus and turn. It leaves, and I would never catch up to it. I turn back, an exasperated look on my face. Weevil rides away.

I contemplate who to call, and decide on Mac when Weevil drives up and hands me a helmet. I give him a small smile and hop on. We're driving up and see smoke.

Mike's POV

I was terrified. JB and I stopped breathing. We ran out, skidding to a stop before the break in the railing where the bus went over. We call her name. My best friend is gone.

The girl I can depend on to give a real laugh and not a lame giggle. The girl that isn't afraid to dig deep. The girl who would stand up to a group of bikers and never even blink. The one hope that girls in Neptune weren't completely moronic.

JB, my little brother, is the person who pulls me into reality. He pulls my shirt, and tells me she wasn't on the bus. He runs over and gives her a hug. I do the same. She's back.

Who was I kidding? Not even a bus going over a cliff could kill her. Can't get rid of Veronica Mars that easily.

Veronica's POV

Weevil slows and we see a huge crash area and the limo. Gia Goodman is standing, shaking, talking about how it went over the cliff. The bus.

JB and Mike each give me a tight hug. JB goes to tell Weevil that it's cool. They have it covered. Everything is one big movie, being played frame by frame. Mike lets me go as Meg, Logan, and Duncan run up too. Meg hugging me closely, Logan engulfing me, and Duncan keeping me at arms length to see if I'm really there.

I move to the bushes and throw up, looking down into the water. JB is better with emotions, so he just pulls me close and we look at the scene below, barely aware of the people around us.

We'll Lilly, new year, new drama. When did I get so many friends? And why did you stop me from getting on that bus? Am I meant for more? Why were you allowed to warn me now, and not before I saw your body? Or when I got into my car after Aaron was already in the backseat?

This wasn't an accident. Nothing in Neptune ever is. One rape, one mass murder, one trial, and a whole lot of lies. Full speed ahead. Does the sun ever shine in this town?

Love it?

Hate it?

I was going to do Veronica/Leo, but I decided against it. I love Leo and all, but I'm a strict LoVe fan.

Give me your opinion with that little purple button. You know you want to. Magic Pie says no one can resist giving their opinions.

Happy Holidays! I'm off to reheat some Orange Chicken and White Rice! Chinese food is godlike, but the people down here so rip you off! I MISS NEW YORK CHINESE!!!!