Disclaimer: Veronica Mars and all recognizable characters are the intellectual property of Rob Thomas.
Eleven:
The bartender puts a beer down on the bar in front of a dark haired man in his mid to late twenties. The man is a non-descript, dark haired, tattooed thug, save for the long jagged scar that runs over his right eye. His eyes are a cold, light blue that could chill even the bravest to the bone, and the man sitting in the stool next to him, with his bald head, a scar that starts at the left side of his mouth and works down his chin, who has a brawny build and dark eyes, is almost as scary. The bartender knows enough to keep his mouth shut and leave them to their business, because he values his own neck and he doesn't go risking it for anyone.
After nearly a half hour of serving the two men drinks a young guy, probably still in high school comes slinking in through the door of the bar. He gives them a heads up and he's fidgety like he's either high or in desperate need of a fix.
The three of them head off to a table in a dark corner, and the two older thugs have a clear view of the two doors that serve as entrances and exits in the bar. They focus their attention on the jumpy young man in front of them, and he's swallowing thickly, his dark eyes darting around the bar and between the two of them, his breathing is heavy, he's fidgeting like crazy and when his fingers run through his dark curly hair for like the twentieth time in under a minute the two men have had enough.
"Ellie, man, chill," the man with the cold blue eyes and curly dark hair says.
The boy rolls his eyes. "Tony, man, you know I hate being called that. Makes me sound like a girl. If you can't call me Epsy I'll settle for Ellison, anything as long as it ain't Ellie."
"I don't see how it matters much, since you're a pussy anyway," says the bald man in a gruff voice.
Epsy chooses to bite his tongue and train his gaze on the scarred tabletop, because silence is best when dealing with his cousin Anthony Rawley and his bald back up Bones Carver.
"We're not here to catch up, Epsy," and Tony puts some emphasis on the name. "So spill what you got on the Banks kid, we need some good info, cause we owe him big for that scam he set up. Really, bringing a narc in with the Sharks. Not a smart move. Shame he didn't die like we thought, woulda saved me this shitty reunion."
"Grandma misses you too," Epsy bites out, and then sucks in a deep breath, because smarting off to guys like Tony could get someone hurt.
Bones shakes his head and clucks his tongue. "If you weren't blood, kid, you wouldn't have made it past puberty. Now business. No smartin' off, cause I ain't as patient as your cousin. I didn't get my name in the boy scouts. Run that mouth off again and a bone is gonna get cracked, and I think I'll start with your jaw."
Epsy swallows thickly. "Well, what exactly do you want to know? He's like a freak, man. He hangs out with the school queer, and word has it that he looks like that kid from Neptune High that blew up the bus and the plane and did a swan dive off the Neptune Grand. He's like crazy. I mean when he's pissed his eyes go all dark and he's shoving a guy three times his size into a wall of lockers. Shit, he had his arm against the quarterback's throat the first day of school. It's like he ain't scared a nothing."
"So you think he's got a boyfriend? That would make him vulnerable," Tony says.
Epsy shakes his head. "It's not like that. Banks has a girl, she shows up at lunch sometimes and brings take out, and there's this guy that shows up with her sometimes, some blonde surfer boy 09er, I think his name is Dick or something. They say he was that psycho kid's older brother. They seem kinda tight."
Bones nods and looks at Tony, and the wheels are starting to turn in Tony's head. Tony looks at Epsy, and the look in those cold blue eyes freezes the blood running in his veins as Tony speaks. "Eps, here's what you're gonna do. You're gonna find out who he hangs out with, their names, I wanna know about the chick, and the surfer boy. Friends make people vulnerable. Also, find out who his parents are. Sounds like this boy could be a momma's boy. I wanna know about his family, his life, his daily routine, you got it? Don't get too close in with him, I don't want him to know someone's watching, but you dig up the dirt like the little rat you are."
Epsy nods and takes that as his cue to leave. As he gets up he freezes and a chill runs up his spine as Tony adds, "Oh and Ellison, if you fuck this up, blood won't matter. He better not see us coming."
Bones is chuckling as Epsy practically runs out of the bar and then he turns to Tony with a dark smile on his face, made all the more sinister with the scar that twists his lips. "I think he might have pissed himself, Tony."
Tony chuckles. "You had it right when you called him a pussy, but he's got his uses."
"So what do you think? When do we go after Banks? We owe that little shit big time. I mean we go through all the trouble of beating him to within an inch of his life and toss him off a bridge in the park and the fucker doesn't even have the respect to die. What's with kids these days?"
Tony shrugs. "Wish I could tell you Bones. As for making a move, I'm not so sure yet. We have to be patient with this one, there's too many toes we can step on in Neptune, and we don't want any trouble with the Fitzpatricks and who knows if the kid has weaseled his way in with them. We have to play it safe, because Liam Fitzpatrick isn't someone you idly fuck with, he'd kill his own brother over money."
"Got that, but how we going to get to him, shake him up, rattle him before we go straight for his throat?"
"That's easy, we see what Epsy digs up on his friends and any family he might have and we go through them. If there is anyone he legitimately cares about here, then we start there. More than likely it'll be the girl, or possibly his mother if we find out who she is. Banks never was forthcoming on his family, except to say he really hated that uncle who put him up in Phoenix. And this 09er kid, we might be able to get a ransom for a little kidnapping as a side gig. There's a lot to work with, but we still play it safe. This ain't our territory," Tony replies.
He smiles as he pulls open the door, he's starting to get really acquainted with the Mars Investigations office and he likes visiting Veronica. She's one of the few friends he has, and to be honest he needs an escape from the pregnant chick and the idiot surfer boy that he's been hired to baby-sit almost twenty-four-seven. He really thinks he might end up killing Dick if he stays with them in the apartment until Cassidy comes home. He's actually surprised that Mac hasn't already offed the asshole yet, cause she's come pretty damn close to it. He's even offered to stash the body for her.
The door is swinging shut behind him when he looks toward the couch and his eyes burn and he really wishes that he could be struck blind just for a second, anything to stop this particular image from being permanently burnt into his skull, but no such luck.
Veronica and Logan Echolls are on the couch sucking face like there's no tomorrow. In his opinion they are lucky he isn't Keith Mars, because he's pretty sure the former sheriff would have something to say about this particular display. Logan is lucky he's still alive.
"Don't you ever come up for air?" he asks, and smirks as the two jump, jerk apart, and then send twin glares in his direction. "Geez, finally, and here I thought I was going to be ignored for the next half hour while you two made out on the love seat."
Logan is biting his tongue while Veronica straightens out her shirt and fixes Weevil with a very meaningful look. "And the point of this visit is?"
He shrugs. "What? No thanks for not being your dad? You know if he'd walked in on what I just saw he'd kill your little boyfriend."
"Wow, is that concern for my general well being?" Logan bites out.
"Yeah, cause we're the best of friends," Weevil returns with equal venom, and then he sighs and runs his hand over his bald head. "Look I needed a break from Mac and that stupid 09er asshole, and it would be my luck that I would run into another 09er, but can't have everything."
"So you had to deal with Dick too?" Veronica says in sympathy.
"Yeah, he insisted on coming along with us. Have you ever been in a baby store with a guy who's got the attention span of a two year old?" Weevil asks with a shudder.
"No, and I hope I never am," Veronica says and wrinkles her nose at the thought.
Weevil nods. "Yeah, I was giving her a little advice on practical things she'd need for the baby, you know, your basic changing table, cribs verses bassinets, car seats, bottles, that sort of thing, and Dick is just all over the place playing with every fucking noisy ass, light up toy in the place and I think he bought out the entire stuffed animal section of the store, I mean, what is with just blowing that kind of money? Think of the practical stuff first and then blow the money after, not like it's all that big a deal to him since his Daddy earned all that money and he can't possibly spend it in ten lifetimes let alone one, but still."
"So how close did you come to killing him?" Logan asks idly.
Weevil actually does a count on his fingers. "I think I was exercising restraint today. I only threatened his life a few times and I might have thrown him against a wall like once, maybe twice, but I don't think the second time counts, because I more like tripped him up and he landed face first in a pile of stuffed animals. Does that count?" he asks with a shrug. "Mac thought it was funny."
"Nice, now what's the reason behind the visit, because you usually don't come calling just out of the blue," Veronica says.
Weevil chuckles. "Oh come on. I can't pay my pretty little blonde friend a visit every now and then? I thought you liked me, chica."
Logan narrows his eyes on Weevil, and Weevil smirks.
"Play nice, and tell me what you got for me," she says.
"Fine, but I should probably mention this to Cassidy and Kendall at some point," he replies, and at Veronica's raised brow he continues, "I heard that the leader of the Sharks and his number one toadie are in town visiting relatives. These guys are bad news, V. I'm talking Anthony Rawley and Bones Carver, they're up there in that league with Liam Fitzpatrick and his crazy brother in the slammer, Cormac. These are people you don't fuck with or fuck over. Meaning this is serious if these are the people after Cassidy."
"How bad can they be?" Logan asks. "I mean if they come here sniffing around they can't be all that smart."
"Don't underestimate them. They'll head out in a few days, but they'll have someone watchin', and they'll be planning their next move. If they think they got business with Cassidy they won't forget about it, and these guys are bad. They run weapons, drugs, beatings, and they even kill for money. They're only loyal to blood and blood runs thin if you fuck up bad enough. And Tony Rawley, I've heard things about him. He's one cold son of a bitch. He'd just as soon knife you or shoot you as look at you. He's crazy, and he's smart. Once he waited two years before he killed this dirty cop that fucked him over, but he got him, and he doesn't stop until the debt is paid, and you'll never know when he strikes," Weevil says, and Veronica and Logan both notice the wariness in his tone.
Veronica nods. "So this is bad. You warn Cassidy and give Kendall a heads up so she can bring in her connections on this. As for my end, I'll see what I can dig up on Tony Rawley and Bones Carver. See if they have any connections in town, I'll start with Rawley's family, because they might be his eyes and ears in Neptune."
"Try looking up Epsy too," Weevil says as an after thought.
"Epsy?" Veronica asks.
"Ellison Machado, they call him Epsy. He's this cracked out kid, he got expelled from Neptune High for possession last year, but I think he's Tony's cousin or something. That might be something to go on."
Veronica nods, and goes to her desk. Logan flops back on the couch in disappointment as he realizes that the make out session is over, and Weevil takes this as his cue to leave. He only hopes this meeting with Kendall will go better than last time, because he hates it when chicks throw shit in the general direction of his head.
A huge smile passes over his face as the lunch bell finally sounds. He's been a wreck all day waiting for lunch so that he could take off to be with Mac at the doctor's appointment. He's headed toward the doors when Will comes out of nowhere, and falls into step with him.
"So, Cass, where you off too? I mean you do remember the English mid-term right?" he asks.
Cassidy snorts. "I've got it in the bag, and Mac's got a doctor's appointment. I told her I'd be there. The doctor says she'll be able to tell us the gender of the baby if we want to know, and I can't wait. I mean I know I've seen the pictures of all the previous ultra-sounds, but I'll be there this time and get to see the baby moving! How awesome is that?"
"Planning on skipping school, Mr. Banks? What about midterms? You know that rescheduling is out of the question unless you are absent. Skipping class does not count as an absence," Principal Rutledge says, as he steps out from around the corner.
Cassidy rolls his eyes, as Will heads off toward the cafeteria before he gets a sharp word from the principal too. So Cassidy looks at the principal, a dumpy, slightly balding man, who despite looking comical has a strong air of authority about him.
"Look, Mr. Rutledge, I have somewhere I have to be," he replies.
"More important than mid-terms? How about we step into my office to discuss this matter further?" the principal challenges.
"A doctor's appointment."
"Which doctor? Are you ill, Mr. Banks?"
"I'm going to see Dr. Evenson."
"Dr. Evenson is a gynecologist. That was a nice try though, Mr. Banks, now let's take this discussion into my office, so that I can get your mind back on your education rather than wherever it has wondered off to."
"I'd like to, but I'm not going to be late to my girlfriend's doctors appointment. I told her I would be there, and this will be the first ultra-sound I get to see. We're going to have a baby, and to me that's more of a priority than a couple of exams that I can pass in a breeze," he says.
"A baby? And are your parents aware of this? Who is this girlfriend of yours? Does she attend school here?" Mr. Rutledge asks, his shock evident by the look on his face.
Cassidy snorts. "Not that my mom cares, but she knows about the baby, and Cindy goes to Hearst. She's taking all of her classes electronically, and the baby is due in mid-march, I think around the twentieth.
The principal gives a short nod. "Very well, Mr. Banks, considering the circumstances of this appointment, I'll get with your teachers about rescheduling. However, I would suggest that you not make this a habit. I would like some evidence of your whereabouts however, maybe a doctor's note?"
"How about I just show you the pictures from the ultra-sound? We'll be finding out if it's a boy or a girl today, well I think we will. It depends on if Cindy wants to know or not."
"Yes, well," Mr. Rutledge clears his throat. "Congratulations, and go on. I wouldn't want you to be late for this particular appointment."
"Thanks," Cassidy says as he continues on his way out the door and toward the student parking lot where his blue KIA Sportage awaits.
Mac rolls her eyes as she lifts up her shirt and the doctor, Jillian Evenson, a statuesque woman with rich auburn hair pulled back in a messy bun, and a pair of prim black rimmed glasses perched on her nose, squirts petroleum jelly on her swollen stomach. The jelly is cold, and the doctor spreads it along her skin, and it kind of tickles in places.
She smiles when Cassidy gives her hand a squeeze as a small giggle escapes her lips, and then Dr. Evenson is moving the instrument attached to the monitor over her belly and pressing down in places, and there's the baby appearing in the fuzz of the monitor, and Mac's smile broadens at the look of awe on Cassidy's face as he stares at the screen, entranced as the baby moves with the pressure applied by the instrument.
"Oh good, you've got a healthy one. And have you two decided if you want to know the gender?" she asks gently.
Cassidy looks down at Mac, and Mac can't resist as she sees the look in his eyes and gives a nod.
"Well, Cindy, Cassidy, say hello to your little girl," she replies.
"A girl?" Cassidy asks, his voice barely above a whisper as he bends down and presses a kiss to Mac's forehead, and then he lowers his hand to Mac's belly, not caring about the stickiness of the jelly as he feels the fluttering movements of his little girl growing inside of Mac.
A few moments later Dr. Evenson is printing out stills of the ultra-sound, gives Mac a few paper towels to clean up the jelly on her stomach, and directs Cassidy to the sink so he can wash his hands.
She's about to leave the room to let Mac finish straightening her clothes when she turns to look at the two of them. She'd been surprised when she found out that the father of Cindy Mackenzie's baby was still in high school, but for that boy to shoulder the responsibility and be here for this appointment, and if his expression is anything to go by, Cindy Mackenzie is a very lucky young woman, because Cassidy Banks obviously cares for her and the baby.
"Congratulations to you both, and it was nice meeting you today Mr. Banks. It's always good to have the father so dedicated during a pregnancy," she says as she steps out of the examining room.
Cassidy looks shyly at Mac, his fingers fidgetting with his collar as he sways back and forth on his feet, and Mac gives him a playful punch in the shoulder, before she wraps her arms around his waist. His arms find their way around her as she rests her head on his shoulder, and his right hand finds its way to her pregnant belly.
"So, Daddy, how does it feel to know you're going to have a little girl?" she asks with a small grin.
He takes in a deep breath. "Amazing. I can't wait to hold her, and see her. She'll be beautiful like you, and she won't date until she's thirty, that's going to be a strict rule, and you let any boys look at her the way Dick leers at woman and they'll be eunuchs."
She chuckles. "She can start dating at eighteen, because after all those tumultuous teen years we'll definitely want her out of the house. So, now that we know it's a girl we can start picking out names, and no. There will be no input from your brother about what we are naming our daughter."
"I agree with you completely," he replies and drops a kiss down on her nose, before they head out of the examination room, and towards reception to take care of the bill.
Dick is sprawled across the couch, playing video games. He throws his hands up in the air as he rips the spine out of his opponent and he lets out a victory cry as the door of the apartment opens and Mac and Cassidy walk inside. He hits the pause button and looks up at the two of them, an expectant look on his face.
"So, how's the bun?" he asks.
"Will you please, for the love of God and Radioshack, stop calling her a bun!" Mac snaps, and both she and Cassidy are surprised by Dick's reply.
"She? I'm going to have a niece! A little mini-I-Mac is going to be calling me Uncle Dick! Sweet! So like what are you naming her? Paris? Nikki? Catalina?"
Cassidy tightens his grip across Mac's shoulder and distracts her with a kiss to the corner of her mouth so that she doesn't outright attempt to kill Dick. She pushes him away moodily and heads to the kitchen, but not before sending the force of a thousand death glares in Dick's direction.
Dick shudders and then turns to Cassidy, as he shakes his head at his little brother. "Dude, this is so awesome! So like where are the pictures?"
Cassidy grins as he joins Dick on the couch and shows him the stills from the ultra-sound. Dick takes the stills from Cassidy and looks at them. His forehead scrunches up as he tilts his head and then turns the pictures in his hands. Finally he looks to Cassidy for clarification.
"Dude? Are you sure it's a girl and not some weird ass alien broadcast?"
Cassidy rolls his eyes as he points to the baby's head, and finally Dick sees it. "This is way cool, so can you like make copies, because I can so score with a chick when I show them pics of my future niece!"
"Um, no. Now are you staying for dinner?"
"Only if it's pizza and you order a meat lovers to go with the veggie lovers," Dick replies.
"I think I can swing that."
A few minutes later Cassidy is calling Cho's pizza and placing the order. Mac is eying the television warily as Dick sighs, turns off the game console and selects a DVD to put in. He holds up the selection, "Big Daddy" for Mac's approval, and he's relieved when she nods. Thank God, no chick flick. If he's forced to endure "Sleepless in Seattle" one more time his allergies will overwhelm him.
He settles down in the chair next to the couch as the menu for the movie pops up on screen and he starts musing aloud. "So should I start buying baby techno geek gear for mini-Mac?"
Mac leans forward and slaps him in the back of the head. Dick rubs his head where she hit him and sends her a hurt look. "What? I thought chicks were totally into turning their kids into little nerdy geeks. I mean don't you have that Mozart shit you play at night?"
Dick decides to shut up at the murderous expression on Mac's face and he hurries into the kitchen where a moment later he comes back with a fresh jar of pickles as a peace offering, because he knows Mac will still have room for pizza when it gets here. He looks at her warily and sighs, because he knows better than to bring up her weight again.
'Man was that a hard lessoned learned, but learned it was,' he thinks as he self-consciously rubs his shin where she'd kicked him the last time he'd commented on her continuously growing appetite.
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