Title: Mutual
Author: brencon
Pairings/Characters: Logan/Veronica, ensemble
Word Count: 1,874
Rating: PG-13, so far.
Summary: What if Logan and Veronica got together before everything went to hell?
Spoilers: Set pre-series, but is now including season one plot.
Warnings: Swearing.
Disclaimer: Veronica Mars belongs to Rob Thomas and the nice people at the CW
Author's Note: Italics represent Veronica's thoughts and/or voiceovers.
Author's Note #2: The penultimate chapter. And finally an update!
--
Logan checked his cell for the millionth time, and was returning it to his bedside table when the door opened once more. Sitting up in his bed, he couldn't halt the smile that burst forth on his face as his mother and girlfriend entered his room.
Yolanda quickly left the room, making silly excuses about her father needing her home for dinner. She smiled politely at Lynn and gently hugged Veronica. She didn't comment when the tiny blonde one gasped in pain at the slight envelopment.
"Hey mom… Ronnie?" Logan said, giving her the once over. It was then that he finally noticed the bruises that ran up her arm.
"What happened?" Logan asked, his voice rising in pitch. "Dad?" He whispered to his mother as she sat on the edge of his bed.
Lynn was about to make a comment when Veronica spoke up. "It was Duncan… he flipped out, thinking that we were still together. He cornered me in my own home!"
Veronica broke down once more and launched herself at Logan, crying into his chest.
"Keith took him into custody; he's probably processing him now." Lynn informed Logan, getting to her feet. "I'm going to head back to the house, start unpacking out stuff. I'll be back tonight to take both of you home, okay? Deputy Lamb is going to be coming with me, while Sacks will be stationed outside your room, honey. Okay?"
Logan nodded, mouthing to his mother that he loved her. She returned the sentiment and quickly made her exit also.
"Hey, hey, it's gonna be okay, Ronnie, it will be okay. You're safe now." He mumbled into her hair as he pulled her closer.
"I hate this! Duncan's insane, Lilly's in a coma, you're broken, my mom's gone and you're dad's a psycho!" She shouted, finding strength deep within her soul. She pulled away from his chest and rubbed at her tear-stained face harshly. Breathing deeply, she smiled at his worry-toned face.
"Veronica, we will get through this. We still have my mom and your dad, and we have each other. And, I think Lilly might be waking up. I heard the doctor's talking."
--
Celeste Kane had not touched her coffee since it was handed to her by Clarence's secretary. She'd sat, stoically answering in yer and no answers to anything and everything that he asked of her.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this Celeste?"
"He violated my daughter, Clarence. I want that son of a bitch to pay. I want my pound of flesh!" Celeste suddenly flared, her nostrils widening as the rage surged through her system.
"Then I think its best that you leave now, so that I can make the necessary arrangements."
Celeste silently agreed, allowing Clarence to lead her from his office. She thanked his secretary as she placed her handbag in her possession.
It was as she was retrieving her keys to unlock her car that her cell phone began to vibrate. Quickly answering the call, Celeste user her other hand to unlock the driver's door and open it.
"Mrs. Kane, this is Sheriff Mars. You need to come to my office. It's Duncan. He's been arrested for assault."
Sighing agitatedly, Celeste started the car.
"What has he done that warrants this?"
"He attacked my daughter. He's just being processed now."
She ended the call without further notice, put the vehicle into gear, revved the engine before releasing the handbrake and racing from her spot. The only sign that she had ever parked there was the tire tracks that were over 40 yards in length.
--
The baby was crying so much that Lilly had given up all hope of trying to calm it. She'd tried singing, rocking it back and forth in her arm, feeding it, checked it's diaper – nothing she did made any difference.
And then her dad entered her room, quickly lifted his grandchild from the bassinette and started making baby noises and playing peek-a-boo and it quietened down.
Lilly thanked her father as returned to her task of folding the clothes before her.
"How are you doing today, sweetheart?" He asked, smiling at her as he continued bouncing the baby.
"Fine; tired but okay. Thanks for helping out," she said, swaying her arm in the direction of her kid.
"It's what I'm here for." He smiled once more, now placing the sleeping child into the cot.
A door slammed in the distance and Jake awoke suddenly and quickly realised he'd been dreaming once more. Dreaming of a world that his daughter and grandchild were alive and well and back home in the bosom of the family.
It took him a number of seconds to realise that his wife was standing before him, her arms crossed as she scowled at his hand which was placed on his daughters' pregnant bump.
"Sorry to interrupt this touching moment, but we've got to go. Duncan's been arrested."
He shot forth from his chair, eyes wide in shock.
"What? Why?"
"Apparently he attacked Veronica Mars."
His eyes widened further as he retrieved his phone from his jacket pocket.
"How long ago?" He asked, dialling the number for the corporate lawyer he kept on retainer, usually for hostile take over of the weaker competition and rival firms, but who, in this instance, would aid them none the less.
"Half an hour ago," Celeste replied as she followed him from the room at warp speed.
"Hi, Larry? It's Jake; I need you to get down to the Balboa County Sheriff's office. Celeste and I will meet you there in 10 minutes. Duncan's been arrested."
--
Aaron Echolls was enjoying the last of fall sunshine, reclining at his pool, a scotch in one hand and a cigar in the other. He'd spent the morning discussing the case of the century with his lawyer, trying to come up with an alternative story to create 'doubt' in the jury's opinion of his case. It was coming to the end of the power meeting when the call came from their insider at the sheriff's office that Duncan Kane had been arrested for a violent attack on none other than the sheriff's daughter.
When the word had come in, they had celebrated with a joyous round of cigars and the finest, oldest single malt that Aaron had in his possession.
Not long later, his lawyer had returned to the office to tie up the loose details of their alternate tale of events. Now, enjoying the thought of a free life for years and decades to come, he was surprised at the sharp pain that spread suddenly through his chest before another bout of pain in his shoulder sent him tumbling to the floor. His cigar, still smoking, rolled from his finger tips and into the pool beside him, the life singed out of it.
--
Finally calmed, Veronica was poking fun at Logan for his need of a bed pan. To which he had replied, "So you'd prefer it if you had to diaper me like a baby?"
"Hey, keep you're fetishes to yourself!"
"There's a diaper fetish?" Logan asked, mystified to the thought.
"Wow, the guy who's a whore and not knowing a fetish involving diapers? Shame on you!" She joked, kissing his cheek before jumping of his bed.
"Hey, were you going?" He asked, his voice etched with worry.
"Just heading to the gift shop for snack, you want anything?"
"Maybe a Skist?" He asked, watching her as she delved into her bag for some money.
"Coming right up!" She sang, returning to his bedside and kissing him chastely.
Laughing as he attempted to take the kiss further, Veronica shoved him away playfully. She shushed him as he started making pouting sounds. Leaving the room, she walked into the broad chest of man who seemed to tower above her.
"Oh god, I am so sorry sir! I wasn't watching were I was going." Veronica apologised, taking a step back from him. She realised then her fatal mistake.
"Hello, Mr. Kane, Mrs. Kane. I am so sorry."
"For walking into me? Or for getting my son arrested? Or, maybe, for nearly getting my daughter killed?" Jake stated, crossing his arms as he stared her down.
"I am sorry for walking into you, Mr. Kane. But for the others, I'm not. It's not my fault that Duncan nearly raped me, he went insane, thinking that we were back together. If I was going to blame anyone for that, I'd be blaming your wife, seeing as how she was the one to tell him that you may have been my father," Veronica said, burning a hole into Celeste's face that caused her to turn away in fear.
"And as for nearly killing your daughter? I think it's more accurate that me and Logan saved her! Saved her from nearly being beaten to death with an ashtray! So no, I'm not sorry for that! Now excuse me, I have to get my boyfriend a drink. He's throats still raw after his father nearly choked him to death."
Veronica eased past them, her head held high. She felt triumphant at her victory, but still came to feel sad for the situation that led to her current position.
--
Crossing to the interrogation room, Keith sighed at the state of the community. The rich running the world, the poor doing anything just to be able to eat. And now he had too of the richest people under arrest – Aaron Echolls and Duncan Kane. His mind boggled at the reasons why people do things.
He had come to the conclusion that Aaron was egotistical and maniacal and when his pecking order was out to bring him down, he'd do anything to bring it back. Duncan, on the other hand, seemed to be in a state of mental anguish, of medical emergency.
"Sheriff, just got a call from the deputies posted outside the Echolls place, apparently there's been a number of gunshots." Inga said, holding out her note pad for Keith to read.
"Okay, I'll head over there now. Could you ask Steve to start taking Duncan's statement?"
"Sure thing, Sheriff Mars."
Keith moved to his office to grab his gun, badge and jacket. As he was preparing to make his exit the tell-tale echo of Celeste Kane's loud voice as insulted Keith's own daughter and her 'screw up of a boyfriend'.
"Mr. and Mrs. Kane. Duncan is just giving his statement to one of his deputies at the moment, but if you wouldn't mind taking a sitting in our waiting room, I'll be sure to ask our receptionist to offer you some tea or coffee, maybe a donut?" Keith offered, his arm outstretched to indicate the seating.
"Quit playing games with us, Keith, and show us to our son," Celeste ordered.
"I'm not at liberty to do that at this present time, giving the fact that he attacked MY daughter. Once his counsel has arrived, I'll be more than willing to let one of my deputies to show you to him. But I must take my leave now, never a dull moment in a sheriff's office. Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Kane."
Keith bowed politely before quickly making his exit.