The Aftermath
Veronica is back in LA. This time she is here to testify. It feels really odd to see her fellow agents doing their jobs protecting her. At one time she was used to working with them to investigate and protect others. Since she supposedly left the FBI and in actuality went undercover, many of these agents she thought of as family were openly negative towards her. She knew in her head that it would happen but it had hurt. Since the truth of her undercover work came out, very few of them made any effort to talk to her. She has never told Agent Howard or her father, but she is really disappointed at their treatment of her. Many of them still look at her like she is dirty; that her money isn't really hers and she slept her way to getting a conviction. Her years as a pariah in high school and her reputation as a bitch in college should have prepared her for this situation but she had let herself feel like she belonged at the FBI. She only has herself to blame. She let her guard down and let her fellow agents matter. She should have understood that people are fickle; she should not have forgotten that lesson.
So she quietly goes about her business, not making any attempt to explain herself or justify her choices. In turn, the agents are quiet around her. They treat her like they never knew her, like she is just a citizen they are required to help. The good feelings of belonging are gone; gone like her career and gone like the life she built up in LA. She doesn't belong anywhere anymore. She is officially out of the FBI and in Witness Protection. So she methodically finishes up the last thing she can do for the FBI. She calmly testifies and follows all her former fellow agents' instructions without question, letting them do their jobs and protect her. She doesn't ask and doesn't know if Logan Echolls is still working for the FBI or if he is doing something else. She prays he is protecting himself. She hasn't heard from Wallace or Mac. She trusts Logan talked to them and that he will keep track of them quietly.
The threat to her father was rated high so he was removed from Mars Investigations and he is in Witness Protection with her. This is just another in a line of decisions she has made that have affected him. In the spirit of being more open with the man who has sacrificed the life he knows for her, Veronica told him everything and apologized for turning his life upside down. Typically, he just tells her he is proud of her and reassures her that he is fine.
In fact, he seems to be doing better than her. In Witness Protection, Veronica is twenty three years old and in college. She is a junior transfer from New Mexico State taking her Photography degree. Her name is now Anne Banks. She is able to look the part of a young college student but inside she doesn't feel young anymore. Actually, she never felt young when she was at Hearst College. Now, she is always acting a part. It is no different than undercover except the day to day danger is less. Veronica likes her classes and she is happy she gets to see her father and of course, that he is content. She is just really lonely. When she lays in bed at night, she thinks about her time with Logan and she really hopes that someday she can see him again. Sometimes she hopes that he moved on without her and he is happy. He deserves to be a husband, father, son in law, brother in law and he deserves to have friends.
Still she is perpetually on guard and, unlike her father, does not seem to be growing into her new persona. He is Douglas Banks. He took some of her money and has opened up a dog training facility. He and his crew train rescued dogs for work with the disabled, elderly and children. It is the most content she has ever seen her father. He loves working with the canines and matching them with people who need them. He loves everything about it. He is in no danger and he sees so much hope with the people and animals he helps.
The crew he hired is like family in that they are are a team that works together and sacrifices to help the animals and people in need. Eric Wright came on board from the beginning and he is a gem. He, like Douglas, had a successful career in an unrelated field and now is doing what he wants to do with his life. He was born here in Florida and has a lot of contacts in local government. He has been wonderful in getting the necessary permits for the business and certifications for the canines and training crew alike. Eric and Douglas are now close friends. Eric's wife passed away and his children live in Iowa. He goes to visit them a couple of times a year. Eric loves to play poker and he has season tickets to the local minor league baseball team. The local university sends students to work with Keith and they are a huge help with looking after newly rescued animals who need a lot of love and attention.
Best of all, Douglas has met a woman veterinarian who also has the same passion for animals that he does. Olivia Turner never married and she had given up the idea of meeting a man who understands her commitment to her job and the animals she helps. She makes very little money in her practice because she doesn't turn any animals away. She looks after strays brought in and animals whose owners can't afford their care, most often without any compensation. She met Douglas Banks when he brought in a rescued dog. She soon saw this man has a gift with gaining animals' trust. She has learned that he is gifted at training animals. To her surprise and happiness, he values her knowledge and expertise and is not threatened by the fact she is more educated than him. Best of all, he really understands her need to help animals even when there is no monetary reward. They have gotten to know each other over the last few months and have started dating. She enjoys cooking Sunday dinners for Douglas and his daughter Anne. Anne is a smart, articulate young woman who is very close to her father. In fact, Douglas sold his lucrative security business to move across the country to be with his only child. She found his sacrifice and love for his child to be one of the many impressive things about him.
Testifying takes a couple of weeks. In the end Roscoe and Mendez as well as many in their respective organizations are convicted. Veronica tries not to think about how other criminals just slid into their places. She tries to be happy that she took them off the streets. She tries to think that the sacrifice she made was worth it. She tries but sometimes the price seems too high.
Anne sees the rain clouds off in the distance as she walks on campus towards the library. She takes a deep breath enjoying the invigorating air. The sun is shining now but it often rains for short periods each day. She expects the rain and has a rain coat in her book bag. She is getting used to being a college student with the grueling lecture and study schedules. She is getting used to listening to new friends talk about the latest parties, concerts and cute guys and not about crimes and how to catch the guilty. She is getting used to her new name and her new history. She is getting used to her red hair. While she has accepted that this is her new life, deep inside she feels like she is not going to ever be happy again. She can't stop herself from worrying that a hit man will find her or her father. She can't quit looking for potential trouble. She tries to relax and enjoy this new life. Anne is busy at school, helping in her dad's business and has joined a few clubs hoping to make some new friends. She has but it is weird that they like her and they don't really know her. She dates once in a while; mostly to keep her father from worrying too much about her. The sad fact is, her heart is not in dating. When she goes out, she goes out with a group of people and tries to enjoy herself. She tries but most often she doesn't succeed. She doesn't belong in college anymore. She doesn't belong in this life.
Now, she heads to the library to do some work on her final papers. It is almost summer and she thinks about her options. The plan is for her to work with her father. Now she is thinking that she might take a trip abroad; actually take some pictures of something that is not for a class. The other day she was looking through a magazine in her photography class and there were pictures of Italy. It occurred to her that she is free. She can go to Italy this summer; take pictures of some of the places she has only read about. She could be herself and not worry so much about who might be following her and if the people she loves are safe. Visiting her new classmates and friends, she has seen some of the apartments around campus. Next semester, she will move into a place of her own near the university. She can afford it and her father needs his privacy now that he and Olivia are getting serious.
Settled into the library, Veronica focuses on working on her final paper for her marketing class. She is almost done. It is not due for another two weeks but she has always been a good student and she likes to stay ahead. The Witness Protection program gave her a credits towards a basic degree in business with a minor in photography. She will easily be able to finish her degree in another year. They kept her away from Criminology or anything that may give up her location. She is taking a lot of photography courses and she can see a new future for herself in photojournalism or even having her own photography business. She takes pictures for her father of the helper dogs in training and the ones he is able to match. She frames them and puts them up in his training location and office. She bought her father an older mustang as a birthday gift. He came up with the back-story that he has had it for many years. It gives her joy to see him driving it and talking to people about it. Truthfully, it is a huge relief how happy her father is in his new life. She can see the contentment on his face when he goes to work and the satisfaction when he is able to rescue a dog is clear. Now seeing him with Olivia is really special. She is an unassuming and caring woman who clearly admires so much about Keith/Douglas that Veronica didn't feel any jealousy when they started dating.
She hears someone sit at the next booth to hers and briefly looks over. Her breath catches in her chest when she sees the familiar, handsome man sitting there. She looks around quickly a little panicked that he is there.
Reassuring her he quietly says, "I was very careful Anne." Her eyes continue looking him over as if she can't believe he is there. He has a grey beanie on his head, a light black coat and a black backpack. At first glance, he will be assumed to be a student. He leans forward and meets her gaze for a few seconds and then whispers, "I have a plan. Can we meet at my hotel?" Keeping her gaze he slides a room card with a slip of paper attached to it. She looks down and sees that it has the name of a hotel, an address and room number on it. There is also a burner cell.
She looks back up at him, a million questions flooding her mind. When she goes to talk, he interrupts softly, "We can talk at the hotel." After a few seconds he adds, "There is a pub next door called 'Irish Green'. Park there and then walk over to the hotel. Key in on the west side of the building and use the stairs there. It is farthest away from the desk and only has one security camera."
Almost automatically she nods. He leans in close and tells her, "I will be waiting. See you after your last class?"
Finding her voice she says, "OK." She is still looking at him like she can't believe he is there. He smiles at her briefly and teases, "You look sexy as a redhead." He gets up and leaves her sitting there.
After watching him walk away, Veronica looks around and no one is watching her. At this time of the day, the library is not busy upstairs. Most of the student population is in classes or at home. The library fills up after most classes are over. She palms the phone, key card and note, unobtrusively placing them in the front of her book bag. She zips the pouch shut securing the items and then sits up to again look around to reassure herself that no one is watching her. Veronica looks back at her books and papers and has to force herself to focus back on her paper. In another hour, she will pack up and head to her last class and then she will head over to the hotel to see Logan.
He seems to know her schedule as he knew she had another class today. He must have followed her to the library. She is usually so careful. She wonders if he is that good at following people or if she has gotten careless. She closes her eyes for a few moments and centers herself. It is a trick she learned while undercover. When things got stressful, she got a moment alone, closed her eyes and refocused.
When she opens her eyes, she is still inwardly excited but outwardly she is a student working on a paper. She works for about forty five minutes and then packs up her things. Out of habit, she looks at her watch to make sure she is not late for her next class and while pretending to look at her watch, she looks around the library. Seeing no one watching her, she picks up her messenger bag and walks confidently out of the library towards the Journalism Building for her last class today.
Thankfully she is ahead in this class because she is sure she didn't really hear a word even though she appeared to be paying attention. When the class is over, Veronica visits for a few minutes with a couple of her classmates and then pleads work and walks towards her car in the parking lot. While she appears to be walking calmly with head phones in her ears, she is really looking around to make sure she is not followed.
She texts her father telling him she is staying through supper in the library and then meeting a few classmates at a pub for a quick bite to eat and perhaps a drink after. She tells him not to wait up for her. He immediately calls her and gives her the standard order to be careful and to text him when she is safe and sound in the apartment. She can tell he is happy that she is going out with a couple friends. He worries about her being alone too much. He will go over to his girlfriend's home after work and he won't be missing her. She reassures him she will text him and she tells him to say hello to Olivia for her. Keith/Douglas instantly happy at the thought he will see his girlfriend later assures her he will pass on her message and tells her he loves her. She says, "I love you too Pops."
As she gets in her car, she can feel her heart racing and she is surprised and yet, not surprised, that she is excited to see Logan again. Taking a circuitous route, she makes the twenty minute drive in forty minutes. As suggested, she parks in the pub parking lot. She knows they will not tow her car and it isn't odd that a vehicle remains there as someone may have called a cab home as they were too impaired to drive.
She walks calmly into the west side of the hotel, glad of the hard rain as it will keep her identity hidden. She keeps her head slightly bent as walks towards the stairwell and then climbs the stairs. Her rain jacket has a hood and it is not obvious that she is trying to keep her face from the camera. It just looks like she is cold. She climbs the three flights of stairs and then exits into the hallway and walks towards room 315. Using the key she was given, she enters the room, then shuts and locks the door.
Logan hearing the click of the door deactivating stands from his spot at the desk and slowly walks towards the beautiful, petite woman he loves. He has been impatiently waiting for her, anxious to talk to her but a little worried that she has moved on without him.
She pulls her hood off and makes eye contact with him. The look of happiness to see him on her face is all that is needed to break through Logan's reserve. He takes a few large strides to reach her and pulls her into his arms. Before she can even process that he is there, his lips are on hers. She lets go of her book bag and reaches up to wrap her arms around his neck.
Without hesitation, he helps her pull off her wet jacket, then picks her up and carries her to the king sized bed laying her down on it. Within seconds, Logan is beside her on the bed leaning over to continue their kiss. To Logan's surprise, Veronica has no intention of stopping their passion. She has her arms back around his neck and she is pulling him on top of her. At this point in time, Veronica doesn't care why he is there; she only cares that she has missed him so much and right now, she can touch him. Her hands begin to wander under his shirt trying to pull it up over his head.
The man on the bed with her is having the same issues. He doesn't think he can stop himself from kissing and touching her now that he has started. He is unbuttoning her blouse and stops to help her pull off his shirt but then immediately goes back to finishing undressing her.
Logan has never seen her so impatient and he has to admit it is kind of hot. He knows he has to slow this down but for the first time in a long time, he is on the edge of losing control. He puts his forehead to hers and takes a deep breath. His voice warbles as he says, "Veronica, my god!"
Needing him, Veronica leans up kissing him while pulling him closer. Logan accepts that he is not going to be able to control the passion and need this time. They can talk later.
Much later when their breathing and heart rates have returned to normal, Logan leans up on one elbow and looks down at Veronica. He gently moves a few sweaty strands of her red hair away from her face and tucks them behind her ear, "I missed you."
A smile peaks out and she teases, "I got that idea." He smiles back at her and before he can comment or tease her back, she adds, "I never thought I would see you again." Her eyes tear with the depth of her emotions.
Gently he reaches up and caresses the tears off her face as they drift down. "Hey," he prods, "Don't cry Ronnie!" Worried she is crying, he pulls her into his arms and holds her. When he thought of their reunion, he worried she found someone else or she would be mad he found her. Most often he just hoped she would be happy to see him. He never thought she would cry. It hurts him to see her so upset. Being in his arms just punches through her last barrier and she cries against his chest. Rolling onto his back, he pulls her to his side and she nestles her face into his chest, wrapping one arm around his neck and one small hand is fisted and rests on his chest. She puts her leg in between his and relaxes against him as he holds her in his arms. His hand soothingly rubs up and down her back and his other hand is on the back of her head gently caressing her soft red hair. He doesn't know all she is feeling but he understands that being with him has released the emotions she has been holding in. He imagines she has been holding them in a very long time. Eventually she finishes hiccupping and her breath evens out.
Finally Veronica lifts her head and looks at the man she has loved for so long. She doesn't know how long she is going to be able to see him and touch him. They have to talk eventually but right now she just wants to feel... him. She meets his gaze and asks, her voice husky from her long cry, "Will you please make love to me?"
Looking into her beautiful blue eyes, he recognizes her need and a slow smile appears on his handsome face. He quietly tells her, "Of course." He turns them and tucks her under him as he leans down to kiss her. Their talk can wait a little longer. Showing her he loves her is more important right now.