Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own
Chapter 14 – All Eyes on Me in the Center of the Ring Just Like a Circus
Veronica – Day Four – Lakeview Court Motel – Room 118 - Dallas, Texas
Spooning...such a silly word for such a warm and fuzzy feeling.
The sun had not yet risen, and Logan's arms wrapped Veronica in a warm cocoon.
She glanced at the alarm clock - 5:12 AM. Too early to wake up, but she needed to extricate herself from his grasp. This thing going on between her and Logan – whatever it was – could not possibly be healthy. What kind of masochist casts her chief tormenter in the role of her emotional security blanket? But…God help her, he made her feel safe. Irony, thy name is Veronica Mars.
One week ago, were somebody to tell her the only touch she would be able to stomach would be Logan Echolls', she would have exploded in laughter.
Had the same person told her Logan's touch would actually make everything better, she would have questioned their sanity. This made no sense, whatsoever. Yet, somehow, it just…was. Logan had become her safe place. She needed him.
Upon further reflection, Veronica realized that this wasn't the first time he'd cast himself in the role of her hero.
Veronica - Flashback - Dog Beach - April 2003
Veronica takes a tentative sip from the red Solo cup her best friend hands her. The bitter taste of the beer is not one she enjoys, but it's not worth debating with Lilly. Instead, she will discreetly pour out a bit when Lilly isn't looking. Veronica is known for nursing her drinks, so it will be a while before Lilly starts pressuring her to drink another. If only there were champagne or some of those fruity mixed concoctions Logan makes for her, she would be a bit more willing to indulge, but this is a beach bonfire party with a keg, so her choices are beer...or beer.
Around the fire, Dick's pickup is parked at seven o'clock; the kegs at eight o'clock, Casey's convertible is at nine o'clock. At ten o'clock, Veronica and Lilly are perched on the hood of Logan's big yellow X-Terra. Lilly is dressed in short shorts and a white cami with flip-flops, despite the somewhat nippy air. Veronica wears a lightly embroidered summer-weight turquoise twin-set with tan capris and sandals. Duncan loves her in this color, so she has been gradually adding it to her wardrobe.
She catches Duncan's eye and smiles across the fire at her adorable boyfriend as he argues with Logan about the plot of some sci-fi film she's never seen and never intends to. Poor Duncan can't win. Logan thinks he's the end-all/be-all of movie trivia, and he will argue his point until his last breath.
The inner-circle hovers nearest the center: the Fab Four, Dick and Beaver, Casey, Luke, Sean and Enbom, Madison, Shelly, Carrie and Susan, and Caitlin Ford. Other 09ers and the hangers-on expand outward.
A shadow falls upon Veronica, before Logan hops up on the hood of his truck, playfully bumping Veronica's hip to scoot her closer to Lilly and make room for him.
"So anyway…" Lilly is saying, "I totally wasted my magnificent cleavage on him, and he still gave me a speeding ticket! Doesn't he understand how things work around here? Deputy Lamb needs to go! Can't you get your father to fire him?"
"Don't I wish?" Veronica answers, distracted by Logan's clean scent, which always manages to transport her back in time to the day she'd woken up next to him - butterflies and all.
She shakes her head to clear it of such traitorous thoughts. Where has Duncan disappeared to? There he is, chatting with Enbom over near the pile of driftwood.
"We need dirt on him," Lilly is saying, and it takes a moment for Veronica to realize she's still complaining about Deputy Lamb.
"I'll take him down for you, Lils. Someday, when I'm a famous FBI agent and you're a…" Veronica trails off. "What do you plan on doing with your life, anyway, Lilly?"
Logan and Lilly both laugh. "Lilly? Work for a living?" Logan teases.
"I wasn't cut out for the 9-to-5, Veronica."
"You have to do something, Lilly," Veronica prods. "You'd be bored sitting around eating bon-bons."
"No, I'm not a bon-bon type of girl. What I want…is to live a life worthy of a best-selling memoire. A scandalous memoire about the decadent things I've done with very, very important people. My mother would never be able to leave the house again."
Veronica senses Logan tensing up at her right shoulder, as he slides off the hood of his truck.
He addresses Lilly coldly, "You're in the wrong place tonight, Lilly. No important people to fuck here. Although, Enbom might meet your requirements in a few years." He lingers for a moment, eyes begging her to reassure him, and then storms off, furious, when she doesn't.
Veronica rounds on her best friend, ready to give her an earful, but is surprised to see the sadness in Lilly's eyes as she watches Logan stalk away in a snit.
Quietly Veronica probes her friend, "You hurt him on purpose, Lilly."
"I just don't know how many ways I need to prove to him that we're not a forever kind of love. He can't seem to get the picture."
"He loves you, Lilly. He doesn't want to imagine a future without you."
"That's just it, Veronica." Lilly says, turning to face her friend. "I don't think he is that much in love with me. He's just too damn stubborn. To him, letting go is admitting defeat."
"How can you say that, Lilly? I've never known anybody as loving as Logan is, especially when it comes to you."
Lilly tilts her head, examining Veronica's face. "You're right. Logan has so much love to give, but he's trying to give it to the wrong girl. I am not 'the one', but he just won't see that. He really is a great boyfriend, Veronica. I'm just not cut out to be a devoted girlfriend."
"Why do you stay with him if you don't want to have a future with him? You're only hurting him."
"I know. I keep breaking up with him for his own good. I just have a hard time staying away."
"Shouldn't that tell you something? You love him too."
"No," Lilly shakes her head at Veronica's naiveté. "It tells me that I can't give up the amazing sex." Her eyes bore into Veronica's. "When he finally ends up with 'the one', she's going to be one lucky girl. The boy is a sex god and he's just getting' started."
Veronica turns away, covering her ears. "Too. Much. Information. Lil."
Lilly giggles, prying Veronica's hands off her ears and leaning close to whisper. "He'll always put you first. He won't even think about himself until after he's satisfied you."
"Lilly!"
"He'll study your every reaction. Every gasp. Every sigh. Every shiver. And he'll adjust accordingly, always trying to become a better lover. He'll tease you until you want to scream, and then fuck you until you want to thank him just for knowing you."
"Lilly! Can you please use any other pronoun besides 'you'?"
Lilly lets out a throaty laugh. "Fine. Whatever you say, Veronica." She puts a hand on Veronica's arm. "I meant what I said, by the way. I'm even going to take some creative writing classes next year." Pausing for effect, Lilly continues, "My book has to be well written, after all, if it's going to top the Bestseller list for a year."
Veronica grins at Lilly's self-assurance. "I'm proud of you, Lilly - for the writing part. Just promise me you won't do anything too scandalous."
"Can't make that promise, Veronica Mars," Lilly grins impishly. "Come on. We need refills."
Sliding off the hood to the sand, they make their way to the beer kegs. Lilly hands the first refill to Veronica before filling one for herself. Veronica vaguely detects the sound of approaching motorcycles, but dismisses it from her mind.
She stops to chat with Meg Manning, while Lilly wanders off to speak with the odious Sean Freidrich.
Linkin Park blasts from the speakers of Dick's truck, but not so loudly that she can't hear Meg trying to persuade her to join the cheerleading squad. She's protesting the idea of cheering with Madison, when she registers the sound of a commotion.
The local motorcycle gang, The PCHers, are approaching the bonfire and spreading out. Their leader, a tattooed badass named Weevil, glides up to Lilly and presses his body against her back. Lilly glances a challenge at him over her shoulder.
Expecting trouble, Veronica searches the crowd for Logan's face, finally locating him on the other side of Casey's convertible, perched once again on the hood of the XTerra. As their eyes meet, Veronica is knocked off balance.
The tallest PCHer - she thinks his name is Felix - has grabbed her and is making lewd humping motions against her body and shaking her like a rag doll.
Time seems to slow down. She hears shouting. In her peripheral vision, Logan vaults from his bumper to the hood of Casey's new Porsche Carrera. Casey is yelling. Duncan is yelling. Three running steps, and Logan's fist is coming down on Felix's face, as he jumps off the car. Felix crumples to the ground, blood spurting from his nose.
"Don't ever touch her again!" Logan yells down at him, and then he's pulling Veronica into his arms, pressing her face to his chest.
"Did he hurt you?" Logan asks quietly, running a hand down the back of her head.
"No, I'm okay."
The 09er guys have gathered around now, tense and belligerent. Veronica senses that a fight is inevitable.
Lilly's voice rings out – confident and demanding. "You guys need to leave! Just go now!"
Weevil starts to speak. "We'll leave when we—"
Lilly turns to face him. "You'll leave now, or I will make you regret it. Do what you want, but my best friend is off limits."
Some kind of silent communication passes between Lilly and Weevil. Veronica is surprised when Weevil nods to his boys, and give them a 'let's-go' gesture. One of the PCHers helps Felix off the ground.
"I'll be back for you, Echolls," Felix warns, pinching his bleeding nostrils.
"I'll be waiting," Logan sneers.
The PCHers lumber off, looking over their shoulders and grumbling.
Duncan's voice. Icy. "You can let go of my girlfriend now, Logan."
Veronica feels Logan tense, as if ready for another fight, but then he exhales, drops his arms, and takes a step back. "Did you see the way that punk was disrespecting your girlfriend? You think I was going to wait around for you to step in?" Logan demands, both arm spread wide in challenge.
Veronica turns around to face her boyfriend, finding him glaring at Logan.
"Did you see the way that other punk was disrespecting my sister? Your girlfriend?" Duncan yells back.
"She didn't seem too upset by it," Logan replies dryly. "Maybe she'll write about it in her…" he pauses and sneers the last word. "…memoires."
"She—"
Lilly interrupts and Veronica wonders why she looks so self-satisfied. "Duncan, let it go. It's all good. Veronica is my best friend. I want Logan to stick up for her. Don't you?"
Duncan sighs, the wind going out of his sails. "Yeah...Of course I do. Sorry dude."
Logan nods. Boy code for 'we're cool'.
Veronica – Day Four – Lakeview Court Motel – Room 118 - Dallas, Texas
Trying not to wake Logan, Veronica carefully rolled onto her back and wiggled out of his arms, finally rolling on her right side facing him.
She could make out his face in the greenish glow of the alarm clock and her heart painfully clenched. He looked so young and innocent. Duncan, and the other boys her age were all starting to thin in the face, becoming more chiseled and mature, but Logan still showed a hint of a baby face, a soft roundness to his cheeks and a faint scattering of freckles that brought out some crazy protective instinct in Veronica.
It was hard to believe that somebody who appeared so angelic in his sleep could be so cruel. And no matter how amazing he had been the past few days, Logan had the capacity for cruelty - cutting her off without a second thought, exploiting all of her vulnerabilities, and let's not forget how he'd done body shots off her while she was unconscious.
Yes, she remembered now. That memory came back to her yesterday, during the long wait for Logan at the side of the highway – a trickle from her dream the night before. She wasn't the first girl the 09ers had used as a salt lick. She had seen them do it to Madison, Shelly, and even the great Lilly Kane when they couldn't hold their alcohol. That didn't make what they'd done right by any means, but it did make it less personal.
Except for Logan's participation. That had been personal.
If anything, Veronica felt humiliated over the body shots. Humiliated because when she had opened her eyes, she had been so happy to see Logan – delighted, as if a wish had come true. She'd wanted to curl up in his arms forever, and she'd almost told him so, but in her drugged state, she'd become distracted by the beauty of his eyes. How he must have laughed at her - flattering him and even attempting to reassure him, while he was in the process of demeaning her. That was the height of his cruelty; using her trust against her.
She figured she had a choice. She could become furious, fuel the flames, confront him, and vow never to trust him again...or...she could forgive. Offer an unspoken amnesty for offenses committed while he was grieving and not himself, thus, allowing a true friendship to form, free of guilt and recrimination. The first choice made her stomach clench. The second felt strangely peaceful. It was a no-brainer...and really, how many times could she keep reverting back to the bitterness?
The fact was, Logan was trying. He'd been his old self the past three days, instead of the stranger who had taken his place for the previous year.
One thing was fairly certain now. Logan had not raped her. Despite his faulty logic, last night he'd been convinced that Veronica was a virgin - he couldn't fake that. No, Logan knew nothing about the rape, and he never would.
Now, here she was all this time later, still wanting to curl up in his arms forever.
No, this could not be healthy – the snuggling, the flirting, the handholding, the soft kisses on her cheeks and forehead. That kiss on her neck at the tavern. She shivered involuntarily at the delicious memory and felt betrayed by her own body.
She couldn't afford to care for Logan, because she already knew the ending to this story. She'd lived it. Logan would flirt with her. He would tease her. He would stare at her as if she was the only girl in the world, and she would fall for it completely. But nothing would ever come of it. Logan would suddenly, inexplicably, back off, find another hot blonde to abuse him and cheat on him, and Veronica would be the one to end up with the broken heart - again. Logan liked his girls worldly, bitchy, and promiscuous. Everything she was not. And that didn't even begin to delve into the Lilly and Duncan implications.
She needed to start keeping Logan at a distance.
But still...that face. She reached out and brushed her fingers across his soft cheek, cursing the little flutter in her heart.
"Don't wanna die today." Logan muttered, his voice like a four year-old who didn't want to eat his peas.
"Today is not your day to die," Veronica whispered, pressing a reassuring hand to his chest.
Without warning, Logan's arm hooked around her lower back, pulling her snug against his body. His soft lips brushed a gentle kiss on her left cheekbone, before tucking her head under his chin. She let out a little sigh of contentment and allowed herself to melt into him. She would fight against this later, but for now...she would sleep.
"Always you, Veronica," Logan whispered.
"Always what?"
"You," he repeated, kissing the top of her head. His hand slid into the hair at her nape, and his breathing slowed as he drifted back to sleep.
Always me, what? Always bossy? Always blonde? Always persnickety?
She wondered for several moments, before she drifted back to sleep as well.
As exhausted as she was, Veronica may well have slept until noon, had Logan not shifted, moving his hand from her hair down her neck to the bare part of her shoulder blade.
Three of her fingers had slipped under Logan's shirt in the back and were resting on a knob of his lower spine. She imagined the sensation of her fingertips tracing the bumps knob-by-knob all the way up his back.
Yeah… it would be fun trying to explain that to him: 'Just checking for scoliosis. All clear!'
"This cuddling stuff is becoming a bad habit," Veronica mumbled into Logan's chest.
"Good practice for when we're married," he whispered, producing shivers in her as he swept his fingers over the curve of her shoulder.
"I think at this point, I could probably pick your heartbeat out of a police lineup," she joked.
"You should put that in our wedding vows."
"Right…" She pulled free her left leg, which had gotten itself tangled between his while they'd slept, and stretched out, pointing her toe. Even that small action created sensations she could not allow herself to acknowledge. "You do realize we don't actually need to get married, right?"
"Sure, but you know how people are. They see a ring, they start demanding a wedding. We may need to arrange something someday. To satisfy the common folk, of course."
Veronica laughed softly, and rolled onto her back cracking an eyelid. Good, not too bright. A glance at the clock told her it was 8:12 AM.
"Always the Ringmaster trying to put on a show, Logan." She scooted over so that he wasn't practically on top of her, her traitorous body missing the loss of his warmth almost at once.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, children of all ages…" Logan said in a stage whisper. "But seriously...you know the ringmaster has another job, right?"
"Do tell, oh wise one." Veronica said, rolling back onto her side to face him.
"He diverts attention to exactly what he wants people to see - the glittering spectacle in ring #2, instead of the tearing-down happening in ring #1."
Veronica felt chills go up her spine. Although she recognized that Logan was referring to concealing their fugitive status, she sensed that this concept was a clue to understanding Logan's entire character.
"That's what you've been doing your whole life, isn't it?" she asked quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"Misdirection. Putting on a show over in ring #2 so nobody sees how miserable you are in ring #1 - your home life."
Logan sighed. "I had to ask…"
"Logan Echolls – wild, reckless, larger than life. That's what you show the world. Can't let anybody see the real you – smart, sentimental, affectionate, brave, intuitive, and the loneliest popular boy I've ever known."
Logan rolled onto his back to avoid her eyes, revealing the bruised left side of his face.
Veronica gasped at the sight, and reached out a hand to touch his cheek. "Does it hurt?"
"A little," he answered. "Especially, when you touch it."
"Sorry."
"S'okay."
She felt a guilty pang, when she saw how glassy his eyes were, staring at the ceiling. "I was lonely," she admitted, reaching for his hand and sandwiching it between both of hers. "I missed you at least once every day. Even when you were at your worst. You never had to be lonely. I would have been there…"
"Veronica…" he sighed. "How? You know how things were."
"No, I really don't. I still think your vendetta against me was part of a smokescreen."
Logan turned back to Veronica. "I thought we were—"
Veronica cut him off. "I'm not angling for a fight. I'm just trying to understand. What did I do to hurt you over in ring #3?"
"Nothing. Let it go, Veronica. Please?"
She wanted to push further for an answer, but his eyes were pleading with her to drop it, so instead, she sat up, propping her pillow behind her back and reached for the remote.
She watched the news without really watching - the sports, the weather, entertainment. Logan got out of bed, and returned a few minutes later handing her a cup of coffee.
She inhaled the aroma and then took a small sip. "Mmm. Thank you. Just the way I like it."
"You're welcome." He propped up a pillow and sat down next to her with his own cup of coffee. She almost pointed out the empty bed he could have all to himself, but then she remembered that this was actually his bed.
"Was it okay that I climbed in bed with you last night?" Veronica asked. "It's just...the nightmares go away when I'm with you."
"Then just sleep with me every night," Logan offered, blowing into his coffee cup. "We don't need to have a daily discussion about it, you know? I wouldn't try to take advantage of you."
Veronica's rational side protested. Tell him NO! Tell him you'll be fine from now on. This is only going to end up hurting you!
"Okay…" –huh?— "I mean...as long as you don't mind. I know you wouldn't take advantage of me - except for your compulsion to cuddle."
"No, I don't mind, but you're the cuddler!" Logan insisted.
"Am not! You're the one who always has his arms wrapped tight around me."
"But my arms couldn't reach you if you weren't all snuggled up against me."
Veronica scrunched up her face at him. "Fine, I'll admit it. I prefer cuddling with you to...wrestling grizzly bears."
A slow grin spread across Logan's face. "You're so sweet. Well...I'd rather cuddle with you than...pull all my teeth out with a pair of rusty pliers."
"You're making me blush," Veronica said coyly, turning back to the TV to watch a human-interest story about a cat who had rescued her twelve kittens from a burning building.
Logan – Day Four – Lakeview Court Motel – Room 118 - Dallas, Texas
Logan braced himself for their turn on the news.
What shall it be today? Jake Kane accuses us of brainwashing Duncan into stabbing Fitzpatrick? We've joined a cult? Maybe that Mooncalf Collective Casey Gant has been hanging around lately? More speculation on our love life?
Any day now, the media would be implying that himself, Duncan and Veronica were in some kind of weird polyamorous relationship.
Actually…Replace Duncan with Lilly, and I might have embraced that lifestyle. One house. Two beautiful blonde girlfriends. One wild. One constant. One in red. One in black. Both feisty.
From there, his mind hopped, skipped, and jumped down a rabbit hole he had no business ever visiting…
It's been a long day at 'the office' and...
-What office?
-Who cares? Just go with it.
It's been a long day at 'the office' and Logan opens the door of his palatial mansion.
"Hi girls, I'm home!" he calls out, as he enters the dining room and finds his two blondes. His heart swells with emotion. He's so lucky to have them both.
"Yay!" Lilly rolls her eyes and twirls a finger. She sits at the table, flipping through a magazine in a skin-tight black dress.
Veronica wears a red tank, denim mini skirt and biker boots. Her hair is pulled back in the pigtails. She says hello, but she never glances up from her laptop.
"I brought home some champagne," he announces, holding up a bottle. "To celebrate landing that account I worked so hard on."
"What account?" Lilly asks.
"You don't even have a job, Logan," Veronica adds.
"I do have a job! I'm coming home from a long day at 'the office'. I'm an ad exec. Or something. This is my fantasy. Will you two please cooperate?"
"Okay, baby," Lilly stands, throws her arms around him, and runs her tongue up his neck.
"That's better. Now, what's for dinner?" Logan asks. "I'm starving."
"Whatever you feel like making...dear." That Veronica...so nurturing.
Lilly gives him a salacious grin and slides up on top of the table. "I'm all the food you'll ever need, lovah…," she says, widening her knees.
For a minute, twelve limbs and three mouths tangle and twist on the mahogany dining room table, but then Logan gets his fantasy under control.
-Sheesh, this is supposed to be about a relationship. I can imagine a threesome anytime. Where was I?
"I'm starving. How about I take you girls to Chez Roux?"
"Make it Luigi's and you have a deal," Veronica answers, finally glancing up at him with a smile.
"Anything for you, Veronica. Lil?"
Lilly shrugs, and crosses her legs demurely.
-Damn, maybe I spoke too soon.
Logan's face is the picture of arrogance, as he enters Luigi's. Veronica now wears a red dress with a skirt that spreads out like a tutu above her combat boots. She clutches his right arm, while Lilly, still in her skintight black dress holds his left.
Every eye in the place is on them as they follow the host to their table. Logan can't help but smirk. The men all appear jealous, while their wives seem to want to commit murder.
The dining room is dimly lit; the aroma of garlic and marinara makes Logan's mouth water almost as much as his two girls do.
They're shown to a semi-circular booth, and Veronica slides in first, followed by Logan, and then Lilly. Logan drapes an arm around Veronica while she examines the menu, fiddling with the right spaghetti strap on her dress. He leans over and presses a kiss to her left shoulder.
Being a fantasy, no sooner do they order, than their dinner arrives.
Before he can even take a bite, Veronica begins moaning over her manicotti, causing him to spring an insta-erection. Every guy in the place stares at her in lust, and Logan smirks back at them.
'She's all mine,' his eyes tell them.
Fingers crawl up his thigh. His left thigh. Lilly. He loves her to death, but why can't it ever be Veronica? He leans over and kisses Lilly's cheek.
He picks up his fork to take a bite of his fettuccine, and glances down at his plate. Empty. Veronica blinks at him with innocent eyes.
He flags down their waiter, and demands more food. A helping of rigatoni appears instantly in front of him. Before he can take a bite, he becomes mesmerized watching Veronica's tongue licking sauce and cheese off her fork.
The feeling of his fly being unzipped captures his attention and he turns to Lilly. She winks bawdily.
He looks down at his plate. Empty again. Veronica smirks like the cat who ate the canary. And what did that saying even mean? If any canary was going to be eaten, he hoped it was Tweety Bird. He hated that baby-talking bastard.
He calls over the waiter and places a third order for food. As expected, it materializes immediately in front of him. He cuts off a bite of lasagna with his fork and almost has it to his mouth, when Veronica takes her first bite of tiramisu, becoming nearly orgasmic. He pauses, overcome by her display of pleasure.
Lilly's hand slips down the front of his pants and wraps around his erection. He gasps, closing his eyes and arching his head back, focusing only on Veronica's noises and Lilly's actions.
Suddenly, he feels a mouth on the fork he'd forgotten he was even holding. Lilly's hand withdraws from his pants, and his eyes fly open.
"Thank you," Veronica smiles at him sweetly, pulling back from his fork. He looks down. His plate is empty, and he is STILL starving. He begins to laugh hysterically…to the point where he's crying.
Out of the corner of his eye, he observes Lilly slipping her phone number to the waiter. No wait...that's the busboy.
Seriously?
He can't take these girls anywhere!
He tried. They don't want romance? Fuck it. On to the threesome.
He stands at the foot of his mahogany king-sized bed wearing only his black silk boxers.
On the right, Lilly poses seductively in black leather lingerie. It barely covers anything, but dozens of straps crisscross everywhere.
To the left, lays Veronica, all in white like a bride – a lace-up bustier with garters, white silk stockings, and silk panties.
-Fucking. Gorgeous. But not quite right.
He shakes his head, resetting the picture.
-That's better.
Veronica wears her Catholic schoolgirl skirt with a simple white bra, heels, and her white knee socks! A hint of white cotton underwear peeks out from where her legs are slightly parted.
She smiles at him with trusting eyes. "Be gentle with me, Logan. I'm a virgin."
"I know," he whispers. "I promise to make your first time perfect."
"Good, because if you don't, I'll have to punish you," she grins and reaches under her pillow.
"Do you have a surprise for me, Ronnie?" Logan leers. "Should I be a bad bad boy?"
His grin disintegrates when he sees what she pulls out.
"VERONICA!" he chastises. "Mr. Sparky is not an appropriate sex toy!"
Veronica shrugs and pushes the button on her taser, fleetingly mesmerized by the arcs of electricity, before setting it on the nightstand.
Before Logan can make his move, Lilly slides over and begins kissing Veronica.
"Hey! You can't start without me!" he calls out, while on the inside he's thanking God, the Universe and his third grade teacher.
He's crawling up the bed to the space in between the girls, when Lilly rolls over and straddles Veronica, kissing her neck.
He shifts to the left, but Lilly's curtain of hair blocks him from kissing either one of them.
He climbs over to the right, but Lilly rolls to the side, so that her back is to him. He presses up behind her, but gets an elbow in the gut for his troubles.
He climbs back to Veronica's side of the bed, but somehow Lilly flips them so that it's her back to him. Again.
Finally, he climbs out of bed, bewildered, while Lilly rolls back on top to straddle Veronica.
He stomps his foot, but gets no reaction. He stomps harder. He stomps his other foot. He drops into a nearby chair with a loud sigh. He pulls a cushion onto his lap, and hugs it. It's a poor replacement.
He considers getting a sandwich. He's still starving, and now that Veronica is distracted...
But No! A sandwich is not going to cut it right now. He jumps back up.
"WILL YOU TWO CUT IT OUT?" he shouts.
Lilly lifts up from Veronica's mouth. "Logan? Are you having a temper tantrum?"
"You're damn right I'm having a temper tantrum!" he shouts. "This is MY threesome fantasy. You can't cut me out!"
Lilly giggles and Veronica rolls her eyes and says, "Drama queen."
"Lilly, you need to go," Logan says pointing at the bedroom door.
"Excuse me?" she asks in shock. "I am the queen, and I'm enjoying myself here. Veronica is an amazing kisser."
"I wouldn't know!" he yells.
"Wait your turn!"
"Go away!"
"No," Lilly winks, and runs a hand under Veronica's skirt.
"That's it," Logan says. "You're banished."
"Banished?" Lilly laughs at him.
"Yes. You're banished from this polyamorous relationship."
"Um...Logan?" Veronica begins.
"I know!" he says in exasperation. "I can do the math. Henceforth, this polyamorous relationship shall be known as a monogamous relationship. One that Lilly is banned from."
"You can't do that," Lilly argues. "You know I always come first, lovah. And last. And somewhere in the middle."
"I do mean it, so why don't you just...evaporate or something."
Lilly vanishes without another word.
"Wow!" Logan feels a fleeting pang of guilt.
He's over it almost instantly, and kneeling at the foot of the bed staring at Veronica. He smiles, and she smiles back, and he knows that he picked the right girl. This time.
"Alone at last…"
Veronica's knees are bent with her feet on the bed. Logan crawls to her, and kisses her right knee just above the knee sock, then then the left. He gently parts her knees and kisses her left inner thigh with his lips and his tongue. When he adds his teeth, Veronica lets out a loud moan.
"Take that, tiramisu!" he says, grinning up at her. She's gazing at him with lust-filled eyes and he almost cums right there. He needs to slow things down. Start at the beginning.
Letting out a ragged breath, he crawls up her body. Kneeling over her, he braces her face between his two hands.
"Do you know how long I've wanted to do this?" he asks, leaning in to kiss her. He places the first one on her forehead.
"Logan…"
He places the second kiss on her cheek.
"Logan!"
"Yeah, baby?" he whispers, meeting her eyes, and finally leaning in to kiss her on the lips.
"What did you just call me?"
He froze. That's not right. Why didn't her lips move?
OH SHIT!
"Huh?" Logan answered; it came out as a high-pitched squeak.
"I said...we're up." Veronica pointed at the TV and looked at him funny. "And don't call me baby."
Logan squirmed and pulled his tee shirt over his erection, thankful that his knees had been up, blocking it from sight.
Damn! Go away hard-on! Think…naked wrinkly grandmas...Fiery car crashes. Why isn't it working? Polyamorous relationships! Whew! That did the trick.
On TV, the same stupid shot of Logan carrying Veronica displayed momentarily.
"We really should ask them for a copy of that picture," Logan deadpanned. "We could put it on our wedding invitations."
"The blood puddle does make for a nice romantic touch," Veronica agreed.
[The enhanced still of Logan carrying Veronica now has a label: 'The Neptune Three'. Scene cuts to anchorwoman.]
Anchor: In the latest news of the Neptune Three, we have reports that they may have been in Western Texas as of yesterday. We go now to Natalie Bell in Kent, Texas.
[Cuts to a tracking shot of the Sweet Dreams Motel, which, after lingering for several seconds, cuts to shot of a reporter standing with a mid-thirties Latina woman wearing a housekeeping uniform.]
Bell: I'm here at the Sweet Dreams Motel in Kent, Texas, where there may have been a sighting of the teenagers known as The Neptune Three.
"The Neptune Three?" Logan rolled his eyes. "Serial killers get cool names like 'The Hillside Strangler' or 'Zodiac' we get stuck with 'Neptune Three'? Could they be more original?"
Bell: Mrs. Hernandez, tell us in your words what happened.
Hernandez:I was cleaning my block of rooms when I came to room 53. I knocked on the door, and heard a call for help from inside.
Bell: And then what happened?
Hernandez: I entered the room and found a man handcuffed to the sink.
Bell:(handing a photograph to Hernandez) is this the man you found chained to the sink?
Hernandez:(Shuddering) Yes, that's the man.
[Scene cuts to mug shot of Liam Fitzpatrick.]
"Even when he's still, he looks psychotic," Veronica said, referring to Liam's disconcerting stare at the camera.
"That's a good thing. So many psychopaths look like Mr. Nice Guy."
"What do you know about psychopaths?"
"Like I've never watched documentaries or America's Most Wanted? Give me credit for not being a complete moron, Veronica."
"Sorry," Veronica looked sincerely contrite.
Bell voiceover: The person you're looking at is Liam Fitzpatrick, brother of the deceased Ciaran Fitzpatrick. You may remember that Ciaran Fitzpatrick was the drug dealer who attempted to rape Veronica Mars and was killed by Duncan Kane.
[Cuts to Bell and Hernandez]
Bell: What did Mr. Fitzpatrick say when you found him?
Hernandez: He demanded that I go get some bolt-cutters. I told him I didn't have any, and that I would just call the police to help him.
Bell: How did he react?
Hernandez: He flew off the handle. He told me if I brought the police, he would come after me and kill me. He called me by my first name - which was on my nametag.
Bell: So what did you do?
Hernandez: I called my nephew, Jose. He arrived a few minutes later with some bolt cutters, and snapped the chain between the cuffs.
Bell: What happened next?
Hernandez: Mr. Fitzpatrick pulled some photos from his back pocket, and asked me if I'd ever seen the three people. I told him I recognized them from the T.V. but hadn't seen them. He didn't believe me, and asked me what they were driving in a very threatening manner.
Bell: And the people in the photos?
Hernandez: The three missing kids from Neptune. The movie star's son, the rich kid and the blonde girl. The ones they're calling the Neptune Three.
Bell: And you hadn't seen them at the motel?
Hernandez: No.
Bell: What name was the room registered under.
Hernandez: Mr. and Mrs. Smith. It was paid for in cash, and our night clerk doesn't remember checking them in.
Bell: Was identification requested when the room was booked?
Hernandez: Only when a credit card is used.
Bell: Thank you for speaking with me today. Is there anything else you can remember?
Hernandez: Only that when he left the room, the man realized that his car had been stolen. He went into a rage then, and I had to hide in the office for an hour until I was sure he was gone. He stole the car of our day clerk. A red 2001 Mustang.
Bell: Thank you Mrs. Hernandez. Anita, back to you.
[Cuts to news anchor]
Anchor: Thank you, Natalie. That stolen red Mustang was found this morning near Interstate 20 nose-down in a ditch, and is being returned to its owner. Now we go to Ann Marler in Neptune, California.
[Cuts to Ann Marler hurrying to catch up with Don Lamb on the steps of Neptune City Hall. Lamb seems surprised to be ambushed.]
Marler: Sheriff Lamb, can you comment on Keith's Mars' allegations of corruption in the sheriff's department? (She shoves a mic in his face)
Lamb: (Confused at first, but then slips on a mask of arrogance) Keith Mars? What did he say?
Marler: He insinuated that you're in the pocket of the Fitzpatrick family.
Lamb: He said that, huh? (smirks) Keith Mars is just full of conspiracy theories. Ask him the one about the Kane family. He pursued them for the murder of their own daughter even after her true killer confessed.
Marler: So why haven't you organized a manhunt for the Neptune Three?
Lamb:(chomping on gum) Is that what you're calling them now? Listen, if anybody has any information about the whereabouts of these three kids, I strongly urge you to contact the Balboa County Sheriff's Department. But we have limited resources. Two days ago, a nine year-old little girl, Carmella Rivera, went missing on her way home from school. Yesterday, the owner of a local restaurant was murdered during the commission of a robbery. Are you suggesting that I pull resources from these cases and reallocate them to the more sensational case? The accidental killing of a drug dealer by a kid with a medical condition?
Marler:(contrite) No, of course not, but has the FBI been brought in?
Lamb: For what? Because the Kanes allege that their son has been kidnapped? There is no evidence to support that theory. Listen, I've seen Duncan Kane with Veronica Mars back when her father was still the sheriff. If she told him to run, he would run, no questions asked. If she told him to jump, he would ask how high. This was no kidnapping. It's just an attractive blonde leading two teenage boys around by the (smirks)…noses.
Marler: Wait, are you insinuating that Veronica Mars was the mastermind of this disappearance.
Lamb: Yes. I don't think the boys are smart enough to plan something like this.
Marler: But she's the victim. She had nothing to gain by running away.
Lamb:(flashing dimples) You think? She got her boyfriend back, didn't she? She's a teenage girl. Has to seem pretty romantic to go on the run with the two richest and most popular boys in town. Think about that.
Marler: But-
Lamb: That's all I have to say. Have a nice day, Ms. Marler
[Lamb walks away. Ann Marler watches him go with a look of distaste on her face]
Logan glanced at Veronica, who was staring at the TV in disbelief. "He really is a douchebag, isn't he?" he asked.
Veronica just shook her head.
"If it makes you feel any better...I don't think you came along to get Duncan back."
"Um...thank you, Logan," Veronica humored him.
"I mean...seriously I'm a much better catch than Duncan," Logan grinned and ducked when she slapped at him.
Logan took the first shower. While Veronica was taking her turn, he texted Weevil with the burner cell.
While he waited for Weevil to call back, he dressed in olive cargos and a sleeveless tee shirt before fixing his hair. He had just finished straightening up the room when the phone rang.
"Weevil?"
"So Weevil Navarro is in on your little scheme?" the voice on the end asked.
"Nope, Weevil…um…Smith. Who's this?"
"Keith Mars. Is this Logan I'm speaking to?"
"Yeah, Veronica didn't mention giving you this number. She's in the shower right now. I'll have her call you back when she gets out."
"Nah, I'll go ahead and talk to you. Any chance I can convince you to tell me where you're at?"
"No, sir."
"Okay. Can't say I'm surprised. How are you treating my daughter, Logan?" Somehow, he made his question sound like a threat.
"Like the well-bred paragon of virtue that she is?"
"Good...good," Keith chuckled. "So you're not treating her the way you did this past year?"
"No sir, I didn't exactly treat her like a paragon this past year."
"I'm aware of that. Are you dating my daughter?"
"Nah, we skipped the dating and went straight to the engagement."
"Excuse me?" Logan could hear Keith turning red in the face.
"Cover story," Logan clarified. "Keeps the perverts away."
"And what exactly are your sleeping arrangements?"
"Two double-beds," Logan answered, not technically lying. He could hardly tell Keith he'd spent every night wrapped around his little girl with his nose buried in her sweet-smelling hair.
"Good…" Keith said. "All right, I'll let you go, but I have a few...guidelines...for you to follow."
"Why did I just feel like somebody walked over my grave?"
Keith chuckled again. "Number one. Keep your hands off my daughter."
"Is this retroactive? Because I did touch her shoulder this morning," Logan said.
"Not quite enough to make me load my gun, but don't push your luck. Rule number two. Keep Duncan's hands off my daughter."
"Absolutely!"
"That was a little too enthusiastic. Shall I reiterate rule number one?"
"I think I get the picture."
"Good...Rule number three. No drinking and driving."
"Got it."
"Rule number four, don't let Veronica get in over her head. She doesn't acknowledge that she has limits."
"I agree...to the rule and the sentiment."
"Good. Rule number five-"
"Um...Mr. Mars? Any more rules, I'm going to start forgetting rule number one." He smirked, remembering he had no intention of following rule number one.
"Fine...just make sure she eats her vegetables now and then. She can't survive on French fries and ice cream alone. "
"Got it. I'll just use reverse psychology and put them on my plate."
"You too?"
"Yeah, have you ever considered having her checked for a tapeworm?"
"Um...I did...discreetly. Nothing there. So you two are getting along again?"
"Yeah, not quite back where we used to be, but getting there."
"Logan...what made you go back for her? Did you hear her screaming?"
"No I didn't hear anything. Honestly, I followed Lilly's ghost to her."
"Ahhh," Keith said. "Well that lowers my confidence in your sanity, but increases my confidence in your instincts, so…I owe you a debt of gratitude for saving my daughter at the expense of your own standard of living."
"I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. Except...I'd probably keep a better eye on Duncan."
"Speaking of Duncan…"
"Catatonic. Still. He's at a clinic on an I.V. right now and some tranqs."
"You took him to a clinic? Are you guys crazy?"
"No, let's just say that the doctor came to us. He's the son of the owner of our motel. We trust them. They could have turned us in yesterday."
"Hmm...Okay, I guess I have no choice but to trust you guys. For now. Alright, let Veronica know I called and that I love her."
"Sure. Should I give her a kiss for you too?"
"I'm licensed to carry firearms, Logan."
"That was a joke."
"I'm aware of that. Alright, please behave and - I know it's not your job - but please keep Veronica safe."
"I'll guard her with my life."
Keith paused, silent for a moment. "What was rule number one again, Logan?"
"Keep Duncan's hands off of Veronica. Got it," Logan lied. "I will put every effort into enforcing that rule. I'll make it my sacred duty."
"Logan!" Keith growled. "Don't make me come searching for you three."
"Yes, sir."
"Okay, have Veronica call me when she gets out of the shower."
"How about I have her text you. Then you can go someplace safe before you call her back."
"Good thinking. Talk to you later."
Mere minutes after hanging up with Keith, the phone rang again.
"Hello?"
The phone was silent for a moment, and then Weevil spoke. "Veronica called me?"
"No, I did. She's in the shower."
"What could you and I possibly have to talk about?" Weevil asked.
"The Fitzpatricks. More specifically, how they knew to search for us before Ciaran's body was even discovered."
"Say what?" Weevil asked. "Start from the beginning."
"The news said the body was found at 9:00 AM, but I ran into a Fitzpatrick cousin at the gas station outside of my motel at 8:00 AM. Asshole handcuffed me inside his car and called Liam to tell him he had me."
"That's impossible," Weevil said. "I staked out that building all night long from the pavilion, and I'm telling you, nobody went near it."
"Well, they knew somehow. Did you tell anybody?"
"Only Thumper. He drove Veronica's car home for me, but I'd trust him with my life."
"Right...Like Chardo? I think you need to reevaluate the people you trust. You're 0 for 2 now."
"There's no way Thumper would help the Fitzpatricks, man. We hate the Fitzpatricks."
"If you're so sure of his loyalty, what can it hurt to give him a little test?" Logan asked, reaching for Veronica's laptop and accessing the tracking software she'd left open. "Veronica planted a tracker on Liam's Barracuda yesterday. We're on the East side of Dallas. How about you tell Thumper you heard from us and we're on the West side." He examined the map more closely. "Tell him we're in Irving, Texas, and then we'll sit back and watch the little blip on the map."
"Hold up, Opie. Which Fitzpatrick caught you?"
"His name was Danny Boyd."
Weevil let out a bark of laughter. "And there went any grudging respect I may have been developing for you."
"So the bromance is dead? You never even gave us a chance." Logan whined.
"What? Were you wearing a 'my name is' sticker." Weevil snickered. "Was there a neon sign above your head with flashing lights and arrows? Danny Boyd needs a diagram to tie his shoes."
"I didn't exactly expect anybody to be looking for us that early." He mumbled the last part: "I might not have been wearing a disguise."
"So how did you get away?"
"Um...Veronica showed up disguised as a walking Catholic schoolgirl fantasy, flirted with him, and chloroformed him when his back was turned. It was pretty…intense. We cuffed him to the toilet in our room and took off."
"Nice! I've seen that disguise," Weevil admitted, appreciatively. "I can understand how Boyd would become…distracted."
"How about you forget you ever saw it?"
"You'd like that, huh? You're lucky she saved your sorry ass."
"That's what I thought until yesterday, when Liam showed up at our motel and I had to fight him off. The dude is the Terminator. He feels no pain."
"That's how it goes with meth-heads. How'd you get away this time?"
"I had to pull a gun on him. Danny Boyd's gun. Even then, I thought he was going to make me shoot him."
"Think you could have pulled the trigger?"
"I think so. Especially after he threatened to rape Veronica."
"So Golden Boy isn't the only one who'll Hulk out over Veronica."
"I'll do whatever is necessary." Logan ignored the baiting. "So, we cuffed him to the sink and Veronica stole his car and planted a tracker on it. We drove separately towards Dallas until she broke down on the freeway."
"Why would she take his car? She could have planted the tracker and left the car behind."
"Well, first, to slow him down so we could get a head start. Secondly, because we're heading East. She thought it would be a good idea to lead him up North. Set up a false trail leading to Chicago. We were planning to dump the car in a no-parking zone near the Police Department in Dallas and let the impound lot contact him."
"That girl has a devious mind. So how did he get his car back?"
"Well, Veronica and I became separated on the highway. A pile-up stopped traffic for an hour. Five minutes after I finally found her, Liam caught up in this stolen Mustang. The guy is a psychopath. He chased us at over 100 miles per hour for almost thirty minutes. I thought we were going to die, but you've never seen anybody drive the way Ronnie did. The girl is...I don't know….spectacular!"
"I get it. You're in love with her. I told you first."
"I never said that!" Logan protested.
"You didn't have to. So what kind of condition is the truck in?"
"Pretty messed up," Logan said, letting the subject drop. What was the point of arguing? "We hugged a few guardrails. A few cars. Both sides are pretty scratched up."
"Okay. I may have somebody who can take care of that. I'll call you back in five minutes."
Logan spent a moment watching the little blip travelling north towards them on the map. Their plan was working. Liam was being led to Dallas, but that didn't stop Logan from shuddering at the idea of him getting closer. Finally, he sighed and minimized the application.
He was about to close the lid of the laptop, when a folder titled 'Lilly Kane' caught his eye. He clicked it, expecting to find photos and videos from their long friendship. Instead, the folder contained hundreds of photos, PDFs, and Documents. He didn't have to click on the photos – he could tell from the thumbnails they were pictures of his girlfriend with her brain bashed in.
How did you get these? Why do you have these? What are you trying to prove here? They caught the killer.
He opened a random PDF – a witness statement from the owner of the last car Lilly washed that day. Lilly had shown no signs of worry or distress while washing his car. In fact, she had been cheerful and bubbly.
He opened a subfolder named 'Suspects' and was surprised to see a document named 'Logan Echolls'. He opened it.
Logan Echolls
Motive: Husbands/Boyfriends are the most likely suspects. Jealousy? Crime of passion?
Alibi: Unshakeable. In Tijuana with Dick and Cassidy Casablancas.
Damn! I need to tell her the truth, but she's just now beginning to trust me again. Maybe I'll just let it be - for now.
He closed the document and opened the one labeled 'Duncan Kane'.
Duncan Kane
Motive: Nothing obvious. He has a condition called Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Did he have a sudden rage episode and accidentally kill Lilly?
Alibi: None. The Kanes went to a lot of trouble to falsify the time of death. Was it to make it appear as if Duncan had an alibi?
The document showed it was last modified the previous evening.
So she's still working on this. Jake's announcement of Duncan's epilepsy yesterday gave her the motive she was looking for.
The phone rang, and Logan reluctantly closed up the documents and the Lilly Kane folder.
"Weevs?"
"Yeah. So I talked to my cousin Ricardo. He runs a chop shop in Dallas."
"Ah…Those Navarros…upstanding…ethical…principled members of society."
"Yeah…those Navarros…who keep pulling your ass out of the fire. And your daddy is the real criminal – accepting money for those crappy performances."
"You've got me there. So what about your cousin?"
"He's going paint the Explorer and change out the rims and the trim."
"Um...why? Shouldn't we just get a new vehicle?"
"You have to act in unpredictable ways. Liam will be searching for a scraped-up black Explorer or a completely different vehicle. A silver Explorer would be the last vehicle he would notice. He's not going to expect you to stick around long enough to get body work done on the vehicle, and he's not going to expect you to have any contacts in the Dallas area."
"Okay, that makes sense." Logan pulled a memo pad out of the nightstand drawer and took down the address of the chop shop. "You said his name was Ricardo?"
"Yeah. Oh, I mentioned to Thumper that I'd heard from you."
"And?"
"He asked where you were. I told him you were in a Motel 6 or some other chain motel in Irving, Texas. I can guarantee you that nothing will come of it."
"I hope so too, Weevs. I hope so too."
Veronica - Day Four - Unmarked Chop Shop - Downtown Dallas, TX
Ricardo Navarro's chop shop was in a large, unmarked warehouse in a rundown area of central Dallas. Inside the dimly lit interior, dozens of 'mechanics' worked to disassemble vehicles in the center of the floor space.
Evenly spaced rows of industrial shelving reminded Veronica of a grease-stained library. She wondered, idly, if they had their own version of the Dewey Decimal system to locate parts quickly.
Need a radiator for a 1994 Chrysler LeBaron? Try 423.32. Look for the signs.
Orange extension cords stretched out in every direction on the cracked concrete floor. Various racks lined the walls; some contained doors, others held tires, rims, or car hoods. Chains hung everywhere from the ceiling, and the pungent odors of car paint and motor oil assailed Veronica's sinuses.
Weevil's cousin, Ricardo, was a rough looking, but quiet man of around twenty, who seemed happy to help out with the Explorer. He was of an average height, more rangy than stocky, with skin slightly darker than Weevil's. He had wavy, short, raven black hair, solemn dark eyes, and a five o'clock shadow. Despite all of the differences, Veronica found an uncanny resemblance to Weevil in him; maybe it was the Bambi eyes?
She had to strain to hear him speak over the grinding, sawing and buzzing sounds of the power tools and the blowtorches. "Weevil told me how you helped out him and my abuéla."
"Well technically, I helped Weevil. He's the one who falsely confessed for your grandma's benefit."
"Sure, but she's not as young as she used to be. She needs Weevil to help around the house and with the kids. She can't make it without him. Chardo was a screw-up. He never helped out like Weevil."
"Well, Chardo's gone now. And Weevil's been a loyal friend to me."
"Chardo may have left Neptune, but he came here to be a pain in my ass. Listen, I grew up in Neptune. Weevil and I were best friends as kids. He asked me to help you out in any way I can."
"I greatly appreciate it."
She figured Logan was probably going stir-crazy waiting by now. When they'd checked in with Peggy, the older woman had kindly insisted they drive her Dodge Ram, to save them a taxi trip back.
"So how soon will the truck be ready?"
"The day after tomorrow…after hours," Ricardo answered. "I'll call you when it's finished."
"Wonderful! Thank you!" Veronica said, shaking his hand before leaving.
A light breeze blew bouncy curls from Veronica's 'Texas wig' into her eyes as she came out of the chop shop. Brushing them away, she spotted Logan almost immediately. He was parked near the end of the building. He appeared to be fiddling with the radio stations.
As she was crossing the front of the vehicle, two guys dressed in motorcycle jackets came around the corner.
"Veronica Mars!" a voice said.
Not again!
She glanced up at the speaker.
Really really not again.
Chardo grinned at his friend, who resembled Weevil even more than Ricardo had - down to the shaved head and the build. He had to be another cousin. "This here is Veronica Mars. She's a nosy little bitch."
Four additional bikers rounded the corner, stopping short. One was taller than Chardo with sad caramel colored eyes, and a dimple in his chin. He wore a plain white tee shirt with droopy jeans, his long black hair pulled back into a low ponytail. The second guy, in a leather motorcycle jacket, had rage-filled eyes framed by super-long eyelashes. Like Chardo, he had a buzz-cut and a large scar covered his right cheek. The third man was shorter and rounder wearing a black tee stretched tightly across his gut. His face appeared placid and dumb, like a cow. The final biker was younger than the rest, perhaps fifteen with spiked dark hair. He stared at Chardo with nervous eyes, obviously not comfortable with him intimidating a girl.
"Nice to see ya, Chardo. Gotta go," Veronica gave a dismissive wave, but Chardo blocked her path, grabbing her wrist.
"Wait! Where you think you're going?"
"Away from you," Veronica answered, tugging on her wrist.
"Not so hasty, Veronica. You're not going anywhere until I find out if I can get a reward for turning you in."
The sound of the driver's door opening behind her was like an omen of doom.
Oh hell!
"You need to take your hand off of her this fucking second," Logan commanded, coming around the front of the truck. His eyes were hard and unyielding.
This is so not good. Six on one, Logan? Don't you ever learn?
"Whoa ho! If it isn't my old friend, Logan Echolls," Chardo sneered, full of malicious glee.
"Let. The. Fuck. Go. Of. Veronica," Logan demanded, strolling over, pulling Veronica's arm free of Chardo's grasp and inserting his body between her and the ex-PCHer.
"Last time I ran into you, you were about to curb me," Chardo said, stepping forward in an attempt to intimidate.
Logan's face twisted into his most infuriating smirk. "For Caitlin Ford? Nah. You needed to be taught a lesson, but I wouldn't go that far for a piece of trash like her. "
He made as if to leave, and then turned back. "I would for Veronica, though. That and more, so don't ever put your hands on her again." He slid his arm around her. "Come on, let's go."
Good. He's walking away for once.
"You ain't going nowhere," Chardo said, putting up a hand.
Damn! Damn! Damn!
"Guess the odds are in my favor this time, huh? Grab him!" he instructed his biker minions.
Logan grasped Veronica by her by the upper arms and stared at her directly. "Get in the truck and leave."
"I'm not going anywhere without you," she answered under her breath.
"Please go," he pleaded with his eyes. "At least climb in and lock the doors, V."
Veronica hesitated, and then nodded. She slipped into the passenger door, engaging the power locks, while Scarface and the Human Cow dragged Logan to the cinderblock wall, pulling his arms wide open.
Chardo hung back like a smirking general, standing in front of the Peggy's truck, hands on his hips.
"What's the problem, Chardo?" Logan taunted, struggling against the guys holding him. "Mad Caitlin wouldn't run away with you? Pissed that I won the girl I didn't even want anymore?"
"Hit him," Chardo demanded. Veronica winced as Weevil-Lite punched Logan in the jaw. His head bounced into the bricks, but he was laughing when he straightened up.
"You should go back for her, Chardo," he called out. "Bet she'd pick you now, after I exiled her for being a treacherous whore."
"FUCK YOU PUNK! I LOVED HER!" Chardo screamed. Scarface pulled out a switchblade and pressed it against Logan's neck.
"But she didn't love you, man," Logan said, calmly spitting out blood. "Even after you stole my mom's credit cards and showered her with gifts, she still wouldn't break up with me."
Just shut up, Logan! You're making it worse!
"What are you guys waiting for?" Chardo yelled. "Take care of his punk ass!"
Weevil-Lite began punching Logan in the stomach repeatedly. Veronica could almost feel the punches in her own gut, but, although Logan's body recoiled from the blows, he never made a sound.
He doesn't seem to feel pain any more than Liam.
Veronica couldn't take it anymore. She slid over to the driver's seat and turned the key in the ignition. Nobody even glanced at her, so she shifted the car into drive and began inching forward.
When Chardo finally noticed the proximity of the vehicle, it was too late. She gave it a tiny bit more gas and gently pinned him to the wall at thigh level.
"WHAT THE FUCK, BITCH?" he screamed, tugging and squirming, but unable to free himself.
Veronica rolled down her window. "Let him go, and I'll let you go."
"We'll kill him, bitch!" Scarface yelled pressing the knife harder.
Veronica stared at Chardo. "He's all I have left. You hurt him, and I have nothing left to lose. I'll at least put you in a wheelchair for life."
Veronica revved the engine and Chardo screamed. "She's serious! She's fucking loco! Let him go!"
The minions hesitated, and Veronica revved the engine again. The Human Cow released Logan's right arm, and he slumped, but Scarface still held him by his left wrist.
The door to the chop shop slammed open and Ricardo stormed out.
"What in the hell is going on here?"
"They're beating up my boyfriend," Veronica said, leaning out the window.
Boyfriend? Why did I call him that? Guess it's just easier than explaining.
"His only crime was that his ex-girlfriend didn't dump him for Chardo."
Ricardo looked at his cousin in disgust, and then at the biker gang.
"What did I tell you guys about listening to this fuck-up?" Ricardo demanded. "Is he in charge, or am I?"
The bikers backed off, looking uncomfortable. Scarface let go, and Logan dropped to his knees gasping.
They clearly deferred to Ricardo, who was currently displaying a cold fury. He pointed at Chardo. "This dog – my cousin - stole credit cards and ran them up buying presents for a skanky white girl who already had a boyfriend. Normally, I wouldn't mind that – using some rich white guy's card to have a little fun, but when it was traced back, he let my abuéla rot in jail for his crime."
As one, the bikers looked at Chardo with contempt. Weevil-Lite went so far as to spit at his feet. Grandmothers were sacred after all.
My cousin Weevil had to make a false confession to clear my grandma's name. But did Chardo come forward then?" Ricardo continued. "No. He tried to convince the same punta to run away with him - while he left his own blood rotting in jail doing time for him. Those kinds of girls don't leave behind their privileged lives for lowlifes like him. He was tossed out of the PCH gang for that."
The bikers mumbled among themselves.
"See this chica here?" Ricardo pointed at Veronica. "She's the one who cleared my abuéla and my cousin. Nobody asked her to help, and Weevil said she didn't even charge him for it. She is under my protection, as well as her boyfriend. Am I clear?"
The bikers mumbled their agreement. Weevil-Lite even helped Logan up, brushed the dirt off his cargos and escorted him to the vehicle. "Sorry, man. Weevil's my cousin, too." He opened the passenger door, and Logan climbed in.
"Can you let Chardo go now, Veronica?" Ricardo asked.
"He wants to turn us in for a reward," Veronica answered.
Ricardo turned back to Chardo and spit on the ground. "If I hear even a hint of you turning this girl in, I'll give you to the Neptune police wrapped in a bow. Are we clear?"
"Yes," Chardo agreed, sullenly.
Ricardo turned back to Veronica, a question in his eyes. Veronica nodded.
"Hey," Ricardo said, stepping up to the window. "I'd better drop the truck off to you when it's done, just to be safe. I'll call before I come."
"Thank you. For everything." Veronica said as she put the car into reverse.
Chardo, freed from the wall, was examining himself for bruises as Veronica drove away.
During the car ride, Logan seemed content to stare off into space, worrying his at jaw. Sometimes around Logan, Veronica craved silence, but right now, it was making her a bit edgy. She was racking her brain for an amusing icebreaker, when he finally spoke.
"Pull over."
"Do you have to throw up?" Veronica asked worriedly, putting on her blinker and pulling into a gas station parking lot. She pulled into the back, and as soon as she put the vehicle in park, Logan was out the door.
Before she could even look over her shoulder to see where he was going, he was on her side of the vehicle, wrenching open her door, pulling her out by the hand, and crushing her in his arms. He kicked the door closed and then spun her in a circle twice, lifting her up off her feet. She almost wrapped her legs around his waist for stability, but caught herself in time.
That would have been awkward...and kind of hot, if I'm being honest.
"I'm sorry!" he whisper-laughed into her shoulder. "It's that adrenaline thing, again." He set her down on her feet, twirling them 180 degrees.
When he released her, she felt light-headed and stumbled back one step to lean against the car door.
Logan reached out a hand to steady her, letting it linger on her shoulder.
"I can't believe you, Veronica," he said, quietly, staring down with soft eyes. "You just keep coming through for me again and again."
Uh oh. Full schmoop mode. Those eyes! I need some kind of talisman. Garlic? A cross? A photo of Lilly Kane?
Veronica gave him a tentative smile.
"I just wanted you to leave," He examined his shoes as his hand distractedly rubbed the side of his neck. "So you would be safe"
She shook her head as if disappointed in him. "You think I would ever leave you behind, Logan? Quit trying to be a martyr, and get that idea out of your head. Remember your own words yesterday?"
He glanced back up at her and tilted his head in question.
"You and me against the world?" she reminded him.
He looked at Veronica with something like awe in his eyes. "So...you're like my very own tiny 'ride-or-die' chick?"
Veronica smirked and flashed him what she hoped might possibly resemble a gang sign, but might have been the shocker, or scouts honor, or rock and roll, or...she tried out a few more combinations, but Logan only chuckled and snatched her hand, giving it a squeeze.
He looked at her and his smile widened, and damn he was beautiful.
Logan Echolls. Poster child for temptation in hair gel. All he needs is an apple...
"Ronnie and Clyde," Veronica joked, smiling back at him.
"Yeah...Ronnie and Clyde," he repeated, still grinning. "That's us." He wasn't looking away, and she started to feel skittish.
"We'd better get back," Veronica said shakily.
"Sure," his smile became shy. "Thanks again. For everything." He opened her car door for her, closing it once she was inside. Seconds later, he was in the passenger seat and Veronica was pulling away.
"You're like some super pixie ninja or something," Logan said, producing a laugh from Veronica.
"So what does that make you?"
"Your biggest fan."
"Flattery will get you everywhere," Veronica teased.
"Everywhere, huh?" He waggled his eyebrows when she glanced over at him. "You did tell Weevil's cousin I was your boyfriend."
"So? You told Dr. Tony I was your girlfriend," she countered. "Sorry, but it was just easier to say 'boyfriend' than 'strictly-platonic-fugitive-traveling-companion'.
"Platonic, my ass," Logan muttered.
Coming up to a red light, Veronica hit the brakes a little too hard, causing both of their heads to jerk forward. "What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded turning to look at him.
Logan gave her a cheeky grin. "Admit it Mars. You've been obsessed with me for years. I have to fight you off with a stick."
Veronica let out the breath she'd been unconsciously holding. "Says the guy who stalked me outside the Camelot every night last week," she smirked back at him.
"Touché," Logan chuckled.
After a minute, he became serious. "We're different now, Veronica."
"How so?"
"I don't know. After this past year, things should be more...strained between us. I mean it is strained, but it's also like we're stronger than we ever were before."
She glanced away from the road for a moment. "You're being sappy again, Logan."
"Yeah, well…" he agreed. "Before Lilly died, if somebody had asked me if Veronica Mars would do anything for me, I wouldn't have hesitated to say yes. You were a great friend."
"But…?"
"But if that same person were to ask me if Veronica Mars would use a truck to pin a PCHer to the wall like a bug...for me...Well I'm sure you can imagine what my reaction would have been."
"You would have peed yourself laughing?" Veronica guessed.
"Bladder control issues aside...we are so much stronger now. I hope you know I would do anything for you, too. I haven't had much of an opportunity to prove it, but…"
"You took on six bikers to make Chardo let go of my arm. I think we're even. You're the one who took the hits."
Logan snagged her right hand from where it had been draped on the armrest kissing the back of it. She was about to make a smartass comment about 'who's the Rico Suave now?', when he short-circuited her brain by pressing soft, not-quite-chaste kisses to each of her five knuckles.
Oh son-of-a...Hell! What are you doing to me, Logan? Besides turning my insides to jelly?
Breathe, Veronica.
She squeezed the steering wheel with her left hand, only daring to look back at Logan after he'd interlaced his fingers with hers, dropping their hands to his lap.
What now, Veronica? You're going to pretend that it's perfectly normal to pass him off as your boyfriend? To allow him to hold your hand inside of a moving vehicle when nobody is even watching? You're asking to get your heart broken, and you will only have yourself to blame!
You're playing with fire, Veronica Mars, but…oh aren't the flames dazzling?
A/N – Thank you so much to my beta, DalWriter, who disagrees that Logan has baby cheeks, but thinks Duncan does. I think Logan thinned out a bit in season 2, but am I imagining all that baby-cheeked goodness in season one? Anyway, I truly value your help and feedback.
A/N2 – I used the 'F' word a lot in this chapter. Hopefully, I didn't offend. I kind of love that word – in the right context. As for Logan's daydream…um…well…sometimes my imagination is a very strange place to be.
A/N3 – If your reviews were marbles, I would put them in a jar, and take them out and look at them and roll them around, and call them 'My Preciouses'. Too creepy? Okay, how about thank you so much for the reviews? I try to respond every review. However, if you're signed-in and didn't receive a response from me, check if you're blocking PM's. There were a couple of cases like that the previous chapter. For all of the guests whom I couldn't respond to, your support means so much to me. To Fanney – thank you for giving me your 'review virginity'. I shall treasure it always.
A/N4 – I bump things with my car all the time without causing any damage. Usually the back wall of my garage, assorted garbage cans, those yellow poles that keep you from getting too close to the ATM's. So I'm a sucky driver…whatevs! Anyway, I'm pretty sure that you could pin a person to a wall without causing permanent damage. If not, forgive me once again for my overactive imagination. I would have tested it out, but for some reason my friends refused to volunteer. So much for the bonds of friendship, huh? :) The Chardo scene was inspired by Veronica running over Dick's surfboard in ATTtD – (you know, that episode where Logan has baby cheeks in the poolhouse. No? You're still not seeing it? Hmmm.).