As Wicked As A Bee

Fuzzy Proof

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:59:40 GMT

of where I was this past weekend:

For the rest of the photos go here. Enjoy!

icon time!

Mon, 12 May 2008 23:54:50 GMT

Teasers for 30 Rock and VM:

30 Rock:

VM:

X-Files Fic: Importuning Life for Life (1/1)

Thu, 08 May 2008 18:11:44 GMT

TITLE: Importuning Life for Life
AUTHOR: Circe Invidiosa (aka invida)
RATING: R for swears
CATEGORY: MSR/UST
WORD COUNT: 2546
SPOILERS: post-Elegy
SITE: http://circe.invidiosa.com/fanfic
ARCHIVE: yours for the asking
DISCLAIMER: I know the law, and the law would win.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Mucho thanks to clulla for the beta, to Helen Quilley and aud_woman_in for the encouragement and idea bouncing, and to bcfan for telling me to get my damn butt in gear and finish this already.

SUMMARY: He'd said enough out loud and made it real.

Mulder leaned against the ramp’s railing. He gripped it tightly, knowing that if he let go, he would slide down the wall. His conversation with Scully had gone horribly wrong. The last thing he wanted to do was make her run away from him, but he was still angry. Her deception still stung. If she had told him what she had seen, the apparitions, he could have helped her through it. They could have understood it together. And even if he wasn't really sure of that, at least he could have done something instead of obliviously carrying on with the case and pulling her back into it.

Even as he cursed her stubbornness, he grudgingly regretted his words to her. Not only did he know that they must have hurt her, but he'd broken their unspoken rule and talked about it. He'd even dared to say how he felt. He'd said enough out loud and made it real. His anger made him weak enough to tell her what he was afraid of. And all that accomplished was to let her know that he believed it was hopeless. He believed she was going to die.

If he could have smashed the back of his head through the cinder block wall at that moment he would have. He closed his eyes and tried to will the feelings of guilt and anger away.

He heard the door at the bottom of the ramp open and then the sound of heels clicking in a familiar gait. He wondered, with anticipation and dread, if she had thought of a retort and was coming back to finish the argument.

He heard her speak to someone. "Excuse me. Would it be possible for you to call me a cab?"

He dashed down the ramp to find her at the front security desk.

"Scully? What are you still doing here? I thought you were going home."

She turned and looked surprised to see him still there, maybe even a little frightened. "I -- I was...I mean, I am. I just need to call a cab."

"What's wrong with your car?"

"Nothing. It's just -- It's late. I've had a really long day. I'd just rather not face the drive home," she explained, kneading her forehead as she spoke. She pinched the bridge of her nose, inhaling deeply before she looked up at him again.

There were dark rings under Scully's eyes. She had been ready for bed when he called on her earlier in the evening and he felt like an idiot when she opened the door, looking cozy and warm, knowing that he'd be taking her back out into the cold, dreary night to chase more death. And yet, selfishly, he still asked her to go.

His hand brushed her shoulder, nudging her back towards the door. "C'mon, I'll drive you home. We'll pick up your car in the morning."

The argument was already in her eyes when Scully looked up at him. But she surprised him by looking back down and nodding. She turned and was back out the door before he could say anything else. He followed, watching as she momentarily glanced at her car then quickly turned away. He directed her with a nod towards his car and she made her way ahead of him, eyes cast downward again.

He could feel her annoyance with him as he came up to the passenger side and opened her door for her. The tension was practically pulsing from her and she confirmed his suspicions by slamming her door a little too hard.

She was already buckled in with her hands clasped tightly over her lap. She held herself like that even after he started the car and pulled out onto the rain slicked street. The cold drizzle had stopped, but the pressure had not let up, another downpour imminent. He hoped he would have Scully home before that. Seeing her have to trudge up the stairs to her apartment in the rain would have been another blow to his ego that he didn't think he could bear tonight.

"Are you cold?" he asked, attempting to start a conversation with something neutral but still showing his concern. His hand was already on the heater knob.

Scully didn't answer right away. She stared down at her hands, glassy-eyed. Without looking at him, she turned her head slowly towards Mulder, realizing he must have something. He almost repeated his question when finally she robotically shook her head.

So much for conversation, he thought resentfully, pressing down on the gas pedal. He raced through a yellow light in the vain hope that Scully would pipe up with annoyance at his recklessness, but either she didn't notice, or she, too, did not want to prolong the awkward car ride.

The glare from the streetlights onto the puddles made it difficult to navigate the roads to her dwelling that he knew so well. He could no longer make out the lines that defined the lanes, and half the drive to her home, he wasn't sure he was in the right lane or if he'd drifted over into oncoming traffic, if there had been any that late. But again, Scully took no notice of his careless driving.

How ironic would it be, he mused, if a traffic accident were to take them both out before Scully's cancer or whatever ridiculous misfortune fate held for him.

Mulder pulled up in front of Scully's apartment and turned the car off. It was a few seconds before Scully realized that they'd stopped. He almost wondered if she'd fallen asleep, until she looked about her, saw where they were and said, "You don't have to see me to the door, Mulder. I can manage."

"That's all you have to say to me, Scully?"

Scully frowned at him, genuinely bewildered at Mulder's clear irritation. "I was trying to spare you. Is there something in particular you were waiting for, Mulder?"

"I dunno, Scully, maybe you wanna tell me what's really going on here? This catatonia you've been in since you walked back into the psych centre is more than just fatigue."

She looked back down at her hands again. "Nothing. Nothing's going on. Just thinking."

"About?" Mulder waited for her to reply, but all she did was shrug and his frustration gripped at his chest. "C'mon, Scully! I know when you're holding something back. I thought you understood what I meant about being honest with me."

She whipped her head around and glared at him. "And I thought you understood that I can't just believe whatever you believe! I need time to process these types of --" She struggle for the right word before blurting out, " -- things. I need to be able to sort them out and appreciate them for what they are. Why don't you ever understand that?"

"If you'd told me to begin with --"

She threw her hands up. "You'd what, Mulder?" She pointed at him accusatorily before he could reply. "When you didn't know what I'd seen, you told me what you thought the apparitions were for Harold -- a death harbinger. What would you have told me if you knew I'd seen them too? But you didn't know, so you didn't sugarcoat it. Do you think that's what I would have wanted you to do?"

It was Mulder's turn to avoid Scully's gaze, knowing she was right. The steering wheel was fascinating now, especially the places where his hands had rubbed away the texture in the vinyl. He rubbed at the spots with both hands, relishing their smoothness, silently wishing he'd never started this argument.

"You want me to be honest with you," Scully went on, "Well, I intended to be when I was ready to deal with what I thought I saw and what I understood it to mean. I expect the same from you."

He snorted. "You expect honesty? Okay, then let's face the facts here, Scully. You're dying." He horrified himself with those words, but he told himself that he didn't want to take it back. It was time.

He looked over at her to see the effect of his words on her but she just took a deep breath and returned his gaze impassively. "Is that something you've really come to terms with, Mulder?" she asked, grimly.

"What do you want from me?"

"What do you want from me, Mulder? I told you. The doctor says I'm --"

"Do not say that next word, Scully! Just don't fucking say it! I'd rather have the silent treatment from you for the rest of the night than hear that damn word come out of your mouth."

She sounded hurt when she spoke. "It's the truth, Mulder. What do you want me to say?"

"The truth?! The truth is, Scully, that you are not okay. I let you tell me you're fine --" he spat the word out with distaste, "when I can see what this is doing to you. I try to keep my distance every time you have a nosebleed so you don't think I'm smothering you. I try not to ask too many questions about your doctors' appointments or your treatments so you don't feel like I'm prying. The truth is that I'm tired of pretending I --"

"I never asked you to."

"You didn't have to."

Scully's eyes widened momentarily with shock, then she turned and looked out the window, avoiding his livid gaze. Mulder felt remorse again for arguing with her and wondered why he hadn't stopped this, but also wondered why this accusation was the one that broke her.

Surprisingly, Scully made no move to leave the car. Usually, she'd already be fleeing up the stairs and locking herself in her apartment. But he understood, as she obviously did, that after tonight, after this fight, there was no running away.

"Will you do something for me, Scully?" Mulder asked. He wanted to sound compassionate and conciliatory, but his voice was hoarse from yelling and he croaked out his words.

"What do you mean?" she asked, wiping her nose. His heart nearly broke as she surreptitiously checked for blood.

"You said you came here tonight because I asked you. Will you do something for me now?"

She didn't answer, still looking out the window, but she made a slight shrug.

"Scully, for once," he paused, glancing away, unable to watch her as he made his request, "just for tonight, just pretend that you need me. Indulge me. Let me take care of you. Would -- would that be so bad?"

"Yes. It would," she said after a long, thoughtful pause. Her voice was so small, betraying the utter devastation in which her words had left him. Yet she still hadn't made any move to get out of the car.

He'd just tried to make it right and she just could not let go of her self-righteous stubbornness, not even for a second. Well, fuck her damn cancer. God, his vindictive side wanted her to leave now. He couldn't say which urge he was fighting more -- trying to persuade her all over again or yelling at her to get the fuck out.

She spoke up before he could decide. Her tone was gentle but sad. "Mulder, you said that we're afraid of the same thing. But we're not. We're really not, Mulder. I'm not afraid to die. I've faced death and I'm sure of what will happen when I have to face it again. I'm afraid of -- for you. So I can't...I can't be what you need tonight because it wouldn't just be tonight. You know that." She turned her body to face him and he could see her teary eyes. "And there just isn't enough time."

He instinctively started to shake his head, even though he had no idea how to respond. He could never have predicted this reaction from her even if they'd had a thousand years together and not just a few more moments.

She stopped him. "I know I'm dying, Mulder. If you think I haven't come to terms with that, then you've forgotten who I am. What I haven't come to terms with is where this will leave you when I'm gone, and everything I won't be able to do or be for you."

Mulder wasn't often rendered dumbstruck, but everything he'd ever wanted to say to her came rushing into his head, and suddenly none of it was coherent. All of it was sensation and anxiety and if he opened his mouth, he knew all that would come out was a heartfelt garbled noise, which Scully wouldn't appreciate.

Mulder didn't know how much time had passed, but it occurred to him that she was waiting for him to respond. When he focused on her again, Scully was nodding bleakly like she understood what he couldn't say and was out of the car in a dark rush of overcoat, billowing out beneath her and sweeping up the steps into the building.

Time was lost to Mulder again as he sat and debated about what he should do. He'd made his mind up to just go home and sleep on it, and had even started his car when he stole a final glance up at Scully's apartment. The blinds moved, and he was sure he'd seen her hand pulling them away from the pane. She was watching him. She was waiting to see what he'd do.

He turned the car off again, and contemplated her words as he tried to decide what it was that she really wanted. And when he imagined them all over again, the words were coming out of his mouth. I'm afraid for you. I haven't come to terms with everything I won't be able to do or be for you.

He strained to see if she was still watching. The rain had begun now and was falling in big globs across the windshield, obscuring his view of her window. It didn't matter. He had his cell in his hand and was already dialling her number before he was out of the car. He took the steps up to her building two at a time. She answered with a sigh by the time he was through the front doors.

"Mulder, it's late. I don't want to fight any more. Just go home --"

"Scully, just listen. You're wrong --"

"Perfect response to me saying I don't want another argument. Good night, Mulder."

Her apartment was just down the hall, but it seemed to be getting further away even as he neared. "Can you just this once stop being stubborn and concede that I might be right? That I might know -- Scully, it will be enough. You are enough."

He thought he heard her breath hitch. He was outside her door now. "Do you hear me, Scully?" His next question was to ask if he was enough for her, but it died on his lips as the knob twisted sharply and the door fell ajar into her darkened apartment. He heard her slippered feet shuffle back, waiting to see what he would do.

He pushed his way in and closed the door behind him.

-x-x-x-

Author's Note: Title comes from the Dorothy Parker poem, A Dream Lies Dead.

icons!

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:22:04 GMT

Some new icons for VM, Serenity, and X-Files...

Teaser:

Veronica Mars:



Serenity:



X-Files:



All my XF icons can be found here.

FIC: Damn, Damn the Circumstance (14/?)

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:33:30 GMT

Title: Damn, Damn the Circumstance (14/?)
Author: invida
Characters: Veronica, Logan, Ensemble
Word Count: 6220
Rating: R
Spoilers: knowledge up to 2x22
Timeline: goes AU from the Pomroy party, and a few liberties are taken with the timing of certain events. See Author's Notes for more details.
Disclaimer: I know the law, and the law would win.
Summary: if Logan hadn't left with the easy freshman that night.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to aud_woman_in and afrocurl for all the help!

Previous Parts

"God, I've missed you," Veronica blurted out breathlessly between kisses.

Logan drew back, eying her with surprise. It was almost enough for her to take her declaration back or to make some smart ass remark to cover her vulnerability. But there was no returning to denial through arm punches and snarky comments to hide what she was feeling, no matter how turbulent or confusing. Two threats on his life in two days had seen to the end of that. Faced with very real fear of losing him brought out her possessiveness. And though their circumstances were inopportune, she'd lost enough people in the last few months; being coy and resigned was something she didn't feel she had time for anymore despite the nagging voice in her head that tried to remind her about Logan's past misdeeds. But that didn't mean she was going to tell him any of that. So she merely shrugged helplessly when he continued to study her.

He shyly and sweetly grinned back at her, and it was almost enough for her to not regret saying anything. He tucked her hair behind her ear, then let his fingers dance down her neck and along her collarbone, causing her to shiver under his touch. She wasn't sure what it was that could turn such an adorable, coy smile into that devilishly smug smirk. All she knew was it warranted closer inspection.

"Yeah, this pretending to be broken up thing? Not my idea," Logan whispered despite being in an empty classroom.

She gaped at him in mock protest and the lull gave Logan the opportunity to hoist her up on top of a desk. He insinuated himself between her knees as she urgently tugged him by the shirt collar into another kiss.

"But if it makes you this frisky," he murmured against her mouth, "I won't complain."

She felt herself blush even more. "Well, what did you expect? I haven't seen you in days except at school where we can't --" She gasped, feeling his lips kneading the skin just below her ear, his hands warm and travelling up her thighs, "--do this. And then you ditched me last night-"

He pulled back, wounded at her dig. "I told you --"

"I know, I know. I got your text and watched the news. And the blow-by-blow e-mail you sent later was particularly droll." Veronica leaned forward, bringing him back to her with another kiss. "But watching you on TV, in the background at a press conference, looking all petulant and miserable really doesn't do it for me. I'd much rather you were petulant and miserable in my presence."

"Tough. In your presence, I'm so cheerful, I'm practically giddy." Logan held his hands up and wiggled his fingers daintily.

"Really? You were pretty miserable looking just a few minutes ago in the quad."

"You were watching me?" Logan gasped teasingly. "Where people could've seen you? What happened to 'someone's always watching'?"

"Shut up." She smacked his chest lightly. "At least I wasn't being obvious about it, unlike some people. I'm surprised everyone around you didn't notice."

"Some of them did --"

"Did Duncan?" she asked impulsively. When Logan's face dropped, she added reassuringly, "I just meant that I saw you getting kinda agitated with him when he sat down. I don't want you setting him off and getting hurt again."

His features relaxed. He cupped her face and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry that pretty little head of yours. Now that I know he's certifiable, I can handle him."

"So he really doesn't remember?"

Logan shrugged. "If it's an act, he hasn't slipped yet."

She shook her head. "That's so weird. I mean, what the hell is wrong with him? He freaks out, attacks you, passes out and then can't remember any of it?"

"No, what's weird is that it wasn't the first time he's done that," he said in her ear as he resumed his assault on her neck.

"He attacked you before that?" Veronica asked incredulously, trying to get a bearing on her thoughts while he was doing that to her neck. It was unbelievable to her that anyone could get the upper hand on Logan once, never mind twice.

"Not me. Jake."

"Wait. He attacked his dad, too? Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, pushing him back.

"It was before. I was pissed with you then." He glanced down momentarily as he added, "Lilly had just broken up with me."

Surprised, she held her hands up to stop him as he tried to move in again. "That long ago?"

He sighed in frustration, finally realizing the moment was gone and backed up. "Yeah. You know, when you guys broke up."

She hopped down from the desk and got in front of him before he could turn away. "Hey, I'm just trying to figure out what all this means."

She held out her hand to him apologetically. He reluctantly took it. She was getting tired of having to defend herself whenever he'd get sullen at the mention of Duncan. It wasn't like she still loved Duncan that way any more obviously. She couldn't. But Duncan was a huge part of the intrigue that was their lives now. They couldn't help talking about him. Besides, she would never get bent out of shape if he started talking about Lilly. Of course, when she really thought about it, Logan almost never talked to her about Lilly anymore.

Logan was looking down at their entwined hands. "Well, what it means for the time being is that he still doesn't know that you know about Jake and your mom, or Shelley's party. And he and I are best buds again. In fact, we're such good pals, he wants me to go on a double date with him Saturday," he said nonchalantly.

Stunned, Veronica yanked his hand hard to get his attention. "Excuse me? Who with?"

"Meg for him and Pam for me."

Veronica frowned. "Meg? Didn't she just break up with Cole? Like, yesterday?"

Logan returned her frown. "Umm...The correct response there should have been insane jealousy over your boyfriend."

"Excuse me? Did you need another demonstration of the violent reaction I had before I heard who your potential date was? Or was I supposed to rip your arm out of your socket like a wookiee?"

He closed his eyes and sighed. "God. There is nothing hotter than angry nerd talk. Nothing."

She rolled her eyes. "Am I really supposed to be jealous of a girl who is -- how did you once so colourfully put it -- such a sycophantic uptight bitch, she probably uses sanitation wipes on every 09er ass before she kisses? If you want me in a possessive hissy fit, at least start with someone I know you can stand."

"So if I get set up with a better girl, promise to be jealous then?"

"Just try and stop me from clawing her eyes out. So are you going to complete Duncan's happy foursome?"

Logan shrugged. "I dunno. Like you said, I do hate Pam."

"But if you do go, it solidifies our cover."

"But if I don't, I can spend more time with you this weekend."

"My dad's around this weekend."

He slapped his hand to his chest sarcastically. "I'm shocked that you immediately thought my intentions were lascivious. We'll be studying, of course. We do have a chemistry final next week."

"Uh huh. I knew you were just with me for my brains."

"Yes, big sexy brains. Mmm, you know, hot zombie talk might just win out over hot nerd talk." He kissed the tip of her nose. "So what do I do if Pam tries to sully my virtue?"

"You have virtue left to sully?" she quipped. "You'll handle it. I'm sure you've had to let down plenty of horrible girls in your time." She glanced at the clock in the room. "C'mon. Lunch is almost over, we're gonna get caught in here." She started walking towards the door.

Logan tugged her back. "Let's skip."

She shook her head. "We can't. When neither of us show up to classes this afternoon, that'll be just as bad as us getting caught in here."

"C'mon, Veronica. It's the last week of classes. No one's showing up. And no one'll miss us. And you know chemistry like this –" he took her hand and kissed the back of it gently. "And like you said, we haven't seen each other in days. Besides, I got something I wanna show you."

"What is it?" she asked excitedly. When he did nothing but shrug, she sighed. "Damn you, appealing to my curiosity. Okay. I've got something I want to show you, too."

His eyebrows rose hopefully as he looked her up and down. She smacked his arm. "Mind out of the gutter, mister, or you're going to be tremendously disappointed." She peeked out the door, making sure no one in the hall would notice them. "I'll go first. See you at Dog Beach in twenty?"

He nodded and she pecked him on the cheek before she ducked out the door and made her way down the hall. She didn't dare look back and risk drawing attention to the classroom she just left in case Logan was leaving.

Fortunately, a diversion in the form of Mac stepping out of the Vice Principal's office appeared.

"I hope you got a good right cross in," Veronica said, getting Mac's attention.

Mac pulled her down the hall away from the office. "What the hell happened to you?"

"I stopped, dropped, and rolled? Wait. That's fire. Not fights. I always get those two mixed up. They begin with the same letters."

"Biggest fight of the school year breaks out because of you, then you disappear and your only answer is a joke?" Mac looked her up and down. "Ah."

"Ah, meaning what?" Veronica asked self consciously, wondering what she'd seen.

"Ah meaning a boy must be involved," Mac answered matter-of-factly.

Veronica shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure. You just get all flushed, your hair gets mussed, and your lipstick smears for no reason."

Veronica's fingers involuntarily touched her lips, glaring at an amused Mac who continued to tease her. "And if I go back in the general direction from where you came, I won't find any boy stealthily sneaking out of any empty classrooms or broom closets." Mac turned and started for her locker. "And certainly not any particular boy. Especially not any particular boy that you had a virtual staring contest with at lunch before bedlam broke out." She opened up her locker and started rummaging.

Veronica tried to look blasé. "You are imagining things. Letting yourself get swept away by gossip and far-fetched slander. And here I thought you were above all the rumours around this stupid school."

"If I believed any of the rumours I would have said boys, as well as teachers, janitorial staff and the vending machine delivery guy. I said boy. One boy. One dreamy boy who just happens to --"

Veronica pointed at Mac. "Finish that and I'll rescind my offer to do a more thorough investigation of your parents," she said sternly.

Mac snorted and waved her off. "Idle threat. If there's one thing I've learned it's that you like this kinda thing too much."

Veronica sighed. "True dat. You're absolutely sure you want to do this?"

"You saw the test results, Veronica. I'm not their kid. Neither one of them is my real parent. Which, while that explains a lot, still leaves me wondering where the hell I came from. Do you know what that's like?"

In a manner of speaking, Veronica thought, but just gave Mac a sympathetic arm squeeze.

"Hey Veronica."

She spun around to find Cassidy Casablancas at the next bank of lockers. He ambled up to her awkwardly. "Sorry about Dick."

She smiled politely, but coolly, trying to quell the anxiety that surged through her at the sight of him coming towards her. "You say that like you could control him."

He shrugged meekly. "He's not always so bad."

"Well, you'll excuse me if I don't share your opinion."

"But I guess you share my opinion about Logan though, right?" he said quietly as he walked by her, giving a nod to Mac.

Veronica turned back to Mac, who looked puzzled at the exchange she'd just witnessed. "Well, that wasn't the least bit creepifying."

"Dick Casablancas's little brother." Veronica said, shrugging, more for her sake than Mac's.

Mac grimaced. "Huh. Too bad. Before that, I thought he was kinda cute."

"Let that be a warning to ya. Hey, was Clemmons looking for me?"

Mac shrugged. "He didn't care what the fight was about and he seemed satisfied with my explanation."

"You continue to rock, my friend. I'm bailing for the day." She jerked her thumb towards the exit, as she started to back away.

"Right. Well, if you happen to run into any of my history classmates in your truancy --"

"Hey! Zip it!" Veronica sternly cautioned with a finger to her grinning lips, then waved at Mac before blending in with the crowds of kids on their way to classes, while she made her way out the doors to the parking lot.

----------

"So what do you think?" Logan asked, arms spread, as Veronica got out of her car at the deserted beach.

She shoved her hands in her coat pockets for warmth and stood back, taking in the brand spanking new vehicle he stood by. "It's yellow."

Logan's arms dropped dejectedly. "That's it?"

"It's big and yellow?" she tried hopefully as she neared him.

"You don't like it," he said, sighing.

"I didn't say that. I just meant it's -- I don't know -- flashy? I mean, the SUV itself is okay. Very appropriate for the rugged terrain of Neptune." She nudged him with her shoulder.

"Shut up," he replied, his eyes betraying his amusement. She nudged him again with a grin and this time he caught her before she could pull back and held her against him.

"Why yellow?"

"You mean you don't know that Aaron Echolls' least favourite colour is yellow? I'm sure he mentioned it on Inside the Actor's Studio. Isn't that one of the questions? It just gives me a little thrill knowing that whenever my dad goes anywhere near our driveway, something this big and this yellow will be right there for him to see."

Veronica shook her head, laughing with him, trying to hide the worry that knotted in her gut every time Logan mentioned his father. Despite trying to hide any sign of pity or fear for him that she knew he'd despise, all she could picture was Aaron looming over Logan with his hand raised.

She changed the subject. "So I can see that you like it. Why's it so important that I like it?"

"Because you're the girl I want to impress."

Veronica searched his eyes, waiting for a punchline. When none came, she gave him a shy, contented smile. She still didn't expect him to be so sweet. She knew he could be, she'd just never seen it directed at her. She decided she could get used to this, while ignoring the insistent voice in her head that continued to remind her of how suddenly Logan could turn on her -- had turned on her -- and all his recent transgressions with her.

He's changed, she reasoned, we both have. "Well then. I guess I like it." She reached up and laced her fingers behind his neck, rocking up to kiss him.

"So it's your turn for show and tell. Think you'll have better luck?"

"Oh, probably. You've wanted this for a while now."

"Well, well, well. Veronica Mars!" His hands around her waist yanked her against him.

She let go of him and smacked him in the arm. "I told you, it's not like that!" She reached into her messenger bag and pulled out an envelope and passed it to Logan.

Logan frowned as he scanned the envelope. "GenetiFind Labs? Addressed to Erica Cartman?"

"You didn't think I'd use my real name, did you? Cute, huh? His mom's a Liane, too."

"You got the test done? But how? You left Jake's brush --"

"I happen to live with the other candidate." Keith barely questioned her when she asked for a blood sample for extra credit in health class. It worried her that her lies to him were becoming more frequent. And it worried her even more how much more frequent they might become having the test results now.

"So this is it. This'll say whether your dad is your dad. But you haven't opened it." He held the envelope out to her to take back.

She pushed his hand back to him. "I want you to."

Logan blinked in confusion. "Me? Veronica, this is --"

She held her hand up to stop him. "I'm still not ready. I thought I was until this showed up. God, I even put a rush on it, thinking I wouldn't change my mind. And here I am scared of what a piece of paper says." She laughed, shaking her head. "Everything you said is true though. And I know it's important, not just to me. So I want you to hold on to this until I am ready. You can, you know, look if you want -- later, of course, when I'm not around."

Logan stared dumbfounded at the envelope. "Look, Logan, I know this is weird. It's not every day that your girlfriend who hasn't even had a first date with you asks you to hold on to her paternity tests. But regardless of the last few months, you've been my friend since forever and you're the one person in my whole life that could look at that paper and you wouldn't treat me any differently knowing the results. Do you understand?"

There was that shy sweet grin again, the one that made Veronica wonder how she never saw it before. "Yeah, I think I do," he said. He tucked the envelope into his inside pocket before he looped an arm around her waist and drew her to him, kissing her.

Looking up at him hopefully, she asked, "So do I win show and tell?"

"What kind of kindergarten class were you in? Nobody wins show and tell. Besides, you haven't seen the nice big wide backseat yet."

"But you're impressed, right?"

"This wasn't supposed to be a competition, you know. And most girls would find it romantic that a boy was trying to impress them."

"Most girls haven't heard you belch the alphabet."

"We were thirteen and excuse the fuck out of me for thinking everybody would be impressed by that."

"I was -- then. But you know, I'm a simple girl with simple needs. And there's something else you've got that would impress me more."

"Oh yeah?" he said, raising his eyebrows hopefully.

"Yep. It's so simple and free, too. I'm surprised you haven't thought of it yet," she said, feigning innocence.

"Veronica --" There was warning in his voice as he pulled her arms from him.

"Just tell me the truth, Logan."

"We've been over this, Veronica." He pressed his splayed fingers to his temples in frustration.

Veronica crossed her arms. "Yes. If by 'over this' you mean you've told me nothing and asked me to trust you." She didn't mention how he pleaded with her that night his car was blown up. And she agreed then, or at least didn't refuse because she was too worried about him being in shock and possibly having a concussion.

"Fuck." Logan spat out, stalking towards the beach. "I told you what happened the morning I came back from Mexico and what happened the rest of that day. You said you believed me."

Veronica followed. "I do believe you. And I'm going to find that note you left Lilly, and I'm going to find someone who saw you."

Logan was shaking his head, but she continued, "What I want you to tell me is why Beaver is blackmailing you and why he wanted to break us up and why he's trying to make sure we stay apart."

Logan spun around, stopping abruptly. "What do you mean?"

"He came up to me at school just before I left to meet you here."

Concern replaced anger in his voice. "Did he threaten you?"

Veronica shook her head. "He just apologized for Dick and reminded me about what he said about you in Mexico."

Logan grabbed her arm, and pulled her to him. "I'm sorry. I know --"

He was cut off by the roar of an approaching motorcycle.

"If it ain't the little lovebirds sneakin' around," Weevil said sarcastically after taking off his helmet. He strode over to where they stood.

Logan smirked. "Cheep, cheep."

"Seeings how our little deal just got me suspended, I wouldn't be jokin' around so cavalier like."

Veronica grimaced. "Sorry about that."

"You got nothin' to be sorry about, V. Casablancas had it comin'. In that respect, it was worth it. You," Weevil pointed at Logan, "on the other hand -- you got something to say to me? You say it to me. Not Felix. Not Hector. Got that?"

Logan shrugged. "What can I say? You all look alike."

Veronica rolled her eyes at Logan's insolence, hoping Weevil wouldn't take him seriously. Weevil didn't seem to notice. "You're not gettin' out of this, you know. I've held up my end. No one comes near her. Now you hold up your end."

"Look, man. Can we talk about this later?" Logan asked, pointedly nodding his head towards Veronica.

"No, man, we talk about this now. The bum fight goes on."

"Bum fight?" Veronica turned to Logan. "What's he talking about?"

"Nothing. Let's go somewhere else." Logan moved to block her view of Weevil and tried to push her back towards their cars.

Weevil called after them. "You mean, your precious rich boy here didn't tell you about arranging homeless boxing matches? And here I thought you were gonna be the ring girl. Oh whoops! Was it gonna be a surprise? My bad."

Veronica stopped dead and looked up at Logan for an answer. He looked away guiltily.

"Thanks a lot, Weevs," Logan said, saluting him.

Weevil grinned. "Don't mention it, bro. Like I said, show goes on."

"Fine. It goes on, but it goes on without me. Okay?"

Weevil marched into Logan's space. "No, not okay!" he spat. "You're the one who started and organized the whole damn thing. I'm takin' the bets, but you're the one who's bringin' in the 09er dollars. They won't deal wit' me without you. So it goes on wit' you 'cause otherwise I get nothin' out of this arrangement. Less even when I got the Sheriff on my fuckin' ass about your inability to keep your vehicle. Now who gave him that idea?"

Logan didn't back down. "It's my fault your reputation precedes you? I didn't tell Lamb a fucking thing other than my car was stolen. I can't help it if he jumps to the easiest and most probable conclusions."

"Enough!" Veronica said, stepping between them. She turned to Weevil. "Logan didn't say anything to Lamb. He didn't imply anything about the PCH Club. I was there. And you know Lamb doesn't have anything on you, otherwise he'd have taken you in by now."

"He doesn't have to take any of us in. After Rich Daddy Echolls' latest performance, Lamb's assigned one of his clowns to tail us whenever we ain't in school. And even though I don't have any faith in Neptune's finest, it still tends to severely limit business."

Logan snorted. "Wow. The hubcap trade is that lucrative these days?"

Veronica frowned, lost in thought for a moment as the boys volleyed insults back and forth. When she turned her attention back to them, they were shouting again, fingers pointing in each other's face. She separated them again, asking Weevil, "Where were you the night Logan's SUV was taken?"

"Are you accusin' me --"

Veronica waved him off. "I'm asking you for your alibi because I'm about to offer you a deal of my own."

"And what do you think you can do for me, baby? 'Cause your secret boyfriend here probably won't wanna watch any of the ideas I got in mind." Weevil leered at her.

Veronica's arm shot out, halting Logan before he launched himself at Weevil. Veronica continued to stare at Weevil indifferently. "Stop. You're gonna make me fall in love with you. Where were you?"

Weevil shrugged. "I may have been doing some business that night with a mechanic at one of the garages in the more stuck-up parts of town who like to get parts for luxury cars at a discount. So you can see why I'm not anticipatin' much of an alibi."

Logan chuckled. "Oh my God, the hubcaps thing really wasn't a joke to you."

"And maybe I'll find out how much yours are worth on that dope new ride daddy gave you!"

Veronica, clearly exasperated asked, "Are we through with the sweet talkin' here, boys? Okay, Weevil, I'll get you an alibi and get Lamb off your case, and in return Logan finds you a new 09er manager for the bum fights and he can bow out honourably." She levelled Logan with a disdainful glare as she emphasized, then turned back to Weevil and asked, "Deal?"

Weevil took a moment to gauge her sincerity before he answered with amusement, "Deal."

"Good. Give me the name of the garage and the mechanic and I'll take care of the rest." Veronica dug out a pen and notebook from her bag and handed them to Weevil.

"This'll be somethin' if you pull this off, V," he said as he wrote.

"Yep. And impressing the leader of a biker gang is every girl's dream come true," she said, taking back the pen and notebook. "Give me a couple of days."

Weevil nodded to her, then trudged back to his bike, leaving her alone again with Logan. She waited until she could no longer hear the rumble of Weevil's bike before she even looked at Logan again.

"Shouldn't be too hard for you to find someone depraved enough to replace you, should it?" she asked, crossing her arms. She found it surprising that the walls she had built for situations like this weren't going up as easily as they used to. But then she hadn't felt let down like this in a long time.

"Veronica. Just listen, okay?" His hands were up, already surrendering. "I was trying to get out of it -- God. Does that fucking count for anything?"

Veronica swallowed. She wanted desperately to give him an out. "It does if you were getting out for the right reasons."

"Are you the right reason?" he asked, his voice cracking earnestly.

It might not have been exactly what she wanted to hear, but it was damn near close, and she felt her willpower waver. Until that nagging voice insisted that this was the problem -- that she still can't resolve the cute, charming guy standing before her trying to win her over with the cruel boy who would humiliate her on a daily basis, and exploit the homeless.

Logan was still looking at her expectantly, but she shook her head, backing away from him. "I -- I can't deal with this right now, Logan. I've got work to do." She ran to her car and saw him in the rearview mirror watching as she drove away.

----------

After a background check, Veronica figured this little showdown would go fairly smoothly. But it didn't stop her from bringing Backup along for the ride.

"Didn't think I'd ever be coming back here," she muttered. She swallowed thickly, steeling her nerve before she pulled Backup out of the car and walked through the open bay door of Symbolic Motor Car Company.

"Excuse me?" she called out.

From around a toolbox, a bald man in overalls appeared, wiping his hands on a rag. "Can I help you?"

Recognizing him, Veronica approached and asked, "Curly Moran, right?"

"Yeah," he said, squinting at her. "You're a friend of the Echolls kid, right? The one with the LeBaron. If you're here about your car again, I can't help you. We only service luxury cars. I was just doing a favour for the Echollses."

"And it was much appreciated. She's still purring, rest assured. I'm actually here to talk to you about Weevil Navarro."

Curly frowned. "Sorry. Don't know the name."

Veronica wrinkled her nose in doubt. "Well, here's the thing. He says you do. And he says that the night the Echolls kid's SUV was stolen, you're his alibi."

Curly shook his head with annoyance. "Maybe that's true. And maybe it isn't. But I don't have to say nothing one way or the other. And I don't plan to. So you can be on your way now, girl." He waved her off.

Veronica didn't move, even though every instinct was telling her to get out of there. "You know, I get it. A guy who had a career like yours reduced to working on cars of the people he helped make famous. I can see why you'd be making a buck any way you can. And a guy who had a rap sheet like yours --"

"And you just answered your own question about why I'm not gonna stick my neck out for that greasy little turd. How's it gonna look to everybody if they know I'm associating with the local biker gang? Even a twat like Lamb will eventually put two and two together."

She stood ramrod straight, trying to look more confident than she was feeling. "Yes, but how much worse is it going to look when he finds out you've also been supplying minors with incendiary devices? And how's it going to look when one of those devices was used to blow up Logan Echolls' SUV when they eventually find its remains?"

"What are you talking about?" Curly's frown deepened.

"Oh, I think you know exactly what I'm talking about. Logan's SUV was blown up, Curly, and you're a former stunt coordinator with a specialty in explosives. You had two kids in here putting together detonators at that workbench." She pointed to a table in the corner with his name on it. "So putting two and two together -- why, that makes you complicit."

He genuinely looked surprised at her accusations, but recovered quickly to snarl at her. "You can't prove any of that!"

A low growl emanated from Backup, making his displeasure known at a raised voice at his mistress. Curly wisely backed off a step.

Veronica innocently continued. "Do you really think in this time of heightened homeland security that authorities won't figure out where the parts for the bomb that blew up a movie star's son's car came from?"

Curly eyed her irately. "What do you want?"

"Simple. An alibi for Weevil the night that Logan's car was taken. I mean, you won't be lying. He was with you."

"And just what am I supposed to say we were doing?"

Veronica shrugged. "Tea party? Bald dude support group? Be creative." She tugged Backup's leash, and on her way back out the bay door, said, "Ten o'clock, tomorrow morning at the Sheriff's Department. Or I'll have a story of my own for that twat Lamb."

Once outside, she took a couple of deep breaths, trying to come down. But she wasn't even given a moment of relief when she was surprised by another voice. "What are you doing here?"

"God, Logan, you scared the crap out of me." She clutched her chest. "Are you following me?"

Logan frowned. "You left me high and dry yesterday and ignore my calls and you think I'm gonna follow you around today? I'm here to set up detailing on my car." There was a definite edge to his voice. He knelt down to pat Backup. Veronica was surprised to find herself jealous of the attention he was giving the dog. But she assumed that was the point.

"You're mad? Two words, Logan: Bum fights."

Logan straightened up. "And I told you and that tattooed chihuahua, I'm out. Sean's taking it over. Guy gets chauffeured to school every day and he can never resist making a buck no matter how. So you can quit throwing that in my face."

"But it was your stupid idea, Logan."

Logan shoved his hands in his pockets. "That was before, when I didn't give a shit what anybody thought of me. When you being disappointed in me was the last thing I cared about."

"And now?"

Suddenly, his shoes were very interesting to him. "Now, I can't take the way you're looking at me."

A breath hitched in her chest, and she glanced away uncomfortably. "I'm -- I'm just trying to figure this out Logan."

"Christ, Veronica, do you think that maybe we could figure it out together?"

She turned back to him, finding him watching her expectantly. The intensity, apprehension, and need she saw there shook her and she couldn't help saying, "Yeah."

She let him pull her into an embrace, silently begging him not to make her regret her capitulation. Behind her, tires squealed and the distraction gave her a reason to pull away. They both looked out towards the road, but the car was already gone.

Veronica said, "I've gotta go. Call me and we'll do something this weekend."

Logan grimaced. "Uh, yeah. Any time except Saturday afternoon. Duncan wouldn't give up about the double date thing."

Veronica glumly replied, "Right. It's okay. I said you should go. Just don't fall in love with Pam. And call me after, okay?" She pecked him on the cheek and started to go.

Logan grabbed her arm. "Hey, hang on. You didn't tell me what you were doing here."

"Taking care of Weevil's alibi."

"You did this alone? I thought you were going to bring Weevil with you or me when you stopped being mad at me."

Veronica waved him off. "I handled it. I had Backup." She gestured to her dog and grinned at him winningly.

Logan's mouth was set in a grim line. "Cute."

"That's me." She shrugged sweetly with a tilt of her head as she walked away.

----------

"'Bout time," Veronica muttered as Curly Moran came through the doors of the Sheriff's Department. "Some of us have exams to study for, you know."

Curly rolled his eyes. "You've got some weird pastimes, girl. Let's just get this over with."

They went up to the reception desk. Veronica dinged the bell and waited as Deputy Sacks ambled over. "Hey Veronica."

"Deputy. I've got a gentleman who'd like to make a statement in regards to Eli Navarro's whereabouts the night Logan Echolls' SUV was stolen."

"Uh...okay." Sacks looked around confused. "You're gonna have to wait a bit though. Sheriff's gonna want to handle this one himself and he's in with someone right now."

As if on cue, Cliff McCormack walked out of Lamb's office still talking "Sheriff, regardless of my client's notorious crime, he has rights and not allowing him access to proper medical attention is a violation --"

"Had to be sure he wasn't faking. You know, maybe trying to make an escape attempt." Lamb shrugged.

One of Cliff's eyebrows rose skeptically. "Doubled over and vomiting blood wasn't enough of a sign that he wasn't faking? Just get him a doctor, or I'm sure the media won't hesitate to run with the story about how the Sheriff mistreats inmates in his custody."

Lamb gave Cliff a thumbs up, then made a face at him as soon as his back was turned.

Meanwhile, Veronica's mind was whirring with the possibilities, and she had to confirm her suspicions. Veronica turned to Curly and said, "Hang on. I've gotta talk to that guy."

She ran to catch Cliff in the hallway, calling after him.

"Veronica! Lovely portfolio of the ADA schtupping her gardener. Really helped me out with that harassment case. I had the one that showed her birthmark shaped like Michigan blown up to poster size. It's in my office," he said proudly.

"I don't remember any birthmark."

"Well, let's just say it wasn't on her face." Cliff smirked.

Veronica winced briefly. "Right. Awesome. Anyway, Cliff, back there with Lamb, you were talking about your sick client --"

"Ah yes. Heard that did you? Pretty good bluff, huh? I can't actually take any story to the media or he'll fire me. He doesn't want it getting out that he's sick. Guess it would ruin the crazy tough guy image he's trying to cultivate." Cliff rolled his eyes.

"Who is it?"

"Can't tell ya, kiddo. Attorney-client yadda yadda yadda. Or something like that. Law school was so long ago," he said with a wistful sigh. "But it shouldn't be too hard for a junior detective to guess who it could be. Besides, I don't have that many clients facing a murder charge."

Nope. Just one: Lilly's alleged killer, Abel Koontz.

FIC: Damn, Damn the Circumstance (13/?)

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 01:56:14 GMT

Title: Damn, Damn the Circumstance (13/?)
Author: invida
Characters: Logan, Veronica, Ensemble
Word Count: 5060
Rating: R
Spoilers: knowledge up to 2x22
Timeline: goes AU from the Pomroy party, and a few liberties are taken with the timing of certain events. See Author's Notes for more details.
Disclaimer: I know the law, and the law would win.
Summary: if Logan hadn't left with the easy freshman that night.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to afrocurl, aud_woman_in, and Rain for all the help.

Previous Parts

"So hey, how 'bout them Sharks?" The voice was coming from behind Logan's open locker door. Logan looked down and saw familiar sneakers.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," Logan muttered as he slammed his locker shut and faced a sheepish Duncan. Logan tried not to look surprised at the bandage Duncan sported across the bridge of his nose and the bruises that were fading around his eyes. Guess I landed that kick after all, he thought.

It was the first time Logan had seen Duncan since he'd tried to choke the life out of Logan. Duncan hadn't been back to school since. The official excuse was he was sick with bronchitis. Logan's suspicion was that Duncan had finally gone completely mental and the Kanes had him locked away until he was fit to rejoin society. He'd heard that Duncan was back in school today, but Logan avoided their usual haunts during class breaks and skipped the classes they had together. It was the last week before finals that semester and it wasn't like Logan was a stellar student -- no one would be surprised by his absence.

"Yeah, dude. Not a baseball fan. My -- ahem -- friends know that." Logan slung his knapsack over his shoulder, and while walking away said, "Now if you don't mind, Donut, I have to go meet some of them."

Duncan caught up to him. "C'mon man --"

"Oh, so we're buds again, are we, DK?" Logan asked irritably as he pushed through the school doors.

"I thought --"

Logan turned around suddenly. Duncan almost ran into him not expecting him to stop so quickly. "Riiiight. You thought that maybe if you came up to me all sweet and innocent, I'd forget all about what happened. How hard do you think I knocked my fucking head when --"

"Language, Mr Echolls!" Both boys turned to see Vice Principal Clemmons coming through the doors with his briefcase in hand. "The school day might be over, but you seem to forget that we are still on school property."

Logan looked around with exaggeration. "That would explain the lack of sailor suits and longshoremen."

Clemmons ignored the comment. "Yes, well, Logan, if you could tell your mother to please give me a call--"

Logan dropped the bravado and attempted to look contrite. "Is that really necessary? I swear, sir, it won't happen again."

"Swearing is the problem, Mr Echolls, but I'm willing to overlook this little indiscretion this time. Your mother was scheduled to make an appearance at a luncheon fundraiser today for the Lilly Kane Memorial we're planning for the next school year and she didn't make it." Clemmons cleared his throat and glanced guiltily away at the mention of Lilly's name in front of Duncan. People still had no idea how to deal with Duncan with respect to his sister -- his closest friends included.

"My mom's been really under the weather lately, sir. I'm sure it was an oversight," Logan stammered caught off-guard by having to defend his mother.

"Ah, well, as long as she's okay then."

As okay as can be when you were confronted with proof that your renowned and beloved actor husband was a philandering asshole who couldn't even keep it in his pants in his own household and you drowned your sorrows in bourbon and painkillers daily and your son had to check and make sure you're still breathing every couple of hours. Yep. Okay.

Logan quietly replied, "I'll make sure her assistant gets back to you."

Clemmons nodded and made his exit quickly, clearly uncomfortable with talking with the boys about personal matters and money.

Logan began to walk out to the parking lot, ignoring Duncan. Duncan, not taking the hint, caught up to him again.

"Hey, I just wanted to say that I -- well, I heard about you and, um, Veronica."

"Yeah? What didja hear?"

"That you're not, uh, 'together' any more."

Logan stopped and turned. "And?"

Duncan shrugged. "And I'm, you know, sorry."

"Now exactly what, D, are you sorry about?"

All Duncan could do was shrug again. Logan nodded. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Save your apologies for someone who thinks they're worth the breath you waste on them, dude."

Duncan caught Logan's arm and pulled him back before he could walk away again. "That's not fair."

Logan snorted, shaking Duncan's hand off. "Fair? You're gonna talk to me about fair?"

"No. That's not -- I --" he stammered before shaking his head, asking, "What do you want from me? She was my girlfriend, man."

"Funny how you bring that up only when it's convenient for you. Any other time, you don't wanna talk about her, you won't even look at her, as though it's her fault. But don't forget, Duncan, I know what else she could be."

Duncan's eyes narrowed. "Now you're just being a jackass."

Logan laughed mirthlessly. "I never claimed I wasn't, dude. You're the choirboy, remember? I also never claimed anything when it came to Veronica. I told you what was going on and you still went apeshit."

"Look, I know I over-reacted, and I know I haven't exactly been chummy with you since we last talked at Casey's --"

Logan blinked in confusion. "Since Casey's?"

"Yeah. Casey Gant's party before school started? It was only a couple of weeks ago. You came up to me and Shelley--"

"Okay. Right. Sure," Logan stammered, trying to get a footing on the conversation again. Duncan really didn't look like he was pulling a fast one on him, though. Duncan never did have much of a poker face. "I remember that. And you're saying we haven't talked since then?"

"Uh, yeah. Now who's got memory loss? Your social calendar's been that busy?"

"Where have you been the last week, DK?" Logan asked incredulously, still not sure if Duncan was trying to pull some act. Did Duncan really not remember trying to kill his best friend?

Duncan looked away. "Home. Sick."

"Right. Should've known." Logan tapped his fingers to his forehead. "After all, that's been the MO all this year. So what happened to your face?"

Duncan frowned, clearly embarrassed by the question. "I got hit at soccer practice."

"You smacked your schnoz up like that kicking a ball around? You playing full-contact soccer now?"

Duncan shook his head in annoyance. "If you ever actually watched a game instead of using at as an excuse to get ripped in the stands then you'd know that there's a lot of contact. I jumped up to head the ball at the same time as another guy, banged into him, fell down, and he landed on me, feet first. At least, that's what my parents tell me. I kinda blacked out after it happened and they took me home."

Logan watched him suspiciously. He'd had obviously rehearsed this speech. It was as though Duncan had decided their last meeting hadn't happened. He'd obliterated it from his memory, apparently with his parents help, and now he was starting fresh. Maybe it wasn't a bad idea, Logan thought, thinking of all the things he wished hadn't happened.

"Well, the bandage is definitely an improvement. Plus it adds some bad boy mystery and that'll drive chicks wild, even if you do look like you," he said with a smirk. He decided to let the line of questioning go. No sense in pushing Duncan back into the frenzied confrontation they'd had last time.

Duncan rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Funny. Hey, so are you actually gonna listen to me now? I just wanted to talk to you, you know. I thought that we could maybe hang out again, iron things out and let things get back to normal."

"Normal?! What the fuck is normal?" Then Logan snapped his fingers. "Oh, wait, I get it. You mean now that I'm not hanging around Veronica all the time. What do you think I'm going to do now, dude? You think I'm gonna go back to slashing her tires and putting her down in front of everybody?"

Duncan tried to glance away during Logan's tirade, but Logan pointed in his face, forcing Duncan to look at him. "Lemme make this perfectly clear before you answer that. I might not be hanging around Veronica any more, but I don't hate her. And none of that crap is gonna happen again. Got that?"

Duncan swallowed and nodded.

"Good." Logan pointed to his watch. "I gotta go, man."

He turned back towards the parking lot, but was prevented by a silver Audi zipping by them. From the driver's side window, Dick yelled, "School bus for you, asshole! This train's sailed! WOO!" The rest of the passengers in the car squealed with laughter as Dick peeled out of the school lot.

"Fucking fantastic!" Logan shouted, not caring if any school staff were within earshot. He flung his knapsack on the ground in frustration. Apparently, Dick wasn't as over what happened New Year's Eve as he let on.

"Thanks a whole bunch, Duncan. You just made me miss my fucking ride."

"Hey, man, take it easy." Duncan picked up Logan's knapsack and passed it back to him. "I'll drive you home."

He snatched his bag back from Duncan. "Yeah, well, you'd better."

"I heard about your SUV," Duncan said, leading Logan to his vehicle.

Logan opened the passenger door and got in. "Wow. You've got quite a grapevine for someone who hasn't been around lately. Well, remember what they say, believe half of what you see, son, and none of what you hear."

"So you weren't carjacked by Mexican bikers?"

"Oh, I was carjacked," Logan said quickly. Technically, he wasn't lying. His car was taken from him by force. He just omitted the fact that it was the force of an explosion. "But it wasn't by those douchebags," he added, remembering with a shudder the coldness in Beaver's eyes.

It made him a little more than nervous that they'd agreed to meet on this deserted cliff side lookout off the PCH. Hills obscured the view from the roadside and the ocean didn't provide much of a witness if something were to happen here.

"Okay. I'm here." Logan said getting out of his SUV and walked towards the solitary figure by the cliff. "What do you want, Beaver?"

Beaver crossed his arms. "I've told you not to call me that."

Logan tapped his finger to his lips mockingly. "And that matters why, again? Lilly's killer was caught. Remember? I don't have to listen to you or your demands any more."

Beaver shook his head with a laugh. "You think I can't still get to you? You're sadly mistaken."

"Are you're talking about your little stunt with Veronica this afternoon? Telling her about what happened in Mexico? Yeah. It didn't work. All you did was make her more suspicious of you. So if you want me to stay quiet about Shelley's party, you're going about it in all the wrong ways, shithead, and you've only got yourself to blame." Logan started to walk away.

"I'm warning you --"

Logan turned back with a roar. "No! I'm warning you! Stay the fuck away from Veronica!"

"No! You stay away from her! I've told you over and over! And you just don't listen!" Beaver screamed.

"Too fucking bad! I am with Veronica now and I'm not backing out because you're a batshit crazy pervert and you can't deal with what you almost did." Logan couldn't help but savour victory as he watched Beaver shaking with rage. "Or is that the problem? You didn't go through with it and you don't want it to get around that you're exactly the snivelling little prude Dick says you are. Is that it?"

Beaver didn't answer, just stood there glaring at Logan.

"Well, Beav, lemme get this absolutely crystal clear for you, I'm not going to stop seeing Veronica. And there's nothing you can say or do that's gonna change that." Logan turned and walked back towards his SUV.

"You think so, huh?" Beaver shouted. Logan glanced back at Beaver to see him holding up what looked like a remote control and pressing a button before he was thrown to the ground by the impact.

"How do you know?"

"Huh?" Logan couldn't remember what he and Duncan had been talking about. "How do I know what?"

Duncan asked, starting his SUV. "I mean, the news reports say that you didn't see them, but Sheriff Lamb said the PCHers were his prime suspects."

Logan had been mortified by how the local press and the Sheriff had latched on to the cover story he and Veronica came up with for how he'd lost his vehicle. He'd hoped that it would just be another statistic, but he should have known better than to think a crime against Aaron Echolls' son would go unnoticed by the media. After that, Lamb had to assure all the 09 residents that he was on the case and the town was safe and took every opportunity to keep the case in the papers.

"Look, I just know, okay? I've been around Weevil enough to know it wasn't him or any of his goons."

"Wait. You've been hanging around the leader of the PCH Gang?"

Logan shrugged. "Not exactly. We just have mutual interests."

Duncan shook his head with skepticism. "Huh. I was going to say that you wouldn't be a good influence on Veronica, but it looks like it's the other way around."

"Hilarious. Three months I can't get you to talk about Veronica and now that I don't want to, you can't shut up about her," Logan muttered.

"It was just a joke."

"And it bombed. Move on to your next bit, Kinison."

"Tough crowd. Okay. There is something I wanna talk to you about." Duncan pulled out of the parking lot. "Did you hear about Meg and Cole?"

"What, she finally came to her senses and realized she can pledge not to do it with someone a lot better?

"Just the opposite. Cole dumped her right in the middle of the quad at lunch today."

Logan laughed at the news. "He's such an asshat."

"It gets better. He dumped her because of you."

"Me?!" Logan pointed to himself. "What the fuck did I do?"

"Apparently, you hit on her at Casey's party."

"So what? I hit on everybody at Casey's party. I hit on the god-damned fireplace. Do you know how shit-faced I was that night?"

"Yeah, but she didn't tell Cole about it. So when everyone started gossiping about you at lunch and she mentioned that you got all touchy-feely with her, Cole flipped out and accused her of hiding all sorts of stuff about you and any guy she's ever even made eye contact with."

Logan snorted. "Meg?! Meg 'Abstinence' Manning? What the hell is Cole's problem? He dates the most virginal girl in school and that's still not good enough?"

Duncan nodded in agreement, then slowly asked, "Sooooo is she good enough for you?"

Logan's head shot up. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I mean, you were hitting on her, you admitted it. Have you got a thing for her?" Duncan held his finger up, bouncing it along to emphasize each of his points.

Logan eyed him warily and asked, "I think the real question here, Dunc, is do you?"

Duncan turned beet red, realizing that Logan was seeing right through his interrogation tactics. "Maybe," he admitted.

"Well, well, well," Logan mocked. "Duncan and Meh-hegg sittin' in a tree-yee, K-I-S-S-I-N-G --"

"Shut up!" Duncan grumbled through clenched teeth, trying to smack ineffectively at Logan while keeping his eyes on the road.

Logan laughed, sliding out of Duncan's reach and continued, "First comes LOVE! Then comes marriage! Then comes bay-beeee--"

"Stop being such a fucking ass!" Duncan yelled.

Logan couldn't help giggling, even though he was pretty sure the vein in Duncan's forehead was just about ready to burst. "So what do you want from me, man? My permission?"

"Unlike you, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't stepping on any toes," Duncan said snidely.

The grin vanished from Logan's face. "Fuck you, dude."

Duncan shrugged indifferently. "Just calling it like I see it, man."

"So much for letting things go back to normal, huh?" Logan grabbed the door lever. "Pull over and let me out."

Duncan grabbed Logan's arm tightly. "No, wait. I'm -- I'm sorry. I'm trying. I'll try harder. We're almost at your house, anyway."

Logan paused, his hand still on the handle. Duncan really did look contrite. He dropped his hand. "Fine." Logan shook off Duncan's hand and gestured towards the road. "Let's go."

Once Duncan resumed driving, Logan ventured back to their previous subject. "So you're sure you want to ask Meg out?"

Duncan nodded slowly. "Yeah, she's cute and sweet. And I -- I need to start moving on. You know what I mean?"

Logan turned away and stared out the passenger side window and said under his breath, "Better than you can imagine, man."

----------

"So I'll call you later then?" Duncan asked as he wound his way up the twisting driveway and came to a stop at the house.

Logan hopped out. "Yeah, sure," he said before shutting the door.

He turned towards the house and found Mrs Navarro sweeping the front entrance. He was about to make a spiteful comment as he passed her about missing a spot when she looked up and said softly, "Your father is home."

She quickly turned back to her sweeping before Logan could say anything in response, but the anxiety and guilt were still there even as her eyes darted away from his. Sickening anger and shame swelled in his chest. It took all his willpower not to go over and snap her broom handle in half.

Logan simply nodded and entered the house with a little more care than before. He couldn't imagine why Aaron was home already. His father wasn't scheduled to have a break in filming for another week, and there were never any guarantees that Aaron would actually come home during that time. At least he now knew why his mother wasn't at the luncheon today, not that he would be able to explain it to Clemmons if asked again.

Logan tried to balance his indifference with his apprehension. He made some noise, but not too much noise, counting the steps until he made it to his room undetected. He was almost through the living room when he heard the familiar call.

"Hello, son. How was school?"

"Mandatory," Logan replied with a dejected sigh, chastising himself for thinking he might be able to avoid a confrontation. He turned to find his father sitting in an arm chair, holding a family photo. Aaron placed the photo down on a side table and beckoned for Logan to come over to him.

Logan unceremoniously dropped his backpack and practically bounced over to his father. "Yes, Pa?" Logan asked cheerfully, rocking on the balls of his feet as he stood with clasped hands in front of Aaron.

"Let's not play this game today, Logan," Aaron cautioned.

Logan flopped down on the couch next to Aaron's chair. "Fine. So what brings you home from the frontier so soon? Thought you had another week before there was a break."

"You'd be surprised how willing a studio is to release you early when you have a family crisis that is splashed all over the news."

The realization that Aaron's return was about him hitched in Logan's chest. This was attention he didn't need right now. "Dad, it wasn't my fault --"

"Be that as it may, Logan, how do you think I felt when I had reporter after reporter shove a microphone in my face, asking if I was going to be with my family in their time of need, and I had no idea what they were talking about."

Logan should have known that it was all about appearances. It wasn't like Aaron normally took an interest in Logan's day beyond asking how he was. Not unless he did something that drew some notice.

Logan surmised that his mother hadn't told his father about his incident. He wondered just how much Lynn been in communication with Aaron after everything she'd learned from Veronica's dad.

"Where is Mom?"

"Indisposed," Aaron said disdainfully.

Obviously Logan was going to get no help from Lynn on this one. He was going to have to smooth this over himself. "Dad, I didn't know that you didn't know what happened. I mean, don't you usually have people to keep you informed, like Harvey --" The bile rose in Logan's throat. Only Aaron would have an agent keep him up-to-date with his own family.

Aaron reached over and put his hand on Logan's shoulder. "I'm not blaming you, Logan --"

For once, Logan thought, finishing Aaron's sentence as his father paused and removed his hand from his son, seemingly finishing the sentence in his head as well.

"I came home because I found out my son was the victim of a crime. That's not unreasonable, is it?"

Logan shrugged. "I'm fine."

"That's beside the point."

It usually was. "And what is the point?"

"That my family was attacked. An attack on my family is an attack on me."

"Really? No one took your car."

"And who paid for that car?"

"Touché. So what? You coming back early is gonna make them give it back?"

"My coming back will light a fire under our illustrious Sheriff to make him realize that he can't allow this to happen to us. Now tell me what happened."

"Why? You're going to lead your own investigation?"

"I want to know what I'm talking about at the press conference tomorrow."

Logan clapped with sarcastic glee. "That's a great idea! A bigger media circus! Because we're not being hounded enough just for the misfortune of being related to you!"

Aaron leaned forward menacingly. "Keep smarting off, Logan, and you'll know what misfortune means."

Touché again. Logan crossed his arms and sat back sullenly. "Fine. I was going to see Veronica. I was forced off the road --"

"Veronica?" Aaron frowned. "You're still seeing her?"

Logan rolled his eyes. "You have a problem with Veronica now? You sure as hell didn't when she was here for New Year's Eve."

"Veronica's a lovely girl. I'm just not sure she's -- ahem -- right for you."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, the part of town she lives in, what her father does, her mother's reputation --" Aaron was counting on his fingers.

Logan laughed derisively. "This from Aaron 'Humble Beginnings' Echolls."

Aaron sighed. "Logan, do you think I say these things as a joke?"

"You must be because they're hysterical."

"I'm simply pointing out that by continuing this relationship, you're inviting danger into our lives."

"I'm inviting danger?! I'm not the one who gets bizarre gifts and threatening letters from crazed fans!"

Aaron shook his head. "That's a drawback of this business. A business that also affords you luxuries like the car that was stolen from you when you were on your way to the less savoury areas of Neptune."

Logan could have let it go. He could have told his father what Duncan and everyone else in town already thought, that his concern was unfounded because he was no longer seeing Veronica. But he wasn't about to give him that kind of satisfaction. Besides, if Logan had his way, this was a temporary situation.

"You know, this sudden father-knows-best attitude you've assumed might work if you actually knew something about me."

Aaron's fists clenched in warning. "Logan, I really think you ought to change your tone with me --"

But Logan continued undaunted, "If you'd been paying any attention, you would know that Veronica has been one of my friends since we moved here. And lately she's been the only bright spot I've had since Lilly died."

At Logan's declaration, Aaron blinked, then slumped back in his chair, "You -- You're right, son." He waved for Logan to leave. "Okay. Go on. Go. We'll talk about the press conference later."

Aaron picked up the photograph again. Logan got up slowly, watching his father with confusion. Aaron still hadn't moved when Logan glanced back one more time before picking up his bag and leaving the room.

----------

"Do you have like X-ray vision or something?" Casey nudged Logan.

"What do you mean, man?" Logan asked, turning as his trance was broken.

"You're staring over there like you can see right through her." Casey pointed towards Veronica sitting at her usual table with Mac. "I'm assuming it's at your ex and not Felicity's roommate there. Veronica is your ex, right?"

Logan swatted Casey's hand. "Don't fucking point!"

"Why not?"

A pizza box dropped in front of them as Duncan sat down. "Ah," Casey said meaningfully at Logan.

Duncan, oblivious to his friends' conversation, asked Logan, "What are you doing Saturday? I need a favour."

"Uh, studying?" Logan answered snippily. "Exams are next week."

Duncan scoffed. "Oh please. Like you care."

"And you don't have exams?"

Duncan shrugged. "I've already got a guaranteed A in three classes. C'mon. You gotta do this for me."

"Do what?" Logan asked, opening the pizza box.

"Double date with Meg and Pam."

Logan stared at Duncan. "No."

"But you told me I should --"

"I said, yes, you should ask Meg out. I'm saying no to a double date. Ask someone else." Logan jerked his thumb at Casey.

Casey held his hands up. "Don't look at me, man. I'm still with Darcy. In fact, I should go find her now."

"Real subtle, dude!" Logan yelled as Casey got up and gave him a thumbs up before scurrying off to find his girlfriend.

"It's gotta be you. Meg'll only go out in a group and Pam's all hot for you now since she saw you on TV with your dad. Said you looked all tortured and sensitive. Girls." Duncan said with a laugh and an eye roll. "So are you in?" Duncan asked hopefully.

Before Logan could answer, giggles from all around became louder and the boys looked around to find their source. Logan found himself staring at Veronica's table once again as Dick swung a leg over the bench and sat down beside her.

"Well, if it isn't Little Miss Stun Gun!" Dick took a fry off Veronica's lunch tray and she made no move to stop him. "Not so tough without your weaponry and rich boyfriends, huh?"

Veronica watched him coolly. "You really shouldn't underestimate me, Dick."

Dick ignored her and continued, pointing his stolen fry at Mac. "So what's this then, Ronnie? Logan wises up and dumps your slutty ass and you thought you'd try to see if butchy girls found you just as skanky? Good thing you picked a loser who'd have to have low standards."

Duncan turned back to his pizza determined to ignore the situation unfolding behind him. Logan began to breathe heavily and clenched his fists ready to stand up.

"What are you doing?"

Logan's eyes flickered to Duncan who stared at him quizzically. He glared at Duncan, mystified at how he could let this happen. She could be his sister for fucksake and Duncan was just letting them have their way with her. The irony that Logan was allowing it to happen to her as well was not lost on him as he ignored Duncan and turned back to the ugly scene in the middle of the quad.

Veronica continued to stare at Dick impassively.

Dick leered. "So I finally managed to shut you up and I didn't even have to unzip my --"

A gloved hand clapped onto Dick's shoulder and roughly turned him around. "Looks like someone's gonna have to wash your mouth out with some industrial soap, son."

'Bout fucking time, Logan thought as he watched Weevil manhandle Dick. He relaxed his hands, but was still tense and ready for a fight in case things went wrong -- more wrong.

Dick laughed. "Yeah? Which of your cleaning jobs did you steal it from? Or was it on the truck that you stowed away on when you crossed the border?"

Weevil grinned back. "Say whatever you want to me, bro. Leave the girl alone."

Dick snorted. "Wow, Ronnie. You're really taking the 'Whore of Neptune High' title seriously. Got yourself a pimp and everything!" He turned to Mac again who was blushing furiously, ducking her head in the vain hope of not being noticed again. "So what are you? Assistant Ho? Hey, cholo, you might wanna get your bitches a better wardrobe. This one dresses like a dude."

"You were warned, Beach Boy." As Weevil hauled Dick up out of his seat, two factions of boys swarmed in around Veronica's table taking their places behind Dick and Weevil, with everyone else circling around, on top of benches and tables, to see the violence about to be unleashed.

No one was interested in Veronica any more and Logan took his opportunity to catch her wrist as she struggled out of the crowd and pull her away.

----------

"Are you insane?" Veronica asked, wrenching her arm out of his grasp after he'd pulled her into the empty classroom.

"No more than usual," Logan answered flippantly, letting her go without a fight.

"What the hell did you think you were doing?" she asked accusingly, rubbing her wrist.

"How about pulling you to safety?"

"Noble gesture. But I was fine. Besides, anyone could've have seen you!"

Logan shrugged guiltily. "No one was looking."

"Someone is always looking. Any PI worth his salt knows that." Veronica rolled her eyes as though she'd given him this lesson before.

"Well, is anyone looking now?" Logan waved his arms with a flourish to emphasize the emptiness of the room.

Veronica glanced around at each corner of the room and at the closed door. "Good point," she conceded. Then she launched herself at him, knocking him back into a desk and kissing him hard as he caught her. It didn't take him a second to regain his balance and kiss her back.

Part 14

Bow, peasants!

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:48:02 GMT

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Lady Madame Invida the Recumbent of Melbury Bubblewick
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Flight of the Conchords icons

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:17:28 GMT

1. You should be watching Flight of the Conchords.
2. Icons from my new favourite show!
3. I learned to make animated icons. Go me!

how I'll be suspended...

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:41:20 GMT

Why shiny4love? Why?

Considering the fact that I've never even read any HP, I guess I fail already...sigh.

sigh

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 03:43:03 GMT

Not that I'm being prodded or anything like that, but I feel like I should say something about the lack of updates with...well, with anything, but in particular, with regards to the WIP. Yeah, it's gonna be a while. Real Life sucks major ass rocks right now and is distracting me from what I'd rather be doing. I do intend to keep going though and I am thinking about the next part and I'm discussing it with a few fine folks out there, but it's not coming together any time soon. Sorry to anyone hoping for an update in the near future.

to the very kind anonymous person...

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:30:12 GMT

Thank you very much for the generous gift! I'm blown away and feeling all warm and fuzzy inside now. Thanks again for totally making my day whoever you are!

How will you be suspended from LJ? by Anonymous LJ User
Username
Years on LJ
Snape
Hours left until your suspension	25
Your crime	Failing to establish literary merit in your Harry/Draco/Ron/Seamus/Hagrid/Dobby/Bart Simpson circle jerk fic.
Who reported you	shiny4love
Your fate	You discover fresh air, real life, and true love.