Some Truths Hurt 2008-2009

Disclaimer: Still not mine. But I promise to take good care of them while I play.

The last chapter got a lot of reviews, so THANKS! I do appreciate it. It was a tough one to write so getting a response back to it was great.

This was a tough one to write, I didn’t send it to Vermouth until it was too late. All mistakes are mine.

This story so far recaplet: Season 1 happens with a lot of changes. See previous chapter’s recap. Veronica goes to the Kanes’ dressed incognito to get into Lilly’s vent. She finds tapes and pictures, and Duncan finds her. She takes the tapes and Aaron hijacks her. A violent confrontation follows, and Aaron is arrested. Keith is in the hospital, and Veronica is left reeling. Aaron is arraigned for his assault and kidnapping of Veronica. Lamb and the DA are working on charging him with Lily’s murder. Jake and Celeste are charged with obstruction. Leanne is in town and she and Veronica get into it at the hospital. Veronica is staying at the Fennels’ with Logan. Veronica has a concussion and is acting oddly. Logan is also reeling from the news.

Chapter 41: Going Under

(Monday)

Scene opens on Veronica sitting stiffly at the Fennel dining room table. She is obviously in pain. Logan and Alicia are also sitting at the table as Wallace and Daryl rush around getting ready for school.

Logan opens his mouth to offer Veronica a pain pill that his mother’s oh-so-accommodating doctor had prescribed over the phone, but Alicia cuts him down with one look.

Alicia: Veronica, I made an appointment for you to see your regular doctor today to find out about getting you some pain pills. (stern tone directed at Logan) You’re not supposed to take any pills until tomorrow, but if your doctor OKs it, we’ll get you some today.

Veronica doesn’t respond.

Logan: What time is the appointment? I’ll take her.

He and Alicia continue to talk around Veronica, including her in the conversation without asking her anything that requires a response.

Alicia: Veronica?

Veronica: (vague) Yeah. That’s fine.

Wallace: OK. I’m off. I’ll drop Daryl at school.

Alicia: Drive safely.

Wallace rolls his eyes.

Daryl: Bye Mom! Bye Ronica, bye Logan.

He stops to whisper to Logan then leaves with a smile. Veronica narrows her eyes at Logan trying to focus.

Veronica: What was that about?

Logan: (smiling, happy to see her interest in something) Daryl wants pizza for dinner.

Alicia: We’ll see. Now, about today…

She addresses the practicalities of them missing school, and goes on to tell them that Keith is seeing one of the preeminent burn specialists that morning. She checks her watch and seeing the time, quickly gets to her feet and gathers up her purse.

Alicia: I’ll see you both later.

Left on their own, Logan frowns at Veronica who still looks to be in a lot of pain as she stares into space obviously lost in her own thoughts. Logan would give her another pain pill, except that he still feels guilty for giving her a pill last night so she could sleep. Alicia had lectured him for several minutes on how doctors have rules for a reason. He didn’t want to accidentally hurt Veronica, or betray the promise Alicia had forced out of him. Watching Veronica shift uncomfortably in her seat again, Logan has an idea.

-------------

Cut to outside the Echolls’ home where two cars from the Sheriff’s Department are parked. Trina opens the door to Sheriff Lamb and two deputies.

Lamb: Afternoon, ma’am.

Trina: Can I help you with something?

Lamb: You can step aside. (holds up a warrant) We have a search warrant for the property.

Trina: This is ridiculous, haven’t you already done enough? (crocodile tears falling) My father is in the hospital and now this…

Lamb looks at her dispassionately and pushes past her into the house, several more deputies enter behind him.

Trina: You can't just barge in here! This is private property, my father will hear about this!

Looking down the driveway, she sees the photographers and tries to pose without looking like she is posing for the cameras. The shutterbugs take the bait and click away madly.

-------------

Cut to the Neptune Grand. Logan and Veronica enter the Penthouse suite to find it empty.

Veronica: What are we doing here?

Logan: I’ll show you.

He leads her into through his room and into the large bathroom. Waving his hand at the oversized whirlpool bathtub. She looks back at him, her eyes more alert than he’d seen her since “the accident.” That’s what they had all taken to calling it. For Daryl, and because they didn’t know another succinct word to encompass what had happened.

Logan: Whirlpool tub. It helps with soreness.

He doesn’t say how he knows that, and she doesn’t comment on it.

Veronica: (brief smile) Thanks. It couldn’t hurt.

Logan starts the water and Veronica begins to undress. She toes off her shoes, then unbuttons her jeans, pushing them down her legs slowly. Even more carefully she begins to lift her shirt over her head and Logan comes over to help her tugging it gently so she just has to hold her arms up for him to get it off. She looks frustrated at her own helplessness, but is silent. Logan unsnaps her bra but lets her shrug it off. He turns around to give her privacy as she slips free of her underwear and moves to the tub. Logan had laid thick folded towels in the bottom to cushion her as she sat.

Standing in the water up to her knees she turns to see him studiously not looking at her. She smiles.

Veronica: What are you doing?

Logan glances over his shoulder then turns back around facing way from her.

Veronica: Seriously, Logan. You’ve seen me naked before. (dryly) Lots of times. Now come help me sit down. (ponderous) For some reason sitting is harder than getting up.

Logan turns but keeps his eyes on her face as she sinks into the warm water. Once she is settled he turns on the jets and she eases back into the tub, looking more relaxed already as the heat seeps into her aching muscles.

Logan: (roughly) There’s, um, there’s bath stuff. Oils and bubbles. If you want.

Veronica: Hmm.

Her eyes are closed and her head is resting on a soft towel. Logan swallows hard, his eyes making an inventory of her bruises again, beginning at the top of her forehead down to her ribs and arms. In addition to the contusions on her face, she has a long bruise beginning at her collar bone and stretching to her lower rib cage from the seatbelt. Her legs are also bruised up, and the angry red burn on her arm was garish against her pale skin.

Logan moves towards the door and her eyes open.

Veronica: Where are you going?

Logan: I need to shower too.

She tilts her head back to where the separate shower is in the luxurious bathroom.

Logan: I’ll use the other one. (she frowns at him) I’ll be quick.

She blinks but then nods slowly, but he is already gone.

--------------

Logan helps Veronica up out of the bath some time later and she looks much more relaxed. Dressed in one of Logan’s soft t-shirts she settles into his bed for a nap. Logan stands beside the bed watching her, his face revealing his tortured thoughts. Her eyes open and she looks at him with a sad, sympathetic smile.

Veronica: Lie down Logan. You need to sleep too.

He cautiously joins her on the bed and his face softens as she curls into his side.

Veronica: (demanding) And don’t wake me up until we have to leave. I’m fine. What I need is to be able to sleep for more than two hours at a time.

He warily nods his agreement and lets himself enjoy the solid press of her body against his.

Waking up later, Logan orders lunch as Veronica calls Alicia to check in on Keith. After eating Logan drives Veronica to the doctor who gives the go ahead for Veronica to begin taking pain killers. He also prescribes her muscle relaxants to help ease her soreness, allowing her more freedom of movement.

They stop off to fill the prescription then go to the hospital. They manage to avoid the media, but not the authorities. Not long after arriving, the DA and ADA arrive to question Veronica and Keith again, piecing their stories together into one timeline.

Logan and Alicia wait outside.

ADA Dumanis: (to Veronica) What time was it when you left the party?

Veronica checks her phone for the calls she placed to Keith and Logan and gives them the exact time. The DA jots down a note to get a copy of Veronica’s phone log.

ADA Dumanis: And you had seen Aaron Echolls earlier that evening?

Veronica: Yes, but I don’t know if he recognized me.

DA Collins: And Keith, what time did you leave your house to go looking for Veronica?

Keith: I wasn’t comfortable with her being alone with the tapes, so when I called her back and she didn’t answer, I went looking for her.

Veronica also gives an exact time for that call from her phone. Her eyes fill with tears at the thought of what would have happened if Keith hadn’t come looking for her. They wait for her to get herself together then ask several questions about the homeowner, Howard Hicks.

Veronica: Why are you asking all this?

The DAs share a look.

DA Collins: Mr. Hicks was checked out by the paramedics but when deputies returned to question him later he was missing.

Keith: Missing?

ADA Dumanis: He hasn’t been home and we have been unable to locate him.

Now Veronica and Keith share a look.

Veronica Voiceover: From what I’ve heard, Aaron is barely conscious most of the time, but he’s already making witnesses disappear?

Leaving the room, ADA Dumanis reaches out to shake hands with Veronica. Startled by the sudden and unexpected movement Veronica recoils then blinks in confusion as she slowly extends her hand to the woman who would be responsible for convicting Aaron for his various crimes.

----------------

Outside the room, the DA and ADA talk to Logan. He agrees to take them to the house and show them the videos. Logan looks confused as to how they hadn’t found them since he had told the deputies exactly where they were.

ADA Dumanis: When the property was searched earlier today, the videos were not there.

Logan looks surprised, then grim.

Logan: I have copies.

The DAs look pleased.

Logan: We copied them for my mother to use in the divorce.

DA Collins: If you had the actual tapes that would be better.

Logan flashes to the three tapes he had taken from the drawers and hidden, now safely in a safety deposit box.

Logan: (grimly)I don’t have the actual tapes, but I have copies, and Veronica took pictures of each drawer with the tapes in them.

The DAs’ smiles are almost feral looking.

----------------

Later that afternoon, Veronica exits Keith’s room with Alicia and walks past her mother without even a look in Leanne’s direction. Alicia notes that Leanne looks crushed. At the elevator, Alicia turns to Veronica.

Alicia: Do you want to talk to your mother Veronica? I’ll wait.

Veronica looks surprised and turns to see Leanne standing in the small waiting area. She looks at her mother, her face devoid of emotion.

Leanne: Veronica?

The elevator door opens and Veronica steps inside.

Veronica: (disinterested) No. I can talk to her later.

The doors close on Alicia and Veronica, and the camera pans to Leanne. Her expression is hurt then it clears. She walks with determination to the elevator, pressing the call button as she dials a number on her cell phone.

Leanne: Hello Jake. I need your help.

-----------------

Cut to the family courthouse previously seen when Logan filed for emancipation. The tall building’s white stone walls are painted pink by the setting sun. Leanne walks up the front stairs with her lawyer and friend Teresa Souto. They are ushered into a waiting room outside a judge’s chambers.

Teresa Souto: Are you sure you want to do this Leanne?

Leanne: Yes.

Teresa Souto: What does Veronica want?

Leanne: She’s my daughter. While Keith is in the hospital she should be with me.

Teresa looks doubtful but subsides.

Teresa Souto: I thought you would have had your hands full already.

Leanne looks briefly guilty.

Leanne: Veronica’s angry at me. I need some time with her to fix things. (soflty, almost plaintively) I miss her.

Teresa looks down.

Teresa Souto: Fine. But I don’t even want to know how you got a hearing this quickly. Let alone after hours.

-----------------

That evening, Alicia drives Veronica home from the hospital. Logan hadn’t come back because the DA had wanted to interview him more fully. Veronica had a pretty good idea what was taking so long. She was worried about Logan. Dialing him on her phone she gets his voicemail.

Logan: This is Logan with today’s inspirational greeting: I would rather make my name than inherit it. William Makepeace Thackeray.

Veronica grimaces as the false good humor in his voice.

Veronica: Logan. It’s Veronica. I hope you’re OK. I’m on my way back to the Fennels’. I’ll call you later if I don’t hear from you before then. I hope…

She breaks off, realizing her words were as meaningless as any she had received in the last two days.

Veronica: I’ll talk to you later.

Veronica, Wallace and Daryl eat the quick meal that Alicia throws together. Veronica makes it through the meal then takes another pain pill while checking her messages. Several more people had called including some of her dad’s friends, and Connor. She smiles briefly then lies back against the pillows on Wallace’s bed, her mind blank as the pain pill kicks in.

Wallace comes in and sits carefully on the side of the bed not wanting to jolt her. He had accidentally startled her at dinner and almost caused her to fall over as she spun around to face him. Then she had clutched at her ribs from the too fast movement. He still felt bad.

Wallace: Hey.

Veronica: Hey.

She sits up sleepily, but Wallace waves her back down. He scoots to lie next to her on the bed facing her.

Veronica: Sorry to steal your bed. I think I’ll go home tomorrow.

Wallace: No you won’t. Moms won’t let you and neither will I. And If that doesn’t sway you, I think Daryl can cry on command.

She smiles her eyes closing.

Wallace: Does it hurt?

Veronica: (eyes opening) Yes. But bruises fade.

Wallace still looks worried with an edge of anger.

Veronica: Honestly, it’s better today. The pain pills help a lot.

Wallace: So how did you total your car so badly?

Wallace had gone to the tow yard after school to check her car for any belongings the deputies had left in the car.

Veronica: (plainly) I drove it into a tree.

Wallace: You what? You could have been killed!

Veronica: (still casual) I checked my seatbelt first. It worked, so here I am, still alive and kicking. (grimace) Well maybe not kicking yet. But I will be.

Wallace: I’m glad you’re OK, V. Don’t do that again.

Veronica: I didn’t plan on it the first time.

Wallace: Still.

The friends share a smile. Minutes later Veronica is fast asleep with Backup lying on the floor next to the bed.

---------------

Cut to Logan, sitting in the X-terra at the beach. His face is drawn tightly with tension and he stares at the rolling waves, illuminated only by the lights on the pier and a sliver of a moon. His eyes shift to his phone, lying silently on the console next to him.

An hour later he drives back to the hotel, his expression grim. Inside the suite, he goes to the well stocked bar, and takes a bottle into his room with him, shutting the door behind him with a click.

----------------

(Tuesday – middle of the night)

Fennel residence. Veronica is moving restlessly in her sleep, her eyes fluttering with a dream. She is in the hospital, standing in a supernaturally long white corridor. She feels anxious and looks around before walking forward. Suddenly there is a hand on her shoulder and her heart jerks with fright as she tries to spin away from the unknown person. The scene fades before she can see who it is, but does see the hand and the ring on it before she is surrounded by darkness.

Her chest rises and falls rapidly as the darkness surrounds her, she’s afraid, but she doesn’t know why. From somewhere in the blackness she hears the echo of a voice. It’s Lilly.

Lilly: I have a secret. A good one.

Suddenly Aaron’s angry voice is there too.

Aaron: (conversational tone) You know, Lilly never told me where the tapes were hidden either. I-I kinda think there's a cautionary tale in that, Veronica. Something like I'm not going to let a seventeen year-old piece of ass (screams) ruin my life!

Veronica’s heart races with remembered panic, then she here’s a voice and words that remind her of better, more innocent times.

Lilly: Come on Dorkus, let’s go. (she giggles)

Suddenly Veronica is in the hospital again, this time there are other people in the hallway. Her heart is still racing and she spins around looking for the threat she knows is nearby. Her instincts warn her that there is danger there and she reacts defensively, pressing her back against the wall, trying to find the threat.

Jake’s voice grows louder and clearer through the confusing babble of sounds surrounding her. She focuses on his voice.

Jake: …that Aaron has been arraigned. He’s been charged with attempted murder and he’s been denied bail. This is Judge Peter Thorpe.

Her eyes shift from Jake to the Judge. He is tall and slim. His grey eyes are sharp and they make her uncomfortable. She looks down and sees his hands. His right hand has a ring on it.

Her mind struggles, knowing she has seen this ring before. She feels the dream spinning away, but she holds on, knowing there is something here, something she has to see. Something.

She wakes up her chest laboring for breath, her face covered in a sheen of sweat.

Veronica: The ring. It’s him. Judge Thorpe is the Hammer.

Her face is frightened and disgusted. Another of Lilly’s lovers was another of her parents’ friends. Most likely he was a former boyfriend of Celeste’s.

Her expressing grows worried as she puts together the missing pieces. Lilly had gone somewhere after the car wash and before the Echolls, Veronica and the Sheriff’s office had never discovered where. She had been seeing the Judge at the time of her death. She could have gone there that fateful day. Veronica looks worried and confused. Aaron had practically confessed to killing Lilly. Hadn’t he? Or could he have been talking about having sex with her? He had certainly been more than willing to kill Veronica. She looks more and more worried.

Veronica Voiceover: What if it wasn’t Logan’s dad? What if it was the Judge? What if I put Logan through all this for nothing?

Her mind races with the possibilities. If Lilly had seen the judge that day, they could have argued. He could have had motive to kill Lilly. He had a lot to lose if the truth ever came out. And he knew his way around the Kane estate. Or it could have been Aaron as he tried to get the tapes back. If it was Aaron then a judge that had been involved with Lilly was enough to taint the whole trial, letting Aaron get off scott free on a technicality.

Veronica looks devastated, she picks up her phone and pulls up Logan’s number, but she doesn’t hit send. It’s after 3 a.m. in the morning, and what would she say anyway? ‘Hey, I might have been wrong? There’s a small possibility that your dad didn’t kill Lilly. Sorry?’

She sets her phone down and lies back down, pulling the blankets tight around her. Her last thought as she drifts off again, is that she wished Logan was there with her.

-----------------

Tuesday morning passes agonizingly slowly. The pain pills make Veronica very foggy, so any healing from the concussion are lost to the daze of the medications. Several times that morning she finds herself tuning into the middle of conversations even if the person has been standing right in front of her talking directly to her. Her thoughts are mostly occupied with her new problem, and it’s like someone abruptly switched the channel and she is in the middle of a scene with no idea what is going on.

One of these moments she is sitting at her father’s bedside staring at the space in front of her as he sleeps. She has come up with a course of action, but she has to get some additional proof that the Judge is indeed the Hammer before she can proceed. Abruptly she realizes that Alicia is talking to her.

Alicia: …back to work. (seeing Veronica’s startled look) Just for a few hours. I need to brief a colleague on a report we were finishing, she’ll have to take lead on it.

Veronica: Oh. Yeah. Sure. I’m fine Alicia. You don’t have to stay here all day. Dad’s just sleeping most of the time anyway.

Alicia: I know I don’t have to, I want to. (smiles kindly) I suppose we’ll both have to go back to our normal routines soon enough.

Veronica frowns at the thought of returning to school.

As soon as Alicia leaves Veronica shoots Mac a text message asking her to meet Veronica at the hospital after school.

Sitting in the quiet room her mind slowly begins to assimilate the pieces of what had occurred. The effects on the people she loved were enormous. Logan and Lynn were caught in the harsh glare of the media spotlight, and if what she had seen this morning was any indication, Logan wasn’t holding up well.

--Flashback

KTLA’s morning news show goes live to the Neptune Grand as Logan and Lynn exit the hotel. The waiting reporters shout questions as they try to climb into a waiting SUV. Hotel security try to hold back the media, but a few reporters manage to push past as one security guard breaks the line to grab hold of protester holding a sign that reads “Free Aaron Echolls.” A camera flash explodes in Logan’s face and he turns and plows his shoulder into the photographer moving him and a few others several feet back. As Logan stands up again, his intent to hit the man is clear, but he manages to restrain himself instead he pushes another reporter into him causing the first to drop his camera.

--End Flashback

Veronica Voiceover: What if I was wrong? What if Aaron didn’t kill Lilly?

Her guilty eyes move to her father, lying still and sedated in the bed.

Veronica Voiceover: What if he got hurt and we still don’t know who the real killer is? What if all of this was for nothing?

Her thoughts are a tortured loop as she sits there waiting for the day to pass.

-------------

After school Mac and Enbom show up. Enbom looks shocked at the number and size of Veronica’s bruises. She awkwardly shrugs away his concern. She asks him to wait while she talks to Mac.

After swearing Mac to secrecy, she tells her that she knows who the Hammer is, but needs Mac to track the emails’ IP address to confirm it.

Mac: I’ve been trying, he’s well hidden. Every time I get through one run-around there is another.

Veronica: But now you can start from his house, all you have to do is get into his network. Whatever he’s done to hide the messages should be on his computer, right?

Mac: (understanding) Yes.

Veronica: His name is Peter Thorpe.

Mac: (stunned) Judge Peter Thorpe? Like the judge who arraigned Aaron Echolls for tying to kill you?

Veronica: That’s the one.

Mac: I think I was wrong. My boring, sedate little anonymous life before you is looking much better now.

Mac smiles to show Veronica she is teasing, but both girls realize how serious this could be.

Veronica: Just confirm it, don’t do anything else. And if you can’t get in and out without him finding out, don’t do it. I’ll find another way.

Mac nods.

Mac: So, um, when are you coming back to school?

-------------

Logan shows up not long after Mac leaves and he looks exhausted. Veronica doesn’t comment on the slight scent of alcohol she can smell on his breath, her own thoughts consumed with her own feelings of guilt and fear. They sit side by side but there is a gulf between them. Logan feels guilty every time he looks at her and sees the damage his father inflicted. His worthless father killed Lilly, and had almost killed Veronica and Keith.

Veronica doesn’t know what to say to Logan. She doesn’t want to tell him her doubts that Aaron might not have killed Lilly, because what if he had? That would be too cruel, to give him hope then snatch it away again.

Wallace shows up that evening to find them sitting silently in a dark room. Neither had noticed the sun had gone down, so neither had gotten up to turn on the overhead lights. Alicia shows up, and shoos the kids out, telling each of them to get some sleep, and commanding that Veronica and Logan both return to school the next day.

Without thought Veronica follows Logan to his car instead of Wallace to her Dad’s car. Logan looks momentarily surprised that Veronica was with him and helps her into the car before driving her to the Fennels’. He is greeted enthusiastically by Daryl and Backup and with a kind smile from Meg who is babysitting Daryl again. Logan is still standing awkwardly near the front door when Wallace sets a spot for him at the table and Veronica walks up to him with a sad, distant look on her face.

Logan: I can go. (ducking his head) I should go.

Veronica: No. Stay. At least for a minute.

She hugs him around the waist and rests her cheek over his heart.

Logan: (confused) What’s wrong?

Veronica: Nothing. (sobbing laugh) Everything.

He rubs a gently hand up and down her back.

Logan: I’m sorry.

Veronica: So am I.

He’s not sure what she has to be sorry for.

Veronica: Has the media been horrible?

Logan: (still lost in the conversation, he shrugs, his mind racing to figure out Veronica’s actions and words) Yeah. Some other A-list celebrity is bound to fuck up soon, and they’ll move on to the next scandal.

She knows that isn’t true. Once the charges against Aaron were amended to include killing Lilly, and the prosecutions’ case was laid out, the media would be even more frenzied in their pursuit of Lynn and Logan.

Veronica: Are you OK?

Logan: (startled, deflecting) Yeah, of course. I knew he was a bastard. I just didn’t know how much of a bastard.

Veronica: Logan, I –

She had been about to say that she wanted him to talk to her, that it was OK, but Wallace’s voice interrupts them.

Wallace: If you want food you’d better come get it, I’m starving and Daryl’s already on his second piece of pizza.

-------------

After dinner, Veronica walks Meg to the door, thanking her for helping out with stuff. Meg smiles and looks worried as she hugs her friend.

Meg: I’ll save you a seat in English.

Veronica: (apprehensive) Fantastic.

Meg says her goodbyes then leaves. Veronica stays standing by the door. Logan takes that as a cue that she is waiting for him to leave and grabs his jacket.

Logan: So, I, uh, I guess I’ll see you in the morning?

Veronica is startled out of her thoughts by his voice stepping back and blinking rapidly to reorient herself in the present. She frowns at him.

Veronica Voiceover: I thought Logan would spend the night. I guess I was wrong.

She smiles at him tentatively.

Veronica: OK, I’ll see you tomorrow at school.

Logan frowns. He thought she might want him to pick her up for school.

Logan: Yeah.

She watches him walk slowly to his car, his usual energy and grace missing. She knew that anytime he entered or exited the hotel the media would be all over him, and now there were the protesters as well. Some in support of Aaron, some demanding his speedy trial and conviction. But with Aaron locked away, all the attention was on Logan and Lynn. So far the media had yet to discover where Veronica was staying and she meant to keep it that way.

----------------

(Wednesday)

At Neptune High, the media had to content themselves with long shots of Logan and Veronica arriving separately, and a few interviews from students like Madison, who were happy to be in the spotlight regardless of whether they knew anything relevant or not.

Madison: So, I always thought Aaron Echolls was kinda creepy. (giggle) I mean whenever I was at Logan’s house he would like stare at me. You know?

Veronica’s 09er guard service picked back up again, but mostly to keep the other curious students away. Logan and Veronica barely had any time to talk between classes and were keenly aware that whatever they said would be overhead and repeated around the school.

In Journalism, they sit at a table in the back by themselves, neither really noticing that Duncan was absent. Both of them steal glances at the other, but neither speak what is really on their minds. A few stilted ‘how are yous’ and wishful ‘things will get back to normal soon’ statements fall to silence.

Veronica is excused from her 4th period PE class and spends it in the library for study hall, trying to catch up on her homework.

At lunch she sits at her table and frowns as Logan sits on another seat, instead of next to her. She studies him and notes that he isn’t talking to her unless she speaks directly to him. She deliberately tries to engage him in conversation, finding something mundane to joke about, the upcoming senior prank day.

Veronica: After all the pranks this year it will be hard for the Seniors to top it.

Logan doesn’t respond, but Dick chimes in that it’s not the prank day that counts but Senior cut day when they all have a big beach party.

Veronica: Where is the party this year, Logan?

Logan: La Jolla Shores.

Veronica: That should be fun.

Logan: Hmm.

The rest of lunch passes with more of the same. Logan does note that Veronica is acting more normally, but she doesn’t come sit next to him.

Walking back into school Veronica tries again, holding Logan back from walking to his 5th period class.

Veronica: Logan, are you OK? You seem -

Logan: (interrupting) We’d better get to class. You’ve already missed too much school this close to finals.

He reaches out a hand as if to touch her but withdraws and walks away abruptly, leaving her alone in the hallway. She frowns after him, feeling the distance between them widen.

------------

Instead of paying attention in class, Veronica tortures herself with a morbid game of ‘what if.’

What if Aaron didn’t kill Lilly? What if Logan hated her for putting his family through this? What if the pressure made Lynn start drinking again?

What if she had paid more attention and had seen that Lilly was out of control? What if she’d made plans with Lilly that day instead of worrying about running into Duncan at the Kane mansion?

What if she had noticed the bruises on Logan and put two and two together and took her suspicions to her dad? Would Lilly have still had an affair with Aaron if he was publicly scorned as a child abuser?

What if Veronica had remembered that Lilly hid things in the vent while her dad was still Sheriff? What if Aaron had been arrested then, before Lynn tried to kill herself, before Leanne had left, before her father had lost his job?

What if it had all gone differently?

------------

Mac finds Veronica after the last bell of the day and the girls duck into the bathroom to loose Veronica’s guard dogs, Luke and Casey. Mac tells Veronica that she was right, the Hammer is Judge Thorpe, or at least the emails originate on the Judge’s computer. Mac expects Veronica to be happy to have confirmation, but instead she looks like she is about to cry.

Mac: What is it?

Veronica: Nothing.

Mac: Veronica don’t do that. You need to talk to someone, and at least for this stuff it can be me. I mean I already know.

Veronica: But you don’t understand.

Mac: (stubborn) So explain it to me then.

Veronica: The judge is the one who arraigned Aaron. If we reveal he was involved with Lilly the charges will be thrown out. And if he was in Neptune the day Lilly died, he’s a suspect, and…

Mac: (frowning as she gets it) And you think maybe Aaron Echolls didn’t do it?

Veronica: (tortured) I don’t know.

Mac: Well this won’t ease your fears, but Judge Thorpe was in Neptune that day. (shrugs) I googled him. He was at a fundraiser for a youth rehabilitation center that night.

If possible Veronica looks even more unhappy.

Mac: So what do we do now?

Veronica: We do nothing.

Mac: You’re crazy if you think I’m letting you do this on your own.

Veronica: (smiling) First, do you think you should be calling the girl with a concussion and the traumatic experience crazy? And second, all I’m going to do is hand this information over to someone who can do something with it.

Mac: (quizzical) The Sheriff?

Veronica: (scornful) No.

Mac: (surprised) Your dad?

Veronica: (sad) No.

Mac: Who then? Another friend?

Veronica: No. (determined) An enemy. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. At least temporarily.

Mac looks anxious.

--------------

Neptune High. Logan is at his locker as Veronica comes into view further up the hallway. They stare at each other for a moment then he returns his attention to putting his books in his locker. Veronica plasters a smile on her face and walks up to him. He looks up and notes the unnatural smile. His eyes are dark and unhappy.

Logan: Hey.

Veronica: Yeah. Hey. You OK?

He shrugs and doesn’t continue the conversation. She looks desperate.

Veronica: So, um, what are you up to for the rest of today?

Logan: My grandma is heading home tomorrow, we’re having dinner.

Veronica: Oh, I could come by, say hi to her. (smiles hopefully) I really like her.

Logan: (not looking at her) It’s just gonna be me and her. (mocking) She probably wants to ask if I’m OK.

She looks abashed. She couldn’t seem to stop herself from asking if he was OK even though it drove her crazy when people asked her that.. As if there was any way either of them could be OK right now.

Veronica: Right. (she swallows, searching for words that will mean something) Right. (giving up she smiles sadly) So, listen. This has been a really hard few days.

Logan looks at her, waiting watchfully. She bites her lip and looks at a loss.

Veronica: I’m sorry. This is all so…so crazy. I never thought.... I keep thinking about how it was before, like all this stuff happened back then and I never knew. We never knew. I think about Duncan and Lilly, and I wonder if I ever really knew either one of them.

Logan is still silent, all his intensity focused on her and she can’t bear the scrutiny, she looks down at her feet.

Logan: (softly) I know.

She looks up at him hopefully, wanting him to open up to her, tell her something that would reestablish the connection between them. But he doesn’t say anything more. She swallows hard.

Veronica: I wish I could just leave for a few days, go somewhere alone to decompress. Maybe then…

Logan: (blank mask in place) Yeah.

Veronica: (brief tortured laugh) It’s what I’ve always done. When things get out of control, I need to be alone.

Logan: Yeah.

Veronica: (unhappy) Maybe I should, you know, just go do whatever for a few days.

His nostrils flare, but he doesn’t speak.

Veronica: Maybe we both need some time. To think about this stuff. Just for a couple of days and then I’ll be back to normal or as close to normal as I can get.

Her tone tries for lightness, but fails. Logan stares at her for a long moment.

Logan: (nods) OK.

He leans forward slowly so as not to scare her and kisses her on the forehead, shutting his eyes as he does.

Logan: (bleak) You know where to find me.

Veronica closes her eyes as he walks away, her face filled with sadness and helplessness.

Veronica Voiceover: I can’t be around Logan and keep this from him, and he obviously needs some time away from me. (hopeful but fatalistic tone) Maybe in a few days things will get better.

Cut to Logan’s anguished face. He’s walking quickly towards his Xterra. When he reaches the parking lot he pushes through a group of students who are in his way. A large boy wearing a letterman jacket makes a comment to him.

Mean Jock: Watch it, guy. Maybe you used to be the king cock ruling this school, but not anymore. The only reason you were anyone was because of you daddy, and now he’s a murder.

Logan turns and glares.

Mean Jock: Ohh, very intimidating. Do you think that was the look on his face when he killed your girlfriend?

Logan rushes him and both boys hit the ground. It takes seven people to separate them.

Spitting blood out of his mouth, Logan scowls and continues on his way to his car. As he climbs in he sees Veronica standing at the entrance of the school. Their eyes meet then Logan peels out of the parking lot. At a stop light a few blocks away he sits back in his seat and takes a few deep breaths then slams his fist into the windshield cracking it.

Logan: Fuck!

Logan continues to drive convinced that Veronica would never want to be with him now. He really was his father’s son.

--------------

Wallace tries to get Veronica to talk on the way to the office, but she is lost in her own thoughts. At Mars Investigations she calls Alicia to check in on Keith and goes through the cases Wallace hadn’t know what to do with. An hour later she looks up when Wallace clears his throat.

Leanne is standing in front of Veronica’s desk with a pleased smile.

Leanne: Hi Veronica. It’s good to see you. And this must be a new friend of yours. I’m Leanne, Veronica’s mother.

Wallace: (awkward) Nice to meet you Mrs. Mars, um, Leanne.

Veronica: (hard) Wallace is Alicia’s son. You met Alicia, right Mom? Dad’s new girlfriend.

Leanne’s face falls.

Veronica: Aw, come on. You’re not jealous, are you? I mean why would you be, you’ve got Jake. (biting tone) Well, kinda. I mean he is still married. (smiles with mock sadness)

Wallace: Uh, Veronica, maybe I should come back later.

Leanne: Thank you Wallace, I would like to talk to Veronica alone.

Veronica: Yeah, about that. I checked my schedule, and there are no available spots for alcoholic, adulterous mothers who abandon their children and waste said child’s college money. Sorry. Maybe next lifetime.

Leanne: Veronica. I know you’re angry. And I accept that. I hurt you.

Veronica: (aggressive) You think?

Wallace: I can go…

Veronica: (commanding tone) Stay. She and I don’t have anything to say.

Wallace looks uncomfortable.

Leanne: I had hoped this would go better.

Veronica: (incredulous mocking) Really?

Leanne: Veronica. I am your mother. And as of today I have full physical custody of you.

Veronica’s mouth falls open, Wallace looks shocked.

Veronica: You what?

Leanne: Your father is in no condition to be responsible for you right now. You need a parent, and I am here.

Veronica: (derisive) For how long?

Leanne: I’ll give you tonight to make plans and let your friends know that your situation has changed. I expect you to be at my home tomorrow. I’ll roast a chicken and make chocolate cake. Your favorite.

Veronica: You can’t be serious. My father, even in the hospital and delirious on morphine is a better parent than you could ever be. No judge would give you custody.

Leanne: (sad) Tomorrow, six o’clock. If you’re not there, I will call the Sheriff’s office to deliver you.

Veronica glares at her mother with so much intensity that Wallace is surprised the woman doesn’t burst into flames on the spot.

Leanne: I know you don’t like me much right now, Veronica. But I am your mother and I am doing what is best for you.

--AN

I’ve been re-watching Season 2 so I can plan the sequel, but yikes. Duncan/Veronica is hard to watch. I’m only up to episode 8 so there is a lot of Duncan so far. And frankly I’m not digging the Alicia storyline or how Wallace acted or Jackie either. Pretty much the only person I like so far is Dick. And that’s just wrong. I’m gonna have to figure this out. I’ve come up with a way to not have the bus crash but keep the Beaver storyline, but I’m still deciding.

And the real reason I’m watching Season 2, is the last two chapters have been brutal to write. Seriously. As it stands I can’t wait to finish this story so I can find the happy again. I’m going to use Dick in the next chapter as some comic relief, cause I sure need it!

Words a draining 6,746