vanessagalore | FIC: The Year of Living Dangerously, Part II (Veronica/Logan, Ensemble) (40/?) (WIP) (NC-17)

Previous chapters: 1-3 | 4-7 | 8-10 | 11-13 | 14-17
18-20 | 21-24 | 25-27 | 28-31 | 32-35 | 36-38

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VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
A Desperate Plan
Veronica, Logan and Keith discuss
Veronica's plan.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason
Dohring. Keith: Enrico Colantoni.
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CHAPTER FORTY: "A DESPERATE PLAN"

Wed. 2/25/09 evening: San Diego to Neptune, CA

After their escapades in the rear of the plane, both Logan and Veronica fall asleep, exhausted from the emotionality of their reunion. Veronica starts awake when the flight attendant touches her to tell her to put up her seat back for landing. Logan stirs next to her, then looks over to her with a sheepish grin.

They make their way to Veronica's Saturn, and Veronica drives them back to Neptune. "You're going to stay at the apartment, right?" she asks, glancing at Logan.

"For now," he answers. "Since I'm back, I might as well start going to classes again. I want to see if I can salvage the semester."

"But you'll stay through the weekend?" Veronica insists.

"Yes, sugarpuss."

"Good. Logan, I...."

"What?"

"I didn't realize until you left...It wasn't until you left that I realized how much I need you," Veronica says.

Logan thinks, That's the second time in two days that she admitted she needs me. He reaches across to caress her arm, and she steals a glance at him, smiling wanly.

"What are the charges against your dad?" he asks.

"Second-degree arson, since the building was unoccupied, but with an enhancement for the use of an accelerant. First-degree criminal mischief. They set a bail of $250,000. Cliff said we were lucky they gave him bail at all, since he would be more skilled at creating a new identity and fleeing the country than most defendants. The judge was an old friend of Dad's," she concludes.

"So what are you planning to do?"

"I want to talk with Dad about the investigation into the disappearance of Lilly Kane sex tapes. And then, I want the two of us to talk with Leo and threaten to take what we know about the tapes to the press. I don't think he would survive a recall election."

"So would Deputy Sacks be in charge if Leo was recalled?" Logan jokes.

"Ooh, scary thought." She looks over at Logan again. "Dad's not going to like this plan. He's never spoken a word to me about the arson; he won't discuss it, just says, 'No, Veronica, leave it alone.' Cliff said he refused to make a statement when he was arrested."

"Let me see if I understand this. Vinnie has the goods on you–you helping Duncan flee the country three years ago. So Vinnie blackmails your dad into doing something; we're not sure what. Then we blackmail Leo into dropping the charges against your dad, because we know he took a payoff from my dad to steal the videotapes. It's a fucking circle-jerk."

Veronica smiles wryly, "It's the Neptune specialty."

Privately, Logan muses, Circle-jerk doesn't even cover it. It's goddamn Dante's Inferno. Maybe Neptune should adopt a new slogan, 'Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.' He scoffs aloud at his satirical whimsy, and Veronica glances at him. He says, "I hope this works."

"I know. I've been trying not to think about the retribution Dad would face in prison from all the crooks he's put away." Her voice trembles a little, and Logan realizes just how scared she is.

~ • ~

Wed. 2/25/09 evening: Sunset Cliffs Apartment, Neptune, CA

When Veronica and Logan enter the apartment, Keith stands up and strides over to Logan. He starts to shake Logan's hand but changes his mind, enveloping Logan in a bear hug. Keith says, "Logan, it's good to have you home."

Logan is visibly shaken by Keith's greeting. "Keith, I...." Home. This is home.

"But don't do it again, okay? You really upset Veronica." Keith claps Logan on the back and asks, "Hey, did they feed you guys on the plane?"

Veronica says, "I could eat."

Logan stifles a laugh. Veronica glares at him.

Keith pulls a tray of lasagna from the oven. "From Mama Leone's, Veronica's favorite restaurant."

The three of them stuff themselves. Logan finds the situation to be slightly surreal after his time away. Veronica puts a second helping of lasagna on his plate when he finishes and gives him a stern look. He sighs a little and digs in. She smiles, grabbing his knee under the table.

Veronica and Keith keep up the small talk throughout dinner. Logan feels more like an audience than a participant, never volunteering unless he is addressed directly. A stranger in a strange land, he thinks. No one's talking about Keith's preliminary hearing on Friday, he realizes. No one wants to think about it.

When there is a lull in the conversation, Logan finally asks another question that's been on his mind. "What's going on with Duncan?"

Veronica glances at him and says, "He's going through the custody process. First, they had a dependency hearing that made Lilly a dependent of the court and placed her in a temporary foster home. Then there will be a hearing where the interested parties will present their case plans for Lilly. They let Duncan see Lilly for an hour every day, a supervised visitation. Now that bastard Stewart Manning is trying to assert his rights as the biological parent. He's out on bail waiting for his trial on incest charges, and the creep is petitioning the court for visitation rights. Cliff says he doesn't have a chance in hell; there's case law that prohibits a child born as a result of sexual assault from being reunited with the perpetrator of the assault. Mrs. Manning has also filed for custody as the grandparent, but at least she's divorcing Stewart," Veronica concludes bitterly.

"So it's for sure then? Meg's baby was fathered by Stewart Manning?"

Keith nods. "It's a tragedy."

"But...why did Meg say that Duncan was the father?" asks Logan, bewildered.

Veronica says, "We think she was trying to protect her mother. The state may still file charges against Mrs. Manning or try to take the other girls away from her."

"I wish Meg had trusted you. If she had, maybe the whole mess could have been avoided," Logan comments.

"Meg was desperate, and I ruined her plan. I understand now why she was so bitter toward me when I got back together with Duncan," Veronica explains. She notes that Logan almost winces when she talks about her relationship with Duncan, and she rubs his knee under the table, trying to reassure him. She decides to change the subject.

"Dad, I wanted to ask you about something."

"Sure honey, what's up?" Keith notes Veronica's grim expression and adds, "Veronica, I told you, I don't want you to get involved–"

Veronica interrupts him. "Dad, could you tell me again, what happened when you interviewed Leo about the missing Aaron Echolls videotapes?"

"What?" Keith frowns. I wasn't expecting this. I was expecting a lecture about fighting to the end and trying every tactic to get off. I'm glad she got Logan to come back; at least she won't be alone after I plead guilty.

"Just tell me exactly what happened when you investigated the theft of the Aaron Echolls sex tapes...from the very beginning," Veronica repeats.

Keith looks at her quizzically but complies.

FLASHBACK: In Woody Goodman's office, Woody says, "Keith. I got a call from Sheriff Lamb right before lunch. The Aaron Echolls/Lilly Kane sex tapes have been stolen from the evidence room."

Surprised, Keith asks, "All of them?"

Woody nods, and Keith presses him, "Original and copies?"

Woody replies, "From separate safes, no less."

"Is there a sign of a break-in or...?"

Woody says, "No. This pretty much has to be an inside deal. Only an employee would have that kind of access."

Keith comments, "This is gonna put a huge dent in the prosecution's case."

Veronica interrupts Keith's story. "So at first, you assumed that the tapes had been stolen to damage the prosecution's case against Aaron?"

Keith says, "Of course. Maybe it comes from being sheriff, but I immediately assumed that the tapes were stolen to try to keep them out of evidence."

"So what changed your mind?" Veronica asks.

FLASHBACK: Keith is interviewing Leo about the theft of the videotapes. Leo says, "I'm not gonna insult your intelligence, Keith. Don is a fine politician but as a lawman and administrator? Security around here's a joke."

Keith comments, "That's odd. He told me security here was quite impressive."

Leo says wryly, "He thinks so. He locks himself out pretty often." They chuckle together, and Leo continues, "Listen. Someone must have figured what those tapes would be worth on the open market and..."

Keith looks heavenward before grunting.

Leo asks, "What?"

Keith explains, "No, it's nothing, I'm an idiot. I've been so hung up on Aaron Echolls and all this evidence tampering, I never stopped to think what those tapes are worth."

"Good celebrity porn is scarce these days," Leo says.

Veronica says, "Wait. First, Leo blamed the theft on poor security in the department, then–"

Logan interrupts, "He plants the idea that the tabloids were behind the theft."

Keith looks from Veronica to Logan and back. "What are you talking about?"

"We think Leo was paid by my dad to steal the tapes," Logan explains.

Keith gapes as Veronica continues, "He figured it would be no big deal to get away with it with Lamb in charge, but when Woody brought you in, Leo realized you were too smart and he'd have to come up with a new plan. He made sure you thought it was someone who intended to sell the tapes to a tabloid. When he got the email from Logan, he figured it was a way to milk a little more Echolls money and obscure the investigation. Logan made it clear in his email that he was going to destroy the tapes, so Leo would still get his payoff from Aaron. Leo's story about his sister was a convenient excuse that he knew would make you go easy on him."

"I don't understand what you're talking about. Why are you so sure that Leo stole the evidence for Aaron?" Keith glances at Logan, knowing that the mere mention of Aaron hurts him.

Logan states, "There would be no reason to steal both tapes if they wanted to sell them to a tabloid. Why not just steal one copy? Why go to all the trouble of breaking into two safes and taking twice as many chances to obtain the tapes? The tabloids could duplicate the tapes if they needed multiple copies."

Keith is stunned. He wipes his brow and says, "I can't believe it. You're right, it's the only theory that makes sense. Leo put one over on me." He looks from Logan to Veronica and adds, "What are you planning?"

Veronica and Logan stay silent.

Keith says angrily, "What are you planning? I don't want you to get involved in this."

"Just like you won't tell me why you set fire to that building!" Veronica replies heatedly.

"Veronica, I want you to stay out of it!" Keith says sternly.

"No," Logan says firmly. "We're helping you. It's why I came back. If necessary, I'll reveal that Leo sold me the tapes, and we'll present our theory. It would destroy Leo's career. If you think they hounded you out of office after Lilly's murder, it's nothing compared to what they'll do if the press finds out Leo made sure that Aaron Echolls would go free."

Resigned, Keith says, "I can't change your mind, can I?"

"No, Dad. We know the arson had something to do with Vinnie. You did it to save me because I was foolish enough to help Duncan flee the country with Lilly. There's no way in hell that we're going to let you go to prison for it," Veronica states, in a tone that says she'll brook no further discussion.

Keith sighs and goes to hug his daughter.

"I love you, Dad," she murmurs. "I know this will work."

~ • ~

Wed. 2/27/09 very late: Sunset Cliffs Apartments, Neptune, CA

Veronica wakes up with a start when she hears a quiet noise from the living room. Logan is still sleeping heavily beside her. She gets out of bed and soundlessly opens the bedroom door; she sees Keith in the kitchen and sighs with relief.

"Sorry, honey," he says softly, "Did I wake you? I couldn't sleep."

Veronica walks over to him and puts her arm around his waist. "Hot chocolate?" she asks, noticing the saucepan filled with milk.

He nods. "Want one?"

"Yes." He adds some milk to the pan and takes another mug from the rack.

"I don't know why I'm so jumpy," she comments.

The milk begins to bubble gently, and Keith removes the pan from the stove and pours the milk into two mugs. In silence, they stir hot chocolate mix into their mugs and walk over to the kitchen island to sit down.

"I'm glad you're up, Veronica," he says, avoiding her eyes, "There's something I needed to talk to you about. I really wish you weren't doing this with Leo, trying to–"

She interrupts, "Dad, I'm not going to let you go to prison. It's all my fault anyways; I know that Vinnie's been blackmailing you into doing something for him. If I hadn't helped Duncan–"

"Shh," he quiets her. "That was so long ago. You were just a kid, and you made a mistake."

Both fall silent, remembering their confrontation from three years ago.

FLASHBACK: Veronica runs into her room, stopping short when she sees Keith at her desk. He can't bear to look at her; with his voice shaking, he says, "If they take you away...if you're sent to prison...."

She replies emotionally, "You read the letters, though, right? From Meg to Child Protection Services? They're about her parents."

Keith angrily says, "It's not just YOUR life you're gambling with, Veronica. I would not survive without you. You understand what you've done?"

Veronica approaches him, but he refuses to look at her. She says, "We had to do it."

"I know you think you did."

"We DID!"

He finally turns to her and says bitterly, "YOU PLAYED ME, VERONICA!" She freezes under his angry stare, realizing that she has lost something, that her relationship with her father has changed forever. He turns his head again, unable to look at her.

She says defensively, with a tremor in her voice, "We had to."

Quietly, with an unfamiliar coldness, he responds, "I love you. I'll always love you. But I don't know how I'll ever trust you again."

Veronica looks at her father across the counter and says brokenly, "Daddy, I'm so sorry. I wish...I wish...."

He takes her hand and rubs it, replying, "Ssh, it's going to be okay."

"No, it's not. Whatever Vinnie made you do...it's changed you. I've never seen you drink as much as you've been drinking lately. I know you think you're protecting me, but....If this doesn't work tomorrow with Leo, I want you to tell the truth, whatever it is, and I'll deal with it...Cliff will help us, I know he will–"

Keith interrupts her babbling. "Veronica. You can't go to prison. I'll be all right. It would just be a few years. I want you to listen to me."

"Dad, no–" The tears begin to stream down her face, and she tries to blot them without success.

"Veronica, listen to me." He waits a moment to make sure she's paying attention. "If I go to prison, I want you to give up this apartment and move in with Logan. I know he'll take care of you. You can transfer to UCLA. There's enough money for you to finish school if you transfer there–it's not as expensive as Hearst. And I don't want you to spend your college money on an appeal for me. We're going to do this my way."

"Dad, why won't you tell me the truth about Vinnie, what he's making you do?"

"No! This ends here. I'll survive, if you survive. Will you promise me?" He stares at her; when she drops her head to avoid his gaze, he touches her chin and lifts her head so that she has to look at him. "Promise me, Veronica."

Reluctantly, she says, "I promise." This has to work tomorrow. I'm going to make it work.

Chapter Forty-One

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

i was under the assumption...about the tapes.... but i guess you added in details thus to make it work for your story yes?

I added nothing. I'm working in the nooks and crannies of canon. My scenario is completely possible within canon, unless you can think of another plausible explanation why Leo needed to steal both copies of the sex tapes. It's hard to wrap your head around Leo having an ulterior motive, but after all, this is Neptune.

well the point was in the show that logan approached him for all copies cause he didnt want to defame her that way.

I interpret the following scene as: Logan doesn't know the sex tapes have been stolen until Keith tells him. (So both copies have already been stolen by the perpetrator before Logan learns of the theft.) Of course, I guess you could say that Logan is acting innocent, and he was the one who originally approached Leo to steal both copies for him. But then why does Logan need to get all the email addresses for the sheriff's department employees to make an offer for the tapes? More acting, or an attempt at a coverup?

LOGAN: I adore what your designer's done with the men's room. That Hefty bag over the busted urinal adds a delicious wabi-sabi feel.

Logan shuts the door behind him as Keith stands.

KEITH: It's Don's thing. We went more mid-century modern back in my day.

They grin at each other.

KEITH: Anyway, thanks for coming by. I'm guessing by your blithe spirits that you have no idea what's up.

Keith turns on the recorder.

LOGAN: [cautiously] No. But they request my presence here weekly, so...
KEITH: Logan, the tapes of your dad and Lilly have been stolen from the evidence room. I'm here to investigate how it happened and try to get them back.
LOGAN: What?
KEITH: Obviously, I need to know what, I mean, if anything, your father might have said lately about the case or the evidence.
LOGAN: Oh, wait. Wait. Now I'm totally confused. That sounded a lot like a question you would ask a suspect. An accomplice, say.
KEITH: You did spend time with Aaron right before the tapes were stolen.

Logan's indignation is interrupted by a knock at the door.

... ... ...

In the interrogation room, Sacks opens the door, holding a ring binder. He puts it down on the table. He doesn't notice that Logan, lying on the bench, is in the room. Sacks exits. Logan, surprised not to have been noticed, gets up and picks it up. With a glance behind him, Logan opens it. On the right hand side, secured by the rings, is a densely typed report. On the left, in the flap, is some sheets of paper. Logan takes the sheets, closes and puts down the file, and quickly folds the papers, stuffing them in his pocket and sitting back in the chair, just as Keith enters.

KEITH: Sorry about the interruption. Now, I asked you whether you heard anything unusual from your father. Did he ever mention the tapes when you were locked up with him?
LOGAN: [angry] Can you seriously imagine me conspiring to save Daddy dearest? Lilly's killer?
KEITH: I'm just making sure I have every pertinent bit of information.
LOGAN: I'll tell you what, dude: if I hear anything pertinent, I'll get back at you.

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I actually always felt that Logan was unable to "act", to dissemble, when it came to his father's despicable behavior. He always seemed to wear his emotions on his sleeve, to mix a metaphor.

As far as my plotline, Leo's taking advantage of Logan's desire to destroy the tapes is the weakest part of my retconning. Of course, I don't deny that my interpretation of this plotline is an unusual one, and you're free to make up your own mind. I'm fairly certain that my interpretation is NOT the interpretation the writers intended, but I think it's a possibility that works well for my fic.

I discussed this point ad nauseum with poniesforall, one of my betas. Max Greenfield certainly made a good impression on you guys.

I love the small moments that you include in this story. I adore that Logan got choked up when Keith welcomed him HOME. Keith has learned to love and trust Logan. I really like the thought of Keith taking Logan under his wing and mentoring him. (Of course look what that did for Leo.)

The flashback to the events in "Donut Run" and the continuation of the present is impressive. What Veronica did for Duncan changed her forever and what Keith did for Vinnie changed him forever. Now they both have to protect each other for and from their mistakes.

I'm still seeing Logan as not quite believing he's worthy of being loved. I believe he's confident in his sexual abilities, and he probably feels he can attract a girlfriend. But--a home, a family...I'm imagining that's something that still feels somewhat unattainable for him. He doesn't even really know what those concepts mean, and Keith's natural instinct to welcome him home, to accept him, is jarring after his dark and depressive thoughts in Texas. (I know you were driving down to South Padre to check him out while he was there. He probably was worrying you were a paparazzo when you were spying on him).

A lot of people hated the "Donut Run" episode for various reasons (some people couldn't deal with the unreality of Duncan having to kidnap his own daughter, for instance), but that scene between KB and Enrico was incredible. They were both really on their game that day, and the script was great as well. I think I flashbacked to that scene in Part One as well; it's a crucial scene in the series for me. I consider the relationship between Keith and Veronica as essential, and that's one of the reasons I've spent so much time on that concept in Part Two. For me, it's the interrelated nature of all the relationships on this show that makes it interesting; you need Duncan to cause trouble for Veronica and Logan; you need the Keith and Veronica dynamic to understand why she makes the choices she does; you need the dysfunction of Veronica's mother and Logan's parents to inform your perception of them; etc., etc. Nothing is simple: it's complex, complicated, subtle, and dynamic.

That's why i heart u! I've always thought that the relationship between Keith and Veronica was key to the success of Veronica Mars. Keith was a struggling father; struggling to keep his baby girl safe from the dysfunction of their family; struggling with his own preceived shortcomings as a man and a father. And ultimately struggling to retain his world-weary daughter's innocence. I really think that the Keith/Veronica and Wallace/Veronica dynamics were the most important relationships and most realistic in the show.

You have a wonderful grasp on all of this. 'Nothing is simple: it's complex, complicated, subtle, and dynamic.' Sounds like you, m'dear!

Aw, I just love Keith taking a parental role with Logan! If the show had gone on longer, I think that would be a cool thing to explore. I think they actually have a lot in common (hotheaded, overprotective, smart-mouthed) but Keith just learned how to channel his emotions more productively--presumably he had better parenting.

By the way, I'm loving every chapter, even if I don't always remember to comment on each one. :)

Sort of a rough week here, and I'm behind on comment replies...

Logan is shown as being so alone in the show; as I think I said before, they systematically took everyone he cared about away from him. With Keith being the most decent grownup we met in Logan's circle. I could see Logan craving Keith's approval and love. And it's rewarding to write about this relationship: it's fraught with history and missteps, and Keith is privy to many of Logan's secrets.

I'm trying to write all the characters as dramatic and (hopefully) compelling without actually estranging them from each other. I know sometimes I end up going over the same ground multiple times, but that's actually pretty common in a family dynamic, which is what I'm aiming for. You don't have an epiphany and magically get over your issues; they keep resurfacing and messing up your life.

FIC: The Year of Living Dangerously, Part II (Veronica/Logan, Ensemble) (40/?) (WIP) (NC-17)

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