Season 3 Redux - 3.05 Residence Evil
Rating: R for language and abuse
Word Count: 5,227
Category: AU-ing Season 3. They didn't do it right
Spoilers: You should've watched the whole lot anyway, but this is only up to and including 3.05
Disclaimer: The characters were created by Rob Thomas and remain the property of Thomas, the CW, and Warner Bros. Television. No infringement is intended, no profit is made. But think of all the fun we'd have together...
Author's Note: I give huge props to my fantastic beta
celtic_flicka, for once again making excellent suggestions and catching me on my never improving punctuation. All mistakes after the fact are mine. I also take full responsibility for the fic direction, which is getting more and more AU... Go on, you know you want to read it :-)
WARNING: Angst again, folks. Plus talk of child abuse and infidelity... Whose? Read on...
Summary: What if Season 3 was re-done? What if Veronica was the lover not the fighter? What if Logan looked the other way? Could they come back from it this time?
Comments are what make this crazy ride worthwhile.
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Previously on Veronica Mars: Episode 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04
Sometimes a thought will stick in your mind for so long you can’t close your eyes for fear it will be there, taunting you, too painful to look at. The thought will loop endlessly over and over in ever increasing circles of insanity. Then, one day, you realise you haven’t had that thought for a while. Suddenly it doesn’t hurt so much and you can look at it and examine it closely. You can reach out and touch it again.
Then there are those thoughts that hurt so badly, the pain is so great, because you know you could have done a million things differently. Regret, shame and disgust course through you when you remember how you handled the situation. You know you will never be able to look at those thoughts directly ever again.
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The bottoms of his trousers were soaking up the water from the puddles on the balcony. His skin prickled with the chill of the wind, but he didn’t notice either. He stared straight ahead, seemingly at the girl with her back to him, but in reality his gaze was unseeing. She must have felt his gaze, felt his presence, because she spoke without turning to look at him.
“We need to talk about last night, Logan.”
Logan remained silent, staring past her head to the Neptune skyline beyond. The storm was easing.
“Look I know that you don’t-” She turned to face him, stopping when she saw his expression. “Logan?”
He blinked once and moved his gaze down to meet hers. “I’m sorry about last night, that wasn’t... I shouldn’t...” He faltered.
“Logan, what’s wrong?” She took a step towards him. The shirt she was wearing clung to her damply.
“Dead...” He started dazedly, his voice cracking on the word.
“What? Who?” She closed the gap between them quickly, reaching out a hand to grasp his wrist. “Who’s dead, Logan?”
Logan looked at her as if seeing her properly for the first time. He swallowed and moved his arm from her grasp, wiping his hand over his face.
“Logan! Who’s dead?” she asked urgently.
Logan dropped his hand and looked at her. “My brother. My brother’s dead.”
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Three Years Earlier
“Logan! If you don’t get down here right now you may as well not bother coming out of that room ever again.”
Logan threw the tennis ball once more into the air, caught it, sighed, and rolled off the bed. Tossing a cursory glance into the mirror, he ran his fingers through his hair and left the bedroom. He paused at the top of the stairs, listening to another one of his parents’ arguments. This was becoming a habit: timing his entry into a room in order to break up the escalating volume and tension. He knew though, he could feel it, that it was only a matter of time until his father didn’t care whether he was in the room or not. It was funny that the man had no compunction about beating him over insignificant details, but had a twisted sense of honour that his son not see him argue with his wife.
“...to do with Charl-”
“I’ll decide what’s right, Lynn.”
His father’s tone broke through his reverie and Logan descended the staircase two at a time.
“Relax, relax. The prodigal son has arrived.” Logan announced his arrival, stepping into his parents’ line of vision in time to see his father move a few steps backward, away from Lynn.
“Logan. Good. I was beginning to think you hadn’t heard me.”
“No, Dad, I think everyone heard you.” Logan glanced at his mother who stood, unmoving. “What’s going on? Mom?”
Aaron stepped in front of Lynn. “Nothing, son. Your mother’s not coming with us. She’s got one of her migraines. Let’s go.” Aaron gestured towards the front door but didn’t move. He gazed unblinkingly at Logan, daring him to challenge his silent veto of any further conversation. Logan had only accepted that challenge once before, and the “reward” still smarted.
Logan stared at his father for a beat before heading towards the door. Aaron patted him on the back as he passed, a gesture that looked friendly, but Logan got the meaning. It was the exact place where he had been previously rewarded. Logan blinked at the stinging sensation but kept walking. He stole a quick sideways glance at his mother as he passed but she didn’t look back. She hadn’t moved. She still stared straight ahead.
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“So, I haven’t seen Lilly around for a few weeks. You guys on another one of your breaks?”
Logan hated car rides with his father. Aaron seemed to revel in awkward conversations. Logan stared out the window, wondering how far he could push ignoring his father. He hadn’t spent enough time with him today to judge his mood. It was a dangerous game to be playing when you didn’t have all the facts.
“I understand, son. You don’t want to talk about it. That’s ok, that’s ok. Believe me, I know all about the changing attitudes of the teenage girl.”
Logan’s lip curled up in disgust before he could stop himself. Aaron saw.
“What’s that look for?” he asked sharply. Logan remained silent and mercifully a car cut in front of them, distracting his father. He swore at the driver, suggesting he do something probably illegal with his own mother. Shaking his head as the offending car roared off, silence descended over the two of them again.
“You know, maybe Lilly isn’t the right girl for you. You ever think about that, Logan? Maybe you should aim your sights a bit lower. Let’s see, who’s pretty low on the Neptune food chain...” Aaron tapped the steering wheel with his finger for a moment, before the corner of his mouth lifted up in a smile. Logan recognised that smile and braced himself for the impending derision.
“How about Veronica Mars?” Aaron said slowly, looking over at Logan with a grin that he clearly expected Logan to reciprocate.
Logan fiddled with the handle of the glove box in front of him. The tension in the car rose the longer Logan remained silent. “Veronica’s a friend, Dad, and... and she’s not at the bottom...” he trailed off, looking out of the window.
“Oh, well, this is just classic! The son of a movie star dating the Sheriff’s daughter. That’s beautiful, Logan, just beautiful. I can see the tabloid headlines now.” Aaron barked out a laugh, bringing the car to a stop at a red light. Logan remained silent.
“I was joking, Logan.” Aaron leaned closer. “You wouldn’t seriously consider dating a Mars, would you?”
Logan didn’t have a chance to respond. Aaron’s hand shot out and grabbed his jaw, wrenching Logan’s head around to face him.
“Don’t ignore me, son.” His father’s voice was low and calm. Logan’s heart thudded in his chest, but he refused to blink.
A car horn behind them broke the moment and Aaron dropped his hand. Logan forced himself not to rub his throbbing jaw. “I’m not thinking about dating Veronica Mars, Dad,” he gritted out.
Aaron started the car moving again. “I doubt she’d have you anyway,” he said after a long pause.
They didn’t speak again for the rest of the journey.
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The car jerked to a stop, jolting Logan forward. He flushed as his brain cleared from the fog of his thoughts. Veronica. She was like the proverbial forbidden fruit; the more his father goaded him the more Logan wanted her. And the more Logan wanted her, the more irate he imagined his father would become. Logan grinned as he climbed out of the car. Win win.
His father was currently occupied by one of his sycophantic fans. Logan was pretty sure his dad paid this woman to follow him around, because she seemed to be everywhere. How many autographs can one nutjob require? Logan scuffed his foot on the gravel impatiently.
“Same time tomorrow, eh, Gladys?” he called as Aaron finished signing the multitude of paraphernalia she had brought with her. She shot him a quizzical look that Logan returned with a bland smile, turning away before he could see his father’s reaction.
Aaron caught up with him a few steps later, clapping him once again hard between his shoulder blades, but saying nothing. Together, they walked into the building, an outward symbol of unity. Aaron Echolls, always on show.
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Aaron Echolls strode the halls of Avi Kaufman’s office like he owned the place. Logan trailed behind him , watching with barely disguised contempt as Aaron answered calls of greeting with sickening falseness. Only when they reached the door to Avi’s office did Logan realise he hadn’t even questioned why he was here with his father. He’d been summoned and he came. Logan blinked. Being his father’s lapdog was perhaps a more terrifying thought than a beating.
“Logan! Come on, don’t just stand there.”
Fleetingly, Logan imagined himself turning and leaving; he even shot a quick glance sideways. The moment passed. Logan swallowed and entered the office.
“Look, I gotta go. I’ll call you back.” Avi hurriedly hung up the phone and stood as Aaron and Logan walked in.
“Aaron!” He cried, leaning over the desk to shake his client’s hand. “Great interview last night. I thought it went very well. Very, very well.” Avi beamed, absentmindedly undoing a button on his suit jacket. Logan sighed. He always found Avi’s supplicating behaviour mildly sickening, and today was clearly going to be no exception.
“Logan. Hello, hello. Sit down, both of you.” Avi wiped his palms on his jacket before taking his seat again. He pushed some papers around on his desk for a moment before looking up and clearing his throat.
“Well, I have the documents here for you. It took a bit of doing, but, you know.” Avi shrugged as if working hard for his client was a given. “They’re all finished and ready for you and Logan to sign, so...” He pushed some papers towards them on the desk.
Logan, who had expected to daydream through this entire meeting, sat up a little taller. “What? Sign what?” He looked over at his father, realising that the man still hadn’t taken off his sunglasses.
“Nothing, Logan,” Aaron said dismissively, reaching for the papers and quickly flipping through them, stopping when he arrived at a page with a ‘Sign Here’ tab. He looked up at Avi expectantly. It took Avi a moment, but he quickly understood, jumping slightly in his seat, giving a little “Oh” and patting his pockets urgently. Aaron stared at him for a second before reaching over and plucking a pen from the pot on Avi’s desk. Leaning forward to rest on the desk he signed the page with a flourish, before pushing the papers in Logan’s direction and holding out the pen.
Logan cocked his head slightly and stared at his father. “Not that I want to get between this delightful bonding moment between client and business manager, but what exactly are you expecting me to sign?”
Aaron leaned closer, speaking softly. “Logan, just sign the papers.” Logan saw only himself reflected back in his father’s mirrored sunglasses. He felt the pen being nudged forcibly into his hand. He took it, leaning forward and smoothing the papers out on the desk. He tried to dawdle, to read as much as he could, but his father leaned in again. “Sign. It. Logan.” Logan glanced up at Avi, who was studiously ignoring the situation in front of him. Logan sighed before scrawling his name across the paper, next to his father’s.
“Great!” Avi said loudly with false cheer. He leaned forward and gathered the papers out from under Logan’s hand. “All that’s left is for Charlie to-”
“Avi!” Aaron interrupted, his head snapping up to look at him.
“Who’s Charlie?” Logan asked, surprised by his father’s tone.
“Oh... uh...” Avi looked down at his desk, shuffling the papers. “I just assumed...” He trailed off, swallowing nervously.
“Dad, who’s Charlie?” Logan twisted to look at his father, his mother’s voice from this morning echoing in his head.
Aaron stood, walking towards the door. “We’re done here, Logan. Let’s go. Avi, it’s been a pleasure, as always. It’s a real shame I have to fire you, but...” Aaron shrugged in faux-helplessness, before leaving the office.
Logan stood, turning back to look at Avi as he did. The man was staring at the vacant doorway, his mouth opening and closing noiselessly.
“Who’s Charlie, Avi?” Logan stepped closer.
“I... Wha… What am I...” Avi hadn’t blinked. Sweat was forming on his upper lip.
“Who’s Charlie?” Logan asked more forcefully, placing both palms on the desk and leaning forward. “Look, Avi, if you tell me, I’ll speak to my dad, you know, maybe get your job back.” Logan knew Avi wouldn’t believe a word of that.
Avi glanced up at him, then back at the doorway.
“Avi!” Logan banged his palm down on the desk. “Either way, it’s done, so who’s Charlie?” Logan was getting desperate. His father would come back if Logan wasn’t at the car seconds after he got there.
Avi looked up again and held Logan’s gaze. The clock on the wall behind him suddenly seemed to tick louder. Logan jiggled his leg in anxious desperation, but Avi remained silent.
“Ugh!” Logan cried, slamming both hands down on the desk and pushing the papers to the floor as he turned to the door.
“Charlie Stone is your brother, Logan.” Avi’s voice was quiet.
Logan stopped, half-turning his head over his shoulder. “You’re lying.”
“Fine. I’m lying. Now get the fuck out of my office.”
Logan paused, but didn’t turn back. He left, banging the doorjamb with his fist on the way out.
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Father and son drove home in near silence, the only sound being Aaron’s occasional muttered curse at the traffic signal sequencing in Neptune. Logan gripped the door as the car sped through red light after red light. For once, though, he wasn’t praying that a semi would hit the driver’s side. Not, at least, until he got some answers.
“Charlie Stone?” He blurted out before his brain had a chance to stop him. The name hung between them, taunting them both. Aaron didn’t say anything; instead he moved his hand toward the console between them and, turning to look at Logan, pressed the cigarette lighter on.
Logan twitched, running a hand through his hair and shifting in the seat.
“You know, Avi and his wife used to come over to our place all the time for dinner. I should really invite them over again,” Aaron said conversationally.
Logan swallowed, watching the LED ring on the cigarette lighter flash while it heated, counting till it was ready. Three. Four.
“Lynn and his wife... Sarah? Used to get on like a house on fire.” Aaron stretched out the last word slowly, looking at Logan as he said it.
Seven. Eight.
“Dad...” he croaked out. He licked his dry lips.
“I mean,” Aaron laughed. “They could talk all night, you know, really burn up the phone lines.”
“I know he’s my brother, dad, please, just...” Eleven. Twelve. Logan shifted again, running his hand over his face nervously.
“It’s a real shame Avi had to go. He just didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.”
Fourteen. Fifteen.
*clink*
As always, the small, insignificant noise the lighter made to indicate it was ready made Logan jump. He felt a hot sweat break out on the back of his neck, but remained silent. Methodically, he rolled the sleeve of his sweater up, counting the folds. He clenched and unclenched his fist once, before laying his hand, palm up, on the armrest between them. He didn’t look at his forearm, instead he stared straight ahead, waiting for the car to come to a stop and for his father to begin.
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Logan never bought any first-aid supplies, but his bathroom was always mysteriously stocked with an assortment of ointments, bandages and antiseptics, to name a few. It’s like Christmas morning every morning in this house, Logan thought sardonically. He figured it was his mother’s way of discovering what punishment he was receiving - More burn cream this week? The cigarettes must be getting a workout.
Logan knew his mother was trying, but sometimes he wanted her to suffer. Occasionally, he would squeeze all the ointment out and flush it down the toilet, pack reams of bandage into his school bag and stuff it into some faceless freshman’s locker. However, every time, without fail, he would sit at school feeling nauseous at his mother’s reaction when she came to re-supply. Once, he practically emptied the entire cupboard and returned home to find ring after ring of alcohol on the vanity. He had never pushed it that far again.
“Logan?” a soft voice asked behind him, startling him from his trance in front of the bathroom mirror. He looked up at his mother’s reflection.
“Are you alright honey?” she continued, noticing the awkward way he was attempting to bandage his right arm using his left hand.
“Yeah,” Logan lifted his arm to hold the bandage in place with his chin as he continued to wrap. “I’m fine, just Dick, you know, in chemistry.”
She moved forward and gently lowered his arm, unwrapping the bandage to start again. Logan saw her swallow as the extent of the burn came slowly into view. She picked up the cream, applied some to his wound and began to re-bandage it. Logan looked down at her and almost smiled. She smelled fresh, like shampoo. It was a change from scotch.
“You should really tell me when these things happen, Logan. I... I... could go up to your school, or...or...” she choked out, looking up at her son, her eyes glistening. Logan didn’t reply.
She finished her task and took a deep breath, attempting a smile. “So, honey, got any plans for the rest of the day?”
“Er, no... No, I think-” Logan stopped, shaking his head slightly. “Mom, who’s Charlie Stone?”
Lynn’s mouth twitched, but she didn’t look taken aback at his question, almost like she had been waiting for him to ask. She glanced over her shoulder, despite the fact that they knew Aaron would be out for the rest of the day. Hard habit to break.
“Charlie is... is your brother.” Lynn tripped over the last word, finding it hard to form. “He’s the result of an adulterous adventure by your father. He’s also... He’s also the reason you might end up with none of your father’s money.” Lynn continued to look at Logan, eyes blazing.
“What? Mom, what are you talking about?”
“Your father has taken it upon himself to punish me by threatening that Charlie will receive the entirety of his estate, not you.”
“But, why? Has dad ever met him? Had anything to do with him?”
“Of course not.” Lynn shook her head. “He knows that makes it worse, but listen honey-”
“Is that what I was signing today?”
“Yes, I-”
“Why did I have to sign them?”
Lynn looked down at her hands, twirling her wedding bands around and around her finger.
“Mom, why did I have to sign them?”
Lynn took a deep breath and looked up. “It says you agree not to pursue any claim on your father’s money in the event that I divorce him. You also agree to the entire Echolls’ estate becoming the property of one Charlie Stone, brother dearest.”
"But, how can that even be legal? I'm not... I'm not even..."
"You think something minor like the law is going to matter to your father?"
Logan slumped back against the vanity, staring at his mother in shock. “But... why would he... I mean, what...” Logan realised he would never get any sane reasoning as to his father’s behaviour.
“Your father was apparently not happy that I threatened to divorce him if he didn’t stop...” Lynn couldn’t say the words, but her eyes flicked down to Logan’s bandaged arm. “This is his way of punishing me for that.” Lynn took a step closer, grasping one of Logan’s hands. “Logan, honey, promise me you won’t try and find Charlie. He might be your brother, but he’s not... I wish...” Lynn sighed and shook her head. “I wish a lot of things, why add something else to the list?” She looked imploringly at Logan. “Please, honey, promise me. I can’t have you meeting him after this, it would... it would...”
Logan closed his eyes briefly, trying to take everything in.
“Sure, mom. I promise.”
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Logan gripped the steering wheel, an argument raging back and forth in his head. He hadn’t meant to let it get this far. He thought he could stop at any moment, yet here he was, parked across the road from the cafe he’d agreed to be at, waiting, waiting, for the guest of honour to arrive.
A car pulled up opposite. Logan swallowed.
The occupant got out, tucking in his shirt with one hand as he locked the car with the other. Logan stared, unblinking.
The occupant moved to stand by the fountain, looking about himself all the time. Logan’s heart started to race.
The occupant stood, half-smiling, waiting.
Charlie Stone.
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One Week Earlier
It had happened by accident, he told himself, he hadn’t meant to find the piece of paper. He was searching in his father’s office for something else, something insignificant and there it was, just sitting there. It practically fell into my lap, Logan reasoned, pushing the filing cabinet closed and concealing the jimmied lock as best he could.
It had taken Logan three days to make any sort of a move in discovering more about Charlie Stone. He reasoned that he wasn’t betraying his mother, he had agreed not to meet his brother, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t know more about him.
It had taken him another two days to coordinate a break-in to his father’s study. He knew that his dad would have documents close by. He would want them where he could easily access them in order to shove them in Lynn’s face any time he perceived that she stepped out of line.
It had taken Logan thirty seconds to locate the file in the cabinet. His father had named it “High Infidelity.” Logan imagined his father’s smug satisfaction as he made the label, and had an intense desire to punch that satisfaction off his father’s face.
Logan wasn’t sure what to expect. He didn’t imagine the file to be bulging with “proud dad” moments, but he was surprised to find it so clinical. In fact, the only reference to Charlie was bank account details and last known contact number. Everything else in the folder was legal documentation. Logan paused for a moment, thinking Well, haven’t you gotten what you came for? before scribbling down the details on a nearby notepad. He tore off several sheets in case his father questioned the imprint. He wouldn’t put it past him.
Logan hurriedly shoved the file back in the cabinet with shaking hands and left the study, careful to ensure that it looked exactly the way it did when he had walked in three minutes earlier. He took the stairs two at a time, his heart pounding.
When he was safely in his bedroom, he put the note down on his bed and stood back, looking at it, almost as if he was waiting for it to give him an answer. Should I? Should I? Should I? Getting the details was one thing, but now the only thing left to do was to contact Charlie, and that would definitely betray his promise to his mother.
Or would it? After all, he’d promised not to meet Charlie, but was there any harm in calling him? Logan sat on the bed, next to the paper, still staring at it. It was stupid-this guy didn’t know him from Adam, but he felt that if anyone could know what it was like to be an outsider in the Echolls family, it was Charlie. Plus he was... is… my brother. Logan smiled as the word rolled around his head. He realised he didn’t even know if Charlie was older or younger than him. Older. I hope older.
Logan moved quickly, snatching the paper up and flipping open his phone with the other hand. He dialled the number with a trembling finger, took a deep breath and held the phone to his ear.
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One Week Later
Logan watched as Charlie looked again at his watch. He’d been standing there for twelve minutes, anxiously looking at the people who passed. Their phone conversation hadn’t been long; both men were guarded and brief. Charlie was not surprised at the revelation that he had a brother, though if he knew Aaron was his father, Charlie would know all about the Echolls clan from Entertainment Tonight, Logan reasoned.
Logan took a deep breath, voices and thoughts battling for supremacy in his head. Both his parents would hate him for doing this, for very different reasons. His father’s hatred he didn’t care about, but his mother.... Plus, if Charlie did only know about him from Access Hollywood or some other garbage show, would he already have an opinion of him? What if Charlie wanted nothing to do with him? What if he was just here to take a photo and sell it to the tabloids?
Logan wiped his hand across his face. He didn’t want to upset his mother, but she didn’t have to know, and Charlie could turn out to be a decent guy. And, he’s your brother. A brother. How much have you wanted this? It’s here, stop dawdling and take it!
Logan looked at Charlie again. He was jiggling his leg, hands in his pockets. Logan watched as he lifted a hand and stuck it in his hair, pulling it up at a crazy angle. Logan grinned and let out the breath he had been holding. He made up his mind.
Looking behind him for traffic, he opened the door to his car and stepped out. The road was busy-a lot of traffic was between him and the fountain. Logan waited, growing more and more impatient. He attempted to cross several times, but stepped back at the last second as a vehicle roared by. Eventually, the traffic broke and Logan jogged across the road. He couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. He half-wondered what his opening line should be.
He looked towards the fountain when he got to the other side of the road.
Charlie was gone.
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Logan tried calling the number every day even after it was disconnected, which didn’t take long. He never mentioned Charlie Stone again, and Charlie Stone was never mentioned to him. He figured his father hadn’t used the phone number himself, so wouldn’t have any idea that it was now disconnected. In fact, he would probably be pleased not to have any official way of contacting his son.
The biting pain of the failure of the relationship with his brother was only lessened by his mother’s gratitude. She believed Logan had never contacted Charlie and Logan was happy for her to be oblivious to the truth. If it means one less cocktail at happy hour.
There was a moment, a few years later, just after Aaron was shot that Logan thought he might see his brother again. There was so much paperwork, so much legal documentation, that it almost slipped Logan’s mind. Almost. He had called the lawyer handling his father’s estate early one morning after the thought had kept him awake all night.
“But, you’re sure... My father’s estate is mine? There wasn’t any.... There weren’t any other clauses?”
“Clauses? Logan, I’m not sure what you’re talking about. I read everything out to you. I can go over it-”
“And there wasn’t any other paperwork, that you... you missed?”
“Logan, do you think something is missing from your father’s estate? Because I have to tell you, that many millions-”
“No other beneficiaries?”
“Other than your sister?”
“Yes,” Logan sighed impatiently. “Anyone else?”
There was a silence on the other end of the phone.
“Logan, are you referring to... to... Mr. Stone?”
“Yes!” Logan gasped out, switching the phone to his other ear. “Yes, I am. He was... is... he should’ve received-”
“Logan, Charlie Stone never signed the necessary documents. He contacted this office stating he wanted no part of the Echolls money or the Echolls family in general. We contacted your father, but, it appears he never changed his will. His will stated, quite clearly, that his children, Logan and Trina, were to receive his estate. Mr Echolls said he would get around to changing it, but... It was... of course... a complicated time for Mr Echolls...”
“Yeah, getting arrested for bashing in your son’s girlfriend’s head does tend to get in the way.” Logan muttered before hanging up the phone.
It took a long time for Logan to hear the name "Charlie" again without a searing flinch in his chest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now
His cell continued to ring. A bolt of lightning lit up the sky.
Logan glanced again at the empty space next to him in the bed, swallowing the nausea that was rising in his throat. He leant over to the nightstand and grabbed his cell, flipping it open.
“Hello?” he all but mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
“Logan Echolls?” asked an unfamiliar voice. “I’m sorry t- to call so late, is this Logan Echolls?”
“Who is this?” Logan felt the panic rising. Phone calls at three in the morning were never polite chats.
“Th- This is- My name’s Josh. Joshua Myers. I’m a... friend of your brother’s. Of Charlie’s.” The voice sounded cautious and uncertain.
“Wha- What? Who is this?”
“Josh Myers. I’m a friend of... Logan, something’s happened. To Charlie. He...” Josh cleared his throat “There was an accident and Charlie was... He was driving and he was... And now he’s...”
“I don’t... Wait... I don’t understand.”
“He’s dead, Logan. Charlie’s dead. I’m... I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but Charlie had told me-”
“Dead? That’s... That’s not... It’s not...” Logan felt a cold sweat break out over his skin and he began to tremble. The cell phone slipped out of his hand, but he barely noticed. The voice continued, tinny and distant, but Logan paid no attention.
Logan had no concept of how long he sat on the bed, completely still, staring at the wall opposite, but he eventually realised the voice on the other end of the phone had stopped. The room was quiet again.
He swung his legs over the bed and stumbled to his feet, moving towards the bedroom door. The room suddenly felt cramped and claustrophobic. He needed to get outside. Dazedly he pulled the door to the balcony open, feeling the wind snap at him.
Five seconds earlier. Just five seconds earlier.
He closed his eyes as the regret washed over him in sickening waves. That’s all it would have taken: five seconds earlier. If you’d have gotten out of that car just five seconds earlier...Now you’ll never know.
“We need to talk about last night, Logan.”
Here lies Logan Echolls. He lived every day with regret.
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Next week on Veronica Mars: Episode 3.06
Word Count: 5,227
Category: AU-ing Season 3. They didn't do it right
Spoilers: You should've watched the whole lot anyway, but this is only up to and including 3.05
Disclaimer: The characters were created by Rob Thomas and remain the property of Thomas, the CW, and Warner Bros. Television. No infringement is intended, no profit is made. But think of all the fun we'd have together...
Author's Note: I give huge props to my fantastic beta
celtic_flicka, for once again making excellent suggestions and catching me on my never improving punctuation. All mistakes after the fact are mine. I also take full responsibility for the fic direction, which is getting more and more AU... Go on, you know you want to read it :-)
WARNING: Angst again, folks. Plus talk of child abuse and infidelity... Whose? Read on...
Summary: What if Season 3 was re-done? What if Veronica was the lover not the fighter? What if Logan looked the other way? Could they come back from it this time?
Comments are what make this crazy ride worthwhile.
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Previously on Veronica Mars: Episode 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04
Sometimes a thought will stick in your mind for so long you can’t close your eyes for fear it will be there, taunting you, too painful to look at. The thought will loop endlessly over and over in ever increasing circles of insanity. Then, one day, you realise you haven’t had that thought for a while. Suddenly it doesn’t hurt so much and you can look at it and examine it closely. You can reach out and touch it again.
Then there are those thoughts that hurt so badly, the pain is so great, because you know you could have done a million things differently. Regret, shame and disgust course through you when you remember how you handled the situation. You know you will never be able to look at those thoughts directly ever again.
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The bottoms of his trousers were soaking up the water from the puddles on the balcony. His skin prickled with the chill of the wind, but he didn’t notice either. He stared straight ahead, seemingly at the girl with her back to him, but in reality his gaze was unseeing. She must have felt his gaze, felt his presence, because she spoke without turning to look at him.
“We need to talk about last night, Logan.”
Logan remained silent, staring past her head to the Neptune skyline beyond. The storm was easing.
“Look I know that you don’t-” She turned to face him, stopping when she saw his expression. “Logan?”
He blinked once and moved his gaze down to meet hers. “I’m sorry about last night, that wasn’t... I shouldn’t...” He faltered.
“Logan, what’s wrong?” She took a step towards him. The shirt she was wearing clung to her damply.
“Dead...” He started dazedly, his voice cracking on the word.
“What? Who?” She closed the gap between them quickly, reaching out a hand to grasp his wrist. “Who’s dead, Logan?”
Logan looked at her as if seeing her properly for the first time. He swallowed and moved his arm from her grasp, wiping his hand over his face.
“Logan! Who’s dead?” she asked urgently.
Logan dropped his hand and looked at her. “My brother. My brother’s dead.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three Years Earlier
“Logan! If you don’t get down here right now you may as well not bother coming out of that room ever again.”
Logan threw the tennis ball once more into the air, caught it, sighed, and rolled off the bed. Tossing a cursory glance into the mirror, he ran his fingers through his hair and left the bedroom. He paused at the top of the stairs, listening to another one of his parents’ arguments. This was becoming a habit: timing his entry into a room in order to break up the escalating volume and tension. He knew though, he could feel it, that it was only a matter of time until his father didn’t care whether he was in the room or not. It was funny that the man had no compunction about beating him over insignificant details, but had a twisted sense of honour that his son not see him argue with his wife.
“...to do with Charl-”
“I’ll decide what’s right, Lynn.”
His father’s tone broke through his reverie and Logan descended the staircase two at a time.
“Relax, relax. The prodigal son has arrived.” Logan announced his arrival, stepping into his parents’ line of vision in time to see his father move a few steps backward, away from Lynn.
“Logan. Good. I was beginning to think you hadn’t heard me.”
“No, Dad, I think everyone heard you.” Logan glanced at his mother who stood, unmoving. “What’s going on? Mom?”
Aaron stepped in front of Lynn. “Nothing, son. Your mother’s not coming with us. She’s got one of her migraines. Let’s go.” Aaron gestured towards the front door but didn’t move. He gazed unblinkingly at Logan, daring him to challenge his silent veto of any further conversation. Logan had only accepted that challenge once before, and the “reward” still smarted.
Logan stared at his father for a beat before heading towards the door. Aaron patted him on the back as he passed, a gesture that looked friendly, but Logan got the meaning. It was the exact place where he had been previously rewarded. Logan blinked at the stinging sensation but kept walking. He stole a quick sideways glance at his mother as he passed but she didn’t look back. She hadn’t moved. She still stared straight ahead.
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“So, I haven’t seen Lilly around for a few weeks. You guys on another one of your breaks?”
Logan hated car rides with his father. Aaron seemed to revel in awkward conversations. Logan stared out the window, wondering how far he could push ignoring his father. He hadn’t spent enough time with him today to judge his mood. It was a dangerous game to be playing when you didn’t have all the facts.
“I understand, son. You don’t want to talk about it. That’s ok, that’s ok. Believe me, I know all about the changing attitudes of the teenage girl.”
Logan’s lip curled up in disgust before he could stop himself. Aaron saw.
“What’s that look for?” he asked sharply. Logan remained silent and mercifully a car cut in front of them, distracting his father. He swore at the driver, suggesting he do something probably illegal with his own mother. Shaking his head as the offending car roared off, silence descended over the two of them again.
“You know, maybe Lilly isn’t the right girl for you. You ever think about that, Logan? Maybe you should aim your sights a bit lower. Let’s see, who’s pretty low on the Neptune food chain...” Aaron tapped the steering wheel with his finger for a moment, before the corner of his mouth lifted up in a smile. Logan recognised that smile and braced himself for the impending derision.
“How about Veronica Mars?” Aaron said slowly, looking over at Logan with a grin that he clearly expected Logan to reciprocate.
Logan fiddled with the handle of the glove box in front of him. The tension in the car rose the longer Logan remained silent. “Veronica’s a friend, Dad, and... and she’s not at the bottom...” he trailed off, looking out of the window.
“Oh, well, this is just classic! The son of a movie star dating the Sheriff’s daughter. That’s beautiful, Logan, just beautiful. I can see the tabloid headlines now.” Aaron barked out a laugh, bringing the car to a stop at a red light. Logan remained silent.
“I was joking, Logan.” Aaron leaned closer. “You wouldn’t seriously consider dating a Mars, would you?”
Logan didn’t have a chance to respond. Aaron’s hand shot out and grabbed his jaw, wrenching Logan’s head around to face him.
“Don’t ignore me, son.” His father’s voice was low and calm. Logan’s heart thudded in his chest, but he refused to blink.
A car horn behind them broke the moment and Aaron dropped his hand. Logan forced himself not to rub his throbbing jaw. “I’m not thinking about dating Veronica Mars, Dad,” he gritted out.
Aaron started the car moving again. “I doubt she’d have you anyway,” he said after a long pause.
They didn’t speak again for the rest of the journey.
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The car jerked to a stop, jolting Logan forward. He flushed as his brain cleared from the fog of his thoughts. Veronica. She was like the proverbial forbidden fruit; the more his father goaded him the more Logan wanted her. And the more Logan wanted her, the more irate he imagined his father would become. Logan grinned as he climbed out of the car. Win win.
His father was currently occupied by one of his sycophantic fans. Logan was pretty sure his dad paid this woman to follow him around, because she seemed to be everywhere. How many autographs can one nutjob require? Logan scuffed his foot on the gravel impatiently.
“Same time tomorrow, eh, Gladys?” he called as Aaron finished signing the multitude of paraphernalia she had brought with her. She shot him a quizzical look that Logan returned with a bland smile, turning away before he could see his father’s reaction.
Aaron caught up with him a few steps later, clapping him once again hard between his shoulder blades, but saying nothing. Together, they walked into the building, an outward symbol of unity. Aaron Echolls, always on show.
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Aaron Echolls strode the halls of Avi Kaufman’s office like he owned the place. Logan trailed behind him , watching with barely disguised contempt as Aaron answered calls of greeting with sickening falseness. Only when they reached the door to Avi’s office did Logan realise he hadn’t even questioned why he was here with his father. He’d been summoned and he came. Logan blinked. Being his father’s lapdog was perhaps a more terrifying thought than a beating.
“Logan! Come on, don’t just stand there.”
Fleetingly, Logan imagined himself turning and leaving; he even shot a quick glance sideways. The moment passed. Logan swallowed and entered the office.
“Look, I gotta go. I’ll call you back.” Avi hurriedly hung up the phone and stood as Aaron and Logan walked in.
“Aaron!” He cried, leaning over the desk to shake his client’s hand. “Great interview last night. I thought it went very well. Very, very well.” Avi beamed, absentmindedly undoing a button on his suit jacket. Logan sighed. He always found Avi’s supplicating behaviour mildly sickening, and today was clearly going to be no exception.
“Logan. Hello, hello. Sit down, both of you.” Avi wiped his palms on his jacket before taking his seat again. He pushed some papers around on his desk for a moment before looking up and clearing his throat.
“Well, I have the documents here for you. It took a bit of doing, but, you know.” Avi shrugged as if working hard for his client was a given. “They’re all finished and ready for you and Logan to sign, so...” He pushed some papers towards them on the desk.
Logan, who had expected to daydream through this entire meeting, sat up a little taller. “What? Sign what?” He looked over at his father, realising that the man still hadn’t taken off his sunglasses.
“Nothing, Logan,” Aaron said dismissively, reaching for the papers and quickly flipping through them, stopping when he arrived at a page with a ‘Sign Here’ tab. He looked up at Avi expectantly. It took Avi a moment, but he quickly understood, jumping slightly in his seat, giving a little “Oh” and patting his pockets urgently. Aaron stared at him for a second before reaching over and plucking a pen from the pot on Avi’s desk. Leaning forward to rest on the desk he signed the page with a flourish, before pushing the papers in Logan’s direction and holding out the pen.
Logan cocked his head slightly and stared at his father. “Not that I want to get between this delightful bonding moment between client and business manager, but what exactly are you expecting me to sign?”
Aaron leaned closer, speaking softly. “Logan, just sign the papers.” Logan saw only himself reflected back in his father’s mirrored sunglasses. He felt the pen being nudged forcibly into his hand. He took it, leaning forward and smoothing the papers out on the desk. He tried to dawdle, to read as much as he could, but his father leaned in again. “Sign. It. Logan.” Logan glanced up at Avi, who was studiously ignoring the situation in front of him. Logan sighed before scrawling his name across the paper, next to his father’s.
“Great!” Avi said loudly with false cheer. He leaned forward and gathered the papers out from under Logan’s hand. “All that’s left is for Charlie to-”
“Avi!” Aaron interrupted, his head snapping up to look at him.
“Who’s Charlie?” Logan asked, surprised by his father’s tone.
“Oh... uh...” Avi looked down at his desk, shuffling the papers. “I just assumed...” He trailed off, swallowing nervously.
“Dad, who’s Charlie?” Logan twisted to look at his father, his mother’s voice from this morning echoing in his head.
Aaron stood, walking towards the door. “We’re done here, Logan. Let’s go. Avi, it’s been a pleasure, as always. It’s a real shame I have to fire you, but...” Aaron shrugged in faux-helplessness, before leaving the office.
Logan stood, turning back to look at Avi as he did. The man was staring at the vacant doorway, his mouth opening and closing noiselessly.
“Who’s Charlie, Avi?” Logan stepped closer.
“I... Wha… What am I...” Avi hadn’t blinked. Sweat was forming on his upper lip.
“Who’s Charlie?” Logan asked more forcefully, placing both palms on the desk and leaning forward. “Look, Avi, if you tell me, I’ll speak to my dad, you know, maybe get your job back.” Logan knew Avi wouldn’t believe a word of that.
Avi glanced up at him, then back at the doorway.
“Avi!” Logan banged his palm down on the desk. “Either way, it’s done, so who’s Charlie?” Logan was getting desperate. His father would come back if Logan wasn’t at the car seconds after he got there.
Avi looked up again and held Logan’s gaze. The clock on the wall behind him suddenly seemed to tick louder. Logan jiggled his leg in anxious desperation, but Avi remained silent.
“Ugh!” Logan cried, slamming both hands down on the desk and pushing the papers to the floor as he turned to the door.
“Charlie Stone is your brother, Logan.” Avi’s voice was quiet.
Logan stopped, half-turning his head over his shoulder. “You’re lying.”
“Fine. I’m lying. Now get the fuck out of my office.”
Logan paused, but didn’t turn back. He left, banging the doorjamb with his fist on the way out.
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Father and son drove home in near silence, the only sound being Aaron’s occasional muttered curse at the traffic signal sequencing in Neptune. Logan gripped the door as the car sped through red light after red light. For once, though, he wasn’t praying that a semi would hit the driver’s side. Not, at least, until he got some answers.
“Charlie Stone?” He blurted out before his brain had a chance to stop him. The name hung between them, taunting them both. Aaron didn’t say anything; instead he moved his hand toward the console between them and, turning to look at Logan, pressed the cigarette lighter on.
Logan twitched, running a hand through his hair and shifting in the seat.
“You know, Avi and his wife used to come over to our place all the time for dinner. I should really invite them over again,” Aaron said conversationally.
Logan swallowed, watching the LED ring on the cigarette lighter flash while it heated, counting till it was ready. Three. Four.
“Lynn and his wife... Sarah? Used to get on like a house on fire.” Aaron stretched out the last word slowly, looking at Logan as he said it.
Seven. Eight.
“Dad...” he croaked out. He licked his dry lips.
“I mean,” Aaron laughed. “They could talk all night, you know, really burn up the phone lines.”
“I know he’s my brother, dad, please, just...” Eleven. Twelve. Logan shifted again, running his hand over his face nervously.
“It’s a real shame Avi had to go. He just didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.”
Fourteen. Fifteen.
*clink*
As always, the small, insignificant noise the lighter made to indicate it was ready made Logan jump. He felt a hot sweat break out on the back of his neck, but remained silent. Methodically, he rolled the sleeve of his sweater up, counting the folds. He clenched and unclenched his fist once, before laying his hand, palm up, on the armrest between them. He didn’t look at his forearm, instead he stared straight ahead, waiting for the car to come to a stop and for his father to begin.
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Logan never bought any first-aid supplies, but his bathroom was always mysteriously stocked with an assortment of ointments, bandages and antiseptics, to name a few. It’s like Christmas morning every morning in this house, Logan thought sardonically. He figured it was his mother’s way of discovering what punishment he was receiving - More burn cream this week? The cigarettes must be getting a workout.
Logan knew his mother was trying, but sometimes he wanted her to suffer. Occasionally, he would squeeze all the ointment out and flush it down the toilet, pack reams of bandage into his school bag and stuff it into some faceless freshman’s locker. However, every time, without fail, he would sit at school feeling nauseous at his mother’s reaction when she came to re-supply. Once, he practically emptied the entire cupboard and returned home to find ring after ring of alcohol on the vanity. He had never pushed it that far again.
“Logan?” a soft voice asked behind him, startling him from his trance in front of the bathroom mirror. He looked up at his mother’s reflection.
“Are you alright honey?” she continued, noticing the awkward way he was attempting to bandage his right arm using his left hand.
“Yeah,” Logan lifted his arm to hold the bandage in place with his chin as he continued to wrap. “I’m fine, just Dick, you know, in chemistry.”
She moved forward and gently lowered his arm, unwrapping the bandage to start again. Logan saw her swallow as the extent of the burn came slowly into view. She picked up the cream, applied some to his wound and began to re-bandage it. Logan looked down at her and almost smiled. She smelled fresh, like shampoo. It was a change from scotch.
“You should really tell me when these things happen, Logan. I... I... could go up to your school, or...or...” she choked out, looking up at her son, her eyes glistening. Logan didn’t reply.
She finished her task and took a deep breath, attempting a smile. “So, honey, got any plans for the rest of the day?”
“Er, no... No, I think-” Logan stopped, shaking his head slightly. “Mom, who’s Charlie Stone?”
Lynn’s mouth twitched, but she didn’t look taken aback at his question, almost like she had been waiting for him to ask. She glanced over her shoulder, despite the fact that they knew Aaron would be out for the rest of the day. Hard habit to break.
“Charlie is... is your brother.” Lynn tripped over the last word, finding it hard to form. “He’s the result of an adulterous adventure by your father. He’s also... He’s also the reason you might end up with none of your father’s money.” Lynn continued to look at Logan, eyes blazing.
“What? Mom, what are you talking about?”
“Your father has taken it upon himself to punish me by threatening that Charlie will receive the entirety of his estate, not you.”
“But, why? Has dad ever met him? Had anything to do with him?”
“Of course not.” Lynn shook her head. “He knows that makes it worse, but listen honey-”
“Is that what I was signing today?”
“Yes, I-”
“Why did I have to sign them?”
Lynn looked down at her hands, twirling her wedding bands around and around her finger.
“Mom, why did I have to sign them?”
Lynn took a deep breath and looked up. “It says you agree not to pursue any claim on your father’s money in the event that I divorce him. You also agree to the entire Echolls’ estate becoming the property of one Charlie Stone, brother dearest.”
"But, how can that even be legal? I'm not... I'm not even..."
"You think something minor like the law is going to matter to your father?"
Logan slumped back against the vanity, staring at his mother in shock. “But... why would he... I mean, what...” Logan realised he would never get any sane reasoning as to his father’s behaviour.
“Your father was apparently not happy that I threatened to divorce him if he didn’t stop...” Lynn couldn’t say the words, but her eyes flicked down to Logan’s bandaged arm. “This is his way of punishing me for that.” Lynn took a step closer, grasping one of Logan’s hands. “Logan, honey, promise me you won’t try and find Charlie. He might be your brother, but he’s not... I wish...” Lynn sighed and shook her head. “I wish a lot of things, why add something else to the list?” She looked imploringly at Logan. “Please, honey, promise me. I can’t have you meeting him after this, it would... it would...”
Logan closed his eyes briefly, trying to take everything in.
“Sure, mom. I promise.”
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Logan gripped the steering wheel, an argument raging back and forth in his head. He hadn’t meant to let it get this far. He thought he could stop at any moment, yet here he was, parked across the road from the cafe he’d agreed to be at, waiting, waiting, for the guest of honour to arrive.
A car pulled up opposite. Logan swallowed.
The occupant got out, tucking in his shirt with one hand as he locked the car with the other. Logan stared, unblinking.
The occupant moved to stand by the fountain, looking about himself all the time. Logan’s heart started to race.
The occupant stood, half-smiling, waiting.
Charlie Stone.
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One Week Earlier
It had happened by accident, he told himself, he hadn’t meant to find the piece of paper. He was searching in his father’s office for something else, something insignificant and there it was, just sitting there. It practically fell into my lap, Logan reasoned, pushing the filing cabinet closed and concealing the jimmied lock as best he could.
It had taken Logan three days to make any sort of a move in discovering more about Charlie Stone. He reasoned that he wasn’t betraying his mother, he had agreed not to meet his brother, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t know more about him.
It had taken him another two days to coordinate a break-in to his father’s study. He knew that his dad would have documents close by. He would want them where he could easily access them in order to shove them in Lynn’s face any time he perceived that she stepped out of line.
It had taken Logan thirty seconds to locate the file in the cabinet. His father had named it “High Infidelity.” Logan imagined his father’s smug satisfaction as he made the label, and had an intense desire to punch that satisfaction off his father’s face.
Logan wasn’t sure what to expect. He didn’t imagine the file to be bulging with “proud dad” moments, but he was surprised to find it so clinical. In fact, the only reference to Charlie was bank account details and last known contact number. Everything else in the folder was legal documentation. Logan paused for a moment, thinking Well, haven’t you gotten what you came for? before scribbling down the details on a nearby notepad. He tore off several sheets in case his father questioned the imprint. He wouldn’t put it past him.
Logan hurriedly shoved the file back in the cabinet with shaking hands and left the study, careful to ensure that it looked exactly the way it did when he had walked in three minutes earlier. He took the stairs two at a time, his heart pounding.
When he was safely in his bedroom, he put the note down on his bed and stood back, looking at it, almost as if he was waiting for it to give him an answer. Should I? Should I? Should I? Getting the details was one thing, but now the only thing left to do was to contact Charlie, and that would definitely betray his promise to his mother.
Or would it? After all, he’d promised not to meet Charlie, but was there any harm in calling him? Logan sat on the bed, next to the paper, still staring at it. It was stupid-this guy didn’t know him from Adam, but he felt that if anyone could know what it was like to be an outsider in the Echolls family, it was Charlie. Plus he was... is… my brother. Logan smiled as the word rolled around his head. He realised he didn’t even know if Charlie was older or younger than him. Older. I hope older.
Logan moved quickly, snatching the paper up and flipping open his phone with the other hand. He dialled the number with a trembling finger, took a deep breath and held the phone to his ear.
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One Week Later
Logan watched as Charlie looked again at his watch. He’d been standing there for twelve minutes, anxiously looking at the people who passed. Their phone conversation hadn’t been long; both men were guarded and brief. Charlie was not surprised at the revelation that he had a brother, though if he knew Aaron was his father, Charlie would know all about the Echolls clan from Entertainment Tonight, Logan reasoned.
Logan took a deep breath, voices and thoughts battling for supremacy in his head. Both his parents would hate him for doing this, for very different reasons. His father’s hatred he didn’t care about, but his mother.... Plus, if Charlie did only know about him from Access Hollywood or some other garbage show, would he already have an opinion of him? What if Charlie wanted nothing to do with him? What if he was just here to take a photo and sell it to the tabloids?
Logan wiped his hand across his face. He didn’t want to upset his mother, but she didn’t have to know, and Charlie could turn out to be a decent guy. And, he’s your brother. A brother. How much have you wanted this? It’s here, stop dawdling and take it!
Logan looked at Charlie again. He was jiggling his leg, hands in his pockets. Logan watched as he lifted a hand and stuck it in his hair, pulling it up at a crazy angle. Logan grinned and let out the breath he had been holding. He made up his mind.
Looking behind him for traffic, he opened the door to his car and stepped out. The road was busy-a lot of traffic was between him and the fountain. Logan waited, growing more and more impatient. He attempted to cross several times, but stepped back at the last second as a vehicle roared by. Eventually, the traffic broke and Logan jogged across the road. He couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. He half-wondered what his opening line should be.
He looked towards the fountain when he got to the other side of the road.
Charlie was gone.
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Logan tried calling the number every day even after it was disconnected, which didn’t take long. He never mentioned Charlie Stone again, and Charlie Stone was never mentioned to him. He figured his father hadn’t used the phone number himself, so wouldn’t have any idea that it was now disconnected. In fact, he would probably be pleased not to have any official way of contacting his son.
The biting pain of the failure of the relationship with his brother was only lessened by his mother’s gratitude. She believed Logan had never contacted Charlie and Logan was happy for her to be oblivious to the truth. If it means one less cocktail at happy hour.
There was a moment, a few years later, just after Aaron was shot that Logan thought he might see his brother again. There was so much paperwork, so much legal documentation, that it almost slipped Logan’s mind. Almost. He had called the lawyer handling his father’s estate early one morning after the thought had kept him awake all night.
“But, you’re sure... My father’s estate is mine? There wasn’t any.... There weren’t any other clauses?”
“Clauses? Logan, I’m not sure what you’re talking about. I read everything out to you. I can go over it-”
“And there wasn’t any other paperwork, that you... you missed?”
“Logan, do you think something is missing from your father’s estate? Because I have to tell you, that many millions-”
“No other beneficiaries?”
“Other than your sister?”
“Yes,” Logan sighed impatiently. “Anyone else?”
There was a silence on the other end of the phone.
“Logan, are you referring to... to... Mr. Stone?”
“Yes!” Logan gasped out, switching the phone to his other ear. “Yes, I am. He was... is... he should’ve received-”
“Logan, Charlie Stone never signed the necessary documents. He contacted this office stating he wanted no part of the Echolls money or the Echolls family in general. We contacted your father, but, it appears he never changed his will. His will stated, quite clearly, that his children, Logan and Trina, were to receive his estate. Mr Echolls said he would get around to changing it, but... It was... of course... a complicated time for Mr Echolls...”
“Yeah, getting arrested for bashing in your son’s girlfriend’s head does tend to get in the way.” Logan muttered before hanging up the phone.
It took a long time for Logan to hear the name "Charlie" again without a searing flinch in his chest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now
His cell continued to ring. A bolt of lightning lit up the sky.
Logan glanced again at the empty space next to him in the bed, swallowing the nausea that was rising in his throat. He leant over to the nightstand and grabbed his cell, flipping it open.
“Hello?” he all but mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
“Logan Echolls?” asked an unfamiliar voice. “I’m sorry t- to call so late, is this Logan Echolls?”
“Who is this?” Logan felt the panic rising. Phone calls at three in the morning were never polite chats.
“Th- This is- My name’s Josh. Joshua Myers. I’m a... friend of your brother’s. Of Charlie’s.” The voice sounded cautious and uncertain.
“Wha- What? Who is this?”
“Josh Myers. I’m a friend of... Logan, something’s happened. To Charlie. He...” Josh cleared his throat “There was an accident and Charlie was... He was driving and he was... And now he’s...”
“I don’t... Wait... I don’t understand.”
“He’s dead, Logan. Charlie’s dead. I’m... I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but Charlie had told me-”
“Dead? That’s... That’s not... It’s not...” Logan felt a cold sweat break out over his skin and he began to tremble. The cell phone slipped out of his hand, but he barely noticed. The voice continued, tinny and distant, but Logan paid no attention.
Logan had no concept of how long he sat on the bed, completely still, staring at the wall opposite, but he eventually realised the voice on the other end of the phone had stopped. The room was quiet again.
He swung his legs over the bed and stumbled to his feet, moving towards the bedroom door. The room suddenly felt cramped and claustrophobic. He needed to get outside. Dazedly he pulled the door to the balcony open, feeling the wind snap at him.
Five seconds earlier. Just five seconds earlier.
He closed his eyes as the regret washed over him in sickening waves. That’s all it would have taken: five seconds earlier. If you’d have gotten out of that car just five seconds earlier...Now you’ll never know.
“We need to talk about last night, Logan.”
Here lies Logan Echolls. He lived every day with regret.
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Next week on Veronica Mars: Episode 3.06