Fanfic: Post Partum 16/?, LoVe, Rated R
Veronica Mars Fic: Post Partum
Title: Post Partum, Part 16/?
Author: Zaftig_darling
Pairing/Character: Logan, Jake, Mac
Word Count: 2005
Rating: R for language
Summary: motherhood changes Veronica
Spoilers: All three seasons
Warnings: adult language, sex
Parts 1 to 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15
Thanks to
vanessagalore for the beta.
Post Partum Part 16
Logan walks into the headquarters of Kane Software with Jonah strapped to his chest in a dark blue BabyBjorn. The lobby is as sleek and modern as one would expect the lobby of the third largest software company in the world to be. He approaches the massive modern mahogany desk, at which an impeccably dressed red-headed woman is talking quietly into a phone.
"Can I help you?" she asks him.
"I'm here to see Cindy MacKenzie-Navarro," he smiles at the woman, the smile reminiscent of a signature I-am-Aaron Echolls-and-I-am-here-to-charm-the-pants-off-you smile. Inwardly, Logan hates that he has inherited this ability from his father, but admits that it does come in handy on occasion.
"I'll let her know you're here," she says. If the woman is surprised to see Logan Echolls and his baby standing in the lobby of Kane Software, asking to speak to one of the company's corporate security experts, she doesn't show it in the least.
A few moments later, Mac enters the lobby from a row of elevators towards the back. She shakes her head at Logan, who is decked out as if for a business meeting in a gorgeous grey Caraceni suit which is being tragically wrinkled by the baby sling.
"Never let it be said that the great Logan Echolls is insecure in his masculinity," Mac laughs. "It's not every man who would pair an Italian suit with a baby. Interesting accessorizing." She makes cooing noises and googly eyes at Jonah, who stares at her with fascination. "You know, if the paparazzi catch a photo of the two of you like this they will go apeshit."
Logan grins at her. "What can I say? We're just photogenic that way."
Mac looks at the receptionist. "I'm going to take Mr. Echolls, and the younger Mr. Echolls, upstairs to my office, Emily," she says.
Emily reaches into her desk and pulls out a badge marked, "VISITOR" and hands it Logan. You need to wear that on your person wherever you go in the building," she says.
"No problem," Logan answers, taking the badge from her and clipping it to the strap of the baby carrier.
Once safely in Mac's office, he sits down in a chair and stares at Mac uncomfortably for a moment.
"It's great to see you, and Jonah, but what are you really doing here?" Mac asks. "I'm not buying the 'I was in the neighborhood after meeting with Spielberg and don't you want to see your godchild for a few minutes' spiel you gave me over the phone."
"Why not?" Logan asks.
"For one thing, you heathens have yet to have that child baptized, so last time I checked the only godchildren I have are among the many, many Navarro nieces and nephews and second-cousins-once-removed. AND, just a few months ago, Veronica told me that Spielberg refused to take your calls because, and I quote, 'Aaron tried to get in his wife's pants.'"
"Aaron tried to get in a lot of wives' pants. You wouldn't think he'd take it so personally," Logan says, smirking. "But, you caught me. That's not why I'm here."
"Why are you here?" Mac asks.
"First, I'm worried about Veronica. She's not herself, and I want you to come by and see her, even if she says she doesn't want to see anyone."
"She's been really distant when I've talked to her on the phone," Mac states.
"She's...she's not okay, Mac. She needs you; she needs her friends, even if she doesn't see it right now. She's been so sleep-deprived, so very, very sleep-deprived. She's really struggling. The past few days...well, I convinced her to leave the baby with me or Elsa so she could get some rest, when she wasn't feeding him. I think she's feeling better with some more sleep, but she's still not...herself."
"I have been concerned about her, the few times I’ve spoken to her since Jonah arrived…But, you didn't have to drive over here to tell me this," Mac says, nodding her head in understanding. "You could have just called. I would have come right over."
"That's not the only reason I'm here," he admits.
Mac raises her eyebrows to look at him. "What else do you need? And does it involve anything that might get me fired?"
"Don't worry, Mac," he quips. "If I get you fired, I'll invest in you and you can develop a business model based on that Rate Your Ass scheme from college and we'll both make a mint."
Mac cracks a bit of a smile and stares at him expectantly.
"Oh, all right," Logan says. "I needed you to get past security and into the building. And I was hoping your corporate security software could tell me if Jake Kane was in his office?"
Mac's eyes widen. "Why would you want to know that?"
"I need to talk to him and I don't feel like making an appointment," Logan says. He offers no further explanation.
Mac turns to her computer and types a few keystrokes. "He's in his office right now," she says. "But you didn't hear that from me."
"Thanks, Mac," Logan says, as he stands up.
"Do you need me to draw you a map?" Mac asks.
"No, I know where it is," he says, ducking out of her doorway and into the hallway.
Logan makes his way across several corridors, until he is standing at the threshold of Jake's office. He can hear Jake's secretary talking on the phone. He is getting ready to walk in and try to charm her into letting him into Jake's inner sanctum when, as luck would have it, he hears her buzz the intercom. "Mr. Kane? I have to run down to the copy center. I'll be back in two minutes," she says.
Logan steps backward, out of the woman's line of sight as she briskly exits her office. When he can no longer hear her footsteps, he strides into the office and puts his hand on Jake Kane's door. Taking a deep breath, he pushes it open.
***
Jake Kane looks up, surprised to see him standing there.
"Logan?" Jake says, furrowing his brows in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
Logan shuts the door behind him and gently lays his hand across Jonah's back.
"I have a little, uh, business proposition to discuss with you," Logan says, as he pulls Jonah from the baby sling. Logan sits down across from Jake and carefully positions Jonah on his lap.
Jake shakes his head. “What the hell do you want, Logan? I have a company to run, I don’t have time to waste discussing your production company. And we still haven’t resolved the fact that you used my daughter’s name in LillyLynn Productions without my permission. I’m not sure you should be here without a gaggle of attorneys.”
“Nice to see you, too, Jake. Oh, what? No time to coo over my strikingly handsome son, here?”
“I find it difficult to believe you broke into my office for the sole purpose of showing off your infant. What are you doing here?”
Logan shrugs as he lifts Jonah up to his shoulder and pats his back soothingly. “I’m here because I want you to tell me where Lianne is,” Logan says.
Jake is quiet for a moment, “Why do you think I would know where your mother-in-law is? Lianne and I were over a long time ago.”
"Come off it, Jake," Logan says, dropping all pretense of niceties. "You and I both know that you're keeping Lianne somewhere. And we both know that you’ve never been ‘over’ for any significant length of time, ever. You’re the only person who knows where Lianne is, and I want to talk to her."
“Last time I checked, you were married to a federal prosecutor whose father is a current sheriff and a former P.I. I’m reasonably sure one or both of them could locate Bin Laden if they really tried, so don’t tell me they can’t locate one small blonde woman.”
“Lianne’s off the grid - she’s been off the grid for years, ever since she walked out of Veronica’s life with $50,000. Someone’s been keeping her somewhere, and I think we both know who that ‘someone’ is. I’m just asking you to share the ‘somewhere’.”
Jake looks at Logan and narrowed his eyes. “Even if I do know where Lianne is, why would I share that information with you?” Jake asks.
“I told you, I have a bit of a business proposition. A little quid pro quo. You scratch my back, I scratch yours,” Logan says, matter-of-factly.
“And what could you possibly have to offer me in exchange for divulging your wayward mother-in-law’s location?” Jake asks.
Logan reaches into his suit pocket and pulls out an envelope. He holds it in one hand and waves it at Jake. “Photographs?”
Jake pales, and Logan wonders what else Jake is hiding.
“Photographs of what?” Jake asks, trying to hide the concern in his voice.
Logan waits for a few seconds and then says, “Lilly.”
“Pictures of Lilly? I’ve already had graphic video footage of my daughter’s crushed skull beamed across the planet, along with the court transcripts describing her sex life with your father, so I’m not sure what you could possibly have photographic evidence of that I would willing to exchange any information for,” Jake snaps at Logan.
Logan shakes his head. “Not your daughter, Lilly. Your granddaughter, Lilly.”
Jake sits back and is dumbfounded for a moment. “You have…pictures of…photos of Duncan’s little girl? How? From where?” Jake asks. Then a look of fear and distress crosses Jake’s face. “What are you threatening?”
“I’m not threatening anything, Jake. I’m offering. I can’t tell you how or where, but there are six pictures of your granddaughter in this envelope. And you can have them, IF you tell me where I can find Lianne,” Logan says.
“Why do you want to know?” Jake asks, clearly torn by his desire to see the photos of a child he hasn’t seen since she was only a few weeks old and the need to keep secrets at all costs.
“Veronica wants her mother, not that you would care about that,” Logan snaps.
Jake looks at Logan and sighs. “I spent seventeen years believing that Veronica was my child, Logan. I believed she was my child.”
“Well, then perhaps you should have the decency to tell me where her MOTHER is, don’t you think?” Logan says.
“Lianne is…very fragile…” Jake says.
“Yeah, that’s no shocker. Where is she? Veronica wants her mother, I don’t know why, but she does. So where is she?”
“She’s in Tucson,” Jake sighs. “She likes…she likes the desert.”
“Is she sober?” Logan asks.
Jake shakes his head, sadly. “Only sometimes. She’s trying, it’s…complicated.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it is,” Logan scoffs. “Give me the address.”
“Just what are you going to do?” Jake asks.
“I’m going to go see if she’s too far gone to be of any help to her daughter. And I’m not letting my wife anywhere near her until I can assess that for myself,” Logan says.
Jakes nods, and reluctantly writes down the information on the back of his business card.
Logan takes the card from his hand and shakes his head as he shifts Jonah to rest on his shoulder. He hands Jake the white envelope, which contains photos of a smiling blonde girl playing on a unidentifiable sunny beach that could be almost anywhere in the world.
“See ya, Jake,” he says as he turns to walk out of the office.
“Logan,” Jake calls after him. “I want you to know, I loved her. I did. I always did…I…. I know it doesn’t seem like it…”
“Which one, Jake? Which one are you talking about - Lianne or Veronica?”
Jake doesn’t answer for a second, and then says, quietly, “Both of them…both of them, I guess, as long as I believed….”
“Good to know you feel so strongly about it,” Logan snaps as he turned and walked out the door. As he walks away, Jake stares at Jonah’s tiny face, blissfully asleep on Logan’s shoulder, and for moment, something that feels like regret washes over him.
Title: Post Partum, Part 16/?
Author: Zaftig_darling
Pairing/Character: Logan, Jake, Mac
Word Count: 2005
Rating: R for language
Summary: motherhood changes Veronica
Spoilers: All three seasons
Warnings: adult language, sex
Parts 1 to 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15
Thanks to
vanessagalore for the beta.
Post Partum Part 16
Logan walks into the headquarters of Kane Software with Jonah strapped to his chest in a dark blue BabyBjorn. The lobby is as sleek and modern as one would expect the lobby of the third largest software company in the world to be. He approaches the massive modern mahogany desk, at which an impeccably dressed red-headed woman is talking quietly into a phone.
"Can I help you?" she asks him.
"I'm here to see Cindy MacKenzie-Navarro," he smiles at the woman, the smile reminiscent of a signature I-am-Aaron Echolls-and-I-am-here-to-charm-the-pants-off-you smile. Inwardly, Logan hates that he has inherited this ability from his father, but admits that it does come in handy on occasion.
"I'll let her know you're here," she says. If the woman is surprised to see Logan Echolls and his baby standing in the lobby of Kane Software, asking to speak to one of the company's corporate security experts, she doesn't show it in the least.
A few moments later, Mac enters the lobby from a row of elevators towards the back. She shakes her head at Logan, who is decked out as if for a business meeting in a gorgeous grey Caraceni suit which is being tragically wrinkled by the baby sling.
"Never let it be said that the great Logan Echolls is insecure in his masculinity," Mac laughs. "It's not every man who would pair an Italian suit with a baby. Interesting accessorizing." She makes cooing noises and googly eyes at Jonah, who stares at her with fascination. "You know, if the paparazzi catch a photo of the two of you like this they will go apeshit."
Logan grins at her. "What can I say? We're just photogenic that way."
Mac looks at the receptionist. "I'm going to take Mr. Echolls, and the younger Mr. Echolls, upstairs to my office, Emily," she says.
Emily reaches into her desk and pulls out a badge marked, "VISITOR" and hands it Logan. You need to wear that on your person wherever you go in the building," she says.
"No problem," Logan answers, taking the badge from her and clipping it to the strap of the baby carrier.
Once safely in Mac's office, he sits down in a chair and stares at Mac uncomfortably for a moment.
"It's great to see you, and Jonah, but what are you really doing here?" Mac asks. "I'm not buying the 'I was in the neighborhood after meeting with Spielberg and don't you want to see your godchild for a few minutes' spiel you gave me over the phone."
"Why not?" Logan asks.
"For one thing, you heathens have yet to have that child baptized, so last time I checked the only godchildren I have are among the many, many Navarro nieces and nephews and second-cousins-once-removed. AND, just a few months ago, Veronica told me that Spielberg refused to take your calls because, and I quote, 'Aaron tried to get in his wife's pants.'"
"Aaron tried to get in a lot of wives' pants. You wouldn't think he'd take it so personally," Logan says, smirking. "But, you caught me. That's not why I'm here."
"Why are you here?" Mac asks.
"First, I'm worried about Veronica. She's not herself, and I want you to come by and see her, even if she says she doesn't want to see anyone."
"She's been really distant when I've talked to her on the phone," Mac states.
"She's...she's not okay, Mac. She needs you; she needs her friends, even if she doesn't see it right now. She's been so sleep-deprived, so very, very sleep-deprived. She's really struggling. The past few days...well, I convinced her to leave the baby with me or Elsa so she could get some rest, when she wasn't feeding him. I think she's feeling better with some more sleep, but she's still not...herself."
"I have been concerned about her, the few times I’ve spoken to her since Jonah arrived…But, you didn't have to drive over here to tell me this," Mac says, nodding her head in understanding. "You could have just called. I would have come right over."
"That's not the only reason I'm here," he admits.
Mac raises her eyebrows to look at him. "What else do you need? And does it involve anything that might get me fired?"
"Don't worry, Mac," he quips. "If I get you fired, I'll invest in you and you can develop a business model based on that Rate Your Ass scheme from college and we'll both make a mint."
Mac cracks a bit of a smile and stares at him expectantly.
"Oh, all right," Logan says. "I needed you to get past security and into the building. And I was hoping your corporate security software could tell me if Jake Kane was in his office?"
Mac's eyes widen. "Why would you want to know that?"
"I need to talk to him and I don't feel like making an appointment," Logan says. He offers no further explanation.
Mac turns to her computer and types a few keystrokes. "He's in his office right now," she says. "But you didn't hear that from me."
"Thanks, Mac," Logan says, as he stands up.
"Do you need me to draw you a map?" Mac asks.
"No, I know where it is," he says, ducking out of her doorway and into the hallway.
Logan makes his way across several corridors, until he is standing at the threshold of Jake's office. He can hear Jake's secretary talking on the phone. He is getting ready to walk in and try to charm her into letting him into Jake's inner sanctum when, as luck would have it, he hears her buzz the intercom. "Mr. Kane? I have to run down to the copy center. I'll be back in two minutes," she says.
Logan steps backward, out of the woman's line of sight as she briskly exits her office. When he can no longer hear her footsteps, he strides into the office and puts his hand on Jake Kane's door. Taking a deep breath, he pushes it open.
***
Jake Kane looks up, surprised to see him standing there.
"Logan?" Jake says, furrowing his brows in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
Logan shuts the door behind him and gently lays his hand across Jonah's back.
"I have a little, uh, business proposition to discuss with you," Logan says, as he pulls Jonah from the baby sling. Logan sits down across from Jake and carefully positions Jonah on his lap.
Jake shakes his head. “What the hell do you want, Logan? I have a company to run, I don’t have time to waste discussing your production company. And we still haven’t resolved the fact that you used my daughter’s name in LillyLynn Productions without my permission. I’m not sure you should be here without a gaggle of attorneys.”
“Nice to see you, too, Jake. Oh, what? No time to coo over my strikingly handsome son, here?”
“I find it difficult to believe you broke into my office for the sole purpose of showing off your infant. What are you doing here?”
Logan shrugs as he lifts Jonah up to his shoulder and pats his back soothingly. “I’m here because I want you to tell me where Lianne is,” Logan says.
Jake is quiet for a moment, “Why do you think I would know where your mother-in-law is? Lianne and I were over a long time ago.”
"Come off it, Jake," Logan says, dropping all pretense of niceties. "You and I both know that you're keeping Lianne somewhere. And we both know that you’ve never been ‘over’ for any significant length of time, ever. You’re the only person who knows where Lianne is, and I want to talk to her."
“Last time I checked, you were married to a federal prosecutor whose father is a current sheriff and a former P.I. I’m reasonably sure one or both of them could locate Bin Laden if they really tried, so don’t tell me they can’t locate one small blonde woman.”
“Lianne’s off the grid - she’s been off the grid for years, ever since she walked out of Veronica’s life with $50,000. Someone’s been keeping her somewhere, and I think we both know who that ‘someone’ is. I’m just asking you to share the ‘somewhere’.”
Jake looks at Logan and narrowed his eyes. “Even if I do know where Lianne is, why would I share that information with you?” Jake asks.
“I told you, I have a bit of a business proposition. A little quid pro quo. You scratch my back, I scratch yours,” Logan says, matter-of-factly.
“And what could you possibly have to offer me in exchange for divulging your wayward mother-in-law’s location?” Jake asks.
Logan reaches into his suit pocket and pulls out an envelope. He holds it in one hand and waves it at Jake. “Photographs?”
Jake pales, and Logan wonders what else Jake is hiding.
“Photographs of what?” Jake asks, trying to hide the concern in his voice.
Logan waits for a few seconds and then says, “Lilly.”
“Pictures of Lilly? I’ve already had graphic video footage of my daughter’s crushed skull beamed across the planet, along with the court transcripts describing her sex life with your father, so I’m not sure what you could possibly have photographic evidence of that I would willing to exchange any information for,” Jake snaps at Logan.
Logan shakes his head. “Not your daughter, Lilly. Your granddaughter, Lilly.”
Jake sits back and is dumbfounded for a moment. “You have…pictures of…photos of Duncan’s little girl? How? From where?” Jake asks. Then a look of fear and distress crosses Jake’s face. “What are you threatening?”
“I’m not threatening anything, Jake. I’m offering. I can’t tell you how or where, but there are six pictures of your granddaughter in this envelope. And you can have them, IF you tell me where I can find Lianne,” Logan says.
“Why do you want to know?” Jake asks, clearly torn by his desire to see the photos of a child he hasn’t seen since she was only a few weeks old and the need to keep secrets at all costs.
“Veronica wants her mother, not that you would care about that,” Logan snaps.
Jake looks at Logan and sighs. “I spent seventeen years believing that Veronica was my child, Logan. I believed she was my child.”
“Well, then perhaps you should have the decency to tell me where her MOTHER is, don’t you think?” Logan says.
“Lianne is…very fragile…” Jake says.
“Yeah, that’s no shocker. Where is she? Veronica wants her mother, I don’t know why, but she does. So where is she?”
“She’s in Tucson,” Jake sighs. “She likes…she likes the desert.”
“Is she sober?” Logan asks.
Jake shakes his head, sadly. “Only sometimes. She’s trying, it’s…complicated.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it is,” Logan scoffs. “Give me the address.”
“Just what are you going to do?” Jake asks.
“I’m going to go see if she’s too far gone to be of any help to her daughter. And I’m not letting my wife anywhere near her until I can assess that for myself,” Logan says.
Jakes nods, and reluctantly writes down the information on the back of his business card.
Logan takes the card from his hand and shakes his head as he shifts Jonah to rest on his shoulder. He hands Jake the white envelope, which contains photos of a smiling blonde girl playing on a unidentifiable sunny beach that could be almost anywhere in the world.
“See ya, Jake,” he says as he turns to walk out of the office.
“Logan,” Jake calls after him. “I want you to know, I loved her. I did. I always did…I…. I know it doesn’t seem like it…”
“Which one, Jake? Which one are you talking about - Lianne or Veronica?”
Jake doesn’t answer for a second, and then says, quietly, “Both of them…both of them, I guess, as long as I believed….”
“Good to know you feel so strongly about it,” Logan snaps as he turned and walked out the door. As he walks away, Jake stares at Jonah’s tiny face, blissfully asleep on Logan’s shoulder, and for moment, something that feels like regret washes over him.