What Goes Down (Part 14): We've Been Over This Before
Title: We've Been Over This Before
Fandom: Veronica Mars
Pairing(s): Lamb/Veronica
Word Count: 1844
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Veronica enlists Logan's help in tracking down a lead.
Notes: Fourteenth in the What Goes Down series. AU from episode 3:2 - My Big Fat Greek Rush Week; almost entirely AU after episode 3:9 - Spit & Eggs, but minor spoilers for episode 3:15 - Papa's Cabin.
Previously: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13
"Dealer busts."
Veronica smiled as the guys across from her grinned and raked in their chips. She shuffled the cards and dealt again, looking at her cards impassively. When they went all in at eighteen, she flipped over her card and smiled again.
"Dealer has nineteen. Want to go another round?"
They shook their heads, and Veronica looked up as someone else approached.
"I'll go a round with you," Logan said, then smirked, lowering his voice. "Or four."
Veronica met his gaze, trying not to blush. "You're never going to forget that, are you?" she asked.
"It was unforgettable." Logan was looking pleased with himself as he sat down across from her, and Veronica couldn't resist the urge.
"For you, maybe," she said, and Logan's smile faded a little.
He rallied impressively. "We can go again if you like," he said intimately. "I'll clear my schedule. Never let it be said that Logan Echolls leaves a customer unsatisfied."
"Customer?" Veronica asked. "And what does that make you?"
"The best you've ever had."
"Past tense." Veronica dealt the cards, still looking at Logan. "I assume you're in?"
He smiled. "Always."
When she won, Veronica smiled, but her smile faded quickly as she looked up to see Parker coming towards them.
"Hey, Logan," Parker said, then glanced up and saw Veronica. "Oh, hi, Veronica."
"Hey, Parker," Veronica said, confusion edging its way into her voice. "You come in here?"
Parker shook her head. "No, I've never been here before." She wrinkled her nose. "It's not really my scene."
Shooting Veronica an unreadable look, Logan turned around in his seat. "Hey," he said to Parker. "Are you here to see me?"
"Um, yeah," Parker said hesitantly, glancing up at Veronica again. "I just wanted to say hi."
"Well, hi."
The three of them shared an uncomfortable silence until Parker spoke again.
"Um, well, I should go," she said. "Nice seeing you, Veronica."
"You, too," Veronica said as she left, and looked back at Logan. "What was that about?"
"Nothing," he said quickly. "It's nothing. We're just hanging out."
Veronica nodded, not sure whether she felt more guilty about feeling anything at all, or about not feeling more. "It's your life," she told him.
Logan was looking at her curiously.
"Really," she said, and thought she meant it. Besides, she told herself, she had way too much to worry about in her life already without adding Logan to the list.
"I wanted to ask you something," she said after they'd played a few more hands. She paused.
"I read the article in Vanity Fair," she said carefully, and thought she saw a shadow of something pass over Logan's face.
"You and the rest of America," he said.
"Are you in touch with Charlie?" she asked after a minute, trying to keep her voice light. "I mean, did you ever get a chance to talk to him?"
"Yeah," Logan said quietly. "He called me after the article came out, said he had nothing to do with it. It's ... awkward, kinda. But we talk sometimes."
Veronica nodded. Logan had gone quiet, which was never a good sign.
"Why do you ask?" he said finally.
Veronica tried to smile. "He teaches at Calvert Academy, right?" she asked.
Logan nodded.
"There's a teacher at his school who I think might be involved in a case I'm on. I think he might be gambling, and if he is, it's not with some very nice people. I just want to find out what I can about it."
When Logan looked back up at Veronica, he was smiling, even if it didn't reach his eyes. "What's the guy's name?"
"James Hurley."
Logan nodded. "I'll talk to Charlie. See what I can do."
-
"Hey, you."
Lamb looked up at the sound of Veronica's voice, and smiled. Before she could say anything else, he crossed the room, closing the door behind her, and gathered her up in his arms. He lowered his mouth to meet hers, running his tongue over her lips, pressing her up against the wall of his office.
When Veronica finally pulled back, he straightened, adjusting his now-uncomfortably tight pants.
"Always a pleasure, Miss Mars," he said, and there was no trace of sarcasm in his voice. "So, to what do I owe this particular visit? Or are you just here to see me?" He smiled.
"I have a question," Veronica said, and she was smiling, too.
"Ask."
"Sam Mercano," she said, and Lamb frowned. "What do you know about him?"
Lamb looked at her until she stopped smiling, his expression serious. "Stay away from Mercano," he said, moving back to his desk. "He's bad news."
Veronica rolled her eyes and followed him. "That much, I already know. What else have you got?"
"Nothing," Lamb said shortly. "I'm not telling you anything about him, Veronica. I've said all you need to know. He's bad news. Stay away."
"He's bad news? Stay away?" Veronica mimicked. "You sound like my dad."
Lamb looked back at her, his mouth twitching into a smile. "Please don't ever say that again."
Veronica was still looking at him. "I'm a big girl," she said. "I can take it. Mercano. Hit me. What do you know?"
Lamb held her gaze. When he spoke again, he did so slowly. "I don't know anything. Whatever case you're on, drop it. Going after Mercano isn't worth it."
Veronica was silent for a moment, and then she shook her head. "You are just like my dad," she said as she left.
Lamb waited after she had gone, then walked to the door. "Sacks!" he yelled, and the deputy looked at him. "Get me Keith Mars on the phone."
-
"So you said Charlie talked to James Hurley?" Veronica looked across to where Logan was sitting in the car, and he nodded. When they finally pulled up outside Calvert Academy, he was looking at her.
"I don't suppose there's any chance you're going to tell me what this is all about?" It was just barely a question.
"I don't suppose there is."
Logan nodded, and Veronica waited for him to push her further, but he remained silent.
"Thanks, Logan," she said after a moment, and he smiled.
Veronica paused. "And if you want to go out with Parker," she said, and stopped. "That's ... I mean, you don't need my permission. But just in case, it's okay with me. I've ... moved on."
Logan looked at her sharply, like he wanted to ask her when, and how, and with who; but at that moment, Charlie came out of the building, and Veronica nodded at him.
She and Logan got out of the car, and Charlie waved at them in recognition. Veronica hung back as Logan went to meet him, trying not to overhear their conversation.
After a few minutes, Charlie turned toward her, and smiled. "You must be Veronica," he said. "Logan's talked about you."
Veronica looked at Logan, who smiled uncomfortably. "Well, I'll leave you guys to it," he said, and walked back to his car.
"So." Veronica turned back to Charlie. "You talked to James Hurley?"
Charlie nodded. "I talked to Jim," he agreed. "I asked him about gambling, but he really didn't seem to know anything."
Veronica frowned. She went to speak again, but Charlie looked away, then turned back to her. "That's him," he said, nodding at a middle-aged man who had just walked out of the building.
Veronica watched as Jim Hurley got into a nearby car, then smiled at Charlie. "Are you busy this afternoon?" she asked.
"Nope." Charlie shook his head.
"Want to do a little recon?"
Charlie grinned at her, and in that moment, Veronica thought she saw a little of Logan in his eyes. "Always."
Charlie led Veronica to his car as Hurley drove off, and Veronica slid into the passenger seat.
"Follow him," she instructed Charlie. "Try to stay a few cars back, if you can. Tailing somebody doesn't usually work too well when the person knows they're being followed."
"How am I doing?" Charlie asked Veronica a few blocks later.
She smiled. "You're a natural," she assured him earnestly. "Wait, I think he's stopping. Pull in over there."
Veronica and Charlie watched from across the street as Hurley went into a nearby building. "A bookstore?" she asked, confused.
Charlie shrugged. "He's a teacher."
Veronica frowned. If this was going to be a repeat of her and Wallace's afternoon spent tracking Liam Fitzpatrick, she thought she might as well call the whole thing off now.
"So you and Logan are ..." Charlie began after a few minutes, and Veronica looked at him.
"We used to date," she said.
Charlie looked at her. "But you guys are still friends?"
Veronica thought for a minute. "Yeah," she said finally. "We're friends."
Charlie didn't say anything else, and after a moment, Veronica looked back at him. "And you and Logan are?"
Charlie laughed. "Brothers, apparently. I know. Weird, huh?" He shrugged. "We talk sometimes. He seems like an okay guy."
"He is," Veronica told him. Charlie remained silent. "But you're not sure you want to jump into anything?" she asked.
Charlie smiled. "That's the long and short of it."
Veronica searched his expression for a sign that he'd rather drop the subject, and found none. "For what it's worth," she said, and wondered how to continue. "Logan hasn't had the ... easiest home life."
"Yeah." Charlie nodded. "I know."
"He hasn't had much luck with family," Veronica pressed on, pushing away sudden thoughts of just how true that was. "And you're pretty much all he has left. I can't say I know how difficult this is ..."
She trailed off. She had never had do deal with integrating herself into a family she hadn't known existed for most of her life. But it had been a close run thing.
"But I think this - getting to know you - is important to him. It's good for him."
When Charlie finally looked up at her, he was smiling a little. "Yeah," was all he said.
And then his attention shifted, and Veronica looked out her window. Jim Hurley had come out of the bookstore.
She didn't have to tell Charlie to follow him again as they eased back into traffic, following a safe distance behind. They tailed Hurley as he drove into a decidedly less desirable part of town, Veronica's anxiety growing with every block. When he finally stopped, Charlie drove past as Hurley ducked into a second building.
"Park down the street," Veronica said, and Charlie complied. They waited in silence until Hurley finally emerged.
"What?" Charlie asked, and Veronica realised she was smiling. The good news was, she knew the cigar shop Jim Hurley had just gone into. She had followed Tom Griffith into it more than a year ago.
The bad news was, she knew the cigar shop Jim Hurley had just gone into.
"I know what Hurley's up to," she told Charlie as he drove her back to campus. "And it isn't gambling."
Charlie looked at her, and Veronica paused.
"It's drugs."
Next: Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18
Fandom: Veronica Mars
Pairing(s): Lamb/Veronica
Word Count: 1844
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Veronica enlists Logan's help in tracking down a lead.
Notes: Fourteenth in the What Goes Down series. AU from episode 3:2 - My Big Fat Greek Rush Week; almost entirely AU after episode 3:9 - Spit & Eggs, but minor spoilers for episode 3:15 - Papa's Cabin.
Previously: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13
"Dealer busts."
Veronica smiled as the guys across from her grinned and raked in their chips. She shuffled the cards and dealt again, looking at her cards impassively. When they went all in at eighteen, she flipped over her card and smiled again.
"Dealer has nineteen. Want to go another round?"
They shook their heads, and Veronica looked up as someone else approached.
"I'll go a round with you," Logan said, then smirked, lowering his voice. "Or four."
Veronica met his gaze, trying not to blush. "You're never going to forget that, are you?" she asked.
"It was unforgettable." Logan was looking pleased with himself as he sat down across from her, and Veronica couldn't resist the urge.
"For you, maybe," she said, and Logan's smile faded a little.
He rallied impressively. "We can go again if you like," he said intimately. "I'll clear my schedule. Never let it be said that Logan Echolls leaves a customer unsatisfied."
"Customer?" Veronica asked. "And what does that make you?"
"The best you've ever had."
"Past tense." Veronica dealt the cards, still looking at Logan. "I assume you're in?"
He smiled. "Always."
When she won, Veronica smiled, but her smile faded quickly as she looked up to see Parker coming towards them.
"Hey, Logan," Parker said, then glanced up and saw Veronica. "Oh, hi, Veronica."
"Hey, Parker," Veronica said, confusion edging its way into her voice. "You come in here?"
Parker shook her head. "No, I've never been here before." She wrinkled her nose. "It's not really my scene."
Shooting Veronica an unreadable look, Logan turned around in his seat. "Hey," he said to Parker. "Are you here to see me?"
"Um, yeah," Parker said hesitantly, glancing up at Veronica again. "I just wanted to say hi."
"Well, hi."
The three of them shared an uncomfortable silence until Parker spoke again.
"Um, well, I should go," she said. "Nice seeing you, Veronica."
"You, too," Veronica said as she left, and looked back at Logan. "What was that about?"
"Nothing," he said quickly. "It's nothing. We're just hanging out."
Veronica nodded, not sure whether she felt more guilty about feeling anything at all, or about not feeling more. "It's your life," she told him.
Logan was looking at her curiously.
"Really," she said, and thought she meant it. Besides, she told herself, she had way too much to worry about in her life already without adding Logan to the list.
"I wanted to ask you something," she said after they'd played a few more hands. She paused.
"I read the article in Vanity Fair," she said carefully, and thought she saw a shadow of something pass over Logan's face.
"You and the rest of America," he said.
"Are you in touch with Charlie?" she asked after a minute, trying to keep her voice light. "I mean, did you ever get a chance to talk to him?"
"Yeah," Logan said quietly. "He called me after the article came out, said he had nothing to do with it. It's ... awkward, kinda. But we talk sometimes."
Veronica nodded. Logan had gone quiet, which was never a good sign.
"Why do you ask?" he said finally.
Veronica tried to smile. "He teaches at Calvert Academy, right?" she asked.
Logan nodded.
"There's a teacher at his school who I think might be involved in a case I'm on. I think he might be gambling, and if he is, it's not with some very nice people. I just want to find out what I can about it."
When Logan looked back up at Veronica, he was smiling, even if it didn't reach his eyes. "What's the guy's name?"
"James Hurley."
Logan nodded. "I'll talk to Charlie. See what I can do."
-
"Hey, you."
Lamb looked up at the sound of Veronica's voice, and smiled. Before she could say anything else, he crossed the room, closing the door behind her, and gathered her up in his arms. He lowered his mouth to meet hers, running his tongue over her lips, pressing her up against the wall of his office.
When Veronica finally pulled back, he straightened, adjusting his now-uncomfortably tight pants.
"Always a pleasure, Miss Mars," he said, and there was no trace of sarcasm in his voice. "So, to what do I owe this particular visit? Or are you just here to see me?" He smiled.
"I have a question," Veronica said, and she was smiling, too.
"Ask."
"Sam Mercano," she said, and Lamb frowned. "What do you know about him?"
Lamb looked at her until she stopped smiling, his expression serious. "Stay away from Mercano," he said, moving back to his desk. "He's bad news."
Veronica rolled her eyes and followed him. "That much, I already know. What else have you got?"
"Nothing," Lamb said shortly. "I'm not telling you anything about him, Veronica. I've said all you need to know. He's bad news. Stay away."
"He's bad news? Stay away?" Veronica mimicked. "You sound like my dad."
Lamb looked back at her, his mouth twitching into a smile. "Please don't ever say that again."
Veronica was still looking at him. "I'm a big girl," she said. "I can take it. Mercano. Hit me. What do you know?"
Lamb held her gaze. When he spoke again, he did so slowly. "I don't know anything. Whatever case you're on, drop it. Going after Mercano isn't worth it."
Veronica was silent for a moment, and then she shook her head. "You are just like my dad," she said as she left.
Lamb waited after she had gone, then walked to the door. "Sacks!" he yelled, and the deputy looked at him. "Get me Keith Mars on the phone."
-
"So you said Charlie talked to James Hurley?" Veronica looked across to where Logan was sitting in the car, and he nodded. When they finally pulled up outside Calvert Academy, he was looking at her.
"I don't suppose there's any chance you're going to tell me what this is all about?" It was just barely a question.
"I don't suppose there is."
Logan nodded, and Veronica waited for him to push her further, but he remained silent.
"Thanks, Logan," she said after a moment, and he smiled.
Veronica paused. "And if you want to go out with Parker," she said, and stopped. "That's ... I mean, you don't need my permission. But just in case, it's okay with me. I've ... moved on."
Logan looked at her sharply, like he wanted to ask her when, and how, and with who; but at that moment, Charlie came out of the building, and Veronica nodded at him.
She and Logan got out of the car, and Charlie waved at them in recognition. Veronica hung back as Logan went to meet him, trying not to overhear their conversation.
After a few minutes, Charlie turned toward her, and smiled. "You must be Veronica," he said. "Logan's talked about you."
Veronica looked at Logan, who smiled uncomfortably. "Well, I'll leave you guys to it," he said, and walked back to his car.
"So." Veronica turned back to Charlie. "You talked to James Hurley?"
Charlie nodded. "I talked to Jim," he agreed. "I asked him about gambling, but he really didn't seem to know anything."
Veronica frowned. She went to speak again, but Charlie looked away, then turned back to her. "That's him," he said, nodding at a middle-aged man who had just walked out of the building.
Veronica watched as Jim Hurley got into a nearby car, then smiled at Charlie. "Are you busy this afternoon?" she asked.
"Nope." Charlie shook his head.
"Want to do a little recon?"
Charlie grinned at her, and in that moment, Veronica thought she saw a little of Logan in his eyes. "Always."
Charlie led Veronica to his car as Hurley drove off, and Veronica slid into the passenger seat.
"Follow him," she instructed Charlie. "Try to stay a few cars back, if you can. Tailing somebody doesn't usually work too well when the person knows they're being followed."
"How am I doing?" Charlie asked Veronica a few blocks later.
She smiled. "You're a natural," she assured him earnestly. "Wait, I think he's stopping. Pull in over there."
Veronica and Charlie watched from across the street as Hurley went into a nearby building. "A bookstore?" she asked, confused.
Charlie shrugged. "He's a teacher."
Veronica frowned. If this was going to be a repeat of her and Wallace's afternoon spent tracking Liam Fitzpatrick, she thought she might as well call the whole thing off now.
"So you and Logan are ..." Charlie began after a few minutes, and Veronica looked at him.
"We used to date," she said.
Charlie looked at her. "But you guys are still friends?"
Veronica thought for a minute. "Yeah," she said finally. "We're friends."
Charlie didn't say anything else, and after a moment, Veronica looked back at him. "And you and Logan are?"
Charlie laughed. "Brothers, apparently. I know. Weird, huh?" He shrugged. "We talk sometimes. He seems like an okay guy."
"He is," Veronica told him. Charlie remained silent. "But you're not sure you want to jump into anything?" she asked.
Charlie smiled. "That's the long and short of it."
Veronica searched his expression for a sign that he'd rather drop the subject, and found none. "For what it's worth," she said, and wondered how to continue. "Logan hasn't had the ... easiest home life."
"Yeah." Charlie nodded. "I know."
"He hasn't had much luck with family," Veronica pressed on, pushing away sudden thoughts of just how true that was. "And you're pretty much all he has left. I can't say I know how difficult this is ..."
She trailed off. She had never had do deal with integrating herself into a family she hadn't known existed for most of her life. But it had been a close run thing.
"But I think this - getting to know you - is important to him. It's good for him."
When Charlie finally looked up at her, he was smiling a little. "Yeah," was all he said.
And then his attention shifted, and Veronica looked out her window. Jim Hurley had come out of the bookstore.
She didn't have to tell Charlie to follow him again as they eased back into traffic, following a safe distance behind. They tailed Hurley as he drove into a decidedly less desirable part of town, Veronica's anxiety growing with every block. When he finally stopped, Charlie drove past as Hurley ducked into a second building.
"Park down the street," Veronica said, and Charlie complied. They waited in silence until Hurley finally emerged.
"What?" Charlie asked, and Veronica realised she was smiling. The good news was, she knew the cigar shop Jim Hurley had just gone into. She had followed Tom Griffith into it more than a year ago.
The bad news was, she knew the cigar shop Jim Hurley had just gone into.
"I know what Hurley's up to," she told Charlie as he drove her back to campus. "And it isn't gambling."
Charlie looked at her, and Veronica paused.
"It's drugs."
Next: Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18