Fic: Ashes to Ashes (R) Veronica/Logan - 5/11
Title: Ashes to Ashes - 5/11
Authors: moire2 and fickledame
Pairing: Veronica/Logan
Rating: Strong R for violence.
Word Count: Around 15000 in total.
Disclaimer: We just noticed we aren't Rob Thomas nor are we in anyway affiliated with Rob Thomas. Thought y'all should know just in case you decided to throw money or loose change our way. Apparently, that is frowned on by RT's lawyers. Now, if you want to do a strip tease or flash us, that is a whole different story. Or, send us your panties in the mail... feel free. Actually - no. Hygiene issues. Panties in mail bad. Take pictures and email them. Oral sex also helpful. No, I mean... feedback. Is this becoming the longest disclaimer ever? I think so. So, to recap, lawyers who take our money bad, sex feedback good.
Summary: From the authors of Mala Fide comes a brand new thriller. A serial killer is rampaging through Neptune. Nobody is safe! The babies, the kittens - just lock them all away, it’s for the best! Okay, so the fic is kinda dark, contains some violence and possibly has character death in it. Okay, perhaps everyone dies. What? If it is good enough for Hamlet, it is good enough for us. (Not everyone dies. Come back! Read it! Why is everyone clicking X?)
Spoilers: Up until episode 13 of season two.
A/N: One of the authors is American, the other English. The spellings reflect that.
Thanks: Our never ending source of gratitude goes to semby, ethereal_65 and taken_with_you for their wonderful beta skills. They are the bomb diggity and we have a tiny shrine dedicated to them, but not in a creepy way. Or a stalker way. In the, we like their mad beta skills way. Additional thanks to skk670 for putting up with our mad ramblings about this fic. And yes, we do really have stalker-ish shrines dedicated to you all. You love it and we know it.
Special Note: This fic takes place a little while after current events - and some of it is AU. (e.g. Felix’s killer is possibly AU, not spoiler.)
Chapter One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four
Veronica felt like someone had kicked sand in her eyes and she was so damn tired. She’d barely gotten to bed before her morning alarm was ringing. She found herself unable to muster up enough energy to get dressed quickly and was now late. She trudged up the front steps of the school and wearily pushed through the crowd. Voices were muted, hushed whispers as she headed to her locker and twirled the black dial. A girl behind her let out a small sob, and Veronica turned, her forehead wrinkling in confusion. She caught Wallace’s eye down the hall, and he headed through the quiet swarm toward her. It was eerie the way everyone was acting, she decided.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
His mouth opened slightly, and he looked down at his shoes for a moment. Veronica reached out, pressing a soft touch to his arm. When he met her eyes, he had the oddest look on his face.
“Veronica, they found Cassidy’s car empty this morning. Dick said he never came home last night. They’re searching an area outside of town…”
The noise in the hall faded to silence. She shook her head and looked back up at her friend. He was talking, but she couldn’t understand what he was saying. She glanced away, looking at the rows of lockers lining the dirty, beige hall.
“Veronica, Mac was with him.”
Her head turned quickly, with her expression now one of disbelief.
“No.”
“What?”
“This can’t happen to all of my friends, Wallace. It can’t be true, understand me?”
She released her grip on his arm and he cocked his head to the side, looking at her worriedly.
“I’m sorry, I… should I take you home?”
She blinked back tears. “What good am I sitting at home?”
* * *
Keith shifted in his chair and glanced over at Lamb and Sacks. Sacks wasn’t a bad guy, but Lamb drove him crazy.
“There is no way I’m letting you go to the press with this.”
He took a deep breath. “Lamb, they just found two more kids, and we have information that could help reduce the body count.”
Lamb’s mouth twisted into a grimace as he ignored Keith and focused his attention on the Mayor. He leaned forward, hands grasped together as he addressed him.
“I’m supposed to alert the press because his daughter evaded arrest last night?”
Keith gritted his teeth and counted to ten. It didn’t help much, but what would in a situation like this. He was tired of dancing around Lamb’s ego. This guy’s ineptitude could get more people killed. He caught Sacks giving him a sympathetic look as he rebutted Lamb’s less than subtle insults toward his daughter.
“She drove straight to the station and when she did, the guy turned off his lights and sped by.”
Lamb didn’t look his way once. “If I go to the press with this cock and bull story, no one will pull over for my deputies. I’ll have cars lined up in our parking lot with paranoid assholes…”
“It wasn’t a cop car, Lamb; it was a Dodge Duster with a cop light. I think it’s safe to say folks won’t mind pulling over for an actual cop car, but they might want to know not to pull over for a Dodge Duster.”
Lamb leaned back in the brown leather chair and cocked an eyebrow, still avoiding eye contact with Keith.
“I won’t do it.”
“Keith,” the mayor said gently, “I understand your desire to protect the public; I admire it even. I just don’t know if I can go to the press with this. Veronica is a lovely girl, but she’s still just a girl.”
Keith couldn’t help noticing the shit-eating grin on Lamb’s face.
“I think you’re making a mistake.”
“Duly noted. I want you to know, Keith, I value your opinion. As soon as we get evidence to corroborate your daughter’s story, we’ll go to the press. All right?”
Keith nodded, wondering why, exactly, Lamb was so eager to keep this off the press’s radar. Maybe he was worried it would spoil the hunt. He shook off that thought as he watched the sheriff leave with his deputy. The man may be incompetent and an asshole, but that didn’t make him a killer.
* * *
Veronica spotted Logan heading towards his car and jogged after him, dodging a few people milling around at the edge of the parking lot. He had almost reached his destination and was fishing in his pocket, presumably for his keys.
“Logan!” she called. He stopped when he heard her voice and glanced over his shoulder, waiting for her to catch up. She reached him and caught her breath quickly. “Where are you going?”
“I was going to head over to the Casablancas’ place, see if there’s any news,” Logan replied. His normal cocky smirk was off his lips for once.
“We need to prove it was Lamb,” Veronica said briskly, getting straight to the point.
Logan let out a little laugh in shock. “What?”
“You heard me, we need proof. We can tail him this week; see what he is up to. Pick me up after school?”
Logan continued to gape at her. “Veronica, I was joking - “
“Just do it, will you?” she spat angrily. “We think it’s a cop, right? Who else is clearly sadistic enough to be a murderer? He has the means, plus anyone would pull over for the sheriff.”
“It’s possible,” Logan conceded reluctantly.
“It’s more than possible; don’t be so difficult all the time,” Veronica snapped.
“I’m difficult, coming from -” he stopped short and took a deep breath, noticing for the first time her eyes glistening in the morning sun. “Stop trying to pick an argument with me,” he said softly.
“I’m not,” she replied, spinning away from him but she stopped when he put his hand on her arm.
“Veronica -” he began.
“Don’t, Logan. Just don’t,” she said, her voice cracking. “It should have been us…”
She furiously wiped a stray tear away that slid down her cheek and he felt his stomach twist at the sight. His thumb gently rubbed where his hand was still on her arm, unable to let go, until she pulled away.
“So, will you?” she asked and he nodded in response.
***
Feedback makes the merry-go-round of life go round! Or... something. Anyway - feedback is good. Thanks!
Part Six...
Authors: moire2 and fickledame
Pairing: Veronica/Logan
Rating: Strong R for violence.
Word Count: Around 15000 in total.
Disclaimer: We just noticed we aren't Rob Thomas nor are we in anyway affiliated with Rob Thomas. Thought y'all should know just in case you decided to throw money or loose change our way. Apparently, that is frowned on by RT's lawyers. Now, if you want to do a strip tease or flash us, that is a whole different story. Or, send us your panties in the mail... feel free. Actually - no. Hygiene issues. Panties in mail bad. Take pictures and email them. Oral sex also helpful. No, I mean... feedback. Is this becoming the longest disclaimer ever? I think so. So, to recap, lawyers who take our money bad, sex feedback good.
Summary: From the authors of Mala Fide comes a brand new thriller. A serial killer is rampaging through Neptune. Nobody is safe! The babies, the kittens - just lock them all away, it’s for the best! Okay, so the fic is kinda dark, contains some violence and possibly has character death in it. Okay, perhaps everyone dies. What? If it is good enough for Hamlet, it is good enough for us. (Not everyone dies. Come back! Read it! Why is everyone clicking X?)
Spoilers: Up until episode 13 of season two.
A/N: One of the authors is American, the other English. The spellings reflect that.
Thanks: Our never ending source of gratitude goes to semby, ethereal_65 and taken_with_you for their wonderful beta skills. They are the bomb diggity and we have a tiny shrine dedicated to them, but not in a creepy way. Or a stalker way. In the, we like their mad beta skills way. Additional thanks to skk670 for putting up with our mad ramblings about this fic. And yes, we do really have stalker-ish shrines dedicated to you all. You love it and we know it.
Special Note: This fic takes place a little while after current events - and some of it is AU. (e.g. Felix’s killer is possibly AU, not spoiler.)
Chapter One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four
Veronica felt like someone had kicked sand in her eyes and she was so damn tired. She’d barely gotten to bed before her morning alarm was ringing. She found herself unable to muster up enough energy to get dressed quickly and was now late. She trudged up the front steps of the school and wearily pushed through the crowd. Voices were muted, hushed whispers as she headed to her locker and twirled the black dial. A girl behind her let out a small sob, and Veronica turned, her forehead wrinkling in confusion. She caught Wallace’s eye down the hall, and he headed through the quiet swarm toward her. It was eerie the way everyone was acting, she decided.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
His mouth opened slightly, and he looked down at his shoes for a moment. Veronica reached out, pressing a soft touch to his arm. When he met her eyes, he had the oddest look on his face.
“Veronica, they found Cassidy’s car empty this morning. Dick said he never came home last night. They’re searching an area outside of town…”
The noise in the hall faded to silence. She shook her head and looked back up at her friend. He was talking, but she couldn’t understand what he was saying. She glanced away, looking at the rows of lockers lining the dirty, beige hall.
“Veronica, Mac was with him.”
Her head turned quickly, with her expression now one of disbelief.
“No.”
“What?”
“This can’t happen to all of my friends, Wallace. It can’t be true, understand me?”
She released her grip on his arm and he cocked his head to the side, looking at her worriedly.
“I’m sorry, I… should I take you home?”
She blinked back tears. “What good am I sitting at home?”
* * *
Keith shifted in his chair and glanced over at Lamb and Sacks. Sacks wasn’t a bad guy, but Lamb drove him crazy.
“There is no way I’m letting you go to the press with this.”
He took a deep breath. “Lamb, they just found two more kids, and we have information that could help reduce the body count.”
Lamb’s mouth twisted into a grimace as he ignored Keith and focused his attention on the Mayor. He leaned forward, hands grasped together as he addressed him.
“I’m supposed to alert the press because his daughter evaded arrest last night?”
Keith gritted his teeth and counted to ten. It didn’t help much, but what would in a situation like this. He was tired of dancing around Lamb’s ego. This guy’s ineptitude could get more people killed. He caught Sacks giving him a sympathetic look as he rebutted Lamb’s less than subtle insults toward his daughter.
“She drove straight to the station and when she did, the guy turned off his lights and sped by.”
Lamb didn’t look his way once. “If I go to the press with this cock and bull story, no one will pull over for my deputies. I’ll have cars lined up in our parking lot with paranoid assholes…”
“It wasn’t a cop car, Lamb; it was a Dodge Duster with a cop light. I think it’s safe to say folks won’t mind pulling over for an actual cop car, but they might want to know not to pull over for a Dodge Duster.”
Lamb leaned back in the brown leather chair and cocked an eyebrow, still avoiding eye contact with Keith.
“I won’t do it.”
“Keith,” the mayor said gently, “I understand your desire to protect the public; I admire it even. I just don’t know if I can go to the press with this. Veronica is a lovely girl, but she’s still just a girl.”
Keith couldn’t help noticing the shit-eating grin on Lamb’s face.
“I think you’re making a mistake.”
“Duly noted. I want you to know, Keith, I value your opinion. As soon as we get evidence to corroborate your daughter’s story, we’ll go to the press. All right?”
Keith nodded, wondering why, exactly, Lamb was so eager to keep this off the press’s radar. Maybe he was worried it would spoil the hunt. He shook off that thought as he watched the sheriff leave with his deputy. The man may be incompetent and an asshole, but that didn’t make him a killer.
* * *
Veronica spotted Logan heading towards his car and jogged after him, dodging a few people milling around at the edge of the parking lot. He had almost reached his destination and was fishing in his pocket, presumably for his keys.
“Logan!” she called. He stopped when he heard her voice and glanced over his shoulder, waiting for her to catch up. She reached him and caught her breath quickly. “Where are you going?”
“I was going to head over to the Casablancas’ place, see if there’s any news,” Logan replied. His normal cocky smirk was off his lips for once.
“We need to prove it was Lamb,” Veronica said briskly, getting straight to the point.
Logan let out a little laugh in shock. “What?”
“You heard me, we need proof. We can tail him this week; see what he is up to. Pick me up after school?”
Logan continued to gape at her. “Veronica, I was joking - “
“Just do it, will you?” she spat angrily. “We think it’s a cop, right? Who else is clearly sadistic enough to be a murderer? He has the means, plus anyone would pull over for the sheriff.”
“It’s possible,” Logan conceded reluctantly.
“It’s more than possible; don’t be so difficult all the time,” Veronica snapped.
“I’m difficult, coming from -” he stopped short and took a deep breath, noticing for the first time her eyes glistening in the morning sun. “Stop trying to pick an argument with me,” he said softly.
“I’m not,” she replied, spinning away from him but she stopped when he put his hand on her arm.
“Veronica -” he began.
“Don’t, Logan. Just don’t,” she said, her voice cracking. “It should have been us…”
She furiously wiped a stray tear away that slid down her cheek and he felt his stomach twist at the sight. His thumb gently rubbed where his hand was still on her arm, unable to let go, until she pulled away.
“So, will you?” she asked and he nodded in response.
***
Feedback makes the merry-go-round of life go round! Or... something. Anyway - feedback is good. Thanks!
Part Six...