Final Gift for luckycharm_13
I'm so sorry that this was so late! RL really decided to beat me harshly this last month. Better late than never, right? I hope that your holidays were wonderful and that you enjoy this fic!
Title: Your Kind of Apathy
Author: captainofidiots
Rating: PG-13, at the most.
Pairing: No real pairing, but there is some Veronica and Lamb interaction.
Spoilers: End of Season 1.
Summary: The rest of the night seemed to go by in flashes and sounds. Lamb surveyed the area, taking note of each little thing, making sure his deputies did their job and that all the damage was being controlled. He had an image to keep.
Your Kind of Apathy
On the surface, most nights in Neptune were uneventful. There would be a traffic stop here and the occasional 09er party there, but there was nothing wholly substantial. If Lamb didn’t get to drag anyone back to the station, he didn’t count it as anything too important. What he couldn’t see and hear had no major importance to him. He knew the town was a living, breathing machine that had them all by the short hairs, but he’d perfected the art of turning his face in the opposite direction. All the best Sheriffs could without blinking.
His years spent creating the perfect amount of insomnia now kept him from getting any sleep most nights. He stayed late in his office and filled out the copious amounts of paperwork that never seemed to end. Some nights he’d take the time to drive out to the beach and break up the parties that littered the shoreline. The kegs were always good for a long Sunday afternoon.
The night the town came crashing in on itself he was outside the station smoking a cigarette from the pack he hid in the bottom drawer of his desk. Everyone knew he smoked, they could probably smell it on his clothes. Always the liar, he’d never admit to it. The burning tip was almost to the filter when Sacks ran out of the back access door; his eyes scanned the dark quickly before finding the glow of the cigarette, which gave Lamb away.
He let the smoke slide between his lips and noted the nearly panicked look on Sacks’ face. “Please don’t tell me the lunch room is on fire again, Deputy. We just had it cleaned.”
“Sir, we just got a call. Aaron Echolls was just hit by a car and is being held at gunpoint.” Sacks took a quick breath before continuing, “And the girl with the gun has a very similar description to one Veronica Mars.”
The cigarette butt was thrown to the ground quickly. “Get the squad car started, I’ll be there in a moment.” Sacks turned back quickly and Lamb stood there for a moment, he felt his body tighten at the anticipated punch of adrenaline he was soon going to feel. He removed a piece of gum from his pocket and began snapping it between his teeth the moment he put it into his mouth. The flavor of peppermint chased away the taste of smoke.
They traveled quickly on the nearly empty streets, the blue and red lights from the cruiser illuminated the trees and created shapes in the dark. The sirens remained silent but the pounding of Lamb’s heart was like a siren in his head. The scene wasn’t hard to find with orange flames licking the sky and the first response vehicles blocking the road.
When he saw her, he swore the beating of his heart just stopped. Her face was speckled with black soot, and her hands trembled lightly as she pointed the gun at Aaron, who was groaning softly. The wind blew softly and flashing lights outlined Veronica’s face in harsh shadows. A few of the paramedics looked slightly helpless, and Lamb gestured for them to step back. He didn’t think Veronica would actually shoot anyone, but he learned a long time ago that he couldn‘t always trust his instincts. His hand rested on his gun holster, and he stepped closer to her.
Cautiously he approached her, as if she were a cornered animal with its teeth bared. “Put down the gun; the police are here now.” Aaron choked and rolled around slightly. Veronica tightened her hands on the gun. “Veronica, put down the gun. I can take care of him.” He could see her swallow, and he was almost standing next to her. She smelled a little like the ocean.
Her voice trembled. “He tried to kill me, Lamb. He tried to kill my father. He killed Lilly.” If she knew that he was close enough to touch her, she didn’t say.
His voice was soft, but no less forceful. “The paramedics are helping Keith. You have to give me the gun, Veronica. Give me the gun, and go to your father. I can take care of this son of a bitch, I promise.” Quickly, he grabbed her wrist and twisted it just so, and the gun fell from her grasp. In one smooth motion he kicked the gun from Aaron’s reach and shoved Veronica away from both of them.
She stumbled back into one of the paramedics and Lamb knelt down next to Aaron, the handcuffs hung off his fingers as he waited for a couple of the other medics to bring a gurney over. After they lifted him onto the flat surface, Lamb cuffed his wrist to the metal bar, the clang of the metal against metal was drown out by the sirens in the distance. Grimly, Lamb leaned down to Aaron and whispered in his ear. “You sick son of a bitch. You’re going to jail for a long, long time.” He laughed bitterly and signaled for one of his deputies to climb in the back of the ambulance with Aaron. With a deep breath he turned back to the wreckage that was the Lilly Kane case.
Speaking of the Kanes, looks like the remaining of the clan decided to show. He and Sacks shared a look as Jake climbed out of the car, his face bright red. “And here’s arrest number two.” If anyone ever asked Don Lamb what the most surreal moment of his life had been, he’d tell them the first thing that came to mind was slapping those handcuffs across Jake Kane’s wrists. He could feel the implosion of Neptune with every breath he took.
The rest of the night seemed to go by in flashes and sounds. Lamb surveyed the area, taking note of each little thing, making sure his deputies did their job and that all the damage was being controlled. He had an image to keep. Briefly, he noticed Veronica by her father’s side, both of their faces were painted with splashes of black soot. Shit… at least he’s alive. He ran his hand through his hair and looked at the mess he’d have to deal with for probably the next month if not the entire summer. Halle-fucking-lujah.
He was awake all night making phone calls to important people, and his tongue seemed to get heavier with every hour that passed. Around 4, they took Logan Echolls to holding. Heh, like father like son. Finally, around 7, when Inga came in, he told them to take messages and he’d be back in by noon. He had a few errands to run.
The town was just coming to life as he drove down the streets, everyone was walking and driving to the places they needed to be. The world was just hearing the news about their rich and famous from overly serious news anchors and disk jockeys who weren’t serious enough. The Mars household was dark, but when he knocked heavily on to the door, a slightly frazzled Veronica was on the other side.
She squinted up at him and leaned against the door frame. “Well, I’m sure popular this morning. What brings you by, Sheriff? I didn’t break the law, did I?” She snickered, and he struggled to stay awake.
He didn’t take the bait and watched her closely. She started to shuffle under his gaze and he rubbed his face with his hand. “Is Keith okay?” He sighed. “Are you okay?”
“Well, gee, Don. I didn’t realize you cared.”
“Fine then. I don’t give a fuck, never have.”
She smirked. “You’re a liar.”
He returned her smirk with a slight twitch of his own lips. “I may be a liar, but I’m damn good at it.” He shifted his weight and rested his hands on his belt buckle.
“Dad’s doing… okay. He’s alive. I’m alive.”
“I’m not going to let Aaron get away with it. I won’t.”
“Aw, my savior.”
They shared a look before Lamb moved to leave. “Get some sleep and have someone let me know how Keith is doing, okay?”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you cared.”
“Well, you and I both know I’m such a great liar.” He nodded slightly and turned on his heels, leaving Veronica alone to look up to the quickly changing sky.
Title: Your Kind of Apathy
Author: captainofidiots
Rating: PG-13, at the most.
Pairing: No real pairing, but there is some Veronica and Lamb interaction.
Spoilers: End of Season 1.
Summary: The rest of the night seemed to go by in flashes and sounds. Lamb surveyed the area, taking note of each little thing, making sure his deputies did their job and that all the damage was being controlled. He had an image to keep.
Your Kind of Apathy
On the surface, most nights in Neptune were uneventful. There would be a traffic stop here and the occasional 09er party there, but there was nothing wholly substantial. If Lamb didn’t get to drag anyone back to the station, he didn’t count it as anything too important. What he couldn’t see and hear had no major importance to him. He knew the town was a living, breathing machine that had them all by the short hairs, but he’d perfected the art of turning his face in the opposite direction. All the best Sheriffs could without blinking.
His years spent creating the perfect amount of insomnia now kept him from getting any sleep most nights. He stayed late in his office and filled out the copious amounts of paperwork that never seemed to end. Some nights he’d take the time to drive out to the beach and break up the parties that littered the shoreline. The kegs were always good for a long Sunday afternoon.
The night the town came crashing in on itself he was outside the station smoking a cigarette from the pack he hid in the bottom drawer of his desk. Everyone knew he smoked, they could probably smell it on his clothes. Always the liar, he’d never admit to it. The burning tip was almost to the filter when Sacks ran out of the back access door; his eyes scanned the dark quickly before finding the glow of the cigarette, which gave Lamb away.
He let the smoke slide between his lips and noted the nearly panicked look on Sacks’ face. “Please don’t tell me the lunch room is on fire again, Deputy. We just had it cleaned.”
“Sir, we just got a call. Aaron Echolls was just hit by a car and is being held at gunpoint.” Sacks took a quick breath before continuing, “And the girl with the gun has a very similar description to one Veronica Mars.”
The cigarette butt was thrown to the ground quickly. “Get the squad car started, I’ll be there in a moment.” Sacks turned back quickly and Lamb stood there for a moment, he felt his body tighten at the anticipated punch of adrenaline he was soon going to feel. He removed a piece of gum from his pocket and began snapping it between his teeth the moment he put it into his mouth. The flavor of peppermint chased away the taste of smoke.
They traveled quickly on the nearly empty streets, the blue and red lights from the cruiser illuminated the trees and created shapes in the dark. The sirens remained silent but the pounding of Lamb’s heart was like a siren in his head. The scene wasn’t hard to find with orange flames licking the sky and the first response vehicles blocking the road.
When he saw her, he swore the beating of his heart just stopped. Her face was speckled with black soot, and her hands trembled lightly as she pointed the gun at Aaron, who was groaning softly. The wind blew softly and flashing lights outlined Veronica’s face in harsh shadows. A few of the paramedics looked slightly helpless, and Lamb gestured for them to step back. He didn’t think Veronica would actually shoot anyone, but he learned a long time ago that he couldn‘t always trust his instincts. His hand rested on his gun holster, and he stepped closer to her.
Cautiously he approached her, as if she were a cornered animal with its teeth bared. “Put down the gun; the police are here now.” Aaron choked and rolled around slightly. Veronica tightened her hands on the gun. “Veronica, put down the gun. I can take care of him.” He could see her swallow, and he was almost standing next to her. She smelled a little like the ocean.
Her voice trembled. “He tried to kill me, Lamb. He tried to kill my father. He killed Lilly.” If she knew that he was close enough to touch her, she didn’t say.
His voice was soft, but no less forceful. “The paramedics are helping Keith. You have to give me the gun, Veronica. Give me the gun, and go to your father. I can take care of this son of a bitch, I promise.” Quickly, he grabbed her wrist and twisted it just so, and the gun fell from her grasp. In one smooth motion he kicked the gun from Aaron’s reach and shoved Veronica away from both of them.
She stumbled back into one of the paramedics and Lamb knelt down next to Aaron, the handcuffs hung off his fingers as he waited for a couple of the other medics to bring a gurney over. After they lifted him onto the flat surface, Lamb cuffed his wrist to the metal bar, the clang of the metal against metal was drown out by the sirens in the distance. Grimly, Lamb leaned down to Aaron and whispered in his ear. “You sick son of a bitch. You’re going to jail for a long, long time.” He laughed bitterly and signaled for one of his deputies to climb in the back of the ambulance with Aaron. With a deep breath he turned back to the wreckage that was the Lilly Kane case.
Speaking of the Kanes, looks like the remaining of the clan decided to show. He and Sacks shared a look as Jake climbed out of the car, his face bright red. “And here’s arrest number two.” If anyone ever asked Don Lamb what the most surreal moment of his life had been, he’d tell them the first thing that came to mind was slapping those handcuffs across Jake Kane’s wrists. He could feel the implosion of Neptune with every breath he took.
The rest of the night seemed to go by in flashes and sounds. Lamb surveyed the area, taking note of each little thing, making sure his deputies did their job and that all the damage was being controlled. He had an image to keep. Briefly, he noticed Veronica by her father’s side, both of their faces were painted with splashes of black soot. Shit… at least he’s alive. He ran his hand through his hair and looked at the mess he’d have to deal with for probably the next month if not the entire summer. Halle-fucking-lujah.
He was awake all night making phone calls to important people, and his tongue seemed to get heavier with every hour that passed. Around 4, they took Logan Echolls to holding. Heh, like father like son. Finally, around 7, when Inga came in, he told them to take messages and he’d be back in by noon. He had a few errands to run.
The town was just coming to life as he drove down the streets, everyone was walking and driving to the places they needed to be. The world was just hearing the news about their rich and famous from overly serious news anchors and disk jockeys who weren’t serious enough. The Mars household was dark, but when he knocked heavily on to the door, a slightly frazzled Veronica was on the other side.
She squinted up at him and leaned against the door frame. “Well, I’m sure popular this morning. What brings you by, Sheriff? I didn’t break the law, did I?” She snickered, and he struggled to stay awake.
He didn’t take the bait and watched her closely. She started to shuffle under his gaze and he rubbed his face with his hand. “Is Keith okay?” He sighed. “Are you okay?”
“Well, gee, Don. I didn’t realize you cared.”
“Fine then. I don’t give a fuck, never have.”
She smirked. “You’re a liar.”
He returned her smirk with a slight twitch of his own lips. “I may be a liar, but I’m damn good at it.” He shifted his weight and rested his hands on his belt buckle.
“Dad’s doing… okay. He’s alive. I’m alive.”
“I’m not going to let Aaron get away with it. I won’t.”
“Aw, my savior.”
They shared a look before Lamb moved to leave. “Get some sleep and have someone let me know how Keith is doing, okay?”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you cared.”
“Well, you and I both know I’m such a great liar.” He nodded slightly and turned on his heels, leaving Veronica alone to look up to the quickly changing sky.