VM santa fic ~WIP

Echolls’s fatal knockout

Echolls disappears after Sterger’s death in title fight

Sterger buried in private family ceremony

6 weeks and no Echolls in sight

Veronica leaned back in her chair and released a weary sigh. This - Logan - wasn’t any of her business, not any more, not for a long time. Still, her heart ached for him, and there was a small part of her –okay, not so small part of her- that wanted to go to him and just hold him close, shut out the world. But that wasn’t her right anymore, five years and their signatures on the dotted lines made sure of that.

Rising to her feet, Veronica swept the newspapers off her desk and into the trash before the regret and longing could overwhelm her. She and Logan had been over the moment she walked out the door, and he’d been sure to tell her there would be no going back. He’d meant it too. Two years after their divorce she’d gone to see him, hoping there was still a chance to make things right, hoping he hadn’t put her behind him for good. She’d hoped in vain though. Logan hadn’t wanted anything to do with her. It had been three years but she was guessing his feelings hadn’t changed.

Walking purposefully to her filing cabinet Veronica pulled out a few case files. It was time to get to work and put the past behind her. She couldn’t change anything that had happened and there was no point in dwelling on it.

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“Veronica Minx,” an amused voice broke the silence, drawing Veronica’s gaze to the open door.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, not bothering with pleasantries. No matter how long she went without seeing him it was never long enough.

Dick sauntered into the room, plopping down in one of the brown leather chairs positioned in front of her desk. “Just thought I’d drop in and see how my favorite private dick is doing.”

Veronica gathered up the files she’s had spread across her desk and started placing them back in order. “As you can see I am doing great. Now get out.”

“Why so hostile Ronie, haven’t you missed me?” Dick asked, his gaze following Veronica as she moved towards one of the black filing cabinets.

“Dick, I think not seeing is the main highlight of mine and Logan’s divorce.”

“Still covering that aching heart with sarcasm and anger huh? Don’t worry blondie, Logan and I would take you back in a heartbeat if you only asked.”

Veronica paused briefly, lamenting the fact that she’d never purchased a gun. “Get out of my office Dick before I sic my dog on you.”

“Hey calm down.” Dick held up his hands. “I come in peace.”

Veronica turned to face him, arms crossed.

“I swear,” he leaned back in his chair, plopping his feet down on her desk. “I have a business proposition for you.”

Veronica slapped his feet down. “Don’t worry, Dick I’m sure the kid isn’t yours.”

“It never is,” Dick smirked. “But that’s not why I’m here.”

“Well this should be good.” Veronica sat down in her chair, eyebrows raised expectantly.

“So,” Dick began, folding his hands and placing them on her desk. “I suppose you heard about Logan’s latest snafu.”

“He killed a man Dick, that’s a bit more than a snafu.”

Dick threw up his hands. “Well he didn’t do it on purpose.”

“That doesn’t make it any easier for Jonathan’s family,” Veronica paused. “That doesn’t make it any easier for Logan.”

“See,” Dick gestured to her. “You can do this emotional crap. That’s why I came to you.”

Veronica pinched the bridge of her nose. She was 4 hours and 2 cups of coffee away from being able to handle Dick Casablancas.

“What exactly do you want me to do Dick?”

“What do you think,” Dick looked at her oddly. “Go find Logan and drag his ass back here. You give him a shoulder to cry on, a little bit of that sexy comfort and once he’s through brooding I’ll take him for drinks. Let the healing process begin!”

“You never change do you Dick?” Veronica asked.

Dick opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by Veronica’s phone ringing.


“Hello,” Veronica answered. “Mars Investigations, this is Veronica.” Pause. “Hello Mrs. Gugino.”

Dick raised his eyebrows and taped at an imaginary watch on his wrist, earning glare from Veronica before she turned her chair around. Dick slumped back in his chair with an annoyed sigh, sounding very much like a teenage boy. He continued to show his annoyance by kicking at Veronica’s desk.

Veronica spun back around and fixed Dick with her death glare, perfected for moments such as this, and mouthed an angry. “Knock it off” to him. Due to her deep desire to get rid of Dick Veronica quickly concluded her call, setting up an appointment to meet with Mrs. Gugino later that day to go over the dirt Veronica had dug up on her son’s fiancée.

With her concluded Veronica turned her attention back to her ex’s pain in the ass friend/manager. Planting her squarely on the desk in front of her, Veronica rose to her feet.

“Dick, I know you operate on a different level than most people but even you should be able to grasp the concept of divorce.”

Dick rolled his eyes. “Come on Ronster. You both are still hot for each other, you know it, and I know it. Just put yourselves and the rest of us out of our misery and hook back up.”

Veronica shook her head. “Never let it be said that Dick Casablancas doesn’t have a way with words. God, you’re practically a modern day E.E. Cummings.”

“So,” Dick began, leaning forward, his hands clasp, forearms resting on his legs. “What do you say?”

“I say Logan and I are over, have been for a long time.”

“Come on,” Dick said, his voice taking on a somewhat pleading note. “You know you’re gonna get back together. This is just a…break, your 500 millionth.”

A break? God, she’d lost count of the times she’d wished it’d been as simple as that. Wished they could just be two messed up teenagers again. Wished they could go back to a time when a kiss and a few hours spent in bed was all it took for them to reconcile. But those days were long gone and she doubted Logan would let her in his front door let a lone into his bed, or heart.

“I can’t help you,” Veronica stated firmly. “Now, I have work to do. Goodbye Dick.”

Dick jumped to his feet, planting his hands on the desk, his casual demeanor giving way to a more desperate one. “Look, you’re right. It’s more than a snafu. He’s fucked up, alright. I’m worried about him.”

“I…I can’t.”

Dick straightened up, slowly, disappointment written on his face. Veronica felt a surge of guilt followed by a flash of anger at the fact that she was allowing Dick Casablancas to make her feel guilty. Dick was not her friend; he’d never been anything more than an annoyance she had to put up with. She didn’t owe him any favors, if anything he owed her. And she was right, Logan was not her husband. Logan’s life was no longer any of her business and she wasn’t willing to once more suffer the pain and humiliation that tracking him down would cause. She’d learned her lesson.

“Well,” Dick began. “I guess I’ll see you around.”

Veronica didn’t respond, just quietly watched as Dick made his way out the door. Once she heard the outer office door close she sank back into her seat. Logan was a mess, that’s what Dick had said. She didn’t doubt it for moment. If anything she thought “a mess” wasn’t a strong enough description. Logan and Jonathan Sterger had been friends for ten years. You didn’t inadvertently cause the death of a friend and be anything short of devastated.

When Veronica had heard about Jonathan’s death she had immediately driven over to see his wife, Emily. It had been over a year since they’d seen each other and Veronica hadn’t been sure if her presence would be welcome, or what she would say. What did one say to an estranged friend when your ex accidentally took their husband’s life?

In the end it hadn’t mattered. Emily had answered the door and the two had regarded each other for a few moments in silence, before Emily’s eyes had started to fill with tears. Veronica had moved forward and wrapped her arms around her, telling her how sorry she was.

Over the next few days Veronica had stayed with Emily, helping her with her three boys, funeral arrangements, and picking up family members flying in from other states. Once Emily’s mother had arrived Veronica had headed back to her apartments, but she’d been back for the funeral and checked in with her every week.

During one of her weekly calls Veronica had tried to nonchalantly ask if Emily had heard from Logan. Emily had told her she hadn’t spoken with Logan since the night Jonathan has died, then she’d shocked Veronica by admitting she had seen Logan at the funeral, apparently he’d been standing a good distance away, watching but making no move to join the other mourners.

Veronica regretted the fact that she hadn’t seen Logan that day. She could just imagine how he’d been, standing alone, hands in pockets and shoulders hunched. She wasn’t sure what she would have said, or if she would have even had the nerve to approach him, but she wished…she just wished.

Before she had time to really dwell on Logan and everything that has happened in the past six weeks she heard the outer office door open and her father call out to her.

“I’m here,” she replied.

Keith came into the door way, pausing to drop his bag on the floor. “Hey, honey.”

“How’d it go?”

“No money shot,” Keith sighed, dropping into the chair Dick had vacated.

“Well, tomorrow is another day,” Veronica said, standing up and beginning to gather her things.

“Was that Dick Casablancas I saw leaving?”

“Uh, yeah,” Veronica waved dismissively. “It was just…nothing.”

“What did he want,” Keith pushed.

Veronica shook her head, releasing a heavy sigh.

“Veronica?”

She briefly considered lying to him, but decided against it. Her father’s BS detector had gotten stronger over the years where she was concerned. Ever since the fall out her freshman year of college, and later finding out about her rape he’d been unwilling to let things slide.

“I guess Logan has been MIA,” Veronica explained, keeping her voice as neutral as possible. “Dick wants me to find him.”

“And you told him?” Keith prodded, after taking a moment to absorb the information.

“I told him no,” Veronica replied, giving a small shrug. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Are you sure?”

Veronica heaved a sigh. “Great, I see its time for my annual therapy session.”

“Veronica.”

Veronica grimaced. “I’m sorry. And yes, I’m sure. What, you think I should?”

Keith paused for a moment, and then slowly began. “I think it’s been five years and your apartment still has the bear minimum. You come in every day and help Carol file and answer phones, occasionally you take a case. You see your friends but not often and you’ve been on a couple dates that never turned into anything.”

“And seeing Logan will bring joy and endless social engagements into my life,” Veronica crossed her arms and shifted, resting her hip against the desk. “This is the twenty-first century; I don’t need Logan to complete me, to make me happy.”

“No, no you don’t.” He paused. “Are you happy, Veronica?”

Veronica held her father’s gaze for a moment then glanced away, unable to answer.

“Honey, I’m not telling you to go see Logan. I’d just like to see you…excited about your life.” He continued, his voice taking on a melancholy tone. “I know the past few years have been rough, losing your mother and…and loosing the baby, getting divorced. You’re a bright and talented woman and I hate to see you wasting your life.”

Veronica blinked back her tears, stubbornly refusing to let them fall. Tears changed nothing and she couldn’t afford to cry. Her mother was dead, her baby as well, and Logan wasn’t coming back, she had to accept it and move on, if only everyone else could do the same.

“I’ll think about it, everything,” Veronica replied, placating her father. “No, I will, promise. It’s just, I’m late. I have to meet with Mrs. Gugino and I’m meeting Mac and Liz at Parker’s later, girl’s night.”

Keith sighed, admitting defeat for the moment. “I can meet with Mrs. Gugino Veronica.”

“Dad, I don’t mind,” she shrugged. “It pays the bills.”

Veronica scooped up her bag, settling the strap on her shoulder. After grabbing her keys off the desk she made her way out of the office, stopping briefly to lay a kiss on her father’s cheek.