DISCLAIMER: Characters of Veronica Mars, any recognizable dialogue, and the canon events of their storyline belong to Rob Thomas.

A/N:

It occurred to me on a recent rewatch that – even with all the flashbacks – we don't really get to see much of what happens between Shelly Pomroy's party and the morning Veronica cut Wallace down from the flag pole. We don't really see the progression from victim to survivor.

I started wondering what that time period might look like ... and this is where my wondering led me.

To fit my purposes in this fic, making some adjustments to the chronology … I'm defining the pre-series timeline (Sophomore Year 2003-2004) this way:

*early-August 2003 – Logan and Lilly broke up; Lilly got together with Weevil

*early-September 2003 – Lilly went back to Logan

*mid-September – Homecoming

*late September – Duncan broke up with Veronica; Lilly broke up with Logan (after he kissed Yolanda)

*3 October 2003 – Lilly murdered

*early November thru mid-December 2003 – Veronica went to counseling

*late November 2003 – Keith fired

*6 December 2003 – Shelly Pomroy's party

*mid-December 2003 – Lianne received the photos of Veronica

*just before Christmas 2003 – Lianne left town

*Weevil hasn't gotten the Lilly/heart tattoo yet

*Veronica hasn't become hardened yet

[The early part of my timeline is guesswork. The latter part is sped up. In canon: Keith was fired a month before Lianne left, but the earliest Lianne could have left was February, because one of the surveillance photos Lianne received of Veronica was taken on 4 Feb 2004, when Veronica was going to counseling sessions.]

This fic begins in January 2004 and is from Weevil's POV.

Chapter 1

I tried to enjoy the holidays, but after last year, I didn't know if I wanted to see what 2004 had in store for me.

The fall of 2003 was particularly bad. Lilly had gone running back to Logan and then acted like she didn't know me. But she did know me. And I had known her – in the biblical sense. Thing is ... hardly anybody knew about it.

It was hard enough to deal with not being with her. Hard enough to see her with him. But that was nothing compared to hearing that she'd been murdered.

I told her I'd always be there watching out for her, that I'd be there if she ever needed me. I'm not sure how I could've known that she'd be in danger in her own back yard, but I felt like I failed her.

Not long after Lilly's death, I noticed that the 09ers had pushed her best friend out of their circle. I wasn't sure what all that was about, but it seemed to get worse in December. And then the rumors about Veronica started. Not like I socialize with those people, but word travels fast even through the working-class folks at school. I filed the info away and moved on.

Usually, I love Christmas. The food and fun times with family. But this year, I felt like I was faking my way through all the traditions I normally enjoy. If I let it show, my grandma would be worried and the kids in my family would notice.

At least with school starting again, I'd have something to keep me busy. Not that it would keep my mind off it, but if I had stuff to do, maybe nobody would notice how I was feeling.

First day back at school, I was in the parking lot when Veronica pulled in. I recognized the car, but almost didn't recognize her. Her clothes and her hair were different. But it was her.

[

[

A couple weeks later, I saw some 09ers near her car after school. I told my boys to take off, that I'd catch up with them later. And I waited for her to walk to her car.

I watched as she looked at her tires and then her windshield. She opened the trunk and started to get out a jack and lug wrench. Most of the parking lot had cleared out and nobody made a move to help her.

Not sure why I felt the need to help. I'd spent plenty of time with her dad and her best friend … and knew a lot about her, but truthfully, I barely knew her. Didn't matter. I started my bike and pulled up next to her car.

"Looks like you could use some assistance." She watched me as I looked at her tires. "How many spares you got?" All four tires had been slashed.

"One."

"What do you plan to do about the other three?"

"I hadn't gotten that far."

I pulled out my phone and called Angel. Asked him to send a flatbed tow truck to get her car.

She asked, "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you helping me?"

"Because nobody else did."

"Yeah, not likely. Take a look at the windshield."

Someone had written LEAVE BITCH in white letters.

"What'd you do to piss off your old 09er buddies?"

"What makes you jump to that conclusion?"

"Well, you don't seem to hang out with 'em anymore. That and I saw a couple of 'em near your car before you got out here."

"So you know who did this?"

I nodded. "I'll take care of it."

"What does that mean?"

"I'll put new tires on. And tomorrow I'll make sure those fools know they don't wanna do anything like this again."

"And again I ask ... why?"

"That's a long answer."

"We seem to have some time right now. And why exactly would you notice who I'm hanging around?"

"I keep up with changes in the Sheriff's Department. Other news makes its way to me too. Your life's been eventful lately – well, not yours exactly, but your dad, your mom, … your best friend. And it seems that you're being shunned by your former tribe."

"That's not news to me. Just don't understand why you'd care. Honestly, it's a bit weird that we're standing here talking."

Not sure how to reply to that, so I didn't. The tow truck arrived after a few minutes of silence. I was trying to figure out how to explain something I didn't quite understand myself – that I felt compelled to help her.

After her car was on the flatbed, I offered her my helmet, as I said, "Unless you'd rather go in the cab of the truck."

Her eyes lit up as she smiled and put on the helmet.

[

When we got there, Angel asked what he could do for me – in Spanish, because he didn't like when I brought people he didn't know. I explained – also in Spanish – why I was there and that I'd work off the cost of the tow and the tires. He nodded. Then, I asked if I could use the private garage. He raised an eyebrow and then shot a glance at Veronica. He told me it was empty right now and reminded me not to let her look around too much.

The tow truck moved her car back to the private garage. I closed the large door after her car was inside.

At first, she sat quietly watching me work.

I was focused on her car as I began, "I'm not sure how comfortable you are talking about it, but I'm curious. Lilly. You were her best friend. Your dad was the sheriff. Wonderin' how much you know …"

"About what exactly? The investigation?"

"Well, yeah. But actually … um, I'm guessing she didn't tell you."

"Tell me what?"

I took a deep breath while I decided if I should tell her. "When Lilly and Logan were broken up, she and I were together." I turned to look at her stunned face. "I had written her some letters. I never would've hurt her, but obviously, I was a suspect. Your dad questioned me, searched my house, took a DNA sample."

"You can't be serious!"

"Yeah, I am, but you can check with your dad if you don't believe me."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"The thing is … nobody really knows. I mean, she didn't even tell her best friend ... right? Other than your dad and a few other people, including Miss James – nobody knows. Which is fine, except … I could use someone to talk to. I thought maybe you could too."

I turned back to her car and gave her time to think about what I'd just said.

Her voice was low, but it still startled me. "How long …? How close were you?"

I continued working as I answered her. "It was really only a few weeks. She and Logan had just broken up. And Lilly swore to me that she'd never go back to him. But then one day, that punk snaps his fingers. And all of a sudden, it's like we don't even know each other anymore." I stopped what I was doing to look at her as I said, "She was someone I could've loved, you know? And she felt it too. I know she did."

The look in her eyes changed as she said, "The day she died, she told me she had a secret – 'a good one' – but she didn't tell me what it was. I wonder if she was talking about you."

"Could be. Hard to tell with her."

"Yeah. Guess we'll never know for sure."

I waited to see if she would continue talking. When she didn't, I asked, "You mind me askin' what happened in December?" When she didn't reply, I looked at her. She looked scared and nervous. "I know your dad lost his job just before that and I heard your mom left around Christmas, but your old friends started treating you really bad in December. And that's when …"

"When the rumors started?"

"Yeah. And then you came back after break with a new look. I'm just sayin' … somethin' happened. If you'd like to talk about it …"

I was almost finished with her car as she began to talk.

"Not sure that I'd like to talk about it, but I probably need to talk about it with someone." She leaned over with her face in her hands, resting her elbows on her knees. "See … I'd like to say that the rumors are completely false. But there's a night I can't remember at all. I was at a party at the house of a now former friend. I only remember having one drink – actually, half a drink. The next morning, I woke up in the bed of one of her guest rooms. And found my underwear on the floor."

While she thought about what she wanted to tell me next, I washed my hands. As she started up again, I walked over and sat beside her.

"I went to report it. I'm not sure which would be worse – if Dad had still been Sheriff when I went to report being raped or the way it really happened … dealing with Lamb … laughing me out of his office." She brushed non-existent lint off her sleeve. "A couple weeks later Mom was gone. It wasn't a very merry Christmas. Dad tried to do all the normal things, but nothing is normal anymore." Playing with her hair, she said, "I don't know. I guess I just needed a change. I certainly don't feel like the same person I was when the school year started. I got tired of seeing her in the mirror."

Reaching out, I brushed her hair away from her eyes. "For the record, I like the new look." Neither of us said anything for a couple minutes. "If I could make a suggestion … here's what you do: You get tough. You get even." Her sad laughter told me she thought that idea was ridiculous. "And when you don't have the strength to do that, you can lean on me." I could see that she was about to start crying. "Hold that thought for just a second."

I went over to the door to slide the bolt across, just to be sure that we wouldn't be disturbed. She looked nervous as I walked back over to the couch.

"Just figured if we're both gonna start bawlin', I didn't want anyone walking in." I took her hand and said, "I'm so sorry. I mean, I know that it doesn't change anything or make it better, but I'm sorry."

She collapsed on my shoulder and I wrapped my arms around her. I'm not sure who cried harder. We sat there for a long time holding each other. I kissed her forehead and she looked up at me like she expected me to try something.

"Well, Miss Mars, you probably need to be getting home."

"And you probably have more important things to do."

"This may be one of the most important things I've done in a while."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I don't think I realized until today how much we needed each other. I'm glad that you accepted my help so we could talk."

She smiled. "Me, too."

While I put away the tools I had used, she cleaned up the mascara that had run down her face. I opened the door so she could leave. But before she got in the car, I gave her my cellphone number.

"If you ever need anything. Car repairs, shoulder to cry on, whatever. If it's an actual emergency, text me 911 and where you are. Otherwise, if I'm busy, I'll have to get back to you. But I will … always get back to you."

She looked at the paper I handed her and then back up at me. She thanked me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

[

[

The next morning, I waited in the parking lot for the 09er vandals to show. I watched as they watched Veronica drive onto the lot. I had sent my boys inside, because I didn't want whatever this was to escalate beyond me dealing with the two of them. This was not PCH business. This was just something I'd put in my day planner under goals.

The pair approached Veronica's car and examined her new tires and clean windshield. She hadn't gotten out yet. I walked over and unceremoniously grabbed them both by the back of the neck, knocking their heads together Three Stooges style.

"Take a good look at her new tires, fellas. Because you are going to make sure they stay that way. After I watched you slash the old ones, I spent part of last evening putting them on. These better last much longer than the last set or you can bet I'll come looking for you." One of them was nearly in tears as I explained, "You see, the only vandalism that happens in this town goes through me."

The other started to plead, saying anything he could think of to get me to release them and never look in their direction again.

Veronica had gotten out of her car during his speech.

I shook them and pointed their faces at her. "Now, apologize."

Before they could speak, she said, "I don't want their apology. It'd be worth less than my old tires."

I looked her in the eye and smirked. "Good point. Pay up, boys." They looked confused. "Pull out your wallets. How much cash you got on you?" Watching as they opened their wallets, I saw that they each had several crisp bills. "What do you think … $300 from each of them? Would that cover it?"

She tilted her head and played along. "Well, that would cover the tires and the tow, but I'm not sure that would cover your labor."

"Another good point. I'll tell you what … they can owe me."

The fear in their eyes was amusing to me. They quickly pulled out hundred dollar bills and handed them to Veronica. They looked back and forth between me and her. "So, are we good now?"

I waited for her to take the lead before releasing them. With a wicked smile, she nodded.

To the appropriately frightened pair, I said, "I'll be keeping an eye on you. Don't make me come collecting more than you already owe me. Now, why don't you skedaddle before I become … annoyed."

When they were out of earshot, I rubbed my jaw as I said, "Well, that was fun."

Trying to hand me the bills, she said, "Here. Can you make sure that your uncle gets this?"

Shaking my head, I told her, "I already took care of your bill. Keep it."

"Are you sure?" She offered one more time before folding the cash and putting it away. "Thank you. For everything."

"My pleasure." And it had been. More than I would have thought. She was not the girl that Lilly had described, not at all what I expected. Had she changed that much in the past few months? Or was the real Veronica starting to show herself? "Let me know if you need anything else."

"I will." She smiled at me as she turned to walk toward the school.

As I watched her go, I realized I didn't have her number. I'd have to wait for her to use mine. And I really hoped that she would.

A/N:

This story is finished and editted. Plan to post all chapters while Process (Along the Road – part 2) is on hiatus for the next few months. Chapter 4 of Process, which is the sequel to Stall, should be up shortly after this fic is marked complete.

Thanks for reading! Until next time …

~Jen