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Chapter 11

Clarence Wiedman had killed before. Though never in plain sight and never in the light of day. He had killed Aaron Echolls and gotten away with it, sneaking up behind him from the shadows, making sure the woman he was with was out of sight and out of earshot before pulling the trigger. But Aaron Echolls had been a murderer and child molester, less than human and that didn't count. Clarence had a military background, had seen combat, but nothing like this. He had mostly been a one man team, sent in on black ops assignments that no one else wanted. Scratch that, black ops assignments that no one else was good enough to immerge from victoriously. He had never been on a team in combat. He had always been alone, never having a partner to rely on when the bombs went off. He had never see a man throw himself in front of his friends like that, though he had heard stories of soldiers throwing themselves on live grenades to save their comrades he, himself had never seen it first hand...until today. He had never seen a father shoot a woman in defense of his daughter. And he had never seen the Fitzpatrick's so angry.

He was seeing Logan Echolls in a new light, could this be the son of the man who ruthlessly killed Lilly Kane? So willing to lay his life down for Veronica Mars. But then Clarence could name a dozen men willing to lay their lives down for Veronica Mars and he would stand proudly beside them. She possessed an intense loyalty to her friends and family that he admired. Sure, he had been loyal to Jake Kane all these years but that was business. It had always secretly amused him when Veronica did something to irritate the elder Kane. Stealing that hard drive was genius! And returning it- that moment was priceless. Duncan had used his father's influence to attain CW's services but he was about to go above and beyond for Veronica. Somewhere of the past five years Veronica had earned the respect of Clarence Wiedman- a feat not often conquered. She brings this out in people, this intense desire to protect her and ultimately do what's right. Wasn't family, and love, the one this above all else we should fight for? He tossed a gun at Logan and they took their positions ready for battle. Clarence Wiedman and Logan Echolls were marching into combat, partners.

Logan caught the gun easily, "Thank you Mr. Cassablancas," he mumbled remembering Dick and his father taking him to the gun range when he had been accused of killing Felix and managed to piss off the entire PCH gang- the same gang Logan was pretty sure he heard in the distance.

She heard the rumble of the bikes. She heard the crack of a gun. "LOGAN!" She wasn't strong enough to pull herself up to the car window and see what was happening.

She felt a hand grasp her own and realized Mac had run to her side, tears overtaking her doey brown eyes, "They shot Dick. Your dad just took out Molly Fitzpatrick. He's helping Dick now. Oh my God they were all in the bar…."

"Who was?" Veronica was lost, "Mac I remember everything. I have a past again-who was in the bar? Is Logan alright."

"The Fitzpatrick's- there's one…two….four…." Mac tried to count as they began pouring out of the River Stix, "They were waiting for us."

"Mac? What's happening?" another shot, or was that a motorcycle backfiring? She couldn't tell the difference now.

"Clarence Wiedman just threw Logan a hand gun. Weevil is here and he brought the motorcycle cavalry. It's a bunch of the old PCHers." The play by play was little comfort to Veronica. I just remembered how much I love Logan, how can I bare to lose him now? "When did Clarence Wiedman get here?"

"I don't know, I called Duncan when your car disappeared, he must have sent him," Mac's eyes were glued on Dick, "We had him and Weevil chasing Gorya Sorokin. Weevil thought that they had taken care of the problem. We never dreamed it was the Fitzpatricks. You have a lot of enemies."

"Tell me about it." The sound of sirens in the distance brought Veronica little solace as Logan was out of her sight and in danger.

"We warned you Sherriff. We warned you. The robberies weren't enough to make you see. Nope. Can't say we didn't warn you," Liam Fitzpatrick was heckling Keith from the steps of the bar. Drunk out of his mind and waving a rifle.

"You leave her out of this, Liam!" Keith yelled.

"Can't do that Sherriff. Veronica Mars, come out, come out wherever you are!" Logan and Clarence both had their weapons pointing directly at Liam but Liam had his gun aimed at Keith Mars. Keith's hands were covered in blood applying pressure to Dick's chest, willing him to survive, having holstered his weapon when Molly fell, "Not the first time you've waved a gun at me is it, kid? I remember, mind like a steel trap!" Liam pointed to his head and turned his aim toward Logan, "I've got a gun this time, Logan Echolls. Let's play chicken. Who's gonna pull the trigger first? Oh Veronica, where are you?" Liam taunted pulling his trigger, aiming his gun so the bullet grazed Logan's shoulder and then ricocheted off the back door of the car the girls were hiding behind.

Mac shrieked in surprise. He was a good shot, even wasted. Logan didn't scream. Logan didn't wince. Logan's eyes never faltered, never released their deadly stare on Liam. His arm throbbed but his gun stayed perfectly aimed at Liam's chest, "take another shot. I guarantee it will be your last." Logan's tone was menacing.

"Oh, the little rich boy going to take me down?" Liam laughed, waving his gun in the air, "I'm so scared. The FBI couldn't do it. The Neptune Sherriff couldn't do it." He looked to Keith as if his words were a knife and he were trying to stab him.

The PCHers silently formed a human barrier in front of the car the girls were hiding behind, several of them with weapons drawn. Guns weren't really the bikers weapon of choice, at least not during Weevil's reign but it seemed some of them had updated with the times. "Take a look around, Liam. You are out numbered," Weevil hollered from his perch atop the car.

"What is he doing?" Veronica whispered as the roof of the car caved slightly under his weight, "He's making himself an easy target!"

"I think that's the point," Mac was suddenly calm, "It's going to be ok, Veronica."

"What's happening?" Not being able to see what was happening was killing Veronica, "Is my dad ok? Logan? Is Logan hurt"

"You really think you can take us all down?" Weevil was still in conversation with Liam.

Liam raised his gun, "Maybe just him."

"Look out!" Weevil yelled leaping off the car and tackling Logan to the ground. A shot cracked and they heard a loud thud as bodies fell. The PCHers tightened their stance in front of the girls. The car fell slightly and Mac realized Liam's shot had hit the tire.

"Mac, what's going on?" Veronica was terrified.

"I don't know. I can't see around these bikers," she started sobbing, "I can't see Dick anymore."

Weevil was still talking but neither girl could make out what was being said. The sirens were getting closer.

He wasn't sure if it was the sirens or the bikers that provided enough of a distraction for him to slip unnoticed behind the concrete ledge of the bar stairs but whatever it was gave Clarence Wiedman enough time to fire one shot into the back of Liam Fitzpatrick's head and then disappear just before the flashing lights were upon them.

The Fitzpatrick clan stood frozen. Their leader had fallen. Danny Boyd shook himself out of his trance and pulled his gun, with every intention of firing it at Keith. But Logan was faster and took his shot, dropping Danny easily. Suddenly there was a mad scramble at the scene; the PCHers taking off in every direction on their bikes and the remaining Fitzpatricks retreating into the bar trying to camouflage their involvement.

"Is he ok?" The girls heard Logan yell.

"I don't know, there's a lot of blood. He needs to get to the hospital. I need a t-shirt or something to help the bleeding," Keith hollered.

"Here," Logan's voice was strong.

"Mac, WHAT IS HAPPENING? LOGAN!" Veronica screamed.

"Logan just gave your dad his shirt. DICK!" Mac bolted from the safety of the car to aid Keith.

"Are you ok!" Logan yelled as he ran toward Veronica. She tried to stand but was scooped up by a shirtless Logan before she was able to get her balance.

"I'm fine. Is it over? Are YOU hurt! You are hurt!" her eyes fell to the bullet graze across his shoulder.

"I'm ok."

"But Logan, you…."

He cut her off, "Dick is hurt pretty bad. He took a bullet to the chest for us," Logan's eyes wandered in the direction of Dick, "Your father took out Molly, and Clarence shot Liam. I'm pretty sure they are both dead. I…I…Shot Danny Boyd." The words were hard for him to get out, he had never taken a life before.

"Oh, Logan, I'm…" "It's ok, The paramedics are with Dick now," she new from his aversion to her empathy now was not the time to comfort him.

"Is she ok?" Keith was running toward Logan and Veronica.

"Yeah, she's ok." Logan hollered back, "rattled but otherwise alright."

"Take care of her Logan. I've got arrests to make here. You did good, son!" He stopped and did an about face. Logan Echolls and Keith Mars had both taken a life within minutes of each other today, all for the love of the same woman. Whatever qualms Keith still harbored about his daughters relationship with Logan where gone. Hadn't Logan always been there for her? Today Logan had not only saved Veronica's life he had saved his life. Keith Mars would never again question Logan's devotion to his daughter. The thought would be permanently erased from his subconscious. He could walk away in his role as the sheriff not the worried father, to deal with the chaos of the River Stix knowing in his soul that Veronica had chosen well and she would be safe in her husbands care.

The parking lot was full of Sherriff cruisers and ambulances. Veronica snuggled a little deeper into Logan's embrace, "I remember everything Logan."

He held her a little tighter, "I hope you never forget again." He gently kissed her forehead, "Saks says he will drive you over to Wallace's. His mom is expecting you. I am going to go to the hospital with Dick and Mac."

"I want to go too," she started to protest.

"No, you need to relax," he set her down in the back of Sak's squad car.

"No! Dick was there for me and I am going to be there for him. Logan, this is not negotiable. Mac will need me! She must be so scared. You are bleeding and I know you, you will argue when they try to look at your arm and I…"

"There's the Veronica I know and love!" he kissed her lips lightly, "alright, I will have Sak's take us both to the hospital." The ambulance they had loaded Dick into whizzed past them siren's blazing.

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