Fighting for LoVe

Chapter 21: Worry and Stress

Keith

Alicia and I had just gotten settled in bed when someone began to bang on the front door. I almost didn't get up until I heard Wallace groaning in Veronica's room. I was pushing the covers back as I felt Alicia's hand on my arm.

"Keith, just let them knock," she said as I placed my feet on the floor and pulled my robe on.

"I'll get rid of them," I replied as I pulled open the slightly ajar bedroom door. Wallace poked his head out of the door to the other room as I motioned to him to go back in.

"Keith, open up," Lamb was calling out.

"Do you know what time it is?" I questioned as I jerked open the door just as he was about to knock once more.

"There's been a fire," he snapped looking past me where Alicia stood.

"Where?" I queried already knowing where, but wanted him to confirm it.

"Your office," he tersely replied as I opened the door for him to come in.

"Should I start the coffee?" Alicia asked as she moved into the kitchen area.

"No, I'll probably head out in a little bit to see if there is anything that could be salvaged," I countered as she nodded her head before heading back into the bedroom.

"I don't know all the details, but some loyal men at the firehouse let me know, and I decided to come here right away. It's all over the news," Lamb said as I turned on the TV. He was right every channel was covering the fire I noticed as I flipped through all of the local channels.

"I'll go get dressed," I murmured as I headed into my bedroom and began pulling on my jeans and a fresh shirt before slipping into my shoes. I just hoped my precautions had worked and the evidence was safe.

***LoVe***

Veronica

I couldn't believe what I was watching. How could someone set fire to a whole building? I mean of course I knew how, but why. What had my father found that could cost him so much? Who were the Fitzpatrick's really wanting to go after? Logan and I were small fish compared to some of the people in Neptune.

"What's going on in that mind of yours?" I vaguely heard Logan question as I looked from the TV to him for the first time since he turned it on.

"Why would they go after my dad?" was all I could say as I felt him pull me closer to him.

"Do you think he was there?" Meg questioned as I turned to look at her.

"I hope not," I replied as I pulled my knees as close to my chest as I could. I hadn't done this since I was a little girl, but right now it was all I could do to keep bad thoughts away. I must have zoned out because I was startled when the phone rang.

"Hello," Logan said as he turned the volume down on the TV. "Yes, she was worried, well we all were," he continued as I heard my dad talking on the other end of the phone. Before I knew it Logan had hung up the phone and turned to me.

"Your dad is fine, the office though seems destroyed," he said as I continued to watch the muted TV. I could now see my dad on the TV talking with a few of the firefighters before turning and looking into the camera winking into it as he headed into the now smoky building.

"Did you see that?" I questioned as Logan laughed.

"If you're talking about your dad winking at you through the TV, then yes Bobcat we saw it," Logan said laughing as I nudged him.

"Laugh it up Echolls, one day you'll do something similar to our little one," I commented as he froze slightly before running his hand over my small bump.

"I probably would if not do something even more dramatic," he chuckles as I allow him to kiss my nose. I look toward Meg to find her wiping at her eyes. She had been crying.

"Meg," I asked as she waved her hand toward me.

"It's nothing. I just can't get my darn emotions under control. I feel great that you guys have each other, but I miss the way Duncan was while we were dating. It bothers me that he dropped me the moment he found out you weren't his sister," she sniffles as I move to sit by her.

"It's his lost. You are so much better off without him and if he couldn't be with you for who you were he wasn't the right person for you," I say as I wrap an arm around her. "Although on the bright side you have the two of us," I say laughing as Logan joined us.

"Yes, Meg you've got the two of us in your corner. I wish Duncan would have stepped up, but he just hasn't," Logan said as he passed both of us a bottle of water. It seemed like he knew just what I needed no matter what the situation. We spent the next half hour talking about different things as we each felt our little baby moving. Logan was amazed at how easy it was to for us to all get along.

"I'll let Rosie out and then I'm going to head up to bed," Meg said as she got up and whistled for our wayward pup to join her. I watched as the puppy trailed behind her. Rosie really liked Meg and that made her feel more relaxed at times.

"Penny for your thoughts," I said as I nudged Logan who seemed deep in thought.

"I was just thinking about when the two of you go into labor. I don't know if we'll be safe then or not. I feel so conflicted in how much I care for both of you. I love you with my whole soul, but I care for Meg as well. I find comfort in knowing that she is here with us," he said as I chuckled.

"So you're attractive to her," I questioned trying to sound angry, but unsure if I sounded like it or not.

"No, like sisterly love; I just told you I loved you and you think I want to shack up with our friend," he questioned a little ruder than he should have.

"I knew that, silly," I said trying to break the ice.

"My god, Veronica sometimes I wonder if you find it amusing causing me grief," he half muttered as Meg came back in with Rosie. "Did she get away this time?" he asked as Meg went into the kitchen.

"No, she actually stayed close by as if she felt things were off or something. We didn't linger to far from the deck area," Meg said as I quickly looked out the back window.

"Alright," Logan said slowly as he pulled out the disposable phone my dad had left and sent off a quick text. "I think we should all call it a night. I'll set the alarm and flood lights," he replied as I stood up and followed after Meg up the stairs.

"Should we be worried," she asked as I gave her a tight smile.

"I don't know," I said honestly as Logan came up the stairs carrying a few things with him.

"Meg, come on," he said as he entered our room and headed to the closet. "There is a panic room in here. Keith texted me back to find somewhere safe just in case," he said as he opened a panel and punched in some numbers. The door opened to reveal a room about the size of a bedroom. There were cots set up and TV screens all on one wall. Meg and I followed him into the room as he switched on the screen revealing different spots around the house.

"I didn't even know this room was here," I muttered as he nodded his head looking over things before closing the door to the panic room. Meg had made herself comfortable on one of the cots where Rosie had joined her.

"I planned to show both of you, but didn't think it was important until just now. Keith said that he thinks the Fitzpatrick's are getting nervous and bond to mess up," he said as I pulled some blankets out of a box and made up the other cot.

"So what are we to do, just wait until they screw up," I half snapped as he groaned. I hated living my life in fear of what could go wrong or happen next. All of this hiding and sneaking around was getting to me. I didn't want to admit it, but I am finally on the verge of losing it. I was about to say something when several sensors on the video screens began to go off. Logan got up quickly and started to look at the screen as I heard glass shatter on one of the screens. I looked to Meg where Rosie had begun to bark. Logan quickly reached into a drawer and tossed something to Meg. I watched fearfully as several men entered our home knowing they were looking for us.