When she came to, it was to the sound of animated voices and a scenario filled with chaos and confusion. She fought to recognize her surroundings and as soon as she realized that she was still at the Echolls' Estate, she scrambled to sit up even while an EMT insisted on holding her down.

Not seeing him, she tested her voice by calling out, "Logan!" in a tone measured with anxiety and distress.

"Here," she heard his weak and raspy response from somewhere out of sight.

Knowing he was there, she ignored the insistent hands of the EMTs and scrambled toward his voice until another voice stopped her.

"Veronica?"

It was her dad. She turned around and raced to her father, throwing her arms around him with a gasping sob. He wrapped her tight in his embrace and held onto her as if his life depended on it.

"Veronica, sweetheart," Keith said, his voice filled with relief, "What in the world happened here? I need you to tell me everything."

"It was awful, Dad," Veronica began but threw a glance over her shoulder before asking hesitantly, "Can we find Logan before I fill you in?" Seeing his uncertainty, she gave his hand a squeeze and reassured him fervently, "He had nothing to do with this, pops. He's a victim, too. Probably more than anyone."

He hesitated only a moment before turning her, giving her shoulder a squeeze, and guiding her toward the EMT and Deputy who were conversing with Logan around a corner and about 100 yards away. Before they arrived, though, Keith warned, "Veronica, I don't know what's going to happen with Logan at this point, ok? His dad is being charged with some pretty serious crimes and his mom is still inpatient at rehab."

Veronica took in the information he'd provided and nodded her head, inhaling a brave but shaky breath. "I get it, Dad," she said reassuringly before something struck her as odd and she asked, "What about Lilly, Dad? Where's Lilly?"

Keith frowned as he turned to study her, "We haven't found her. We were waiting to confirm with you that she was actually here like Logan said," he paused and cleared his throat before continuing uncomfortably, "Actually, we were waiting for you to come to so we could confirm everything that Logan said."

Torn between wanting to move the few feet to settle beside Logan and reassure him as much as humanly possible and wanting to have some answers, Veronica waited a beat and asked sternly, "What aren't you telling me, Dad?"

Knowing he'd have to give her the information at some point, Keith frowned, glanced over her shoulder at Logan briefly, and then turned his eyes to hold her gaze, "Aaron is gone, too. No Aaron and no Lilly when we arrived on the scene."

"WHAT?!" Veronica exclaimed in alarm. She caught Logan's eye and the misery in his dark depths told her more than anything that her father's words were true. Silently, and with more resolve than she felt, Veronica moved swiftly toward Logan who promptly opened his arms to her. She settled into his warm embrace and murmured against the nape of his neck, "Please tell me this nightmare my father is talking about isn't true."

"Wish I could," he mumbled back, his nose buried in the sweet scent of her hair. He rubbed soothing circles along her back and shoulders before gently turning her in his arms so she could see the men he was talking to. Against the soft cartilage of her left lobe, he added, "They're waiting for your story."

As soon as she finished telling her tale, she sighed and settled back against Logan's chest while he wrapped his arms around her and settled his chin on top of her head. She turned her head to give him a sideways glance as she asked, "Did you see what happened after I passed out? How'd Lilly and your dad get away? Where would they go?"

"I dove for you and my dad kicked me in the gut," Logan replied uncomfortably, "All I saw was him dragging Lilly by the hair behind him as he ran out the door. After that I was barely staying conscious myself till your dad and the EMTs got here."

Frowning, a look of worry and concern lighting her deep blue eyes, Veronica hesitated before she mouthed the words she wasn't sure she wanted to get out, "Where do you think he took her? Is she gonna be ok? Do you-do you think he'll hurt her?"

Logan's deafening silence answered her more than any amount of words possibly could. He just shook his head and kissed her temple, "Lilly is Lilly. She should at least have a fighting chance."

Keith Mars stepped over to the two teens and looked Logan square in the eye as he said seriously, "I hear you've taken to protecting my daughter from your psychopathic father. I'd like to officially extend my gratitude." With that, he held out a hand to Logan and Logan nervously took it.

"It was my pleasure," Logan responded with the hint of a prideful smile.

Taking the pair in, Keith continued, "I've spoken with your mother and reassured her that while you're a little worse for the wear, the medics say you'll be fine." He searched Logan's eyes before he added, "She told me this type of shit has been happening to you for an awfully long time. Any reason you kept it quiet, kid?"

Hearing Logan inhale sharply, Veronica pulled his arms closer around her, offering him her strength. She could feel him relax as he held her tighter and she listened as he said numbly, "Wouldn't have mattered if I didn't. Plenty of people over the years knew and never said anything. He bought them or scared them. It was his MO. Big, powerful Hollywood star using his money and influence to lord it over the masses and buy his ability to beat and torture his son."

His voice was so bitter, hurt, and angry that Veronica couldn't help but shift as if to protect him. Her father saw the change but didn't say a thing. Instead, he asked as he eyed the pair, "How would you like to stay with us while we hunt for your father and your mother continues her treatment?"

Veronica's eyes lit up and she turned her gaze upward to eagerly agree with her father's suggestion. Logan's eyes met hers and they were much less certain but when he saw her excitement, he reluctantly relented, "If you don't think it'll be a burden."

Chuckling, Keith said, "Oh, it'll be a burden but I'd rather have the boy my daughter is dating under my roof with my supervision than to have the two of you hanging out in this place by yourselves."

The sheriff's reasoning made Logan grin crookedly while Veronica's cheeks turned pink with embarrassment as she exclaimed, "Dad!"

Logan kissed Veronica's temple and gave her another affectionate squeeze, "It's a deal. And, thanks, Mr. Mars. You really don't have to do this."

Before her dad could say anything, Veronica piped up with, "He really does."

Later that night, after Logan and Veronica had both been checked out in the emergency room, they were settled next to each other on the Mars' couch with Keith Mars seated in the arm chair nearby. They were watching re-runs of South Park when a news bulletin came across the screen.

"Lilly Kane, daughter of billionaire software mogul, Jake Kane, was found bludgeoned to death on what has now been determined to be the yacht of action star, Aaron Echolls," stated the no-nonsense Martina Vasquez. "None of the Echolls' family were found on the scene or have yet been available for comment. The Kane family have requested their privacy during this difficult time and have announced that they will be making a statement to the press within twenty-four hours. Further details are not being released at this time as the investigation is on-going."