A/N 1: Guest - I'm happy you liked the last chapter. I hope this one lives up to your expectations! osielynn - Good to know you're enjoying the story. There was definitely distance between Logan and Veronica in the beginning of the chapter. Veronica was focused on Mars Investigations work and figuring out a way to get back at Madison for what happened in Aspen, regardless of what really went down between Logan and Madison. Veronica seriously has communication issues, and not just with Logan.

A/N 2: I kind of expect some reactions to this chapter. It's kind of a turning point in this story. Sorry it's been so long since I posted a chapter. I haven't had time to write lately. Hopefully that will change soon...

Chapter 13

The next morning Veronica woke up alone in Logan's bed. She was surprised he was up before her considering he'd been out drinking the previous night, but then again she'd been sleeping more since she was pregnant.

She didn't hear Logan in the bathroom so she got up to go pee before going to search for him. When she returned to the bedroom Logan was just entering. He was carrying a tray in his hands.

"Get back in bed," Logan said when he saw her. He thought he'd be able to make it back to his room before she woke up.

"What's on the tray?" Veronica asked as she moved to sit on her side of the bed.

Logan walked over to her and set the tray on the bed. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the ring box before dropping to one knee.

"I know I already asked you once but that wasn't really the way I wanted to do this," Logan said opening the box to show her the ring. "Veronica Mars, I love you. I've loved you for a long time and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"

Veronica had tears streaming down her face. She couldn't find her voice to respond to his question so she just nodded her head up and down. Logan stood and slipped the solitaire engagement ring onto her left ring finger.

Veronica moved to kneel on the bed and pulled Logan in for a hug. "I love you," she said once she was finally able to speak. "I can't wait to marry you."

Logan pulled back to look at her. "I can't wait either," he told her. He hoped she didn't want to wait too long since they were already back in school and she'd need to move in. He wanted to do it before their classes started getting too difficult. He definitely didn't want to have to wait until the semester was over. By the time that happened Veronica would be seven months pregnant and starting to get everything ready for the baby.

He let go of her and moved around to sit on his side of the bed. He grabbed his plate from the tray and began to eat after Veronica dug into the massive amount of food he'd piled on a plate for her.

"I was thinking we could maybe have a small ceremony and reception in the backyard," Logan said while they ate.

"I like that idea," Veronica said. "It's not like there are that many people I'd want at the wedding anyway. The fewer people who know about it the better off we'll be."

"I agree," Logan replied. The only family he had in town was Dick. He was considering whether or not to call Trina. They hadn't exactly been close, but she had been there for him after Aaron was killed. She'd come home to settle the estate and stayed with Logan for a week.

"Have you told Trina about the baby yet?" Veronica asked.

"Are you a mind reader?" Logan replied.

"Huh?" Veronica said confused by Logan's question.

"I was just thinking about whether I want to call Trina," Logan told her. "And no, she doesn't know about the baby. I haven't had a chance to call her and I wasn't sure if I wanted to tell her over the phone. I was thinking if inviting her to come visit and see the house."

"That sounds like a great idea," Veronica remarked. She liked Trina. Sure Logan's sister hadn't really been there for him when he was growing up but she was trying to make up for that now. She was the only family he had left so Veronica was happy they'd been trying to repair their relationship.

"How long do you want to wait?" Logan asked. "I mean I'm sure it won't take too long to throw together such a small wedding."

"I know you want me to move in soon," Veronica said. "I mean you wanted me to move in when you did, so I was thinking maybe we could do it pretty soon. I don't want anything fancy and over the top. I just want to be married to you."

"So, if I planned it for next week that would be ok with you?" Logan asked.

"Ok, next week might be pushing it," Veronica said nervously. "We still need to tell my dad and figure out when your sister can come. I want her to be here when we get married. Once we talk to them we can start planning."

"I can live with that," Logan said. They continued eating in silence, both of them thinking about their upcoming wedding.

Later that day Logan called and talked to Trina. She told him she was currently free and that she'd love to come visit. The weather in New York was still pretty cold and she welcomed the change in scenery. She was excited to see the house Logan had bought. She was coming the next week and staying for a while. They hadn't really talked about specifics, but he figured she would at least stay for a week, if not more.

"Well, my dad said he'd be home late this afternoon," Veronica told him flopping back on the sofa next to him. "I was thinking we could make reservations at Donovan's for tonight so we can tell him over a nice dinner."

"I like that idea," Logan said. "Plus I know how much your dad loves steaks."

"Yep, he loves them almost as much as I love Italian food," Veronica replied smiling at him and cuddling into his side.

"Hey, did you hear the news?" Dick asked as he walked through the living room and plopped down on the over-sized chair.

"What news?" Logan asked.

"About Mercer," Dick said.

"If you mean about him being brought up on all the rape charges," Veronica said, "then yes, we know."

"No, I meant the news about him being out of jail," Dick explained.

"What?!" Logan yelled freaking out.

"Yeah dude, he's out on bail," Dick said. "And so is his friend Larry, or whatever his name is."

"You mean Moe," Veronica told him. She felt sick knowing the two of them weren't currently behind bars. She feared for her life, Logan's life and the life of their unborn child. She hoped to God that the judge who let him out of jail until his trial had him under house arrest.

"I'm calling the security company to upgrade the system and having that fence installed," Logan said getting up from the sofa and grabbing his cell phone from the coffee table.

"You ok Ronnie?" Dick asked when he noticed Veronica's pale complexion.

"Yeah," she said moving to stand up. "Will you tell Logan I went to lay down when he comes back?"

"Sure," Dick told her. He watched her take a few steps and saw her begin to collapse. He rushed to grab her before she hit her head on the coffee table, shouting out her name in the process.

Logan came running back in the room with his phone to his ear when he heard Dick yell. "I'm gonna have to call you back," Logan said when he saw Veronica passed out in Dick's arms and hung up.

"What happened?" Logan asked as he took Veronica from Dick's arms and moved to place her on the sofa.

"I don't know dude," Dick told him. "She looked all pale and got up to go to your room to lay down. She made it a few steps and then she just collapsed."

"Can you go get a washrag and wet it with some cold water?" Logan asked.

"Sure," Dick said standing up. "Do you think she needs to go to the hospital?" Dick asked before he left the room.

"I don't know," Logan replied. "If she doesn't wake up soon I'm going to have to bring her. This can't be good for the baby."

Dick came back a few minutes later with a wet washrag on a hand towel.

"I've gotta go back to the Pi Sig house and help clean up from last night," Dick said after handing him the rag. "Call me and let me know how Ronnie's doing later."

"I will," Logan said as he applied the wet rag to Veronica's head. "Thanks for helping Dick. I know Veronica will appreciate it once she wakes up."

"No problem," Dick said and turned to head to the front door.

Logan was kneeling on the floor beside the sofa patting Veronica's head with the rag. He decided to call Keith and update him on the situation.

"I just got in," Keith told him. He was currently at the San Diego airport. "I'll be home as soon as possible. I'll call when I get close so you can let me know if I need to come to your house or go to Neptune Memorial."

Logan was thankful Veronica's dad was back in town and not still up in Seattle. If he ended up having to take Veronica back to the hospital he was going to need support.

"Ronnie, you need to wake up," Logan said as he moved to cover her with the throw blanket she'd put on the back of the sofa. "I love you and I need you-"

Logan didn't have time to finish his sentence because a hand came around and covered his mouth and nose with a cloth. Logan was passed out before he knew what was happening. He dropped to the floor.

Mercer leaned over and picked Veronica up from the sofa. He walked down a hallway and found a guest bed room. He carried Veronica to the bed and laid her down. "You made this so much easier for me," Mercer said as he tied her wrists together. He then used the rope to tie her wrists to the metal headboard.

Once he was sure Veronica wouldn't be able to move even if she woke up, he left to go take care of Logan.

Mercer managed to get Logan to the bedroom and tied his arms and feet to the headboard and footboard of the bed. He went and fixed himself a drink and then sat in the chair by the window in the bedroom waiting for the chloroform he used on Logan to wear off. He wanted Logan to see everything he was going to do to Veronica.

Logan finally stirred about ten minutes after Mercer sat down. He hadn't used that much chloroform because he didn't want Logan out for too long. Plus he'd planned to use the same cloth on Veronica, which ended up being unnecessary.

"What in the hell!" Logan yelled when he regained his senses, realized he was tied to the bed and noticed Mercer.

"Oh good," Mercer said. "You're awake. I was beginning to wonder how long I'd have to wait before having sex with Veronica. I mean she obviously wanted to be with me that night in the dorm room."

"You're out of your fucking mind," Logan snapped at him.

"You know, maybe I am," Mercer said. "That'll make for a good defense when I go to trial."

He moved towards the bed and began to undress Veronica as Logan struggled against the ropes tying his arms and legs to the bed.

"You're seriously going to regret coming here today," Logan told him seething with anger. He couldn't believe he'd ever been friends with this guy.

"I doubt that," Mercer said as he tossed Veronica's jeans to the floor. He moved to push her shirt up revealing that she wasn't wearing a bra.

Logan knew nothing he could say would make Mercer stop what he was doing, but he couldn't lay there and watch his fiancé be violated yet again. Veronica began to stir as Mercer's hands cupped her bare breasts. When she opened her eyes she expected to see Logan waking her up. She screamed when she saw Mercer hovering over her and touching her body in a way she only wanted Logan to touch her.

"I'm glad you're finally awake," Mercer said and his hands slid down her body to her underwear. "It'll be so much more satisfying knowing you'll remember everything about it."

Veronica kicked him as he pulled off her underwear. She was lying on the bed practically naked and finally noticed Logan on the bed next to her.

"I love you," Logan told her as she started to cry. "I should've protected you two better."

"Two?" Mercer questioned as he began to undress. "You're pregnant?" Mercer asked as Logan's words sunk into his head. He looked closer at Veronica and noticed the bump that had started to form where the baby was inside of her.

"Yeah, she's pregnant," Logan told him. "And if you do anything to hurt either of them you'll regret being born."

"I won't hurt her," Mercer said, "unless I have to." He looked at her pointedly.

He finished undressing as Veronica and Logan looked at one another trying to forget that Mercer was even there. Mercer grabbed Veronica's legs so she wouldn't kick him again as he moved onto the bed. He spread her legs and moved until he was close enough to her entrance. He let go of one leg to position his tip at her opening and she took the opportunity to kick him.

"Kicking me isn't going to do you any good," Mercer said as he thrust into her. He reached to grab her thigh and she began thrashing around on the bed trying to push him away.

"God, you feel good," Mercer said. He looked over at Logan who'd turned away. He couldn't stand to see what was happening to Veronica. "I always wondered why you stayed with her," Mercer said to Logan. "I guess it was because of how good she was in bed."

"Fuck you," Logan yelled turning to face Mercer for only a second.

"Nah, I'd much rather fuck your girlfriend," Mercer said and then smiled down at Veronica as he continued to move in and out of her.

Veronica was still thrashing around beneath Mercer and crying. She wasn't sure if she'd have preferred not being awake when he did this to her. The memory of him doing this wasn't something she wanted to remember and it was worse because Logan was there to witness her violation.

Mercer came a few minutes later and moved off the bed to clean himself up. He tossed the tissue in the trash and began to redress.

"If you think you're going to get away with this, you're wrong," Logan told him as he zipped up his jeans.

"I'll be long gone before either of you get out of this room," Mercer told him leaning down to pick up his shirt.

Just then the door to the bedroom burst open. "Hands up," Keith yelled pointing his gun at Mercer.

Mercer dropped his shirt and put his hands up. Keith walked over and handcuffed him, avoiding looking at the bed. He'd heard the tail end of what happened as he'd searched the house for Veronica and Logan. He hadn't heard back from Logan had had began to worry. He'd radioed for backup once he heard Mercer.

"You were saying something about being long gone," Logan said as Keith cuffed him. "I've got two words for you: community soap."

Once Keith had him cuffed he forced Mercer to kneel on the ground as he trained the gun on him once again. He backed up towards the bed and grabbed the throw blanket that was draped on the footboard and moved to cover Veronica, who was still crying over what had just happened. Keith eased around the bed and towards the bedroom door. He'd heard the front door open and yelled out directions to where they were.

Inga had sent Sachs and Leo. Once they were in the room Keith moved to untie Logan's wrists and feet.

Sachs read Mercer his Miranda rights and escorted him out to the squad car as Leo took in the scene on the bed. He could tell what had happened and felt horrible for Veronica. She looked so broken.

"What happened?" Leo asked as he untied Veronica, needing to hear it from the two people who'd been in the room.

"He raped me," Veronica cried out. Logan moved to pull her into his arms.

"I'm so sorry," he said into her hair over and over as he rocked her trying to comfort her.

Leo knew better than to try and question either of them about what happened any further. He'd wait until Veronica was processed at the hospital to write up the report.

Keith's heart broke for his little girl. He hoped she would be able to get through this. He knew Logan would be there for her, but Veronica had a tendency to push people away when she was hurt. Keith couldn't even imagine what Logan was going through. The two of them were going to have a lot to work through. He just prayed their love would be strong enough to help them get past everything that had happened.