A/N: Thanks to lex, my muse, who had Angels and Devils dancing in my head as I wrote this chapter. This chapter is very, very VMVO heavy and it also has a flashback. As always, both are in italics. Feedback is and always will be muchly appreciated. Aplogies to anyone who was confused after the last chapter, I'm going to do my best in this one and the next few to catch everyone up.
She approached Logan's hospital room slowly, trepidation weighting down every step she took. Finding him sprawled out on the beach near death had been one of the most horrendous moments of her life...next to seeing the dead body of her best friend.
Suck it up, Mars. Logan needs you.
Veronica stared at him through the window of his room, angry that she couldn't go any farther than this. His room was too heavily monitored, and the guards on duty were under strict orders not to let anyone but Trina in.
Of course, she'd have to come see him first.
Guilt threatened to smother her.
How many wrongs could you do to someone before they stopped forgiving you?
She didn't know the answer, only knew that she was tired of making mistakes. She sighed.
I'm just tired.
Veronica hadn't slept much in the last two days. Her bit of rest the night that Aaron Echolls was arrested had been interrupted by Leo, and the two short naps she'd had yesterday had barely helped.
And then there was last night...
Veronica's eyes welled up, and she hugged her arms around her waist.
Clearly, sanity hadn't been present.
She wiped her eyes with a swipe of her hand, and did her best to forget about the night before.
Veronica stared at Logan through the glass as the doctors worked around him. She was crying heavily, and Duncan slipped his arm around her protectively.
"He has to be all right." She said, her voice thick with emotion.
"He will be." Duncan reassured her. Neither of them saw Leo approach until he was standing before them.
"Leo, hey." Veronica greeted him, her voice shaky.
"You never cease to amaze me, Veronica Mars." Leo complimented her, eliciting a slight smile.
"We just stumbled over him...and they won't tell us anything." Veronica complained, separating herself from Duncan and pressing a hand against the glass. "Don't they understand that he doesn't have any family here? That we're all he has?"
Leo shared a look with Duncan.
"Maybe you should take her home." Leo suggested, and Duncan nodded.
"No." Veronica refused. "I'm not going anywhere. Not until I know he's going to be ok." She insisted.
A doctor chose that moment to come out and confer with Leo, before disappearing back inside.
"They've got him stabilized, Veronica. There's nothing more you can do for him tonight. If you don't go home and take it easy, you and your father are going to end up with adjoining rooms." Leo convinced her.
"Call me the minute anything changes." Veronica practically demanded, before letting Duncan slowly lead her away.
Veronica shook her head as if to clear the thoughts away.
I should never have left him. I should have stayed here.
It took her a minute to realize she wasn't alone.
"Is he going to be ok?" Meg asked, getting Veronica's attention.
"They think so...but he hasn't woken up yet." Veronica managed to get out, turning to look at her friend.
"You look awful." Meg was matter-of-fact. "You should be resting."
"I've done enough resting." Veronica replied. "Someone needs to be here when he wakes up. He shouldn't be alone." She sounded lost. Meg put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Have you seen Duncan?" Meg wanted to know.
"He's around." Veronica answered after a moment. "Is everything all right between you two?" She asked as an afterthought. Meg stared at her wide-eyed.
"I know we haven't talked much the last week or so, but you didn't hear?" Meg replied, getting Veronica's full attention.
"Hear what?" She asked Meg.
"Duncan and I broke up the night of Logan's party." Meg answered, biting her lip.
"Why?" Veronica was genuinely confused, and wondered how with her keen observation skills, she had missed something right in front of her face.
"He's still in love with you." Meg told her, and Veronica visibly winced.
Don't remind me.
"Meg, I..." Her friend held up a hand to stop her apology.
"It's not your fault." Meg reassured her.
Maybe not, but last night is.
"He told me why you two broke up." Meg added as second later, getting a surprised look from Veronica.
"He did?" It came out as a whisper.
"Are you mad?" Meg was hesitant.
"That you know? No." Veronica answered. "When did he tell you?"
"A couple of days after the party...he wanted to explain." Meg replied.
"You should probably know that it turns out we're not related." Veronica told her friend, watching as Meg's eyes widened. "My dad is my dad."
"Veronica...if you want him back..." Meg began, but Veronica was the one to hold up her hand for silence this time.
"What Duncan and I had is over." She said, seeing the relief on Meg's face. "I love Logan."
A throat cleared behind them, and both girls turned to see Duncan standing there.