Disclaimer: I do not own Veronica Mars.

Veronica did her best to avoid the sheriff's department in the days following her night with Don. It wasn't that she was embarrassed, with her reputation she had gotten over embarrassment long ago; she just didn't feel that it was necessary to see the sheriff anytime soon (if ever again).


Ever since his night with Veronica, the sight of Keith Mars made Sheriff Lamb fear slightly for his life. Today was no different, but it was not Don's life that Keith came barging into the station seeking, he was promoting his theory on the death of Coach Berry.

While Keith was handing Deputy Sacks a gun, a call came in about a disturbance in the late dean's house. Before the sheriff could quiet the notification, Keith was on his way out the door.

"If it's Botando, I need to be there." Keith explained, "He's unstable and he needs someone to reason with him."

"This is a police matter," Lamb objected, "The sheriff's department will respond to the call and you do not need to come along." With that Lamb was out the door with Keith following behind him. With lights and sirens, Lamb, Sacks and Ramirez proceeded to the O'Dell house to answer the 911 call. Lamb was relieved when he saw Keith turn off the road a few streets short of the O'Dell home.

Upon arrival at the O'Dell home, Lamb spotted Keith's car. Of course, he knew a shortcut. Without delay, the sheriff and his deputies drew their weapons and entered the home. After ordering Ramirez to guard the exit, Lamb and Sacks ascended the stairs in time to see Keith enter a room. Out of nowhere, Botando appeared with a baseball bat. Before anyone could respond, the bat collided with Keith's head, sending him to the ground. In the same second, Lamb pulled the trigger and Botando also hit the ground.

"Call an ambulance!" Lamb ordered Sacks while rushing to his predecessor's side as the older man's head continued to bleed.

While Lamb was attempting to apply the appropriate pressure, Keith barely whispered "Tell Veronica I love her…" and then fell unconscious. The paramedics arrived shortly, and loaded Keith and Botando into ambulances.

"Mr. Mars is in critical condition," a paramedic notified the Sheriff, "he may not make it to the hospital." With that news, Lamb sprinted to his cruiser leaving Sacks to accompany Keith to the hospital. Don did not let up on the accelerator until he was on Hearst campus. Having little knowledge of the campus and less knowledge of Veronica's schedule he started looking into all the classrooms for the petite blonde. Lamb was able to find Veronica in the third classroom he interrupted.

"Get your things," Lamb ordered as he approached Veronica's seat in the large lecture hall, "you need to come with me. Now."

Although she was confused, she gathered her thing and stood. The sheriff had a determined look in his eyes, the only other time she had ever seen him like this was the night he released her and Duncan after their break in at the Manning house.

As soon as they were outside of the classroom, in a quiet hallway, Don told Veronica some of the hardest news that he ever had the burden of sharing: "Your father was assaulted today; he is in an ambulance now on his way to the hospital." He paused as Veronica's eyes filled with fear, "The paramedic said his chances were not looking good."

Without another word, Don took Veronica's books and quickly escorted her to his cruiser and they headed toward the hospital. Don ushered Veronica, who was in a trancelike state to the waiting area where Sacks was pacing. A glance between the two men confirmed that there had not been any notification of change in Keith's state since leaving the scene of the crime.

"Would you like a drink?" Sacks offered Veronica after they had been waiting for about an hour, still without news. Veronica did not respond, she just stared at a spot on the floor. Sacks left anyway, in search of a vending machine. He returned a few minutes later with three bottles of water and an assortment of off-brand packaged cookies. Not that they felt like eating, Sacks and Lamb both took a package of cookies, mostly looking for something to do with their hands.

Another hour went by, this time it was Lamb who grew impatient. He walked to the nurses' station, demanding answers and reminding them, several times, that he was the Sheriff. The nurses assured him that they would be informed of Mr. Mars's status when the surgery was over.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity a doctor in scrubs emerged from the "Hospital Personnel Only" doors.

"Is the family of Keith Mars here?" the doctor inquired. This time, it was Veronica who shot up, with just a glimmer of hope in her eyes. As soon as the words "I'm sorry," left the doctor's mouth Veronica completely shut down. Her legs grew week and she started to cry for the first time that day.

Sacks took Veronica to sit down while the doctor explained to Lamb that the blow to the head resulted in irreversible damage, he also assured the sheriff that the hospital staff had done all they could to save Keith's life but they were unsuccessful.

Once outside the hospital, Sacks suggested that Veronica stay with a friend for a few days.

"I'll be fine." Veronica replied between sniffles, she had stopped sobbing but tears were still flowing.

The sheriff agreed with his deputy, "I don't think you should be alone, at least for tonight." Veronica insisted that she would be alright on her own.

Veronica and the sheriff got into his cruiser to go to Veronica's apartment. After a few silent minutes in the car, Veronica turned to Lamb and asked "What happened?"

"A call came in about a disturbance in the O'Dell house. Your father heard the dispatcher and arrived on the crime scene before the department. He said that he was going in to talk to Steve Botando. Your father walked into a bedroom and was attacked from behind by Botando." Lamb recounted quietly, unsure if he should even share this with Veronica.

"What happened to Botando?" Veronica asked, with tears streaming out of her eyes.

"There was a bullet in his chest before your father fell to the ground." Lamb replied, looking at the road straight ahead. They rode in silence the rest of the way to Veronica's apartment.

When they arrived at the complex, Don walked Veronica, who was still in shock, to her apartment. Once inside, Don again tried to convince Veronica to have a friend over for the night.

"Is there anyone I can call?" he offered, "Wallace? Mac?" He suggested the only two friends of Veronica's whose names he knew. After their night together not too long ago, he was pretty sure that she was not seeing Logan Echolls anymore. After she turned down both of his offers, he introduced a final suggestion: "What about Leanne?"

"No." Veronica simply said and walked toward her bedroom.

"Veronica," Lamb stopped the young woman before she reached her bedroom, "I know this goes without saying, but you father loved you. The last thing he said to me before he lost consciousness was to tell you that he loves you."

Veronica could only nod in response before collapsing into the wall, overtaken with tears. Don rushed to her side and supported her as she stood, leaning against him, resting her head on his shoulder. After a few minutes of crying, Veronica was able to vocalize her emotions into three words "I miss him."

Don nodded and smoothed her hair; he guided her to her bed where she lay until she finally fell into a restless sleep. Once Veronica's eyes were closed, he left her room and returned to the living room to make a few phone calls.

His top priority was to build a support system for Veronica, he knew she didn't have a ton of friends but she was close to a few individuals. First he looked up Wallace's address at Hearst followed by Mac. He also called Deputy Sacks to come to Veronica's apartment and wait while she slept. Don did not think Veronica would wake up any time soon, but if she did he did not want her to be alone.

After contacting Wallace and Mac, the sheriff went to the station, although he was sure the department knew what happened at the O'Dell house break in, he wanted to "make it official" and issue a statement as well as file a report.

He knew that once the report had been filed, the media would flock to Veronica, especially with Keith's history with the department and his involvement in the high profile Lilly Kane/Aaron Echolls case. Sure enough, when he arrived at Sunset Cliffs to check on Veronica and relieve Sacks the Channel 5 News van was pulling in to the complex as well.

"Sheriff," called the reporter, "Can we get a statement about the death of Keith Mars?" The sheriff ignored their first request.

"Does your personal relationship with Mr. Mars play into the investigation of his death? It is well known that you and he had disagreements." The reporter questioned again. This time her inquiry warranted a response.

"Keith Mars was an active citizen of Neptune, his death was a tragedy and he will be greatly missed by those that had a chance to know the man." Lamb walked away from the news team without further response and ignored further questions.