Drunk Logan
Chapter 40

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"What did you say? It was Logan who spoke up first, his voice an accusing whisper. Veronica just sat there with a blank stare, almost as if she hadn't even heard what Wallace had said.

'This can't be happening,' Logan thought. He was dumbfounded by the fact that he was more upset about Veronica's dad being in a coma, than his own father's death. Maybe it was because he loved her so much and knew what this would do to her. Maybe it was because his dad had been a horrible, hateful, violent man and Logan would have mourned the loss of anyone over his own father. Maybe he felt guilty that a decent man like Keith Mars had been hurt at the hands of his father. Or, was it possible, that Logan had actually begun to feel a bond with the older man that extended beyond a shared concern for the tiny blonde one?

There weren't a lot of people that Logan trusted and cared for, and even fewer that he respected, especially when it came to adults. Who are we kidding? The list was almost non-existent, that is, until recently.

Sure, Logan had a lot of friends and knew tons of people. Of all those, though, only four truly mattered. Veronica, Lynn, Duncan and now it seemed, Keith were the only occupants on his short list.

Logan knew that he liked Keith and respected him for the way he'd handled Veronica's kidnapping. He just hadn't realized how much he'd grown attached to him and how deep his respect for the man ran.

After what seemed like an eternity, Veronica came to life. She didn't say anything, she just started getting out of bed. Both boys looked at her as if she was a wild animal. They wanted to stop her, but knew that they had to approach her carefully.

"Veronica, what are you doing?" Logan asked gently, but no response came. He decided to push his luck and tried again a little more forcefully, "Veronica?"

"Huh?" She was in a daze and felt numb. All she could think about was getting to her father.

A part of her didn't really believe it. Her father was bigger than life and he could do anything. Nothing ever stopped him. Over the years, the short, stout, balding man had had his share of confrontations with men who were bigger, faster, stronger and meaner than him. From the psycho-types with super-human strength while pumped up on PCP, to the weight-lifting ex-con's on the run from their third strike, to the knife-wielding lunatics who had nothing left to lose; Keith Mars had always come out on top. How could Aaron Echolls, Hollywood Playboy, have done such damage to a Superman like her dad?

On the other hand, Veronica knew that if it were possible, if it were true that her father was in a coma, then he needed her. She was the only one who would be able to pull him out of it. If anyone, anywhere could help him, it was his daughter. They were a team. They were the Mars', for goodness sakes. As unstoppable as Keith Mars was by himself, he was even more so when teamed up with his action-figure daughter.

Veronica knew that she just needed to get to him and everything would be fine. Things would be how they were supposed to be. This big misunderstanding with the universe would all work itself out and things would be right again. Keith Mars would wake up and he and his daughter would move into their new apartment with the ocean view and security detail.

"Yeah, that's it."

"Huh?" Wallace and Logan said simultaneously.

"Oh, uh, I've got to go to my dad. Wallace, you have to take me to him."

"Whoa, wait a minute, Veronica. I totally get you wanting to see him, but remember what you've been through. Why don't you give yourself the night to rest and then you can see him in the morning before you leave the hospital?" Wallace knew how hard it would be for Veronica to see her dad. He was pretty beaten up.

Although he did some damage to Aaron, Aaron had gotten in a few good shots. Unfortunately, Keith had some bruising, cuts and swelling that made him look pretty bad. They would be fine in a couple of days, but added to the different tubes, wires and machines connected to him, they would only exacerbate the horrible vision. Wallace knew that he wouldn't be able to keep Veronica away for days, but he was hoping that he could keep her away long enough for her to get a good night's sleep and some of her own strength back before dealing with her father's weakened state.

"Look, Wallace, I know what you're trying to do and I love you for it. But, you need to understand that there is no way that I am waiting to see my father. There is nothing in this world that will keep me away from him tonight. Do you understand me?" She was speaking calmly and with an even tone.

She really did understand what Wallace was trying to do and she really did appreciate it. What he didn't understand is that being with her dad was as much for her as it was for him. She needed to see him, to really understand what was happening. She needed reassurance from her father in his own comatose way. At least she would know that he was still alive. She hadn't absolutely lost him yet and she couldn't lose him.

Both of the protective boys in her presence could read her expression. It was one that they'd both seen before and knew well. It was one of determination and pride, doggedness and strength, all mixed together with a slight aire of wild desperation.

When she had that look, they knew there was nothing they, or anyone could do to stop her until she got what she was looking for. In this case, seeing her father.

Wallace looked at Logan for some help and Logan just shrugged back to him. They knew that Veronica would always get her way, especially when it came to them. There was no use even fighting her on it.

"Okay, okay. I will take you to see your dad, but give me a minute. Let me grab a wheel chair real quick."

"Wallace, I don't need a wheel chair. You even said I would be fine." Veronica was holding her head as she spoke.

"Yeah, you WILL be fine. Right now you're sporting a massive headache. Plus, it will make it easier if we have to dodge the paparazzi." The paparazzi knew that her and Logan had been moved to a private room and had posted themselves in the parking lots. They had sources within the hospital willing sell out their patients. Nurses, janitorial staff, even some administrators would keep the vultures apprised as to a patient's status. That's how they always knew when stars were in and out of surgery, when they were moved into private rooms and most importantly, when they were released.

Wallace knew that Veronica needed to rest and the wheelchair was the best option, considering she would be traipsing around the hospital and dealing with the emotional stress of visiting her father.

"Find me one while you're at it...and a nurse too." When Veronica and Wallace looked at him like he had a third eye, he expanded on what he was saying. "Well, you didn't think that I was going to stay here, did you? I want to be with you. Plus, I'd like to see him, too."

Veronica smiled softly at him. She knew that Logan and her dad had spent a lot of time together and had started getting comfortable with each other, if not close. The trust her dad put in Logan showed how much he cared for the boy and she'd seen the respect Logan had for her dad.

"Alright, then. I'll be right back." Wallace said and then went in search of a couple of wheelchairs and a nurse to help push Logan around. Wallace knew he must be pretty sore if he was wanting help with the chair. Logan was a lot like Veronica in that way, he hated to show weakness.

"Hey, you ready for this?" Logan wrapped his arms around Veronica tightly and she leaned her head into him.

She took in a long, slow breath. "Yeah."

"I'll be with you, whatever happens." He was speaking softly while he stroked her hair soothingly.

"Yeah," she whispered. She closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into him.

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When they arrived at Keith's room, they stopped for a moment. The nurse told them what they could expect to see when they went into the room. She didn't want them to be shocked at his appearance.

Veronica nodded. She was getting anxious to see her father and was really having to control herself. She had to keep reminding herself that the nurse was just trying to help.

Veronica had expected to walk into a darkened room, like the one she'd woken up in. Instead, all of the lights were on. 'Apparently they aren't afraid of waking the coma patients,' Veronica chuckled inappropriately to herself.

She could see the machines surrounding his bed and hear the beeping of the heart monitor. It was difficult to see him from her low position, so she slowly rolled closer. Logan was beside her as soon as he could get into the door.

Finally able to see his face, Veronica let out a shaky breath as silent tears began to roll down her cheeks. She had listened to the nurse and had tried to prepare herself for what she would see. Unfortunately, nothing could have truly prepared her.

Her father laid completely still in the hospital bed. Only the slight rise and fall of his chest gave assurance of his condition. He was pale, more pale than she'd ever seen him and the bruising and dry blood from the injuries on his face stood as a stark contrast to his pigment. He looked...older, frail. It wasn't a sight she was used to at all.

There were wires and tubes running everywhere. Between the oxygen he was receiving, the IV, the catheter, the heart rate monitor and the leads that were attached to his chest, he looked so helpless.

"Dad?" Veronica paused for a moment, almost expecting for him to respond in some way. The thought that he would hear her voice and suddenly awake is what had held her together from the moment Wallace told her what had happened.

"Dad?" She said a little more forcefully. This time, her voice was quivering from the tears spilling out and she was breathing heavier.

She asked Wallace to help her get closer to him. When she was out of the wheel chair, she climbed onto his bed, careful not to touch any of the medical equipment. She just curled up next to his stomach while her legs hung awkwardly off of the bed. She clutched at his gown as she sobbed against his side.

Logan was there, rubbing her back. At the same time, he placed an arm across her body, keeping her from falling, and held onto Keith's hand tightly. The tears flowed easily from his own eyes, yet he and Veronica were not the only ones crying in the room.

Wallace and the nurse stood back silently, watching the scene in awe. Tears clouded over their eyes at the tender moment being shared between the three souls in front of them.

All three of them were tough in their own right. They had all endured tremendously tough times over the last year and even before. They'd had to toughen up in order to survive. Yet, here they were. Each of them vulnerable in their own way, whether physically, like Keith or emotionally, like Veronica and Logan.

"Daddy," Veronica was still sobbing into his side. She didn't lift her head and her voice was muffled.

"Daddy, I love you so much. You can't leave me, do you hear me? I can't do this without you." Veronica's voice was rough and she let the tears take over again.

It was about 30 minutes later when Wallace and Logan were sure that Veronica had cried out everything she had and had passed out. They decided to try to get her back to her hospital room without waking her. The nurse had stepped out a few minutes after they'd come to the room, so Logan had an idea.

Wallace picked Veronica up from her dad's side and turned to place her in Logan's arms. She shifted a little, but only enough to burrow herself into Logan. Then, Wallace pushed Logan and Veronica back to their room.

After Wallace had gotten her settled in her bed and Logan had climbed in with her, he sat down for a minute before leaving.

"So, you're pretty sore, huh?" Wallace was looking at Logan for a response.

"Well, yeah, I guess. It's not a new feeling to me, but it's never what I'd call fun." He'd experienced plenty of bruised and broken ribs at the hand of his father over the years.

"Yeah, when you asked for the chair and nurse, I knew it had to be bad."

"Actually, those weren't for me as much as they were for Veronica," Logan ducked his head out of embarrassment.

"What are you talking about? I was already planning on getting her a chair."

"I know, but she was reluctant. I didn't want her fighting it because of her pride, so I asked for them hoping that she would follow my lead. Like if I was willing to admit I needed them, maybe she'd be a little more open to it." He shrugged and shook his head. "Look I knew she needed the chair, I just wanted to make sure she felt comfortable and actually used it. She's just so bull-headed."

"Wow! Okay, that's not the pot calling the kettle black." Wallace was laughing at Logan's double standards. "Well, whatever. It worked."

"Yeah," Logan yawned. "I just hope Keith comes out of this."

"Me too. I don't know if she'd survive that. How much more can she take?"

A previously exhausted Logan became very alert, very quickly. Looking straight into Wallace's eyes he said, "No, she'd survive. We'd make sure of it. There is no way I'll ever let anything happen to her again. No matter what happens, she'll fight through it and we'll be there to make sure of it."

Wallace noticed the difference in Logan and was intrigued by his absolute protectiveness. He knew where it came from, but it still surprised him. He had watched Logan and Veronica's relationship change so drastically over such a short period of time.

"You really care about her, huh?" Wallace wasn't one to talk about feelings, most guys weren't. If he liked a girl, he just liked her. He didn't need to have some big, long discussion about it. Normally he wouldn't have said anything to Logan, but his thoughts flew out of his mouth before he could stop them.

Wallace wasn't sure how Logan was going to react. He figured he wouldn't hear the end of this little 'girly' moment he was having.

"Well, Wallace, I didn't know we were having a sleep over and talking about girls. I would have brought the nail polish and chocolate." Logan snarked at him, but then laughed it off.

"Actually, I don't care about her. I love her. I love her so much that I am constantly in pain!"

"What?" Wallace was looking at Logan like he'd lost his mind. "What are you talking about, you're in pain?"

"Well, since you've reduced us to 13-year old girls, I'll share my feelings with you." Logan said over dramatically.

"It's like this, I am always in pain. If I'm not with her, I'm aching to be. She can be across the quad not even looking in my direction, but the minute I see her, my chest tightens so much that I swear I'm gonna die. Her tears rip my heart out of my chest; and when she's in pain, I swear I can feel it radiating through my body. Worst of all is when she smiles at me and when she touches me. Man, I'm a goner. My throat closes up and I know I'll never regain the ability to breathe again." Logan had said more than he'd intended, but with the feeling of a sleeping Veronica in his arms and the rise and fall of her breath declaring her health, he just couldn't stop.

"Wow!" That was all Wallace could say. He was in awe of how much Logan had opened up and glad that Veronica's happiness was his passion. Veronica deserved to be at the forefront of someone's thoughts and he wondered if she really knew how much Logan loved her.

"Yeah, wow! Don't even think about telling anyone about this conversation...not even me. Not that I care if people know that I love her; I just don't want people to know I sit around and talk about my feelings. Hell, I didn't even get a good pillow fight out of it!" They both laughed and Logan laid his head back on the bed and yawned again.

"Hey, let me get out of here and you can get some rest. I'll catch up with you guys tomorrow." Wallace knocked fists lightly with Logan considering Logan's bruised knuckles and then walked out of the room.

Logan looked down at Veronica and left a long, lingering kiss on her head. "I do, you know? I love you so much and I don't know what I'd do if something had happened to you tonight...or last week in Mexico...or the week before when Troy took you behind the school."

"That's it, you're never leaving the house again!" Logan whispered into the air as he closed his eyes.

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DISCLAIMER: The part about when Wallace likes a girl, he just likes her...is from the show when he and V were talking about Georgia. And, when she's crying on her dad's side, I took that part from S1 finale when he got burned. Not exact wording, but the gist.

Adja: I'm so glad you didn't skip ahead. It would've taken all of the fun out of it for me. lol

AJzkitten69: Woohoo. Ok, I'm not a big HP fan. Nothing against it, just have never read or watched any of it...but, I understand the obsession with it. So, I take it as a high honor that you would consider putting it on hold to check for my updates.

alecygoodness22: glad you liked it...let's see if Keith recovers.

copperboom321: stick with me...remember, smashed computer equals no more DL. You'd never know how it ends in just 7 short chapters.

Chandramas: Thanks, girl. You know I love you.

Iloverogan07: Thank you...thank you very much. Please keep enjoying.

IluvVM: It's good to hear from you again and I'm glad you got caught up on everything. Really glad you liked it...and, you didn't even have to deal with all of the cliff hangers. Lucky you!

jennaml2709. You come to Washington, I'll give you a cookie. Although...I must tell you. I have a deeply held belief on cookies. They must be chocolate chip. On rare occasions, peanut butter. Anything else is a waste of time. :-) I love that you were thinking about it on the way to work. I love the fics that I read that I consider later and work through the different scenarios in my head.

lagurlroks: hey, she shot him...and now you're complaining about her promptness:-)

Literati and naley forever: No, Keith and Alicia aren't dating. That happened later in the year...although, I know it did happen earlier in regard to sequence of events with Aaron. And, S3 Logan vs. Cop Car. Totally priceless!

Lorelei Candice Black: You quite succinctly covered what most people thought. Aaron dead, good. Keith coma, bad. :-) Thanks!!!

LoVeElle: I really love your reviews. They are so detailed and give me your feelings on each aspect of the chapters. Thank you so much. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Mel7: I'll try not to, but I don't have much control. These darn characters do whatever they want to.

Miss-Mars: ok, look. I was pointed to the review on a specific story listed on this board. You left a review that said that you were finally going to just stop reading...at like chapter 15. Considering the story and the length of time you hung in there, I'm not convinced you're not a masochist. Anyone who could stick with that story for that long has got to be. :-)

Nicole Therese: Well, thank you and I do appreciate your comments. I don't remember if ch. 39 was one of those chapters, but I know that there were a couple, when I was writing it, that didn't feel right. It almost felt like I was just trying to make it through. Like I said...I don't remember, now, if ch.39 was one of those, but I'm glad you liked it anyway.

RBDFAN:-)

RedBrick: I know what you're saying about the self-reliance. Next chapter, all of that will come to a head. And, thank you. I'm glad you liked the suspense of Keith.

Shetlandlace: I'll tell you the same thing I told another HP lover. Woohoo. Ok, I'm not a big HP fan. Nothing against it, just have never read or watched any of it...but, I understand the obsession with it. So, I take it as a high honor that you would consider putting it on hold to check for my updates. So...thanks!!!! Enjoy your HP.

ShmexyShmexyHinny: Masochist.

Vmfan387:Thank you!!!!

VMLoVeR87: thank you. I'm glad you liked it. Hmmm, what will happen to Keith?

XoSethCohenxO: Thanks so much. Chapter 40...another sad one, huh?

xosummerxo: You are a sweetheart! Thank you so much. Although, if you thought ch. 39 was sad, ch. 40 was probably pretty sad for you, too. Okay, confession time. Not only did I write the fic, but I've read it for editing. I read it again before posting this chapter (40) and I even cried. How messed up is that?

XXspuffster101XX: another HP fan. I hope you are enjoying your book. I'm sorry it is the last in the line for you. This year has been tough on you, huh? VM ends AND HP comes to a close. At least, J.K. Rowlins (right?) probably ends her series with an actual ending:-)

Lorelei Candice Black
2007-07-20
ch 39, reply

iloverogan07
2007-07-20
ch 39, reply

This story just keeps getting better and better!!