A/N: So this is the second last chapter. All thats left is an epilogue which will tie up the loose ends.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
--
When One Door Closes…
Logan pulled away from Veronica.
"Veronica, you've got to see a doctor. And Piz…him…it, needs to go to the police station."
He pulled out his cell phone. "Hi, I need the police and an ambulance at the Mars residence…don't pretend you don't know where that is. The home of Keith Mars. Former Sheriff. Can you make it quick? Thanks".
"They're on their way," he said to Veronica.
--
About five minutes later Sheriff Lamb waltzed into the room looking smug, took one look at the situation and was immediately confused. I guess it's not everyday he sees a beat up girl with two guys in the room – both of them displaying proof that they could have been a part of it. Piz, of course, had blood on both his hands and face. And Logan had blood on his hands from beating up Piz.
But Lamb didn't know this. All he knew was that he hated Logan Echolls and that he didn't know the other guy in the room.
"What's going on here?" the officer asked.
"He," Logan pointed viciously at Piz, "did this to her."
"Do you have any proof?" asked Lamb, "Because right now both of you look like you could have done it…" Lamb looked smug. He honestly didn't know what had happened here. Not like he really cared. For all he knew, Veronica Mars beat up herself and called these two guys over here to beat each other up over her.
"Do you really think she would let me hold her like this if I had done this to her?" Logan asked, and Lamb had to admit that he was right. Veronica wasn't stupid and she wasn't weak. If Logan had really beat her up this bad, she would not be letting him hold her. And he was sure his previous assumption that she had beat up herself was incorrect. Obviously it was the nameless boy in the room who had done this to her. "You know Lamb, I knew you were stupid, but I didn't think it was that bad," said Logan, "I think you need to go see the wizard. Ask him for some brains." Logan said pointing to his temple.
Oh boy, thought Lamb, that was going too far Echolls. Maybe I'll just have to scare some sense into him.
"Well Logan, I know your families history and, what with your father being a murderer, as well as abusive, I think I'm right in saying that you, are more likely to have done this to her than…this…other guy," Lamb waved his hand nonchalantly.
Logan was seething with anger.
"It was Piz," said a weak voice. Veronica had woken up. She had opened her eyes and was starring menacingly at Lamb – he didn't know how she did it. She was hurt, tired and nearly unconscious and she still managed to do scare the crap out of him. He knew she was telling the truth though. "Piz hurt me, and Logan stopped him," she said, her voice getting stronger. "If Logan didn't come, he probably would have killed me."
Lamb didn't hesitate. "Piz, you are under arrest, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have an attorney…" said Lamb as he cuffed Piz and dragged him out to the Police car.
"It's all over," Logan whispered into Veronica's ear. Suddenly there were paramedics everywhere, trying to push him out of the way.
"Sir, you need to step back," said a paramedic to Logan, "we need to treat her."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Sir, we can't help her unless you get out of our way. You can ride with her to the hospital. We just need to make sure she's stable."
And with that he nodded, "I'll still be here Veronica. It's going to be okay."
She smiled at him, "I'll be okay, thank you, I love you Logan," she said.
--
About five minutes later they were loaded into the back of the ambulance. They said Veronica had suffered a great deal, and that they were guessing that she had a couple broken ribs and probably internal bleeding.
He knew that this wasn't good.
The same things had happened to him as a result of being thrown down the stairs by Aaron. Of course, when he was treated they said that he had "fallen down the stairs". But really, at the age of twelve, is it really likely that "falling down the stairs" would result in two broken ribs and internal bleeding.
Logan was worried to say the least. If she had internal bleeding, then that would mean surgery, and he didn't think he could handle waiting in the waiting room while Veronica's life was in danger. He knew that the doctors knew what they were doing, but there's always the chance of complications.
Yet, he sat in the back of the ambulance, holding Veronica's hand, and pretending all was well. He didn't want to worry her.
"Logan," she said, "can you call my dad."
He nodded, he couldn't bring himself to speak, because he knew that if he did, his voice would crack and she would know that he was worried. More worried than she knew.
"Mr. Mars?" he said into the phone.
"Logan…" Keith said with a sigh. Something told Logan that Keith wasn't too happy that he was calling, "What can I do for you?"
He didn't really know how to word it, he was guessing that, "Well sir, your daughter's current boyfriend Piz, nearly killed her. Turns out I was the better choice after all," wouldn't really work.
"Can you just come quickly to the hospital? Veronica's been…in an accident." That will do, he thought. She can tell him if she wants to.
"Oh my god. Is she going to be okay? Where are you?"
"She's going to be fine, we're on our way to the hospital now. Come to the Emergency Room."
"Okay…I'll see you in a few." Said Keith. "Oh, and…uh…thanks Logan. For calling."
And then the line went dead.
--
Ten minutes later they were in the Emergency Room, where the doctors were wheeling Veronica around like they were running a marathon.
She received several X-rays which confirmed both the broken ribs and internal bleeding.
The doctor in charge, Dr. Lockhart said that he would have to wait in the waiting room because they were taking her in for emergency surgery to stop the internal bleeding.
His worst fears were all coming true.
Just then his phone vibrated, and he answered it, knowing it would be Keith Mars. "Hey."
"LOGAN! I'm in the ER and you aren't here, and I don't see Veronica anywhere!"
"Sorry sir, uh…we're on the," Logan checked the sign behind him, "5th floor. I'm right by the elevator."
Keith hung up.
A few minutes later the elevator doors opened to reveal Keith Mars, looking, well, looking scared.
"Where's Veronica?!" He asked Logan.
"Uh…they just took her for emergency surgery…turns out she has internal bleeding," said Logan, "among other things," he mumbled quietly to himself.
"What was that?"
"Oh…uh, she'll be out in two hours at most…Dr. Lockhart said it's a basic procedure…she'll be fine."
"Why do I think you're not convinced, Logan?" Keith's tone had softened and he looked at Logan with a worried expression on his face.
"It's just…well, there can be complications to any surgery, right? Something could still happen, no matter how basic it is."
"Logan…you have to trust that the doctors will do their job, and that she will be okay," Keith said, and Logan was thankful. "Wait a second Logan, you haven't told me what happened!"
"Uh…well…I think you should wait for Veronica to wake up…for her to tell you."
"Please tell me that she wasn't on another case," Keith asked, pleading Logan to say no.
"No, no. It wasn't like that. Just…wait for her to tell you. I don't even know everything that happened."
They were both silent. Barely daring to breath. Just waiting for some news about Veronica.
After another fifteen minutes had passed Keith spoke again.
"Logan, can I ask you a question?"
"Uh, sure."
"Logan…do you love my daughter," Keith asked, even though he already knew the answer. He'd known that Logan was in love with Veronica since she had accused him as Lilly's murderer and how hurt he was; since he came to Veronica after being beaten up on the side of the PCH; since he had saved Veronica from killing Beaver and had taken care of her while she thought Keith was dead; since he saved her from the rapist. Everything Logan had ever done for Veronica showed how much he loved her, how much he wanted her in his life forever. Veronica didn't know, but when Logan and Veronica had broken up, Keith was disappointed. Not because they had hurt each other (again), but because he knew that they were meant to be together for the rest of their lives, and every time they broke up they were delaying the inevitable.
He just wanted to hear Logan say out loud that he loved Veronica.
"Yes," Logan said, pulling Keith away from his thoughts, "I love Veronica."
"Then what are you going to do about it," said Keith.
"Actually, that's something I've been meaning to ask you about…"
--
Two hours later, Dr. Lockhart emerged from the Operating Room, looking pleased.
"Veronica is going to be just fine. We fixed up the internal bleeding, and made sure that her ribs will heal nicely. She's going to have a lot of bruising, but that will go away. You can see her now if you want."
"Keith, why don't you go in. I've got something that I need to do. I'll be back in about an hour."
Keith gave Logan a knowing glance and turned to follow Dr. Lockhart.
"Hi honey, how are you doing," Keith asked. Veronica turned her head, and Keith was shocked to see the right side of her face completely blue and purple. Like she had been hit.
"Veronica, tell me what happened to you. Logan said that you had to tell me…that he really didn't know."
"Dad. I'm okay…sit down and I'll tell you everything," Keith sat down and waited. Veronica usually wouldn't tell him everything. She was honest, but not that honest. It's what drove her and Logan apart.
"Dad. Piz hit me," she said.
Keith jumped up. He was NOT expecting that. He was expecting, "Dad, I was working on a case, got kidnapped and tortured until I told them who I was. Before they could kill me Logan swooped in the saved the day."
For some reason that response would have been easier to handle, rather than a boy, a boy who she trusted, hurting her so badly she would need SURGERY.
"WHERE IS HE!?" Keith bellowed. He saw nurses in the hall turn to look into the room.
"It's okay Dad, he's at the police station. Lamb arrested him," Veronica said. Keith wondered if she would press charges. As if she could read his mind, "I'm going to press charges," Veronica nearly whispered. He nodded.
"Do you want to talk about it," he asked, and she shook her head.
"It's over…that's all that matters," she said.
"Can I just ask one question?" Keith asked.
"You just did," Veronica replied, and he gave a look, "Okay, shoot."
"When did this start?" He wanted to know how long Veronica had been putting up with this for. He thought his daughter was strong, that she could take care of herself. If he had been wrong, if this had been going on for months and he didn't even notice, what did that say about his parenting skills?
"Just last night," she replied. He was happy, in spite of the situation. He wasn't at home last night. He had pulled an all-nighter for the case he was working on. He had no chance to see any evidence of…of…this. It made him feel just a little bit better.
"Dad? Where's Logan?"
"He had to go…run an errand."
For the next hour, they talked. About anything but this…
--
Logan looked into Veronica's room and saw her and Keith laughing. Should he interrupt. No, he thought. I'll leave them be.
He was just about to walk away when he heard Veronica, "Logan?"
He turned back around and Veronica motioned for him to come in. He opened the door and stepped inside. Keith looked at him, and gave him a small smile. He tried to smile back, but he could feel that it didn't reach his eyes. For some reason, his stomach was churning and he felt like he was about to be sick. I guess this is what nervous feels like, he thought. He couldn't remember being nervous in his life.
"I'll just leave you two alone," Logan heard Keith say.
Logan went to sit down in the chair next to Veronica. When he heard the door close, he began to get even more worried. This is stupid, he thought, how did I let Keith talk me into this?
Then he looked at Veronica and gasped. Most of the right side of her face was covered in purple and blue bruises, her lip was cut and there was a gash just above her eyebrow. He could kill Piz.
"It's not as bad as it looks Logan," she said. Trying to make him feel better.
But it wasn't working.
"I could kill him for what he did to you," he whispered.
"That makes two of us," Veronica joked.
"No seriously Veronica," Logan said. Here I go, he thought. "Veronica, when you called me, you really scared me. You didn't even have to say anything."
He leaned closer to her and took her hand, "Veronica, I've known you since we were kids. I know everything about you," she gave him a look, "okay, not everything, but I know a lot. I can tell when you're lying and I can tell when you need help. That's how I knew you were hurt before I even saw you this afternoon."
He took a breath and continued, "Veronica, when you said you needed me, I thought that was the happiest moment of my life, but then, when you said you loved me, I was even happier. I honestly thought I would burst from being so happy. I am a better person when I'm with you Veronica, you make me smile, you make me laugh, you make me happy to be alive. I love you Veronica…"
He slowly bent down onto one knee, and Veronica gasped, "…and I don't want to live a day without you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?"
--
A/N: Okay, so a little cliffhanger there.
Like I said. Only one more chapter to go. :)
