CHAPTER 16

Veronica started to cry silently when Duncan slammed the car door shut near her now bound feet. Her ankles were raw already from the cuffs and she knew that if she moved too much they would start to bleed.

There was nothing that she could do to get away now.

It was over.

She gave in to her fears at last and sobbed into the seat.

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Keith was driving as fast as he could. That was the only reason that Logan didn't yell at him to go faster. He had a feeling like they were already too late. And if that was the case…Logan didn't even want to think about that.

The only consolation that he could find was that he knew the sheriff was on the job; and that wasn't much.

Keith had phoned Lamb soon after they had made it into the Angeles National forest area. He had brought the other man up to speed on what had happened quickly over speaker phone. Logan appreciated that he would know what was going on.

They were both more then a little surprised that Lamb had not only believed them, but had already been a little worried about Duncan himself.

After picking Duncan up from Veronica's house, Lamb had dropped him off at a doctor's to get checked up. It had been the drive over that had worried Lamb though. Duncan had been mumbling about having to save Veronica from Logan.

When Keith had asked why Lamb hadn't done anything before, Lambhad beenindignant. Apparently, being a little worried and actually arresting someone was two different things. And he had tried to find Duncan the next day. That was the only reason that Clemmons had noticed that Duncan was missing from class, therefore letting Logan know. So it was only because of Lamb that they knew what was going on at all.

Logan had to check the urge to reach through the phone and strangle Lamb himself.

But Lamb did promise to put out a search for Duncan throughout all of California and at the border. So if Duncan slipped throughLogan and Keith'sfingers here, he would be found somewhere else. Or at least that was whatLogan told himself to keep the panic at bay as they drove.

They were on a small road that was surrounded by trees on both sides. Had been on this road for twenty minutes now and slowly getting closer to the signal from Veronica's cell phone. But because there wasn't anything distinguishing about the trees, it was hard to notice that they were making any progress.

It was driving Logan crazy.

"Up here" Keith said to Logan as they slowed and turned onto a small private road. Logan looked around, but couldn't tell where they were. Keith slowed to a crawl, obviously not wanting to make too much noise. It would be better to surprise Duncan.

"Where…?" he didn't finish as the made a turn on the road and the cabin came into sight.

Veronica had just heard Duncan close the trunk roughly and knew that he was ready to leave now. Him finding out about her cell had saved her from rape, but it had warned him that they should leave. Veronica wasn't sure if she wouldn't have preferred to be raped.

Duncan had obviously not been prepared to have this place found out about though. That was a good thing at least. If he had to pack food here, it was because he didn't have another place ready anywhere else; and nowhere to hide her.

That thought had Veronica's spirit returning. They would find her. Duncan was smart, but without a plan ready it was just a matter of time.

Then she heard the sound of a car pulling up. Was it someone to help her, or him?

Logan almost laughed with relief when he saw Duncan. They weren't too late.

When they had driven up to the cabin the first thing that they had seen was Duncan near the trunk of the car, having just finished closing it. His head snapped up when he heard them and Logan had the pleasure of seeing fear on his face.

Then Duncan bolted towards the driver's seat and Logan's heart stopped. If Veronica was in there then Duncan could still make it away with her. Or just hurt her.

Logan didn't think, he just jumped from the car and slammed the door shut, sprinting to where Duncan was opening his door.

Keith didn't hesitate.

Logan could hear the other man moving the car and glanced back to see that he was angling itin the driveway to block Duncan from getting out.

When Logan looked back at Duncan he saw that Duncan was reaching to turn the car on. In his rush he hadleft the door open.

But Duncan's hand wasn't going to make it to the car's ignition. Logan reached him just in time and yanked him out of the car bodily, throwing him on the ground. Duncan rolled as he hit the ground, coming to his feet quickly. Madness glowed from his eyes as he started to make his way towards Logan.

But Logan wasn't afraid. He had bested Duncan in fights before and he would do it again.

Then Duncan pulled out a knife.

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Veronica had no idea what was going on. She had seen Duncan get into the car, but then he had gotten back out fast. She had vaguely seen someone grab him from where the door stood open, but she couldn't tell who it was.

But it apparently wasn't someone who wanted to help Duncan.

Veronica started screaming for help, letting whoever it was out there now where she was.

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Logan was about to dodge a lunge from Duncan when he heard Veronica start screaming. It distracted him enough for Duncan to make contact. He cried out when the knife made a deep slash on his arm. He turned fast enough to see the determined look in Duncan's face as he lifted his arm to make the killing stab.

The only thing that ran through Logan's mind was that he had failed Veronica.

The loud sound of a bullet being shot interrupted his thoughts and Duncan's arm from swinging all the way into his chest. Logan could barely understand what was happening. He and Duncan stared at each other with shock mirrored on their faces.

Then Duncan looked down at his chest. Logan followed his gaze in time to see a furl of red color bloom on his shirt. It grew until Duncan stumbled back and fell on the ground. Logan stopped watching.

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Veronica jumped at the sound of a shot being fired, her cries cutting off. She tried to sit up and see what was going on, but it was too much for her. The movement scraped her ankles again and she felt the blood well up.

She stopped moving and closed her eyes tight, trying to stand the new pain she was feeling. Her nails bit into her hands as tears slipped past her eyes. It felt like she had been sitting like that forever when the car door opened.

"Veronica?" Logan's voice rasped out with emotion. Veronica's eyes popped open and her head turned as much as it could so that she could see his face. She had been so scared that she would never see his face again.

"Logan" she said as her tears overwhelmed her again. She lost all her remaining strength and her head dropped back onto the seat.

"I'm going to get you out of here Veronica" Logan said hoarsely.

THE NEXT DAY…

Veronica was settled on the couch, her legs propped up on a pillow. The bandages on her ankles weren't very thick and the pain was dulled by thedrugs that they had given her at the hospital. Her dad wouldn't listen to her though. She would be resting for the next year if he got his way.

She could understand how he felt though. When he had been hurt the year before from the fire, she had been the same way. And she was just as coddling with Logan now. He wasn't allowed to move his arm at all when he was near her.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked from beside her on the couch. Veronica looked up at him and smiled. He was looking very dashing and heroic with his arm all bandaged and his face still showing the evidence of his fight from before.

"Only that I love you" she answered softly as she snuggled into his side. Logan smiled and held her tighter with his good arm.

"I love you too Veronica" he whispered back.

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Keith watched them quietly from the doorway, not being noticed. A smile touched his lips and he walked back to the kitchen without saying anything. After all that they had been through, he didn't have any more doubts about Logan.

Things weren't all peachy now…but nearly. Lamb had decided that the shooting was in self-defence and charges weren't going to be pressed.

And the Kanes were acting surprisingly docile. Jake had taken Keith aside at the hospital and let him know that he understood what had happened. Jake had seemed glad that his son had been stopped from doing something that he would later regret.

Duncan was going to survive the bullet to the chest, but it had been touch-and-go for a while there. The Kanes planned on pleading insanity when Duncan was charged with kidnapping and assault. With Veronica's promise of support, it was probably going to work.

When Veronica had agreed with Jake, Logan had been a little upset. He thought that Duncan deserved whatever he got for hurting Veronica. Keith secretly agreed, but knew that pushing Veronica wasn't going to help anyone. Logan must have decided the same thing because he lay off the subject.

So the only thing that they had to worry about now was getting on with their lives. It wouldn't be easy. Things like this always affected the victims in different ways and Keith knew that he would never forget how his daughter had looked when Logan had pulled her from Duncan's car. He wouldn't be able to bounce back from that too quickly.

Alicia was waiting for him in the kitchen with coffee and he smiled at the sight. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard after all; not when he had help.

THE END

END NOTE: this is the end and I hope that you enjoyed the fic. I am pretty sure that there won't be a sequel to this one. I like how it ended and I don't need to change anything.