A/N: Hi everyone! I hope you all had an exceptionally awesome Memorial Day Weekend! Thanks for the continued interest in this story...I know I've dragged it out over many months, and I apologize. Many factors and not very good excuses are making me glad for those of you who have stuck on. I hope you all enjoy!

Thanks again to Bond. I know you had a lot on your plate as well while plugging through these chapter to Beta, and I am very grateful. Thanks!

Chapter 19

Logan's resolve to stay at his house slipped when he realized that Manny Rose was genuinely scared. Manny's fear bred confidence in Logan's trust of the smaller man, and that was why he had found himself leading the other man through the hallway of the townhouse and out into the garage where the two of them piled into the still warm rental car.

It was now forty-five minutes later and they were near the outskirts of Neptune. Logan weaved around slow traffic, careful to keep just under the speed limit to not attract any unwanted attention. Although he was relatively sure that Lamb was probably keeping tabs on him as it was, Logan wanted there to be no excuse to be stopped for a traffic violation. He also kept the speed just under the limit to give Veronica time to catch up with him. He kept his eye on the rear view mirror, but not once did he catch sight of the Le Sabre behind him.

Veronica was either being extremely stealthy or else she wasn't behind them.

Manny motioned to take an exit. Logan signaled and moved over, exiting quickly before turning right when Manny signaled again. Though the sun had sunk low over the city, there was still the dusky hue of light across the sky, making it hard to make out street signs. Logan kept driving, glancing once in a while over at his passenger, waiting for some type of a signal that they were getting closer to their destination but the stout Mexican said nothing.

After driving another few miles, Manny indicated for Logan to turn into an alleyway. He obeyed and drove slowly until he came to a dead end and was unable go any further. Glancing at Manny for confirmation, Logan pulled behind a garbage receptacle and put the car into park.

He turned to his passenger. "Where the hell are we?"

"You see, senor. You come with me and you see now."

With that, Manny got out of the car and came around to the driver's side door to wait for Logan. With a heavy, unsure sigh, Logan pulled open his door and got out.

Manny started toward the building closest to them, looking back a number of times to be sure Logan was in fact behind him. The smaller man yanked open the heavy metal door and waited for Logan to pass through. With one last look back at the car and a quick twirl of the car keys in his hand before stuffing them into his pocket, Logan adjusted his jacket and stepped into a dimly lit stairwell.

To himself Logan muttered, "God, I hope V knows what she's doing."

***Break**

"I hope you know what you're doing, Veronica."

So did she. "Would you relax? Things are going to go great. We just have to adjust a little, but it will be fine. Besides, you helped concoct this crazy chess game alongside me. And Logan volunteered."

"We both know why Logan volunteered, Veronica."

Veronica froze for a split second before saying smoothly, "Yes; to put an end to this. We didn't know if someone would take the bait, and thankfully someone did. Now we just wait and see. This will be over before you know it."

"Keep telling yourself that and everything will work out fine."

"You keep that in mind and everything will be fine. Turn left up ahead."

Bunk did just that and they found themselves in an empty alleyway between two ramshackle buildings.

"Do you have any idea where the hell we are?" Bunk asked, slowing the car to a near crawl as he peered up at the buildings through the windshield. "It might be helpful."

"Actually…" Veronica trailed off. "I haven't lived in California for years. This isn't an area that I frequented when I lived here." She took her phone out and tapped 'send' after scrolling down to Mac's number. "I'll have Mac check it out."

***Break***

Mac smirked at Dick's startled jump when the phone that sat on the table between them began the loud chime of "Thunderstruck". She swept the phone up and pushed answer just as Dick began an air-guitar movement and yelled out, "Thund-aa!"

All seriousness, Mac said into the phone, "Hey, V."

"You have our coordinates, right?" Veronica asked immediately, skipping all pleasantries. "Can you tell me about the area we're at? For starters, who owns these buildings we're parked between?"

"Child's play, V. Gimme five minutes."

"Text it to me. And Mac?"

"Yeah, V?"

"Logan's in there. We're not waiting; we're going in. No phone calls. In or out. Till were done."

"Be careful."

***Break***

Manny pushed through the door on the third floor's landing and Logan, though reluctant, followed. The heavy door slammed shut behind them and Logan squinted through the darkness as his eyes adjusted to the light. All around them were cardboard boxes, lined in tall rows, veering off in random directions. There were no markings on any of them that Logan could see. "And you wanted to show me…a room full of boxes? I'm speechless."

The little Hispanic man ignored Logan's retort and began a steady pace down one the many rows of boxes. Logan pulled out his cell and checked its service. Four bars and no messages. Before slipping it back into his pocket, Logan tapped out a series of three numbers and pressed send. He then straightened the waist of his jacket, cleared his throat anxiously and started after Manny, peering at the boxes that he passed by.

"What the hell is this place?" Logan murmured to himself. He stopped to touch one the boxes, but just as he began to peel back the lid, Manny called out from somewhere in the depths of the room.

Alarmed that he could no longer see Manny, Logan forgot about the box and started down the row once again.

***Break***

"Why am I not surprised?"

"What ya got, V?" Bunk queried.

Veronica swiped her phone closed. "This property is for sale…." she gestured to the building on her left and then motioned to the one on their right. "And this property on the other side is owned by none other than Larry Morrison. How much ya want to bet that he's looking into buying this whole street, one building at a time, like a twisted game of Monopoly, with real money and everything?"

"Well, that news makes me seriously wonder just what Mr. Rose is showing off in there."

"Probably nothing good, that's for sure. Somehow I'm betting it isn't trade secrets on how to get rich quick."

"Pyramid schemes aren't generally up Logan's alley."

"Mostly because he's already filthy rich, right?"

Bunk snickered. "I suppose."

**Break***

The darkness was broken only by the slow flicker of halogen lights that ran above them. Logan felt blind in his rather vain attempt at following Manny primarily by sound and still he had not found him yet. He was becoming increasingly alarmed after having gone down two aisles of cardboard boxes without seeing even a trace of his guide.

Just as he rounded a corner of boxes, Logan saw the reason for the lack of sound. His heart stopped for a split-second before it thumped loudly in his ear, confirming the reality of the moment. He stumbled and then stopped and he quickly raised his hands.

Dan Lamb stood in the middle of the cardboard aisle, gun pointed at Manny Rose, a cold sneer on his face as he glared at Logan. Logan's mind started racing. Manny stood between himself and Lamb, wearing a look of fear. Beyond Lamb was bank of light switches on a wall beside what Logan assumed to be the door that led to the front of the building. Logan wondered if there was any way for him to get to that door. His attention was brought back to Lamb when the sheriff began speaking.

"You shouldn't have let Senor Rose bring you here," Lamb said, his voice taunting. "You should have just told him 'Adios' and moved along with your night, Mr. Echolls."

Forcing himself to look at Lamb and not at the door beyond him, Logan swallowed and replied, "What, and miss this experience?"

"Always the cocky son of a bitch; your reputation doesn't disappoint."

"What would you know about my reputation, Lamb? Except for the false one that you've been blasting around town?"

"You might want to be careful with what you say to me," Lamb warned, flicking the gun in Logan's direction before training it back on Manny's back. "Making an angry man more upset is not advisable."

Logan took a deep breath. "Look, can we talk about this without the gun?"

Instead of putting the gun down, Lamb took a step closer and pushed the muzzle into Manny Rose's back. "And this! This! I get you out of jams, Manny, and how do you repay me? Telling our secrets to this nobody! Nobody!" Lamb shouted the last word and his voice echoed throughout the warehouse, making the Mexican visibly flinch.

"Lamb, let him go," Logan entreated, putting his hands higher in the air. "He hasn't told me a thing. All three of us can walk away from this, no harm no foul. Honest to God, Sherriff, the man hasn't said anything."

"Then why are you here?"

"He hasn't told me anything," Logan repeated. He forced himself to keep his eyes locked on Lamb and not glance at the many boxes that filled the space around them. "And frankly, I don't need to know. Manny was just taking me for a nice quiet drive."

"It's too late to go back," Lamb said coldly. "And you both are trespassing."

With that a shot rang out. Manny Rose's face stilled. He stumbled forward and then fell into a heap between them.

"Jesus!" Logan yelled out, jumping away from the fallen man. "What the hell are you doing?" He stumbled back and hit into a row of boxes. "Why the hell did you do that?"

"You mean, why did you do that?" Lamb sneered, now pointing the gun at Logan. "You just murdered a man!"

Logan barely heard Lamb's words because he was staring into the eyes of the dying man. There was nothing to be done for Manny; Logan could see that. The man was as good as dead. He tore his gaze away from Manny and looked back up to the distorted face that was Lamb's. "I what?"

Lamb affected a concerned face. "Yes, there was a disturbance, and I came to investigate…and walked in on this murder."

"You're insane."

"Maybe." Lamb nodded triumphantly. "But no one will believe you. Especially not if you're dead." Lamb motioned the gun threateningly at Logan. "Turn around," he ordered coldly.

Logan did as Lamb demanded; slowly turning around to face the boxes he'd just nearly turned over, his mind reeling as he tried to come to a decision. "What are you going to do, Lamb, shoot an unarmed man in the back? With the same gun that killed Manny? How's that gonna look to forensics?"

"You watch too much Law& Order, Echolls."

"I know a lot of the extras on CSI, I must admit. Dead Hooker #2 is my sister," Logan snarked blandly. "But that doesn't change the fact that forensics can figure this whole scenario out with their eyes closed."

The clicking of shoes on the concrete floor told Logan that Lamb had moved around Manny and was stepping closer to where Logan was. "Ah, yes, maybe, but the fact is I can plant this gun on you. And besides, I have another gun."

"Huh," Logan said, slowly slipping his good hand into the inside of his jacket and pulled the gun from out of the holster that he had hidden beneath. "Me, too." And then he swung around and pointed it at Lamb.

Lamb's eyes widened marginally but he recovered relatively quickly. "No matter, I've gotten around worse kinks."

"Somehow I believe you."

"Yeah, well, go ahead and try to shoot," Lamb taunted. "It would be better all round for me."

"Tell me one thing," Logan asked, not dropping his gun. "What exactly is this place?"

Lamb shrugged indifferently. "Storage, I guess."

"You guess?" Logan scoffed disbelievingly. "You just killed a man over a storage facility? You don't seem to need very much motivation for murder."

"Motivation? Motivation?" Lambs' voice pitched higher and higher. "You and your misplaced good deeds landed you here, you imbecile. Morrison hates you anyway. And with your name popping up all over the place, why not kill you? Might as well take you out with the rest of the trash."

They both had their guns trained on the other. Logan stared at Lamb's trigger finger. "So you admit that Morrison is involved?"

"Morrison is more than involved."

"Oh? Do tell." Keeping Lamb talking was the only thing Logan could do to keep the other man from pulling his trigger.

Lamb narrowed his eyes. "Why would I tell you anything?"

Logan needed to keep him talking. "Come on, Sheriff. If I'm going down, I'd at least like to know why."

"Because you're convenient." Lamb seemed to have had enough. Not dropping his aim, he switched hands, shuffling his feet into a firmer stance. "Drop your gun."

Logan only tightened his grip. "Yours first, Barney Fife. Can you even shoot straight?"

Lamb's gaze hardened and he motioned with the gun toward the slain Mexican. "I got what I was aiming for there."

"Why did you have to kill him?"

"Convenience, Echolls. Manny knew too much. He was becoming a liability. Getting skittish and fearful—we couldn't trust him. Look what he was doing with you tonight. But you know that already; he was your man. You hired him to take out Mars—"

"You're deluded," Logan interrupted angrily. "Why would I try to kill Keith Mars? And, besides, if I had put a hit out on him, explain to me why I would have sat in the hospital, waiting for him to regain consciousness? Why was I shot? Let me guess, I took a hit out on myself to take the heat off."

Lamb started again as if Logan hadn't interrupted. "You hired Manny to take out Mars, and in the process took out our fine Deputy Sacks, thus starting a chain of events that you couldn't control. You put the squeeze on Manny here. Nervous, the poor little man tried to take you out before you could have him taken out, but Manny botched the job, twice. Tonight, you met him at an undisclosed location and you ended it, once and for all. But before you could make your getaway, I stepped in."

"What? Am I under arrest then? For your made up reasons?"

"No," Lamb simpered cruelly, making Logan's skin crawl. "Poor Mr. Echolls lost his life tonight, because he tried to take matters into his own hands, but I drew first. And saved the day. Neptune will have one less ass hole in about five minutes."

"You know I don't really live in Neptune anymore, right? So when the census comes out, my 'ass hole' status is represented in San Diego. Neptune won't even notice."

"Shut up!" Lamb stepped closer, all the while keeping the gun trained on Logan. "One would wonder why you haven't fired yet, Echolls. What's taking so long for you to defend yourself?"

"Because I really don't want to," Logan answered simply. "I am not a killer, and my conscience will not afford me to just out right shoot you, Lamb. Even when pressured."

"Not a killer? Says the Navy man—the airstrike pilot who has gone to war."

That struck a nerve, but Logan schooled his features when he countered, "That's different, and you know it, Lamb. How many men have you killed in the line of duty, Sheriff? And how many men, like tonight, have you murdered in cold blood? You shot Manny in the back. I would guarantee that your soul looks at that differently. How can you even sleep at night? If you kill me, that's just one more murder to add to what seems like to be quite the long list."

"Enough!" Lamb's eyes glinted in the harsh light and Logan thought he looked quite demented. "You just shut up!"

Though Logan was expecting it, it still startled him when Lamb dropped one hand from his weapon and lunged for him. Lamb grabbed at Logan's gun, but even with his injury, Logan was stronger and more agile than the other man. He easily batted Lamb's hand away. Suddenly, they were both on the ground and rolling around, grappling for each other's weapons. Fists were meeting jaws, and more than once, Logan saw stars, but he held on, landing a few good punches to Lamb's face. The satisfying grunt of Lamb's pain told Logan he'd hit his target many times. But then there was a sharp blow to Logan's injured shoulder and he recoiled back in agony, inhaling deeply in pain as Lamb successfully grabbed a gun and jumped up and away from him.

A quick glance told Logan that the other gun had slid too far away to be of any use. Panting from pain, Logan held his sore arm tightly to his body and lifted the other hand in the air, half kneeling on the dirty floor. "Would you shoot an unarmed man?"

"You already know that answer, don't you?"

A voice came from the depths of the shadows. "Shoot him, Lamb, and you're next."

In surprise, Lamb looked over to where the voice had come from: down the row of boxes toward the doorway where Manny had led Logan not twenty minutes before. Logan took advantage of Lamb's temporary distraction, catapulting himself up and into Lamb. Lamb fell hard into the boxes behind him, his arms swinging. He lost control of the gun, but not before he swung his arm up in defense of Logan's assault and hit Logan in the temple with the hard metal as they both landed in a heap. The gun flew up and away from them, and Logan, fighting for consciousness, lifted a fist and hit Lamb square in the face, once, twice, three times. Exhausted, Logan fell sideways and away from the now knocked out Lamb, heaving heavily to keep the sudden wave of nausea down.

"Logan!"

He heard Veronica's cry of alarm over his retching, but he couldn't respond because of how his body was betraying his weakness. He dry-heaved even as he felt her fingers touch his back, felt them running up his spine until he felt her fingertips rest on the back of his neck. He heard voices all around him, and he knew everyone was there, just as planned, but he couldn't decipher the words. All he could think about was the dead man lying less than ten feet away from him and the man he'd just beaten unconscious. From the distance, Logan thought he heard the whirring sound of approaching ambulances. He thought of how Lamb had been deadly serious in his intention to harm him, possibly kill him. And Logan had volunteered to do this. He retched again and then succumbed to the comfort of Veronica's arms as she held him tightly, her arms cradling his head with her lips near his ear, whispering things that he couldn't understand except for the one thing: it was over.

***BREAK***

Logan sat on the back ledge of an ambulance, wrapped in a blanket, as the cascade of flashing lights from the various emergency vehicles bounce off of nearby windows while he watched Veronica and Bunk conversing with Deputy Norris Clayton. Logan felt hollow inside, empty almost. Nothing of the past three hours felt real. It was as if he'd been watching in third person, as if it he'd sat watching it in a movie theatre, not living it in full color.

There was a small niggling of worry that kept plaguing him, small but not insignificant. This was Dan Lamb who had just attempted to set Logan up for murder. Lamb's ties within the legal system were strong. What power did Lamb have even within the walls of a jail cell?

***BREAK***

Mac sat back in triumph and set her phone on the desk. "Great news."

"Did we get 'em?"

She glanced up at Dick, who stood over her, peering down at her laptop's screen. She grinned. "Well, as close to as 'get 'em' as we can get right now. Lamb's in custody."

Dick let out a whoop and clapped his hands together. "What about Morrison?"

"No Morrison," Mac informed him regretfully. "The guy didn't show. But it happened inside a building next to one he owns. One that's for sale."

"What does that mean?"

"Veronica's pretty sure that Morrison's plan was to buy up that block and sell it, like he's been doing everywhere else. Creating a monopoly of sorts."

"You think he wants to own the whole town?"

Mac shrugged. "Possibly. I don't know." She looked at the time displayed on her phone. "We need to leave if we want to meet them at the hospital."

"Hospital?"

She shook her head quickly. "I don't know specifics. Veronica said everyone's fine, but that Logan got a little beat up. I guess Lamb and he got into a slight fracas."

"A fracas, huh? If Lamb's in custody, then I'm betting Logan won that brawl."

***BREAK***

Veronica watched as Cliff McCormack, in his trademark cheap suit, broke through the crowd of blue-uniformed officers and made his way toward where she and Bunk stood with Norris Clayton. She flicked her gaze over to where Logan sat on the back end of an ambulance, wrapped in a blanket, staring vacantly out at the goings on vacantly. An EMT stood over him with a blood pressure cuff in her hand. She was speaking to Logan when his eyes connected with Veronica's.

For a brief moment, Veronica's breath caught and she tamped down the urge to run over to him. Instead, she gave him a tiny smile before turning her attention back to Cliff.

"Lamb isn't saying anything," Cliff informed the group, folding his arms across his body.

"Did we actually think he would?"

He grimaced. "No. They're taking him over to Neptune Memorial for a once over before they process him."

"But they are going to book him?" Veronica pressed.

Norris grinned. "Thanks to Logan there's enough to book him on. His call to 911 was nothing short of brilliant."

She smiled back in relief. "That was all Logan."

Their attention was diverted for a moment as they turned to watch an EMT usher Logan into the back of the ambulance and shut the door behind him.

"We have so much more evidence against Lamb than he knows," Veronica said out loud. She knew that Lamb had played right into their hands. Though she hadn't been positive anything would work the way they'd discussed, they'd taken the risk and it had paid off. The only unexpected thing that had happened was that Logan's public statement had brought Manny Rose out of the woodwork right along with Lamb. She regretted his death. The public display outside of the sheriff's office had been meant to upset and rile Lamb, and possibly Morrison, so the fact that it had upset and prompted Manny Rose had been unexpected but not unwelcome. Logan had played it just right, almost too right. Manny had gotten spooked and had unwittingly brought the end to Lamb's reign.

Just then, the door that led to the building opened and two EMTs pushed out a blanketed gurney, obviously carrying Manny Rose's body. They wheeled it past where Veronica stood to a second waiting ambulance.

She turned back to the group. "Logan watched Lamb shoot and kill Manny Rose. The recording was left on while the 911 operator took the call. Will that ensure Lamb is held without bail?"

"Lamb knows all the ins and outs. He's beat the system for years. He's not going down without a fight, even with such incriminating evidence against him," Cliff answered.

"He's an idiot."

"The good news is that with the 911 call there's no disputing who pulled the trigger," Norris interjected. " But Logan's going to have to answer some tough questions, like how and where he got that gun he was carrying—"

"He has a carry permit," Cliff interrupted. "And the gun was lent to him by Ms. Mars."

"That's great news. The less we have to deal with regarding legalities and red tape, the better it will be for Logan. We don't want the case against Lamb to be held up by something as stupid as the lack of a carry permit."

"As far as all that is concerned, Logan is free and clear of that. Did we figure out what's inside this warehouse?" Bunk looked up at the building with a scowl. "Seems to me it must be something quite serious if Lamb had to kill to keep its secrets hidden."

Norris' satisfied smile heartened Veronica. "This is where all the missing evidence has been stored, amongst other things. For years Lamb has been confiscating and taking merchandise involved in other smuggling and illegal trade dealings and storing it here until he can either sell it or plant it. Manny Rose led Logan right to the end of the rainbow. It's all here."

Overcome with an intense feeling of foreboding, Veronica asked, "But what about tampering? This is Balboa County, after all…who's to say that all this evidence won't disappear by morning and Lamb will be free?"

"Because I'm here."

The voice was familiar, but Veronica didn't dare believe her ears until she turned around and saw Leo D'Amato approach from within the building. "Leo?"

"The one and only." His cute smile and twinkling eyes were just as Veronica remembered. "I'm a detective with the San Diego Police Department now. They sent us out when word got out that the sheriff was a suspect in a murder. We're taking over jurisdiction until other arrangements can be made. We'll make sure it's all kosher."

"You have no idea how happy that makes me," Veronica told him gratefully. "Just knowing you're on board is amazing!"

"What am I, chopped liver?" Norris gave Veronica a broad grin. "I'm joking, joking!" To Leo, Norris said, "Detective, I should warn you that the involvement of officers within the department is very widespread. You'll need to tread carefully."

Leo nodded. "Yeah, I figured that might be the case. I appreciate the heads up."

After a few more minutes of discussion, Bunk tapped Veronica's shoulder. "I think they're moving Logan to Neptune Memorial."

She nodded and then looked back at Leo. "What more do you need from us?"

"Just be available. We have a lot to sort out; but that 911 call will answer any immediate questions we may have, at least until tomorrow. We'll need you to make statements soon."

"Can you call Cliff? He's our acting attorney for the time being. He'll know how to contact us."

Arrangements made, Veronica and Bunk split from the group and made their way to their parked car. She watched the ambulance carrying Logan disappear from view. "I can't believe it's over."

***BREAK***

The hospital didn't feel as ominous as it had the last few times Veronica had been there. In fact, the bright light of the corridors seemed extra cheerful, and even the haggard looking nurses seemed to have an extra bounce to their step.

Hmm. Not cynical after all, huh, Veronica?

The emergency room was short staffed tonight and the receptionist merely pointed Veronica in the direction where Logan was waiting to be seen by a physician. Bunk and Veronica immediately hurried down the hallway to a large room with many hanging curtains in lieu of walls separating beds. Weaving their way through the room, they found a testy Logan sitting back on a blue-blanketed bed. When he saw them, Logan sat up and adjusted his injured arm.

Veronica took stock of his features, which were bruised and a little bloody from his brawl with Lamb. She locked her gaze with his once she was assured that he was in fact all right and in one piece.

Back at the warehouse, she'd found Logan sprawled out on the floor, retching in agony from what she assumed must have been a heavy blow from Lamb. She and Bunk had missed most of the action, but she'd seen enough. By the time they'd wended their way down the corridor of cardboard boxes, the fighting was almost over. She'd seen the last of it and known that though Logan had won, Lamb hadn't gone down easily.

The irritability she'd just witnessed on Logan's face melted when he saw her and broke into an easy grin. "They just took Lamb to a private room. He almost broke the restraints trying to get to me."

"Oh?" Veronica queried, returning his smile.

"Yeah, he just found out about the 911 call." Logan chuckled. "I think he just realized how fucked he actually is." He winced and pulled his arm closer to his body. "These nurses are a delight."

"Are they?"

He nodded. "Their paperwork leave a lot to be desired." Veronica just now noticed a clipboard full of papers sitting on a stand next to the bed. "Instead of asking what hurts, they keep asking if I have insurance." He motioned to his eye, which had begun to swell and was turning a sickening shade of purplish-gray. "Who cares whether I can see out of this tomorrow. If I don't have insurance, they'll have to send me to General to get cleaned up with the other hobos."

Veronica picked up the clipboard and flipped through it. "I can fill it out; do you have your wallet? I can write down the information for you."

He reached in his back pocket and handed over his wallet. "Aw, you're a peach."

"Don't forget it."

Silently, Veronica filled out the forms and listened with a half-ear to Bunk and Logan's low-toned conversation. She thumbed through the multiple cards in Logan's wallet until she found his Naval Insurance card. She copied down the pertinent information while the two men started talking about Logan's townhouse. She stopped short when she heard the word 'deploy'.

She laid the pen down. "Are you getting deployed?"

Logan rolled his lips inward and took a large breath, avoiding her gaze. "I'm hoping with all this behind me, my C.O. will void my restriction and let me come back sooner than planned."

Teeming with obvious disapproval, Bunk folded his arms and gave Logan a hard stare. "Is that what you really want, son?"

Logan glanced between the two of them and then looked down at his hands. Veronica snuck a peek at Bunk, but the older man was still staring hard at Logan and didn't notice.

Logan shrugged, fidgeting. "I have to get back to normal."

"But you're injured!" Veronica argued. "Your arm has clearly been giving you trouble. Flying's not an option! There's no way—"

"They won't let me fly; I know that. But I can still be useful."

"Echo, the Navy doesn't like scandal. You're so embroiled in this mess, they're sure to never let you back on an aircraft carrier."

Logan seemed to deflate. "You can't know that."

"I'm telling you, son. They'll find a way to keep you grounded." Bunk gestured to Logan's shoulder. "First, they'll use your injury. Then there's the question of the trial."

"Trial?" Logan repeated, his eyes fixed on Bunk. "I guess I hadn't thought that far ahead."

There was a short silence between the three of them. Veronica resumed her writing when the curtain shuffled to reveal a doctor, who approached the side of the bed. "Mr. Echolls, I think that you'll be able to go home soon. We just need to finish up your paperwork and double check your vitals; once that's completed you'll be on your way."

"Yes, I assure you that I'll be properly billed," Logan retorted. "No need to be worried on that end."

Veronica handed the now completed papers over to Logan. "You just need to sign the bottom of the last page."

Logan took the clipboard and flipped through it. "One would think that since I was here less than a week ago, filling out this same mundane paperwork wouldn't be so critical."

"Information changes rather quickly," the doctor chirped, adjusting his stethoscope. "We can't guarantee the information you gave us last week is what you want us to keep on your records. "

"You just don't want to admit that you've violated HIPPA laws and lost my original records."

The doctor smiled placidly. "I don't share any information that isn't yours to know. Confidentiality is key in this business. Breathe in deeply."

After a few more questions, the doctor gently inspected Logan's wound before declaring him healthy enough to leave. "Let me just give your paperwork to admdissions and then you'll be free to leave."

**BREAK***

Mac and Dick were just rounding the corner when Bunk, Veronica, and a beat-up looking Logan exited the exam room. The two of them had come as quickly as they could from the other end of town without knowing for sure that they'd find their friends still at the hospital. Mac had not complained once at Dick's heavy foot and had instead kept an eye out for possible patrol cars.

"Yo, man, it's over!" Dick crowed now, quickening his pace and turning his stride to walk along with his friend. Mac smiled to herself when she saw him pat Logan's back a bit awkwardly in almost a half-hug. Men. "What are you going to do now that you've won?"

Logan retorted dryly, "I'm going to Disneyland. What are you going to do?"

"Man, I don't know. I'm gonna miss this gig. It gets the ladies and it's fun."

They continued down the hall, through the waiting area and then out the sliding glass doors into the night.

"Ladies, plural?" Mac made a show of looking around her. "The ladies present you didn't 'get', and I don't see a swarm of swooning females at your feet, Master of Mystery."

"Give me time, sweetie. I'll have you swooning in no time."

Mac's face warmed and she was immeasurably grateful for the darkness of the night. "I like men swooning at my feet, Dick, not the other way around."

"I'm sure that can be arranged."

"Where are you parked?" Veronica interrupted suddenly, and Mac looked guiltily at her friend. She had almost forgotten the others were there.

"Oh, not far. Just down this row about half way." She pointed out the Jeep. "We got your bag from Wallace and it's in the back of Dick's Jeep but…now that this is all over, do you even need it? You probably can go back to your dad's now."

The five of them stopped in front of the Le Sabre and Mac watched Veronica hesitate. She looked first at Bunk, whose expression she couldn't quite read, and then to Logan, who was staring somberly at Veronica. Dick stood beside her, abnormally quiet.

Finally, Veronica answered, "Yeah, I…guess this is over. I mean, we just cleared Logan of all wrongdoing. He's free to go back to the beach house, and I should probably go straight to the hospital in San Diego…" she trailed off, uncharacteristically indecisive.

A/N: I hope the all the buildup was worth the wait! Down hill slope now...only a few more chaps to go! As always, Reviews are seriously welcome and appreciated! Thanks again!