Clandestine (9/11)
Clandestine (9/11)
Chapter title: Waiting
Rating: R
Summary: Lamb's death was faked. When the truth is revealed Veronica goes to see him and a secret relationship is formed.
Characters/Pairing: Veronica/Lamb, Keith, and many other VM Characters
Spoilers: entire series but AU from 3X14
Word Count: 1578
Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars
This story is based on a fic request from Sweetpea2100
I'm feeling a little lukewarm about this chapter, i dont love it, but i dont hate it, and its really kind of a transitionaly chapter showing the immediate aftermath of those in Veronica's life, most importantly Don and Keith but it will lead directly into the next chapter. just a reminder, this is a work of fiction, so liberties are taken in regards to situations and circumstances.
It was the longest wait of my life.
Keith and I just sat there for what felt like forever with no word. The nurses and doctors wouldn't tell us anything other than that she was in surgery. Not even any comforting words like 'she'll be ok' or 'I'm sure it'll be alright,' just 'we won't know till she's out of surgery.'
So I just sat there with her father, my friend, and stared at the doors, still praying for a miracle but scared to death that she was already gone.
I knew it wasn't good; I wasn't stupid, I saw the wound it was right above her navel and I saw the amount of blood she lost. There was more a chance of her leaving me than staying and it hurt like hell. But even if she stayed I worried about the repercussions. I was positive it was higher but what if the bullet did too much damage, would she be unable to have children? I knew she wanted them, we'd discussed it and I'd promised them to her as she'd lain bleeding in my arms. What if I lied to her? What if it wasn't possible now?
No, I refused to even think it. She'd have babies, even if we had to adopt she'd have them.
After two hours of no word I started to get antsy and started pacing. Keith just watched for the longest time and then when a doctor came in to give us an update on D'Amato, who'd been brought in by the ambulance, he grabbed my arm and pulled me down into the chair.
The bullet Greeley put in Leo's shoulder went clean through and he'd make a full recovery, it was happy news but soured by the fact that we still knew nothing of the petite blonde that was the center of our worlds.
When the doctor left Keith finally spoke the first words we'd said to each other since we left the station.
"You need to know that I meant what I said; I'm not mad you didn't tell me. I wish you had, but I do understand."
I turned to him, still dazed from the events of the day and tried to smile but it just wouldn't take. "Thanks. I appreciate that Keith. And I know that Ver…Veron.." I tried so hard to say her name but just couldn't get the words out, it hurt too much. "I know that she'd be happy to hear that too."
He turned to me with tears in his eyes and I saw a slight smile on his face. "How long? I've known for a few months, but I didn't know for sure until the day you came to me about the letters. The look on your face when I suggested bringing her in sold me on it. But I haven't been able to figure out when it started."
I took a deep breath and sighed. "Honestly Keith, I don't know when, it's always been there. But I guess you could say that we gave in when I got home from the hospital 10 months ago. She came to see me that night. Told me she'd been miserable having thought I'd died and I'd felt the same way thinking she hadn't wanted to see me. Both of us just couldn't keep it in anymore, couldn't hide or deny the feelings. I've always loved her, can't remember a time that I didn't to be honest."
Keith shook his head and smiled. "Well I'm losing my touch then, 10 months and I didn't figure it out until 4 months ago."
I tried to return the smile but I still just couldn't. Not until I knew, not until I saw her, felt her, and never again if I lost her. "You haven't lost your touch Keith, she's just really good. You taught her well."
"Yeah, I guess I did. I just wish she hadn't been afraid to tell me. It's obvious that you two have been planning a future; I wish she felt she could tell me, or wanted to tell me. I guess I should just be happy that she found someone so willing to keep her safe that he hid his feelings from the outside world"
He put his hand on my shoulder squeezing it and I about broke down again. He needed to know everything and I was tired of hiding. "She wanted to tell you. That's why she was at the station this morning….we've been talking about it for awhile and we were gonna go public until I got the letters. Everything was fine for awhile and she wasn't pushing and then Mac figured it out and handled it a lot better than we expected. That was when she decided she wanted to tell you. That was a month ago."
He nodded and sighed. "But you couldn't because if anyone knew it would put her in danger."
"Yeah, she wanted you to know, so did I, she was gonna leave me if we didn't tell you. She was pretty sure you already knew too. She loves and adores you like I've never seen. I wish I had a parent like you."
He smiled again and stood up walking towards the doors and then turned around abruptly. "You do. And someday, you'll make it official, I'm sure of it. She'll make it through this, she's tough and she won't give up, especially now that she's finally found happiness. You're gonna get your chance to love her out loud as they say." He didn't give me a chance to respond, he'd basically just given us his blessing and me her hand in marriage when I asked and I was pretty sure it was a hint so I wasn't sure I could even form words. But he just turned and walked outside. "I need to make a few calls."
I knew that what he said should have made me feel better, but it didn't. She was still fighting for her life and I still hadn't heard a word.
Keith retuned about 20 minutes later and within 5 more minutes, familiar faces began popping up. The first to arrive was Mac who surprisingly gave me a huge tear-filled hug and sat down next to me holding my hand.
Cliff showed next, followed by the Fennels and Eli Navarro. Most of them kept their distance at first, but Wallace eventually offered me an olive branch in the form of a handshake and it seemed to ease the tension. The waiting two-some had grown and we all just sat there waiting and hoping.
I was honestly shocked by the apparent ease of the situation, I was sure that at least one of them would throw a punch of some sort. But they all seemed to understand that she was happy and I was what made her happy. She'd been right. They'd never intrude on that and it just killed me even more inside. What if she never got to see this? What if she never got to truly enjoy her happiness?
Things didn't get ugly until Logan Echolls burst through the door. He was on me before anyone could stop him and got in three good punches to my jaw, nose and gut before Navarro and Keith pulled him off. The blood from my newly broken nose began to mix with Veronica's dried blood still on my clothes and I nearly stopped breathing as I looked down; it was like it was fresh again, like it had just happened and the hurt was back in full force.
I couldn't even defend myself, because without her; nothing mattered and I lost it. Tears sprang to my eyes, I could barely breathe and I just crouched there on the ground as he yelled at me.
"This is all your fucking fault! If you'd just left her alone! If you hadn't fucking touched her! If she dies…" And then he broke down too. He hit the floor on his knees and as Mac held onto me and tried to stop my nose from bleeding, Wallace grabbed onto Logan and reasoned with him.
"Logan, it's not his fault, he tried to save her, he almost gave her up to keep her safe. She loves him Logan and he loves her too, he'd do anything for her."
Logan looked at him and realization stretched over his face. That was the moment that I stopped hating Logan Echolls. How could I hate someone that loved her so much? That loved her as much as I did. He wasn't a threat, he was an ally, another man that would move mountains to keep her alive and well.
He'd never have her all to himself again, he knew that now and I was sure that was what the outburst was about, but it didn't matter. From that moment on we would have a common goal, her safety and well being.
But I realized that none of this changed anything when I looked over at Keith still covered in her blood and her friends and family in sheer torture over what was happening. She was still hurt and we still hadn't heard anything.
We could reconcile and form bonds, but if we lost her….no one in that room would survive it.
And then out of nowhere, as I sat there on the floor of the waiting room, a strange feeling overtook me; I could swear that I felt her next to me.
to be continued..
Chapter 10: http://community.livejournal.com/veronica_lamb/65478.html#cutid1
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Thanks for reading! Comment please!
So this chapter was originally longer but I decided to split it into two chapters. The reason for this…I have yet to write the final chapter for this story, so it was either post this chapter in full and make you guys wait for possibly more than a week for the final update, or split this into two chapters and hopefully get the final chapter written within the next two weeks so there wont be ample waiting between updates. So yeah I went with option two, cuz I hate making you guys wait if i don't have to.