A/N This Story takes place at the end of where season 3 left off with a couple of changes, First and foremost Sheriff Don Lamb did not die, at least not yet. I know he is not a fave for most, me included, but I needed him for this story to work… Basically everything happened, Lamb was shot, but he lived, he was home recovering and Keith was still acting sheriff. Lamb randomly decides he is done for a while and up and quits. Therefore there is still a new election and Vinnie runs against Keith. There are some pretty significant new characters, I would almost call it a crossover except these other characters are mine and mine alone.

Unfortunately for me Veronica Mars and her cast of characters do not belong to me; they belong solely to Rob Thomas. If they belonged to me we all would still be spending our Tuesday nights glued to the WB, or whatever the network is called today! If you take the time to read please take the time to review!

UPDATE! After a long break I am back to working on Lions and Lambs… thanks to all of you for your patience! It will most likely still be a while before I get a new chapter posted, but I promise this story has not and will not be abandoned! Thank you for all you kind words of encouragement… they have really and truly kept me going for the last several months.

fyi... thoughts are in italics...

Chapter 1

It was pouring down rain when Veronica left the voting booth, she didn't know if her dad stood a chance with this election, it had gotten really nasty. After the way his last campaign went she didn't think another party was appropriate. She stopped at the store and headed home.

Backup was gone so she figured her dad took him for a walk. She started making all his favorite things. Lasagna with double the cheese, Peanut butter cookie ice cream sandwiches, bean dip, she knew these didn't all go together, but she didn't know exactly what he would be in the mood for so she wanted to make it all so she could have all the bases covered. When her dad still wasn't home a few hours later she ran out again to get his favorite chips and salsa.

At 7 o'clock, Wallace showed up. Keith was still not home. A little while later Cliff walked in. No one had heard from Keith. They had the news on, there was a little bit of coverage about the election but not much, the ticker at the bottom showed the race was close. At 8 o'clock the polls closed and race still hadn't been called. At 8:15 the phone rang.

Veronica went instantly pale. She knew there was something wrong. This was so not like her dad. She began crying, she couldn't answer the phone, so she handed it to Wallace.

"Uhh, hello? Mars Residence… No, Mr. Mars isn't available right now… Hold on just a second." Wallace turns toward Veronica. "It's Vinnie Van Lowe. He is calling to concede, your dad won."

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"Could I maybe service you with some sun block my lady?" Veronica cracked open an eye, and then didn't know why she bothered. She knew it was Logan. She hadn't seen him in a week, not since that day in the food court. She hadn't talked to him since later that same night.

"Logan! What the hell are you doing here? I told you to get out of town. You really need to just go away for a while. Like, maybe forever! Don't look at me like that. I am not just being a bitch. I may not want to be your friend right now, but I don't exactly want you dead either."

"Wow Ronnie, I love you too. I just came to say goodbye, I am taking your advice and getting out of dodge. I'm not sure when I will be back, hopefully in time for school, but who knows. You were right Veronica, the Sorokin's put a hit out on me. Look, I just want to ask you to leave this alone. I have people looking into it, I don't want you to go anywhere near it. I am begging you V, please just stay away from this one thing okay. I won't be able to watch my back if I am worried about yours."

"Logan, I know in the past I have ignored your pleadings for me to be careful, but with this you really don't have to worry. I don't want me dead either."

"Stay safe, V if you need me call Cliff." Logan said as he turned and walked away.

Veronica glanced around, she didn't see anyone watching them, but she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was.

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Keith Mars took note of the little green Mini Cooper in the driveway of Don Lamb's little bungalow. Either Don is a lot more secure in his manhood than I thought or he has company. He decided to take his chances and rang the bell anyway.

"Hello, can I help you with something?" The door swung open to reveal a tall blond young woman.

"Hi, I am Keith Mars, I was hoping to have a word with Don, is he up for a visitor?"

"Actually, I just got him to lie down, he has been up since before day break, let me see if he is still awake. Look Mr. Mars, Sheriff Mars, Don won't admit it but he really isn't doing too well, if he does talk with you try not to get him too worked up okay, I know you guys aren't exactly BFF's but please, take pity on the wounded, and on those of us who have to take care of him." With that the pretty blonde lady turned and headed down the short hall.

I thought Don would have learned his lesson after the Madison Sinclair incident at the Neptune Grand, guess he just really likes them young. This one sure is pretty though, her smile makes Julia Roberts' look plain. And she is so tall, probably close to 6 feet with those shoes on.

"Don said he will talk to you, I don't want him to get up though, I am afraid I won't be able to get him back down. So you can go on back okay, holler if you need anything, drinks, whatever. And Sheriff, I am begging, please do not get him all riled up." The as yet unnamed lady pointed towards Don's room and headed off to what Keith assumed was the kitchen.

"Sheriff Mars, come to show off the uniform, I already know what it looks like on you, once upon a time I was your favorite deputy." Don was in his large bed propped up with a couple of pillows. His arm was still in a cast, and since he was shirtless Keith could see the bandages on his chest.

"Actually Don, this was supposed to be a purely social visit. I heard the city was shelling out for a private nurse, but yours looks a little out of our price range, so I might need to start an inquiry. She is a little young isn't she, has she even graduated from nursing school, has she even started nursing school?"

Don smirked at Keith, "Paige honey, can you bring the fine sheriff some of your famous lemonade."

Keith started to refuse, but stopped when Don shook his head. They sat there silently, Don on his bed, Keith leaning on the dresser when Paige walked in, carrying a tray with two tall, icy glasses of strawberry lemonade, a couple different kinds of cookies, and some napkins.

"Paige, this is Keith Mars, obviously Neptune's Sheriff. Keith this is Paige, I guess not so obviously, my little sister." Don laughed, and then winced at the pain in his chest from doing so, at Keith's expression of shock.

"I am sorry Miss Lamb, I remember Deputy Lamb mentioning his baby sister, but somehow I always managed to picture you with pigtails and braces."

"No offense taken Sheriff Mars, please call me Paige. I am sure you realize Don's descriptions of you haven't always been flattering either. Don if there is nothing else, I am going to run to the store to get you a few more rations, Martha will be here soon." Paige straightened Don's blankets, and fluffed his pillow. Turning to Keith and offering him her hand she said, "Sheriff Mars it has been a pleasure, please remember what I said." With that she walked out of the room, a few seconds later they heard the front door close, and the dead bolt turn.

"Sorry for the misunderstanding, I really am just here to see how you are doing. I know we have had our differences in the past. I certainly never hoped to take the job of sheriff away from you this way. If there is anything I can do, get you, whatever, just let me know."

"Keith honestly I am not offended. I have certainly given you every reason to think me capable of, of whatever it was you were thinking. Thanks for the offer, Paige has been here for the last week or so to help, she came right after her classes ended. She is leaving in the morning for a little while but I do have that nurse you mentioned, Martha. And Keith, I know what you're thinking. Martha is like 100 years old, and other than being female, she is completely not my type."

"Don, I know you were joking earlier, about being my favorite deputy and all, but really, you were great. When you feel up to it I would like to pick your brain about a few things. I promised your sister I wouldn't get you all worked up, so I won't get in to anything now, but please give me a call when we can talk."

They made small talk for a few minutes and then Keith let himself out of the little house. Don was getting tired but he couldn't seem to sleep. After all the hell I have put Keith and Veronica Mars through for the last 3 ½ years, what could he possibly want my help with. I really screwed this up. I was supposed to come here to help him clean up this town, instead it seems to have gotten even more corrupt. I need to fix this, and fast before Paige figures out what a fuck up I am.

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"Dad, can you come here for a minute, I need to talk to you?"

Keith walked in, he was freshly showered and had changed out of his Sheriff's uniform. "Sweetie, did you know ours is not a one way hallway, it can actually be walked down in either direction?"

"Meaning?"

"Nothing honey, what did you need?"

"I closed up the office today, I called clients from the last few open cases and offered them my services since you were no longer available. I told them I could pick up right where you left off. But that I would be gone for a week. Mac got a great deal on a last minute cruise that she and a friend were taking. I need to get away for a while. You are super busy doing your Sheriff thing, Wallace is in Africa, Piz still isn't speaking to me, and even Logan is… gone. I am going crazy just sitting here." Keith walked over and gave her a hug.

"I think you going away is a splendid idea, give you a chance to decompress, clear your pretty little head. But a cruise, what if you get seasick, are you sure it's safe. Seems to me like a lot of people are falling over board lately."

"Nice try dad, you just don't want to have to eat take out for a whole week."

"Don't worry about me I will be fine. Have a great time, be safe, don't do anything that will give me a heart attack when I find out about it, or anything that will give Logan reason to beat anybody up. I am heading out, I am meeting Cliff for drinks. When do you leave, do you need a ride to the pier?"

"Tonight, I am going to finish packing and spend the night at Mac's. Her parents are gone on one of their marathon camping trips, so we are going to park our cars in the garage and just take the shuttle. We have to leave super early."

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I am so glad Mac was able to talk her into this cruise. I didn't really think she would go for it. This gives me one week to figure out how to get the hit off her head, then I can help Logan. Great deal my ass, she would never have agreed to it if she knew Logan was really underwriting her first class accommodations. What I wouldn't pay to see their faces when they find out they have been upgraded. Keith pulled out his cell and sent Logan a text, assuring him that their plan was on track.

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