Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Veronica Mars, or You've Got Mail (which contains one of the most romantic scenes ever, thus why I used it as a basis here).

CHAPTER THIRTYTWO

Keith Mars sat on his sofa, barely aware of his burnt hands and face. The pain in his heart hurt so much worse. His little girl was gone, killed right in front of his own eyes. What had he done? What kind of a father lets his baby girl get involved in the private investigation business? All those years ago, Alicia Fennel had warned him it was too dangerous for a teenager, but Keith was too proud to listen. He had really believed that, between the two of them, he and Veronica could handle anything. Now Veronica was dead. And even though it was Gory Sorokin's hands that done the deed, Keith felt he could only blame himself.

The craziest thing was that there was some small part of Keith that expected to see Veronica again soon. Rationally, he knew it wasn't possible. He had watched her die. But every knock on the door, every phone call, gave Keith hope that someday he would answer and find his little girl, his Veronica waiting to come home.

Agent Schuler from the FBI was obviously wondering about the circumstances of Veronica's death as well. "Here, take the edge off." Schuler handed Keith a glass of whiskey.

"Thanks," It was only ten o'clock in the morning, but Keith accepted gratefully. Keith was already dressed for the funeral; nothing fancy, just the standard dark suit and tie. Alicia and Wallace had dropped in the day before, when Keith was released from the hospital. Alicia had fluttered around the apartment, pressing his dress shirt and stocking the refrigerator with microwaveable meals. Keith couldn't decide which was worse, Alicia's attempts to cheer him up, or Wallace's shell-shocked expression. He was glad when they left.

Backup limped over to his master and lay his head down with a soft whimper. Drool smeared Keith's polished shoes, but he didn't mind. Keith gently scratched behind the dog's ears. "I know, boy. I miss her too."

Schuler seated himself in the overstuffed chair opposite Keith. He also held a glass, but his contained water. Still on duty, Keith noted absently. "So, no word from Veronica? No hidden messages or anything that might indicate she may be alive somehow?" Schuler asked.

"No. There's been nothing, no communication. I thought when Logan disappeared, that might be a good sign, that maybe they were hiding out together somewhere, but…" Keith sighed and shook his head. "Honestly, jumping is something Logan would do."

"And you're sure it was Veronica in the explosion?" Schuler pressed.

"I know what I saw. Believe me, I wish I hadn't." Keith looked up hopefully from his drink. "Why? What makes you think she could still be alive?"

"I don't," Schuler rushed to correct him. "And I'm sorry if I gave you that impression. It's not fair to let you think there's a chance Veronica could be alive, when really…"

"Yeah. I get it." The words came out more bitter than Keith had intended.

After a brief, uncomfortable pause, Schuler continued. "I don't think Veronica is alive. But it's likely that she found evidence linking my ex-partner Tess Rosenswag to the Sorokin family. I worry that Tess may come here looking to clean up her mistakes. Did Veronica say anything to you about a corrupt FBI agent?"

"No. She mentioned Agent Rosenswag's disappearance, but she didn't say anything to me about any evidence." Keith looked down to the floor and mumbled, "Maybe Logan knew more."

They sat in the dimly lit room, neither sure what to say next. Finally Schuler stood and offered Keith his card. "Well, call me if you see or hear anything. Especially if Agent Rosenswag tries to contact you." Schuler slipped on his sports jacket and straightened his tie. "She's dangerous, Keith. Double agents play a risky game. They don't like to leave behind any unnecessary loose ends."

Keith also stood and shook the other man's hand. "Thank you, Agent Schuler. I'll be careful."

Schuler opened the front door, intending to exit, but his way was blocked by a body falling into the apartment. Schuler shouted in alarm and immediately drew his weapon. He trained it on the dark-suited intruder laying on the floor, but Keith hustled to diffuse the situation.

"Don't shoot. It's Logan's roommate, Dick Casablancas," Keith explained. He knelt next to the younger man and turned him onto his back. A strong odor of stale beer and liquor wafted from the blond surfer, and Dick groaned.

Schuler holstered his gun and rolled his eyes. "I'll see you later, at the funeral," he told Keith as he stepped around Dick's prone form.

Keith sighed and hoisted Dick by his armpits, dragging him to the sofa. "Come on, son. You know you're done when the floor won't stop spinning."

Dick groaned again and pulled a nearly empty flask from the pocket of his rumpled suit jacket. "I'm drinking for two. Logan would've wanted it this way. No half-assed eulogies and phony mushiness, just a good send off."

Keith deftly snagged the flask away. "Logan would have wondered what you're doing here."

"Hey!" Dick protested. "That stuff is expensive!"

"Oh yeah?" Keith took a long pull from the flask, finishing off the contents. He wiped his hand across his mouth. "You're right, that is pretty good."

Dick stared at the former Sheriff, then started laughing drunkenly. "You're okay, Mr. Mars. I always liked you. You're funny, like Veronica."

"That's nice, Dick. Unfortunately, my scathing sarcasm and rapier wit are lost on you because you've gone and drunk yourself stupid. What are you doing here?" Keith asked again.

"The funeral is this afternoon," Dick said.

"Yes, I know."

"I needed to borrow a tie, and I figured Logan didn't need his anymore."

"Uh-huh…"

"And I found something. In Logan's room." Dick looked a little confused by whatever it was that he saw.

Keith's heart started pounding, and he felt a double-edged stab of excitement and regret. Veronica had been staying with Logan while she investigated the Sorokin family. Had Dick found the evidence Schuler was searching for? Would this connect Tess Rosenswag to the Sorokins? "You did a good thing, Dick, coming to me with this. I'll make sure it gets to the right people."

"No. I want you to have it," Dick said belligerently. Then he belched loudly.

"Dick, I don't think-" Keith started, but Dick cut him off.

"Logan's sister called and said she'd pick up his stuff after the funeral. At least she's coming to this one," Dick growled. "But Trina shouldn't get this. Logan would've given it to Veronica. So you should have it."

Now Keith was confused. "Dick, what did you find?" Instead of answering, Logan's friend fished in his jacket pocket again and pulled out a small velvet box. He tossed it to Keith, who exhaled sharply when he saw what was inside. "A ring?"

Reclining on the couch, Dick shrugged awkwardly and stared vacantly at the ceiling. "I know, right? Didn't see that one coming."

*************

"So you think Tess replaced the DVD she rented from the video store with evidence of Schuler and Lev Sorokin's deal?" Logan clarified.

Veronica nodded. "Just like a Trojan horse, that DVD case has a surprise hidden inside, I'm sure of it."

They were parked across from Reel Video Rentals, waiting for the store to open. The phone book in their motel room had listed their hours of operation from noon until midnight, Monday through Saturday. The young couple was cutting it close; their funeral started in two hours. After that, their hopes of catching the corrupt Agent Schuler would be as dead as Veronica and Logan were supposed to be. But until the rental store opened, there was nothing to do but wait.

The minutes ticked by, and Veronica wiggled in her seat impatiently. "It's a quarter after. They should be open by now. At this rate, we're going to be late to our own funeral."

Logan, however, was lost in thought. If all went well, by the end of the day he and Veronica would return to their regularly scheduled lives. Logan wasn't sure how he felt about that. "Do you remember yesterday when you said 'better safe than sorry'? About the Morning After pill?"

"Yes..?" Veronica prompted.

Logan studied her face intently. "Would you? Be sorry?"

Veronica froze, shocked by what she was hearing. She knew Logan had enjoyed taking care of little Joey Fitzpatrick, but surely he wasn't suggesting… "What are you saying?" she asked cautiously.

"Sometimes I wonder… if I hadn't been Logan Echolls, obligatory psychotic jackass, and you hadn't been Veronica Mars, intrepid PI. If you and I had just… met…"

"Yeah. I know."

"Yeah, well. I would have asked for your number," Logan said softly. "And I wouldn't have been able to wait twenty-four hours before calling you up and saying, 'how about coffee, or a movie… for as long as we both shall live?'"

"Logan-"

"-and you and I would never have been at war. And the only thing we would ever fight about is which restaurant to order take out from on a Tuesday night."

Veronica smiled and brushed away the unexpected tears stinging her eyes. "Well who fights about that?"

"Some people. But not us."

"We would never."

The darkening clouds broke open and rain pattered down on the car, running down the windshield in silver sheets. Looking out from the inside, everything appeared distorted and surreal. Blurry people scurried for the shelter of nearby sidewalk awnings and cozy cafes. Logan waited for Veronica to answer his proposal, but she remained silent.

Finally the store manager unlocked his doors, open for business. Veronica gathered Tess Rosenswag's purse and the video rental receipt and stepped out into the downpour. Logan caught hold of her arm, and their eyes met. "Veronica?"

"I love you," Veronica told him. "Whatever happens, don't doubt that."

***********

A/N: So there's only one or two chapters left… reviewers, I'm looking for some feedback before I start the next "episode" in the series. For example, is this story too long/too short? Is the tone too serious/too light? Is there too much/not enough LoVe? Do the other characters make enough appearances, or should they figure more into the next episode?

Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to review! This was my first FanFic, and it's really been fun! Your encouragement has kept me going, and thanks to you I'll definitely be coming back to post more. Cheers, friends!