Disclaimer: I don't own this fabulous, wonderful show cause if I did, Weevil would be on a lot more. The chapter titles are from the song Hurt as sung by the irrepressible, amazing Johnny Cash, who I believe to have been one of the true remaining artists in the music industry, surpassing boundaries in music and life. I adore you, man in black.
Pairing/Character: Weevil, ensemble with some WeeVer (of course).
Rating: R/M for language, some sexual content, and racial slurs.
Summary: After all, what is he but the character he has played for eighteen years?
Spoilers: Spoilers: Anything goes with the break of new episodes.
Author's Note: Thanks to PMD, who is always giving me kind words of encouragement, and thanks to all the other people out there who enjoy my work. I aim to please and hopefully this newest work will please all of you.

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Chapter Four: My Sweetest Friend

Weevil sat inside his car, staring blankly at the wheel for a few minutes. He rubbed his hands over his face roughly and opened the door, stepping out into the light drizzle of rain. Throwing his hood over his head, he walked up the hillside and past a few markers, shoving his hands into his pockets. Rubbing his arm against his eyes, he said gruffly, "Hey man..." as he squatted down to stare at the marker.

The name 'Felix Toombs' stared back at him, almost mockingly and Weevil said roughly, "It's weird not having you around, now, you know? I mean, shit, we knew each other what? Since the hospital or some crap, right?"

He coughed, shifting his weight slightly. "I don't know what to do, man," he confessed to the grave. "I'm lost. I got nothin' and no one to help me out. If you hadn't died, maybe this wouldn't have happened. Maybe if..."

Tears blurred his visions and Weevil coughed again, voice cracking as he said, "I miss you Felix. You were my best friend, you know? I know no one else saw it or got it; I didn't sometimes but you always had my back, man. I miss that."

He straightened up from his crouch, adding, "Your mom's doing good. I saw her yesterday at Mass. She's handling things, you know? I'll keep an eye out for her and your cousins too. Those kids get into more trouble than we did and that's saying something."

He paused, hesitating. "I love you, man," he whispered softly and then turned, walking back to his car swiftly. He got into the driver's seat, pressing the palms of his hands against his eyes as he composed himself. Starting up the car, he drove away from the cemetery slowly, coughing against his fist as he maneuvered his way to the highway.

As he drove down the highway to work, he let his mind wander to the last few days. He'd fixed Veronica's car and told her she needed to keep a better eye on taking it to her regular mechanic for regular tuneups. She'd pouted in a way he was finding happened far too often and had said she'd be sure to keep track.

Weevil pulled up in front of the garage and stepped out, locking the door behind him. Rubbing a hand over his head, he went inside and nodded to a few of his coworkers as he went towards the changing room. Stripping off his jacket, he pulled on his coveralls and regulation boots, stomping on them to slip them on effectively. Closing his locker door, he went out to his section and began working on the black 1987 Lincoln that had come in the week before.

He worked for an hour on it, taking a quick break to the bathroom, and went back out immediately afterwards. His uncle came out at one point to ask what he wanted for dinner and then vanished into his office to order takeout. Weevil nodded goodbye to the men who left at five and then proceeded to sit down for a few minutes, exhaustion creeping up on him.

"You do too much stuff."

He started, turning to see Molly Fitzpatrick standing uncertainly at the entrance of the garage. He blinked at her for a moment before saying, "Don't recall asking your opinion." He got up off the bench and bent over the engine, asking, "Can I help you with something?" as he twisted a bracket with the wrench.

Molly paused at the bench for a moment and said, "I want to help you."

Weevil paused, his heart stopping for a moment. "With what?" he asked casually. Molly sighed, sitting down on the bench and tipped her head to the side as she watched him for a few minutes. Finally, she said softly, "I want to help you put Thumper where he belongs."

Weevil stopped and turned, staring at her for a few minutes, a muscle in his jaw ticking. He put the wrench in his hand down on the table and leaned back against the car. Crossing his arms over his chest, he said gruffly, "What makes you think-"

"Because I heard my brothers say so," she cut him off angrily as she wiped at the tears in her eyes. "I was sitting in my house and he said it like it wasn't a big deal. Like he didn't kill someone I knew, someone I loved!" She sniffed as she scrubbed her eyes furiously. "I want Thumper put away." Her blue eyes were like ice as she looked up at him. "I want Felix to have justice."

"Why come to me?" Weevil asked as he stared at her solemnly. Molly laughed as she looked down at the ground, rubbing at her eyes. Finally, she said, "You know who Felix used to talk about when we were alone? You. He worshiped you, Weevil. God, I used to think he was kidding when he said the kind of guy you really were wasn't what you showed everyone else."

Molly lifted her head to look up at him, blue eyes sad. "But he wasn't. You're a good man, Weevil." She got to her feet and hugged her bag to her tightly. "Felix knew that; you were his best friend. He said you were like brothers." She hesitated. "Don't let Thumper prove you wrong."

She turned and began to leave but Weevil's voice stopped her.

"Call me Eli."

Molly stopped and turned her head to look at him. "What?" she asked confused.

Weevil smiled slightly, tipping his head down and peered up at her through his lashes. "My name's Eli," he said then grinned widely at her. "What, did you think I was born with the name Weevil?"

Molly laughed, the sound like a clear bell. "Okay," she said with a nod. "See you at school Eli."

Weevil nodded and watched her leave the garage. He sighed and stared blankly at the ceiling for a few minutes before turning back to the car. Staring at the engine, he muttered, "Oh, hell with it..." before going over to the phone against the wall and dialing a familiar number.

--

A few hours later, he waited in front of his apartment complex impatiently, glancing at his watch every few minutes. Her car pulled up and she got out, saying dryly, "I managed get off work early for you. What's going on Weevil?"

"I need your help," he said and Veronica raised her eyebrows as she said, "I got that. With what?"

"We can't talk about it here," Weevil said as he glanced around them. Veronica sighed and said, "Well, lead the way then." Weevil nodded and said, "Lock your car, by the way. This isn't exactly the safest place."

She obliged and he led her into the lobby of the building, up the stairs, and down the hall to the apartment. His grandmother was at work, spending the night and babysitting for extra cash; Weevil paused as he unlocked the door and ushered Veronica inside, closing and making sure to place all the locks on the door before turning towards her. Peeling off his jacket, he mumbled, "Be right back..." before vanishing into the bedroom towards the bathroom.

Veronica looked around the apartment, a frown tugging at her features. The apartment was small; smaller than that even. A few hundred feet encompassed the living room slash kitchen and the doorway Weevil vanished behind told her that was where the bathroom was located, along with the single bedroom. The sofa she recognized from the house and it's obviously being used as a bed; blankets and a single pillow are piled up on one end. Books, a familiar binder, and pencils were piled neatly on top of the coffee table.

She wandered over to an old green armchair, setting her bag down. Picking up one of the photographs sitting on a dresser, she smiled as she saw Ophelia and Weevil beaming back at her. Obviously the little girl adored her uncle and the feeling was mutual. Setting the photo down, Veronica looked at the other assorted prints and grinned as she saw a curly-headed little boy of about five grinning brilliantly, revealing a gap in his bottom teeth.

She turned around as Weevil came out of the other room, rubbing a hand over his head. He sat down on the sofa and said gruffly, "Got anything to say before I get started?"

Veronica arched her brows and held up her hands, palms facing him. Weevil motioned for her to sit and she obliged, rubbing her hands against her jeans. Weevil stared down at the dingy carpet for a moment and finally said, "We had to sell pretty much all of our stuff. Pawned what was left of my bike but didn't get much for it." A bitter smile twisted his lips. "Guess this is why I fell to petty theft."

"Weevil," she began but he shook his head, laughing quietly as he looked up at her. "You know something?" he said. "I always thought that my life couldn't be worse. Guess I was wrong."

"At least they didn't kill you!" Veronica shot back angrily. "Would that have been better Weevil?"

"That probably would have been," he admitted quietly. "Then I wouldn't have to deal with this..." He waved his hand around. "My grandma could leave this fuckin' town. Never have to deal with any of this shit..."

"How can you say that?" Veronica demanded furiously. "How can you sit there and say things like that? Jesus, Weevil, I never thought you were coward."

Brown eyes shot up to meet hers. "I'm a coward?" he snapped as he shot to his feet. "I'm a coward. You know somethin' V? You are full of shit."

"Excuse me?"

"That's right," he spat. "Look at you. Tryin' to be all high and mighty with me when you did exactly what I thought you would as soon as Lilly's killer was behind bars. Went right back to your old life, didn't you? Decided that those were your kind of people-"

"Oh, save me the dramatics, would you?" Veronica looked away uncomfortably but Weevil shook his head, trembling as he said, "You doubted me, V. Obviously you've seen me with a gun right so I had to be the one to order them to shoot at you and Logan, right? Obviously I wasn't in mourning for Felix so I had to be trying to scapegoat your boy, right? Know something Veronica? You disgust me."

She swallowed thickly, tears blurring her vision. "That all you needed me for?" she asked, voice thick with anger and hurt. "To put down so you could feel better?"

Weevil laughed as he turned and walked over to the small window facing the street. He braced his hands against the glass and inhaled slowly. "My life is shit now, V," he said as he watched the kids in the street, playing soccer. "I got nothin'. Can't go back and I can't go forward."

Tears blurred his vision. "Echolls," he said. "Echolls thinks he's got it bad? Not like this. He knew this, he'd fuckin' put a bullet in his head."

"Weevil-" Veronica began stricken at the hopelessness in his tone. "It's not that bad..."

"Fuck you, Veronica," he shot back listlessly. "You think it's bad for you? The government ain't giving me shit; I don't qualify since I've got a record. Grandma's barely making enough to keep us in this dump and my job? I'm lucky my uncle owns the garage, else I'd be living in the street. So don't fuckin' tell me it's not that bad, 'cause it can't be. Not for me. I've got no one."

Her voice was soft almost a whisper in the room. "You've got me." Weevil turned and stared at her in surprise. Dark, almost black eyes bored into her own blue orbs as Veronica repeated firmly, "You've got me, Eli."

And a silence fell between them; there was nothing more to be said.

Next Chapter Five: If I Could Find A Way...