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 Six: Beneath the Stains of Time

The sound of a horn woke Weevil up with a gasp; he sat up disoriented and winced as pain laced itself through his head. Looking around the room, he muttered, "Fuck..." as he pressed a hand against his brow, pulling it away when he felt the wetness of blood. Cursing again, he looked around and took in his surroundings.

The room was about six by six feet, assorted boxes and barrels scattered throughout. The feeling beneath him made him frown as he muttered, "Holy fuck, is this shit rocking?" before he stumbled over to the single small window. It was covered in grime but he didn't bother to be disgusted, merely peered out to see darkness.

A moan filtered the air and he turned, searching the dark room as he called, "Yo? Who's there?"

"Weevil?" Veronica's voice asked weakly and he cursed again as he said, "Shit, shit! Sorry, V, keep talking would you? I can't see nothing..."

"Where are we?" she asked dazed and he followed her voice as he said, "Fuck if I know. Somewhere near water."

"What happened?" she asked and he said, "Got jumped after lunch. You?"

Veronica frowned as she turned her head slightly towards his voice. Reaching out blindly, she grabbed his hand and he sank down beside her as she said, "I was at my dad's office and when I left to get back to school, someone knocked me out..."

Weevil hissed as he gingerly touched her brow, feeling a slight knot. "Fuck," he said quietly. "I'm sorry V..."

"Another day in my life," she retorted hearing the unspoken guilt he felt. "It's fine, Weevil, I'm okay. I just feel like my head's going to split."

"I sympathize," he replied and she winced as she touched his cheek blindly, feeling an uneven patch of skin where he had more than likely been dragged and thrown into the room they were residing in. Sighing, she leaned against him comfortably and he obligingly placed his arm around her shoulders as they sat in the dark.

"Who do you think-?" she began but he said, "Thumper, probably. Thing is it's an order from someone else 'cause he doesn't have the brains for this."

"You sure?"

Weevil chuckled. "Positive. And he can't swim so he never goes near any kind of water unless it's in a bathroom." Veronica nodded her head slightly and then flinched as she felt her vision swim. She shut her eyes briefly, pressing the palms of her hands against them as she said wearily, "Well, whoever jumped us took my bag which held my cell phone and my tazer."

"I left my cell phone at home this morning," Weevil admitted with a groan as he tipped his head back to stare at the ceiling. "Fuck, this is perfect." He coughed then, loudly and bent forward slightly, Veronica frowning deeply as he did so. She shook her head and said softly, "That really doesn't sound good, Weevil..."

"I'm fine," he managed as the cough subsided and he straightened up, grimacing at the feeling in his chest. Fighting off a horrible cold wasn't easy, especially when he wasn't getting enough sleep or proper meals. He swallowed past the lump in his throat and said, "Don't worry about me V."

"Uh, hello?" Veronica shot back. "I have to worry or I wind up without a prom date."

He chuckled slightly and sighed, looking around the dark room. "Well," he said. "We're going to be here for a while. Guess we'd better figure out what we're going to do."

"Oh joy," she muttered sarcastically. "You wouldn't happen to have any ideas?"

"Not a one."

"Great. Guess we will be here for a while."

--

The sound of voices had Weevil waking up; he blinked sleepily as he looked around, wincing at the pain in his neck. Veronica was fast asleep with her head pillowed on his lap, her breathing even and soft as she shifted briefly, murmuring softly to herself. Glancing around the completely black room, Weevil cursed as the sound of voices came from outside and said sharply, "V? V, c'mon mama, you gotta wake up."

She stirred, nuzzling his thigh briefly before yawning as she sat up, rubbing at her eyes. She blinked at him in confusion for a few moments before her eyes widened in realization as she turned her head to the door. "Who do you think it is?" she whispered as they both stood up, slowly, the aches of having to sit on the floor for so long making them both stiff.

"I don't know," he replied tensing up as the voices grew louder. "But we ain't going down without a fight."

The door opened and a figure stepped in, a voice saying, "Well, well, well. Looks like Thumper does know how to do some stuff right."

Weevil narrowed his eyes and said coolly, "Liam."

Liam Fitzpatrick grinned at the pair from where he stood leaning against the doorframe. He chuckled as he tipped his head to the side in amusement, saying, "The two biggest pains in my ass, caught and ready to be dealt with. I gotta say, having you two caught takes a load off my shoulders."

"Oh yeah," Veronica shot back. "Because two teenagers are such a threat to you. Wow, you must feel big and bad, right?"

Liam chuckled darkly and looked up briefly before speaking. "You are a nosy little girl, aren't you?" he said as he studied the pair. "Guess that's why so many people hate you, Mars."

"Actually," Veronica chirped. "It's my keen sense of fashion that makes them hate me." She smiled sweetly, eyes like two ice chips. "Let us go."

Liam smiled. "I don't think so sweetie," he said as he stepped back, allowing another figure in. Thumper leered at the pair and said, "Who's the stupid one now, huh Eli?"

"You still are, Thump," Weevil retorted as he angled his body in front of Veronica. "Once a brown noser, always a brown noser." He grinned nastily as he added, "You are real macho, macho man."

Thumper snarled at him and Liam sighed deeply as he said, "You know, as entertaining as watching the two bean eaters snarl at each other is, I couldn't give a shit." He tipped his head back slightly and said, "Burn this place to the ground, Thumper. Any evidence left behind, I ain't doing shit to help you or your boys." He turned and left the doorway, leaving Thumper facing the pair before him.

Thumper rubbed his hands together gleefully and said, "Gotta tell you, Eli, I'm a little sad, you know? You were one of my boys but going soft just changed my perceptions of you."

Weevil snorted and said, "Yeah. And I'm sure the fact that you've now made yourself and the rest of the PCH bitches to those micks is escaping your mind, eh?"

"We're partners," Thumper snapped furiously. "And I'm getting the respect I deserve."

"You deserve jack," Weevil retorted as he felt Veronica inch forward. "And I swear-"

"You what?" Thumper interrupted as he cupped his ear. "Cause I gotta tell you, Eli, the fact that all you got is the white whore behind you for backup isn't intimidating." He grinned widely as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a gun. Veronica stiffened behind Weevil as he cursed loudly, saying, "Motherfucker, Thumper, what are you doing?"

"You heard Liam," Thumper said as he aimed the gun at the two of them. "No evidence."

Suddenly, there was a crashing sound from outside, voices shouting, and Thumper turned long enough for Weevil to tackle him to the ground. The gun flew out of his hand, sliding across the floor as the two former friends struggled with one another. Veronica scrambled for the gun, fingers closing around it, and for a brief moment, she remembered another night a year ago...

She smacked herself internally as she turned to see Weevil punch Thumper in the face, Wallace appearing in the doorway, relief written on his features. Weevil scrambled to his feet, saying, "God, am I glad to see you Fennel."

"Careful now," Wallace teased as Veronica hurried over to him, the gun dangling in her hands. "I might think you like me, Weevil."

"Don't let it go to your head," Weevil shot back as he glanced over at Thumper, who was groaning in pain as he clutched his bloodied face. He flexed his fists at the sight of his best friend's murder but didn't pay him anymore attention as he turned to Veronica, who was hugging Wallace tightly.

"Let's get out of here," she said and he nodded in agreement as Sheriff Lamb and Keith Mars appeared in the doorway. At the sight of her dad, Veronica threw herself into his arms, relief written on her features. "Dad!"

Weevil opened his mouth to say something when the click of a gun had him freezing. He turned to see Thumper staggering to his feet, a smaller gun in his hand as he pointed it at Weevil. Swallowing and ignoring the others, he turned and lifted his hands up slowly, saying, "Thump-"

"This is your fault," Thumper snarled a wild look in his eyes, the blood from his broken nose making him look even more unstable. "All your fault! I was going to get away with this but none of you can just keep out of my business."

"Put down the gun," Lamb ordered sharply. "Now!"

"Don't think so Sheriff," Thumper sneered. "Me and Eli here got business..."

"You shoot me," Weevil said slowly. "You will go to jail, Thumps. Maybe not for Felix but for shooting me..."

"We're two wetbacks, Eli," Thumper shot back as he pulled back the hammer on the gun. "Lamb's dirty, we all know it. He ain't gonna do shit about me shooting you. Just like he didn't do shit about Felix." He grinned, the sight causing Weevil's skin to crawl. "Bye bye Eli."

"No!" Veronica screamed as her father pulled her back outside, Lamb's gun coming into play, and Wallace threw himself at Weevil.

A shot rang out.

And blood ran.

Next, Epilogue: You Are Someone Else...