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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Epilogue: You Are Someone Else

Veronica knelt down, wiping the few scattered leaves on the marker. She frowned, sticking out her bottom lip slightly as she placed the large bouquet of lilies inside of the plastic container full of water. Smiling to herself, she straightened up and brushed a hand against the headstone, whispering, "See you later, Lilly."

Turning, she walked down the gently sloping hill towards the car, the figure leaning against the lime green hood making her smile widely. Weevil glanced up from where he leaned against the hood of his car, eyes hidden from her view by his sunglasses. He straightened and said, "Ready to go?"

"Yep," she said as she studied him, leaning against him lightly. His arms slid around her easily, comfortably and she pressed her head against his shoulder as she closed her eyes. Her mind slid back through the last few weeks as she tightened her grip around Weevil's waist...

Weevil stared in front of him, his heart pounding in his ears as Thumper coughed, staring back at him before looking down at his chest. His mouth opened slightly and then he fell foward, onto his knees and then face down on the ground. Weevil shoved Wallace off of him as Lamb stepped foward, shouting orders over his shoulder. The two boys stared at Thumper's body in complete silence as the small room was suddenly full of Neptune police officers.

The sounds of sirens had Weevil blinking as Wallace helped him to his feet. "C'mon," the black youth was saying as he led Weevil outside. Weevil blinked again as he shaded his eyes against the sudden bright light filling his vision and he frowned as he heard a girl's voice shouting something...

"Veronica?" he called, sudden panic filling him and then the light shifted, revealing Keith Mars holding Veronica back. She stopped her struggling, tears staining her face as her father let her go. The pair stared at each other and then Veronica flew into his arms, sobbing as Wallace slipped away discreetly.

"I thought," she managed but he merely tightened his grip as his vision swam. Something inside of his chest that had been tight for weeks lessened then vanished and he let out a strangled cry as he sank to the ground, Veronica sinking with him...

Pulling away to look up at him, Veronica said softly, "You visit Felix?"

"Yeah," he replied and chuckled. "I didn't leave him flowers though."

She grinned at him, eyes dancing before she said, "So, what do you want to do now?"

Weevil shrugged as he opened the door, Veronica sliding in. She watched as he rounded the car to the driver's side, her eyes following him steadily. The cough he had been fighting had become full blown bronchitis and Weevil had been stuck in the hospital for a week. His grandmother had scolded him soundly for his lack of responsibility and Weevil had protested, saying that he hadn't cared as long as she was okay.

Letty had narrowed her eyes at her grandson and said, "Eli, I am an old woman. I'll die eventually and the only way it'll be peaceful is if I know you won't be suffering. Don't you worry about me, m'ijo. It isn't your job."

Veronica leaned her head against the glass, remembering Wallace sitting in the chair beside Weevil's hospital bed one afternoon when she had gone to see him. Her best friend had looked up, a wide grin crossing his face as she paused at the door, turned her head to check the number again, and entered without a word.

While they would never admit it, she knew that Wallace and Weevil were becoming good friends; despite their history. She hadn't ever expected that to happen but Wallace had merely said that sometimes certain things didn't need to be discussed. "Besides," he had said to her as they left the hospital together. "Having a friend who looks like he could kick anyone's ass is gonna be good for me in the long run." She had laughed and shaken her head at him; Wallace had merely grinned widely and shrugged.

As for Thumper, the shot Lamb had fired had killed him instantly and while Weevil had wanted justice, he had never wanted his former friend to die. The news of Thumper dying had prompted Hector and a few other PCH members to approach Weevil at school one day at lunch. They had stood uncomfortably for a moment before Hector had said that they were willing to let Weevil back in as leader. Weevil had looked up from his lunch, stared at them all, at these boys he had grown up with and said without emotion, "You know something? I think I'm good. See you around Hector."

Veronica had thought she would never stop smiling that day.

Weevil glanced over at her as he drove down the highway. "What are you thinking about?" he asked and Veronica lowered the window, the smell of the ocean flaring beneath her nostrils. She smiled, leaning her arms against the frame and said, "Not much." She paused and then asked, "Do you want to go the beach? I still need to take Backup for his walk today."

"Yeah, sure."

Veronica smiled.

--

He watched her play with her dog in the waves, a smile splitting his lips as she ran through the water, laughter pouring from her mouth. The dog barked joyfully, tongue lolling out as he ran alongside his mistress and Weevil looked back as Wallace's voice boomed, "Wassup y'all!" as he came down the sandy hill carrying take out bags. Behind him, Mac, Cassidy, and Jackie carried assorted items: a two large towels, a boom box, and a cooler.

Veronica beamed at the others, waving from where she stood in the surf. The afternoon at the beach had become a mini-party after Wallace had called Veronica while she was gathering Backup for his walk. Weevil had suggested he pick up food and drinks, and Veronica had called Mac, who called Cassidy. Jackie had been with Wallace so she had tagged along.

The water clung to Veronica's legs as she jogged up to the group, greeting everybody with a wave. Backup dropped down on his side, panting lightly as Weevil scratched his belly absently while he talked with Jackie about finals and Prom. Veronica smiled as she watched him, the way he laughed; this time the sound reaching his eyes.

They talked, the six of them about life and school and general things that normal teenagers talk about; at one point, Weevil had everyone in stitches telling a story about Felix and a rubber ball and a glue gun. Veronica then related a story that had Wallace hiding his face in shame. Cassidy and Mac left around sunset while Jackie and Wallace took Backup for one more run. Veronica pulled her legs up to chest and said, "So..."

Weevil glanced at her.

She looked down at her knees then at him. "Are you still searching for yourself?"

Weevil stared at her for a few minutes. He looked down at the towel, at where his hand laid entwined casually with hers and smiled slightly as he saw that the cut had healed. Finally, he answered her.

"I think I'm doing pretty good," he said looking up to meet Veronica's eyes. "I think I can do stuff that I didn't think I could before."

"Like what?"

He shrugged, watching Backup bound in the ocean while Wallace and Jackie watched. "Like college," he said after a moment. "A career that's got nothing to do with cars." Weevil smiled slightly. "All the stuff I never thought I could do; stuff that my Grandma always wanted me to do but I never wanted..."

"What changed?" Veronica asked and Weevil frowned, biting his lips slightly as he pondered the question. Finally, he said slowly, "I guess because I want this. Me, Eli." He looked at her. "I'm not going to be defined by my name anymore, V. I want to be defined by the type of man I am."

Veronica smiled. "The type of man you are," she said softly. "Is the good kind."

"Yeah, well," he grinned mischievously. "I still look good in leather."

She laughed. "Oh yeah," she said. "That's why I like you, Weevs. It's the leather."

"Thought it was my charming personality," he teased and she retorted playfully, "Oh, didn't you know? It's those Maybelline eyelashes; they had me at the start..."

And at the end of a long day, Weevil settled down in his small apartment, listening to the sounds of the street outside, listening to his grandmother in her bedroom but he wasn't bitter anymore. Instead, he fell asleep without trouble and with a soft smile on his face. Before she fell asleep, Letty covered him up with an extra blanket and whisper of, "Sleep well, m'ijo..." as he sighed. She studied her grandson, the lines of his face, the way he still looked like the small boy she had raised with firm love and quiet patience, and she thought perhaps he would be fine after all.

Fin