With the Evo locking behind him, Jack pulled a thick envelope from his back pocket while he reluctantly stared at the garage. It was an early morning for his doing, but he couldn't keep putting this off any longer than he already had. Not having payed back even one dime for the car he had ruined or whatever damage it had done to the business, he knew he still owed Brian quite a bit of money and chances had it, this time he actually had some to spare. How he had come by it though, legal or illegal, was just not going to be elaborated on as long as it wasn't asked. And he hoped to god it wouldn't be asked...

The envelope practically burned in his hand when he headed in to the garage, finding his brother leaning over the engine of a Mitsubishi 3000GT. The car was almost making him itch to come back on the job, but he still had his pride, or was it just stupid stubbornness? He simply refused to come back on something he said, even if he had been wasted and broken at the time.

Without warning or even as much as making his presence known, he dropped the envelope on the valve cover right next to Brian's hand.

"Not sure how much I owe you, but this should be a decent start.."

The early morning had been grey and rainy when Brian had arrived at the garage after only 4 hours of sleep and two cups of coffee. The crying nights weren't over yet but the hole in his pocket pretty deep. So brian knew he didn't have a choice but finish the Evo as fast as he could to get some cash.
Tired he rubbed his eyes not caring that he was smearing dirt and grease in his face. It was too early to care.

Suddenly a sound startled him and when he pulled his uncombed head out of the hood he saw his brother standing there.
In front of his feet was a big brown envelope.
"You're up early." He picked up the envelope and weighed it in his hand.
"What's this?"
This couldn't possibly be money. Jack didn't have any.

Jack rolled his eyes when the first question already popped out of Brian's mouth. He had hoped this to go smooth and easy, maybe just a nod and a 'thank you', but when did anything ever go smooth and easy for him. Especially when money was involved.

"It's a love letter.." He smiled briefly before it disappeared all together. He hated this. Hated giving so much money away and so easily, but he more than owed Brian. Not just for the car and the damage, but for putting up with his shit all the time and giving him a roof over his head when he didn't have one. He frowned slightly at his thoughts. He really did deserve the 'shittiest brother of the year' award, didn't he.

"It's 7500 dollars. All neatly pressed Benjamins.." He mumbled, clearing his throat. He figured the best way to go at it now, was to look as casual as possible despite the fact that it wasn't exactly spare change he was handing over. Definitely not spare change in his case.

Brian had opened the amount by the time jack got his explanation.
He stopped dead in his tracks when he heard the amount and looked up at his brother.
Immediately he jumped to the conclusion that this money had to be illegal and a second later mentally slapped himself. He should really assume his brother had learn from past mistakes.
"That's a lot of money. That's all you owe me...pretty much." He watched Jack's face carefully not really wanting to ask where it came from.

While he watched Brian open the envelope, Jack rubbed a hand over his mouth and chin, a small sign that hinted he wasn't as comfortable as he wanted to seem, but what he was nervous for never came. No questions. Not the ones he didn't want to answer, nor the ones he didn't know how to answer. Had his brother actually put some trust in him? Misplaced trust this time, but still..

"Yeah, it is.." He finally mumbled, avoiding Brian's stare by letting his own eyes to wander over the 3000GT's exposed engine. It was as good an excuse as any not to look his brother in the face and having to read the silent question there. Maybe he had been too assuming on the trusting part after all.

"So, how is business doing? The garage?" He asked, still not taking his eyes off of the engine. Oh yes, smooth change of subject.

"Business is...a little slow." Brian followed his gaze the envelope still in his hand.
"Oh, who am I kidding. It sucks. I've spent too much so I'm desperate for some cash...good thing you happened to get your hands on some.
He leaned his back against the car waiting for Jack to explain where he suddenly came up with 7 g.
Unfortunately Jack didn't feel like explaining anything.
"Do we have a rich uncle that I don't know of?" The enveloped remained outside his pocket.

Jack finally had to admit to himself that staring at the engine block all damn day would get him nowhere. He lifted his eyes away from the car and let them settle on his brother for a change while he shrugged. At least this question didn't require anything close to lying.

"Nope." He simply answered before taking up the wrench. He had been itching to do it the whole time he'd been staring the engine down. With a smirk toward his brother, he moved, working on adjusting the valves. Too tight they eventually gave shit, too loose they eventually gave shit.

"If you keep delivering cars off like this, business will stay slow, bro.." He mumbled from under the hood. "How much sleep have you been getting lately?"

"Nope" wasn't the answer he'd been waiting to hear.
Involunatrily he took a step back when his brother grabbed the wrench. To this day Brian didn't remember a damn thing what had happened at the garage but he'd been told that Jack and a wrench were a bad combination for Brian's health.
The adjusting of an engine however was bad for his ego.
"Not much." He admitted a little sour.
"So where's the money from Jack? We both know you don't have that much cash."

Jack was glad he still had his face buried under the hood when the silent 'shit' fell from his mouth. He had wanted to avoid these questions, more than anything and so far it had been going good. Why couldn't it stay going good?

Taking several more unnecessary seconds to adjust to valves, the muscles in his jaws tensed slightly when he finally pulled his head from the engine. Much like the staring at it, staying buried here wouldn't get him anywhere either. He'd still have to answer and Brian still wouldn't like the answers. Lies or not. Well.. half lies...

"I guess I just found a job that pays better than this one did." He shrugged nonchalantly, half smiling at his brother. Damnit, he needed something better to weasel his way out of this.. He should have known it was a bad idea to give the whole amount at once.

For a moment Brian closed his eyes. This sounded so familiar. When he first met Jack in LA he'd been in jail because of these kind of jobs.
how many times had his brother wandered along the wrong paths and promised to better himself when he was in trouble? Countless times.

Still he held himself back from throwing the money back at Jack's feet. After all he needed it desperately.
"What kind of job pays this much, Jack?" He practically spat the Jack.
"I hope you became a superstar or something."

Knowing damn well he didn't want to be loosing his temper with a wrench in his hand, Jack dropped it on the engine before he grabbed a rag from the nearby workbench. Whether Brian was on the 'right' track or not, his brother always immediately assumed the worst when it came to him. It was something he hated even though he had created it himself over the years. Easy money was just... easier than getting a fair job.

"Maybe I have become a superstar. Who cares? If you don't want the money, you can always give it back." He grumbled while he cleaned some engine grease off of his hands. He was about ready to just walk out of here, but he knew from experience it wouldn't do him or his name any good. All it would do was just confirm Brian's suspicions even more.

Jack's words more or less confirmed what Brian didn't want to hear.
So instead of dancing around the issue any lkonger he flat out asked.
"Did you get this legally? then I'll keep it. If not you can shove it where the sun never shines."
He held out the envelope waiting for an answer hoping that Jack hadn't fallen into old habits.

Jack would have had his jaw drop if it wasn't for this same old tired dance. They had done this before a million times for the same reasons and he should know by now there was no use in lying to his brother. Especially not when he was already digging a hole big enough to count as his own grave, but he still couldn't help the vague and evasive answers spewing from his mouth. Why disappoint in what was basically expected from him?

"No.. Yes! Do you see the cops banging on my door? Just fucking keep it, man!" He almost yelled, making no attempt to grab the envelope while the rag angrily landed on top of the wrench. "You just said you needed the money, didn't you?"

The answer Jack gave him was little satisfying but to be expected.
Brian let his head fall back and bit his lip. He knew exactly what it meant. The money was 'kind-of' legal.
Right now he really needed it if he didn't want to take out a loan.
So his choice was to make a responsible choice and refuse to take the money and let jack blow it on something else or to take the money and let Jack be responsible for his own actions. It was time for the latter.
With a frown he took the envelope and shoved in his belt.
"I take it that this won't get you or me in trouble if there's a chance let me know now!"
When Jack didn't answer he added. "You're a big boy. Make your own choices."

"Yes! Finally you're learning something. I'm not some snot-nosed punk anymore, ok? I know what I'm doing." He swallowed the 'most of the times' before it had a chance to spill from his mouth. Even if it would be meant as a half-assed joke, it probably wouldn't be taken as such by his brother. No sense of humor in these situations. Or maybe it was because he'd proven once or twice he didn't know what he was doing half the time...

"So.. You need any help around here, or can you handle it?" He half smiled, clearly referring Brian's ghostly appearance when he changed the subject. "Turns out I have some time on my hands. A lot of it actually." He shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. It was a peace offering from his side, but it was Brian's choice whether he took it or not. As far as he was concerned, the money was done and dealt with. At least he wasn't taking it back home with him.

The uneasy feeling Brian had about the whole money issue didn't go away when Jack had a satisfied smirk on his face. On the contrary. Brian would never get rid of his brotherly protective feelings no matter how hard he tried.
With a nod at the wrench he replied. "Sure. A helping hand would be very welcome. i have to get this done asap."

He leaned back into the hood and inspected Jack's work. Then he pulled back his head. "You brought some time and maybe some coffee..and donuts?"

"Sorry bro, but I think I may have reached my charitable limits for today. You're gonna have to do the coffee and donuts yourself." He smiled before he absentmindedly picked up one of the wrenches. Holding any tool with Brian nearby still held an awkward tinge to it for obvious reasons, but if he wanted to help his brother..

"I take it you've already walked by the basics..?" He asked while his eyes wandered back over the engine. He actually had no idea why the car was in or what he was going to be helping with. Maybe he should have asked that first before he had made his offer.

"I don't know if my brain will work without very strong coffee. I could use a coffee IV to get me going." He yawned demonstratively, stretched and ran his hand over his out of bed hair.

Brian watched Jack weigh the tool in his hand and forced himself to concentrate on the task at hand.
"Yeah, it needs general maintance, oil change, filter, brakes, pads in the front, and the engine has a slight rattle to it. That's the big thing and I fear twisting a few screws won't do it."
He sat inside and turned the key in the ignition placing his rubber sole on the gas to show Jack what he meant.

Jack let out a clearly audible breath when he heard Brian's answer. A rattle. That could mean a whole list of things. From something simple like actually 'twisting a few screws' to something a little more complicated like the transmission.

"Bring up the RPM." He ordered while he listened to the engine. The noise seemed to be coming from the front, increasing and decreasing along with the revs. That at least should narrowed it down some... He motioned to kill the engine and gave his diagnoses while Brian got out of the car.

"I'd say it's either a loose timing belt or a dislodged ring in the harmonic balancer, but don't pin me down on it. Oh, and you did check the oil reserve before hand, right?" He added while he eyed the tired looking Brian once again. Maybe pouring a few cups of coffee or some Red Bulls down the poor guy's throat wasn't such a bad idea after all.

"You uh... really do look like shit you know. Maybe you should consider sitting this one out."

"Thnks for the flowers, boss." he commented before crawling out of the car and yawning.
"I'll grab a coffee across the street, want one?"

A few minutes later he was back with an extra large, moccha and looked bewildered at the scene unfolding in front of him: It was early in the morning, Jack was tearing apart a car, working like he owned it and delivering money.
"And here I was thinking I'd never see this day." he laughed.

he then placed a few donuts on a shelf and took a long drink.
"I di exchange the oil, by the way, so belt?"