(no subject)

[alotbluer]

Tobey was just making ends meet it seemed, but that was how it was for him usually. Part of him enjoyed the skin of his teeth adrenaline rush of the gamble. He knew Shelby's schedule, of course he followed what she was doing professionally. Why he wouldn't be expecting a visit from her.

He did hear someone come walking in and without glancing up he spoke out for the person to hear him. He was stuck under the hood of a car finishing up a job.

"We're closed for the night."

Comments

[shelbycobra]

"Well good, then I'm not interrupting."

Shelby had stopped in New York on her way back from Le Mans. She was exhausted after running a 24-hour endurance race on 48 hours notice; she felt like she hadn't slept well in days and she was drained from pushing her body to the limit. But it was as close as she'd get to New York for a while, and she had been wanting to do this for a while.

She smiled at him from where she leaned up against the wall, dressed down in what he'd recognize as her old Marshall Motors T-shirt under a leather jacket.

"You have some time? I'd like to talk."

[alotbluer]

Okay, so he hadn't been expecting to hear that voice so when she spoke he lifted his head too quick. It hit the underside of the hood before he peered out over at her, rubbing the back of it.

"Well shit, this is a pleasant surprise. Surprised you aren't passed out somewhere. I have some time."

[shelbycobra]

"I will be, soon as I can get home to Indianapolis."

And then two days after that she'd be on a plane to Wisconsin. Shelby was beat, but she wanted to do this. She had always felt like she owed him, even though he'd told her several times that she didn't.

"You okay?" she said, walking over to him. "How are things around here?"

[alotbluer]

"Surviving as usual, but you know me. I like living by the seat of my pants."

He smiled and closed the hood of the car and walked over to her, hugging her tenderly.

"Its good to see you."

[shelbycobra]

"It's good to see you too. And actually, that's why I came."

She returned the hug and stepped back, reaching into the pocket of her jeans for her wallet. She was trying to figure out a way to say this without sounding arrogant or like she was trying to do him a favor. It was just something she wanted to do.

"You might have heard I won the Indy 500 last month. I got a two and a half million dollar check for it. Half of that's mine, then after taxes...Anyway, I want to help you out. You tell me what you need to pay off the bank, for good, and I'll make it happen."

[alotbluer]

"Hey you don't need to do that you know. Shells."

He wasn't offended, on the contrary, he was actually flattered she was offering.

[shelbycobra]

"I don't need to. But I want to. I don't like seeing you struggle, and I'm in a position now where I can do something to fix it."

It helped that she didn't spend a lot of money. So most of the prize money she kept went right into the bank. Giving him a couple thousand was no small gesture, but it wasn't going to mean she would be lacking in any way. But she'd already bought a house, had multiple cars...what did she need? She could take the money and truly change his life, like he'd changed hers.

"You know I still remember having to crash on your couch," she said absently, as she thought about it. "And thinking I might never have any place else to go."

[alotbluer]

"Well you will always have this home to come back to."

He smiled gently and kissed her cheek tenderly.

"I appreciate it, Shells."

[shelbycobra]

"You call the bank, get me a number and I'll call my lawyer, have him sign off on the transaction. I'll be here for a day or two."

Shelby smiled, running her fingers through his hair. She knew she couldn't stay long and rarely got back. These moments they shared meant a lot to her especially when she did feel guilty that her career success had pulled them apart. If she could get him financially stable, know he didn't have to worry anymore, that would mean a lot to her, too.

"I've really missed you."

[alotbluer]

"I missed you too. I always do."

He always enjoyed spending these stolen times with her. It always made him happier.

"I'll call tomorrow."

[shelbycobra]

"I just want you to be okay. That's all I've ever wanted."

She smiled back at him. She had often worried about him and whether or not he was okay, and she hoped that now she could put an end to that question.

"Were you heading out for the night? Don't let me keep you. Maybe we can get dinner or something while I'm here."