The revving of Mutt's engine was always the sound that could get Mike out of a funk and whenever the engine seemed to roar a bit more frequently than usual, the Burners knew straight away that something was amiss with their leader.

Julie walked into Jacob's restaurant and noticed Mike sitting apart from the others. Realizing Dutch and Chuck were way too consumed in their techno-whatsits to be of any real help, she shrugged begrudgingly at the thought of having to rely on Texas for debriefing her on the current situation. The big oaf was sitting with his feet up on the table as he tried to stealthily clear his nostrils of boogers until he caught a glimpse of Julie out of the corner of his eye. In a vain attempt to uphold his failed "cool guy" charade, Texas quickly moved his feet to a more socially acceptable pose, sat up straight and brushed the dust off of his shirt before trying to lean back suavely. "Hello there Julie, what can Te-" Before he could finish his sentence, Texas fell out of the booth onto the ground. As she helped him up, she couldn't help but chuckle.

"You alright there cowboy?"

Discouraged that he'd been made to look like a fool, Texas responded curtly, "Yeah, I'm fine. Texas doesn't get hurt that easily." He flexed his biceps and neck muscles, prompting the usual eyeroll from Julie. "What's up Jules? Don't mind me, just flexing the boys."

'Verrry impressive Tex. You know what's up with Mike? He hasn't seemed himself these past few days and Mutt's been getting revved up like clockwork."

"Dunno. Probably just his usual 'Kane's been doing so much and I still haven't found a way to stop him' routine." Texas gave his best attempt at mimicking Mike's voice, which in all honesty sounded pretty much the same as every impression the big lummax did.

Julie stroked her chin thoughtfully and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. "See, that's what I thought too, but he just seems a bit more off than usual."

Texas put a hand on his hip and stroked his imaginary stubble, "Maybe it's just indigestion. Never know with the stuff Jacob has us eatin'."

The last comment prompted an audible, prolonged "Hey" from Jacob who'd just brought over his latest and greatest. Pulling a wooden spoon from his toolbelt he smacked Texas' hand. "I'll show ya indigestion. Don't like it? Don't eat." Julie and Jacob laughed while Texas nursed the smacked hand.

Texas responded with a disagreeable "Hmph." As Jacob walked back over to the kitchen, Texas seemed to regain his focus, but who knew how long that would last? Julie seized that opportunity to try and continue her questioning.

"Tex, so if it's not indigestion and the usual Kane hullaballoo, any ideas what could be getting Mike's goat so bad?" She sat down next to him in the booth. It was stil to this day shocking that when they were sitting, Texas wasn't very much taller than herself.

"Hmmm, well he's like lookin' off into the distance a lot lately. Only time I ever do that is when I'm thinking about y-," he caught himself and cleared his throat, "when Texas is thinking about a special lady."

"And when dare I ask has Texas ever thought about a special lady?" She smirked.

He blushed slightly before slamming his hands down embarrassedly, "S-Shut up! All I know is that I know that look." The oven timer dinged from across the room. "Look's like Texas's dinner is ready, I have to go get my spices so I can Texasify it. Hwah-cha." Texas did a karate chop mid-air before running off in the distance to get his "Texasification" supplies.

"Well that was helpful," Julie said sarcastically as she got up from the booth. Seeing Jacob walking over with the massive tray of meat she said before he could ask, "He's getting his supplies and will be back in a second."

Like he's thinking about a special lady, she thought, definitely not me then. He's like my brother, that'd just be weird. Who then? She scanned the room back and forth looking for any signs of females other than herself, but there were only a pair of old ladies knitting and Claire, who'd just arrived and was sitting at the bar. I'm gonna make an assumption and say that grannies aren't Mike's type. Her face scrunched up. At least I hope so. Claire's out too...Wait! She noticed Mike turn his head to look back into the restaurant for a second. He'd smiled and was twiddling his thumbs like a toddler with nothing to do. Following his line of sight, she noticed something a bit surprising. "Chuck?" she said audibly.

The blond looked up from his blueprints and responded nasally, "Yeah, Jules?"

She raised her hands nervously and shook her head, "O-oh, it's nothing. I thought I had a question to ask you, but I...I forgot!" She smiled fakely.

Chuck shrugged and said, "Mm, well alright. If you remember, Dutch and I'll be here for a while."

"Okay!" She waved and turned tail quickly. Once she was out of earshot of the others, she calmly walked over to Mutt outside the shop. Mike was sprawled out on the hood, looking up at the criss-crossing christmas lights that were draped over the patio. He was still smiling slightly, but seemed somewhat deep in thought. "...Mike?"

He was shocked to hear her voice breaking the silence of the night and jumped up on his haunches to look at her. "Hey Jules." The greeting wasn't followed by his usual smile though. Mike's face turned very neutral and became hard to read.

"Mind if I join you?"

He smirked slightly and moved to the side to make some room. I wonder what made her come out here? Everyone else is still inside. "Not at all. Come pop a squat on Mutt. There's plenty of room."

Julie walked over and slid up onto the hood of the car, taking care not to accidentally scratch the paintjob. "It's beautiful out tonight."

"Yeah, I like laying out here to think." He leaned back and rested his head on his hands. "What made you decide to come out here?" The question was followed with slight chuckle, a subconscious attempt to hide his nervousness.

She shrugged and mimicked his reclined position. "Don't know. You just seem to be in a funk today and I wanted to see what was up."

He turned onto his side and replied, "I'm good, Jules, really." Such a lie. I'm pretty much the opposite of okay right now.

"C'mon Mike, we both know that's a lie. You wouldn't have gone out alone in Mutt SIX times in one day if you were alright." She leaned over and patted him on the shoulder.

Mike remained silent. Does she know? There's no way she knows. I haven't told anyone.

"You big wooby come here and talk to Auntie Jules." She pulled lightly on his shoulder and Mike sat up abruptly before leaning forward and hunching while seated.

Relax. The key is to relax. Julie's a cool girl, even if I do tell her, I'm sure she won't be that weird.

"I don't know, recently I've been feeling kind of confused. Not sure what it is, but it's driving me crazy."

She pulled him in closer and rubbed his back gently, "Mhmm, go on."

"I..I don't know, I … just like someone, but I don't think they like me back." He looked away and began to twiddle his thumbs like before.

"I asked Texas what he thought was going on and even though he first suggested that you ate some bad food, he also said that you looked like you were thinking about someone special."

Crap. She probably thinks it's her. What do I do? What do I do? "Well yeah, all of you guys are special to me."

Julie shook her head dismissively. "I know THAT. I meant that you were looking at someone who's special because you...you know LIKE them."

And there it is. "Jules, you're a great girl and all, but you're like a sister to me and..."

She cut him off before he could finish, "Not me you jerk." She punched him playfully and chuckled.

"Oh phew." He exhaled heavily. "I was worried there for a second Jules." Probably not the best choice of words.

"Hey, I wouldn't be that bad of a person to like! I AM pretty awesome." She smirked.

"That's true. You are pretty awesome."

"So now that we've crossed that bridge of awkward... who is it that you like?"

Mike looked down at his hands and his smile faded. "It's a bit...complicated." He caught himself looking at Chuck out of the corner of his eye, hoping that Julie hadn't noticed. As he looked up and saw her smile from beneath the bangs, he assumed that she HAD seen.

"I see." She put a reassuring hand on his knee. "I don't blame you, he is cute in his own little dorky way."

"Wha-...how did yo-...?" Well it looks like the secret's out. Now to bear the brunt of the backlash.

"Mikey please, it's all over your face."

"Is it really that obvious?"

"About as subtle as one of the Duke's entrances."

Mike slapped himself on the forehead, "Well so much for keeping my feelings to myself." He laughed for the first time since they'd started talking.

The two of them leaned back in silence for a small while before either said anything else. It wasn't an awkward silence, more of a comfortable, friendly one. Mike finally broke the silence a few minutes later.

"So Jules, do you think he feels the same way?"

Jarred from a minute-long nap, Julie snapped back into consciousness, "Wha-, who?"

Mike leaned back on his hands, "Chuck. Do you think he likes me the way I like him?"

Julie thought for a few moments before responding. "Ya know, I'd say so considering he's the only one of us who'd consider riding shotgun with you, yet he's a scaredy cat. I think he feels really comfortable around you."

A smile crept across his face.

"Only surefire way to find out is to ask him, Mikey." She pushed him off of Mutt's hood into a standing position. Giving him a reassuring slap on the butt, Julie whispered, "Go get 'im tiger."