I am Jesse Pinkman

Chapter 6: Setting Up the Lab

The old auto-body shop sat in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by a chain-link fence with a rusted-out gate. The For Sale sign had been hanging so long it was barely readable.

Jesse stood in the middle of the main garage, hands on his hips, surveying the space. The air smelled like oil and dust, but it had potential.

"This place looks like a dump," Walter muttered, stepping over a pile of broken glass.

Jesse smirked. "Yeah? Well, so do you."

Walter shot him a glare but didn't argue. He adjusted his glasses and walked the perimeter, inspecting the structure.

"The ventilation will need work," he said. "The electrical wiring is outdated. And the floor is uneven."

Jesse rolled his eyes. "Yo, we're cooking meth, not running a hospital."

Walter exhaled sharply. "Do you want a controlled process or not?"

Jesse chuckled. "Relax, man. I already got a guy handling the wiring and ventilation. Should be done by the end of the week."

Walter gave him a skeptical look. "And who is this guy?"

Jesse grinned. "You'll meet him when you meet him."

Walter didn't like that answer, but Jesse didn't care. He wasn't about to start answering to him.

The Equipment Run

Setting up a meth lab wasn't as easy as buying a chemistry set from the store. Jesse already had a list of what they needed, but getting it required planning.

Walter suggested going through chemical supply companies, using his connections at J.P. Wynne High School. Jesse shut that down immediately.

"Yeah, no. Last thing we need is some dumbass high school kid recognizing you," Jesse said. "I got a better way."

Walter folded his arms. "And what's that?"

Jesse smirked. "Ever hear of Gale Electronics?"

Walter frowned. "No."

Jesse pulled out his phone, showing him a website for a small electronics and chemical supply shop in town. "Place sells lab-grade glassware, solvents, reagents. Cash only. No questions asked."

Walter adjusted his glasses. "And how do you know this?"

Jesse shrugged. "Bought from them before. They don't care what you're making as long as you pay."

Walter's eyes narrowed. "You mean they sell to anyone?"

Jesse rolled his eyes. "Yo, you worried about ethics now?"

Walter didn't answer, but Jesse could tell the idea of dealing with some shady supplier annoyed him. Tough luck.

Securing the First Batch

The shopping trip went smoothly. Jesse drove while Walter sat stiffly in the passenger seat, his paranoia in full swing.

"You should have worn a hat," Walter muttered.

Jesse snorted. "Dude, we're not robbing a bank."

They pulled up to a nondescript warehouse on the outskirts of town. A bald, tattooed man met them at the entrance.

Jesse flashed a grin. "Yo, Marco. Got our stuff?"

Marco grunted, gesturing for them to follow him inside. Walter hesitated for half a second before stepping in.

Rows of shelves lined the warehouse, stacked with lab glassware, chemicals, and equipment. Walter looked around, his scientific side taking over.

"This is… impressive," he admitted.

Marco pulled a heavy-duty plastic container off a shelf and set it down with a thud. "Everything you asked for."

Jesse opened it, checking the contents. Condensers, flasks, burners—everything they needed.

Walter reached in, pulling out a beaker. He turned it over in his hands, nodding slightly. "This is high quality."

Marco smirked. "We don't sell junk."

Walter glanced at Jesse. "And you trust these people?"

Jesse grinned. "Hell no. That's why I count the money after I leave."

Marco chuckled. "Smart kid."

Jesse handed over a thick envelope of cash, and they were out the door.

Walter sat in the passenger seat, gripping the beaker tightly.

"We're really doing this," he murmured.

Jesse shot him a look. "No, I'm doing this. You're just along for the ride."

Walter didn't respond.

Back at the Lab

The next three days were spent setting up. Jesse handled security—reinforced the locks, set up hidden cameras, and made sure the place looked abandoned from the outside.

Walter handled the technical side, obsessing over airflow, temperature control, and proper workstations.

By the fourth day, they stood in the middle of a fully operational lab.

Walter adjusted a glass column. "It's almost… professional."

Jesse smirked. "Damn right."

They locked eyes.

It was time.