Blair closed the door to the loft with a sick feeling in his stomach. It seemed like Margaret and Jim were hitting it off, but he couldn't find any energy to care right now. The last few days had forced him to examine his position closely. His problems loomed large and could be summarized by one word. Money.
First, Jim had given away his brand new sneakers. He'd saved months for those shoes and bought them with some trepidation. They were much more than he could afford to spend, but he told himself he couldn't back Jim up with ill fitting, half worn, thrift store shoes. Besides the Nike's were well made and happened to be on sale. If they lasted several years he could justify the expense, barely.
Well, he'd counted their life in months rather than years. Now he had to spend more money on a replacement pair. His dress shoes, the only other pair he owned, would never stand up to life on the streets. Besides, they were his interview, presentation, important meeting shoes, and he couldn't replace them as easily.
Leaving the thrift store fifteen dollars lighter, but with a pair of sneakers that gave him the best fit available, he refused to dwell on Jim's laugh when he handed over the best pair of shoes he'd ever owned. Time to face the next major expense. Hospital.
He had only just finished paying for the trip to the hospital after Lash and that was just an emergency room exam. Now he faced expenses for several days in intensive care and an ambulance ride. A hospital representative had met him the morning he checked out to go over a payment schedule. In a quirk of paperwork, his student insurance wouldn't even cover the normal amount. Since he was officially studying the police department for his doctorate, his insurance treated it like an expedition. Those weren't covered in the normal policy, and he was expected to buy supplemental coverage. And, as an observer, he had signed a waiver relieving the department of any responsibility.
He needed a job, and an apartment. Jim would never let him stay after shooting up the police garage and endangering dozens of police officers. He was pretty sure his observer pass had been revoked, and was surprised Simon hadn't been by to pick it up. He didn't think Jim would actually kick him out on the street, but his patience was limited.
Sitting in the store's parking lot, Blair reviewed his options. First, find a job. Second, find an apartment. Third, find a new dissertation topic. Giving up his dream was much harder than he anticipated; especially knowing he was right. Sentinels did exist, and they were incredible. Blair's awe at Jim's abilities grew as he watched what the man could do. But Jim could control his senses now; he didn't need Blair tagging along. Blair even had enough material for a decent journal article, but he didn't even need to ask Jim to hear his response to that request.
Turning the key, Blair backed onto the street and headed toward the university. The semester had just started, but there were always students who left a couple of weeks into the term; perhaps, he could find a decent room. There was a job board at the university also, maybe he'd get lucky and meet two requirements at once.
o0o
Returning to the loft several hours later, Blair felt slightly more optimistic. He'd found a place to live; the kid was a junior whose freshman roommate from home had bailed earlier in the week. Roger seemed dedicated and had readily agreed to Blair's stipulations of no drugs, smoking or wild parties. He'd picked up some boxes from the liquor store down the street and planned to begin moving right away. He even had a couple of part time jobs and some tutoring lined up. He'd survive; he always did. Briefly wondering why he was imagining a wolf howl he got to work.