More time passes without any word. Jim's health and mood slowly improve, thanks to liberal application of sleeping potions and a kneazle with an agenda, and then things go completely off the rails when Hunter is attacked by some crazy witch, injuring him and damn near destroying the apartment. Crookshanks leaves to keep his witch company, Jim reaches the safe limit of how much magical sleep aids he can put into his system, final exams are coming up fast, and he's faced with having to start his own exposure therapy so he can set foot in Engineering without having a breakdown immediately afterward.

If he can be glad about anything, it's that this didn't happen when he was still practically a zombie from exhaustion and the immediate, traumatic aftermath of the Nightmare. But even so, he suddenly finds he has a lot on his shoulders and not a lot of ways to shed the stress. He hesitates to send the message, reluctant to impose on anyone. But Steve did offer.

That punching bag still available?