Collateral

[run_barry]

When Barry left the cells after his brief stint he knew he still had plenty of messes to clean up, people to apologize to, and mistakes to make up for.

He isn't expecting the note that pops up when he stops by the counter.

Looking over the bill, Barry's eyes widen and his stomach sinks; he doesn't recognize every little thing showing up on the itemization portion, but he knows enough of them to get a pretty clear idea of just the kind of damage he did to Wilford while whammied.

"Oh, man… "

The number of digits on the bill are another concern, one Barry doesn't even consider trying to wriggle out of. Taking the paperwork back through the door with him, Barry goes home and tries to figure out just how he's going to handle this one.

*****

"Do you want the money or not?" the impatient woman behind the counter asks while Barry agonizes over a decision.

He's done the math. Worked out his budget next to his expenses and calculated interest to payments set against loan duration down to the last cent. All the figures say he can pull this off, and he's weighed every other option short of criminal activity and landed here as the only resort. Still, the choice is impossibly hard and knowing what's at stake if he somehow screws this up only makes it moreso.

It's his responsibility though, his mistakes that got him here, and he can't leave things hanging. With those thoughts and a heavy heart, Barry nods and slides the gold band bracelet across the counter.

"Yeah, I'll take it. But I'll be back for that," he says, watching as his mother's jewelry is scooped off the counter.

The woman who takes it makes a noncommittal sound and starts writing up the pawn ticket.