It had been a couple months since Erin had come to the ATC and he'd finally found both an opportunity and a method to show his appreciation for his roommate's kindness thus far - even if most of it occurred by virtue of simply being in the same room and not disturbing the other. The technopath had managed to convince one of the Science teachers to let him have a vial set and a syringe so he could take samples of his own blood and begin an short series of minor experiments. Nothing that would get in the way of his studies, but showed the teacher he was willing and able to devote himself to the pilot program and his education.
Once Erin had managed to get 'alone' with his samples and begin labeling them and all those niceties, he took the control vial and a smaller one - one that could easily be worn under clothing if tied to a string - and put just about half a teaspoon of his own blood into it.
It was this small vial, now tied to a 'chain' of braided discarded pieces of wire that was left sitting in the middle of Nika's desk to wait for him when he next returned - Erin was far too embarrassed to be in the room when Nika found it or to give it personally. He wasn't really sure why such a fear came over him.
But Erin had no other possessions he could present as a gift of thanks. His person, his blood, was all he had to give.
