April 30th, early afternoon

[dr_lauren]

Normally John and Lauren chatted during their 'clinic' hours, even when they were both busy with their own research - there was only so much waiting around for cells to culture one could do without getting bored, after all. That particular morning, however, Lauren had been quiet, responding to John's forays into conversation with monosyllabic noises, and she had disappeared at lunchtime only to return a hour later looking pale and upset.

"John? Do you have a minute?"