The lab tech broke them out of their thoughts.
"Mr. Hartfield and Mr. Sinclair follow me please." A male lab tech said standing in front of them. They followed him into a completely white and sterile room. He told them to take their seats and sanitized his hands and put on gloves.
He moved a sterile cart towards them, holding a chart, and needles and test tubes for the blood samples. Elliot and Jonah looked round the room while he set up. He stands in front of them and stretches his hand out towards Elliot.
"Your left arm sir, please." He said monotonously. He turns Elliot's arm around searching for a good vein, once he found one he strapped the tourniquet right above it. He opened the needle pack and sterilized Elliot's arm, as he was about to insert the needle, Elliot winced. The lab tech noticed and tried to calm him down by making small talk.
"Pardon my manners, I did not introduce myself properly." He said with a smile while the needle picked Elliot. Elliot looked up at him a confused look on his face. "I thought you were mad or something." He said to the lab tech.
"No, not at all I am not mad, it is just the stressful nature of the job." The lab tech replied sighing. Elliot's blood quickly flowed out of the cannula filling the small test tube.
"I understand. Stuff could get really tiring." Elliot said with a light laugh. The lab tech removed the cannula and applied pressure with gauze, he simultaneously removed the tourniquet.
"All done, my name is Liam by the way." The lab tech said before turning to Jonah with a bright smile on his face, Jonah however had a numb look on his face. Trying to make small talk he continued.
"So," he said, his voice a bit too loud in the sterile room. "You two are together, huh? That is nice. How long has it been?"
Jonah, who had been staring at the white walls, trying to keep his mind from spiraling, exchanged a glance with Jonah.
"A while now," he replied, his voice measured, a hint of a smile touching his lips, though it did not quite reach his eyes. "A few years."
"That is great," Liam said, his voice genuinely warm. "It is always good to see people happy. It makes me feel alive. I have been with my partner for five years now. We met in college, actually. Total whirlwind romance." He chuckled, a nervous habit.
Jonah, who was still reeling from his mother's words, managed a weak smile. "That is wonderful." He said, his voice still a bit shaky. "Congratulations."
"Thanks," Liam said, his attention focused on the the chart.
"You know, it is funny how things work out. My parents were not always on board, you know? Took them a while to come around. But now, they are practically begging us to get married." The mention of mothers hung heavy in the air. Jonah’s gaze drifted to the floor, the image of his mother’s face, contorted in rage and disgust, flashing through his mind.
"It is not always easy, is it?" Liam continued, oblivious to the tension, his voice filled with a quiet understanding. "But love, it finds a way, doesn't it?" Elliot, sensing Jonah's discomfort, shifted in his seat.
"It does," Elliot said, his voice firm, a subtle warning in his tone. "It does indeed." Liam, finally noticing the strained atmosphere, cleared his throat. "Alright, let us get this done," he said. He quickly strapped the tourniquet round Jonah's arm, finding a vein. He pushed the needle into his vein and inserted the cannula, in a few seconds Jonah had filled his test tube. Jonah flinched as the lab tech removed his cannula and covered it with gauze.
The lab tech pulled off the tourniquet and looked down at the chart and test tube to ensure they were properly labeled. "Alright, that is all done." He said, taking off his gloves. "We will have the results in a few hours. You can wait in the waiting area, or you can go grab some coffee. There is a decent cafe on the ground floor." "Thank you," Elliot said, rising from his chair, a polite but distant smile on his face. Jonah followed suit, walking mindlessly.
They returned back to their previous seats which were still unoccupied despite an increase in the number of people on that floor. They sat side by side in silence not knowing what to say to each other. Elliot broke the silence.
"I am going to go get us some of that coffee and snacks too, Jonah, we need to get something in our system." Elliot said looking at the afternoon sun bright in the sky. Jonah nodded.
"What do I get you?" Elliot asked. "I am not really in the mood for anything, I will just have whatever you are aving." Jonah answered tired.
Elliot nodded and left. Suddenly, Jonah's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his brow furrowing. Mr. Crane glared brightly on his phone screen. Jonah answered the call, his voice strained.
"Hello?"
"Hello Jonah how are you doing?" Victor asked.
"I am doing alright." Jonah said his voice hoarse.
"Jonah, you do not sound like everything is aright? Anything?" Victor's voice sounded with fake concern "You sound stressed."
"Everything is fine sir," Jonah replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "Just a small domestic issue. Nothing to worry about."
"Well, if you say so," Victor said, though Jonah could sense he was not entirely convinced.
"But I need you to come in tomorrow. We need to go over the blueprints for the deal we discussed. It is time-sensitive."
Jonah sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Tomorrow?" he asked, his voice laced with weariness.
"Yes, tomorrow," Victor insisted. "We can't afford any delay. This deal is crucial, Jonah. You know that. Also new information, about the project would be discussed tomorrow." Victor added.
"I know," Jonah sighed resigned.
"Alright. I will be there." He ended the call, his eyes filled with frustration. He looked up, Elliot had returned and was walking towards him. Elliot had seen him end the phone call and sighed. He was worried.
"Everything good?" Elliot asked, his voice soft.
"I have to go into work tomorrow. My boss just called and he said it is important." Jonah told him his fingers massaging his temples, the lack of sleep starting to tell on him.