"I'm sorry, Jo. The peptide doesn't seem to be holding up under febrile conditions."

"What?" Jo took the data from Dr. Bhaer to see for herself.

In the groups where mice were given JM37 before the virus, it stopped the spread. The mice survived. When the peptide was administered after the virus, even just a few hours later, it seemed to have no effect.

JM37 was designed to block UL11, a viral docking protein. If the replication machinery didn't "dock," the HSV-11 DNA didn't replicate. If, however, JM37 didn't bind or bind well because of a "fever," UL11 would ultimately make more UL11, because it obviously thrived in higher temperatures, and the cycle would continue. The disease would progress.

What did this all mean? Perhaps JM37 had a future as a preventative measure, but it was no "cure."

Jo stared at the printout until the numbers were swimming through tears.

Dr. Bhaer—Frieda —put her hand on Jo's shoulder. "We could make a few tweaks. Try again."

That could take weeks. Or months. Or even years! Jo didn't have that kind of time.

She shook her head and shrugged away from her mentor's touch. Normally Jo would relish the rare show of affection, but today it was salt in the wound.

Jo rose from her stool and gathered her belongings.

"You're so close," Frieda said to Jo on her way out. "We appreciate your insight and fresh perspective and hope you can return to finish this...whenever you're ready."

"I'm not sure that's possible, but thanks."

Thanks for nothing, Jo almost added, but that would have been the pain talking. Not the excitement she experienced in Sector-4, the acceptance she felt, or the hope she had for a better future, not just for Beth but herself as well.

Nothing summed things up accurately, nonetheless. She had no treatment, no sense of accomplishment, no partner or time left to figure things out, and few memories to cling to. Although Frieda had been kind to her and they had good professional chemistry, they didn't take chances or make any headway on a personal level.

Good things weren't meant to last, Jo realized, and she was a fool for believing otherwise. Pain was her only constant. And now, she had to go home and face what was and had always been inevitable. More pain, and in a dose she wasn't sure she'd survive.