While working late in the archives, she and classmate Joe Dawson indulged in a little too much wine and entered into a brief affair which resulted in pregnancy. The affair was kept secret, and Laura petitioned to resign, stating her pregnancy as the reason for the request. Accompanied by depositions from her supervisor and fellow historian, Dawson, which attested to 'extenuating circumstances' that would cause her undue stress, the Tribunal allowed a two year sabbatical to be followed by an evaluation by the Department of Psychology and Counseling.