"So, have you seen one?"
"Hm?" Cosima answered, quirking her head up from the screen.
"The clones. Have you seen any of them?" Scott whispered conspiratorially, eyes wide.
"Oh, yeah," Cosima replied with a sly smile, leaning back in her chair. "I've met a few."
"Really?!" Scott squeaked, the pitch of his voice climbing unnaturally high before dropping back to a whisper. "What are they like?"
"Hmmmm," Cosima began. "Well, they're pretty sexy, really."
"Ah, c'mon, Cosima. Stop messing with me," he whined. "I really want to know."
"I'm not! Seriously. They're hot. Here," she said, leaning back in her chair to get a better few of the desk across from hers. "Hey, Delphine! Scott wants to know if the clones are hot."
"That is not what I –"
Cosima silenced him with an exaggerated raise of her eyebrows. Scott sighed and tossed his hands up in exasperation.
Delphine simply tilted her head towards the two of them, pen not lifting from the page. She shrugged in feigned indifference.
"Hm, I suppose they are all right," she deadpanned, unable to hide a soft smirk. "But I think that some of them might overestimate their level of attractiveness."
"Well then," Cosima countered, "Always good to have your honest opinion, Dr. Cormier," she replied with a roguish grin.
She is so going to pay for that later, Cosima thought to herself as she twirled her pen between her fingers.
Scott's brow furrowed in confusion, his head cocked to one side.
"C'mon, Cosima," he implored her, "I've been working on this long enough. I get it if I can't actually see, like, a live clone, but at least give me something here."
Cosima glanced to Delphine and raised her eyebrows in silent inquiry.
Delphine bit her lip in response, tilting her head to one side before giving Cosima a subtle nod. Cosima beamed. Delphine returned quietly to her work, failing to conceal her own amused grin.
"Okay, Scott. That's fair," Cosima conceded, "I can't introduce you to any live clones right now, but I can at least show you some pictures," she said, rifling through the papers on her desk in search of the files on Jennifer and Katja. She smirked, wondering how long it would take Scott to piece it together once he saw their faces.
She had to admit: things were decidedly more fun with Scott around.
Just then, a window popped up on her monitor.
Incoming Video Call – Felix Dawkins
Holy shit. No way. No fucking way, man, she thought. Score.
"Oh, one sec. I, uh, just have to pick this up real quick. Hold on."
"Sure," Scott replied, turning his attention to the papers he held.
Cosima cleared her throat and did her best to maintain a neutral expression as Sarah's face popped up on the screen.
"Hey, Cos. Can'ya chat?"
Cosima could feel Delphine's body stiffen even from across the room. She usually didn't speak with Sarah when she was around Delphine – she probably shouldn't be doing so now – but this opportunity was too perfect to pass up.
"Heeey, Sarah. I'm actually in the lab with Scott and Delphine right now." She said the last bit pointedly, not wanting Sarah to disclose any sensitive information. "What's up?"
"Ah, right then. D'ya want me to call ya back later? Alison's just here with me now. Wanted to check in with ya."
"Yeah, yeah. Of course. I'm good," she assured them. "How's Alison recovering from rehab?" she jested.
"Cosima Niehaus, that is not something I want you disclosing in the presence of your… science friends," Alison's voice shrilled over the speakers, the last few syllables peppered with distaste.
Alison stepped into the frame, looking less than pleased. She crossed her arms over herself in a huff.
Cosima heard the sharp clack of a pen on the floor behind her.
"Woah," Scott breathed.
Cosima grinned, satisfied, but didn't turn around. She could hear Delphine's gentle chuckle from across the room.
"Relax, Alison," Sarah said, waving Alison off of the screen. "Listen, Cos, I'll just check in with ya later. Yeah?"
"Yeah, sounds good," Cosima replied. "See ya."
She minimized the window and spun to face Scott. His mouth gaped open wide, eyes bulging comically behind his spectacles. He regarded Cosima's face, dumbfounded.
"So," she grinned impishly, "You wanted to meet a clone?"