I couldn't wait to update. Desperate!Delphine is pretty much default this chapter, but things won't be settled between Cophine for a very long while... Helena's monkeying out in the trees.

Cosima poked at the steady campfire with a stick before glancing up at the trees where she knew Helena was. She didn't like this plan.

The biologist was beginning to wonder whether she was being incredibly risky, or stupid.. or both.

She was being both.

Looking back at the fire, she let out a slow sigh and rubbed at a crick in her neck.

She knew Delphine would be safe, but she had no idea what happened to Sarah and whether or not she herself would be alright after this.

She knew Helena would be.

Whether or not she was uncomfortable with how easily Helena agreed to this, she knew Helena would go down and get away from DYAD fighting.

Cosima, on the other hand? She doubted she could ever truly fight against Delphine, or let anyone hurt her. She was a weak spot against Cosima, and anyone who knew of her existence knew that. Cosima bit her lip. How could she be expected to pose a fight against Delphine, even if she was the new Rachel?

~-...Yourself and all of your sisters

I love you

Scott is gonna come to do a checkup

Okay..~

Cosima played the moment over and felt sadness burn in the back of her eyes as she breathed in slowly. Stop it, don't let her see you like this..

Across the camping lot, Delphine watched Cosima as she sat next to the fire. She was alive, breathing without the cannula, and yet.. her face was emotionless. She couldn't tell what was turning in Cosima's mind without getting closer to see her hazel eyes and every reaction. Delphine swallowed back a steady amount of pain as she walked up to the fire pit and her lover who was almost shielded behind it.

Delphine dropped her hands to her side as she spoke softly, "I am alone." Cosima startled and looked up at her, wide eyed. Delphine thought for a fraction of a moment she could see tears building behind her glasses, "Je ne pourrai jamais vous mentir à nouveau, ma chérie."

Cosima watched her for a moment in silence before standing up slowly, suddenly feeling the impact of her sickness come crashing down against her body (In particular, her lungs). Pausing for a moment so as not to come crashing and risk falling into the fire, Cosima eventually pulled away, folded her arms, and nodded towards the tent as she made her way inside. By the time Delphine made her way into the tent (Which Cosima was short enough to just be able to stand in without her usual shoes), Cosima had turned on the lamp and seated herself on one of the sleeping bags.

Cosima pulled off her cardigan as Delphine watched. She wanted to stop her, it was much too cold tonight. Delphine sat down on the sleeping bag across from Cosima, giving her enough distance as Cosima looked away, her cracking voice finally speaking up, "Do what you need to, then leave."

Delphine wanted to grab her face, to beg her to look into her eyes and to promise to protect her from what Cosima still didn't know-but she didn't. If she had to settle for being this close to Cosima without breaking her promise, she would.

Cosima continued to look away as Delphine moved about around her. Eventually, Cosima began to become more compliant as routine gave way.

"How have your lungs been?"

Cosima hesitated, "I have the oxygen tank if I need it, please just finish up and leave.. Delphine."

Delphine's hand gently caught Cosima's wrist as she held the disinfectant for Cosima's arm in her other hand. The immunologist regarded her for several seconds, before whispering hoarsely, "S'il vous plaît, mon amour .."

Cosima turned away as she almost whimpered Delphine's name, and for the first moment since she'd arrived she couldn't help but wonder if it pained Cosima to be in such close proximity, too.

Delphine threw caution to the wind as she leaned in and brushed her lips against the bare spot on Cosima's neck that was just bellow her ear. If the dread-headed scientist wanted her to stop or leave she would, but she had to at least try to feel her, even if she was unsuccessful in reaching her and getting Cosima to come with her. She had to be able to tell that she was physically in front of her after so long.

When Cosima didn't pull away, she stopped kissing her and gently gave an Eskimo-kiss against the crook of her neck, "Let me help you, Cosima.."

Cosima stayed silent, fighting back tears as she moved her face away from her, and yet leaned back closer against the blonde. Taking it as encouragement, the french woman pressed a slew of desperate kisses up to her ear before whispering with a hoarse voice the same phrase over in her native tongue, "Laissez-moi vous aider."

Her left arm lightly snaked around Cosima's shoulder as she pulled her closer to her, as though she might disappear into the night. "Venez avec moi," Delphine pressed an urgent kiss once more bellow Cosima's ear, repeating the action several times as if doing so could make Cosima understand what she was saying despite the disparity in their native tongues, "laissez-moi vous aider. Ma pauvre chérie ... permettez-moi de vous garder en sécurité."

Cosima's body naturally stiffened at the last word as her eyes closed, "Delphine, please.."

The name was coming to her easier now, her tongue throwing up less of a fight on using it.

"Quoi?" From behind her, the small swab of disinfectant was carelessly tossed to the side as Delphine's other arm protectively pulled Cosima closer by her waist, "Que désirez-vous, mon amour? Je vous donne ma monde entier tant que vous ne fait pas partie des moyens de nouveau avec moi. Je ne peux pas te perdre à nouveau."

Cosima furrowed her brow in confusion as Delphine continued to lose all semblance of a facade and desperately kiss her shoulder. In truth, she didn't want her to stop even though she knew Helena might still be watching the tent if she came up empty on any guards coming with Delphine. Delphine pulled her closer still, her arms seeming to hold her as if she were trying to shield her from anything, "Please, let me protect you from her.."

"Delphine.."

"S'il vous plaît..." Delphine pressed another desperate kiss against Cosima's shoulder.

"O-Okay, lets just.. tell me what's going on, Delphine." Somehow managing to find the wiggle room, Cosima turned around to face Delphine.

Delphine regarded her closely for a moment, she was wearing red corduroys, and a vintage t-shirt with writing she couldn't make out because of both the darkness and the tears that had begun to leak unwillingly from her eyes.

Cosima shakily reached out, confusion the only thing showing in her eyes as she lowered her voice once more to another whisper, "Tell me, please, Delphine."

Delphine smiled sadly as she reached out and cupped Cosima's face, feeling ease settle into her as she saw her face once more. She felt both privileged and undeserving to have Cosima's eyes regarding her with a familiar warmth even after everything she's been put through recently.

"Oh, Cosima.."

"Delphine, don't leave me in the dark."

Delphine swallowed, nodding promptly as her eyes looked to the floor. She couldn't tell her and look her in the eyes at the same time. No, that would be impossible. "In Frankfurt, I learned that nearly all of the clone population in Europe had been wiped out..." Delphine stopped as she forced herself to swallow again-in order to stop her voice from croaking. "I tried to protect them, for you, for everyone, but.."

"Del'.."

She shook her head, her curls bouncing slightly-Wait, when did she..?- "Right now, only fourteen of the clones in the Western Hemisphere are accounted for."

"What?! What do you-" Cosima stopped, realization slowly making it's way to her, "Delphine, tell me Sarah is one of the fourteen." Delphine looked to the floor as Cosima's voice grew more urgent, "Delphine-"

"I can't find her anywhere!" Delphine all but sobbed as she shook her head, "I made a promise to protect you, to protect all of you, but I can't find her anywhere!"

"Delphine.." Cosima quickly moved, cupping a hand against her cheek before both hands went to grip her wrists, "It's okay, we'll find her.."

Delphine shook her head quickly "I have no idea what this woman is capable of, I don't even know if she is alone! MERDE!" Delphine shouted as she yanked her hands away, causing both of them to lose their balance when Cosima isn't ready to let go. In an instant, the sound of gunfire goes off and rips through the tent as both women land on top of each other. Cosima's body falling on top of Delphine's. A shot from the trees is fired in a different direction as Delphine looks up at Cosima with panicked eyes.

Cosima pauses, all but hovering as time seems to stop and she does a once over to check and make sure Delphine isn't wounded before pulling her up and rushing out of the tent without a word and towards the car that's hidden in the trees. Delphine follows a mere second behind, and as a second shot is fired, Cosima prays on all of the stars that Delphine will make it to the car safe.

As if on cue, Helena has already started the engine with the headlights off. Cosima can just barely see her bleached hair through the windshield in the darkness. Cosima turns around, nearly screaming as Delphine is all but slammed into her before she has a chance to stop. "Are you alright, Cosima?"

"No time, get in!" Cosima gets into the front seat, every second feeling like an hour as she hopes the blonde will follow.

Thankfully, the second the door opens and shuts, the car is already pulling out into the darkness and towards the main road.

No more shots are fired, and as they leave the campground, Cosima struggles to regain her breath as her lungs refuse to cooperate.

Looking over towards Helena, her voice still wavers as she speaks, "Did you get the bastard?"

Helena shook her head, "I shot a leg."

Frenchie parts (Used google, sorry if it's a crap translation):

-I will never lie to you again, darling.

-Please, my love..

-Let me help you

-Come with me.

-My poor beloved... allow me to keep you safe.

-What?

-What do you desire, my love? I'd give you my entire world so long as you do not part ways with me again. I cannot lose you again.