AN: Warning for language.


It was dark when Delphine slowed the car to a stop in what appeared to be the middle of nowhere. The clones looked at Delphine expectantly after surveying the barren land around them and half-expecting tumbleweed to roll by, there really wasn't anything worth noting about the empty landscape except for fact that is was so empty.

"Over that hill there is a cave entrance that leads to the Centre, it's a giant multileveled underground facility that goes on for miles...Also I will not have phone reception while I am inside."

How Delphine knew that the Centre was under that hill was a mystery to the clones, there did not seem to be anything to identify this hill from any other.

"And if something goes wrong?" Cosima asked softly, not wanting to think any more on the possibilities of what could happen.

"If I am not back in two hours then you must assume the worst has happened and leave, there is no point you risking yourself," Delphine spoke to Cosima, ignoring Sarah watching behind them.

Cosima nodded and then reached over the centre console and hugged Delphine tightly, whispering into her ear, "Please be safe."

"I will be back in a short time ma chérie," Delphine replied.

Cosima pulled back and Delphine could see that she was nervous, but Cosima was not nearly as anxious as Delphine was. Cosima need only sit and the car and wait, Delphine had to sneak around the lions den and do all the work.

Sarah was not surprised when Cosima kissed Delphine but Delphine was, she tried to just enjoy the brief moment and not think that this might be the last time she would ever get to touch the beautiful woman. Her lips tingled with the silent, unspoken and secret promise of love. But alas the moment had to end and Delphine handed the car keys to Sarah because she knew that Sarah would not hesitate to leave, but Cosima would. Then without another word, she got out of the car, Sarah locking it once she existed, and started walking through the dark to the hill.

Cosima looked at the clock, an act she would be doomed to repeat a hundred if not a thousand times over the next few hours.

"So, you and Delphine?" Sarah asked to start conversation.

"Not like you didn't already know." Cosima's tone was neutral.

"I had my suspicions. Especially after that game of truth or dare."

"I know you don't approve of my actions, but it's hardly any different from what you did with Paul."

Sarah could not dispute that, "But I did warn you."

"I was supportive of your actions with Paul, but yet you refuse to trust Delphine, it's because Delphine is a woman isn't it?" Cosima asked, not taking her eyes off the woman in questions' silhouette against the night sky.

"No, I have nothing against that Cosima, you like the ladies? That's fine, I don't care who you sleep with."

"I like everyone," Cosima corrected, "And you certainly seem to care about my sleeping with Delphine."

"Yes because we know she is a traitor, not because she is a woman. I don't care if you're gay or bi Cos that kind of thing doesn't bother me but sleeping with the enemy does bother me." Sarah replied, noting that Cosima did not try to deny having slept with Delphine but rather admitted it, freely.

"Again, you slept with Paul."

"Yeah but he was on our side Cosima."

"Did you not listen to a word we said today? Delphine is on our side! You said you'd trust us."

"I am trusting you Cos, I'm here aren't I?"

"Yet you still won't trust Delphine. What's it's gonna take for you to just believe her?" Cosima asked turning around to glare at her genetic identical.

"This might convince me if everything goes smoothly."

"Might? So risking her life to get a cure for me isn't enough? What, does she have to die for one of us before you'll believe her?"

Sarah paused, thinking about just why Delphine had to do so much to prove to her that she could be trusted, when enough was enough? "If this works Cosima, if she comes back with a cure for you and no shit occurs then I'll trust her." Sarah settled but in truth, she was already starting to believe Delphine from just her having brought them here, but she was still cautious.

Satisfied with the answer, Cosima turned back around, watching Delphine as she crested the hill and glanced back in the direction of where the car was hidden in the dark, and then she turned away and walked down the hill and out of sight. Cosima's nerves increased once Delphine was out of sight, at least before she could see if shit was going to down, but now she was in the dark both physically and metaphorically.

Cosima looked at the clock again; it had only been a few minutes.

Delphine left the clones in her car with a clear idea of what she was going to do, it was as basic as it gets: walk in, grab the info, walk out. Oh, and hope that her key still worked and no one tried to kill her. No pressure.

The air was surprisingly chilly and goosebumps rose over her skin as she walked. She dreaded not knowing what might be ahead, the future literally sat on Delphine's shoulders and she could feel the weight of it pressing down on her. As she walked she wondered what Cosima and Sarah would talk about or do to pass the time, she wondered if they would fight about her again or if they'd talk about trivial things or if they'd sit in silence. She assumed that they would use the time to once again discuss her while she wasn't there. Delphine knew that Sarah didn't like her and she didn't know why but she wanted the clone to trust her, maybe it was because she was Cosima with a criminal record and different accent, or maybe she just wanted acceptance into the little group and that's why she felt the need to do something to help Sarah as well as Cosima.

Delphine crested the hill and she looked back into the dark for Cosima but the darkness prevented her from seeing even a glimpse or a hint of the woman she desired, so she continued on down the hill.

What if it's a trap? She suddenly thought. No, they cannot possibly know I am here.

Walking down the hill she came to a stop at the cave entrance, the giant darkness standing in front of her suddenly seemed very metaphorical of her future. Taking a deep breath she embraced her fate and stepped into the darkness, walking blindly forward into the unknown with eyes wide open, waiting for the rod cells in her eyes to warm up so she could find the rock door that was the entrance to the Centre.

It did not take long for her eyes to adjust to the darker absence of light since it was dark outside as well. Delphine located the three stacked rocks that marked where the door was and she turned to her left, kneeling down to locate the small stone by the rock stack and pushing the little stone that was secretly a button to open the door; she heard a click and rose once more. She pressed her hands against the bumpy rock till she found the hole in it then she pulled her key card out of her bag and held it up to the hole, a wide red beam shot out of it and scanned the card then a beep was heard and suddenly the rock shifted backwards, allowing Delphine entrance.

She sighed in relief; she was still in the system, which made her task infinitely easier.

Stepping inside she put her pass back in her pocket and entered into the metal passageway, closing the door behind her and turning around to see what awaited her. The area was empty.

The main desk was unattended and a minimal number of lights were on. Delphine looked around and into the nearby offices but it appeared that the place was deserted. She walked out into the middle of the reception floor and looked carefully around her; everything seemed to be in order except for the lack of personnel that made her uneasy.

"Delphine?"

Delphine jumped, her heart pounding hard and fast as she spun around to face the voice, "Doctor Devlin, what a surprise."

"Yes, this is very much a surprise…" The woman said, advancing towards Delphine, looking her up and down suspiciously, "What are you doing here?" She asked, crossing her arms, "Last I saw of you, you were protecting one of the subjects and helping them."

"Well I had to gain their trust somehow now didn't I?" Delphine replied, standing tall and slightly higher than the other doctor.

"What are you saying? That you didn't betray the Centre?"

"How dare you underestimate me! I had to make it look legitimate didn't I? Make them think that I was on their side or how else would I get them to come here willingly?" Delphine asked in a no nonsense, authoritative tone.

"Them? You mean you have more than 324B21?"

"Oui."

"What's the other one?"

Delphine mentally cringed at the clones being called 'what' rather than 'who', they were still human after all and they deserved to be treated as such, "354C26."

The doctor lowered her arms to her sides with a 'hm', "334A25 failed to bring her in…" The shorter woman seemed to think this over for a while, "It seems I was mistaken, my apologies doctor for not trusting you." She said, stepping back to let Delphine pass.

Delphine walked passed her wordlessly but then her associate followed her, falling into step with her as she continued her conversation, "So where are they? Have they been brought in already?"

"Doctor Devlin that is not of your concern just yet but if you must know, no they have not been brought in yet. They are waiting for me in a car just outside." Delphine said, waving her card against a sensor to open a door that gave her entrance to the long corridor of offices.


So, have I confused you about Delphine's loyalties yet?
Please let me know what you think of this chapter because I am quite proud of it and I would like to know your thoughts on my story.