"Cosima I am going to stop all of this, it ends now." He clutched at her shoulders, sighed deeply and went to move. Cosima felt an overwhelming encouragement and for one second, just one second she felt like everything was going to be ok.
"Stop." It shocked both of them. Cosima and Dennis turned around. Sometimes people said things in passing that you caught onto as you walked past, but even though both of them were facing away it was clear the command was for them. Cosima looked up, the voice was thick and strong, French down to its core. The man who had spoken stood at the door to Delphine's room, two men in suits like body guards behind him. Dennis went to move forward but Cosima stopped him with her hand. She stared into his face and saw something weirdly familiar even though she had never seen this man before.
"Mr. Cormier?" Cosima asked, she nudged her glasses up and wasn't really sure whether to be horrified or relieved that he was here. She was sure that he was just coming to take Delphine away, but the way he said 'Stop' it wasn't demeaning or victorious, it was almost relieved. The man looked right into Cosima's eyes, the smallest of smiles crept at the corner of his mouth. Then the man looked into Delphine's room, and locked eyes with Delphine. Delphine gave nothing away, their exchange of looks was not happy or hateful, it was just full of recognition.
"Where is Danielle? I need to find her now." Cosima wasn't sure what to do, she wasn't sure whether to start yelling or get angry or be happy or what, she had no idea. "That woman needs to be found; she needs to be locked away." In that instant Cosima felt like she had an ally, she knew that he wasn't here to take Delphine away.
"Père?!" Delphine was at the door, the machines again letting the sound of death fill the air at the lack of a heart beat, but this time Cosima's heart was racing. Delphine grabbed hold of the handle, propelled the door open and ran into her father's arms. Delphine was tall, but somehow her father was taller, he shielded her in his thick arms, he had dark hair in direct contrast to Delphine's golden curls. They hugged for what seemed like forever, whispering intelligible French to each other. Delphine pulled back, she looked up into his eyes with desperately helplessness and seemed unsure of everything.
"I am so sorry for always believing her. I should never have let this happen to you." They hugged again. Dennis took Cosima's hand in his own, Cosima looked up to him, she was still unsure of everything. He looked so apologetic, as if he was seeing himself in Delphine's dad. Mr. Cormier said some string of French, it made Delphine smile a little before they disconnected. "I've got the French police with me. We are sending Danielle back to France, she will not be able to hurt you ever again." Delphine gasped, it was happy, as if the life had been pushed right back into her body, colour came back to her face.
The men behind Mr. Cormier suddenly burst into action, they charged down the corridor, everyone looked towards them. Cosima didn't see what had made them start, she quickly moved forward to take Delphine's hand and stood beside her. The two men were struggling about 15 meters down the corridor, there were screams and a shout but suddenly Danielle was being pinned against the wall, her hands behind her back, what seemed like a blade dropped to the floor by her feet. She was crying out, nurses and attendants ran up to help, but out of one of their pockets the French police pulled some paper like a letter and their ID. Cosima held on tightly to Delphine's hand, Delphine squeezed back.
"You fucker! Va te faire enculer par une moufette constipée!" Danielle spat out. She lashed out against the men, managing to get one back off of her, even stepping towards Delphine just a step, before they grabbed her slashed handcuffs around her wrist. Delphine's dad spat out something in French, it seemed aggressive but passionate and if anything it made Cosima even more crazy for Delphine because she had that fire in her as well.
"If you dare hurt my daughter ever again, I will find you, Danielle, je te tuerai!" Mr. Cormier glared at Danielle, who regained her composure, still pressed against the wall, the eyes off all of the staff shock horror staring at her. She spat onto the floor in a gross show of defiance, before looking at Delphine and smirking.
"This isn't over." Danielle laughed. Delphine stumbled a little before she let go of Cosima's hand. Cosima looked up to her in shock and watched after her as Delphine strode towards Danielle. She stopped just short of her and whispered something only the two of them would hear (and the police), before her hand crashed across her face and Danielle cried out. The slap was loud and everyone heard it. Cosima couldn't stop herself shouting out in proud laughter. Delphine's gaze lingered on Danielle for just a moment longer, before her hand waved her off. Delphine turned and walked back towards her father and again they were together in a tight embrace, the weight seeming to slip off of the both of them. Something was happening, something that seemed long over due.
"I do not understand." Delphine began, she pulled herself back out of the embrace and motioned for Cosima to take up her extended hand. Cosima leapt at the opportunity to hold her girlfriend once more. Dennis stood there just watching and contemplating. Cosima knew he could probably use Janice at this moment, even if Janice was a revolting human being. "Why now, you always believed her and never me. Why have you changed your mind now?" Delphine pulled Cosima in close to her side, the warmth was invited and natural. Cosima missed it. Mr. Cormier looked pained, but his age wore well on his face, the sun in France kept his youth.
"Everything I had heard about you was good. I knew that you were doing so well in this country, that you had made a life for yourself... Danielle came over one night. Unexpected as always, and she told me that you were in trouble." Mr. Cornier pushed his hands into his weirdly American blue jeans, sweat was evident under his armpits in his white shirt. Even at, probably 55-60 years of age, he looked around 40, Cosima knew Dennis was jealous. "I believed her, I organized everything to come here and persuade you to come back home…But I realized the error of my ways. I sent my colleague ahead to track you down, they reported you were with Cosima." At that moment Mr. Cormier looked straight into Cosima's eyes. Cosima felt her heart stop, she was engrossed in the story. The police had taken Danielle off somewhere out of sight, Dennis was stood behind her, and the hospital staff were avoiding the corridor. She felt a little chocked, like she couldn't really breathe. One he had come here and stalked them, but two that he was going to take Delphine away from her. Cosima tightened her grip on Delphine's weak hand. She almost forgot for a second that Delphine was actually meant to be resting right now. She tried to avoid thinking about how this would impact her recovery, even if it was just a slight head injury. "I looked at the pictures and I knew that everything Danielle had said was a lie. It had always been a lie. I spent a lot of time thinking about this, which is why it took so long for me to get here. But I am so glad I found the error of my ways. Your mother always warned me about Danielle." Mr. Cormier let his words sink in.
"The police? How did you persuade them to come?" Delphine asked, she wasn't one to react until she knew everything.
"They have been looking for her for years apparently, you aren't her first." Mr. Cormier stated. It didn't make sense; Delphine had met Danielle in school. Were there others over the years? Mr. Cormier continued speaking in French and it made Delphine smile. Cosima looked up to her love, the way her face was regaining its colour, how it looked as though something good was finally happening. Cosima couldn't help but feel all warm inside. Again, Delphine let go of her hand and wrapped her arms around her father's shoulders.
Cosima took a step back and let the scene unfold, she wasn't sure of the exact details, she wasn't really sure how Mr. Cormier had pulled it of, Cosima knew there was a lot of money in their family, she always had that vibe. She put her arm around Dennis' waist, he rested his head on Cosima's head for a second, that affectionate move solidified their relationship. Cosima would always love her dad.
"What happens now?" Cosima finally said once Delphine was back in her bed, attached to the monitors with the help of the nurse. It was just the four of them comfortable in her private room. Cosima pulled her chair in close to the side of the bed, her fingers intertwined with Delphine's, their warm touch filled with electricity and longing. Her tattoo long forgotten but now visible. Delphine saw it but didn't say too much, she knew it would be revealed in time. They exchanged a look of relief, staring into each others eyes with red blushed cheeks and the weight of the world taken over by someone else.
"Rest." Mr. Cormier said in his thick accent, he was sat on the visitor's seats at the door end of the room with Dennis. The two of them hadn't exchanged many words, but there was a natural connection between the two of them. They were both fathers who loved their daughters, and would do anything to protect them. Even if Dennis couldn't solve the situation all by himself, he tried and he put his all into everything. Delphine squeezed Cosima's hand, even if things seemed to have settled there was the uncomfortable reality that Delphine had been to hell and back emotionally, and that didn't just go away. Cosima knew no matter what, for the rest of the time they had together she would be the best she could be and support her all she could. The time they had left…Cosima gulped at the thought. She didn't mean their mortality, although that was always a pressing issue. She meant the weeks were vanishing in summer and soon there would only be days left until she had to leave. Cosima smiled, and pushed the thoughts away. Her priorities had to be straight. Delphine smiled back, and those big eyes said the rest. Love.