"Just tell her," Alison whispered, dishing the pasta and salad into perfectly portioned matching dishes.
"Tell her what? Thanks for doing absolutely everything when I'm sick but go sleep alone if you're going to have nightmares?" Cosima scoffed.
"Cos, you're exhausted," Sarah added, placing glasses of wine down at the table.
The sisters had their weekly lunch in an attempt to create normalcy. The entire thing made Cosima feel even more guilty. It had been Delphine's idea, for the sisters to just bond between them. She loved the way Delphine thought of the best interest for all the sisters. And her idea had been successful, it was nice for them to compare stories of their childhood. For clones, it always amazed Cosima how differently they had grown.
"Would you just send Kira away if she had a nightmare? Or Gemma and Oscar?" She fired back defensively.
"They're children," Alison offered her scolding glance.
"But Delphine isn't Delphine when she has these nightmares. It's like she's a little girl. She's shaking and crying and whimpering before she's even awake. And she's gone practically her entire life on this level of sleep. I don't know how she does it..."
"She must take vitamins," Alison added. "If you find them, send me a photo of them."
"That's not what's important," Sarah rolled her eyes.
"I like this," Helena announced, already finished her portion of pasta before anyone else had sat down.
"Maybe I'll just take longer lunches and try to nap in my car," Cosima whispered, flopping into her chair.
"Just try to cut back on the nights you spend together. It would be good for you and her to spend time apart anyway," Sarah suggested.
"Good for who?" Cosima snapped.
"Sestra hate doctor," Helena explained.
"I don't hate her. I don't trust her."
"Well I do," Cosima whispered, turning her attention to her food.
"Don't get mad," Alison whispered. "We agreed no fighting."
"Delphine's helped us. No one questions Donnie. Or Felix."
"Donnie and Felix don't work for Topside, Cosima," Sarah whispered.
"You guys don't know her the way I do," Cosima whispered. "I've got to get back to work."
"Cosima..." Alison called.
"Let her go," Sarah whispered. She hated fighting with Cosima, especially about this. She wanted to be happy for her sister but more than that, she wanted to protect her. She had gotten her heart broken in the past and didn't want that for Cosima, especially if it stemmed from their biology.
Helena watched Cosima walk out, her mouth partially open and still full.
Cosima hadn't gotten to see Delphine all day due to meetings, but she felt defeated even before she walked into the apartment.
"Cosima," Delphine smiled from the kitchen. "I missed you today," she offered a quick kiss to the brunette before turning back to the stove.
"Something smells delicious," Cosima whispered.
"Croque Monsieur," Delphine smiled. "I didn't think you'd be very hungry. It's-"
"Hot ham and cheese and egg sandwiches," she whispered, remembering. "God, I'm a lucky woman."
"You have that part backwards," Delphine teased, blushing softly as she placed the sandwiches on the plates. "You asked them?"
"Just like you asked," Cosima whispered, defeated.
"They said the same? You're exhausted and you should have a night to yourself?"
"I don't care what they said," the brunette frowned.
"They want the best for you, just as I do," Delphine whispered. "It is not your load to carry; it is mine."
"I'm not leaving you," Cosima said before taking a bite of her sandwich.
Delphine bit her lip. She loved Cosima's passion, but she knew she was tired. She also knew that if she had another flare up, she wouldn't survive without the rest. Delphine had hoped it would change her mind, not just hearing it from her sisters but especially hearing it from Sarah. As much as it pained her, sleeping alone was best for Cosima.
Delphine's phone rang and she gave it a questioning glance. "Is everything okay?" She asked without addressing who was calling. She nodded as she listened, a trait Delphine had always loved. "Of course, you didn't need to ask... oh," she chuckled uncomfortably. "Then it's good you called. I'll be sure to have something for you."
"Who was that?" Cosima asked as Delphine hung up.
"Helena," Delphine said, the shock still evident. "Asking me to give her a check up."
"At 11pm? You're doing her a hell of a favor."
"Actually, I need a favor," Delphine whispered. "When she gets here, could you run and pick up something to eat?"
"You're hungry again? Even I'm stuffed..."
"No, no. Helena is."
"You don't owe her anything."
"She is your sister and I want to care for her," Delphine's words were clipped. She didn't need to remind Cosima of her promise, her tone did it for her.
"You're good to us," Cosima whispered, kissing her.
"I'm a woman of my word," Delphine whispered against Cosima's lips.
When Helena arrived, Delphine sent Cosima out to pick up some form of dessert for Helena. Not only did it help Helena's appetite, but it gave them privacy for a medical examination.
"Helena, did something happen that you wanted a check up?" Delphine asked.
"No," she said flatly.
"Oh. Let me just get my doctor bag."
By the time Delphine grabbed the leather bag, Helena had a mug of tea in her hand. "I make for you," she smiled.
"How thoughtful," Delphine whispered, taking the mug. She sipped it, noticing the strange taste.
"It Ukraine tea," Helena explained, noticing Delphine's reaction. "Bad luck to not finish."
Delphine smiled, taking another sip as she began the examination.
"Sarah, you've got to get your sister out of here!" Cosima growled into the cell phone. "Drive faster."
"Why is she my sister when she's bad?"
"She's your twin!" Cosima snapped. "Come get her!"
"Why is she even there?"
"I don't know. She asked Delphine for food and a checkup."
"I'm almost there," Sarah sighed. "She probably wanted to ask Delphine to give you a night to sleep. Trying to help."
"It's a wasted effort. It was Delphine's idea. She thought having a second opinion to tell me would convince me."
"What?"
"She asked me to leave her alone so I could sleep. When I didn't agree she asked me to mention it..." Cosima whispered.
Sarah was stunned. She hadn't realized how selfless Delphine was. For her to be suffering and still put Cosima first was mind blowing. For the first time, she was realizing that Delphine loved Cosima as much as she did. Maybe even more.
When Cosima stepped into the apartment she stopped, stunned.
"Quiet," Helena hissed, her voice low. She sat across the couch. Delphine laid, her legs sprawled the length of the couch and her torso against Helena. Her head rested against Helena's shoulder and Helena held the doctor as if she were a doll.
"What did you do?" Cosima demanded, dropping the pies on the coffee table.
"You said doctor needs sleep. Doctor sleep."
"Meathead," Sarah whined, surprising both clones in the doorway.
"I help Sestra. I help Doctor. No fight. I fix."
"You can't fix her!" Cosima snapped.
"She sleep. No dream."
"And when she wakes? What do I say?"
"She might not even realize," Sarah whispered.
"I can't lie to her!"
"If it's in her best interest?" Sarah asked, knowing their fights from the past.
"That was the past, Sarah."
"She needs sleep. And you need sleep. We'll carry her to bed and you and her can get a good nights sleep. And wouldn't that help convince Delphine it's good to stay with you? She'll view it as progress."
"What do you care about it?" Cosima pouted.
"She's family. And if being with her is best for you, I'm going to make sure nothing comes between that," Sarah promised. "I may be overprotective but I'm not unreasonable."
"You'll get her feet?" Cosima asked, kissing Delphine's forehead as they carried her into the bedroom.
When the twins left, Cosima undressed Delphine, changing her to pajamas. Delphine moaned without waking.
"It's okay, I'm here," Cosima whispered, curling into bed. "Let's get a good nights sleep, baby."