Chapter 5 - Depth and Breadth

"Delphine?" Cosima asked blinking the sleep from her eyes. It was dark out and a fire burned in the wood stove.

She could tell it was late.

"Shhh.. I am here" Delphine cooed and placed a hand on Cosima's forehead.

"I 'm chilly," Cosima asked feebly.

Delphine took Cosima's temperature. "It is just a little low."

"Hold on," Delphine assured brushing some stray hairs off Cosima's forehead. Delphine undressed and slid under the covers again.

"Hmmmm" Cosima smiled making room for Delphine by turning on her side.

"Ma cherie," Delphine purred in Cosima's ear pulling the smaller woman into her. Delphine was often extremely protective of Cosima. Under the current circumstances Cosima enjoyed the attention. However, she had a stubborn streak and didn't want her illness to ever be a cause for pity.

"In a day or two you will be strong enough for the spinal block to receive the cure."

A shiver passed down Cosima's spine as she cuddled in even closer. She still didn't have the strength for intimacy. But Delphine had the touch. She knew when Cosima needed gentleness and when she needed strength.

Delphine wanted to burn her name into Cosima's skin. Patience she told herself as she tickled Cosima's neck. I will wait for the right time to show her the breadth and depth of my love. And maybe if I am lucky, Cosima will wait for me.

-O-O-O-

"Tell me again why you were out there," Delphine inquired while filling the syringe.

Cosima explained to Delphine why the two of them fled the mansion on the south end of the island in the middle of the night. How Rachel had killed Susan to regain a seat on the board of the neolutionists. She told Delphine about Susan's trick to offer her lab to help Cosima find a cure. Once the cure was found Susan's announced her intentions to restart the cloning research. And she locked the cure away from Cosima and Charlotte who needed it the most.

"You could have died out there," Delphine cautioned.

"But I didn't," Cosima said.

"But you could have," Delphine insisted.

"I didn't have a choice" Cosima said wistfully.

It was a circular argument. Cosima knew Delphine initiated the discussion to assuage some of her own guilt. Guilt at leaving and guilt at not returning. It was a formality really because both of them knew Cosima had no choice to leave the mansion with her clone in tow.

"You were lucky, very lucky" Delphine sighed.

"I know, I found you." Cosima blushed. Delphine smiled.

"Ok," Delphine said. "This will pinch a little. It will be like the spinal block we did back at Dyad."

Cosima nodded somberly.

"Once we know you can't feel anything we'll administer the shot into your uterus to get close to the reproductive cells."

"Right," Cosima exhaled turning a bit pale. "This therapy involves the genetic modification of germ cells that will pass the change on to the next generation. This type of gene therapy only has to be done one time to be permanent."

"How soon do you think I will start to feel better?"

"We'll know in a few days or so," Delphine mused.

"There is enough for Charlotte and maybe Alison if we can get to her. After that, we'll need to replicate this and deliver it to as many clones as we can find," Cosima said."We need a lab."

" I know. We'll think of something. In the meantime we should treat Charlotte as soon as possible."

"Do you think this could heal Charlotte's leg?" Cosima asked. "You know in time..."

"I don't know. It's possible since it's a genetic modification that passes onto the next generation," Delphine said.

"But remember, you still need to act feeble and ill. Keep your cannula with you. That is the only way to keep you safe and the only way they will allow you to stay in the camp. For now." Delphine reminded.