When Delphine awoke again it was full morning but not yet early afternoon. She noticed there was plenty of room in the cot as she stretched. She anxiously looked around the yurt and noticed Cosima and Charlotte sitting in front of the wood stove. Their heads were together and they were in soft conversation over a paper that Charlotte held.
She took a moment to study the similar curves of their checks, the tilt of their necks and the crest of their ears. Charlotte was most like Cosima than any of the other clones. In that moment, she decided that Charlotte should remain with Cosima when this all ended. If it ended. Allison wouldn't nurture Charlotte's thirst of knowledge and Sarah wouldn't understand her. Helena. Well, who really knew how Helena would handle anything?
"Delphine, you're awake, " Cosima beamed when she caught the movement across the room.
"Cosima," Delphine smiled and rose to come over. She stretched and settled next to Cosima draped an arm loosely around her shoulder.
"What's holding the interest of my favorite clones so early this morning," Delphine murmured planting a kiss on Cosima's temple.
"That's mushy," Charlotte giggled watching the two edge closer into each other.
"Just wait ma petite, someday that will be you," Delphine teased.
Charlotte looked at her somberly. "When I am older," She murmured thoughtfully.
Delphine and Cosima exchanged glances and got the eerie feeling that her previous guardians never really talked to her about her future beyond the short term. Perhaps none of them ever thought she'd make it to adult hood or first kisses or first loves.
"There's a lot of life out there to live for both of us," Cosima said taking a small hand and rubbing her thumb over the delicate knuckles. "And we are going to go after it. Together if we have to." Charlotte nodded hopefully.
Delphine noticed the firm set of Cosima's jaw. And knew what the scientist was thinking. She stroked a dread turning Cosima's face to her and nodded.
"I agree," was all Delphine said.
"Now, what was my budding scientist studying with aunt Cosima?" Delphine asked lightening the mood.
"The map," Charlotte whispered showing Delphine the painting she and Cosima used when they left the mansion. " I think there's a bunker with a lab over here," Charlotte gestured towards a rocky outcropping west of clearing.
"Did you know about this?" Cosima questioned doubtfully.
Delphine shook her head and asked Charlotte "Are you sure?"
"I heard Philippe and some of the guards talking about it," Charlotte said. "When the nurse came to take my blood."
"It's starting," Cosima said. Delphine nodded. "What about Sarah?"
"I don't know if this puts you in more danger or not," Delphine mused.
"What?" Cosima said.
"Well they have the perfect experiment, a baseline and a variable. As a scientist, who could walk away from the possibilities of studying you both?"
"And Charlotte?" Cosima asked.
"I don't know..." Delphine mused skeptically.
Footsteps approached the yurt.
"Hide that" Delphine hissed gesturing to the drawing.
Charlotte quickly folded it in half and sat on it.
"Clever girl," Delphine winked and rose to meet the door.
"Delphine, What are you doing in here?" your patient needs care.
"All of my patients need care" Delphine answered coolly. She brushed past Philippe and strode over to the yurt where Sarah was healing.
O-O-O
"Sarah," Delphine said when she came in.
"Don't even ask me how I am feeling" Sarah snapped. "I feel like shyte."
"So... that is an improvement from last night," Delphine quipped with a smirk.
She began checking the bandages. The superficial cuts on her face were clotting and scabbing over.
The cut on her hand needed cleaning and the leg looked like it could be infected.
"Ouch!" Sarah yelled.
"Can you get me some herbs and linen?" Delphine asked Philippe. He was hovering over her a little too much.
Delphine knew Mr. Widmore was eager to study Sarah and the sooner she healed the better.
"Sarah, with you here they have a baseline and a variable..." Delphine began.
"Oh god! I should have known I'd stumble into the camp of the neolutionists." Sarah groaned.
Delphine had little time to come up with a plan to get them out of camp. If it was even feasible. She knew one or two people in the camp who might be persuaded to help. But it was risky at best. What she needed was to get a message to the outside. It was time to call the cavalry.
"Do you still have your clone phone?" Delphine asked.
"No, those assholes took it." Sarah snapped.
"Cosima's?"
"I don't know," Delphine said.
