A/N
Did some revisions here and there for story consistency.
Chapter 11 - Think and Feel
Delphine spent the late morning tending to Sarah and convincing the stubborn Brit to eat. She tried to slip away and check on Cosima but Philippe was at her shoulder most of the day. Delphine volunteered to take lunch into the yurt where Charlotte and Cosima were staying. Philippe responded with a gruff, "NO!" Delphine was directed to continue tending Sarah and not to leave her yurt without escort.
"Cosima is fine, yeah?" Sarah asked again while Delphine dressed her hand.
"She is healing," was all Delphine would say.
"You gave her the cure?" Sarah pressed.
"Sarah..." Delphine hissed.
"Right..." Sarah said sarcastically crossing her arms.
"How did you get in this mess anyway? What kind of deal did you make?"
Delphine remained silent and her eyes studied the floor.
"Did the neolutionists finally sway you?" no answer.
"Are protecting Project Leda?" No answer but Delphine's eyelids fluttered.
"You're protecting Cosima." Sarah said with finality. Delphine's eyes jerked up suddenly.
"Now I know the "why". Tell me the "what" Delphine," Sarah pressed.
"I agreed to help the neolutionists study host parasite relationships in exchange for..., " Delphine stuttered.
"Your freedom," Sarah finished.
"My heart..." Delphine whispered almost inaudibly.
Sarah eyes softened, "The cure isn't the only thing good for Cosima. Yeah? Look Delphine, she needs you. And you need her. I'm not the only one who sees it. You've become part of our family. And we look out for each other? " Delphine nodded surprised at Sarah's warmth. "So it's up to you and me now." Sarah continued, "And I really need an ally because things couldn't be worse."
"What do you mean?" Delphine asked.
"Ferdinand has Mrs S and Kira. He wants back into Neolution and onto the island. Delphine he can't bring Kira here."
Delphine nodded. "Who else knows you are here?" She asked.
"Allison, Donnie and Helena."
"And the cure?" Delphine pressed.
"They know everything. I told them to stay put until they hear from me." Sarah added.
"How long will they stay put?"
"Depends on how long have I been here."
"3 days" Delphine responded.
"Helena won't stay put. If she doesn't her from me in the 2-3 days she'll show up here. With my luck, the Hendrix's will tag along." Sarah added rolling her eyes.
Delphine looked at her questioningly.
"They are on the run and staying with Helena. Camped out somewhere very rustic."
Delphine grimaced.
" I need to get a message to Felix, Cal or Scott. Someone who's close to clone club who can run interference with Ferdinand. How can we get a message to Cosima about her clone phone?"
"Leave it to me," Sarah said.
"But you are not completely well, " Delphine insisted.
"Have you learned nothing about me in all this time?" Sarah queried.
-O-O-O-
That night Delphine dreamed of Cosima. They were so close to each other in the same camp just yards apart. And yet so far away not able to speak or touch. The power of Cosima's touch was inexplicable. The small scientist held a power over her that Delphine that she could not compartmentalize. It was all of Cosima that drew her in and kept her there. Delphine was her circling satellite.
In the dream, they were lounging by the fire in Cosima's yurt. Cosima's head was cradled in her lap and Delphine rolled a loose dread in her fingers. Cosima was humming a French nursery rhyme under her breath.
Delphine opened her mouth to speak only to find she couldn't talk. Her larynx wouldn't respond and her tongue wouldn't move. She took a deep breath, calmed herself and tried again. Nothing happened. Delphine found herself beginning to panic, her muscles started to tremble and the feel of Cosima started to fade. "No, no, no," she thought.
With concentration Delphine began to relax and let the desire to form words slip away. The images in the room became more focused and Cosima never felt more real. At that moment, Cosima snuggled a little closer into her lap. Delphine noticed Cosima was tracing images across her knee. Delphine concentrated for a moment. It was a butterfly... no a ladybug!
'Lucky guess,' Cosima's voice chuckled in her mind.
Delphine shook her head for a minute. But she didn't... I didn't hear... what just...
'Delphine' Cosima's echoed softly in her head. 'Since when have we relied on words to convey what we really mean?'
'C'est vrai,' Delphine agreed and she relaxed. She lifted a finger to trace the shell of Cosima's ear.
'I love it when she does that,' Cosima shuddered in her mind.
'I know,' Delphine responded pushing the thought outward towards Cosima
'Je t'aime' the message from Cosima reverberated through her mind like a radio signal.
'I love you, too' Delphine pushed back reverently. Delphine's cheeks flushed and her heart rate picked up.
'I know, I can feel it' Cosima responded. The entire conversation occurred without speaking or looking into each other's eyes. Delphine picked up another dread and rolled it between her fingers while Cosima traced images along Delphine's leg and thigh.
Then Delphine remembered her conversation with Sarah. 'I have something important to ask you.' Delphine thought. 'Do you have your clone phone?'
'My what?' Cosima responded with confusion.
Delphine concentrated on an image of a cell phone. 'Your phone. Did they take it from you?'
'I dropped it in Charlotte's pocket when we left Susan' Cosima thoughts came dreamily into her mind.
Without warning the dream began to shift and the feel of Cosima began to fade.
'Can you get it to Sarah and I?' no answer. 'Cosima?' Delphine pushed out again.
'I love you, Delphine. Pour toujours...' came Cosima's thought over the distance.
Delphine awoke sleepy and confused.
