Author's Notes:
It's still stuck in my head. Sorry people who are trying to stay updated on my other fic. Next chapter's halfway written. I really need to get the itch out of this one.:P
The story will start to kick off after Cosima wakes up. Until then, you'll have to handle with this.
Today:
Delphine stepped off the airplane, rolling her carry on behind her. She didn't stop to grab her luggage, as she had none. All of her belongings had been shipped ahead of time. The move was almost complete.
The airport in Minnesota was crowded. People were constantly rushing. Rushing to catch their flight. Rushing to get off the plane. To get some food. To get their luggage. To go, go, go. Of course, the rushing wasn't quite like the JFK terminal in New York. But still, they rushed. Delphine felt that airy, empty, breathless ache again in her chest when she thought of it. People, always in a rush to go. Never in a rush to stay. Danielle...
Delphine was a little bit of a hypocrite, ploughing through the masses like parting the Red Sea. No one stood in the way of the tall European. She was in a rush to go, too. Her internship started the day after tomorrow. She had little time to get situated in her new home before her new life began. It already began, she told herself. Just look around you! And she looked. Over in the corner, a middle-aged business man was discreetly attempting to pick his nose. Over by a fast-food restaurant, conveniently placed within the airport for hungry patrons, was a small family disgustingly inhaling burgers and fries down their throats. Ketchup was everywhere. Their cheeks were chubby and they licked their fingers. Beside her walked a travel worn woman with wrinkled clothing, dragging a series of heavy bags piled on top of one another behind her. Yes, surely, her new life had already begun. Americans.
In no time, she'd made it out of the airport and picked up her rented car. The license plate had it listed from Utah. She crammed her carry-on in the space between the driver's seat and the backseat before hopping in, turning on the GPS, and going. She had time to get where she was going.
Just not all the time in the world.
Not anymore.
Danielle...
She saw her ghost everywhere she went. It was only in flashes. Once, after showering with the bathroom covered in steam, Delphine stood before her mirror brushing out her hair. She could've sworn, then, that she felt stead lips on her neck kissing their way up, and that in the mirror looking back at her were those brown eyes she missed so much. She closed her eyes for a moment to relish in it, but when she opened them the moment was gone. Once when she was sleeping, or trying to sleep in an empty bed full of nightmares, she felt arms wrap around her and hold her, comfort her. When she rolled over, there was no one there. The covers were smooth. Not a dent in the bed. Every corner she turned when she walked down the street in France, just out of sight of her eyes, Danielle was there. Delphine could feel her. Delphine could almost see her. A stray glance here and there, secret, phantom touches on her arm or lips or neck, a second look to make sure but whatever had been there would be gone. Delphine would be left with nothing.
Her thoughts brought her round and round, spinning, searching, longing. She knew Danielle was there, with her, the way they say that angels are. Watching over her.
That's why she had to get away.
She pulled the car up, into the apartment complex where she would be sharing a building with someone else who worked at DYAD medical. The moving truck was out front with men grabbing boxes out from it and bringing them inside. Delphine had her work cut out for her. There was a lot of work to do. Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw Danielle again. And when she looked, as normal, there was nothing there.
Someone tapped on her shoulder. Delphine turned around, half expecting to see the woman that haunted her thoughts. Instead she found a gangly looking young man, awkwardly standing before her with his hand held out in greeting. Delphine took it, and they shook, as he introduced himself.
"I'm Scott," he said, timidly taking back his hand. "I'm, uh, I'm your neighbor. We're going to be working together at DYAD, so I thought I'd introduce myself."
"Bonjour," she nodded politely. "Je suis Delphine."
He perked up a little, perhaps in curiosity, at her accent. Scott practically blurted out the question, "Why did you come all the way here to intern for DYAD?" Delphine gave him a sharp look, and he immediately attempting to backpedal. "That's- that's not to say that it's any of my business! But, I mean, surely there were better opportunities in France? Or somewhere closer to home?"
Watching Scott carefully, Delphine nodded again, solemnly. "There were, oui. Mais, it really is not your business," she said, hard. Scott immediately looked like someone kicked him, until Delphine continued. "But, I digress. France is not really my home right now. In fact, I doubt it ever will be again."
"So you are making your home in the US?" he asked again, cautiously.
Delphine gazed out at the movers and the moving van, attempting to ignore the fact that she could see Danielle breathing over Scott's shoulder. She had been trying to escape her ghosts, but they seemed to follow her- ever here- so she sighed, doubting that she'd ever truly escape them. Her heart wrenched in her chest. "Perhaps. We will see."
And that was that. Delphine waved Scott off and climbed inside her new home, through the door, up the stairs and to the right to begin unpacking her new office. The internship at DYAD starts the day after tomorrow. The office would need to be clear.
Danielle watched her, silently, standing unnoticed in the corner of the room. Nearly transparent but with the blue look of death the bodies take post-mortem. A frozen breeze gusted through her, airily, making her feel almost for a second as if she could breathe. She didn't move from her post in the corner, watching Delphine. Danielle would be with her love until she died.
And even then, they would be together.
Together forever.