Can you guys believe how close we are to the end of the series? Are you interested in reading about Cophine and the other Orphan Black characters afterwards? What do you think?

Sevvy waking up meant we had to force ourselves to be normal. Michael made eggs and pancakes and Teo asked our kid to tell him all about the paper airplanes we had made earlier in Spanish. I took a long shower, trying to let the feel of the water on my head and the negative ions soothe me. Of course I remained tense. I got dressed and spent some time thinking in my room, some of the same things over and over again. Then I switched to thinking about what I could do, what my sisters could do to fix all of this. I knew they had been working in the background, and that we were supposed to connect with Mika in around an hour. Other than that, I registered my brain sparking and fizzling out, not wanting to continue the argument between my head and my heart. Neither of them were sure, anyway.

I ended up pacing, breaking down life into the phylogenetic tree in my head, then from domain and kingdom all the way down to genus and species. It was something I had started doing sometime in middle school, especially when I felt anxious. Things got better in high school, when I got moved into a school for advanced children who valued learning more over being popular. But the habit had gotten ingrained in me, and sometimes I'd find myself doing it at school events, before exams, even at night to help me go to sleep, like counting sheep. When I discovered pot I gradually quit doing this, finding a way to slow down my mind that was experiential and chemical, rather than an intellectual trick, a sort of ritual of repetition I used to bring down my agitation and loosen my hyper-focus. Now I had fallen back upon it almost instinctively, twisting my rings, since I couldn't vape at that moment and the churning of my stomach had interrupted my attempts at meditation. It had helped a little, but being thrust back into the fears and feelings of my past, I guess made my brain run for my teenage safe space. Not that the stress wasn't breaking in, making me afraid and impatient, making me feel less-than and, sweet mother of Darwin, why were my eyes so goddamn dry? When Teo knocked on the door I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"Hey," he said, trying to give a reassuring smile that didn't reach his dark-circled, exhausted eyes. "Sevvy wants to know if you can play with us. He's getting out his action figures."

"Sure, I—"

His phone vibrated, startling us both. He took it out and looked at it with a frown.

"A text… not a number I know," he mumbled, and then as he pressed the screen I saw his eyes widen, and his body tense with a sudden, indrawn breath. I immediately got next to him.

-Hello, Teo. - the message read. -We see you've been a good boy. No outside calls. Follow our instructions. That's how you keep your son safe. -

His jaw dropped and I clutched my dreads, making a sound I hadn't heard since I'd been cured, a high, almost whistling moan cut off by the clenching of my own throat. The phone buzzed again.

-This is what you will do: - flashed the text. -All three of you will come to the coordinates below. You will be there at 7:15 pm. No one else, no weapons. We will know.-

"Michael," he managed to call, hoarsely, not nearly loud enough. Then "Michael," this time louder. We heard the footsteps coming toward us and Michael appeared in the doorway.

"Wha—"

Teo pulled his husband toward us and gestured at the phone. Michael's expression became a scowl as he looked at it.

"They can't—" he started, but the phone shook again, startling all of us.

-Tell Cosima to bring the cure and all her notes.-

"'The cure?'" Teo mumbled, hands shaking. "Cos, what's—"

"The cure!" I exclaimed. "They must mean the cure for the clone disease. But why—"

Teo suddenly began typing back as quickly as he could.

- Who are you why can't we leave our son at home - There was a pause, Michael opening his mouth to say something and me clutching Teo's arm.

"Fuck, wait, " I told him. "My laptop. Maybe we can trace—"

The phone vibrated.

-You'll all come with Cosima. It's nothing personal, Teo. Your friend just owes us something, and you and your son will ensure that we get it.-

Teo's raised his head to look at me, eyes bulging.

"Cos, what the hell do—" Another buzz, making him start, nearly dropping the phone.

- No more questions. 7:15. Don't make us wait. -

Teo's thumbs flew back to the keyboard, but Michael covered it with his hand.

"Don't. They said no more questions," he said, and Teo gave him a confused look of desperation. I realized I was frozen and forced myself to take a breath.

"Wait," I said, backing away. My shoulder bumped against the doorframe and I stumbled a little passing through. I kept going, backing up, my hands raised in front of me, until I was in the living room. I turned quickly and grabbed my laptop.

"Mommy?" came the sweetest little voice from below me, an innocent voice that made my heart stutter and ache. I felt a tug and looked down to see Severo tugging at my skirt, but before I could say anything, Teo zipped between us, picking up Sevvy and holding him tightly.

Michael was in the doorway, fists bunched. For a moment I was afraid of him, of both of them.

"What do we do?" Teo asked, expression strained from trying to keep his urgency in check so Sevvy wouldn't be scared. I clutched my laptop and and then opened it, thunking it down too forcefully on the coffee table. I fell to my knees in front of it and began typing.

"Sevvy, hold on sweetheart," I managed, trying to sound as normal as I could, "Why don't you take Daddy or Papa down to basement? You can get out the fortress for your figures and set it up. I know it's down there."

"Okay," my child answered, but his voice trembled. Shit he can feel how you feel, I reminded myself, then took a deep breath, closing my eyes and letting it out slowly, counting to ten. I willed my heart to stop pounding.

"C'mon, Papa," I heard him say, and Teo shuffled toward the door to the downstairs playroom, his neck twisting to keep me in sight. I could see him hesitate.

"Go," I urged, trying to keep my voice low. "We can't wait any longer. I'm contacting my sisters now." My hands flew over the keys, typing frantically, and I barely registered him nodding and opening the basement door. I shot one more look at him. He and Michael were staring at one another, communicating with their eyes. Teo gave a short nod and headed down the stairs.

Mika, come on, come on, a voice inside my head chanted. I need you now, and Sarah.

I knew the words I was writing were coming out jumbled, but the intention was clear: Answer me. I need your help more than ever before.