CHAPTER 21

A/N This chapter is more about the police talking to Cosima in the side room of the hospital. There will be flashes into the operating room where Delphine is being treated. Trigger Warning, death and suicide is talked about and also a bit of violence.

For those of you that wondered why there was a star after the little bit about Felix I forgot to put on the last chapter that there will just be mentions of Felix for the next few chapters. There is a reason for this and it will become clear. Also the flashback scenes I mentioned earlier in the story will be making an appearance in the forthcoming chapters. I am going to be introducing Vic soon so be prepared

"As you can understand Ms. Neihaus we have to explore every possibility. We have knowledge of the case against Ms. Cormier and we know that you are not supposed to be in contact. So please explain to me why Ms. Cormier would be shot at?" The Officer whose name she couldn't remember asked.

"I have already explained I didn't think anyone would want to do that. Delphine is loved by everyone she comes into contact with. Myself included. This case against her is a load of bollocks! My mother just doesn't want me to be happy. She wants me to depend on her. I have MS not fucking some incurable disease!" Cosima said getting angrier.

"Ms. Neihaus please calm down. We need to ask this. We have to find out why this has happened as you know. So do you think your mother had anything to do with this? Or your sister?" She asked.

"Mum? Well I wouldn't put it past her but murder she is all talk more than anything. Sarah no way would she do this or be a part of it. She has her family she wouldn't do anything to jeopardise that. She wasn't happy about it, I can tell you that now but no she wouldn't!" Cosima thought back to the conversation with her sister.

"OK Cosima. Do you think that Delphine could have been attempting suicide?" The officer asked a gobsmacked Cosima.

The surgeon called out for more blood. Blood covered the floor and the bed. Trying to repair the liver was getting harder and harder. No sooner had the blood been removed than it appeared again.

"OK we are going to have to clamp the arteries, try and stem this blood loss!" He shouted out into the theatre.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep the machine flat lined.

"Start compressions, we are not going to lose her today. Get the cart over here. We need to shock her! Get the line in! 10mls of adrenaline and charge to 180!" the nurse shouted out her orders. The surgeon stood back.

"Stand clear! Shock!" the order was shouted everyone went quiet listening to the beep continue.

"OK charge again. We will give it one more try at 180 before we go to 360! Continue with the compressions!"

The surgeon clamped the Femoral artery during this pause in shocking.

"OK Clear! Shock!" was shouted out again.

Again the theatre went quiet. Suddenly there was a gap in the beep. Then another.

"Thank God we have her back. Let's make this count get back to work guy's great job!"

"Delphine suicide? You are kidding me? Delphine is the most together person I have ever met. The fact that she is still around even after losing her parents the way she did is a testament to her strength." Cosima snorted. How could they even suggest that!

"There are no witnesses, nobody saw anything untoward. That is why we have to ask. Maybe the strength she had been showing just disappeared? Could she have been messing with a gun, maybe one she got for protection and she shot herself accidently?" Cosima was asked.

"Listen Delphine hated guns with a vengeance. I tried to take her paintballing once and she point-blank refused to go in. she is the kindest most gentlest person you will ever met!" Cosima gushed about her girlfriend.

"I know this is hard to listen to. Would you want to hurt Delphine in any way? I mean she has come into your life turned it upside down, split you and your family up. I wouldn't blame you if you had some resentment towards her?"

"Fucking hell. I love the woman! I wouldn't wish anything on her. She is my everything. I wouldn't change any of what has happened. She has made me a better person and made my life so much better. I think you should leave now!" Cosima shouted.

"When I met Delphine I was the one who was contemplating suicide because I felt so smothered by my mother's interference in my life. I actually wished myself dead. I didn't want a carer I am not that sick yet. Everyone else thought different though. The day I met Delphine I had gone in to do interviews with my uncle because that was what my mother wanted. I had gone up to the roof with the excuse to go and have a smoke. I stood on the edge for what felt like forever. I had bumped into Delphine as she came out the lift and I was going into it. I saw her and doubts about doing it. I went back in and I saw her again. I knew that meeting her was fate." Cosima admitted, shocking herself at her honesty at that moment.

"Thank you Cosima, that will be all for the minute. I am going to go and make a few calls but I will be back with you shortly. I may have some more questions for you." The Officer said. "Oh and Officer Bell will be coming in to speak to you soon also. Something about the case."

Cosima nodded. She was exhausted; she just wanted to know that Delphine was alright. She hated the waiting. It was now into the fifth hour at the hospital but it felt like the second day. The officers left the room. Cosima took out her phone. She started her text to Paul.

They think that Delphine was thinking about suicide. She wasn't was she? She is still in theatre no news at the minute. Be here soon xCx

"How long till that liver gets here from Birmingham?" The surgeon asked urgently.

"The last update was that they had just got to the outskirts of the city, so hopefully within the next half hour." The nurse responded.

"When it gets to the hospital I don't care who you have to knock down I want it run here. I am not sure how much longer we can keep her like this before serious damage occurs. We are lucky that we were able to clamp off some of the Mesenteric arteries and stem the blood flow into the liver." He said.

"Doctor, we are sending for more blood. How many units do you suggest and how many saline?" the nurse asked.

"Get 5 units of O neg and 3 units of saline. Increase the oxygen flow from 2 to 3. Check her stats every 15 mins."

"Doctor the helipad has just reported that the helicopter has just landed. The liver is on its way down now."

"OK everyone get ready. I am going to start removing the old liver now. This is going to be a long night so don't be prepared to get home anytime soon!"

Everyone bustled about, nurses brought the equipment. New doctors scrubbed in. the theatre bustled how it should.

Cosima sat on the floor of the room her head between her knees. Taking deep breaths she tried to process what the police had implied about Delphine. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, she ignored it. She needed to have a clear head and talking to people would not let her do that. Delphine wouldn't consider killing herself. Yeah they both hated the situation they were in but with the exchange of the new phones they had a way of still being together without actually being together.

Cosima was deep in thought when the door opened and Officer Bell walked in.

"Hey there Cosima. How are you holding up?" He asked genuinely concerned.

"What do you care you arsehole!" Cosima spat at the man who was trying to destroy her relationship.

"It is hard to believe but I do care. This was not the case I wanted to be a part of. I believe you and Delphine when you have told me your version of events. I was forced onto this case." He tried to explain.

Cosima's head shot up! "You didn't want the case? But you took great pleasure in destroying both me and Delphine! If I wouldn't get locked up I would smash you in the face right now. You give me all these fake platitudes and you expect me not to react! You are worse than the scum that shot Delphine! In fact I hope that they come after you!"

"I'm going to let that little tirade go because I know you are very upset about Delphine and you are taking it out on me. My visit is not going to be a pleasant one I am afraid. I am here to inform you that Delphine breached her bail conditions by calling you. If she manages to survive what has happened she will be arrested and detained until the trial. Once Delphine is awake and alert you are to have no contact with her what-so-ever. If you do then you risk being arrested too. Whilst you have not been formally arrested as of yet this will change. If Delphine dies then I will have to arrest you on suspicion of being a part of her death. Do you understand? I thought tooth and nail to get it that it was when Delphine came round. My superiors wanted it from now. I am putting my neck on the line for you!" Art explained.

"So basically you have come to tell me to stay away from Delphine be it now or a week down the line. Have you got no morals at all?!" Cosima shouted as she stood. Anger taking over her body causing her to shake uncontrollably. She turned away from the Detective and clenched her fist. White rage coursing through her veins. She turned and hit the wall behind the officer.

"That is what I think of what you have just said!" Cosima spat as she looked down at her bloody hand.

"And this….. This is for Delphine, she would hate you so much right now. She would never show it though, so I am on her behalf! Now GET OUT!" Cosima screamed and Art left the room I haste.