CHAPTER 25

Dr Olivier shone the light into Delphine's eyes. Checking that the pupils were dilating well which they were. He went to her files and wrote down his observations. Her blood pressure was stabilising still a little low but that was to be expected due to the blood loss. He was just going through in his mind how he was going to get Cosima in to see Delphine.

He couldn't explain why he had to help them but something in his head was telling him that he should. He always relied on his gut feelings and he had good thoughts on this. Packing up his things he left the private room.

"Nurse Astrid. Please can you get Cosima Neihaus for me please? I think she should be able to see her now for a few minutes. I will be in my office bring her there first!"

"Yes Doctor!" The nurse replied as she left the ward.

Making his way to his office Olivier thought back to what Cosima had told him earlier. That it had been because of Delphine that she hadn't killed herself that day. So maybe having Cosima there with her would help Delphne to recover. It is early days but things were not looking to hopeful. Yes the liver hand taken but she was still in the early stages and she could still reject it.

Cosima was sat with her head in her hands. She had not heard anything from Olivier in hours. She was starting to think the worst that Delphine had gone. Maybe she shouldn't have trusted him with what she had told him, but she had to trust someone. Paul and Beth had gone to find a hotel close by to stay in. they were planning on staying around for as long as needed. Cosima had offered them her home but they had politely refused. Saying that it might interfere in the court case having Delphine's friends staying in Cosima's home. Cosima understood that. They were thinking of Delphine all the time.

A knock on the door jolted Cosima out of her thoughts.

"Come in!" She said apprehensively.

"Hi are you Cosima Neihaus? I'm Nurse Astrid from the ICU. Dr Olivier asked me to come and take you to his office; he would like to talk with you!" Astrid began.

Fear took over Cosima's body automatically assuming the worst. Falling back into the chair Cosima started sobbing uncontrollably. Astrid made her way over and took Cosima's hand.

"Cosima it's alright, Dr Olivier wants to talk to you about Delphine's progress. She is out of surgery and is now in recovery. This is what he wants to talk to you about." Astrid tried to explain to the tearful woman.

"Delphine is alive?" Cosima questioned trying to take everything in.

"Yes, it'd be better if Dr Olivier speaks to you. He can give you all the details. I have only been sent here to get you. Please don't worry."

"OK!" Cosima whispered and she allowed herself to be led to Dr Olivier's office. She couldn't think of any other reason than to be told Delphine was dead as to why she was being taken to his office. Especially when he had told her that he would come and tell her anything.

Cosima and the nurse got in the lift. It was then that Cosima noticed that the nurse's eyes were two different colours. She remembered reading about a group of people that did self-modifications such as changing eye colours, following the group dynamic and all being the same, one eye blue the other one green. Cosima was fascinated and she wanted to talk about it to Nurse Astrid but he mind couldn't think of the group that she may or may not be part of. She may have been born with her eyes that colour as it can happen. The Lift stopped and Cosima thought that her heart had stopped with it. Jumping when the doors opened noisily and grabbing onto the nurse for reassurance.

"It is just down this corridor. Dr Olivier is expecting you, please don't worry." Astrid said trying to reassure the frightened woman following her.

"I'm not worried I'm petrified!" Cosima whispered to herself tears springing forward threatening to overspill.

Cosima cautiously knocked on the office door and waited. It felt like forever before she finally got an answer.

"Come!" Dr Olivier's voice boomed out to her.

Cosima slowly opened the door and entered the office. The Doctor looked up and smiled at Cosima.

"Ahh Cosima I have something to tell you that I think you might like hearing! Delphine is now on the ICU ward and she is in the first stages of recovery, but that is not why I have called for you to come here. I am going to tell the police that we don't have any updates on Delphine it is all touch and go. This is so you can spend some time with her. I really want you to be here for when she wakes up and I will do my best to ensure that happens. I am hoping she is a fighter and she fights for her life else this would be for nothing and you won't get that chance. Like I said before I don't know why but I just have this feeling that I have to help you!" Olivier said not letting Cosima speak.

"When can I see Delphine?" Cosima asked quietly. She couldn't believe that Delphine was alive until she saw it with her own two eyes. It wasn't that she doubted the doctor but she just wanted to see for herself before she could even think of relaxing.

"Well I just want to go through ward protocol with you first and then I will take you down to see Delphine." He replied

After what felt like hours Cosima and Dr Olivier left his office. They had to go down to the next floor to the ward. They chose to go down the stairs rather than the lift as the hospital was starting to get busier with it being the first visiting time of the day.

Cosima used the alcohol gel on her hands stood still for a moment as she could feel the panic rising. She knew she had to see Delphine but she couldn't face seeing her in such a position. Delphine had always been the strong one between the two of them so to see her in such an exposed way Cosima was scared.

"Are you ready Cosima?" Olivier asked.

"I don't know if I can do this!" Cosima whispered.

"Hey take as long as you need before you go in. Use whatever techniques you have to calm yourself down. There is no rush at the minute. She is still in an induced coma until the signs of the liver taking are better. Don't forget that all the medical equipment makes things look so much worse than they actually are. I also know that you haven't slept in days so everything is going to be so much more heightened. Just let yourself go with the flow." Olivier comforted.

Cosima couldn't believe how much he reassured her in the same way that Delphine had. It was like he was related to her and he knew exactly what she was like because he was the same. Cosima took a few deep breaths before going into the ICU. She followed Olivier and he slowed when he came to a door to a private ward.

"This is where Delphine is. I will not come in with you. Just remember she can hear you. She won't move but she will be able to hear everything that you say!"

Cosima smiled her thanks. She was too scared to speak in case she threw up.

Taking the handle in her hand she pushed the door open. She let go and let it close on its own. Her eyes fixed on the floor. The only noise heard was the beeping of the machines and the air going in the oxygen pipe.

Cosima closed her eyes and put her head up. As she started to feel more comfortable in the room Cosima started to open her eyes. Her line of sight was at the breathing apparatus in front of her. She slowly moved her head to the left to see Delphine lying on the bed as still as a dead person with just the slow rise and fall of her chest in time with the automated breaths from the machine.

"Oh God No!" Cosima cried as she fell to her knees and tears fell freely.

She knew it would be a bad sight to see but she had not imagined it would be half as bad as what was in front of her now.

Sobs were drowned out by the noises of all the machines, Cosima had found her way to the chair that had been put by the side of Delphine's bed. Closing her eyes again Cosima silently prayed.

A/N I have left this chapter here as I wanted the next chapter to play into it before it goes into the flashbacks again. Once again thank you for all the views and reviews. I am eternally grateful and I love everyone for their support 3