The next morning at Dyad, Rachel is in her office. She's talking with Delphine about the status of Cosima, who last night had taken a turn for the worse while she was meeting with Ethan for the first time. She coughed up blood and then collapsed.
"How is she?" Rachel asked as she pours herself a cup of tea, before going and sitting down on the couch with Delphine.
"The growths have spread from Cosima's uterus and lungs to her esophagus, all her epithelial tissue, and now her kidneys." Delphine disclosed as she looked down sadly.
"We know there's a way." Rachel uttered
Delphine looked up at Rachel, "Yes, but it's Orla."
"Only until we can buy the time for Duncan to find a cure." Rachel informed, "We need to convince Roisin we have no designs beyond that treatment."
Delphine was shaking her head slightly, "Duncan was one thing. But her daughter? Especially when her daughter was already in this facility after being kidnapped by Leekie."
"Please." Rachel pleaded, "Things are different now. I've been lied to as well."
"She won't believe you." Delphine told Rachel
Rachel looked directly into the woman's eyes, "Do you?"
"I am in the middle, committed to my subject." Delphine dodged
"Well said." Rachel replied as she put her mug down on the coffee table. She stood up and walked around, "Dr. Cormier, I'd like you to take over as Interim Director of the program."
"Me?" Delphine questioned
Rachel gave a nod, "The chair is vacant. You understand the human side, and the science, you'd be a wonderful ambassador."
'Oh now I understand.' Delphine thought before she spoke, "And you need to sway Roisin."
"It's not a bribe or a ploy." Rachel assured as she walked back over to Delphine, "You're uniquely qualified." She sat down, "We can take this program in an entirely new direction."
Delphine just stared at Rachel the whole time. She wasn't sure if she believed her, but taking the job would be the best way to help Cosima and her sisters. It would be the best way for her to keep her promise to Cosima about loving all of the sisters.
Meanwhile with Orla and Lorcan, they were in a cabin in the middle of the woods. There was no internet out there, only cell reception in case of an emergency. They were completely off the grid. With Dyad and possibly Neolution after Orla, it was best to go 'into the black' essentially.
Orla had barely slept a wink. She couldn't help but think about Cosima, who she could feel growing weaker and weaker. She had been awake since long before her brother awoke, and when he woke up Orla tapped him on the shoulder.
"Lory, I'm worried about Auntie Cosima." Orla uttered
Lorcan turned and looked at his sister, "Why?"
"Don't you feel her?" Orla wondered, "She's getting weaker everyday."
"I guess I can't feel her as strongly as you." Lorcan replied
Siobhan was outside with Benjamin. They were talking about a contingency plan in case their current location became compromised, when all at once Siobhan heard her phone ringing and Orla calling her name to announce that she was hungry and tired.
Siobhan yelled 'just a minute' to Orla, before answering her phone and heading back inside the cabin, "Hey Chicken, what's up?" She listened to her daughter ramble on about Delphine and Rachel, before she interrupted, "Wait? What? Slow down. Rachel wants what now?"
Roisin took a breath, "Delphine paid a visit to Sarah and I. She wants some of Orla's bone marrow to cure Cosima. Sarah already told her about how Orla pulled out her own tooth, but bone marrow. I won't allow it."
"Why does Cosima need the bone marrow?" Siobhan asked, "They have Duncan now."
"Delphine said that the stem cells from Orla's tooth had limited effect. The disease is spreading too rapidly, but if they can reboot Cosima's immune system then another treatment of bone marrow could cure her altogether." Roisin explained
Siobhan was silent for a little bit while she was thinking, "So they'll take bone marrow from Orla twice?"
"Yeah, which is why I told her no." Roisin added
"Unfortunately it's not up to us." Siobhan replied
"She's five years old, S. We're not asking her. She doesn't get a say." Roisin informed
In the background, Roisin could hear her daughter's little voice asking 'Is that Mummy? Are you talking to Mummy?'.
Siobhan nodded to the little girl, "Yeah. I'm talking to your mum. Do you want to talk to her? She has something important to ask you."
"Do not put..." Roisin started. Then she quickly changed her tone as she heard 'Hi Mummy', "Hey Flower, how are you?"
"I'm good. I miss you, Mummy." Orla said, "Mrs. S says you have something to ask me."
Roisin paused briefly and took a breath, "Yeah, I do. It's about Auntie Cosima."
"I know. She's getting weaker. Is she gonna die?" Orla wondered. She could feel her aunt and could tell that she was getting weaker, because she didn't feel her as strongly anymore.
"She might, Chickie. I don't know." Roisin replied
"Does Auntie Cosima need another tooth?" Orla questioned
Roisin sighed softly, 'Why is this so hard?' She thought. Then she spoke, "No, she needs something different now. Something called bone marrow. The doctors take it out of your hip, but they have to use a big needle and I know you don't like needles, but they, uh, they put you to sleep. You won't actually feel anything."
The line was quiet with the exception of Orla biting her lips, which she did when she was nervous.
"Orla, you don't have to feel bad if you don't want to do it." Roisin assured
"I'll do it, Mummy." Orla uttered
Roisin let out a breath, "Oh gosh, you're the bravest thing I know."
"I love you, Mummy." Orla added
"I love you too, Flower." Roisin responded
Roisin heard Siobhan's voice come back on the line, "I'll bring them back into town. I know a pediatrician who can do the extraction of the bone marrow, and then I'll have Delphine deliver it back to Dyad."
"Okay." Roisin agreed, "I'll see you soon."
After getting off the phone with Siobhan, Roisin sighed as she ran a hand through her hair and mumbled 'shit' under her breath over and over again.
"What's the matter?" Sarah wondered
Roisin hugged her sister, "Everything is shit. Orla agreed to the bone marrow extraction."
"I'm sorry." Sarah apologised as she hugged her sister back, "Orla's really smart and knowledgeable. Even more so than Kira."
"I know. She's brave too, but I just….she's still really little." Roisin uttered
Sarah pulled away and looked at Roisin directly in the eyes, "Everything is going to be okay. S won't let anything happen to Orla."
Roisin nodded, "I know. I just feel like a terrible mother allowing my daughter to donate bone marrow to save our sister. Especially after she just pulled out her tooth, which I am still mad at you and Felix about."
"Understandably." Sarah added, "I will never leave you."
"And I promise I'll never leave you again." Roisin assured, "I'm sorry that I left all those years ago."
Sarah nodded, "I know. I've already forgiven you, Rosie-Posie." She smiled.
On the drive back into the city in the car with Siobhan, Lorcan, and Orla. Lorcan was sitting up in the front seat beside Siobhan, while Orla was fast asleep in the backseat.
"Are you sure that letting Orla donate her bone marrow is a good idea, Mrs. S?" Lorcan asked
"It's up to her. If she wants to do it, then we have to support her." Siobhan explained, "Why do you ask, love?"
Lorcan took a breath, "I'm worried that she made her decision based on how she is feeling. Last night, she was tossing and turning all night. That's why she's so tired now, because she barely slept. She's worried about Aunt Cosima. She's getting weaker, which I can feel, but Orla feels it more strongly than I do. She has a stronger connection to Mum and her sisters than I do."
Siobhan gave a nod, "I'll take that into consideration. Your Mum and I will talk with Orla again and then have her talk with your Aunt Cosima."
"Okay. Thanks Mrs. S." Lorcan replied
"It's no problem, Chicken." Siobhan assured him
Lorcan smiled, "Why do you call everyone 'chicken'?"
"Oh it's just...I don't know." Siobhan stuttered. The truth was that she called those that she considered like children to her 'chicken', because she was like a mother hen protecting her chickens.
Back with Felix's flat with Helena, Kira, and Felix. Helena and Felix were playing with Kira in the fort. Kira was talking and laughing, while Helena and Felix were just engaging in their niece's little world.
Suddenly Kira started doing that thing that she does sometimes. She was just staring off into space.
"Kira." Felix called. No answer.
"Angel?" Helena questioned. Still no answer
Felix waved his hand in front of his niece's face, "Kira."
Kira blinked as she shook her head, "Uh."
"What is it, Angel?" Helena wondered
Kira looked at her aunt, "I saw babies. Your babies, Auntie Helena."
Helena just hummed as she and Felix looked at each other. Neither one of them knew what to say.
Later at Siobhan's house with Sarah and Cosima, Sarah was explaining to Cosima what was happening with Orla before Siobhan and Roisin brought Orla and Lorcan into the house.
"So Orla is going to come in any minute." Sarah started, "She really wants to donate bone marrow to you, but Lorcan is worried that it may be because Orla is feeling how weak you are. We just need you to make sure that she fully understands and is aware of what she is agreeing to, and that it's not just coming from her emotions."
Cosima nodded, "Of course, Sarah. Orla's a little girl. I don't want her to do this any more than you or Roisin don't want her to, however I won't try and talk her out of it. I'll just make sure she fully understands, but I have a feeling that she does. She's a pretty smart little girl."
Sarah was about to respond to Cosima, when Orla came running into the house shouting 'Auntie Cosima!'. Lorcan walked in soon after his sister, who frowned upon seeing the cannula that her aunt was wearing. It was a bit scary to a little girl.
"Hey Orla. Lorcan." Cosima greeted with a smile as Sarah left the room and followed Roisin and Siobhan into the kitchen.
"Hi Aunt Cosima." Lorcan said as he hugged her and then went and sat beside her.
However Orla just stared at Cosima and the cannula that she was wearing. She kind of inched away from her aunt. As much as the little girl wanted to hug Cosima, she was scared that she'd hurt her.
Cosima smiled at her niece, "Hey, it's okay. I'm okay. Come give me a hug. I missed you."
"I missed you too." Orla uttered as she walked over and hugged her aunt.
Cosima hugged her niece back as she picked her up, and placed her on her lap, "So your mom, Aunt Sarah, and Mrs. S tell me that you want to donate bone marrow for me?"
Orla nodded, "Delphine needs it to save you."
"I don't think is a good idea though." Lorcan added
"Orla, did Delphine tell you this?" Cosima wondered
"No." Orla replied, "I just felt it. I'm your cure."
Cosima took a breath, "You know that you don't have to be. Right, Orla?"
"I know, but I want to. That's why I pulled out my tooth for you." Orla informed, "Did it help?"
Cosima smiled, "And that was so sweet. It did help. Thank you."
"Why do you want to help Aunt Cosima?" Lorcan inquired as he looked over at his sister.
Orla shrugged, "Because I had a dream that Auntie Cosima died before Duncan could find a cure for her." She leaned her head against her aunt's chest, "I don't want you to die."
"Well dreams are just dreams, Orla. They're not real." Cosima explained as she rubbed the little girl's back.
"Not mine. They always come true." Orla stated, "Before Leekie took me and Lory I had a dream that we were going to get taken from Mummy. And I saw Dr. Leekie's face in my dream."
Cosima sighed, "Oh sweetheart. Are you really sure that you want to donate your bone marrow? It's okay if you don't want to, or if you've changed your mind."
"No, I want to." Orla insisted, "I'm brave. I can do it."
"Orla wants to help you, because she knows that Mum would do the same for her if she was sick." Lorcan disclosed, "And so would you, Aunt Sarah, and Aunt Helena."
Cosima gave a nod, "You're absolutely right. We totally would."
Later while the were waiting at the hospital for Benjamin to return with Delphine, Siobhan was sitting down, Felix was standing, and Roisin was pacing the floor. The paediatric surgeon had already taken Orla back into a room, but hadn't started the procedure yet.
Once Benjamin was seen walking in with Delphine behind him, Siobhan and Sarah stood up, and Roisin stopping pacing. The paediatric surgeon came out to greet the people.
"I have her phone. She's clean. So's the kit." Benjamin uttered
"Thank you, Benjamin." Siobhan replied. She turned her attention to Delphine, "This is Dr. Parks. She'll be doing the procedure."
Dr. Parks smiled and shook Delphine's hand, "Hello."
"I'll take you back when you have what you need." Benjamin told Delphine from a step behind her.
Delphine shook Dr. Parks hand and then addressed Felix, "Hello, Felix."
"Delphine." Felix said bitterly
Roisin stepped forward, "Hey, you promise you'll take care of Cosima, yeah?"
Delphine gave a small nod, "Yes."
"Let's see how Orla's doing." Dr. Parks stated
Dr. Parks turned around and started walking back the way she had come from. Roisin and Felix followed her. Delphine went to follow as well, but she was stopped by Siobhan stepping into her path and telling her that she could wait until they were ready for her.
Roisin, Felix, and Dr. Parks were now back with Orla. Dr. Parks was prepping for the procedure. Delphine was in the room, but she was standing in the background. Orla was laying on her stomach with a cannula in her nose feeding her oxygen and an I.V. in her arm. Roisin was squatted down holding Orla's hand as she talked to her.
"I'm going to be here the whole time." Roisin promised, "Okay?" Orla nodded as Roisin spoke again, "And I'm going to hold your hand."
"Can you count back from one hundred for me, Orla?" Dr. Parks asked
"100, 99, 98…" Orla counted as she started trailing off, feeling sleepy from the I.V. fluids, "97.." And then she was out.
Roisin sighed as she looked at her little daughter while holding her hand, "Sleep tight, Flower."
Felix had squatted down beside Roisin. He kind of played with her hair a little bit. The way he used to when he was a kid. He just wanted his sister to feel calm and relaxed. He didn't want her to be worried or scared.
Roisin glanced up to see Dr. Parks sticking a large needle into her daughter's hip, and she had to look away immediately. She put her head back down, and gazed at Orla's face with tear filled eyes.
"Oh my gosh." Roisin uttered
"She won't feel a thing, I promise." Delphine assured
Roisin let out a shaky breath, "What kind of mother am I?" She was mostly talking to herself, but she was just loud enough that everyone could hear her.
"The best and the bravest." Delphine replied, "And a very, very good sister."
"Oh...I'm so sorry." Roisin whispered to Orla as she touched the top of the little girl's head.
When Dr. Parks finished the procedure, she told Roisin that Orla would wake up in a few hours, but that she should rest there for the night.
"Orla will be fine in a could of days." Delphine added as she Roisin was standing up.
Rosin nodded, "And Cosima?"
"This, gives her a real chance." Delphine informed
Felix kissed Roisin's forehead as she turned to hug him, but while still holding Orla's hand with her right hand. He hugged her back and just tried his best to comfort her in this hard time.
Meanwhile with Cosima, Scott, and Ethan. With help from Ethan, Scott was working on decoding the genetic sequences. Since the decoding would take awhile Cosima was able to have a conversation with Ethan, which she was grateful for. There were so many questions that she had. She wasn't able to get all of her questions answered, but she did get quite a few of them answered which satisfied her. She was just thrilled to be in the presence of the man who created her and her sisters.
Later that night in the hospital while Orla was asleep and recovering. Lorcan was asleep on the window sill while Roisin was just staring out the window, and then Siobhan walked into the room.
"Hey, chicken. I don't know why. Delphine's here. She's outside." Siobhan informed.
Roisin stepped out of the room and walked outside of the building to see what Delphine wanted. During their conversation, she found out some interesting information about Rachel. Delphine wasn't able to tell Roisin much, because she didn't know much herself. All she knew was that Rachel might make a move for Orla.
Roisin thanked Delphine for the warning and then headed back inside the hospital as she rushed up to be with Orla. After hearing Delphine's warning, she didn't want to leave Orla alone even for a second.
Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated.
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