Chapter Text
“I’m gonna need blood pressure and core temperature please… Cosima…”
They laid me down on a bed. Someone cut my shirt. I heard her voice.
“Delphine…”
They were all around me, touching me. I noticed a stethoscope on my chest. She removed my glasses.
“She’s hypothermic… Look at me…”
“Are you really here?”
I felt her hand on my forehead, but the light… Stop the light in my eyes. I can’t see you.
“Okay, please leave us… Thank you… Keep breathing, keep breathing.”
“Where are you going? Don’t leave me.”
She undressed in front of me and oddly, I thought it was the first time I'd seen that grey underwear.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m right here.”
“What is this scar on your belly?”
She got in the bed and laid down against me.
“I’m gonna keep you warm.”
I felt her warmth through my body and found the strength to say: “I think I’m dying.”
“No. No, you’re not. I won’t let you.”
“I finished our homework.”
“What?” And she smiled and kissed me. I felt her soft lips on mine and some of her body warmth went through my body directly to my heart. Because of her tall and beautiful body close to mine, at last, I could release myself. I could exhale deeply, feeling the safety of her arms.
I didn’t know where I was, who all those people were. I didn’t even know where Charlotte was… But I knew there was no danger with her. “I can trust her, I should have trusted her.”
Because of my sore muscles, I felt uncomfortable in that bed and I moaned painfully.
“You’re hypothermic, Cosima, you need to warm yourself. I’m gonna help you.” She covered us with a blanket, and kept me tight in her arms.
“Where were you? What happened to you, Delphine? Ms S. looked for you for months. We had no news. I was so worried…”
She reassured me with a look and kissed my forehead, my nose, my eyes, my cheeks, my lips.
“Shhh, shhh… Don't worry about that. I’m here… And you need to rest now.”
I put my trembling arms around her waist, held her as strong as I could. I was very weak but I wanted to make sure beyond doubt she was truly here; that she wasn't a ghost or a fantasy of my tired brain. “I missed you… I missed you so much! Someone told me you were dead…”
Her left hand caressed my hair softly, “Oh no, ma chérie, I’m sorry… I missed you too. I fought to stay alive for you. I… I came back for you…”
Her lips trembled, while my eyes were full of tears.
“Thank you…”
She wiped my tears with her thumb and whispered: “Please, sleep now… I’m not going anywhere…”
“Okay...”
I closed my eyes and fell in a peaceful sleep.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The first thing I noticed was the release in my stomach. Since two months, I had woken up every morning with a huge and awfully sorrowful ball in my throat and my belly. Now, I had not yet opened my eyes, but I felt out of danger and much better than before.
Finally, I lifted my eyelids and looked at her. She was sleeping, her arm on my waist, breathing calmly.
I couldn't help but stare at her; her hair, her beauty mark under her lower lip. “I missed her so much and now, she’s here, in front of me, in a bed, in this, this... yurt? Yeah, I guess we can call this a yurt.” I turned my head and looked around me: a desk, a kitchen, another bed, medical devices. I had no idea where I was.
She mumbled and I turned my head to her, caressing her cheek.
“Mmmmhh…” Delphine said, and opened an eye, smiling. “How do you feel?” she asked.
“Better I guess”
She took the thermometer and put it on my forehead. After a few seconds, she looked at it and nodded, satisfied: “It’s better indeed, but you need to stay in bed. You’re a bit on the cold side, but no longer hypothermic.”
She began to stood up: “I will bring you some food. A cup of soup should help you to warm you up.”
I took her wrist: “No… Stay with me please.”
She sat back and look at me tenderly: “Your wish in my command…”
It’s been a long time since I grinned like this: “Are you the cheeky girl now?”
She kissed my lips and caressed my sensitive skin: “Who knows?”
Her hands on my body were sweet and I felt starved of her, starving for her mouth, her tongue, her hands, her body.
I was exhausted, but I felt like as a fire was lit inside me because of her presence, her close presence. I had missed her so much, and suddenly, the unbearable sadness I have had for weeks was magically disappearing. I took her hand to lead it to my mouth and I kissed her palm and each finger. My tongue’s tip licked her skin, I wanted to taste every inch of her soft skin and I felt her trembling.
“Cos… You have to get some rest…”
Resting was the last thing I wanted: “No… no, I don’t care… I want you…”
She hesitated: “Are you… are you able to?... I don’t want to…”
I took her head in my hands, begging: “You don’t want me?”
“Oh babe, I do want you, of course… But I don’t want to… I don’t know, you seem so weak…”
Her words were cut of by my hungry kisses.
Quickly, my tongue looked for hers and we moaned together; the pleasure of our reunion was overwhelming.
She cupped my cheeks, and I plunged my fingers in her blond and wild curls. She was as starved of me as I was of her. She put her leg between my legs apart and her inner thigh rubbed the tiny fabric protecting my sex; it felt ecstatic. Her lips kissed my cheeks and my chin and went down on my neck.
I panted as pleasure spread through my body and my soul whereas I held her in my arms, my nails scratched her bare skin.
Our hips moved, following the pace of our desire. Her hand caressed me, along all my body and, suddenly, her luxurious palm was on my lower back, on my butt, under my panties. Her cramped breath against my ear was like a gentle breeze of life in my blood.
I sensed her hand moving to my core, as she looked at me, waiting for my authorization to go further. She was so indescribably beautiful… I wanted her so much. I nodded, softly; and I lost my mind while her fingers dived into me and her tongue licked my nipple. I arched my body and her hand increased her pace. We groaned together, she put her other hand on my mouth to prevent me from yelling my happiness. I was so close, I opened my eyes, took her head and said: “Look at me, look at me babe.”
And she did.
She looked deep inside my eyes and I saw her sadness, her pleasure, her fear, her strength, her immeasurable love.
I came into Delphine’s hand, gasping, shaking, trembling, and she was right there, holding me tight.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“I like your way of increasing my body temperature…” I said after I had caught my breath.
“Well… I guess this way isn't taught in North America’s medicine schools because it’s a French method…” Delphine replied with an amused smile and kissed my forehead.
“Do you remember when you swore to love all my sisters?”
“Of course. And I love all your sisters equally, trust me.”
“I know… But you… you love me more than the others, don’t you?”
“Oh you’re still a cheeky girl! Obviously I love you more than the others!”
“I love you too”, I said, adding with a chuckle: “Obvs!” Despite the fact that her smile could be a wonderful ray of light and bring me more strength; I had to rest and I felt my eyes close themselves against my will.
“Dors maintenant, mon amour, je suis là…” (Sleep now, my love, I’m here). I heard from her sweet mouth, a sweet murmur: “Je t’aime, je t’aime, je t’aime…”