Chapter 3. Alison's Simple Plan

Needless to say, Sarah's multiple attempts at conning the surgeon's office into revealing the woman's name were an abysmal fail. Cosima was dozing off on the bed when Alison came bustling into the loft.

"Hello everyone." She began tidying up. "Cosima, how are you feeling?" In response, Cosima groaned and rolled over with a pillow over her head. "Oh dear. Sarah, when was the last time you gave her the medication?"

"Chill, Al. She had some an hour ago. It's why she's all…" Sarah motioned towards the lump on the bed as explanation.

"What have you too been up to?"

"We've been searching for… shit Cos, do you want people to know?" Again she was met with a groan that she took as permission to share their morning activities with their sister. "Cos met someone at the dentist."

"Cosima, that's wonderful. What's she like?" Cosima got up, throwing the pillow off to the side, before padding over to sit next to her sisters.

"I don't know… I can't remember."

Sarah jumped in, giving Alison all of the details while Cosima rested her cheek against her ice pack. "And then I called as Beth-"

"YOU DID WHAT?" Alison interrupted Sarah's tale.

"Well, I called and pretended to be Beth. I thought they'd give the information to a detective…" she trailed off.

"Damn it, Sarah. Did you ever think of just explaining the situation and asking politely? Did you have to pretend to be Beth?" The coldness of Alison's voice sent a chill through both Cosima and Sarah. The British woman knew that using Beth would be a sore point for Alison, who was still raw over the loss of their other sister.

Sarah sat down across from Alison, reaching out to touch her sister's knee. "Ali, I know you miss Beth, but she would have wanted this."

"NO! You don't get to do that, Sarah." Alison stood abruptly, seething with anger. "You didn't know her. Just because you played Beth for a few months and screwed Paul does not mean that you know a God damn thing about her!" The tension in the room was palpable. Sarah heaved a sigh.

"You're right… I didn't know Beth personally and that's something I'm deeply sorry for." Sarah paused looking for the right words. "What I do know is that Beth would never want any of us to suffer the same sadness and feelings of loneliness that she did. Can you honestly say that, were Beth sitting here with us, that she wouldn't have tried the exact same thing?" The anger gone, Alison looked defeated and lost. She knew that Beth was the first one who saw them all as a unit, if not a family. She'd be absolutely torn up over Cosima's lingering depression.

"You're right." Turning to Cosima, Alison reached out and grabbed her hand. "Cosima, I will do everything I can to help you be happy… we all deserve happiness. But if we're going to do this, we're going to do in right."

Alison ushered Cosima into the mini van, intent on proving Sarah wrong. Honesty and directness would prevail and she would be responsible for helping Cosima finding happiness.

They made idle chitchat on the way to the doctor's office; Alison asking after her health, Cosima checking on how the kids and Donnie were doing. It was peaceful and Cosima was able to sink back into her seat and forget about the aching throb in her face. She was probably long over do for another pain pill.

"You know Alison, in the US there's something called patient confidentiality. I don't think they can legally tell us anything."

"No. This is Canada. We're nice. They'll help us because it's all in the name of love." As they pulled up to the office Alison began to outline the game plan. "Okay, we'll go in there. I'll do the talking. You just stand back and look sad and lonely."

"I am sad and lonely."

"Good. Now own it and let's go get the dirt on this girl of yours." Alison nodded once, settling the plan, before walking a determined march up to the office door. Cosima could only follow along with the dread that this plan was likely to go as well as Sarah's.

As she walked through the front door Alison pulled her to the side. "Remember. Let me talk. You just look sad. Channel Meryl!"

Alison marched up to the receptionist's desk. "Hello. My sister," she waved behind her towards Cosima, "was in here a few days ago and met someone in the post surgery room." The admin lady looked blankly from Alison to Cosima, who was doing her best to look like sad Meryl Streep. "The problem is that my sister lost this woman's phone number and we were hoping you could help us out." Alison smiled cheerfully.

"Yeah, that happens all the time. It's the drugs. They make people see connections that aren't there."

Cosima stepped forward to give the woman a piece of her mind but was waved off by Alison. "Excuse me. My sister is extremely certain of this connection. Not that it's any business of yours." Alison shifted and smoothed out her jacket, clearly agitated with the woman. "Now, regardless of what you think, my sister would like to see this woman again. We would appreciate your help with this matter."

"Listed lady, I can't tell you anything about another patient. That's not how we do things here. Your sisters just going to have to go on perfect match like the rest of us."

Alison in her frustration slammed her hand down on the woman's desk. "You're rude, you know that? What is it going to take to get what we want?" She pulled out her wallet. Cosima jumped forward.

"Alison, no. You're not going to bribe her." She turned to the lady behind the desk. "Ma'am, please. I just need to know who she is." Her plea fell of deaf ears and both she and Alison were asked to leave the premises.

Back in the car Alison was still ranting about the devil receptionist. "How dare she presume to say what you had wasn't real. In vino veritas. The same could very well be true about laughing gas." Cosima sighed and looked out the window. They were no closer to finding out the identity of the mystery woman and all they had done was majorly piss off the people who had the power to cause her mouth great pain.

Alison's voice flittered on the periphery of her attention. She'd nod and hem and haw at the appropriate times. Truth was that her mind was miles away, thinking about who the woman could be. What was her perfect woman? What would she be like? There were the usual suspects, she'd have the three "S's": sweet, smart, and sexy. But she'd also have to be strong. Her world was a crazy one. Even though they were at peace with DYAD and Top Side for the moment, she feared endangering her newfound family by bringing in an unknown variable. That's not even to mention the potential threat to whomever she ended up with. Could any sane person be expected to accept the fact that their lover was the product of an illegal cloning trial?

"Cosima?" She was taken from her thoughts by Alison's expectant tone.

"Yeah, what's up?" Alison sighed, slightly put out.

"Have you been listening to a word I've said?" Cosima winced. The answer was no.

"I'm sorry… I'm just… I don't know. I'm just tired I guess." Alison softened.

"No problem, sweetie. I was just saying that if it ends up that we can't find this lady friend of yours, I know of the perfect person to set you up with." This took Cosima aback. Alison failed to notice her sisters look of shock. "She's just lovely. She works at Donnie's office. She's a lawyer." It was said as if this was the greatest selling point of all.

"Oh…" Cosima took a deep breath. "Thank you. I guess I'll keep that in mind, but only if we don't find the dentist girl."

"Oh of course. Just something to keep in mind." They pulled up to Felix's building. "Will you guys be okay?"

"Yeah, of course." Cosima reached over and hugged Alison goodbye. "Sarah's been amazing. I'm just going to go take over Felix's couch and rest a bit." She paused as she got out of the van. "Alison… thank you for the help today."

"Anytime, Cosima. Take care." Cosima shut the door and watched as Alison drove off. Making her way up to the flat, her mind went back to picturing her perfect woman. Pulling open the door she was just debating the merits of blonde vs. brunette when she saw Felix and Sarah sprawled out passing a joint back and forth. The room clouded with a sweet smelling haze.

Sarah looked up as she entered. "Cos, how'd it go?" Cosima shrugged off her coat and went to sit by the both of them. "Oh my god, don't tell me Alison's 'honesty is the best method' shit actually worked!" Cosima accepted the joint that Felix handed her. Taking a long hit she exhaled.

"No, she had as much luck as you did." Felix reached over and took the joint back.

"Well, that's just unfortunate but you know what this means?" Cosima just looked at him blankly. "It's my turn. And I won't rest until your lesbian drama has reached a satisfying conclusion." He leered, letting her know exactly what that ending would be. She relaxed in her seat and let herself give in to the cluster fuck this was turning into.

/::::::::::::/

An: Hey everyone. So a bit of a mishap, the chapter published totally in code. So hopefully this one works out. That said I want to thank you for the reviews. I know this chapter isn't the most action packed with cophine goodness so I'll give a little hint about chapter four. It's Felix's turn and with a little herbal help Cosima will begin to remember some of her time at the dentist and figure out just what the connection is that she has with the mystery woman (who we all know is Delphine.)

Cheers.