a purposeful past | s.s

Chapter Nine

Domino slowly opened her eyes to greet a new day, and immediately wished she hadn't.

The hearty sound of the newsies waking up echoed in her ears, causing her head to throb horribly, her side aching in protest, reminding her all too well of what had taken place the day before.

"Ya feelin' alright?" Specs questioned, materializing by her side.

She groaned in response. "I hate mornin's."

"Ya wasn't sayin' dat every oth-ah mornin' ya woke up he-ah," Specs mentioned. "Yer pretty much always tha foist one up."

She let out a weary sigh. "Gettiin' stabbed tends ta have dat affect on ya."

Specs' features twisted once again with worry. "I really wish we could bring ya someplace ta really get ya fixed up, but-"

"Ya don't gotta explain it ta me," Domino said flatly. "I've been a newsie as long as you."

"Right." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Which is why I trust ya know you won't be sellin' today."

"What?" She pushed herself up, only to be pushed back down by the boy. "Oh, c'mon. It's a stab wound. It'll heal."

"Not if ya keep movin' around," Specs grumbled.

She huffed unhappily.

"Hey, get up," Jack said, poking her shoulder as he passed by. "We've got a meetin' ta get ta."

"Huh?" she and Specs said at the same time.

"Did I not..." Jack trailed off when he realized that he, in fact, had not. "Uh, yeah. Wese goin' ta Harlem fa anudda meetin', 'n you've got information, so yer comin' wit us."

"Uh, I think not," Specs retorted, as she just turned her head back and forth between them, watching this all go down. "She's jus been stabbed. Wit tha knife meant fa you, might I add! I dunno what ya got against her, but she needs ta recover. Tell everyone ta come he-ah instead."

"Right, where - like ya said - I almost got stabbed yesterday. Ya think 'Hattan's safe now?"

"She can't go," Specs practically pleaded, and Domino's heart winced at the desperation in his voice. "Jack, she's already in so much pain-"

"I'll go," she said once she felt like she'd better step in. "Only if ya promise not ta say anythin' 'bout tha stolen objects. Everythin' else is fine."

"Dom-" Specs began as Jack considered this carefully.

"It'll be bett-ah dis way," she assured him. "I'll be able ta stop him if he decides ta run his mouth. And- Specs-" she called his worried gaze back to her- "I'll be fine."

"You can't possibly know dat," Specs told her softly. "You was stabbed, Domino. It ain't like ya jus got a pap-ah cut. Even jus sittin' up could make it worse."

"Don't we still have dat old wagon?" Jack questioned. "Tha one we all saved up for a few years back ta carry 'round loads 'a papes?"

Specs blinked. "I, uh, I dunno. Why?"

He gestured to her. "Who says she gotta walk?"

"I think he's onto somethin'," Domino said, pointing a finger at the boy. Specs shook his head fervently.

"Why do she gotta go at all?" Specs insisted. "Geez, Jack, jus let tha goil rest!"

"She wants ta go," Jack pointed out, to which she nodded.

"She's also got no regard fa her own well-bein'!"

Which was also, admittedly, true.

"Specs," Domino said sternly. "Ise goin'."