a purposeful past | s.s

Chapter Twenty

Domino leaned against some wall back at the lodging house, letting out a deep sigh.

"You seem tired."

Domino slitted open one of her eyes, seeing Lane standing there. "I hate you so much."

She put her hands up in defence. "Wasn't my fault, I didn't ask fa it. How was I ta know Roosevelt was secretly a lunatic?"

Domino grunted and eased herself off the wall. "Can't believe he ain't goin' ta jail."

"Pulitz-ah didn't go ta jail, even aft-ah everythin' he pulled," Lane pointed out.

"Yeah," Domino said. "But that was Pulitz-ah. Everyone expected dat 'a him."

"Still don't think it woulda changed anythin'."

Domino shook her head, her gaze trailing over to Finch, who was talking with Albert. "Ya gotta do somethin' 'bout dat boy."

Lane frowned, shifting uncomfortably. "What's dat s'posed ta mean?"

"Look at him," Domino ordered. Lane did so. "He's a complete wreck without ya. It ain't healthy."

Her brow creased. "I dunno what ya expect me ta do."

"Talk ta him, fa one thing," Domino said. "Make him at least aware 'a what's goin' on. Ya want him ta love ya, not ta be obsessed wit ya. And know where tha problem stems from."

"I don't understand."

"Tha Refuge, Lane," said Domino, exasperated. "Haven't ya noticed? He can't stand ta not be in yer presence, 'cause tha Refuge completely tore him apart. You was tha only good thing about dat place fa him. Dat's somethin' ya gotta realize."

"I don't get it," Lane said to herself. "I ain't like dat. I mean, yeah, I hate ya be away from him fa too long, but... I can take it. I only had him, too. What difference..." her head suddenly shot up. "Oh."

"Dere ya go," Domino said, although she didn't know what it was that Lane had realized. "Seems like ya did have someone else ta turn ta, 'n I guess Finch ain't tha same way."

"Oh," Lane said again, thoughtful. "Yeah, I guess dat makes sense. Thanks."

Domino simply nodded at her, watching as she left.

"You seem tired."

She threw a glare in Specs' direction. "I don't think any 'a us he-ah is having tha brightest day."

Specs hummed. "Ya wanna turn in early? Ise sure we can find a quiet corner fa ya."

Domino sighed. "No, I... I wanna go visit me faddah."

Specs was silent for a moment. "Dere's a reason, ain't dere?"

"I don't think he got long," Domino told him quietly. "I wanna go visit him one last time."

Specs nodded. "Ya want me ta come wit?"

"No," she refused. "No, dis is somethin' I gotta do on me own." 

She turned away from Specs as she said this, but was forced to meet his gaze as he reached forward and cupped her face in his hands. "Yer sure?"

She pursed her lips together, trying to keep strong. But she knew he saw the tears building up in her eyes. "Ise scared, Specs. I don't wanna walk in 'n see him dead."

"Ya won't," Specs told her firmly. "Look, bring me wit ya. I'll go in before you, 'n if he did pass away, I'll come out 'n let ya know. We can get people ta bring him someplace ta get buried if he is... y'know."