Tonight

(I finally found Domino!)

Domino-

Behaving behind bars without an outlet, also known as Jana, was a lot harder than Domino thought it would be. Everything seemed to grate on his nerves. People who he didn't even notice before suddenly started trying to get under his skin. It was like just being Jana's cellmate had labeled him as 'off limits' to the other inmates. Now, without him, they swarmed like killer bees after only one day.

Flopping back onto Jana's bed, Domino stretched his arms above his head and took in a deep breath. He could still smell the man, but that was no surprise. Jana had treasured the bed he'd earned, and it held his scent. They had yet to remove the cot, which Domino was grateful for.

He had found out from the guard replacing Tommy that he would be let out in a week, if he had good behavior. If he didn't, well, he was looking at three more months, possibly longer depending on how much trouble he caused.

I can last a damn week... but can he? He thought, remembering how stressed out Jana had been before he had to let the man go.

"Dammit Jana." Domino groaned as he rolled onto his side and bundled Jana's old blanket into his arms. "Why couldn't they have let you stay for an extra week?"

He was more worried about Jana coming back to jail before he even got a chance to get out to help him, then focusing on behaving. After one day, he flinched whenever he saw a guard leading an inmate around, thinking that it might be Jana returning for his final life sentence. It wasn't that he didn't have faith in the man, but he didn't think that he was equipped to make it in the outside world yet. Sure, he'd come a long, long way, but he was still too reactive. He would hurt someone, or...

Images of Jana's scars marred his mind, and for the first time since meeting the man, he wasn't turned on by them. In fact, he was sick to his stomach.

"God dammit, I don't know what the hell is wrong with me." He said to the ceiling, glaring at the dull grey cement over his head. He'd never worried about anyone, let alone someone who wasn't even with him anymore.

Will he move on? Did he even think I was someone important? Am I important to him? The questions swamed through his head, making him dizzy.

What do I even want from him?

The question would have easily been answered with 'his fucking hot body' before, but when Domino thought about replying to himself with that, he felt like he was dirtying Jana.

Seriously? You've had tons of guys and not a damn one meant a thing to you besides a screw. You don't like, and you sure as hell don't love. He told himself.

The memory of Jana racing Tera outside during a particularly bad thunderstorm made his lips quirk up into a sad smile a moment later, seemingly ignoring his angry thoughts. He'd ended up tripping in a small hole and going face first into the mud. Then he'd just rolled over onto his back and laughed at the sky, loud enough to be heard over the booming thunder as Tera ran circles around him.

"Fuck me."

Hearing footsteps approach, Domino sat up, narrowing his eyes on the guard before him. "Do you want to go to dinner or have it brought to your cell?" He asked as he moved a strand of his dark brown, shoulder-length hair behind one ear.

The man was handsome, Domino would give him that much, but he wasn't interested. Not even when the man gave him a slight smile and what could have passed as a wink.

That's the last thing I need if I want to get out of here. Fuck the guard.

He was about to tell the man that he'd just go get his own meal in the dining hall, but then the memory of the group of guys that had messed with him that morning came back, making him wince. "I'll uh, just eat in here. Get me whatever."

When the man's grin widened and he walked away, Domino pursed his lips and rolled his eyes, falling back on the bed. With his luck, that guard was going to be a problem. Hell, he didn't even know his name.

"Don't worry about him. He's a bit of a whore, so I've heard."

Jerking back up, Domino gaped. Christopher was standing nonchalantly by his cell door.

"What are you doing here, Doc? I don't need my rabies shot." He said sarcastically.

He didn't trust the man. Anyone who handled death so often, and with such little emotion, couldn't be sane.

"I'm worried about Jana." The man said, completely taking Domino by surprise. He hurried to his feet and walked over to the bars, wrapping his hands around them tightly.

"What happened? Where's Jana?" He asked, his voice turning desperate as his worst fears started replaying in his mind.

When Christopher just chuckled, Domino felt like punching the man, if he could reach him. It would have been worth the extra three months. How dare he laugh! My man could be hurting or in trouble and he's laughing! He thought angrily.

"Calm down, Domino. I'm not laughing at Jana's expense. You just surprised me by how protective of him you sounded.

Protective? Domino thought, brows furrowing as he let his fingers slip from the bars. I'm not protective of him.

"Stop overthinking. You're giving me a headache. Now, I wanted to ask you if you still had the phone number of the man that picked Jana up. I don't want to deal with the higher-ups just to check on him." Christopher said, making Domino's eyes widen slightly.

"Wait. You want to call Orion?" He asked, feeling stupid right after he said the words. Of course he wanted to call Orion. He'd just asked for his number.

Instead of letting Christopher mock him, Domino hurried and gave him the digits. When the man actually pulled out his personal cell phone and leaned against the wall beside his cell, then began dialing, Domino moved as close to him as he could.

"I'm off duty right now, technically, but I still have to be here because Tommy still needs to remain as still as possible and be watched." Christopher explained as he punched in the number, then lifted the phone to his ear.

Domino remembered having been told about the attack, as well as picked up some versions from overhearing other inmates. It sucked that the guy was stabbed. He didn't give a damn about him, really, except that he was nice to Jana. He just hoped he didn't die because if word got back to Jana, it could cause him to stress more.

"Hello, is this Orion speaking?" Christopher said, drawing Domino's complete attention as he tried to overhear the other side of the conversation. It was fruitless and infuriating.

He leaned against the wall as he listened to Christopher speak with Orion for several minutes. From what he could gather from just Christopher's words, Jana was doing okay, but not great. He hadn't let anyone come into his room since he'd been given the key to it, though he did let them take Tera out to relieve herself. He also hadn't eaten his dinner and declined breakfast, even though David had cooked.

God damn, declining his food is impossible. Domino thought, right before a bubble of guilt wedged itself between his ribs. When I get out, I have some apologies to hand out.

He hadn't felt bad when he'd hurt the guy, but just thinking about hurting Jana like that made him feel terrible. When the phone was suddenly shoved in his face, Domino jerked his hands up and grasped it like it was a lifeline... because it was. To my Jana.

Without an ounce of hesitation, Domino pressed the phone to his ear. "Jana?" He exclaimed, feeling breathless as he waited for the man to respond. He could easily hear Tera panting by the earpiece, but it wasn't until nearly a minute had passed that he heard a faint whisper on the other end.

"Domino...?"

A huge grin immediately broke out across his face.

"How are you doing, Hun?" He asked, his voice quieting as he looked around his cell. He wanted to talk to him in private, but there was no way Christopher would be able to let him and there was nowhere to hide in the tiny cell.

"I... think I am going to be able to not hurt these people. They seem like they want to be nice." Jana replied after a minute of silence.

Domino could read between Jana's words. He didn't trust them, but he thought that he could control himself enough to not hurt them. It was a start, and certainly made him feel a little better about all of the groveling he'd had to do for Orion to agree to take him. Jana wouldn't be coming back, at least not as long as Orion and his friends were able to read him well enough to not provoke him.

"I'm glad, and I'm very proud of you." He said with a fond smile.

"Why?" Jana replied, catching him off guard.

Why? He'd asked himself that several times since the man had left the previous night, yet he still had no answer that made sense to his messed up mind. He thought about just saying what his mind kept telling him to. That the man belonged to him, but it just didn't feel right as it sat on the tip of his tongue. It felt like saying anything even remotely close to that would be a lie, at least to some extent. So, with a sigh, Domino ran a hand through his hair and responded quietly.

"I don't know... but I don't want to ever see you back in here."

There was silence on the other end for so long that he had to check to be sure that Jana hadn't hung up on him. When the man still didn't respond after two full minutes, Domino shook his head and stared down at the cement floor with a quirked smile. "Can you do me one small favor before you go to sleep tonight, Jana?" He asked.

He heard some rustling on the other end, then a quiet whine from Tera before Jana responded simply with "What?"

Licking his dry lips, Domino blew out a quiet breath and replied, "Eat something. Anything. I have a feeling that you haven't since you got there, but please, even if it's just a piece of fruit or something... The chef there is really good. The best in town, honestly. If you want something cooked, just ask him. He can take some money from my account if he wants in exchange, but please find something to eat."

Hearing footsteps coming toward his cell, Domino ground his teeth together and looked over at Christopher, who was already holding out his hand for his phone.

"I have to go now, Jana, but I promise I'll be out as soon as I can. Hopefully within a week."

There was silence for a moment before Jana replied with a slightly more interested tone. "Okay. You'll come see me first, right?"

The hope Domino heard in the man's voice immediately brought tears to his eyes. The hell is wrong with me? Domino thought as he blinked the tears back quickly and nodded. "Absolutely. I'm coming to get you the second I get out of this place."

He opened his mouth to say something else, but the phone was snatched away by Christopher. He mumbled a quick goodbye, then hung up as the guard who had left to get him dinner stepped in front of his cell. He seemed miffed that Christopher was there, and didn't leave once he'd pocketed his cell phone, but Domino was glad. After a moment the guard gave up and just slid his food under the small raised bar near his feet, then stalked off.

"I'll try to set something up so that you can speak with him each day this week. I think it will help him a lot, because I don't see him being able to handle the beginning of therapy or school until he has something steady back in his life." Christopher said before nodding and walking off, leaving Domino to go over his words over and over in his mind.

Steady. I'm something steady. I can help him, just like I did in here.

Falling back onto Jana's old bed, Domino threw one arm over his eyes and groaned.

"Wait for me, Jana. I swear I'll be what you need if you can just hold on until I can come get you."