The debt had been paid. Sally would be safe with Jack. And now, Elizabeth could die - happily. But neither of those things were happening very quickly. She struggled to swallow the blood in her mouth, to drift, and she fought to bring up the feelings of satisfaction that had seemed so powerful moments ago. Disjointed thoughts buzzed between her ears; had they been intact, they would've said something like, "Dying of head trauma certainly isn't as fast as anatomy textbooks make it sound."
Sally's warm hand slid away, and Elizabeth felt her presence fade. She almost said, "Goodbye," but remembered that her voice didn't work. Her lips parted; a bubble of red spit popped and dribbled down her chin. She gave a spastic cough that sent a peal of pain vibrating through her skull. Eyes wide open, she was suddenly curious that the rippling darkness of the atrium had lightened - her eyes found the source and a tear ran down her cheek.
With her remaining dregs of strength, she forced out a breath of a word.
"Booker."
He smiled and her faltering heart stopped. Even her addled mind, a shadow of what it once was, recognized him. It was the man she had known, before the horrors of Columbia had worn down his features.
"Hey there, baby girl."
No confusing name. She wasn't Anna, or even Elizabeth, anymore. She was his daughter. And he… he was her father.
"I missed you," she whispered. His calloused hands grasped her delicate, clammy ones.
"We'll be there in just a moment," he said. "You don't have to worry."
I'm not worried anymore, she thought, willing her trembling lips to give the words form. The world lurched and forced a groan from her chest. Booker's hand came to rest on the side of her head, and he cradled her cheek. His blurred face bore a detectable, worried frown.
"We never could leave well enough alone, could we?" The words echoed in her ears. She made one last effort to smile.
"We're DeWitts."
A grimace - possibly.
"Booker?"
"What is it?"
Once I asked you…
"I'm afraid."
If you were afraid of God…
"I'm afraid for you," he said. For the first time in a long time, his gruff voice gave her great comfort. "But you aren't alone."
"Are we leaving… together?" she sputtered. Her eyes rolled back for an instant and she returned. Booker pulled her tight to his chest.
"Close your eyes, baby." It had the cadence of a plea.
She did.
He started to hum. Her body vibrated with the notes; the lyrics came unbidden to her mind.
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by.
Is a better home awaiting,
In the sky, in the…
