"Alexa, what time is it?"
The sound of running water had woken her up. It was only 5.15, and still dark outside. She rolled over and groaned, closed her eyes, half fading back into doze and half listening to the noises coming from somewhere in her apartment. When she realized the sounds came from her visitor, collecting her things and getting ready to leave, she suddenly was wide awake, jumped up and ran over to the apartment door, where Angela was just about to head out. Angela's movements were slow, calm, her demeanor did not show that she felt caught red-handed. She just stood by the door and looked at Dom, rather expressionless. But when she spoke, her voice and her words sounded proud and composed and Dom knew she had gained back her control. "I need to take care of some things." She paused and then: "I take it that…this…here…is not going to be part of your investigation?! " Dom was dumbfounded at the change of her attitude and behavior. Angela seemed so collected and determined, that it was hardly believable that the same person, the same woman…girl…had been lying…broken…in her arms, crying, just a couple of hours ago. It took her forever to find the right answer and when she gave it, it was rather her guts answering than her brain. "No." she simply said, holding Angela's gaze until the blonde turned around and stepped outside to make her way down the stairwell.
For several minutes, Dom just stood, staring into the empty hallway in front of her, not really knowing what to make of all of this. She felt drawn to that woman's vulnerability and at the same time was astounded by her strength and ability to put on a mask of bravery and control. And she still had no clue how she fitted in the whole five/nine case.
"He's not gonna make it" she had said. Who was he? And what had happened to him? Was he dead by now? Shouldn't she, after all, find out more about this? It could be, it probably was relevant to the case. She should have followed Angela, or still have had her closely observed. A ton of facts just made no sense yet. Especially Angela's role in this case. Friends since her childhood with the Aldersons, who definitely were the protagonists and main suspects of the nine/five hack. But on the other hand working for E Corps, the very conglomerate, fsociety was trying to harm and take down? Was Elliot Alderson in a life-threatening situation and that's what devastated her? Or was she maybe even close to Tyrell Wellick and his life was in danger? Or was it neither of them? And if it was one of them, wouldn't she have been the key to finding them?
"Are you going to talk at all, or what?" Dom snapped out of her thoughts and faced an impatient and irritated looking Darlene. "You're not talking" Dom retaliated and was in turn answered by two rolling grey eyes. Dom sighed, grabbed her bag to pull out a lollipop knowing this was going to be another nerve wrecking day of interrogation and trying to crack the stubborn, teenager-like, but also troubled and highly intelligent Darlene Alderson.
When she made her way home that night, she wasn't nearly as much advanced in the case as the last couple of days had actually promised. For the last few months she had been obsessed with this case, lived solely to solve it, had forgotten how to be anything else, anyone else than FBI Agent Dominique Dipierro. This was not new to her, but the intensity of the need to sort out the case, the way her heart was in it and felt deeply connected with the people involved in it, startled her and often left her feeling choked and restless.
Dom had made her way up to her apartment and was fumbling for her keys when she, from the corner of her eyes, saw someone sitting on the steps leading up to the next landing. Surprised she turned around and her eyes met Angela Moss's blue eyes staring back at her.
"Hi", Dom said just a little bit too excited and then was awkwardly aware of the inappropriate smile spread across her face. Angela hadn't seemed to notice, she just slowly got up and wordlessly took a step towards Dom. She looked so fragile and delicate, it drew away Dom's breath. As her opposite still didn't seem to be able to make any kind of statement, Dom took charge of the situation and turned to unlock the door, pushed it open and gestured Angela to step in.