AFTER TITANIC

BOOK ONE

Chapter Thirty-Five

The hospital was bright and full of visitors visiting patients, but there was only one patient Rose wanted to see. A young man with the blondest hair and the most intense blue eyes, even though he had those eyes closed right now.
"Jack Dawson please. I'm his wife," Rose went up to the nurse's desk where a plump woman was sitting.
"Room at the end of the hall," the woman snorted.
"Thank you," Rose nods, following the nurse's direction. When she reached the room she gasped to see Jack so pale and lifeless...just like he was on Titanic, except now there was no ice forming in his hair.
Molly was sitting next to him, reading a book on the life of Michealangelo. She smiles half-heartedly as she spies Rose in the doorway. "He's sleeping like a baby Rose. Should wake up any minute."
She didn't say anything. She just looked down at him, still not believing that this was happening. This time yesterday he was awake and well. He was looking forward to renewing his vows with her. But now here he is, pale and lifeless. Just like her father was before he died. "Oh Jack...my poor Jack," Rose reaches down and strokes back his blond hair. "Wake up my love."
"Poor Rosie. You should be at home resting," Molly stands up and places her arm around her. "Not here in this cold hospital. Jack would want you safe and warm."
"I'm fine Molly. As long as I'm with him, I'm fine," Rose sniffed. "Don't worry about me."
"Rose?" a all too familiar voice comes from the doorway.
"Oh my lord, look who it is," Molly pales. She never expected to see this man ever again, especially not here.
Rose turns and nearly faints. How did he find her? What did he want? Did he come to finish Lee's handiwork? "Cal?"
"Oh my goodness Rose. I thought you were dead," Cal immediately takes a stunned Rose in his arms. "I looked all over the Carpathia for you and couldn't find you anywhere, then when I looked on the survivors list I only saw one Rose and her last name was," Then he takes a look at the unconcious Jack, who was unaware of what was going on. "Dawson. Of course. I should have known."
"What do you want Cal? Why are you here? To finish the job?" Rose is now angry. Angrier than she's ever been in all her life. It was Cal...rather a man like Cal that had put Jack in that hospital bed. At that moment she wanted to claw his eyes out. Make it so he couldn't hurt anyone else ever again.
"Of course not Rose. I had no idea you two were here. In fact what did happen? Why is he in here?"
"What do you think?" Rose smartly replies.
"He was shot," Molly explained. "By a Lee Conway."
"I see," Cal nods. "I'm sorry Rose. I know how much he means to you. First hand."
Rose is shocked to hear Cal say this. He sounded so sincere, but still she didn't trust him.
What did he really want? "What are you doing here in California Cal? And in the hospital of all places?"
"I was vacationing with my wife when she went into labor this morning. I was just walking around the hopital to get some exercise. How about you and Jack. Do you have children?"
"Twins. Molly and Tommy," Rose said, turning away from Cal to go to Jack's side and takes his hand. "Jack's a great father."
Rose...I know it doesn't mean much now, but I'd like to apologize to both you and Jack for my behavior aboard Titanic. It was shameful. I've been haunted by it every night. Shooting at you and Jack like that...leaving Jack down in that room to die...framing him for stealing that necklace...plain shameful. Tell Jack I'm sorry when he wakes up will you?"
Rose is stunned into silence. Here was the arrogant Caledon Hockley apologizing for his actions. She never thought she'd see the day.
"I'll do that," Rose said. "Knowing Jack, he'll forgive you...but I don't know if I can Cal. You did a lot to me than you did to Jack, especially before Titanic."
"I know Rose and I'm sorry for that too. But if you can't forgive me i'll understand. I just hope you can find it in your heart to," Cal looks at her hopefully, but her face is emotionless. It's obvious he wasn't going to get a answer right now. "Ok then Rose. I understand. Well I better be getting back. My new son or daughter is probably making their entrance right now." Cal turns to leave then turns back looks at Jack. "I hope he wakes up Rose. I really do," Then Cal's gone.
"Rose? Are you ok?" Molly asked.
Rose nods. "I'm fine Molly. I'm just in shock . I never expected Cal to apologize for his actions. I'm almost tempted to give that necklace back to him."
Molly laughed. "Almost."
Rose smiled, but her smile faded as she remembered Jack's condition. "Did they ever find Lee and Mrs. Hathaway?"
"No darling. They're probably back in Chippewa Falls..."
"And no justice will be handed out there. There will be a trial, but no justice," Rose began to sob. "They're going to get away with this."
Molly just puts her arms around Rose and soothes the sobbing girl. This shouldn't be happening, not to Jack and Rose. There had to be something she could do. Then a idea comes to her. Caledon Hockley said he wanted to make things up to rose and Jack, well Molly knew just how he could do so. He had more money than the Conways and Hathaways had all together. He could make sure justice was served...especially if Jack died.
"I'll be back Rosie. You stay here with Jack," Molly heads for the door.
"Where are you going Molly?" Rose asked.
"I'm going to see someone about making things right again. Don't worry Rose. I have a feeling everything's going to be fine," with that said Molly bounds out of the room, heading in the direction Cal went.

Cal was pacing the floor of the maternity ward. The baby hasn't come yet. What was taking so long? Then there was Rose who refused to forgive him. He had loved her once, but that love had turned to resentment when it was obvious she wouldn't calm down on our wild ways, then after Titanic, when he couldn't find her, that hatred had turned to remorse. He was extremely sorry for all the things he done to her and wanted a chance for her to forgive him. Now he had the chance but it didn't look like she was going to give it to him. She was so angry. Of course he understood why with Jack in the hospital.
"Mr. Hockley?" A voice speaks up behind him. He whirls around to come face to face with Molly Brown. "We need to talk."
"Sure Mrs. Brown. What can I do for you?"
"Let's set," Molly leads him to the uncomfortable leather couch he had tried to sleep in. "It's not what you can do for me. It's what you can do for Jack and Rose."
"What do you mean?"
"Well the man who had shot Jack is a rich man back in Chippewa Falls and has a good chance of getting away for what he's done and that'll kill Rose...especially if the worse happens...if Jack dies."
"So what can I do?" Cal asked confused.
"Make sure he doesn't get away with it. Make sure he's brought to justice, back here in California if necessary. Get him tried and convicted. Lee Conway can't get away with this Cal."
"Who is this guy anyway?" Cal asked. "What does he have to do with Jack and Rose?"
"He's the ex-fiancee of one of their friends. He was aiming for the girl's new husband and shot Jack instead."
"And what makes you think I can make justice be served?"
"The fact that you have more money than both Lee and this girl's mother put together. You can make sure they can't bribe the justice department. What do you say Cal? Earn Rose's forgiveness. Bring this man to justice."
Cal is silent. This matter really wasn't any of his business, but like Molly said, this is a chance for him to get Rose to see that his apology is sincere and to forgive him.
"Ok Molly. I'll do it. I'm taking my family back to Philadelphia day after tomorrow. I'll stop in Chippewa Falls and make sure they'll be brought to justice. I'll even return to Chippewa Falls after I get my wife and child back home. How about that?"
"That'll be perfect Mr. Hockley. And thank-you. This is greatly appreciated by all of us," Molly stands.
"Mr. Hockley! You have a boy!" the nurse exclaims happily.
"A son. I have a son!" Cal is immediately ecstatic. "Molly, I have a son!"
"Congratulations Cal. Be a good father to that boy now."
"Oh I will Mrs. Brown. I will."

Molly had gone home and Rose is reading to Jack who has yet to open his eyes when Cal enters with a squirming bundle in a blue blanket.
"What are you doing here?" Rose asked, not looking up from the book.
"I just wanted to show you my son Rose. He's do beautiful. It's amazing because he has these blue eyes that remind me of someone. That's why I chose the name."
Rose looks up from the book for the first time and sees the squirming baby. "What did you name him?"
"Jack. Jack Dawson Hockley," Cal grinned, pure love and happiness gleams in his eyes as he looks down at the child. "My wife thinks it suits him perfectly."
"Is this a trick? Because it doesn't change anything Cal. I still don't forgive you for what you did."
"I know Rose. I just wanted you to know that my son will carry his name. So no matter what, there will still be a Jack Dawson in this world. God knows we need a lot more of them," Cal smiled. "You don't have to tell him if you don't want to."
Rose didn't say anything. She just looked down at her husband, unshed tears gleaming in her eyes.
"I better get back. Good-bye Rose," Cal leaves with the cooing baby.
"Oh Jack," Rose buries her face in her hands and cries herself to sleep, hoping that Jack will be awake when she does.

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