AFTER TITANIC
BOOK ONE
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Rose woke up in the hospital
chair, but this time it was Thomas Andrews who stood before her.
"Ready to go young Rose?" He asked, stretching out his
hand.
"Yes," Rose nods. "How is Jack?"
"He's fine. Just worried about his Rose. He said you left in
tears this morning."
"They didn't give me enough time with him. I wasn't ready to
go," Rose cried.
"Shhh Rose. Don't cry. You'll have more time with him
tonight. That's what matters. And I bet you have a lot to share
with him. So let's hurry to him instead of wasting time in
here."
Taking his hand, Rose follows Thomas Andrews down to the third
class level and into Jack's tiny stateroom, which was empty.
"Where's Jack?" Rose asked, looking around the tiny
stateroom.
"I don't know," Thomas Andrews shook his head.
"But he should be here soon. He told me to bring you
here."
"Rose!" Jack enters the room and immediately takes her
in his arms. "I'm sorry I'm late. I got held up."
"I'll leave you two alone," Thomas Andrews smiled at
the lovebirds and left the room.
"Oh Jack so much has happened today. Tommy said his first
word," Rose smiled as Jack released her and led her deeper
into the room.
"Oh really? What was it?"
"Well, mother brought him over to the hospital, and he
pointed at her and said dada. Jack, his first word was
dada."
Jack is stunned. His little boy knew he was his father and loved
him and he wasn't there to see it. "That's wonderful
Rose."
"Oh Jack, he misses you so much. He started to cry when you
didn't get up to play with him. So did Molly. They love you so
much. You just have to come back home."
"I want to Rose. Really I do. But...things are so much
easier here. I don't have to worry about much except you and the
children, but I know you're well taken care of."
Rose didn't like how this was sounding. It was like he was saying
good-bye. "Jack...I don't like this. You are going to wake
up aren't you?"
Jack just looks at her then back down at the floor. How can he
make her see where he was coming from. How hard it was for him to
try to get back. That was the reason why he was late meeting her.
He was trying so hard to be awake when she woke up. But he now
knew that wouldn't happen tonight. Everytime he tried, it drained
him.
Rose looked into his blue eyes and for the first time and saw how
exhausted he was.
"I'm just so tired Rose. Sometimes all I want to do is rest
and not think about anything. But that doesn't mean I don't want
to come home because I do. And I'll keep trying to Rose. As long
as I'm able I'm going to keep trying to come home to you and the
children. I promise."
Rose now had tears in her eyes. "I understand Jack. I
understand and I promise to be patient."
Jack smiles and gently touches her face. "Thank-you Rose.
That means a lot to me. And maybe when you come back to visit me,
I won't be here. I'll be awake and waiting for you to wake
up."
Rose smiled, then that morning with Cal came flooding back.
"Oh Jack I forgot to tell you...I ran into Cal this
morning."
"What?" Jack's more alert. "What did he
want?"
"To apologize for his actions on Titanic. He sounded so
sincere, but I don't buy it."
Jack is silent. He doesn't know what to say.
"But what took the cake was when he came in with his newborn
son and declared he was naming him Jack Dawson Hockley. Can you
believe that? Like the fact he's naming his son after you is
going to make all his crimes go away," Rose is once again
angry.
"I don't know Rose. Naming his firstborn son after
me...that's a lot. He may be sincere this time Rose," Jack
laughed. "Man, I wish I could see that. Caledon Hockley
apologizing and then naming his son after the man he hates."
"He said that even if the worse happens there will always be
a Jack Dawson on the planet and that the world needed a lot more
of them," Rose smiled.
"Well we'll see if he's sincere or not. His true colors will
show themselves sooner or later," Jack sighed tiredly and
leans back against the headboard.
"Jack?" Rose is concerned. How draining was it to keep
her here and talk to her? If it was too draining, she'll
leave...even though she didn't want to leave him ever.
"I'm alright Rose. I'm just tired. That's all. I'll be
fine," Jack reassured.
"Maybe I should...go."
"You don't have to if you don't want to. I know how much you
want to stay."
"But if I stay, you'll be too tired to try waking up. So
I'll leave now. I'll be back again if you don't wake up,"
Rose gets up. "I'll head back now."
"But Jack..."
"No objections Rose. It's best if I walk you. Some of the
people here are bitter. If you're not escorted by Tommy, Fabri,
or Mr. Andrews, or myself...they'll make sure you don't leave
here. Do you understand?"
Rose nods and takes his hand. "Let's go."
They walk in comfortable silence. Rose steps closer to Jack as
they walk past the other third class passengers and feels their
glares on the back of her neck. She truly was scared.
"Jack..."
"Don't worry Rose. You're safe," Jack puts a reassuring
arm around her as they turn up the first class stairway.
"Jack..."
"I love you too Rose," Jack turns to her as they step
into the hospital room.
"How do I go back?"
"Just set in that chair and close your eyes. Think about
home...think about the twins and your mother and how much they
need you," Jack smiled and wipes a stray red curl away from
her eyes.
"What if I can't do it?"
"You'll be able to Rose. I know you can. I'll stay here with
you and hold your hand until you do," Jack leads her to the
chair and kneels down beside her. "Go home Rose. Go home and
take care of our children."
"Good-bye Jack," Rose closes her eyes and follows
Jack's directions.
"'Til we meet again my love," Jack lightly kisses her
hand as she drifts off back to the real world.
She awakes with a peaceful feeling. She had spoken to Jack and
spent a reasonable amount of time with him. For the first time
since the shooting. Rose felt at peace.