Never Let Go
Author: SouthamptonRose
Summary: After the devastating sinking of Titanic, Rose struggles to keep going. Her life seems pointless and she finds every day to be a battle. But then a surprise changes everything and gives her the strength to keep heading for the horizon. Pure J/R goodness!
Disclaimer: I do not own Rose DeWitt Bukater, Jack Dawson, or anyone else mentioned in this story...I think. I may have made up a character or two, but everyone/thing else belongs to James Cameron. I can dream though. ;)
Rose gazed up at the breathtaking sight above her. The stars in the sky shone like never before, it was an almost impossible beauty. Their dim light showed the tragic scene around her; hundreds of silent, motionless figures. The most terrible sound she had ever heard was this; absolute complete silence. Her eyes remained fixed on the luminous diamonds, that did not know or care of the excruciating disaster that had just taken place.
She lay on her back, only just barely alive. The wooden debris beneath her was the only thing separating her from the deadly black ocean. Her breathing was shallow, and she was completely numb, unable to do anything but wait. Wait for death, for she knew there was no chance of life.
The water was calm, gently lapping against her frozen body. It was hard to believe that this peaceful sea had claimed the unsinkable ship, and 1500 lives. Rose closed her eyes and thought of Mr. Andrews. He had just told her, less than ten hours ago, that Titanic was good and strong. Then she remembered the look of mixed shock and devastation on his face when he had told her the ship would sink. And it had indeed, and he was gone. She couldn't bear it; he was gone, really gone, along with so many others. The people from the third class that she had danced with, the other people from first class that she had dined with; gone. She would never see them again. She had no idea how many had survived, but she knew it was a slim few. This was definitely a night she would never forget.
Rose opened her eyes again and gazed back at the velvet sky. The light of the stars was the only light. There was no moon, leaving the world almost pitch black. As the minutes passed slowly by, she wondered if the sun would ever rise again. It was hard to think that another day would ever come. She thought of people around the world, sleeping soundly, completely unaware of her life slipping away. Unable to do anything else, she began to sing.
Her voice was barely there, and it was painful to speak, but she didn't stop. She struggled to remember the words to Jack's song, and simply sang the line she knew over and over. More time passed, though she didn't know how much. It began to grow colder, or so she thought. She didn't know it could get any colder that it already was. Her skin was blue, and her breath was shining icy above her.
After what seemed like hours, though it may have only been a few minutes, she heard a noise. It was faint, and sounded far away, but she could hear it. As it grew closer, she recognized it as a man's voice, but it didn't sound like a man's voice should. It was slow, and she couldn't understand the words he was saying. For a second, she thought her mind was playing tricks on her. Perhaps there was no voice; it was only there because she wanted it to be.
Suddenly, a blinding light passed over her. The man's voice was louder, and she knew she wasn't imagining it. Slowly, she turned her face towards the light. She was so weak; it was hard to move even in the slightest. Her eyes finally met it. A smile formed on her lips at what she saw; a lifeboat, an actual lifeboat. They had come back; she was safe.
"Jack," she whispered, remembering him. "There's a boat."
She turned onto her stomach and looked straight ahead at Jack. His chin was resting on the edge of her wooden lifesaver and his eyes were closed.
Rose continued smiling. "Jack, Jack, there's a boat!" She lightly shook him with her right arm. "Jack."
He still didn't stir.
Still unaware of his condition, she shook him slightly harder, quickly gazing back at the lifeboat, which had passed them and was moving away. "Jack."
When he still lay motionless, it finally hit her. Her smile faded as realization dawned. Hot tears burned in her eyes as she gazed at his peaceful face. She knew he was dead, but she refused to believe it.
"Jack, Jack!" She shook him still harder. "There's a boat! Jack!"
It was too much for her. Sobbing, she laid her face down against the cold wood and began to wait for death. She had lost everything, everything. Life was not worth living anymore.
As the voice grew fainter and fainter, Rose's eyes suddenly snapped open. She had made a promise; she would survive. She had promised Jack that no matter what, she would survive. And never let go; never let go.
"Wait!" she called, pulling herself up. "Come back!" Her voice was so weak and it was even harder for her to speak, for her voice was now choked with tears. "Come back!" she cried desperately, but the light grew dimmer and dimmer.
"Come back, come back!" It was no use; no one could hear her. She would have to move to get their attention.
Rose looked back at Jack and felt her tears thicken. She quickly glanced back up at the lifeboat, which was now just a mere speck. She looked at Jack again. She had to leave him.
As she inched towards the water, she realized with slight alarm that her left hand was still locked tight with his. She couldn't get it free, for their fingers were iced together. With a heavy heart, she pulled with her right arm. There was a slight cracking noise as her hand broke free. She took his hand and rubbed it gently. It was cold as ice, and felt like death. She kissed it before releasing him. His body slipped beneath the surface and disappeared into the black ocean.
Rose watched his face vanish, and knew that she would never see him again. He was now just a memory. Her tears continued to fall as she whispered, "I'll never let go; I promise."
She didn't want to move; she just wanted to die, but she knew she couldn't. She wanted to join Jack and never suffer again, but she had to respect his final wish. Jack; he had risked everything for her, and it had cost him his life. How could she ever live without him? He was her best friend, her soul mate, her one true love. He had saved her, in every way possible.
Slowly, she tore her eyes away from dark, empty water. She looked around frantically for something that could draw the lifeboat's attention. Her eyes fell on an officer she recognized from shouting for the boats earlier. He wasn't shouting anymore; he was as still as the world around him. Rose's eyes darted to his mouth, where his silver whistle was still clutched between his lips. They widened, and she knew what she had to do.
Taking a deep breath, Rose rolled herself off the wood and into the freezing ocean. The water nipped violently at her exposed skin as she swam for the officer. She was so exhausted; she knew her life vest was the only thing keeping her from slipping under the surface and not returning.
Finally, she reached him. Without hesitating, she snatched the whistle and began blowing it as hard as she could. A long piercing note emitted from it. It broke the haunting silence and echoed back. When the lifeboat made no movement towards her, she blew again. Harder and louder, again and again and again. Suddenly, the blinding light shone on her. Its powerful white beam made her emerald eyes and fiery hair stand out like never before. Soon, the voice returned, and for the first time, she understood it. "Turn about!"
Rose blew the whistle again. Her sadness was momentarily evaporated by the thrill of knowing her life was not about to end. She had done it; they were coming back for her. She had survived.
(A/N:) Well to anyone who read my extremely long and boring bio, you know that I love Titanic as well as POTC. I started this story like ten months ago and have...I dunno...10 or 11 chapters. I'll post them up occasionally...but I'm so bored right now that I might unconsciously post them all up today. Lol. Oh well...I feel I must add some things to my sadly empty account. :( Hope you like this! Please review!
