Hey. Thank you to those of you that have reviewed so far, it means a lot so thank you :)
Also, if you read chapter 2, and thought that some of it didn't make sense, please read it again. The paragraphs got mixed up somehow, and so it might not have made sense. So if you read it and thought that, sorry and I've fixed it now so If you read it again it will make sense now :P
I worked really hard on this chapter so I hope you like it, and in the next chapter there's going to be a lot more tension and action.
Please review, it only takes a moment :)
xxx
"Gotcha!"
They were frozen, clinging to each other, as they both looked stunned towards the open car door.
At first everything was a blur, happening so fast and quickly that they couldn't quite comprehend what was going on. One moment they were safe, secure in each other's arms, laughing, smiling. And then the rush of cold air, the blinding light causing them to look downwards, and the harsh voice outside. But it only took a few seconds for their eyes to adjust to the light that was shining into the car, and the silhouette behind it, and they took in fully what was happening.
Rose couldn't breathe. She tried but she couldn't, she was too shocked, terrified. Her eyes screamed fear as she looked towards the car door, this isn't happening, this can't happen, she thought, panicked. She felt her heart pound un-controllably through her fear; she knew what would happen next.
She closed her eyes tight briefly and opened them again, trying to stop the nightmare. But when she opened them they were still in the car, the cold air from outside seeping in, and they were still being watched, trapped. Rose' hands dug into Jack's shoulders, she needed to feel him now, needed his reassurance.
Jack was just as shocked as Rose, he couldn't believe this had happened; it hadn't even entered his head that they'd get caught. He'd figured that there would have been a search for them, but he didn't ever imagine that it would go this far, that they'd find them here. His heart pound just as hard as roses', but for a different reason.
He wasn't afraid for himself; he could take whatever was coming next, whatever they were going to do to him. But for Rose, he was scared stiff for what she would have to go through when Cal and Ruth found out, especially Cal.
Just then he felt her fingers dig into his shoulders. He drew his eyes quickly away from the door and looked down at her, the sight broke his heart. She looked terrified; her breathing had quickened now and was un-even, and coming in sharp breaths.
Her eyes screamed her fear, and looked deeply into his. Looking into her eyes was like a window from him, he knew what she was silently telling him, How has this happened, how will we face them, Cal will kill us, will they split us apart?
Seeing this in her eyes and how terrified she was broke his heart, all he wanted to do right now was hold her tight and make everything go away. Her breathing was still quick and sharp, tears would have come to her eyes and overflowed by now, but she was too shocked and shaken for there to be room for tears now.
Jack put his hand up to her cheek and stroked it gently, it's gonna be okay he silently mouthed to her. He meant it with all his heart, he desperately wanted her to feel safe again, and for her to know he wouldn't let anyone hurt her, he'd protect her from whatever was about to happen with all his being.
Rose looked into his eyes as he looked reassuringly down at her, and for a second, she felt her surrounding blur, the car go out of focus, the cool air became warmer, and all they could fully see , and everything that mattered was each other, feeling their skin against theirs, and looking deeply into the others eyes.
"Well well well, look what we 'av 'ere!" The officer's voice bought them back to where they really were. Everything seemed more real and in focus now, the sight of the car, the cold air, the grip they held on each other. Rose pulled Jack's coat which had been covering their waists further up at the sound of the officer's voice; he was obviously enjoying taunting them.
She felt embarrassed, now that the shock of being caught wasn't as strong she was suddenly more aware that there was a least one other man outside the car, watching her. Even though Jack's weight above her and the coat stopped him from seeing anything she still felt exposed. Jack watched her as she pulled the coat further up them both. He wasn't going to look away from her now, he wanted to see that she'd be okay, to know that he was here, that he wouldn't let anything hurt her.
"Right, out you two, now." The officer's harsh tone made the meaning of those words even harder to hear. Roses' breathing became even quicker now, this was it, they were going to have to face her mother and Cal. The thought of that made her shut her eyes and tremble slightly; she couldn't bear to think about how they'd react, how he would react, what he would do.
Jack felt her shake and he held her tighter now, but still gently. He knew what she was scared of, what she had always been afraid of. He wasn't going to let him hurt her, no matter what he wasn't going to let any harm come to her. Feeling Jack gently stroke her waist under the coat and his grip on her increase made her look up at him.
Looking into his eyes always made her feel safer, even if now it was only slightly. She felt a strange sense of determination just then, she was still terrified, but they would get through this, they had to, they were going to do this together.
With the officers words in their heads rose tried to move upwards, holding onto Jacks shoulders, but she felt too awkward, he couldn't expect her to just move and get undressed with him and another officer watching them both. She turned her head towards the car door, looking downwards and embarrassed, and also fearful about the whole situation.
"For god's sake." The officer with the light sighed and stepped away from the car slightly holding the door open, so only his silhouette was visible to them through the car window, and he looked straight ahead; he couldn't have seen through the window in any case due to the condensation, but at least he showed he was giving some privacy. Their eyes quickly connected but then Rose quietly sighed, knowing that they wouldn't have much time before the officer became impatient. Jack knew this too and as un-willing as he was to let go of Rose, he knew he had to.
She went to pull away from him but then at the first movement she remembered that he was still inside her. They both seemed to remember this at the same time as they looked at each other, and in any other circumstance, would have smiled, but rose couldn't manage that and Jack was too worried about her. He gently pulled himself out of her, holding her gaze.
It was a strange feeling when she felt him move out of her, it wasn't exactly discomfort but she didn't really like it. She didn't like any of this. She wanted him to stay inside of her, to move in her, for them to still be alone together here, completely wrapped up in each other with no one else around.
As soon as he moved out of her they quickly sat up and dressed quickly. Jack had gotten dressed in only about thirty seconds or so, and was now lacing his boots up. Rose had managed to pull up her tights and shakily do up her shoes. With loose undergarments instead of a corset it had been easier to get them and her dress on fairly quickly, but her hands were shaking so badly now that she couldn't do the fastening on her dress.
Jack looked up from his boots as he heard her sigh, frustrated by the whole thing, but he knew there was more to it than that. She was scared, so scared she couldn't think straight, and as her went to her and held her shaking hands to steady them, she looked up and he saw a tear escape her eyes.
When Jack saw that he felt his hear shatter again for her, he couldn't bear to see her like this, it was the one thing he hated to see more than anything. He looked deeply and lovingly into her eyes, Rose felt more tears well up then at the sight of Jack hurting so much for her. She looked down slightly, she knew how much he loved her, how much it pained him to see her upset, she didn't want him to see her like this.
Jack placed his hand gently under her chin and lifted her head up slightly and leaned towards her. She slowly closed her eyes and felt their lips connect, and in that second everything made sense, it was just her and him, together, no one else around. He kissed her gently and broke away from her silently so that no one would hear. He held her close and his eyes penetrated her deeply, his hand stroking her cheek.
"It's gonna be okay Rose, I promise ,I won't let them hurt you, him hurt you, I won't let that happen do you understand." He whispered to her meaningfully quietly so that only she could hear. He looked into her eyes deeply, he wanted her to know this, to trust him.
She looked up at him, she put his hands on his shoulders and felt the fabric of the coat beneath them. She knew what Cal could do, what he would do to them, but she knew Jack. She trusted him more than anything, and she knew how much he loved her, just as much as she knew she loved him. She breathed deeply, he wasn't going to let anything happen to her, to them, they were going to do this together.
Gently she nodded and she saw the relief in Jack's eyes at that. He smiled slightly before kissing her silently again and then doing the fastening up carefully. Rose still had her hands on his shoulders as he fastened her dressed, she quietly sighed, she was so lucky to have him. Once the fastening was done he looked at her again and took her hand.
"We're gonna be okay." He whispered to her again. She nodded and breathed out, this was it, they had to go now. Jack squeezed her hand as he moved to get out of the car, only leaving her gaze when he stepped out. Rose breathed out deeply, momentarily closing her eyes and then she too stepped out into the cold.
Jack could feel the stares of the officers immediately as he stepped out of the car. He was used to people looking down at him but it never really made it any easier. The officer with the light was glaring the most at him. Jack held his stare as he got out of the car, and only looked away when he was on the hard floor and turned to rose who was just stepping out of the car. As soon as she put her foot on the step of the car she felt a hand firmly slap their hands apart.
"We'll 'av none of that now." The officer with the light said matter-of factly as Rose got out of the car. They both at him now, it was clear who's side he was on.
"Besides, you've had quite enough of that already." He said directly at Jack, in a cold sarcastic tone. Jack held his cold stare with one of his own, it was taking everything for him not to punch this guy square in the face. After a few seconds the officer walked around Jack and continued straight ahead.
"Come on." He coldly called to them from behind him. Jack heard Rose gasp and immediately turned round to her. She felt a firm tight grip on her left arm, too tight, by the other officer standing next to her, trying to lead her forward. Jack looked from her eyes to her arm to him, giving him a cold, fierce look that Rose hadn't ever seen him use.
The officer held his stare, but after better judgement released the grip on roses' arm from been too tight, but still held her arm. Jack looked to roses' eyes then, and once seeing that the grip wasn't too tight and giving the officer a second look, walked reluctantly after the other officer, who then seeing Jack, grabbed him by his coat near his shoulder and they were both lead back.
They could feel the heat from the boiler room before they had stepped into it. Seeing the door open Jack closed his eyes, he could murder himself. He hadn't shut the door, if he had then maybe they wouldn't have been caught, she'd still be safe he thought. He felt guilty but knew now wasn't the time, he'd make her safe, he wouldn't let anyone hurt her, or split them apart.
The silence apart from Roses' clicking heels on the hard floor felt eerie, she could feel the tension rise. She could feel the heat of the boiler room but she was still shivering. She was dreading seeing her mother, and Cal.
He'd made it perfectly clear on more than one occasion what he could do to her. Although he hadn't physically hit her he had come close. The day before boarding when he decided she was being particularly defiant, as she finally aired her views on how controlling she thought he was, as she shouted at him in their hotel room.
He'd grabbed her from behind and squeezed her arms unbelievably tight, stopping the blood from flowing properly and dug his nails in, telling her what he could do, and that she ought to re consider her actions, was that in any way unclear? She managed a no through her tears and threw her downwards onto the floor, leaving her to cry until Trudy found her.
Rose shivered at the memory, she quickly shook her head, blocking it out. She knew perfectly well what Cal could do to her, and to Jack. She tried not to think about it but she couldn't shake the thoughts away.
They were lead quickly through the boiler room, the workers in turn stopped to look at the pair. Most looked sympathetic towards them both, there were some jeers from them but only friendly ones. They knew what it was like to be looked down on, discriminated against.
Roses' hands shook violently as she reached up at the ladder to climb back up, she tried to reason with herself, remain calm, but she couldn't.
She was just thinking this when she felt Jack's warm hand grab hers. She looked up to see his reassuring eyes, and at once she felt calmer, seeing him. She quickly looked to the other officer, who was unlocking the door. Helping her up Jack quickly kissed her hand while he had the chance.
"It's gonna be alright, trust me." He quickly whispered and squeezed her hand again. In that instant she felt better, still scared but calmer, focused, she and Jack were going to do this, they could face them, as long as she kept telling herself that she hoped to believe it.
The door opened and the officer led Jack by his coat again, and rose felt a grip on her arm as the other officer held her. She looked to him and surprisingly he gave her a brief sympathetic look. He seemed a lot more understanding than the other one, whether it was because he felt for them both, or because it was due to the fact the she was first class, she couldn't tell.
The corridors seemed endless, after going through third class, the lift, more corridors, it all blurred into one and rose had no idea where she was, how far away they were. Her heart pounded hard at the sight of B46. They were only ten or so doors away. She felt a surge of fear rush through her, her breathing quickened. She felt tears beginning to surface but then ahead of her she saw Jack. "Trust me." She thought, that's what he had told her, what he desperately wanted her to do. He meant what he said, he wouldn't let anything hurt her.
She knew that this was going to be difficult, difficult wasn't the word, but she loved Jack with all her heart, just as he loved her. Knowing that they could do this, she thought, they could get through this, together.
The officer who was leading rose forward began to walk quicker to catch up with Jack now they were nearing the room. When they were close enough Rose quickly locked her hand in Jack's and squeezed it tightly, neither officer said anything this time. She felt Jack squeeze it back and stroke his thumb against the back of her hand. She trusts me he thought. He wasn't going to let anything hurt her.
B51, any second they would be there now. Rose breathed deeply out and closed her eyes momentarily before opening them , they were going to face this together. Just as Rose breathed out they had stepped into the room, her heart pounding, and met Ruth and Cal's stares...