A/N: Hey, so I updated! AnD it's before the deadline I set myself: D. I hope you all like this, and please read my note at the bottom. Hope you enjoy :)

Rose felt her heart pound rapidly as she gripped Jack's hand tightly in the dimly lit sitting room. All of her senses were heightened; she could feel the texture of Jack's hand as he gripped hers, the darkness of the furniture in the dim light in contrast to the gold plated patterns and doorknobs which the light glinted off. The smell of brandy and cigarette smoke, which made the air hazy, almost as if this wasn't real, this wasn't happening.

The moment she entered the room she met Cal's dark eyes. The moment she saw them her breathing quickened. His eyes showed a calm anger that would soon be released the moment they were alone. Rose knew that, and she was terrified. Jack still had a firm grip on her hand and he squeezed it now, but there was little that would work to calm her, not now that Cal was here, waiting. But when she felt Jacks thumb stroking the back of her hand, she looked away from Cal, closing her eyes, trying to steady herself. Jack's here, he won't let anything happen, he can't let anything happen she told herself, although she couldn't help but shake.

She then opened her eyes to meet her mother's stare, one of which at first sight of her had been relief, as she had been pacing the room before, but after realizing she was with Jack, turned to one of anger and disappointment. Her eyes penetrated Roses', firing questions and accusations at her.

After a moment Rose looked down at the floor, how was she supposed to cope with this, her mother, Cal, and what was to come afterwards. She felt so overwhelmed that she felt she couldn't cope with this, until she felt Jacks hand squeeze her again, his fingers gently caressing hers. Even though it was only a squeeze of a hand, it meant so much more, just as jack had intended. He'd felt Cal's glare as he walked into the room hand in hand with Rose, and her mother's loathing stare as well, but he was determined not to give into it, he didn't care what they thought, all that mattered was Rose. He'd stay strong for her, he had too, he couldn't see her fall apart again. He squeezed and stroked her hand whenever he knew she was falling, they were both looking straight ahead, but they didn't need to look at each other to know what they were feeling; they'd reached past that by now.

Rose felt reassured, she was still terrified, but they could get through this, together, they were going to get past this...

"Found 'er sir, just as you asked." The officer who had had a grip on Jack spoke proudly. Jack clenched his Jaw, that officer was really going to enjoy this. He gripped Rose tightly and stared straight ahead, he wouldn't be made to be ashamed, he loved her with all his heart, and he was going to protect her, no matter what, he wouldn't leave her.

"Where was she?" Cal's cold harsh voice cut through the air, making Rose shiver, his eyes were fixed on her.

Rose caught his glance and after a few seconds of shock looked down immediately, she couldn't do it, she couldn't face him. Just then she saw Cal's manservant Lovejoy towards the back of the room, looking towards Cal. A second later his piercing eyes caught hers, and she looked away.

"Well sir, we looked high and low for 'em, and we didn't see a scrap of 'em. Turns out we weren't lookin' low enough." He paused and turned to look towards them, he met Jacks hard stare, he would not look away, he wouldn't give in to being looked down upon.

"We had a look down in the boiler room, and the door to where we keep the cars and bulk had been left open. We had a look, and we found them. In a car. Together."

The damage was done, he had said it, looking ridiculously smug pleased with himself. Everything seemed to go out of focus for Rose now, this was it, he knew. She knew that Cal had known what had happened from the moment he'd seen her step through the door, but hearing the officer say it made the reality of the situation come crashing down. She felt herself sway slightly, but she stayed on her feet, she had to, she wouldn't crumble, just as they all want her to. Slowly she looked up to see her mother's horrified eyes widen, resisting the urge to start screaming at Rose at any moment. Jack squeezed her hand and moved closer to her, so that she felt his side against her. She knew what that moment said, I won't leave you, I'll protect you, I love you.

She had grimaced, embarrassed when the officer had spoke the words "...In a car. Together. But now, terrified as she was, she tried to hold her head up high, she wouldn't let him win, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of looking away. Her heart hammered under her dress when she met Cal's eyes. They held anger so livid she had never seen bestowed in them before, even in his darkest moments back in Philadelphia. She shook as she held as cold glare, but she felt more confident now, and squeezed Jack's hand back. She had him, he was everything that mattered to her, and although Cal terrified her right now, she could cope knowing that her love was there, and that was all that mattered.

Cal had his hand on the gripped onto small table where the brandy was placed .He stared hard at it for a moment, in silence, just for effect.

"Lovejoy, go with the men here and dispose of him, I think the master at arms office will be satisfactory." He ended with a cold hard glare at Jack. Rose thought his tone had been calm and almost collected but she could sense the rage that thundered beneath. Cal straightened up and moved his eyes to Rose; she could only stare at him with parted lips. She knew this was coming, that Cal would call for Jack to be lead away, she wasn't naive. All the same she instinctively gripped jack's hand tighter, her body not listening to her mind, refusing to let go. She held his stare now; she still shook inside and she was by no means any less aware of what he was capable of, that he terrified her now, but she could cope. She had Jack by her side, even though any second now he would be torn away from her, she had him now, and for the few seconds she still had him, she felt safe, as safe as she could feel in this situation.

"No."

Rose' head spun round to Jack's as she heard him say those words. She had just noticed the master at arms walk in from their promenade, when she heard Jack speak and realize what he meant. He was looking straight at cal, his body tensed and shoulders squared. Rose stared at him in shock, she had expected him to go, and that they would see each other again the next day somehow, not for Jack to refuse to leave.

"What?" Cal's seemingly calm reserved expression discarded as he hissed at Jack.

"What, what are you talking about Dawson you don't have a choice in the matter-"

"I know what you've been doing to Rose! How you're treating her, its sick!" Jack cut Cal off angrily; he'd finally said what he'd wanted to tell Cal ever since he knew what was going on.

"Don't you talk to me like that you have no idea what's-"

"You think just because you have money that's an excuse to treat people how you like? That you don't have to care about how she feels? You can just treat her like she's nothing, that she doesn't exist, that she doesn't matter, because she does! I love her and I'm gonna protect her, I'm not gonna let you treat her like this anymore!"

Cal had starred at him, speechless in shock of what jack had said, but it didn't take him long while jack was speaking for him to refrain that calm, self confident and assured look, the character he maintained while in the eye of society.

"What are you, deranged? You have no idea what you're talking about! Gentlemen, I've heard enough of this nonsense, arrest him."

Rose's mind was spinning from everything she'd just heard, she was still trying to get around what had just happened when the officer and the master at arms grabbed Jack, separating Jack and Roses' hands as they tried to lead him away.

"Come along son, there's a good lad." The master at arms Scottish accent called from behind Jack as they pulled him a few steps away from Rose. She starred at Jack, in shock, now he was been dragged away, now she'd be alone with Cal. She needed Jack, she needed him.

Jack instantly saw the fear in her eyes, he knew why; he knew what could happen to her next. He imagined it so vividly that he struggled and tugged against the men as hard as he could.

"STOP STRUGGLIN'!" The officer shouted while trying to block him from Rose as the master at arms pulled him back. All three of the men's shouts blasted the room.

"GET OFF ME...ROSE; I NEED TO PRO- ROSE! Jack shouted in between struggling

"I WON'T LET YOU HURT HER, I WON'T!" Jack screamed at Cal as he was pushed further and further towards the door.

"SHUT UP, YOU WORTHLESS FILTH!" Cal bellowed cutting through Jack's words. Rose could hardly breathe, as she could do nothing but watch Jack be taken away. She wanted to scream she wanted to kick and tear Jack away from them and then run, run as fast as she possibly could with him, but she couldn't, she couldn't make a sound as she stood there frozen, jack desperately trying to reach her eyes as he was torn further and further away down the corridor.

"ROSE, ROSE!" Jack screamed

"SHUT UP!" The roaring master at arms voice shouted, and fumbling footsteps and thuds could be heard, until they faded out and all that was left behind was silence.

Rose shook, her eyes looking down to the floor, filling with tears by the second. She noticed how cold she felt, and the clock ticked in the background.

Small light footsteps were heard, and she felt her mother stand beside her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw her try to put her arm around her, but then falter, and lay her hand back down against her side.

She was sure her breathing was quiet, but it felt like she was gasping for air. Slowly she dared to lift her head until she could just see Cal. He leant against the wall with his forearm, deciding what to do next, which course of action would be best.

The clock ticked.

"Ruth, would you leave Rose and I alone for a moment." Cal spoke with a suppressing urge of anger and impatience to his voice. Rose heard the material of her mothers' dressing gown swish as she pulled it closer around her and looked at Rose, with an expression of both love and ashamed, almost disgust, that only Ruth could make possible. Even so, she paused for a second, as if she almost understood the secretive meaning of the polite airs that were meant to conceal the true meaning.

"Yes of course." She said, her voice tired and half breaking as she looked at Rose, and then after a moment swiftly stepped out of the room.

Rose shivered.

And the door clicked behind her.

A/N: What did you think? I hope this chapter exceeded its expectations. I wasn't sure about it to start off with but I'm quite proud of the ending. Please tell me what you thought of this because all comments really do help, and I want to know if you think this was any good :) I should have another update by at the latest 23rd November, or 24th, but hopefully I'll have one up before then :)

Gemma xxx