Chapter 28
Rose felt the ground collapse from underneath her. She felt dizzy and light headed and couldn't negotiate the steps she needed to take. The words from the Doctor swam around in her head until she could no longer cope. She felt pain rise up through her body as her head hit off the metal railings. Arms gripped onto her and pulled her back to her feet and she could hear the sound of voices asking her if she was alright. She couldn't answer them. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't force the words from her mouth, she couldn't make her eyes open.
"Momma? Momma?" the little voice was embedded in her brain. She knew she had to wake up for him. He needed her. He didn't have a father, she couldn't now allow him to live without a mother. She couldn't make him an orphan. Using all the energy she could gather from her need to see her son again, she forced her eyelids apart.
"Momma!" The voice came again. Rose moved her head slightly to the left until her eyes rested on the little boy sat beside her. Behind him, she could see the Doctor standing there but she was suddenly aware that she was no longer standing in Central Park.
"What happened?" she asked groggily.
"You've had quite a shock Rose. Just rest up. Im so sorry. I thought you knew. One of my nurses volunteered to come and find you to let you know what had happened." The doctor explained.
Rose nodded, forcing the tears back. She gripped onto her son, pulling him tight to her. She couldn't ever let him go. He was now the only thing she had left of Jack. She would never have any chance of bumping onto him or for Jack to ever get to know his son. The thought was depressing.
"What happened to him?" She asked.
"Perhaps when you're stronger…" The doctor started.
"No, please tell me. I need to know." Rose pleaded.
The doctor sat down in the chair beside her bed. "Very well. He was brought to me one afternoon. He had been found in an alley way just down the street from the train station. He had a very deep stab wound in his back and stomach. He was still alive when he came in but he was unconscious. He never came around though Rose. The wounds were too deep and he lost a lot of blood. We couldn't stem the blood flow. We did as much as we could."
"Do you know who did it?" Rose asked, trying hard to force the thought of Jack in so much pain from her mind. He must have been so scared. Guilt surged through her. She had spent so much of her time hating him, she had denied her son the opportunity of him knowing his father. How she wished she could turn the clock back. She'd have never let him go alone to the station if she'd had any inclination that anything was going to happen to him.
The Doctor nodded. "A man was arrested. By the name of Harris."
Rose's eyes widened.
"Do you know who that was?"
Rose nodded. "I think so. My ex fiance's business partner was called Harris. John Harris."
"Yes, I think that was the name."
Rose sighed. Despite finally getting away from Cal and then her mother, her past had still caught up to Jack. She scolded herself for agreeing to go back to New York. If they had perhaps gone straight to Wisconsin from California then this would have never happened. Jack would never have been hurt and he would know his son. They would have been a family, together at last. Despite all the pain she'd gone through when she thought she had lost him the first time, now to go through it all again was completely heartbreaking.
"I'm so sorry about this Rose. I was convinced that you had been told. My nurse Elizabeth told me that she knew you both. She had told me she would tell you."
Rose suddenly looked up at him. "Who did you say?"
"Elizabeth. She knew Jack from the first time he was here after he was pulled from the wreckage. She told me that she knew you and she would ensure you were told. We didn't know where to find you to tell you he had been brought in. She assured me she would get in touch with you." The doctor explained.
Rose felt sick. The churning in her stomach had suddenly got worse.
"In fact, there she is." The doctor jumped up from his chair and headed out to the corridor. "Elizabeth?!"
The woman stopped and turned to the doctor. "Yes?"
"Can you come here for a second?" He motioned for her to come into the room. "Would you mind explaining to me and Mrs Dawson why you didn't notify her of her husbands death when you assured me you would do?"
"Mrs who?" Elizabeth walked into the room, her eyes scanning the scene in front of her and her breath caught in her throat as she spotted Rose lying in the bed.
"Momma, who is that lady?" Jack asked, gripping onto his mothers hand.
Elizabeth froze as she tried to understand what was happening. "I….I…."
"Jack, this is Elizabeth. Shes a nurse here." Rose smiled at him before turning back to Elizabeth. "You were determined right to the end that you were going to ruin my relationship with Jack weren't you? I saw the way you looked at him and I knew all about the thoughts you put in his head, not to mention the fact that you tried to kiss him. You are the reason why I have hated him for the last 5 years. Why I thought that he deserted me. You are the reason why I hardly talk about him to his son. You ruined things right up to the last minute didn't you?"
Elizabeth stood, trying to get her words out. This was the last thing she was expecting. She thought Rose had left. After what felt like a lifetime, Elizabeth felt like she couldn't stand it any longer. She couldn't say anything. She turned on her heel and rushed from the room, heading along the corridor and down the steps and out of the building. She finally stopped after her face hit the fresh air. She had been devastated when she had seen Jack brought in al those years ago. Part of her had died at the same time. Despite the fact they had never been together romantically, Jack had been so special to her. She had been so consumed with jealousy at Rose coming into the picture, she had tried her best to split them up but each time they had thwarted her plans. Tears began to form in her eyes and she pressed her back up against the brick wall. The pain that she suffered was as strong now as it was five years ago. But now she had no choice, she had to leave. She knew the doctor wouldn't have her back after this. Despite leaving her coat inside, she couldn't force herself to go back to her station. She wrapped her arms around her body and started the long walk back to her house.
...
"Mrs Dawson, I can assure you if that girl comes back, she will be fired on the spot. I am so sorry about all of this."
Rose nodded. There was nothing more she could say. She looked down at the little boy who had now lain down alongside her. His eyes were closed and his hair had fallen down over his face. He looked so angelic and Rose's heart melted at the very sight of him. He was his father's son. And now, Rose was more grateful than ever that she still had part of her beloved Jack with her always. Anytime she felt as though she needed him, she would look into the eyes of her little boy and she knew that Jack was right there with her, looking down on them, guiding them and protecting them. She knew they would be alright.
