Chapter nine
Instinctively, Jack stepped in front of Rose, as though his own body was a human shield at whatever Cal would throw at them. The deep, darkness in his eyes mirrored the hatred within his own sapphire ones. His own heart still pumped from the kiss which he and Rose had shared; he knew that their feelings mirrored the other. Whatever happened from that moment onwards, they would be in it together.
''You were unfaithful, after all.''
Cal's tone seemed calm. Cool. Casual. Inside, there was no doubt he was wrecked. In the dim light of the decks, Jack saw the reflective glint of the pistol in Cal's right hand; a trembling hand. There was not a whisper of fear about him; facing him was nothing more than a coward. The truth was, he had made a promise to Rose just hours before; he would die before he allowed her back into that cage which she had been kept in for far too long.
''We are no longer engaged. I am free to be with who I choose.'' Rose fired back to him; her voice full of certain steel. One which neither man had heard before from her. Jack, then, was certain of Rose's path. The fire burned brightly before him and that would never diminish.
''And you choose him. Over me. Over our life together.''
''Yes. I do.'' She was certain.
''Are you under some seductive spell from the man who promises you such a wonderful life?''
''No, she is just a woman who is able to choose her own life now.'' Jack stepped in, his entire body before Rose so that she was unable to shift past him.
''And, I suppose you are the chap able to do that for her? We both know that you have nothing. That you are nothing.''
''No, I don't suppose I am.'' Jack smiled. ''Why don't you just go? Let her live her life.'' He would reason with the man firstly, if that was possible. A man would not like the battered and bruised ego of losing his woman to another man; a man of a lower station than he, but at least this way, he could go down without any public knowledge and he could concoct whatever lie he wished to protect his own name and then go on to live his own life. Jack knew that way wouldn't be, but it was worth a try to distract him with words whilst he thought of his own plan.
''Because she is mine. She is to marry me. Whatever this little flame is will be put out.'' Cal's wide legged stance, tall and broad backed was meant to be threatening, but it was his sway which gave away his intoxication.
Apparently, there was no reasoning with Cal. In the moment, Jack knew that he would be fighting for her; for her freedom. For their freedom. For their life.
''Stop it! Stop speaking to me as though I am not present.'' Rose stepped out from Jack's shadow, determination fuelling her entire body. Why would she always have to be protected or bullied into something which her heart wasn't into.
''Sometimes we have to, because you are so damned stubborn and naïve to speak for yourself.'' Cal's body seemed to be wracked with something other than anger. Perhaps it was the adrenaline.
''Yes, you do think that don't you?''
''What do you think would happen. Jack Dawson wants nothing more than to take what is his, make you his whore and then leave you alone or worse—pregnant.''
Jack's scalp prickled at the utter vile description but he wasn't to defend himself; hoping Rose would see the lies in Cal and her trust in him was thorough.
''Well, it is better to be his whore to be your wife!''
With watery eyes, she clutched Jack's hand to hers.
That was the ultimate wound; straight to Cal's heart. Their fingers linked as though they were intimate lovers. She knew his body and he knew hers. The Rose who belonged to him had gone. The woman was knowing in both body and mind and that side was with the man in front of him. The man who did not deserve any part of her. The part which was meant for Cal alone; to sample and to keep for himself.
Which of the traitors did he despite the most?
In one lunge forward, Cal sprinted towards them but it was Jack who he went to. Together they tumbled down onto the deck, his pistol temporarily forgotten as it had fell from his grip. As Jack's reflexes kicked in, he rolled away from the punches which Cal had tried to rein down on his face, his chest and stomach.
Rose stumbled away, her heart flying about in her chest.
''Cal, no!'' She called, knowing that he would not listen to her. Perhaps her voice would only fuel his anger.
''Stay back, Rose.'' Jack shouted. His main priority would always be ensuring her safety.
Jack's voice broke Cal's concentration, allowing Jack to shove him forward down onto the deck in one swoop. He clattered to the floor, in shock, using his feet to propel himself away from Jack as he slid about on the slippery, wet deck.
That should have been it. To fight with Cal would ensure both of them more harm than good. The move was no doubt to prove Cal's upper hand to both of them, to feed his ego and to enable him to believe himself to be the bigger man in the challenge which he had put together in his own head.
Anger was evident. Perhaps none of them were innocent parties but why should physical affliction play a part in any of this?
Cal was not a man who could fight well. Jack already knew that. Perhaps that's why his had sent his valet to follow them. The man was always the delegator of the dirty work and not a man to dirty his own hands.
Joining Rose near the rail, Jack once again ensured he was in front of her. Embarrassment fell over Cal's sullen cheeks, as he came to the conclusion that Jack had given up fighting. He smirked, pushing himself to his feet.
''Is that it?''
''Yes.'' Jack's jaw was tight.
''You think that you can just walk away from me?''
''Yes.''
Grasping the leather bag in one hand, Jack began to lead Rose away from the rail. His heart hammered in his chest. Of course, part of him wanted to fight, to perhaps hurt him in a way that he had caused pain to Rose in the past. The adrenaline which had pumped through him initially had ceased for the moment. The urges to hurt Cal deeper than he had wounded Rose no longer licked away at him; the truth was that just by standing beside Rose was enough to cause the irritation to flair Cal's anger once more.
After scrambling to his feet, Cal straightened out his clothing; a far cry from the crisply starched attire he worn to dinner aboard Titanic, but still better than Jack's.
Cal extended his arm; a click caused all attentions to fall on the pistol which he brandished at Jack. His arm was unsteady and Jack knew his eyes would have been out of focus, also. Slowly, he pushed Rose behind him once more, hearing her gasp of fright. Outwardly, he didn't show his own racing heart.
''Step aside, Dawson. I will allow you to proceed with your own life unscathed if you step aside now.''
If the offer was meant to be enticing to Jack; it wasn't. It fuelled his determination even more so.
''What are you doing?''
''Protecting what is mine.''
Cal cocked his head to one side, his eyes narrowed. ''Come on Dawson, which will it be?''
In one deep breathe, he slowly shook his head. ''I have no need to step aside.''
''You would die for her?'' Cal laughed, shock spurting from his mouth as he did.
''Yes.''
Rose felt Jack steady her with one hand, behind him snaking up to her waist and she felt the steadiness of his own hand. She grasped his hand with her own and he squeezed it as tightly as he could. He was trying to tell her something but Rose could not determine what it was. This was about trust. She trusted him. With her own life.
''You're a fool.''
Jack's sapphire eyes didn't waver from the darkness before him. The steady rise and fall of his own chest surprised him. Provoking Cal would not end well, but he needed to end the severity of the situation. The truth was, what good would it do? For him to shoot Jack dead? It would be all over the news and he could never be free of the burden of death. His good name would be over.
''You truly think you could kill me?''
''Yes.''
''Well, you would have done it by now.'' Jack raised his eyebrow, squeezing Rose's hand as he went. He felt her tremble and heard her unsteady breathing. ''You have the upper hand, just as you want it. You can end both of our lives and yet, you chose to stand there behind a coward's weapon.''
''I am not a coward!'' He fired back, flames of anger in his eyes. His body seemed to surrender to the shakes of adrenaline even more.
Jack pinned him with his stare. ''Then, be a man and show it.''
Silence fell over them. Both men's contact of eyes didn't waver. Neither would back down. If Cal was sure of his upper hand before, it seemed to have failed him ever so slightly. He had never taken well to provocation, been toyed with and yet, this had to be the most dangerous game which he had ever played and the feel of losing had not taken kindly to him. His hand didn't fall, it stayed aimed at Jack's face with the pistol still within his grasp.
After a minute or so, Jack raised his brows in silence. That was all that he needed to know. There was very little intentions of him shooting the damned gun; it was all an act.
Grasping Rose's hand tightly in his, Jack turned on his heel, pulling her with him. He wanted to break out into a run, using his own body as a shield in case a switch flicked and he did pull the trigger of his gun; that was the chance which Jack had to take.
If Cal wanted them to die, he would have ensured they were gone already. The pistol was a ploy to toy with them, to ensure they knew just who would win. With Rose's hand in his, he felt the certainty of his feelings for her and just how he would protect her, no matter what the outcome.
With their backs turned, they were vulnerable, but to Jack, it was what he was expecting the most; not a bullet in his back but the utter provocation of anger within Cal. Rose trusted Jack enough to allow him to take the lead; her fiery spirit would have caused even more of a problem between them and so she remained quiet, calm and focusing on Jack's hand in hers for the first time, as they walked openly as lovers would for the entire world to see.
With three heavy, clattering footsteps behind him, Jack only had time to push Rose to safety away from Cal as he lunged for him; his entire body weight firing at him. Jack only had time to move slightly, his aim to remove the gun from his hand was successful; it slid across the slippery deck and from the shadows, Rose went to retrieve it as quickly as she could with shaking hands.
Watching as the two men grappled about on the deck, Rose felt the utter sting of helplessness. Had leaving Cal in such a way caused such pain in him to want to end her life or was it the utter loss of ego which affected him the most? Her own breath seemed to be caught every few seconds and then she panted, catching it before it seemed to cease again. Blinking back salty tears, she felt the cold metal of the foreign object in her hands and contemplation ran through her mind.
Cal had been involved in fights before; Rose had heard the titbits from inside his study where he discussed it with his father and his Society friends. A mark or two here or there had shown but then disappeared after a day or two. However, Jack seemed to have been the one who had disarmed and caused injury to Cal. His suit was ripped, blood dripped from his nose.
It happened before her eyes in such a slow motion. Each of their steps, each lash which they reined on the other caused her sickness to leap further into her throat. Jack was faster, he never hit first and only retaliated. Cal was knocked down again and then again but he came back for more; like a child. The incessant need to be told he was indeed the winner of the prize must burn deep inside. The pure hatred of Jack Dawson. The hatred of losing Rose. The reminder that his ego had been battered and beaten so much...
With a sharp intake of breath, she watched as Cal grasped Jack by the collar of his shirt. He hit him, repeatedly, once and then twice...five and six.
''Jack!''
Her voice must have given Jack the strength to duck the final time. His face red, his eyes wide...
In one swoop, Jack rolled Cal from above him, grasping him by the scruff of the collar like a damned dog and dragged him to the rail, where he pushed his almost full upper body over it with only freezing cold waves to welcome him below. Jack's strong hand at his throat, there would only be one way down...
''No,'' he choked, ''you wouldn't.''
''I want to.'' Jack spat as he leant over the man whose life, he could end simply in one second and never be found again. God knows how much he deserved it.
''But you will not. You are a coward.''
He pushed him further, his feet slipping and soon he would be overboard. His back was bent at the most unnatural and unordinary way, pain shot up his spine. A wail escaped him and it was one which spoke volumes of the amount of pain he was in; physically and mentally. Here he was; stripped away of everything and reduced to an almost sobbing mess of pathetic vulnerability.
''I am a lot of things but never a coward.''
Cal shuffled his feet, feeling about for something to propel him forward to break free. Jack's once tame eyes were filled with such intense anger.
''You will never win. Accept that. She is not yours and never will be.'' Jack spat, his steady hand clutching tighter at Cal's slim neck. How he could end his life so easily. The animal need in him had taken over to a point where it frightened him.
''Jack.'' Rose's soft call pulled him back from the realms of his hatred. Beside him, she shook, her body succumbing to the shivers of the freezing cold and the torturous fright. The pistol which she cradled within her tiny hands glinted in the dim light.
''It's all right.''
Her eyes shone with such fire; Jack almost forgot where they were as he admired the steely woman before him.
With a determined step, she came to face Cal; the man who she had once feared with all of her being.
''We shall make a deal, since that seems to be what you are good at.''
Cal remained silent. His wails had ceased and the shakes had taken over. His body was a mass of shivers and Jack steadied him with another hand to ensure that he listened to what Rose was about to say.
''You shall not attempt to find me after this day. You will never speak of me again and your actions shall never come to light of day. You shall tell my mother that upon finding happiness I will write to her and inform her. If any terms are broken then I shall be the first one to speak to the newspapers and ensure that your entire name is entirely destroyed.'' With chattering teeth, she glared to his red face. A shadow of the man he was to Society's eyes. In him, she found almost a child. A child even more naïve and stupid than what even Rose had thought.
Her cares for him were past. Utterly.
''Do I make myself clear?''
Through blurred vision, Cal glanced to the two of them. United. One whole.
''Yes,'' he spluttered, as though he was completely stripped of everything. His ego was gone. His care had followed. Caledon Hockley was nothing.
''Good.''
Jack slowly released grip upon his shirt, before pulling him back from over the edge of the rail and sent him clattering to the deck in one swoop. His fell to the ground, without any attempt to fight back, to move or even blink. From inside his pocket, one-hundred-dollar bills flew about in the wind which had come to claim all of their breathes. Fitting really. Rose thought. Even his money couldn't save him. Not this time. He was worthless.
Within her hands, she cradled the pistol. Her fingers were unbelievably numb as she struggled to move them at all. Turning to the rail, she held the gun above it before dropping it downwards and watching as it disappeared into utter blackness below.
''Where that belongs.'' Rose clattered her teeth together. Beside her, Jack touched her arm, silently. Cal struggled behind them but neither looked.
With her bag in hand, Jack led her to the warmth of the interiors and into a life which would be their own to discover.
Thanks for the love for this, I have completed it now bit by bit, probably weekly :)