Chapter 24:

It was just after dawn when Jack and Rose arrived at the home which he shared with Tommy. Something wasn't quite right, Jack had a feeling.

''You stay here.'' Jack softly told Rose. Her entire body shook. She still couldn't comprehend anything as she shivered and she didn't know if it was from the cold, or the adrenaline or just the events of the last few weeks.

''No, Jack. I have to come.''

Jack pressed his lips to hers just once before cupping her face in his hands. ''Please, just this once. Trust me?''

The truth was, she had never not trusted him at all. She clutched his hand to her chest. She searched his eyes for something but he gave nothing away. She nodded, reluctantly. ''All right.''

Rose took his hand shakily and placed it near her heart. "Feel it, Jack?"

He shook his head, wondering what she was doing. She moved her hand over her left breast and placed Jack's hand there. He felt her heart beating rapidly. "Can you feel it? How fast it's going?"

"Yes, I can," he replied. She tightened her grip on his hand.

"That's how scared I am. My heart's beating into oblivion. I don't want you to fight." Rose gently touched his cheek.

Jack pressed his lips to hers, harshly and so unexpected that it took the wind from her lungs. ''It'll be all right.''

He leaned in to her once more to kiss her cheek. "I love you."

He hesitantly let go of her hand as he got out of the car. His own heart was pounding, his head too full to go over today's events. Running up the porch steps, he kicked the door open. Instantly he heard shouts and he knew they belonged to Tommy. Jack ran into the bedroom where he found Ethan laid on the bed, his hands and ankles bound by shoelaces. Jack's eyes widened. How long had he been here?

''How-'' He was about to speak when he noticed that a gun was sat next to him on the bed. ''What happened?''

''He likes the think he's the fuckin' maffia.'' Tommy laughed, wiping his hands down his jeans. ''He comes in here brandishing a gun, threatening me.''

Jack ran his hands over his face. ''Tommy, Cal is dead.''

Tommy turned to Jack, his face was alight. ''Well done, mate. Half the job is done.''

Jack shook his head. ''No, he fell from the balcony whilst trying to throw himself at me. It looks like he's been thrown over there. No one else knows but by now someone will have discovered his body.'' Jack began to pace to room. Ethan was out cold on his bed! Rose was in his car waiting for him. He felt himself begin to panic. ''For God's sake, what is happening here?''

''Hey, calm yourself. You still got the camera?'' Jack patted his pocket as he took it out and handed it over to Tommy.

''Good man.''

Jack picked up the gun which was beside Ethan. ''What happened here?''

Tommy laughed. ''He came looking for you actually. I made sure he didn't know anything about you and Rose. He and Cal apparently don't see eye to eye as much as we thought.''

Ethan coughed. A sign that he was coming around. ''A couple of punches and he's down like a girl.''

Jack took the gun away from Ethan's sight as he opened his eyes. As they focused, he noticed they were now two people before him. He laughed. ''Well-''

''Shut up.'' Tommy flicked about the with handheld camera. ''I got bad news, boy.''

Tommy took a cigarette from his pocket. He fiddled with it before placing it between his lips and finding a match to light it. He took a long drag and found he calmed right away.

Jack watched Ethan. He was suddenly so helpless and he felt the power. He was the one with the upper hand. ''Your brother is dead.'' Jack told him flatly. ''He threw himself from Rose's balcony. Trying to throw his weight around.''

Ethan was silent. His suit was ruined, his shoes scuffed and now this. He tried to move his wrists but he couldn't. His body ached, he glanced next to him to see his gun had been taken. He pulled himself into a sitting position the best he could.

''Poor Cara. She will be devastated.'' He laughed.

Tommy glanced to Jack. ''Where is your heart? Your brother has gone?'' Tommy told him, softly in a mocking tone. ''Perhaps you need a minute to process that.''

Ethan squinted his eyes. ''No. You think my brother meant that to me? He was the bain of my life. My father saw him as the perfect boy, the soon to be Harvard Lawyer one day.'' Ethan shook his head. ''His existence annoyed me.''

Jack pulled the camera from Tommy, snatching it from his hands. He sat it on the bedside cabinet and he pressed play. The picture was black as when it was recorded it was in Tommy's pocket but the voices were clear enough. Cal was telling Tommy and Jack about Ethan's business ventures, how he killed for money, he had even gone into much detail about the drugs which he sold, which he bought and how he had been obsessed with Cara for so long. The voice went on for about fifteen minutes, his own brother. Jack watched how Ethan seemed to tense more, his fists curled into balls and he glanced between the two of them but he stayed silent. His face was now starting to bruise and Jack knew just how much Tommy had gone to town on him. When Tommy had heard enough, he pulled the camera away from the cabinet and curved his lip over, laughing.

''Poor Ethan now, when your brother stitches up everything which you have ever done.'' He tilted his head. Ethan tried to stand but wound up been pushed back down by Tommy. ''Don't bother. One wrong move and Jack here has your own gun. How ironic it would be to be shot by ones own pistol.''

''That is bullshit!' Ethan shouted. ''All what he has said.''

''Yes, I suppose it is.'' Jack shook his head. He was fed up of this, of everything. ''What is your problem? What do you want?''

Ethan laughed. ''I wanted my brother to suffer but then I also wanted to see him out a bullet in your head. Funny how things turned.''

''The only person who is going to have a bullet in their head is you.'' Tommy told him. ''Jack has done nothing. What were you planning to do? Take him to your secret place where you kill people for fun? You and those clowns who are suddenly nowhere to be seen?''

''They're waiting.''

''Waiting,'' Tommy laughed, ''sure. Strange how just the other day their mug shots was on the Daily News. They been caught, sonny?''

Ethan hung his head. He bit his lip as he glanced about. He was on his own, he knew it now. He struggled about trying to get the laces free but they wouldn't budge. Tommy's face was tormenting him, twisting everything. Suddenly, Ethan used all of his weight to get up from the bed and hurl himself at Tommy, they both fell backwards with Tommy hitting his head on the wardrobe as they fell. Ethan struggled off of him, he ran for the kitchen. Jack was torn between seeing to Tommy who had been knocked unconscious or Ethan. He noticed Tommy's eye open one after the other ever so slowly. Jack smiled, he nodded once to Tommy before going after Ethan. He stopped by the window to ensure that Rose was still in the car. She was.

His distraction caused the Ethan to strike his cheek. Jack fell backwards, feeling the pain. His cheek felt as though it had swollen to twice its size. Jack retaliated, punching his head and cheek, knocking him to the floor. Ethan had managed to find a knife in the kitchen drawer to untie the laces from around his limbs and the knife was now held in his hand.

''You know I never had an issue with you.'' Ethan told Jack, the knife pointed straight at him. ''But then I realised you're just as bad as him.'' He pointed to the bedroom.

Jack was silent, keeping an eye on the knife which was staring right at him. Jack's only good armour was his humour, the fact he could talk anybody out of any situation but right now he couldn't think of anything to say.

''I want that camera.'' Ethan demanded.

''Tommy has it.'' Jack told him, calmly.

''Then I suggest you go and get it. I want to destroy it with my own hands.''

Jack stood rooted to the spot, unsure of whether or not to move.

''Now!'' Ethan shouted.

Jack jumped, quickly he went to the bedroom where he found Tommy was no longer laid out. He was stood behind the door. He pulled Jack behind him and placed his fingers on his lips indicating for Jack to be quiet. Tommy's head was bleeding, his eyes swollen and he could feel his own cheek swelling to twice its size. They were silent for a moment.

''Jack Dawson?'' Ethan snapped, impatiently, as though he was calling for a child to leave the house. ''Do you have it?''

Seconds later, Jack heard him curse and then footsteps started for the bedroom. Just as he put one foot into the bedroom, Tommy slammed the door straight into his face, sending him flying backwards. Jack saw he still had the knife in his hand, quickly he took it from him and threw it to one side where it was disguarded on the floor. Ethan came for Jack, lunging but this time Jack had some power behind him as he pushed Ethan backwards once more and his fist hit Ethan's jaw, then his cheek. He fell onto the table and laid out. He threw his hands up as Tommy came forward, more than ready to take him on once more.

''All right, all right.'' He shouted.

''What?''

''I'm done.''

Tommy smirked. Jack spat out blood and realised he may have chipped his tooth.

''Well I'm not.'' Tommy slammed his fist once more into Ethan's face. This time he was out cold. ''Let's get rid of it, before he comes around again.''

Jack glanced around their home. It was destroyed but he felt nothing even as he looked at Ethan laid out on what was left of their dining table. He felt himself starting to go dizzy but there was also a huge relief. He didn't even hear Tommy's last words. He went to the door, walking out onto the porch and then the lawn. Rose caught sight of him as soon as he came out of the door. His hands were bloody, his face a mess. Tears came down her cheeks immediately. She pushed the car door open with her shaking hands and didn't even think to shut it She ran as fast as her legs would carry her and leaped into his arms, crying hysterically. He did nothing but hold her in his arms.

"I thought he had-'' She trailed off, unable to breathe, just thankful to be in his arms. Her makeup had run and tear tracks were visible on her porcelain cheeks. Jack shushed her and pulled her back into his arms, feeling tears in his own eyes. She struggled to breathe and pulled away from Jack, feeling her stomach and chest tighten. She put her hand over her stomach in an attempt to calm herself.

''Is he-?''

Jack shook his head quickly. ''No, he's alive. Tommy is going to sort him out from here. I can't stay here. It's all over.''

''Will the police press charges?''

Jack shrugged. ''Tommy has the tape and all we know is the truth of what happened. That's all we can hope. That they see the truth.''

Rose breathed heavily and felt herself become dizzy once again. Jack took her hand in his and she leaned against him. Jack shushed her. ''It could have been you over that balcony.''

Jack struggled to believe any of the events of the night. ''I know. But I am here.'' He stroked her hair. ''I never left you tonight. I saw Cal come in. I saw him in your room.''

It was silent between them for a few seconds and they just looked each other in the eyes. ''I love you." she finally managed. ''Don't let me go.''

A smile came across both their faces. Jack gently touched her face. He traced the tracks of her tears with his tender fingers before leaning forward and kissing her gently. She immediately came forward, leaned against his body, and put her arms around his waist. This was what she had been waiting for, just for this moment right now. When Cal had been kissing her, she had pictured this, the tenderness of Jack's kiss. She felt herself shake and a tear fell down her cheek. Jack pulled away from her and wiped it away.

"I love you, Rose, more than anything," he whispered to her, touching her face with a smile playing on his lips. ''I want to take you out of here.''

''But what about all of this?'' Rose glanced up at him, with watery eyes and a faint feeling of relief.

Jack shrugged. ''Only time will tell.''

That much was true.