AN: Thanks for reading and for the kind reviews! I'm really glad so many people enjoy this story. It gets a bit, ah, intense toward the end.
Everyone was staring at her. Rose sat stiffly, hands folded in her lap. Her heart seemed to beat slower, but her stomach was tied in knots. The crowd was a blur. She focused her gaze on Jack. He sat with the others, in the same spot as the day before. His eyes were hopeful. He offered her an encouraging smile. She wished she were still next to him.
"You don't hafta do this," Jack had told her, just before they came inside. He caressed her cheek with his thumb. His blue eyes loomed above her, so kind and understanding. It made Rose feel even worse. How could she have done this to him? If not for her, he'd still be off on an adventure somewhere. He'd be free.
"I do," she said.
He nodded. "Alright. You'll be great. It'll be over before you know it."
Rose doubted that, but she didn't argue. He kissed her, and she fought the urge to cling to him.
The prosecution went first. She took a breath as Charlie walked toward her. They hadn't gone over her testimony. He was reluctant to ask about the events that led her to Jack, let alone the attack. If it were up to him, neither she nor Lucy would be allowed to testify. This wasn't a situation for women.
"We'll try to keep this brief," he said. "I know it must be difficult for you to relive these events."
"I can manage," Rose said.
"Why don't you start by telling us about your marriage. What were your reasons for leaving your husband?"
"I didn't want to be with him," she answered. "Our marriage was arranged, to be honest I had little say in the matter."
"So, if it were up to you," Charlie said. "You wouldn't have married him?"
"No," Rose said. "I can't say I would. I did so out of financial necessity. My mother and I were left with nothing after my father's death, and this was a way to take care of her. I did what any child would've done."
"Aside from that, why did you leave?" Charlie asked. "If he provided you and your family with a home and financial stability?"
"There were many reasons," Rose said slowly. A chill settled over her. Goosebumps popped up across her body. "He was unpredictable. Emotional. He was difficult to please. Violent. Cruel." She felt Cal's eyes on her. His glare burned like ice, and she shivered. She looked into Jack's eyes. He nodded. "Go on," he mouthed. "You can do it."
Rose twisted her hands together. The air was thick with murmurings. "He treated you badly," Charlie said. "He didn't behave like a husband should."
Rose heard herself laugh. "That's one way of describing it." Without meaning to, she turned and met Cal's gaze. Surprise flashed in his eyes, but they remained cold. His lip curled contemptuously. His hands were clenched under the table. Rose saw them. She knew what he was thinking. She knew what those fists were for.
She sat a little straighter, keeping her eyes on him. She'd come this far. "The months I spent with him were worse than anything I could've imagined," she said, her voice ringing out confidently. "At first I wondered what I'd done to deserve it. I wondered how I could stop it. I tried everything. I did whatever he asked. Nothing worked. I realized it wasn't anything I'd done or that I wasn't doing. It was just who he was."
Cal leaned forward. He lay his hands flat on the table, flexing them. Gone was the smirk. His mouth was a thin line. Even in the chair, he seemed taller. Rose's stomach lurched. She knew that look well. Her voice faltered. She shivered again, and for a moment the room spun. She thought she heard Jack's voice. Where was he? She coudn't see him anymore. She couldn't see anything. It was dark. Cal loomed over her. His anger was palpable. She didn't know why, but it didn't matter. The outcome was always the same. She shrank back, tears already springing to her eyes.
"Rose!" Jack cried. He leapt around the table and across the room. Judge Fredrickson banged his gavel. "Young man, sit down," he ordered. Jack ignored him. Charlie watched Rose, perplexed. What was going on? She lay in the chair, trembling, as if in a trance.
Heedless of everything else, Jack knelt down next to her. "Rose," he said. He touched her face with his fingertips. Her eyes were wide with fear, but she didn't see him. Slowly, he put his hands on hers. "Rose, it's me," he said. "You're safe." He felt her tremble. His first instinct was to pull her close, but he didn't, sensing that touching her too much might make things worse. "No-one can hurt you," he went on.
"You need to sit down," Fredrickson said. The room hummed with voices and the click of cameras.
"What's happening?" Lucy said.
"I don't know," Fabrizo replied.
Cal smiled to himself. Just as he predicted, she wouldn't say anything. His smile was quickly replaced by a look of concern. He glanced at Milton as he got up, but he made no move to stop him. By now, the baliff had come over to see what was wrong. Cal joined the growing circle around Rose, unnoticed at first. If he'd tried, he could probably have walked out.
"It's alright," Jack said soothingly. He touched her arm. "Look at me, Rose."
Rose's eyes focused. She blinked. "Jack? What-" Her words were lost as she caught sight of Cal. He leaned toward her, his hand out. "No," she whispered, shaking her head.
"What is it?" Jack asked. He turned. His eyes narrowed. "What are you doing?" he cried. "Get away from her!"
Fredrickson banged the gavel, calling for order, but there was no use. The crowd seemed to erupt. Jack was on his feet, between Cal and Rose. "I told you to get away from her," he snapped.
"She's my wife," Cal said icily.
"Not anymore."
Cal moved closer. "That's what you think," he sneered. He reached out to push Jack aside, but he wouldn't budge. Jack grabbed his arm. "You're not gonna touch her," he warned.
"Are you threatening me? You?" Cal laughed. He tried to wrench his arm free, but Jack's grip was iron.
"I'm just telling you how it's gonna be," Jack said. He shoved Cal back. "Get away from her."
"Keep your hands off me!" Cal snarled.
"Why? You didn't keep them off Rose."
They stared at each other, their faces inches apart, just waiting for the other to move.
"Jack?" Rose's voive was faint. She could barely be heard above the din. Jack whirled around. "Rose?" he said. She was on her feet, clutching the arm of the chair. Her cheeks were pale. She wore a dazed expression. Jack moved toward her.
The judge was calling for the baliff to seize Cal, but before he could, Cal lurched forward, placing a heavy fist in Jack's stomach. Jack doubled over, gasping. Rose screamed. Cal raised his fist, only to find a handcuff closing around his arm.
...
Rose sat at the table, a blanket clutched around her shoulders. Fabrizo was at the stove, cooking. He'd been cooking since they came home. Upstairs, Jack was building a fire in their room. The kitchen was warm and full of delicious smells, her favorite Italian dishes, in fact, but Rose barely noticed. Shivering, she pulled the blanket tighter, though she knew it wouldn't make a difference. The cold went too deep for that.
Lucy and her brothers had gone home. Lucy offered to stay, but Rose just shook her head and told her it wasn't necessary. Lucy squeezed her hand. "You sure?" she asked.
"It's fine," Rose said.
Fabrizo walked her to the door. "She's not fine," Lucy said, once Rose was out of earshot.
"Jack can handle it," Fabrizo replied. He put an arm around her. "What about you? How do you feel?"
"I'm alright. I wasn't the one up there today."
"You'll be up there tomorrow," he reminded her. "Are you sure you can handle it?"
"I can handle it."
"Rose said that too."
"She's had to deal with a lot more than me," Lucy said.
Rose looked up as Jack came in. He smiled, and she tried to return it, but her effort was half-hearted. He sat down next to her and took her hand. "You hungry?" he asked.
"Not really."
"You've gotta eat something," he said. "It's warm upstairs. We can go up after dinner."
"Alright."
"Rose..." Jack wanted to say more, but the words wouldn't come. He didn't know what she needed to hear. Reassurances weren't enough, if they had ever been.
...
Rose curled up next to him like a kitten. Her head lay on Jack's shoulder; his arms wrapped around her. Lady was against her feet. Even through the thick quilts, Rose felt her comforting presence. Jack kissed her forehead. "I love you," he said.
She pressed her face into his neck. "I love you too."
Jack didn't know when he fell asleep. Rose's nightmare woke him up. "It's alright," he said. "Rose, wake up." He gave her a gentle shake. "It's just a dream."
"It's not." He heard tears in her voice. "Jack, it's more than that."
"I know it feels that way," he said. "But he can't hurt you."
"He can hurt all of us," she said, unconvinced. "I was crazy to think he couldn't."
"Not from jail, Rose." He turned up the lamp. "He can't do anything."
"He hit you today, didn't he?"
"That doesn't count. He just got lucky," Jack replied. "And I'm fine."
"I saw how much it hurt," Rose said.
"I didn't say it didn't hurt. Sure it hurt, but there's no real damage." He placed her hand on his stomach. "See? Nothing."She pressed tentatively. Jack's expression didn't waver. "Not even a bruise," he said.
"Maybe not this time," she said. "But if he managed it once-"
"Rose. Please, Honey-Rose, believe me," he begged. "I know it's hard, but-"
"You don't know." Her words startled her. Had she really said that? "I'm sorry, Jack. I know you're trying, but you don't know. You can't. Not really. What's happened, the way it's left me...I don't even understand it completely."
"I wish I could just feel it for you," Jack said quietly.
"I'd never let you."
"Do you wanna tell me about it?" he asked. "Would that help?"
There was a long pause, and then Rose said, "It's more than being afraid. I carry these feelings around. Sometimes I don't notice them, but then other times, I can't feel anything else. Just dread. Terror in my bones. Something's happening. I know it is, or it will. It doesn't matter where I am."
"Is that when stuff scares you?"
She nodded. "I was doing so well. Jack, I thought I was getting over it, and now, I'm not sure I ever will. What happend today..."
"Rose, what did happen?"
"I looked in his eyes," she said. "I was looking at you, but then I looked at him. It seemed right at the time, like of course I would look at him while I told everything. He'd see I wasn't broken." Her voice faltered. "But I am."
Jack held her tighter. "No, Rose, you're not," he said. "He wants you to think that."
"I panicked. I don't know how else to describe it," she said. "Suddenly, it was just me and him. I knew what was coming, what he'd do. You were gone. I didn't know where you were, if he'd hurt you. The look in his eyes...He was going to kill me-"
"Rose."
She kept going, barely hearing him. "He would have, that night. I only survived because of Lucy and her brothers. I fought back, but it wasn't enough. It was never enough." A sob caught in her throat. Jack crushed her to him. "Rose," he murmured into her hair. "Rose. Rose." He felt her tears on his neck. "Don't think like that," he said. "I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you."
...
Dawn filtered through the curtains. Rose lay awake, watching Jack sleep. His arms were still wrapped solidly around her. She couldn't move without disturbing him. He didn't wear his usual, peaceful look. Instead, his brows were knit, and he frowned. She touched his face, half-hoping she could smooth out the tension.
It worked, in a way. He smiled, his eyes opening a crack. "Hey," he murmured.
"Hello."
"You alright?" he asked. She nodded. He kissed her forehead. "Been awake long?"
"No," she said.
"Want me to let you up?"
"No," she said, with a small shake of her head.
Jack kissed the tip of her nose, and then her mouth. His hand moved over her back. "You're so tense," he said.
"So are you, Jack."
He shrugged one shoulder. "Nothing to worry about." His blue eyes were solemn, but Rose saw something else in them. She couldn't quite name it. "But you, well, that's different," he added. He kissed her again before gently rolling her onto her stomach. He pulled her hair back. His lips brushed her ear, and he whispered, "Do you trust me?"
"I trust you. Of course."
He moved to slip her nightgown over her head. "Can I?"
"Yes."
He kissed her neck. Slowly, he began rubbing circles in her shoulders with his thumbs. Rose sighed. "How's it feel?" he asked.
"Rather good."
Jack grinned. He moved down her back, using his whole hands now. He followed them with kisses. Rose made a small noise in her throat. He kept going, working his way down her legs, to her feet. When he finished, she lay across the pillow, breathing slowly, all the knots in her body untangled. She looked at him over her shoulder. He leaned down and kissed her. "Thank you," she whispered.
"I'm not done, Petal."
Rose gave him a curious look. Jack just grinned and rolled her onto her back. He kissed her neck, slowly moving from one side to the other. Her breathing quickened. He bit down, ever so gently. The soft noise in her throat returned. "Do you like that?" he asked.
"Jack, I always liked that."
"I know," he said. There was an unspoken but, which he ignored. He looked down into her eyes. He saw trust in them, and the flicker of desire.
Jack lightly ran his fingertips across her breasts. A small groan escaped his lips. She was so soft. No-one else could possibly feel like this. Her nipples hardened beneath his thumbs. He glanced up at her. Rose nodded. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glassy.
He held her breasts in his hands. Even now, he marveled at how well they fit. He took one in his mouth, and then the other, gently suckling. Rose arched her back. Her hands found his hair, and she moaned.
He kissed her belly, his hands on her hips. He brushed her underwear. "Can I?" he asked again.
Rose's voice was thick. "Don't stop now, Jack."
He slid them off and tossed them aside. For a moment, Jack just gazed at her. Had he really thought other women were beautiful before her? As an artist, he understood they were, but how could he have thought so as a man? "Oh, Rose," he breathed.
He touched her legs, and she parted them, lifting her hips. Starting at her knees, he kissed his way up her thighs, giving the occasional, light nip as he went. Her eyes were closed now. Jack took hold of her hips again. His tongue flicked out, lightly touching the center of her desire. Rose sucked in her breath, her hands twisting in his hair. "Jack."
His movements were slow and deliberate. Teasing. God, she was delicious. Intoxicating. Like sweet flower petals and nectar.
Rose forgot about being heard. For a brief, precious time, she forgot everything.
...
The trial was being postponed. Judge Fredrickson ruled more time was necessary to determine if new charges should be added for Cal's attack on Jack. He also wanted time to consider the entire scene, including Rose's part in it. They didn't know what that meant, but it sounded vaguely ominious. Harry tried to assure Jack it wasn't, but when he told Rose about it, Jack left that part out.
Milton saw this as a perfect opportunity. Cal still wasn't cooperating with his defense plans, insisting that Rose would never go through with her testimony. "You saw what happened," he argued. "She'll never manage to get that far again. She's incapable of it, poor thing." He tried to sound sympathetic but failed.
"We can use that," Milton said. "She's emotionally unstable. Doesn't know what she's doing. It's not her faut. Assuming, of course, you want to stay married to her," he added. "After all this is over."
Cal looked aghast. "Are you suggesting I divorce her?"
"Well, it wouldn't be unheard of," Milton replied. "Plenty of men have divorced their wives for less."
"That's what she wants." Cal's eyes grew thoughtful. "But do I want to live with her again?" His mouth curled in disgust. Just thinking about her with Jack made him sick. No, he wasn't sure he could ever touch her again. But did that matter? There were other women, other ways of finding pleasure.
And yet.
She was his, and nothing could change that. Divorce or no divorce, Rose would always belong to him. She tried to leave, and he'd shown her the error in that. He could do it again. Only this time, he wouldn't fail. Exactly what that entailed, Cal wasn't sure. When he thought about Rose a dark, gaping hole opened inside him. It was worse than anything he'd ever felt; the anger burned hotter, the lustful thrill of it ran deeper.
"What we need," Milton said. "Is a change of venue. It's ridiculous we're still here. I don't know why I didn't try for it earlier."
"I didn't want this getting out," Cal reminded him. "But you don't care about that."
"It was going to get out sooner or later. At this point, you need all the sympathy you can get, and I don't know how much you'll get here," Milton mused. "People don't seem to care for her, but the other two, Dawson and that McCullough girl, they're a different story. People around here know them. They like them. That girl has family here. They've got influence."
"How much influence could they possibly have?"
"Enough," Milton said. He tapped his chin. "Yes, I think that's what we'll do."
