[A/N. Any comments taken from the Titanic hearings from either the senate committee, or the witnesses, are true and are from the record of the hearings. As you may, or may not know, the hearings themselves went for sixteen days, and when the report came out later it was concluded that they could recommend no prosecutorial action because shipping and shipping safety laws were so lax that no-one could be found culpable. Nonetheless the report, and the hearings transcripts, make interesting reading and provide key insights into the disaster itself. Of course I am not going to mention every single witness and what they had to say since that would bore most people, and it's not really got a great deal to do with this story, Ruth's story other than the parts which were of particular importance in the report. Cheers.]

Ruth's story.

"Are you ready? We want to make sure we get good seats. Do you need to borrow some gloves?" Molly asked in a burst of energy, as she entered Ruth's hotel room in what Ruth thought, was like a hurricane.

"I'm ready, and no I don't think I need gloves thank you." Ruth replied, with a slight smile. The day before she and Molly had gone shopping; something which Ruth had been dreading, especially after her dramatic admission to Molly about being virtually broke. But Molly, being Molly, just shrugged it off:

"Nothin' to be ashamed of Ruth darlin'." She'd said. "We used to have no money, we're new money as you know, so I know what it's like."

"Nonetheless I'd appreciate your discretion in keeping this under wraps for the time being." Ruth had said.

"Discretion? That's my middle name." Molly had laughed.

When Ruth had raised an eyebrow in silent disagreement Molly'd laughed. "Well it will be in this case Ruth. I know what these people are like- they're all vultures, and the last thing you need now is them picking your bones. We'll work something out."

And work something out they had, Ruth thought, glancing down at one of the new dresses Molly had bought her the day before. She only hoped the woman kept her promise, but something in Molly's voice and eyes had told her that her secret was safe.

Ruth walked down to the room where the hearing was being held, with Molly and Mr. Brown beside her. To her surprise there were already quite a few people there waiting patiently. She observed John Astor's elderly father sitting grimly in the front row. "Molly can you save me a seat? I'll be right there."

Molly nodded and Ruth walked over to Mr. Astor. "Mr. Astor, I'm not sure you know me, my names Ruth Dewitt Buckater-"

"Mathew's widow." Mr. Astor interrupted with a nod. "I did business with your late husband on occasions. A good man he was."

"That he was." Ruth agreed. "I was wondering- how is Madeline coping?"

Mr. Astor frowned. "She's not taking it well I'm afraid. She's in bed and hasn't moved in days. We're trying to tell her to be strong for the sake of the baby, but it's almost as if she lost her will to live."

Ruth sighed. "I was worried something like that might happen. I practically forced her to eat on board the Carpathia, telling her she needed to for her unborn child, but had I not watched her she would most likely have not eaten."

"She did mention you, you know." Mr. Astor said. "She said you were very kind to her."

Ruth looked shocked. "Kind? I only did what any other normal woman would have done in my position. And I don't think I'd say I was kind, I was pretty harsh with her."

Mr. Astor sighed. "Sometimes being harsh is being kind." He said slowly. "Maybe, do you think you could possibly spare the time to come and see her? Perhaps, I mean it's a long shot, but perhaps if you were to try and convince her to eat again, like you did aboard the ship?"

"It's not an inconvenience at all." Ruth said.

Mr. Astor looked relieved. "You're a good woman Ruth, as good as Mathew was."

Ruth felt her heart skip a beat. In the back of her mind a voice reminded her that she was nothing like Mathew, not a good woman at all, after all hadn't it been her fault Rose had died? But she muttered to Mr. Astor that any time would be fine, and hurried to take her seat beside Molly and Mr. Brown.

"Mr. Brown was just telling me that today might be rather boring." Molly said to Ruth as she sat beside them and smoothed her skirt. "The witnesses are Mr. Ismay- which could be slightly interesting-, Captain Rostron, the Carpathia's captain, Mr. Lightoller, young Cottam from the wireless room on the Carpathia, and someone named Crawford, a first class steward."

"I'll be interested in hearing what Mr. Ismay's got to say for himself." Ruth commented. With her breakfast that morning she'd also had a copy of the Times to read, and she'd read with interest the rumor that Ismay had demanded that the Captain go faster, and that the maiden voyage of Titanic must make headlines. According to the paper there were witnesses to this comment.

"It could be interesting, but politically Ismay's got his backside covered by the English." Mr. Brown said, but before Ruth could pursue this any further the Senate Committee and more spectators began to file in. "That white haired man there, that's Senator William Alden Smith, the one who demanded this committee. He's from Michigan, a Republican." Mr. Brown continued as he pointed out the man to the two women.

After everyone had taken their seats and there was silence in the chandeliered East Room where the hearing was being held Senator Smith got to his feet and called the hearing to order. He then announced that the first witness was to be "Mr. J. Bruce Ismay, 49 years of age, Managing director of the White Star Line and first class passenger, from Liverpool, England."

Mr. Ismay walked over and took his seat looking distinctly uncomfortable about the whole process. Ruth remembered his comments as the Carpathia was pulling into New York only two days before: "They're going to crucify us. Mark my words Mr. Lowe, this so-called hearing is not going to be a pleasant experience at all." And then she remembered what Mr. Brown had said before, that Mr. Ismay wasn't going to get into trouble because the English had his back covered.

Ruth bit her lip as Mr. Ismay commented that before he gave any testimony he would like to express his sincere grief at the tragedy, and that they welcomed this enquiry as it differed from what he'd said on the ship. For the most part the testimony Mr. Ismay gave was boring, and slightly vauge as he answered questions with comments like "More than that I do not know." It was clear that the committee were beginning to get annoyed with his indefinite answers. It was only when Senator Smith asked about Mr. Ismay's departure from the ship that people around Ruth sat up slightly in their seats. Mr. Ismay appeared not to understand the question, and the senator repeated it. "What were the circumstances of your departure from the ship? I merely ask that-"

Mr. Ismay interrupted him. "The boat was there. There were a certain number of men in the boat, and the officer called out asking if there were any more women, and there was no response, and there were no passengers left on the deck."

"There were no passengers on the deck?" Senator Smith asked.

"No, sir, and as the boat was in the act of being lowered away, I got into it."

"Codswallop." Someone behind Ruth muttered, and she turned around to see who had spoken, but she couldn't tell. Was Mr. Ismay lying then? He'd refused to admit he had encouraged the captain to speed up so they could get into New York earlier than expected, so it was conceivable he was lying, despite his comment about giving the fullest cooperation.

Eventually Mr. Ismay was excused and he hurried to the side of a tall man who had been watching the hearing with utmost interest. They conferred for a moment and then hurried from the room.

"Interesting." Mr. Brown said. "He didn't seem to happy to cooperate did he? All that I shouldn't like to say, and more than that I do not know."

Ruth sighed and shifted in her seat. It was uncomfortable and she felt as though she had been sitting there for hours on end already. Maybe her determination to come to the hearings was not the best idea?

"How are you holding up Ruth darlin'?" Molly asked, leaning closer to her.

Ruth gave her a weak smile. "So far so good." She said slowly.

"The next witness is Captain Arthur Henry Rostron, Captain of the Cunard liner Carpathia, the only ship to come to the aid of the Titanic survivors." Senator Smith announced, and again Ruth tuned out as the questioning began along the lines of what he had ordered once they had picked up the Titanic's distress call. Thinking back to that night, even though it was already quite a few nights in the past, Ruth thought about Rose. She wished she knew what had happened to her. Even though it would more than likely be painful and distressing at least it would provide her with some answers, and perhaps it would stop the haunting images of Rose floating accusingly in and out of her dreams.

*****

Ruth sighed and picked listlessly at her dinner. It hadn't been until after they'd left the hearings that she realised how much they had taken out of her. She thought about Officer Lightoller's comments- as the Titanic had been sinking he claimed that it had all been orderly and there had been no pushing and shoving. Did that mean Rose had just stood there and said or done nothing? That was not like Rose, not like the Rose she knew anyway, which she reflected, was not probably the real Rose anyway.

"You all right Ruth?" Molly asked. "You've stopped eating."

"I don't think I'm as hungry as I thought I was." Ruth said.

"Maybe you should skip the hearing tomorrow?" Suggested Mr. Brown, but Ruth shook her head adamantly.

"I can't. Not with…not with Rose having died there." Ruth said.

Molly nodded slowly. There was a strange look on her face, and Ruth wondered whether people were beginning to talk about Rose and her conduct with that steerage man.

Ruth pushed her plate away. "Anyway, I've got business over at the Astor's New York residence."

"JJ's residence?" Mr. Brown looked confused. "I saw you talking to his father."

Ruth nodded. "He's worried about John's widow, young Madeline, she's expecting, and taking this pretty hard. He thought because I convinced her to eat on the Carpathia that maybe I could convince her again."

Molly looked impressed. "Well that's mighty impressive of you Ruth, in the middle of such tragedy yourself too."

Ruth stood up and fixed her clothes. She debated telling Molly about the real reason for agreeing, but then decided against it. If there were gossip about Rose already then this would only fuel it. "I shall see you both in the morning for the hearing." Ruth said firmly.

*****

"Thank you for coming Mrs. Dewitt Buckater." Mr. Astor said when Ruth was shown into his study. "I appreciate it."

"I haven't done anything yet." Ruth cautioned.

"True." Mr. Astor said as he lit his pipe. "But I'm sure you must be able to get through to Madeleine. After all, don't you have a daughter who's practically the same age?"

Ruth felt her heart skip a beat. Surely Mr. Astor must know who had survived and who not. He would have looked at lists considering there were bound to be people on the ship he associated with, either through business or socially. "My daughter died on the Titanic Mr. Astor." Ruth said, her voice as clear and strong as she could make it. She wasn't about to show weakness in front of one of the countries richest and most prominent men.

"Good god, I didn't realise. I'm sorry for your loss." Mr. Astor said.

"As I am for yours." Ruth replied dutifully. "Now, where is Madeleine?"

"I shall get Lisa to show you up there." Mr. Astor said and he summoned one of his maids, who lead Ruth up the staircase and to the room where Madeleine was occupying. Ruth took a deep breath before going in there. She'd let Rose die, but she couldn't let someone else so young die. Perhaps saving Madeleine was slightly redeeming herself for losing Rose?