Chapter 5
Jack couldn't hold onto the door any longer. He let go of his grip and let himself sink below the surface. He had lost the battle he fought so desperately to win. As his body began it's descend to the ocean floor, he noticed a warm, welcoming light below him. He turned his body around and began to swim toward it. No part of his body seemed to hurt any longer and he felt an overwhelming sense of peace. So this is life after death, he thought and he welcomed it with open arms.
He swam faster and faster, eager to arrive at the light which was calling him. As he got closer and closer each minute he could see that it was the lights of the Titanic, still burning as brightly as they had been the night before. He swam through one of the open windows of the promenade deck and suddenly the water was gone and everything had been restored to it's original glory. The deck chairs were once again carefully arranged every few feet apart. The ship was once again above water, floating gracefully on the great sea. At first sight it seemed as though he were the only one aboard, but he could hear voices, laughter and rejoicing., the band once again playing the upbeat ragtime music.
Jack slowly approached the entrance to the grand staircase and the door was swung open and held out for him. The attending steward gave him a polite smile and nod.. He walked to the top of the grand staircase and paused. There were people everywhere and when Jack had entered, the room fell quiet and they all just watched his entrance is if it were expecting him. He saw many familiar faces; Fabrizio, Tommy, Mr. Andrews, Captain Smith, Cora the little girl he had danced with at a third class party one night. There were several faces he didn't see however; Molly Brown, Ruth Dewitt Bukater, Cal, and Rose. They had all survived and he was among those who perished.
He began to descend the stairs when suddenly there was some commotion in the reception room below and the crowd began to part allowing a passageway for a new guest. He noticed Fabrizio motioning to him to remain where he was. Jack leaned down, trying to get a peek at this new mysterious guest everyone's eyes had now become fixated upon. He first spotted the long, flowing lacy white dress. As he moved his gaze upwards he saw that it was Rose, her long red curls hung loosely about her shoulders. She looked breathtaking. She glanced up and met his eyes and beamed with happiness. "Jack!", she cried excitedly, running to meet him at the clock.
"Rose! No! You don't belong here! You have to go back Rose!", he shouted desperately but she didn't seem to care, or even hear what he was saying. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. He still protested but he could hardly be angry with her now for it was too late. She pulled back just enough to kiss him, gently cradling his head and pulling him closer and closer to her. The crowd applauded and cheered in the background. He was in heaven!
Suddenly, a pain so intense, so unbearable, began to radiate towards his torso, starting at his hands and feet, moving inwards. It felt like his body was on fire. He dropped to his knees and wailed in pain. Rose immediately dropped by his side, trying to assist him in some way. He couldn't think of anything but the pain. When he glanced up at Rose, he noticed something strange about her appearance. She was fading away, but it wasn't only her. Everyone else had vanished completely and all that remained of them was the faint sound of chatter. They seemed to be saying "Good luck Jack". He searched again for Rose and she was gone. "ROOOOSE!" She was nowhere to be found. Instead, a man's voice came booming back at him.
"Come on now, that's a good lad." Jack opened his eyes and Titanic was gone. He was lying on his back in a bed, blankets piled high on top of him. He was in excruciating pain, but alive. His hands were wrapped in bandages and he imagined so were his feet. He tried wiggling his toes again and could feel that they were. He glanced over to his side and noticed a small man clad in a white coat sitting beside him. A doctor. He was an older gentleman, his hair and moustache mostly gray and the lines in his face were begging to show his age. His brown eyes were kindly and he looked relieved to see Jack awake. "You gave us a scare there for awhile. How are you feeling?"
Jack groaned and squinted his eyes and clinched his teeth as another wave of pain shot through his body. "Like I've been swimming in a river of molten lava." The doctor chuckled.
"Well, it was quite the opposite boy, wasn't it? I can't imagine one surviving in water that cold just as you did. It really is a miracle. If one of the officers hadn't noticed your arm moving I'm guessing we would have passed you right by. You realize how lucky you are?"
"Without a doubt. Was there anyone else saved?" The doctor frowned and shook his head.
"Now tell me lad, were you traveling with family?"
"No, no family. I did meet an incredibly special someone though. Oh gosh, are all the survivors aboard this ship Doctor?"
"No son, you're the only one aboard this ship. The Carpathia rescued those in the lifeboats. We showed up afterwards to see if we could be of any further assistance. You are on the Californian. This special someone", he started with a knowing smile, "was she on a lifeboat?".
"Yes", he breathed with a sigh of relief. Everything had worked out just as he planned. "Would you please send a message to the Carpathia that I am safe, to Rose Dewitt Bukater. Tell her I, Jack Dawson, am safe and to wait for me in New York."
"Certainly son, right away. In the meantime, you'd better get your rest before you develop pneumonia. Try not to worry about the pain, it's just your body re-warming. It'll ease up soon enough."
Jack nodded and smiled. The pain seemed to already be letting up. There wasn't much that could drown his spirits now. He was alive and recovering and Rose was safely aboard the Carpathia. She would get his message and they would resume their plans in New York. For a moment, the thought crossed his mind that maybe after everything that had happened she had changed her mind. Maybe the tragedy had made her reconsider her plans to leave with him. Surely she was surrounded by her mother and Cal and they had "talked some sense into her". No. She wouldn't do that. Her actions last night made it clear that she wouldn't. She had refused to get into a lifeboat without him and had only done so when he had effectively convinced her he would be alright. They were going to start a new, wonderful life together. Jack beamed from ear to ear and nestled his head into his pillow. He was just beginning to nod off when a figure appeared in the doorway. From his uniform, Jack guessed that he was the captain of the ship.
"I'm sorry to inform you lad, but Captain Rostrom of the Carpathia has informed us that Rose Dewitt Bukater is not aboard. Also, he consulted with the master-at-arms who confirmed you had been taken under arrest aboard the ship. We removed the handcuffs so we could treat you, but Mr. Hockley still fully intends to press charges. I'm afraid when we return to New York you will be quickly escorted to jail. We will have one our officers attend to you until then."
Jack's heart was racing. Was it true that Rose wasn't aboard? No it, couldn't be, preposterous. She had been on a lifeboat. Jack had watched them lower away and row off until he could no longer make her out, just to be sure she didn't try anything stupid again. He was sure that it was just Cal interfering again, determined to keep them apart. There was no other way to explain it. If she hadn't been brought aboard on a lifeboat, the only explanation is that she died aboard it and they buried her at sea, or maybe she had jumped out of it by her own free will. Jumped out to rescue him? Oh god no, Rose. God please tell me she didn't. Jack recalled his dream earlier, returning to Titanic where he was greeted by those who were lost. What if isn't wasn't a dream at all. What if for a minute I really had died, and Rose was there waiting for me. He quickly brushed the thought aside. She was alive, she had to be alive. She had made a promise too. She had promised him that she would survive.
Jack couldn't hold onto the door any longer. He let go of his grip and let himself sink below the surface. He had lost the battle he fought so desperately to win. As his body began it's descend to the ocean floor, he noticed a warm, welcoming light below him. He turned his body around and began to swim toward it. No part of his body seemed to hurt any longer and he felt an overwhelming sense of peace. So this is life after death, he thought and he welcomed it with open arms.
He swam faster and faster, eager to arrive at the light which was calling him. As he got closer and closer each minute he could see that it was the lights of the Titanic, still burning as brightly as they had been the night before. He swam through one of the open windows of the promenade deck and suddenly the water was gone and everything had been restored to it's original glory. The deck chairs were once again carefully arranged every few feet apart. The ship was once again above water, floating gracefully on the great sea. At first sight it seemed as though he were the only one aboard, but he could hear voices, laughter and rejoicing., the band once again playing the upbeat ragtime music.
Jack slowly approached the entrance to the grand staircase and the door was swung open and held out for him. The attending steward gave him a polite smile and nod.. He walked to the top of the grand staircase and paused. There were people everywhere and when Jack had entered, the room fell quiet and they all just watched his entrance is if it were expecting him. He saw many familiar faces; Fabrizio, Tommy, Mr. Andrews, Captain Smith, Cora the little girl he had danced with at a third class party one night. There were several faces he didn't see however; Molly Brown, Ruth Dewitt Bukater, Cal, and Rose. They had all survived and he was among those who perished.
He began to descend the stairs when suddenly there was some commotion in the reception room below and the crowd began to part allowing a passageway for a new guest. He noticed Fabrizio motioning to him to remain where he was. Jack leaned down, trying to get a peek at this new mysterious guest everyone's eyes had now become fixated upon. He first spotted the long, flowing lacy white dress. As he moved his gaze upwards he saw that it was Rose, her long red curls hung loosely about her shoulders. She looked breathtaking. She glanced up and met his eyes and beamed with happiness. "Jack!", she cried excitedly, running to meet him at the clock.
"Rose! No! You don't belong here! You have to go back Rose!", he shouted desperately but she didn't seem to care, or even hear what he was saying. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. He still protested but he could hardly be angry with her now for it was too late. She pulled back just enough to kiss him, gently cradling his head and pulling him closer and closer to her. The crowd applauded and cheered in the background. He was in heaven!
Suddenly, a pain so intense, so unbearable, began to radiate towards his torso, starting at his hands and feet, moving inwards. It felt like his body was on fire. He dropped to his knees and wailed in pain. Rose immediately dropped by his side, trying to assist him in some way. He couldn't think of anything but the pain. When he glanced up at Rose, he noticed something strange about her appearance. She was fading away, but it wasn't only her. Everyone else had vanished completely and all that remained of them was the faint sound of chatter. They seemed to be saying "Good luck Jack". He searched again for Rose and she was gone. "ROOOOSE!" She was nowhere to be found. Instead, a man's voice came booming back at him.
"Come on now, that's a good lad." Jack opened his eyes and Titanic was gone. He was lying on his back in a bed, blankets piled high on top of him. He was in excruciating pain, but alive. His hands were wrapped in bandages and he imagined so were his feet. He tried wiggling his toes again and could feel that they were. He glanced over to his side and noticed a small man clad in a white coat sitting beside him. A doctor. He was an older gentleman, his hair and moustache mostly gray and the lines in his face were begging to show his age. His brown eyes were kindly and he looked relieved to see Jack awake. "You gave us a scare there for awhile. How are you feeling?"
Jack groaned and squinted his eyes and clinched his teeth as another wave of pain shot through his body. "Like I've been swimming in a river of molten lava." The doctor chuckled.
"Well, it was quite the opposite boy, wasn't it? I can't imagine one surviving in water that cold just as you did. It really is a miracle. If one of the officers hadn't noticed your arm moving I'm guessing we would have passed you right by. You realize how lucky you are?"
"Without a doubt. Was there anyone else saved?" The doctor frowned and shook his head.
"Now tell me lad, were you traveling with family?"
"No, no family. I did meet an incredibly special someone though. Oh gosh, are all the survivors aboard this ship Doctor?"
"No son, you're the only one aboard this ship. The Carpathia rescued those in the lifeboats. We showed up afterwards to see if we could be of any further assistance. You are on the Californian. This special someone", he started with a knowing smile, "was she on a lifeboat?".
"Yes", he breathed with a sigh of relief. Everything had worked out just as he planned. "Would you please send a message to the Carpathia that I am safe, to Rose Dewitt Bukater. Tell her I, Jack Dawson, am safe and to wait for me in New York."
"Certainly son, right away. In the meantime, you'd better get your rest before you develop pneumonia. Try not to worry about the pain, it's just your body re-warming. It'll ease up soon enough."
Jack nodded and smiled. The pain seemed to already be letting up. There wasn't much that could drown his spirits now. He was alive and recovering and Rose was safely aboard the Carpathia. She would get his message and they would resume their plans in New York. For a moment, the thought crossed his mind that maybe after everything that had happened she had changed her mind. Maybe the tragedy had made her reconsider her plans to leave with him. Surely she was surrounded by her mother and Cal and they had "talked some sense into her". No. She wouldn't do that. Her actions last night made it clear that she wouldn't. She had refused to get into a lifeboat without him and had only done so when he had effectively convinced her he would be alright. They were going to start a new, wonderful life together. Jack beamed from ear to ear and nestled his head into his pillow. He was just beginning to nod off when a figure appeared in the doorway. From his uniform, Jack guessed that he was the captain of the ship.
"I'm sorry to inform you lad, but Captain Rostrom of the Carpathia has informed us that Rose Dewitt Bukater is not aboard. Also, he consulted with the master-at-arms who confirmed you had been taken under arrest aboard the ship. We removed the handcuffs so we could treat you, but Mr. Hockley still fully intends to press charges. I'm afraid when we return to New York you will be quickly escorted to jail. We will have one our officers attend to you until then."
Jack's heart was racing. Was it true that Rose wasn't aboard? No it, couldn't be, preposterous. She had been on a lifeboat. Jack had watched them lower away and row off until he could no longer make her out, just to be sure she didn't try anything stupid again. He was sure that it was just Cal interfering again, determined to keep them apart. There was no other way to explain it. If she hadn't been brought aboard on a lifeboat, the only explanation is that she died aboard it and they buried her at sea, or maybe she had jumped out of it by her own free will. Jumped out to rescue him? Oh god no, Rose. God please tell me she didn't. Jack recalled his dream earlier, returning to Titanic where he was greeted by those who were lost. What if isn't wasn't a dream at all. What if for a minute I really had died, and Rose was there waiting for me. He quickly brushed the thought aside. She was alive, she had to be alive. She had made a promise too. She had promised him that she would survive.