Chapter 13

Ruth was impatiently waiting at the dinner table with her eyes fixated on the clock. Tapping her fingers on the table, she wouldn't let herself rest.

"They are never late for dinner." She growled in annoyance.

"Don't worry, dear, you know how often they have lost track of time when they were together." Mr. DeWitt Bukater tried to calm down Ruth. Taking a bite from his steak, he tried to change the subject. In a way, he didn't mind being alone with his wife. Apart from sharing the bed, he never spent time together without anyone around. Still annoyed she nipped at her glass of wine and shoved her vegetables to the other side of her plate. Footsteps echoed in the background until they stopped. The door shot open and Trudy walked in, apologising for her interruption.

"There is a phone call for you, sir." She said, keeping her head low and avoiding eye contact.

He sighed and placed his napkin onto the table. "Who is it that call at this time of the day?"

"I don't know sir, I couldn't quite hear her name, but she said it is quite urgent."

"Her name? It is a woman who decided to call me?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good god." Pushing his chair away he marched out and the ladies watched him disappear.

"Shall I collect their plates, ma'am?" Trudy suggested as she noticed the empty spots at the table. Ruth nodded her head and before she could give her maid another list of orders, her husband's voice burst through every wall of the house. Both Ruth and Trudy jumped slightly in fright.

"Ruth come over here!" Mr. DeWitt Bukater yelled from out of his office. With an eerie feeling inside of her stomach she followed his order and shot up from her seat.

"Robert, what is going on?" She looked at him as he was putting on his coat. In a fast movement he also pulled her outerwear off the hatstand and threw it into her hands.

"It's Violet and Rose. They've had an accident. Another care drove into ours."

"Oh my god!" Ruth gasped in a horrifying manner. "My poor girls! Are they all right?"

"I don't know, but I am going to ask the neighbours for their car. We have to go to the hospital right away."

The ride was long and dreadful. Feeling her heart beating heavily in her chest, Ruth almost forced her husband to drive thus fast until the car almost gave up. They had dropped everything and let it be in the way it was. Food was turning cold on the table and candles were still burning to give enough light for those who weren't there. Trudy had rushed towards the front door, but it was too late to receive any answers to her dying questions. Worried and confused she continued with her work and could only pray that everything was going to be okay.

As Mr. DeWitt Bukater parked the car in the first spot he could find, mother and father ran inside like a tornado. Bursting through every door that finally managed to reach for the reception. When something drastic happens, most people find time to almost stand still or move in a pace almost too slow to notice any motion. With a beep ringing in both their ears, they were lead towards a bigger hall with a collection of several beds. And if the angels in the sky had heard the prayers of hopeless parents, someone spoke to them.

"Mother!" Violet lifted herself off her bed and marched over to her parents. She hugged them tight and Ruth thanked the lord out loud.

"My darling." Ruth kissed her daughter's cheek and looked her in the eye. Violet looked normal apart from a scratch or two on her face and her clothes that were torn apart, "We were so worried, how are you feeling?"

"Surprisingly all right, but all my muscles hurt." She groaned and sat back down to catch her breath. Her father stood in front of her and looked her up and down. "What on earth happened?

"Another car drove into us." Violet's voice started to tremble thinking about the accident, "It all happened so fast, I can barely recall a thing."

"And where is Rose?"

Violet shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know! They won't tell me anything."

"You don't know where they took her?"

"No, father. Like I told you, I don't know where she is."

Throwing his hands up in the air, Mr. DeWitt Bukater left the room again. Ruth's heart was still beating heavily as she sat down next to her daughter. Caressing her hair gently like she did when Violet was younger, they both finally started to calm down. The room was packed with numerous of people both old and young. They watched how two, what looked like princesses to them, waited restlessly for a sparkle of hope. And hope peaked its head around the corner sooner than they had expected. Jack was dressed to the nines with his tuxedo and freshly polished shoes. With worried eyes he walked over to his fiancée who threw her arms around him tightly and rested her face in the crook of his neck.

"I came as fast as I could." He sighed. He then pulled back, looked over her shoulder and scanned every single bed. She was nowhere to be seen. "Where is your sister?"

"We don't know yet, but father is figuring it out. Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Of course I am happy to see you." He kissed the top of her head and gently stroked her cheeks, "I am really happy you are okay."

Violet hugged him again and wanted to melt within his strong arms. He kept his eyes glued on the door without moving a single muscle. He didn't quite recall how long he had been standing in that same position, but he could only feel himself move again once Mr. DeWitt Bukater came back in. He was being followed by a doctor.

"I am glad to see you are in pretty good shape, miss DeWitt Bukater." He told Violet from underneath his grey moustache. "and I finally have some news on your other daughter. Are you all complete or do we have to wait for more people?"

"We are complete." Said Robert.

"Wonderful. Let me see," he grabbed his notes and cleared his throat, "She has two fractured ribs, a broken wrist and a small concussion. We have taken the shattered glass out of her arms, legs and face and stitched her up. It is quite a miracle how she got out of this. I think she might definitely have an angel on her shoulder." The doctor announced to the family.

"Thank god." Mr. DeWitt Bukater clapped his hands. "Can we see her now?"

"She's asleep at the moment, sir. We've given her morphine and have to see how she reacts to it when she wakes up."

It was already past midnight. Robert DeWitt Bukater sighed deeply and looked at his wife with worried eyes. "I have to catch the train at half past five to go to NewYork."

"Why don't you go home, Robert?" Jack then said, "I can take the women back home."

"I want to go home too," Violet protested and also took hold of Jack's other hand. "I am feeling perfectly well and I can't stand stand the smell of hospitals."

"Then you can go home with your father, but I am staying until I have seen Rose."

With hopeful eyes, Violet stared at her lover, hoping he'd follow with her request. Jack shook his head and stepped away. "I am staying with your mother."

"Right." Violet responded and leaned back on the bed. She crossed her arms like a protesting toddler.

Hospitals always had a creepy feeling to them and now that the whole building was almost empty, Jack felt as if he was a character in a horror novel. It was about two hours later when they announced that also Rose had gotten back to her senses. Being lead inside a smaller private room they saw the silhouette of her body underneath a light grey blanket. Her hair hanging tangled up, falling down over her shoulders, her expression paler than it already was.

"Are you in pain, miss?" The nurse asked and leaned over her bed to try to get her attention. Rose shook her head slightly and whispered a soft no. Her physical state did look far from comfortable. Her left eye was blue and multiple scars were scattered over her face. Her breathing sounded heavy and when Jack looked over to the chair in the corner of the room, he saw her old clothing neatly folded up, yet they were covered in dried up blood. He swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to ignore the horrible feeling that started to run down his spine. The nurse pulled away and Rose stared bluntly at the two visitors that were standing in front of her.

Her eyes met his, stared at them for a minute or two. "You silly little bastard," Rose then laughed out loud and slowly turned to her mother. "Oh my darling mother, my dearest mother, did you know that Mr. Dawson here only wants to marry Violet for her money?"

"Why does she talk like this? Is this normal? " Ruth asked the doctor who was standing close behind them. She was in a panicked state.

"Quite normal, ma'am. Patients often speak of things very far from reality. So don't worry if she might say something upsetting or bizarre."

"And to believe I started to like you!" She then cried out, still looking at Jack. "I was even jealous when you proposed to my sister and to think that I actually wanted to kiss you at one point. No, I want to kiss you all the time for that matter, it's ridiculous!" Ruth stood up from her chair and turned her head away from her daughter. "I've had enough of this nonsense."

"Ruth, you know what the doctor said."

"I don't care. I don't want to witness her like this. It looks like she is possessed by some sort of demon."

Rose burst out laughing again and waved her mother goodbye as she left the room. Her breathing was heavy, her face covered in sweat.

"Rose, can you look at me?" He asked. He felt overly concerned. Here pupils were so small and she looked right through him. To him it felt as if he was witnessing the occurrence of a ghost. She was there, yet nothing all sat once. But as her hands took hold his and their fingers intertwined, he felt her warmth radiating through his skin. For a moment, perhaps the last one ever, they were together. And even due to the aftermath of a horrific event, it made Jack Dawson feel happy. Yet next to his happiness he felt a gut wrenching feeling of guilt and shame. Not knowing why, he needed it to be him. Jack wanted to take all her pain away, kiss every part of her body that was in agony. If anyone was able to hear his inner thoughts, he would be doomed for the rest of his life.

Bringing him back to reality, Rose's voice croaked through the room. "I am going to be sick." She suddenly said. Jack grabbed a bucket that was standing next to the bed and placed it front of her. Leaning forward, Rose emptied her stomach. Groaning, she tried to lay back down, but the nausea seemed to have taken over. A soft tear rolled down her cheeks and she closed her eyes.

"Doctor, she is not doing well. Isn't there anything else you can give her?"

"I'm afraid not, but at least the pain has subsided."

"Yes, because she is too high to even think straight." Jack shot at him in annoyance. Rose leaned back. Her face was as pale as a tablecloth. Then she looked around and scanned her room. "Where is mother?"

"She is out for a second. Do you want me to call her for you?"

"No," she whispered, "I am actually quite glad she is gone."

"Do you also want me gone?" His eyes turned big and he watched how she slowly shook her head.

"I really hate you, you know that." Was all she managed to say. "But perhaps I hate myself even more. I do want you gone, but I also want you to stay. God, I really really dislike you. No hate you." Followed by a second of silence she then looked at him once again. "Did you know that I really hate you?"

"I know." He suddenly started to laugh.

"Stop making fun of me, please! I can't hear myself think when you laugh like that."

"Sorry, sorry. I—" He took a deep breath, "I am just really glad you are safe now." His confession was barely audible, but it didn't matter. He had gotten it off his chest and for once, she didn't get angry. Rose now simply stared at him and tried to smile. It seemed an impossible task for her pain was slowly starting to come back. She squinted her eyes.

"I forgot to ask about Violet." She muttered, "How is she?"

"Doing well. It's you we are all concerned about."

"Well that is something I don't hear often." Not knowing if she meant it seriously or not, Jack decided to let it go. Even though it was barely noticeable, they were still holding hands. Tracing the back of hers slowly with his thumb he watched how his movements turned her sleepy. Although she tried the fight the force of her exhaustion, Rose couldn't possibly win and after a few seconds she drifted off into a deep slumber. Freeing her hand from his touch, he left the room with a feeling of both relief and weariness. Strutting through the cold and dark corridors of the hospital he made his way to where he actually needed to be.

"I don't even know why you bothered to go to her." Violet spoke to him mockingly as he came into her sight. She was already dressed in a whole new attire and waited for him in the hallway. Jack stopped for a moment and a strange desire to turn around and walk the other way sizzled within him. Ignoring his devilish thoughts, he simply walked over to her and helped her off the couch

"Because she almost died, Violet. And because none of her own family cares if she is okay I thought it would be up to me to show at least a bit of respect."

Ashamed, Violet gazed away from him. "Even after what she did last week?"

Jack nodded his head calmly. "Yes. Even after what she did last week." His voice sounded as cold as ice. "It could have easily been you, Violet. I hope you realise that."

"Of course I realise that!" She snapped at him, "But I don't want to talk about it. I just want to go home."

And home is where they went. As they drove through the empty streets of Philadelphia the sun was already starting to rise above the horizon. As if nothing had happened, nature continued its routine like it always did. It was a haunting yet freeing thought that life would go on no matter what happened. Humanity was nothing compared to the grandness of life itself.

Having dropped off mother and daughter at their house, he continued his route towards his own home. He parked the car on the opposite side of the road and peaked over his shoulder where he saw a light burning from inside the music room. It was the part of the house that only his mother liked to be in. When they were younger, she and Geoffrey would spend hours practicing his musical abilities. Now, she'd only go in there if she wanted to feel a part of him. His ghost gave her solace in difficult times.

"You should be in bed, mother." Jack whispered as he walked in.

Tracing her fingers over the piano, Alexandra shook her head heavily. "Do you really think I am able to sleep after what happened?" She sighed, "How is she?"

"Violet is fine. She only has a few scratches and is quite shaken up. I just brought her home. It was the side where Rose sat that the car drove in. The doctor said it was a close call.

"Good god,"'Alexandra gasped. She straightened her back, moved over to her son and wrapped his arms around him like she hadn't done in a long time. As if she sensed a feeling that was unexplainable, she kissed his forehead. Jack's body stood frozen into place and he felt afraid to look his mother in the eyes. "Is there something you wish to tell me?" Alexandra then asked.

"What do you think I need to tell you?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, just call it a motherly instinct. We can always sense when something is wrong with our children, but that is a feeling I can't explain."

Jack stepped away from her. "Right. Well, the only thing I want to tell you right now is that I am going to bed for I am bushed."

Sleep had abandoned him despite his exhaustion. Staring at the ceiling lifelessly, he let the events pass him by like fresh photographs. I want to kiss you all the time for that matter, It sounded both like the sweetest most softest dream as well as a complete nightmare. Those words pained him as time carelessly continued on. Seven O'clock, the sound of the servants roaming around the house mixed perfectly with the birds singing in the garden. Jack turned himself around, swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up in one fluent movement. His body was also still filled with adrenaline. Opening his curtains, the hazy scent of summer caught him back to reality. You are fine, Jack, you are fine. He repeated to himself throughout the morning. It was to keep himself grounded, focused on reality. Yet , reality was hard to find once again as he found himself back at the hospital later that day. In all secrecy, Edward had managed to sneak into his father's office to give his future brother in law a call.

"Of course I am taking you to see her." Jack had answered his request. Marching through the cold corridors of the building he opened the right door for Edward and the boy ran inside.

"Rose!" He called out to his sister. Reaching his arms out, he tried to get as close to her as possible, but seeing the state she was in, kept himself at a safe distance.

"Oh Edward." She cried. Her voice sounded as if she had just woken up. "Please don't cry." She tried to calm him down. He nodded his head and wiped his tears away.

Jack kept staring at the two siblings, but he could only think about how he wanted to understand. He simply had to know if her words contained any form of truth. The look in her eyes told him something different. Now, they beheld that form of hatred again he hoped had disappeared. Rose only turned her attention to her little brother, ignoring him at all costs. He felt horrible. He wanted to scream, even fall onto his knees to beg for her forgiveness for everything that happened.

"The doctor said you can go home tomorrow." Was all he managed to say after almost twenty minutes had passed.

"I know." She responded shortly not looking at him once. "Where are mother and father?"

"Father had to go to New York in the morning and mother is at home with Violet." Responded Edward. Despite not being surprised by his remark, she couldn't help but feel utterly disappointed. Reaching for her glass of water on her side table she took a sip.

"How thoughtful of them all. Well, at least you are here." She kissed Edward's cheek once again. Jack dared to take a step closer to the bed. He cleared his throat. "Do you recall anything about yesterday?" It wasn't the accident itself he was aiming for, but the fact that she told him she had wanted to kiss him not once, but many times before. And as his heart was preparing itself for whatever was to come, the shaking of her head disappointed him more than he wanted to admit.

"Nothing at all?" Another wave of hope washed over him.

"What is it that you don't understand about the word no, Mr. Dawson?" She snapped at him, "All I remember is a loud bang and sudden darkness. Then I woke up this morning. The doctor told me what happened."

"Are you in a lot of pain, Rose?" Edward traced her arm gently as if she was a small puppy. Rose mumbled a slow yes and told him not to worry.

"At least now I don't have to dress myself up like a porcelain doll and go to all those social disasters." She jokingly said, "And I get to spend more time with you, Eddie." Her brother smiled and released his touch from her leg. She suddenly glimpsed at Jack who was still there. She couldn't bear to feel his presence so near to her. To hear his breathing and the radiance of his persona burning into her skin. Perhaps she despised herself even more than she despised him. Was it possible to hate herself for hating him. Her racing judgements did not benefit her health in any way.

"Don't you need to go to Violet, Mr. Dawson?"

"No," He said firmly, "Besides, Edward needed someone to take him to the hospital."

"Well he is here now. You can go back."

"He also needs someone to take him back."

"Okay." Rose responded bluntly. They all kept quiet for a moment and it wasn't at all a comfortable silence. Luckily Edward sat in the perfect position that she could barely see him at all. She took another sip of her water and watched how her nurse came in for her check up.

"You two really have to go now." She informed the two visitors. Planting a final kiss on her cheek, Edward waved her goodbye. Jack remained silent, only gave a quick nod and followed the boy out.

"When you are done could you call Mr. Caledon Hockley for me?" Rose asked the nurse loud enough so that Jack could still hear her, "I would like to see him."