Chapter 75

March 17, 1913

It has been nearly a week, and Jesse was starting to feel much better, since the day he foolishly carried that bulky chest on his back. Jack had warned him about the dangers of carrying such a large item, much less Jesse's small body that could take an abuse from that infernal thing, but they had no choice, and Fabrizio didn't want to be late for the train. For the first two days, he was in an excruciating pain, so painful he couldn't leave the bed, much less move, and Jack had to play nurse and doctor during that time. Eventually he had to have the doctor visit the house to check up on Jesse, and hoped he didn't ruin his back in any way.

The doctor probes Jesse's back, then telling him how lucky he was that a disc was not disturbed. He then told Jack what he needed to do on his part, since he will be taking care of him. The doctor taught Jack how Jesse could use the bedpan for the first couple of days, followed by exercises to alleviate the pain from his lower back. After that, Jack performed massages on Jesse's back, after the doctor showed him how it was done. Jack was nervous for the first time, but since then he was comfortable like clockwork, massaging Jesse's back. The doctor had prescribed painkillers that Jack can go and pick up, which he did, and helped Jesse take them, along with his tea.

...

The second day of helping Jesse a local waterworks came to connect the rest of the plumbing to Jack's house, and later in the week an electrical company will finish wiring up the house to the infrastructure. Jack helped Jesse to the new bathroom, as the bedpan was too cumbersome. A worker from the waterworks just turned on the water, and Jesse was the first to flush the toilet in the Dawson home. He slowly makes his way to the sink, to wash his hands. This was like being back at Jessica and Jon's home, but unlike their bathroom, this bathroom was a tad large than theirs, and more light came, from the small window above the clawfoot bathtub.

Jack runs up the stairs, after thinking Jesse had fallen, as the muffled bumping sounds were heard. He sees Jesse, struggling to get down the stairs. Jack grabs Jesse's arm, then flings it over his shoulder, then helps him the rest of the way down the stairs. He leads Jesse to the couch, then carefully seats him next to the fireplace, then watched as he carefully stretched and yawned, before leaning his head back on the cushions. Jack sadly knew Jesse had a long recovery ahead of him, and he won't be able to do much.

Jesse looks up at him, reading his slight forlorn face, then says, "I have been worse, Jack. A horse kicked me when I was trying to break him in. I mistakenly walked behind him, and he kicked me, almost in the exact place, and put me in a fence. It took me over two weeks for me to recover, and my pain was unbearable during that first week. Compared to that, I am on a fast track to recovery. What took me weeks to recover, now only takes days, probably to the fact that doctor came in, and the advancements in medicine. That is what probably made me recover so fast. Just like surviving that ill-fated Titanic, I can keep healing over time. Sure, the pain comes back, but with time, all wounds heal eventually." Jesse slowly leans forward, then with slight difficulty, he rubs his back while he tried to arch it at the same time. Jack tearfully looks at his beautiful friend, as he survived the wrath of Cal, the ship nearly killing him, and that awful night being exposed to the dangerous cold. Jack hugs him hard, then leans into his shoulder as he cried. He couldn't imagine what his life would have been like if Jesse died that night. Jack knew he wasn't a man of God since his parents died, but he knew, deep down that God had brought them all to be together, and that a sinking ship had brought them closer than ever, especially to Rose, and Jesse there. Jesse tried his best to put his arms around him, but he winced, as a sharp pain took ahold. Jack sat down next to Jesse, still hugging him, and crying softly.

After all these years, Jack now knew what it was like to finally have a younger brother, something he always wanted, and Jesse was indeed the right person for him. To laugh, to hug, to share thoughts, and to have brotherly fights with. He knew Jesse was completely different from all the people he was surrounded in, and he wanted to be part of that, ever since the day he saw Jesse, back at the docks of Southampton. Jack himself was always going with the wind, while he saw Jesse had a sense of direction, as if he knew where he was going with his life. He was a working man, but he always found time to play with his little nephew, even if he was a bit tired from a day's work. He was also very grateful he won that ticket, for if he didn't, he would still be a drifter and a penniless artist, and he would have never met the girl of his dreams, and he would still be without any guidance. He saw Jesse more of a guidance, to lead his life until he got ahold, and finally lift his wings and fly into the unknown. He also met Rose, and was happy, and in retrospect, he didn't have 'angels fly out of his 'arse'', the way Tommy told him. He was finally achieving his dreams, marrying the girl he loves, having his kid, and living the dream he had always wanted. He then snapped back to reality when a waterworks employee walks past a daydreaming Jack, and a sleeping Jesse, as they were still hugging each other. He sniffed, wondering what is that burning smell. Then he remembered he was cooking something! He slowly gets up from the couch, then carefully places Jesse's head on the cushions, before running to the kitchen.

"Aw sh-!" Jack yells, as he accidentally burns whatever he was cooking. The electrician peeks in, as Jack frantically puts out the smoldering pan. Meanwhile Jesse had awakened, after his head slipped from the cushion. He slowly gets up, with difficulty, before going to sit outside. Jack watches in horror, as he thought Jesse might fall over. He manages to make it to the door, then sits on the bench, as another electrician goes back in the house. Jesse looks over as he sees an operator working with a primitive tractor digging a trench where the waste water would go, then sees the modified Model T next to it. He assumed it belonged to the electrical company of Chippewa Falls. Jack looks out the door, as he was surprised the electrical company had arrived, to the detriment of the waterworks company. He also sees Jesse, seeing that this is first time in Chippewa Falls, and he sees the large lake once more. The sun was bright out, and Jesse decided to take a slow walk, to help alleviate his lower back, and to circulate his blood once more. Jack was worried, but he knew Jesse was also a fighter, like himself, and let him wander around his father's old property. Jack goes back inside, to prepare yet another meal, to replace the one he had burned.

Meanwhile, back in New York, Rose was worried, as she had never heard from Jack, as two weeks had nearly gone by, and another two weeks was approaching, for the first departure of the R.M.S. Olympic from New York, since the refitting, and it would be nearly a year since the disaster of the R.M.S. Titanic. She was standing in front of the stove, stirring potatoes, carrots and meat for a stew, as Jessica was cutting up a celery to put in the pot. Little Jack was with Ruth, as she read him a story, and practicing herself to be a nanny, since her arrival back in New York. She was also watching over Tommy, who was nestled in his little cradle. She led Jack to their room, formerly Jesse's, and he fell asleep on the bed. Ruth came down stairs, as she also wondered what has happened to Mr. Dawson, as she too never heard from him. Jessica was becoming worried once more, as her husband always came home empty-handed of any telegrams to see if her brother or Jack had sent them one, to let them know how things were on their end. It wasn't like her brother would just suddenly leave without telling them where he will be, and he had a business to run, and a wife to come home to. Jon came home, and finally had some telegrams everyone had been waiting for. He read the telegram, as he received it from his father-in-law.

"Dear family. I forgot to write this telegram, as we are busy with work. Jesse, Fabrizio and Jack and a couple of Fabrizio's workers left for Chippewa Falls for a little construction work. They didn't say what, but they had said it might take them an upwards of a week or so." Jon flips to another telegram, then continues reading, "From Jack, I miss you always. My sweet Rose Pedal, and Tommy, but I want to start on a project that I have been wanting to do since we both met back on the Titanic. I want us to build a future, in Chippewa Falls, to grow, and prosper. And Jesse there to guide us both. I hope to see you soon."

Rose grabbed the paper from Jon's hands, then reread the paper, before holding it close to her chest. That was all she needed, to make sure Jack was safe, and that she didn't lose him, and that this wasn't some sort of a dream, where everything will be taken away, and she awakes back in Philadelphia, marrying Cal once and for all at the Society.

She is soon brought back to reality, as the time for the Olympic boarding was near, and she wondered if Jack had the time to make it back to New York, in time to board the sister ship of the ill-fated Titanic. She had already known; Jack was building them a house, back in his childhood home, where they will be, to raise their child, and to prosper more as time went on. She also wanted Marion to be with her on this moment, and Jesse too, as well as Fabrizio. Jesse had known the ship more than anyone, as it was more than just a copy of Titanic, and he had already known the ship's architect, as well as the captain. Rose was very excited, but also nervous at the same time, as the sinking was still very fresh in her mind. She tried to shake those thought from her head, and tried to fill it with happy moments, and hoped she and Jack would the first ones to be married on that ship, as she began to pack what she needed, when Ruth followed her to her room. Ruth makes her way to the dresser, and pulls out what money she had left over from her purse. Rose knew her mother was done with ship travel, and didn't want to be part of the crowd, but she knew she would miss out on their biggest day the couple would have for each other.

"Take it Rose." her mother insists.

"No, Mother, really. Jack's got it covered."

Ruth takes her daughter's hand, then puts the money there, before she closes it over.

"Let Jack save his money for other things. I want you to have a great time, and keep each other safe, no matter what happens. I know you're going to hate me for this, but take the first-class rooms. That money will cover everything you need."

"No, Mother, I really think…"

"It's too late. I want you both to have a great time on your marriage, and your honeymoon. Please, Rose. Your father will be proud." She brings her daughter in a hug, and Rose wept silently, as she still isn't sure if she should board the ship just yet. Rose finally made up her mind, then decided to telegram Jack so he can be prepared. In the meantime, she sent a telegram to Marion out in Albuquerque, but unbeknownst to Rose, Jesse had already fired one off from Chippewa Falls.

...

Back in Albuquerque, Marion was getting the large wooden chest ready, as she received a telegram from her husband to get ready for their upcoming honeymoon to Europe, as soon as he was done with work there. He told her to use the wooden chest to bring on board the Olympic, and had told his wife not to worry about the ticket prices, as they were already covered, and they would be boarding as first-class passengers. Tom soon arrives to the house, as Marion packed her belongings in the wooden chest, then some of Jesse's clothes. Henry and Tom helped load the heavy box into the car, followed by Henry's belongings, as he was also called to another business trip back to Europe as well.

At the train depot, a conductor gets a couple of men to load the trunk into the train. Marion hugs her father-in-law, as tears were streaming from her eyes. She and Henry board the train, followed by the conductor yelling, "All aboard!"

"Take good care of the business. See you in about a month's time." Henry pats his friend, then tips his hat, before he boards the train, along with his daughter-in-law.

She opens the window, then pokes her head out, as she waves to Tom, who was standing on the platform, as he had a single tear roll down his cheek. The train departs as Marion continues to wave to Tom, along with other people, as they slowly disappears behind a cluster of buildings.

To Radio Free Death; this is a series of timeline events coupled with fiction. And this story is in continuous updates, there will be dialogues even after this story has been completed. Thanks for reviewing. All others are also welcomed to review or critique.