Heya this is the second chapter to this story and it will be in the same story but in Jack's POV except for a couple of paragraphs explaining a few other things. I've also made a few changes to Rose' POV as well. I've been meaning to add Jack's POV onto here, and I thought that today (15/4/10) would be a good day.
Disclaimer: I do not own Titanic.
Hope you enjoy!
A red haired woman stood on the deck in the arms of a man, his sandy blonde hair reaching to his bright blue eyes, which stared into a pair of darker blue eyes. You could tell they were first and third clothes from their attire, but that didn't stop them being together. The man leant forward capturing the woman in a passionate kiss.
I stood there my lips against hers as the ship beneath us started to shake. Thus our kiss was broken, and we turned around just in time to see a great mountain of ice clip the side of the deck and shatter it with icicles. I managed to pull Rose out of harms way.
We ran towards the side of the ship, just where the iceberg had been and looked over to see the oily water below. I bend down as far as I can to see if I can see anything.
"Look's okay. I don't see anything," I state my gaze still downward.
"Could it have damaged the ship?" she asks the worry detectable in her voice.
"It didn't seem like much of a bump. I'm sure we're okay," I replied trying to reassure her, as well as myself.
Suddenly I feel something really cold run down my warm back and yell out wondering what it was. But when I hear someone burst into laughter, I know exactly who did it.
"That's it you're going overboard," I laugh grabbing her waist, as she also begins to laugh and screams no.
We walked hand in hand down the deck, when we were passed by the captain surrounded by some crew members.
"Can you shore up?" he asks them.
"Not unless the pumps get ahead," replies one of them.
"Have you seen the mail hold?" asked the Captain.
"Yes Sir, but she's already underwater," another one replies.
"This is bad," I hear Jack say.
"We have to tell mother and Cal," I hear her say pulling me in the direction of her stateroom, but I pull her in another and quickly take off my coat. I really need to return this just in case this person needs it, as its pretty cold out tonight. When we finally find a crew member I give the coat to him, he looks at me puzzled.
"I found it on the deck," I say hoping to clarify myself, he nods and walks off.
As we walk away I notice that Rose is giving me a questioning look, I smile at her, she looks so cute confused.
"I borrowed it when I came looking for you earlier, remember in the gym?" I explain, and she nods.
Meanwhile a man named Thomas Andrews rushes into the chartroom holding the blueprints of Titanic under one arm. He quickly places it on the table and stretches it out, his hands shaking.
"Water 14 feet above the keel in ten minutes…in the forepeak…in all three holds…and in boiler room six," Mr. Andrews tells them pointing to the specific places.
"When can we get underway dammit," says a frustrated Mr. Ismay. Captain Smith glares at him before returning his gaze to Mr. Andrews.
"That's five compartments! She can stay afloat with the first four compartments breached. But not five. Not five. As she goes down by the head the water will spill over the tops of the bulkheads…at E Deck…from one to the next…back and back. There's no stopping it."
"What about the pumps-"
"They buy you time…but minutes only. From this moment, no matter what we do, Titanic will founder."
"But this ship can't sink!" says an astonished Mr. Ismay.
"She is made of iron, sir. I assure you, she can. And she will. It is a mathematical certainty."
Captain Smith looks like he has been punched in the gut. "How much time?" he asked staring at Mr. Andrews.
"An hour, two at most," he quietly says.
"And how many aboard, Mr. Murdoch?"
"Two thousand two hundred souls aboard, sir," he solemnly replies.
Captain Smith stands there and tries to take all of this in, it looks like he won't be retiring after all. He turns to stare at Ismay. "I believe you may get your headlines, Mr. Ismay," anger clearly detectable in his voice.
The two of us walk through the ship our hands intertwined. As we are nearing Rose's stateroom I start to feel really nervous, not knowing what Cal or Mrs. Dewitt-Bukater were going to say or do to me.
"It's alright, they have to find out sooner or later," she tells me, and I sigh telling myself to relax and smile slightly at her.
When we reach the corridor leading to my stateroom, we see Mr. Lovejoy standing there a smug look on his face.
"We've been waiting for you miss," he tells Rose as we pass him. I sigh, thankful that he says and does nothing to me.
We enter only to see Mrs. Dewitt-Bukater in her dressing gown, her hair out of its perfect bun pacing the room, while Cal is over in the corner holding a glass of brandy. I see him exchange looks with Mr. Lovejoy, and I also notice an officer in here but I am distracted when Ruth starts to yell at Rose.
"Where have you been, do you know what time it is? And why have you brought this, this boy up here with you?!" She yells at her. I cringe inwardly, feeling bad for Rose, not wanting her to get yelled at because of me.
"That's not important right now mother, we have a crisis on our hands," Rose tells her, and I give her hand a reassuring squeeze, hoping to calm her.
"What kind of crisis could possibly be this big that you have to come back here so late and with him?" this time shouts Cal walking towards us.
"The ship has hit an iceberg," I say simply as it finally sinks in.
They both look at me for the first time since I've entered this room, regarding me as an actual person with their gaze this time.
"What?" Ruth asks a confused and worried look on her face.
"Mother the ship has hit an iceberg, and from what we've heard she's already sinking," Rose says calmly; while I'm trying to stay calm myself.
Ruth rushes into her room and I assume she has gone to get dressed.
Just then a man enters the room and the officer leaves, and by his uniform I guess that he's a member of the crew.
"I've been told by the Captain to please put your lifebelts on and head up to the boat deck. Dress warmly it's quite cold out there, may I suggest top coats and hats," he tells us bringing out the deathly white things from the wardrobe.
He offers one to Cal who refuses one as does Rose, the man walks past and I just shrug it off. I was about to tell Rose to get one just in case when I see an angry expression cross her face.
"Excuse me," he turns round to face us.
"How come you didn't offer one to this gentleman here?'
"It's okay, really it is. I'm used to it," I tell her with a smile, at the moment being more worried about her.
"No, I want this gentleman here to answer the question."
Just then Ruth exits her room and sees Rose is shouting at the steward, and I hope she doesn't start shouting again.
"Calm down dear, I'm so sorry that she's causing a fuss. Hand me one of those please and put your coat on dear its probably cold out there," she orders as Rose lets my hand go before making her way to her room.
I stand there nervously for a little while, staring at the floor not wanting to have a staring match with Cal or Rose's mother. The click of a door lets me look up and I see Rose return wearing a light pink coat that matches her dress, with intricate embroidery at the hem, sleeves and around the collar.
We then start to make our way towards the boat deck our hands intertwined Mrs. Dewitt-Bukater and Cal giving us looks every now and again, as did many other first class people.
We stand near the bottom of the Grand Staircase, but I'm not really sure what we're waiting for. Then a dazed Mr. Andrews walks past us and is about to make it up the stairs. I go to go after him, but Rose beats me to it bringing me with her.
"Mr. Andrews, Mr. Andrews," she call as he turns around and sets his dazed eyes onto her.
"I saw the iceberg and I see it in your eyes, now please tell me the truth," I ask him. He looks around as if savouring every last moment in this ship.
"The ship will sink."
"You're certain?" He nods.
"An hour, maybe two all of this will be at the bottom of the Atlantic. But tell only who you must I don't want to be responsible for a panic. And get to boat, you remember what I told you about the boats." she nods and turn to look at me the worry clear in both our eyes.
When we finally reached the lifeboats Molly Brown was there to greet us. I stand holding onto Rose's hand, on the deck in the cold night amongst many other 1st class people, watching as people get onto the lifeboats. I look down at Rose to see she is staring at the lifeboat that Molly is helping passengers get into.
"Will the lifeboats be seated according to class, I hope they're not too crowded," I heard Mrs. Dewitt-Bukater say with a laugh. This enraged me, did she understand that the ship was sinking and people needed to get off the ship.
I felt Rose let go of my hand and go towards her mother. Rose grabbed her and turned her around to face her, "Oh mother, shut up! Don't you understand the water is freezing and there aren't enough boats, not enough by half, half the people on this ship are going to die," Rose told her a shocked expression now on her face.
"Not the better half." Rose and I turn to face Cal, the anger I felt before increasing. "You know it's a pity I didn't keep that drawing it'd be worth a lot more by morning."
"You unimaginable bastard," Rose says in a quiet voice laced with anger, her words causing me to smile slightly. I glare at Cal, knowing that I wouldn't be able to get into a boat but as long as Rose was safe and away from him I didn't care.
I break the eye contact by turning to look at Rose, who is again staring at the lifeboat that Molly was helping women into. I grabbed her hand, which caused her to turn round to look at me. I looked at her beautiful face and into those soulful blue eyes, love for me shining in them. I hoped my eyes were saying the same thing. She turned away to look at her mother before looking back at me.
"Get into the boat," she ordered obviously recovered from my previous outburst, Rose didn't move an inch, her hand still tightly clutching mine.
"Rose, get into the boat!" she ordered more forceful this time.
I wondered what was going through Rose's head as she stared at her mother, and wondered what was going to happen when Rose said,
"Goodbye Mother," and walked off my hand still tightly in her grip. I could hear Mrs. Dewitt-Bukater yelling Rose's as we left. But I stopped when I felt someone grab onto my shirt. I turned around to see Cal standing there.
"Let go of him," Rose shouted, but of course Cal took no notice of her, which didn't surprise me as I don't think he ever had.
"If I were you I'd let go of her Dawson and return to where you came from, below deck," he sneered at me letting go of my shirt.
"That ain't gonna happen. You don't treat Rose like a person, like a woman you treat her like a piece of property. And I'm not going to stand by and let you do that her," I replied.
"What do you have to offer, nothing. While I can give Rose everything."
"Maybe Rose doesn't want everything; maybe she wants to be treated like a person and given love and affection. Something you don't know how to do, which is why you lost her," I told him seeing the anger clearly on his face.
Cal then raised a fist to punch me, but I got there first punching him in the face. I quickly grabbed Rose and ran but stopped when I felt Rose had. Turning round I saw Cal one hand holding his nose while the other held onto Rose's arm.
"Let go of me!" she shouted.
"No, I said no!" Cal shouted as Rise struggled in his arms, the anger just built up inside of him and I raised my fist again, but stopped seeing Cal's grip on Rose lessen..
"What are you going to be with him? To be a whore to a gutter rat?" he sneered.
"I'd rather be his whore than your wife," Rose snarled at him causing me to smile slightly, and tried to run only for him to cling tighter to her arm. The anger came back and the fist went up, but Rose beat me to it by spitting in his face and we ran off. I turned back to smile at her, Rose smiling back, glad that I had taught her that.
When we finally made off the boat deck I hugged Rose, rocking her slightly. I felt the love that only Rose could make me feel well up inside of me. As we parted I looked down at her, a determined but glad expression on her face and I nodded before we headed off again.
The two of us ran through throngs of people all shouting and screaming for help, for a way out. All the faces mixed with worry and sorrow but I knew all these people wouldn't be saved and it angered and saddened me. When we finally made it up to another part of the deck, the people were still shouting, the officers were still yelling orders and music was faintly playing in the background. I led Rose towards another lifeboat, this time with people from 2nd and 3rd class getting onto it.
I looked to see a couple like us kiss before they were rudely torn apart, and the woman helped into the lifeboat by Second Officer Lightoller. I knew that I wouldn't be able to get onto a lifeboat with Rose, but as long as she was out of harms I didn't care. I quickly looked back at her before turning my gaze towards the lifeboat, knowing that it would be a bit of struggle to get her onto the lifeboat. As I know that was why she didn't get onto the lifeboat with her mother.
A sigh escaped my lips and I turned round to look at Rose. I found it hard to look her in the eyes, as all I could see was a pleading look, as if pleading not to make her get onto this lifeboat without me.
"I'm not going without you," she said defiantly.
"No, you have to, go now," I said back.
"No Jack," she replied.
"Get into the boat Rose," I plead.
"No Jack," she repeated.
"Yes! Get into the boat," I tell her, getting desperate as I could see it was filling up.
"No Jack, not without you," she tells me, and I could hear her voice beginning to crack.
"Go on I'll get the next one," I say in an attempt to persuade her, even though I know she won't buy it.
"No, not without you," she told me, and I can see the tears ready to fall.
"Look I'll be alright. Listen I'll be fine. I'm a survivor alright. Don't worry about me. Now go on, get on," I told her, tears gathering in my own eyes.
I lean in to kiss Rose, one last kiss where I hoped to show her how much she means to me before we were rudely ripped apart. We fumble for each other's hand and grabbed it before we can no longer touch.
I savoured the feeling of her lips against mine, as she is lowered to the oily black water below. I looked down at this amazingly astounding woman, trying to remember every feature as this might be the last time I ever see her. I manage to contain my tears while hers fall down her cheeks. I stare down at her for a while longer, but the second time she looks away I decide to leave knowing that I couldn't stay there.
I run along the deck feeling as it turns into a slightly incline, and only stop when I reach the back of the ship. Here I grip onto the railings as the ship tilts more and more. I wonder how much it will tilt and if I'll be able to hang on. I look around at the other frightened people also gripping onto the railings. As I look over the edge of the railings I realise this is where I first met Rose and smile sadly; but am also glad that she is safely in a lifeboat and away from all this now.
Suddenly a few gunshots rang out through the night, causing me to look in the opposite direction down but all I see are people running around on the deck. A huge crunching noise and the feeling of the falling are what I experience next. I quickly take a look round seeing that we are again horizontal but it doesn't stay like that for long. The stern section quickly starts to rise again, and an idea enters my mind. I climb over the railings and hang onto the other side. And soon enough the stern section is vertical. I wondered what is happening and if it would stay like this. I look around at other people hanging on for dear life on the opposite side of the railings to me, I see a few of them fall wanting to them help them but not being close enough.
I then feel the ship lower slightly; it then descends slowly at first but soon gets faster and faster, as it fills up with water. I could see tiny figures of more people falling off, as well as people around the stern section swimming away not wanting to get pulled down by the suction. As it nears the ocean I take a deep breath and am then pulled into the freezing waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. The water is here is so much colder; it feels like 10,000 knives are stabbing me all over my body. I am underwater for a little while and break the surface gasping for air. Here I am met with the cries of the other people trapped with me.
I swim around not wanting to stay in one place and freeze quicker. I soon bump into a piece of debris and to my luck it is a door, which I quickly climb aboard. I lie on my back staring up at the stars shivering violently. I know I mustn't close my eyes or go to sleep, so I just began to think of things I would do with Rose when we got to America. My thoughts then turned back to the wonderful time we had had aboard the Titanic, and ended with me singing 'Come Josephine.'
My body wants me to go to sleep, it's tired and cold but I can't give up now when I've come so far. I sit up carefully on the door not wanting to fall off, hoping that this would help me to stay awake. I would pinch myself to stay awake but my body is so numb it wouldn't work. I realize now that the cries for help have almost ceased, and the silence around me is almost suffocating. I look around for any sign of movement, and see none.
Someone's faint shout causes me to look around and I see something moving in the distance and I try to shout but my voice comes out in a weak whisper. I begin kicking my feet to make noise and waving my arms in the air to catch their attention. A torch is shone in my direction, and I wave for a little bit longer until they are closer, my arms falling to my sides now tired.
"Jack!" shouts a voice causing me to spot a red-haired woman a big smile on her face sitting on the boat. I smile slightly relief washing over my body, so glad that I made it.
I am helped into the boat by an officer and Rose wraps a blanket around me before we lie down together. I grab her hand, feeling the warmth from it straight after a couple of minutes. I'm so glad that I'm safe now I can finally fall asleep with no worries.
I wake up on something soft feeling a lot warmer and look up to see Rose a smile on her face and tears in her eyes.
"Rose," I whisper.
"Jack, thank god you're awake. You've been asleep for three days." I looked at her shocked, but am so glad that I did wake up. I sit up stiffly and kiss her and we hug.
Once we part I whisper in her ear, "Thank you for saving me. I love you," she replies with,
"I love you too," before kissing me.
Later that day we stand on the deck, waiting to disembark while staring up at the Statue of Liberty. Our hands are linked as we stand in the rain not caring that we are getting soaked, but look to our right when the rain stops momentarily. There stands an officer holding an umbrella in one hand and a clipboard in the other.
"Can I take your names please?" he asks.
"Dawson, Jack and Rose Dawson," I state as Rose looks at me before kissing me.
Once we are finally on American soil I realize that no matter where we go, no matter what we do, we will always be survivors of the Titanic. And even though it was a terrifying experience I was proud to be on that fine ship; as it was called the Ship of Dreams and it was it really was. I found the love of my life whose life I saved and got saved in return. And from now on we will be making it count…together.
We had our arms round each other's waists walking down the street, our whole new lives ahead of us…together.
Hope you liked it. Just to let you know the last two quotes before the ending sentence (can you exchange....sinking of the Titanic) were from cut scenes of the Titanic, I just thought I would include them in my story, so I don't own them. Don't forget to R&R.
Ja ne (see ya)