Chapter 5

Jack practically leapt to his feet when he realized what time it was. He cursed himself for oversleeping. He had decided to settle down for a nap until Rose left for the Playhouse this evening. Rose usually left an hour and a half before the show and Jack would always catch her when she did so he could walk with her. Judging by the clock Rose was probably on her way out the door. Shit he thought over and over again in his head, Shit, shit, shit!

Jack fumbled to put his shoes on, making the mistake of putting his left shoe on his right foot and mismatching the buttons on his shirt. He growled and undid them again aligning the buttons with their matching hole to make sure they were even, it seemed a slow process and it angered him that he couldn't button the buttons any faster.

A bright flash lit the room and loud crack of thunder followed. Jack's head came up in a jerk as he was fixing his shoes. Through his window he saw fat heavy rain drops leaving wet trails down the glass pane. Jack cursed again. He thought of Rose being out there in the rain and it was nearly nightfall. It wasn't safe for her to be out there walking by herself. Panic rose in his chest. His imagination ran wild with fear of all the things that could happen to her. If he hurried he could still catch her. Jack snatched up the jacket that rested up against a nearby chair and walked out the door punching a fist through one of the sleeves.

He ran as fast as he could through the heavy rain. He ran around corners and made the mistake of bumping into several people, saying sorry along the way but never stopping. Cars drove through puddles in the street and one of them splashed on him. Had Jack not been in a hurry he would have stopped to flip off the driver and say a few choice words but Rose was more important. He clutched the stitch that was burning at his side and his breath came out sharp and ragged but still he ran. Finally he came to Rose's street. In a last burst of energy Jack sprinted up the small porch steps and banged on the door. After several hard knocks, the knob finally turned and out stepped a big bear of a man in a white undershirt and his suspenders dangled off the sides of his pants. Jack didn't think he had ever seen a man so big before, he filled the entire doorframe.

"Hey John! Its good to see you, back for another visit?"

Jack didn't hear the man's greeting instead he said, "Sorry to disturb you my name is Jack Dawson and I was wondering if…"

"Jack Dawson? Is that the new name you've given yourself John? That car must've hit you pretty hard."

"Car?" Jack's eyes suddenly lit up with the memory of what Morana told him, everyone will see you as Jonathan Calvert.

"Uh who are you? Have we met before?"

"John it's me, Charlie. We both worked at the Hercules steel mill together. We shared a couple beers?"

"I'm sorry I don't remember."

"Ehhhh it's alright John. Must be hard not being able to remember who you are. Would you like to come in you look like someone just pushed you in the river." Jack was getting anxious and didn't really feel like talking with this man.

" No I'm alright… um Charlie? Right?"

Charlie nodded. "That's me!"

"Listen I'm kind of in a hurry I need to know, is Ms. Dawson in, did she leave, where is she?"

"No, she left about three hours ago."

"Three hours ago?"

"That's right." Charlie said leaning up against the door frame.

"Why did she leave so early?"

Charlie gestured up with his eyes "Well with the clouds building up and the dampness in the air I reckon she was trying to beat the rain."

Or avoid me Jack thought. Very clever, Rose knew he would more than likely be there to walk with her as he usually was so she left early to slim her chances of bumping into him. Jack ran back down the steps and turned back to face Charlie.

"Thank you uh….uh….."

"Charlie!" he called out from the door.

"Yes, Charlie. Thanks. Maybe we'll go and have those beers some time."

"Im holding you to it!" Charlie bellowed and a wide smile spread across his face before he closed the door.

From around the corner of the alleyway, Jack saw her leave. He watched her as she said her goodbyes to several people. Most of them were wishing her well and congratulating her on her performance. A little girl that came just above her knee gently tugged at her dress, pen and paper in hand. Rose hugged the girl asking if she enjoyed the show and the girl nodded eagerly as Rose signed her little paper. She waved off to a few more people before opening her umbrella and strolling off and that's when Jack made his move.

He crept up behind her gently placing a hand on her shoulder and Rose jumped. Her head snapped in his direction.

"You?"

"Yes I know, it's nice to see you too. You left before we had the chance to enjoy our walk together."

"I thought I was rid of you. You are terribly annoying and becoming quite the thorn in my side."

"And it wouldn't be so bad if you would just accept what I've trying to tell you for the past week."

She stopped mid stride and turned to face him. Her long red hair whipped right along with her.

"Who is Jonathan Calvert?"

Jack was taken aback by the abruptness of her question. "What?"

"Jonathan Calvert? That is who you are isn't it? You work at the Hercules steel mill with my neighbor's husband."

"Well….yes….no….I mean….not exactly….it's too complicated to explain Rose."

"What is there to explain? That is who you are is it not?"

Jack was feeling flustered trying to find the right words, "Ok physically, yes, I am Jonathan Calvert, but that isn't who I am. I'm borrowing this body. Morana gave me a second chance in life, a chance to be with you because she sympathized with us."

If Rose didn't believe him before she truly didn't believe him now. She looked at him as if he just sprouted another head.

"What are you talking about?"

"I know it sounds crazy but it's the truth."

"So a woman named, Morana, brought you back from the dead?"

"That's right, she's death."

"Death?"

Jack nodded. Rose's face switched to being unreadable, "So, why didn't she put you back into your own body then?"

"Because….my body was too decayed."

"How convenient. At first I felt almost sympathetic knowing what happened to you but now it's quite obvious that you really are completely insane. Goodbye sir."

"Rose!"

"Leave me alone! If you come anywhere near me ever again I swear I will call the police."

Rose stormed off, wind and rain whipping behind her. Jack stood there running both hands through his wet hair. That was it. It was completely pointless. She just wouldn't believe him and he already wasted too much time as it is. His head hurt something fierce; he thought he might be getting sick. His clothes were soaked. Letting out a deep breath Jack decided. It was time to call Morana and call the whole thing off.

Suddenly, no sooner the thought entered his head, he saw Rose turn the corner and as she did he saw a gang of four men following just a few feet behind her. At least three of them looked to be about his height and possibly the same build. Jack felt a swell of rage filling his heart and right away he knew these men weren't planning on asking for an autograph. Rose may not have wanted him around but that wasn't going to stop Jack from protecting the woman he loved.

Rose began to speed up her pace, but still tried to remain calm. She was aware of the four thugs that were following behind her. She glanced over her shoulder a bit and out of her peripheral vision she saw the one in front take off into a run, no doubt he was the leader of the group. As he started to run, the others followed suit and then the chase was on. Rose immediately dropped her umbrella and broke into a fast run. The rain poured down making her long hair drenched and heavy. The heavy globs of rain were starting to block her vision, she squinted her eyes trying to make out familiar street signs to guide her way home. Her feet hurt from the effort of running in her heels. Her body was growing tired, she wanted to collapse to the ground and rest but fear drove her on. In her mind she found herself crying out for someone to save her. She thought of Nancy, Charlie, Henry, Jack, and then for reasons she couldn't understand she thought of the man from the theater. Tears of desperation stung her eyes and came pouring down her cheeks as her panic was rising. And then she made a wrong turn down alleyway and she found herself staring up at an enormous brick wall. She turned around to see the men blocking her only exit and then the leader stepped forward. He was a tall, burly man with a balding head, crooked nose, and an unshaved beard.

"Well aren't you a fine set of pretty legs." He said in a gravelly voice, "I bet me and my boys would fancy the pretty flower that lies between them even more. What do you say pretty lady? Care to have a go? He made a vulgar thrust with his pelvis. "I promise I'll be real gentleman like."

The other men laughed at the leader's lewd joke. They reminded Rose of a pack of wild dogs. She glared at them, not willing to give any of them the satisfaction of her cowering in fear. She was prepared to fight, to the death if need be.

"Get her." He ordered

The other three men came rushing towards her. Two of them grabbed her arms and twisted them behind her back. Rose cried out in pain as she thrashed and kicked at them. She managed to kick one of them in the jaw and elbow another in the nose. One of them returned her blow with a strong hit of their own and Rose tasted copper in her mouth. The two men that had her arms tied behind her back threw her stomach up against the brick wall pinning her there. Rose felt the hard, rocky surface of the brick against her face. She was completely helpless and couldn't move. She could feel one of the men grinding up against her back in a provocative way while she felt the rough hand of another sliding up underneath her dress. Rose was enraged by the violation and her helplessness. She struggled underneath their grip. Her face was mashed up against the wall in such a way where it was almost difficult to scream.

Between the laughs of the men she heard the sound of what she recognized as the sound of a belt buckle unfastening.

"Hold her down."

Realizing what was about to happen, Rose thrashed, trying to fight but still to no avail. Tears ran down her cheeks her screams were falling on deaf ears. This was it this was to be her fate. To be taken by these brutes and left to die alone in a filthy alleyway. She thought of Jack.

Jack heard the sound of Rose's screams and followed them to source. He found the four brutes assaulting Rose in the corner of an alleyway. By the looks of things he wasn't too late. Jack let his rage guide him. With all strength and speed Jack dove in and threw himself at the thugs tossing them to the side and landing a hard right hook into the leaders jaw. Jack turned her around to inspect her face cupping it in his hands. He whipped around to look at the thugs.

"Stay behind me." He said to Rose out the side of his mouth

The leader rose to his feet wiping the blood from his mouth. "You son of a bitch! If you want your turn on the lady you're going to have to wait, I'm going first."

"We'll if you want her you'll have to get through me." Jack didn't know what would happen if he were to die a second time but he didn't care. When it came to Rose, Jack would've gladly given his life without hesitation.

"Have it your way."

Jack stood in front of Rose fists clenched and legs spread apart. With his attention on the leader Jack hadn't noticed the oncoming threat from his left. The first thug tackled Jack right through his side knocking him to the ground. Jack cried out from the impact. The two of them grappled on the ground until Jack managed to get back on his feet. He threw a wide right swing across the man's face and Jack felt the man's teeth loosen. Another thug came from behind and Jack turned just in time to see him. He darted out of the way and the man ended up tackling the first instead. Jack traded blows with the third and Jack took a punch to his gut and another to his face. It left Jack feeling dizzy and disoriented. He fought to stay up, he saw a double vision of Rose pressed with her back against the wall. He could see the concern in her face and it looked as though she was torn between wanting to step in and help or stay out of the way. He was glad that the thugs' attention was no longer on her. He now had their full attention. At least it would be her chance to get away. The third thug hooked an arm around Jack's neck from behind. Jack clawed at the man's arm struggling for breath. With a loud battle cry Jack ran backwards knocking the thug into the wall the force of it loosened the man's grip from around his neck and Jack turned to punch him in the face. The man fell over but not before getting kneed in the chest.

Jack heard a sharp click and Rose's scream for him to look out but it was too late, the leader of the pack came hurling toward him with a switch blade knife. On the first swing Jack felt it cut right into his forehead. His hand came up at once to comfort the pain but the leader allowed him no time to recover. He came at him again aiming the blade for his middle, a side swing arch across his shoulder. Jack did his best to dodge. Finally the man lunged in a killing thrust. Jack pivoted to the side and grabbed the man's arm and elbowed him in the chest and then to his face breaking his nose. He cried out and dropped the blade. Jack dove for the weapon and looked up to see blood gushing and squirting from the leader's nose, streaks of it running into his mouth. The leader looked up with rage filled eyes and came running toward Jack with wild abandon. He dove on top of Jack and in so doing it became his end. He landed right on top of the up turned blade severing his guts and major organs. He died instantly.

Jack rolled the man off of him. The body slack and the man's right arm flopped to the side. Jack wobbled to his feet. He stood there, chest heaving from the brawl, and his hand still clenching the knife. He looked up at the other three thugs with menacing eyes. The three of them looked down at the body of their fallen leader and then to Jack. In fear the other three thugs took off running into the night.

When Jack saw that they were gone he looked down at the blood covered knife and threw it away. He felt something warm running down his forehead. He put the tips of his fingers over the wound and looked down in his hand to see blood. He turned to Rose. She was soaked right to the bone. His face softened at the sight of her.

"Are you alright?" he asked. His tone soft.

"Yes" she whispered.

"That's good." Jack was still trying to calm himself from the adrenaline pumping through his body. His anger boiled at the thought of what those men were trying to do, what they almost did, and what would've happened if he hadn't made it in time to stop them. On top of that he killed a man. Although it was accidental Jack had never killed anyone before. The thought of killing someone sickened him but in this case he realized that he relished the thought and that frightened him. It frightened him because he knew that if harm should ever come to Rose he would gladly kill again.

"And they didn't…..they didn't hurt you or anything did they?"

Understanding what Jack was referring to, Rose eased his fears "No, you got here in time."

He nodded. After a time Jack said "You're soaked, we had better get you back home before you catch a cold. I'll walk you back and then I promise I'll never bother you again. I just want to make sure you're safe. Will you allow me that much?"

Whether she agreed to it or not Jack wasn't going to let her walk home alone. Rose walked up to him and Jack looked down into her eyes and he could see the concern cutting into her features.

"You're bleeding."

"It doesn't matter." Jack said dismissively. And it really didn't matter, he'll be out of this body soon enough.

Then Rose reached out and took hold of his hand. "Let's go."

Jack was surprised to see her do this. This was the first time she had ever initiated any sort of contact with him. As simple as it was Jack was glad for it and it brought a small smile to his lips.