Rose stared at the sinking Titanic with an aching heart. Hot tears fell from her eyes as the ship tilted more and more Cal was on that ship, probably fighting for his life. She doubted very much that they would let him in a lifeboat. There were some things that money couldn't buy and who knew what mindset the crew men were in. Take the crewman on this boat, who refused to go back when they called for the boat to return. He had selfishly refused.
"Now there's a sight that you don't see everyday," Molly Brown replied, clear shock in her voice.
It was a sight that no one should see any day. The death of a dream. The death of their men.
Where was Cal now? Right at that second? Was he safe in a boat? Or was he struggling to stay upright on the sinking ship? Was he afraid?
She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see it anymore. She wished that she could close her ears so she couldn't hear the screams. She began to pray. It was the only thing she could do for Cal and the others trapped on the ship.
Dear Lord, Don't take Cal from me when I've just discovered that I can indeed love him. Keep him safe. Also, keep Jack Dawson safe as well. He saved my life, so now you must save his.
She hugged her shoulders, shivering despite the heavy coat she wore. It was going to be a heck of a long night. She just hoped that Cal survived. Not only did she love him, but she was sure that if he perished, her mother had someone else waiting in the wings and she knew for a fact that it would be someone that she couldn't pull over to her side of the issue like she had Cal. Someone just as arrogant and overbearing as her mother. Someone who wouldn't even ask why she was so melancholy like Cal had.
No, if she was to have a happy life in first class, Cal had to survive. There was no other way for her.
Cal stuffed his pockets with the bundles of money from his safe and the heart of the ocean necklace. He didn't know if a bribe would work or not, but it was worth a try.
With a determined stride, he left the room and made his way back to the lifeboats. He was almost there when he bumped into someone.
"Excuse me, sir...oh...Mr. Dawson," He blinked, recognizing Jack Dawson, who was panting heavily and looked as if he had just ran a marathon.
"Cal," The young man greeted, looking at his surroundings. "There wouldn't happen to be any boats letting men on would there?"
"Jack, we hurry!" a dark haired young man who Cal recognized from the steerage party complained, urging his friend to run.
"Hold on Fabri, let me find out about the boats," Jack replied, turning to his friend, who looked just about as panicked as everyone else.
Cal had to stop and contemplate for a second. There really was no time for tag alongs and a bribe may carry only one person, but could he really leave Dawson and his friend to fend for themselves…to possibly die? After all, Dawson had saved his Rose's life. He had helped open up a dialogue between himself and Rose that may not have been there before. In a way, he owed the boy for the inroads he had made with Rose on this voyage. He couldn't just leave them…
"Follow me. I may be able to get all three of us on a boat… but I cannot make any promises, you do understand. My number one purpose is to get back to Rose..."
"Of course," Jack nodded, also concerned about the beautiful redhead. She may be with Cal, but he still counted her as a friend and knew that she needed Cal in her life to make sure that fire he had seen wouldn't get snuffed out.
"Follow me," Cal turned to stride to the other side of the ship, not looking back to make sure that they were indeed following him.
Catching the sight of Officer Murdoch, Cal strolled up to the man with a determined stride. "Mr. Murdoch."
"Mr. Hockley," The officer greeted, his steps hurried and his voice distracted.
"I am a businessman as you know. I have a business offer for you."
"I really don't have time for this, Mr. Hockley!"
"Look, I have a mother in law and a fiancee to look after. These two young men are nothing but children and deserve a chance to live as well. I have a stack of 100 dollar bills. Get us on a boat and it's all yours."
Murdoch turned to look at Cal in disbelief, unable to believe what he was hearing. "Sir, your money can't save you, anymore than it can save me," His disgust turned to pity when he saw the desperate fear in Cal's eyes. "Keep your money. But stay near me. I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you sir. You are a true gentleman," Cal rubbed his hands together. He wasn't safe yet, but now he had a chance and that was better than nothing.
Rose watched in horror as the ship broke apart and then disappeared into the sea completely. It was over. No more Titanic. No more husbands, sons, lovers, and friends. No more immigrants from steerage, on their way to America to start a new life. All of it was gone.
And maybe so was her Cal…
A loud whistle blew, startling Rose out of her thoughts.
"Return the boats!" a voice cried out before blowing the whistle again.
It was Molly Brown that stood up in the boat, ready to obey the plea. "I say that we each grab up our oars and go pick up as many as we can! There's plenty of room for more!"
Rose agreed. There was indeed plenty of room. There's no reason why they shouldn't. It was the humane thing to do. She shivered, hearing Jack's words again about how could that water was and how it felt like to be totally submerged in it.
Of course, that horrible Hichens had something to say about it.
"You don't understand. If we go back now, they'll swamp the boat. They'll pull us right down, I'm telling you!"
"Oh knock it off! You're scaring me," Molly glared at him. She turned around, facing her fellow survivors. "Come on girls! Grab an oar! Let's go!"
Rose was all ready to do as Molly directed. She wanted to go find Cal. Pull him to safety. Wrap him in blankets and make sure that he was one of the survivors. But of course, Hichens wasn't having it.
"Are you out of your mind?! We're in the middle of the North Atlantic! Now do you people want to live or do you want to die?!"
Rose didn't know about anyone else, but she didn't want to live without Cal. She didn't want to find out what her life will turn into if he was gone. She was sure it'd be something worse than it ever was. Her mother would make sure of that. Rose grabbed an oar, ready to do her part, but no one else moved. She looked at Molly pleadingly, begging her to do something to make these women rise to the challenge.
"I don't understand a one of ya," Molly looked at each and every woman on the boat, her stare accusing. "It's your men out there! There's plenty of room for more!"
"And there'll be on less on this boat if you don't shut that hole in your face!" Hichens screeched, probably afraid that Molly's words would reach more of the women.
It didn't but Hichen's brought the anger out in Rose. She lifted her oar and slammed it into the cowardly crewman, knocking him into the ocean. They may not go and rescue other passengers, but at least they won't be having to listen to him anymore.
Molly nodded at Rose in acknowledgment. Women like them had to stick together. "I'll grab an oar Rosie. You use the other. We're going to go rescue some of our men."