Penny and Sheldon hurried down the corridor; the water was slowly rising. Suddenly Sheldon stopped. "Whats wrong?" Penny asked also stopping.
"Raj, Millie, her parents, I have to make sure they come up on deck." Sheldon began to look around for the best way to get back to his cabin. He had once looked at the map of the ship that was hanging in the dining area; he now knew how to get anywhere.
He took Pennys hand and led her to a stairwell. "If you go up these stairs it will take you right to the boat deck. I'll go make sure everyone knows what is going on and meet you at the boats" Sheldon explained.
Penny shook her head "you're crazy if you think I'm leaving you. I almost lost you once I am not doing that again. Lead the way Sheldon." Sheldon frowned "Penny I'm sure I already told you that I am not crazy." Penny rolled her eyes " Sheldon lets go!" Penny tried to think of a word to describe Sheldon and she decided that he really was a whack-a-doodle and she loved him for it.
This end of corridor was beginning to dwindle with all of its occupants trying to reach the boat deck. Stewards were trying to keep everyone calm. "Please it is alright. Just a small drill. Calmly make your way to the main deck."
Sheldon with his hand wrapped around Pennys pushed his way through the people. A steward stopped them "you need to go to the main deck."
Sheldon stepped to the side to pass him "if you excuse us please. We need to get to my cabin to make sure my family knows what is going on." They went to begin walking away when the steward did something unthinkable.
The steward wasn't even aware of his mistake when he placed his hand on Sheldons chest to stop him. "We have every member of the crew assisting our passengers to make sure everyone gets to the boatdeck safely. I assure you that your family is fine and most likely waiting for you on deck."
Penny saw Sheldon blink once and his body stiffen. Taking a deep breath in one swift motion released Pennys hand and grabbed the stewards wrist that was still on Sheldons chest. Throwing the steward against the wall "don't touch me! Now while you are saying the load of horse shit because it is your job I don't trust you. I am going to check on my family and friends. If you try and stop me again I swear to my mothers God I will punch you in the mouth."
The steward was shaking and only nodded at Sheldon. This forceful Sheldon was very attractive to Penny; who was in awe of the man she loved. Sheldon released his grasp of the steward and took hold of Pennys hand again. The steward didn't waste anytime getting out of there, running in the opposite direction.
"Millie and her parents are in cabin 833 we have to hurry." Reaching the door Sheldon began to knock. Penny never saw something so peculiar, but surprisingly it calmed Sheldon.
Knock. Knock. Knock "Millie and family."
Knock. Knock. Knock "Millie and family."
Knock. Knock. Knock "Millie and family."
The door was pulled open by Millies mother. "Oh Sheldon what is happening?" Mrs. Ryan asked.
"You need to get to the boat deck; the ship is sinking. Hasn't anyone come and told you to get your lifebelts on yet?" Sheldon said.
"Pray the Lord Jesus. No one has come." Mrs. Ryan made the sign of the cross. Her husband came into view. "Tom you were right we had bumped something. We need to get our lifebelts on. They are in the trunk with spare blankets. Penny please get Millie while I get her lifebelt and jacket." Mrs. Ryan began shaking.
"I knew that steward wasn't trust worthy. To think if we just went up on deck." Sheldon was furious. Penny glared at him to stop talking and went to answer Mrs. Ryan.
"Of course" Penny said as she went over to the sleeping child. Millie opened her eyes just a smidge to see Penny holding her. "Penny" she smiled.
"Shh sweetie we're just going for quick walk on deck just go back to sleep on my shoulder." Penny placed Millies head back down.
"Peg hand Penny Millies coat and lifebelt so they can start up to the boat deck" Tom Ryan said to his wife. "Do you two have your own lifebelts to put on?" He asked the couple.
"No we haven't been back to our rooms to grab them." Sheldon explained. "Here we have two extra you take them" Tom said. "Also they may not be much but please take these sweaters to keep you warm." Sheldon took the items with a nod of thanks.
Peg swallowed her tears as she handing Sheldon Millies lifebelt and placed her jacket over her sleeping angel. Not sure of what was going to happen. "We will be right behind you. Please get her to a life boat Penny. They'll let you on" she kissed Millies soft hair. "If you don't find us take care of her."
Penny began to cry "please don't talk like that."
"We will meet you on the port side boat deck" Sheldon said calmly. Penny could see the fear in his eyes. He was trying so hard to be brave, always the hero. The three turned to leave when Peg said "promise me you'll take car of her."
"We promise" Sheldon and Penny said at the same time.
The walk into the hall which was crowded with people not knowing where to go because they couldn't understand English. Stewards shouting "please come this way!" Many people ran in all different directions unsure of which way was the right way. Penny looked around at the chaotic scene. It all seemed so unreal to her. "I'm scared Sheldon" Penny admitted for the first time.
"So am I. However we must find Raj and go up onto the boat deck to meet Millies parents." Sheldon kept walking.
"What if we don't find them?" Penny whispered, but Sheldons super sensitive hearing heard her.
"Then we follow through with our promise and take care of her. I've already said she is part of my family." Sheldon sounded so matter of fact. If Penny had just met him she would think that he is this jerk who had no feelings at all. Who just makes everything seem so unimportant. But she knew he was terrified and had so much love for the little girl in her arms; that when he made that promise he intended to fulfill it to the best of his abilities.
Sheldon had no idea how to locate Raj. Their cabin wasn't close and his main concern was getting Millie and Penny to safety. If he didn't think luck was hokum he would say it was on his side. He had decided to go up the next stairwell and low and behold there was Raj coming in from the other side.
"Sheldon! How I'm so glad to have found you." Raj took note of Penny and Millie, he looked questionly at Sheldon.
"It is a long story if we get through this night I'll tell you. We need to get going!" Sheldon gently shoved Penny forwards. Within mere minutes they shoved their way onto the boat deck. Millie began to stir "Penny whats happening? Where is mama?"
Penny gently rubbed Millies back "shhh everything is fine. We need to just practice getting on the life boats. Mama will be here soon. Here lets get your lifebelt on." She put her down and put on Millies lifebelt when she was sure it was secure she put on her own. Lifting Millie again she looked over at Sheldon who had also put on his lifebelt. Penny looked around and didn't see Peg or Tom anywhere. "Sheldon how much time are we going give them to meet us?" Penny asked.
"None a rescue ship has to be on the way; we will meet them there. We promised to get her to a life boat and that is what I intend to do. Follow me." Sheldon shoved people out of the way, while Penny, Millie and Raj followed.
"Penelope!" a voice called out.
Penny looked to where it was coming from. Amelia was siting in a life boat waving her over.
"Sheldon over here" she made her way over to Amelia. "Amelia I'm so glad…" Penny began saying.
"Women and children only! You two need to step back" a crewman shouted at Sheldon and Raj.
"But we all have to get in this boat" Penny yelled.
"Yes; there is plenty of room" Amelia stated.
"Listen you it is women and children only. Either get on this damn boat or we're going to lower it" the crewman spat at them.
The yelling had woken Millie "Penny?"
"Penny take Millie and board. They will board men next" Sheldon said.
"No…I…oh" Penny felt her eyes get hot with tears. On one hand she couldn't leave Sheldon; but on the other she wasn't going to let Millie die on this ship. Nothing seemed like the right choice.
XXXX
Howard had stumbled back to Bernadette. His face covered in dry blood. "Oh Howard" Bernadette cried when she saw the state of him. "What happened?"
"Your fucking sister punched me in the face." Realizing what he said he apologized "I'm sorry, but it really hurt."
"You mean you helped her escape? Oh Howard!" She pulled him into an embrace. "Where is she?"
"She is with that steerage boy Sherwood" Howard said.
"You mean Sheldon" Bernadette corrected. "Whatever. She said that we hit an iceberg and to get to the main deck as quickly as possible." Howard explained.
"What on earth? But Titanic can't sink, it is unsinkable." Bernadette refused to believe it.
"I maybe only a lowly body guard; but I have tinkered with enough stuff to know that nothing is unbreakable nor unsinkable. It is cold so dress warm, I'll be back in a few minutes." Howard kissed Bernadette passionately before leaving for his cabin.
Bernadette grabbed her lifebelt that was in the over head storage. She had just put on her shawl when a knock came on her door. She causitiously opened it to reveal a steward. "Just making sure you are putting on your life belt to also tell you to go up on deck for the safety demonstration."
"Yes thank you" she closed the door. She put on the lifebelt without a fight. She knew to put on because if Howard and Penny agreed something bad was going to happen it probably was.
She secured the life belt on and put on her fur coat; the last gift from her parents. She looked over at the wall clock; Howard had been gone for over 10 minutes. Should she wait for him or head out?
Just then Howard returned "Come on they are filling the life boats. We need to get you a seat." He took her hand and led her upstairs.
The boat deck was milling with people mostly first class and a few second class passengers. Crewman were yelling for people to begin loading the lifeboats. "Women and children please! Women and children!"
"This way Bernadette" Howard pulled her along. "Here" he called to a sailor in a lifeboat.
"Howard what about you?" Bernadette finally realized how Penny felt about Sheldon. "I'll be fine. I'll catch another." Howard kissed Bernadette. Bernadette cried as the sailor helped her board. The sailor looked around to make sure no one heard him. "Can you row?" he asked Howard.
"A little. I was second string for my college rowing team" Howard replied.
"Good enough get in. I'll need help."
Howard quickly jumped in and sat next to one of the oars, Bernadette on the other side of him. He noticed that they had plenty of seats left open when they had begun to desend into the dark ocean.
Howard and the young sailor rowed away from the doomed ship as quickly as possible. The whole boat gasped as they saw the ship that they had been calling home for the past four days;tip slowly into the water.