Jack stumbled to the door listening to any footsteps that might be there. He had heard Cal leave with Rose, on first hand being glad that she wasn't alone or that she wasn't with Mr Lindsay again – on second thought he wondered why she hadn't returned by now. At least demanded to see him…
It seemed odd considering her's and Cal's past that there reunion would be going ahead that smoothly. Rose hadn't seemed herself lately and Cal…now in fact Jack wished he had gone outside and stopped him from taking Rose with him.
Why didn't he do so again?
Cal had framed him with the diamond, taken his best friend hostage…how on earth could he believe that one…no two…three months out of his sight would change anything about his real nature?
Jack looked down on his patient's attire, realizing soon that getting out of here with these clothes would be next to impossible. Still noises…and peeking through the keyhole he saw doctors and nurses whistling around everywhere.
I wouldn't even get to the next door.
He began to feel dizzy, deciding it better to lie down again. Jack had barely closed his eyes once more, when he noticed the door opening.
It was the doctor – his doctor – whose name Jack had forgotten as soon as he had asked.
Luckily – or else I would've had to pretend to still be deadly ill.
"You can open your eyes now, Mr Dawson. I've already seen your eyelashes blinking…"
Jack looked up at him.
If he wouldn't know better he'd say that he'd heard some kind of remorse in the doctor's voice.
He observed the doctor moving around the bed getting out something from the nightstand – handing it over to Jack, who was left to wonder.
"What's this?"
"Your fever curve, Mr Dawson."
"My what?" Jack asked dumbfounded for a moment. Of course he knew what that was. He just realized that he wasn't used to talking or thinking clearly anymore.
"You know what a fever is, Mr Dawson, I'm sure. We had to take your temperature every day, but now, since you're awake again – you can do it yourself. Spares us a lot of time…," he added, tossing him a thermometer.
He was about to leave, when Jack's voice stopped him.
"Doctor?"
"Yes?"
"Have you seen…I mean has my wife been here lately?" Jack felt a bit naughty – unnerving, since he already knew that answer.
"Mr Dawson, truthfully, do I look like your secretary?"
He isn't taking it well.
Jack shook his head.
"Well, then I suggest that if you want to know anyhing to stop the charade or whatever you're doing here and just call her. I'm sure she will be thrilled. Good day, Mr Dawson," he answered very short-tempered.
"You don't agree with me?"
Of course he doesn't – I literally disagree with myself.
"No," he doctor turned around once more now clearly having lost his patience. "Believe it or not, but you're not the only one requiring my help and…"
"Alright, I understand."
"You might understand too, Mr Dawson that this statue can't go on any longer. I'm not here to bring you your lunch for instance…"
Jack's head shot up at him.
"But you can't…you've promised me that…"
"Mr Dawson, your plea is ridiculous," now his voice was vile.
"You think that I'm a mistake."
"Yes, quite frankly I think you're doing so. If you want to hear my honest opinion your wife has been here every day and night, sitting at your bedside, reading to you, holding your hand and only ever went home, when the nurse begged her to…otherwise I'm sure she would've slept here as well…"
Jack's face was turned down.
Poor Rose…
He really was cruel.
"I'm really…I don't want to hurt her."
"Then don't do it. I would be proud and happy, if I'd have a wife like yours."
Jack cursed his lips, opening his mouth to speak.
"I know about your intentions, Mr Dawson. But who're you afraid off by telling her – you or your wife?"
Jack realized that the doctor was right. He had only been thinking of himself.
The change in his eyes hadn't escaped the doctor.
"Should I get you the telephone?"
Absently Jack nodded, now having forgotten everything – just wanting to hear her voice.
…
Rose felt her wrist burning, Roger dragging her downstairs and pushing her on the couch, when the ringing sound of the phone unexpectedly interrupted his outburst.
Rose signed in relief, when he removed his other hand to grab the receiver, but was quickly back to be alerted, when she saw that he just clashed it on the telephone again.
"Don't you want to answer it?" she asked really wondering not just play-acting.
"So you can escape in time? Sorry, sweetheart, but that's not to be."
His grip on her grew tighter.
"Mr Lindsay…Roger please…I…"
Roger gazed at her, wanting to kiss her lips. Rose however saw that coming and swiftly turned her head.
The kiss landed on her cheek.
"Fine," Roger cursed. "I had hoped you would be more cooperative, darling…"
"I'm not your darling…"
Slap.
The blow hit her hard especially as Roger had released her hand, making her fall to the side.
Fortunately the couch absorbed the knock a little bit.
Still Rose was shocked.
She had known that he shouldn't be taken lightly, but had thought that at least to her he would be…yes he actually would be treating her like a human being.
'Lay back down…'
'Do think that I've come here to just look at you?'
'A baby of our own…'
Rose closed her eyes briefly so many thought's consuming her head.
Had he been happy, when she had told him?
Really happy as Jack would've been, not only exultant – like winning a price…?
"Rose, dear, why are you crying?" he had kneeled down in front of her making it seem as if everything was alright again.
Rose knew better.
It was a mistake that she had taken up with him. A very bad mistake…
She should've known at their first meeting that he couldn't be trusted. She wanted to be strong, to fool him, make him believe she would return, if he just…however, her eyes, her stature…they clearly deceived her.
Roger had sat down on the small table in front of her reaching out for her hands.
"Rose, you know that your relationship can't work, if…"
Rose stared at him, shaking her head in disbelieve, her strength having returned for once, the tears having stopped.
What use anyway to cry now?
She understood that she needed all her brainpowers to get out of here now.
Has he been talking about a relationship – their relationship?
Does he think that after everything he put me through, last thing Sophie, I'm going to come crawling back to him?
Not even Roger Lindsay could be this ridiculous.
"Rose, what do you think we should do now to reconcile?"
Rose remained silent her eyes searching the room, oblivious to Roger's talks and yet very much aware of the situation she was currently in.
"I mean you surely recognize that with you pregnant with my child…I can't let you go back to Mr Dawson."
She looked up at him. He was in fact smiling at her, but she wouldn't be misled. Not again. Only now, listening to him, did she in fact realize just how jealous he must've been of Jack.
'Rose, please, hear me out...as much as I…detest your marriage with him…do you really think that I would murder him?'
Rose understood now that she had been speaking the truth.
Her mother was completely innocent.
So far she didn't know everything, but her blurred visions were becoming purer. The man in front of her he had something to do with it. However, she couldn't…wouldn't mention a word…not as long as there a chance of her getting out in one part.
"Roger, I…"
She observed his face happily turning into a smile.
"You're calling me Roger again?" he was clearly surprised, being truthful now about his displayed happiness.
Rose felt that she needed to return the grin, if she wanted to be believed.
"Darling you see, if…no not if, but we're going to make it work out. We'll have a great family life – you, me and our child. You see a first marriage, especially at a young age, it's usually not very lasting…can't say this about mine other….now….right?"
This time his laugh was uneasy and Rose didn't join in. She did however; continue to play a role knowing that she would never stand an open fight against him. No she had to fool him to let her go.
"Jack wasn't the right one for me, Roger…darling…I just needed some time to realize it," Rose did her best to convince him.
And he really did seem to buy it.
"You don't know how happy you make me."
This time Rose didn't turn her head away and he kissed her fully on her lips – a hand grasped at her hair, drawing her closer.
Rose forced the urge to throw up.
"I look forward to our life together, sweetheart. I was so sad, when Ella died and our little one with her."
For a moment Rose thought that she saw a tear glistening in his eyes. Could it be that this man was really capable of showing emotions, being sad like everybody else?
Whatever it was, it gave Rose a great opportunity to go with her part.
"Roger, dear, I had no clue about how much this was taking a toll on you."
With her hand now caressing his cheek, his face practically buried on her shoulder, Rose whispering to him...letting him kiss her lightly…yes indeed to a bystander they really did look like lovers.
And still…her eyes clearly revealed the disgust she was feeling for him.
…..
Neither Rose nor Roger heard the sound coming from the kitchen. Cal had climbed the window, thinking it better to use the moment of surprise.
Cal tiptoed around making as less noise as possible.
The doctor hadn't found this Mr Lindsay to be very reliable, how had he?
When Cal came into the living room, seeing Rose and Roger sitting their together….at first he really thought that she would be betraying Jack as stupid as this seemed.
But, just then Rose turned her gaze ahead for a moment having forgotten about deceiving the man in front of her, only wanting to get out now.
Cal?
Rose had completely forgotten about him.
Her expression not only deceived her, it also ripped Cal of his moment of surprise.
Roger instantly following her gaze came face to face with Cal and before the other one had time to react, Roger had kicked him hovering over him.
Cal was touching his face, not believing what had just happened.
He had thought that this Mr Lindsay was some stupid jerk. How could it be that he would stand out against him?
Rose, being the first one to come to her senses, suddenly noticed the pistol Roger was now carrying in his hands.
Where did this one come from now?
"Stand up!" he hissed in Cal's direction momentarily neglecting Rose. He was quickly back at it moving the pistol in her direction.
Cal and Rose exchanged a glance.
"What are you staring at? Now sit down here," he motioned to the staircase, wasting no time in tying him up.
Afterwards he went over to Rose, drawing her up by her shoulders and shaking her.
"You lied to me!"
"No, Roger, I…"
"Of course you did. You said that you want to have a life with me and our child and now…"
"…you little whore, you betrayed me with him."
"Roger, no, I'm not. He's not my lover…he…he…"
Cal looked at them, really wondering now with what she would come up now.
Rose understanding that he seemingly had no idea, who Cal really was, wanted to use this fact for her own benefit.
"He's my brother…my half-brother in fact…," she stated.
Cal decided to better help her out and back up her version.
"That's right Sir. My name is Charles," he said not being able to think of a better name of the moment to be.
Roger loosened his grip on Rose and Cal could see her body relaxing.
Rose and Cal exchanged another glance both slightly relieved.
He had obviously believed them?
Didn't he?