Chapter V: Gates of Death

A/N: I hate to say this, but this particular chapter was a pain in the ass to write. This is also the chapter where both history and certain unnamed creative choices of Mr. Cameron's are diverged from. Thanks go out to The Cowgirl Bookworm for her help! Looking forward to seeing what you all think! SSD.

0010 April 15th

Harry had been in the middle of a very nice dream involving Cecily and was about to kiss her when pounding on his cabin door woke him up. Opening his eyes blearily, Boxhall yell, "Get the bloody hell up Lowe, the ship's sinking!"

It took him a moment or two for what the Fourth Officer was saying to break through his still sleepy mind before moving around, dressing himself in haste.

Grabbing his whistle, flashlight, and his Browning Automatic, Harold was ready to go in less than two minutes and out the door.

0030 April 15th

Cecily did not know much about ships, but what little she did know told her that ships did not just suddenly stop dead in the water for no reason.

Shrugging on her coat, she went across the hall to the door to her aunt's room to roust her. Cecily saw stewards further up the hallway.

After knocking on the door several times, she heard her aunt grumble, "Cecily, what the devil is it? Can't it wait till morning?"

"Let me in. I think something is wrong," she whispered.

After the door was unlocked, Cecily hurried into the room, shutting the door behind her. Aunt Mina was still in her nightgown.

"Now what was so important that you woke me up," her aunt asked.

"I think you should get dressed in your warmest possible clothes Aunt Mina. Take a few dearest things with you. Also the pistol that I know father got you and the box of bullets," Cecily was trying to keep her voice steady.

Not even asking her how she knew about the pistol, her aunt started to get dressed. She inquired, "What do you think happened?"

"I don't know. Nothing good. I'm heading back to my room to get my belongings. Please do not go back to sleep."

All her aunt said to that was give her a rude hand gesture as she left.

Once back in her own stateroom, Cecily put the violin case on her bed. It went without saying that the instrument was coming with her. In the right pocket of her coat went the Bowie knife. Into the interior pocket she angled the candid picture of her and Roland from so many years ago. Despite being an older picture, it was still a favorite of hers. In her left pocket Cecily put the last packet of Rafaela's spicy beef jerky.

It was as she was taking a final look around that Cecily saw the necklace she'd worn the first night. After a thought, she moved her braided hair to one side and clasped it around her neck.

Moving towards her bed, she reached under it and grabbed her life jacket. Cecily had been hoping she would not need it.

What a difference 24 hours makes!

0050 April 15th

The only unsinkable ship was the one Noah built. And even it ran into a mountain! Master at Arms Michael Turner thought as he herded passengers into the lifeboats.

It was not without it's difficulties. Many times, he'd had to use his size to intimidate people into the lifeboats. Too many passengers thought it was safer to stay on the ship.

Why the devil did the Captain cancel the lifeboat drill earlier?

Turner could also tell that the First Officer was getting more than a little bit twitchy as the boats were lowered, not that anyone who wasn't a crew member would notice.

All of the officers, bar Fifth Officer Lowe who had brought his own sidearm had been issued Webley revolvers earlier.

He hoped that they would get through the night without any shooting. There might be passengers with firearms of their own. Michael prayed that no one got any bright ideas.

Fourth Officer Boxhall was firing rockets. There had to be some kind of ship nearby!

0115 April 15th, 15 miles away from the Titanic

Wilhelm Cunaris knew that Gruenwald was a bastard of the first order, but to willfully ignore a passenger ship in obvious distress went beyond even that.

"Sir, with all due respect, we have accomplished our mission. If we use our cover mission-" he began but was cut off.

"The cover mission is only to be used in an extreme situation," his commanding officer replied.

"And a sinking passenger vessel is not an extreme enough situation? Sir?" Cunaris was trying to keep his temper and added the honorific as an afterthought.

"She is just a can full of scum heading to America. And if you blow our position, I will cashier you myself!" At that, Gruenwald left the bridge.

Cunaris looked at the sinking ship through his binoculars. He could try to mutiny. He had the enlisted men behind him. But nowhere near enough of the officers, only the radio man who was of equal rank with him. Gruenwald was too well connected.

May God forgive me

0130 April 15th

Still no one had been shot. Will was trying to keep everything under control.

The ship was visibly sinking. Noticeable even to the passengers who were starting to get restless.

It was even colder than all of the prior nights. He did not want to think about how frigid the water likely was.

Will was thanking whoever was listening that Turner was still around to help him and the other sailors wrestle the collapsible into the davit. The man was built like an ox and a great deal more intelligent, though few people knew it.

Everything happened so fast. An Irish third class passenger rushed forward and three shots rang out. The Irishman fell to the deck.

The other third class passenger who was with him snarled "figlio de puttana!" and launched himself at someone in the crowd.

A younger woman in a greatcoat was checking the Irishman over murmured, "My God" She too had seen the gunshots. She had a clear Welsh accent.

Looking down at the pistol in his hands, Turner cut through his thoughts, "Sir, you did not fire your revolver. It was this thing," the Master at Arms held up a pistol that looked like a children's toy in his hands, "Check your pistol if you want to make sure, sir."

Not that he did not believe the other Scotsman, but just to make 100% sure Will checked. Sure enough, there were six unfired rounds in the revolver. Now he could get back to business.

"Let's go make sure the suspect isn't strangled by the victim's friend," Turner suggested.

The suspect (who was likely from first class, judging by his attire) was pinned to the deck by the Italian friend choking him. Will dragged the younger man off the first class who yelled, "I want him arrested for assault!"

Turner just laughed, "You want him arrested for assault? Boy you are under arrest for murder!"

The girl from earlier had come up drawling, "You can't buy your way out of this one. Too many people saw you pull the trigger." Now she sounded American instead of Welsh from earlier.

The murder suspect snarled, "Your father and brother are not here to protect you Ice Bitch!"

That earned him a punch in the jaw from the young Italian which would have sent him sprawling to the deck were Turner not restraining him.

"Master Turner, tie this man up at the wrists and ankles. Put something in his mouth as well, since he clearly does not know how to speak when a lady is present!" Will said through gritted teeth.

Once the prisoner was secured and tossed into the lifeboat, more passengers were loaded in, starting with the girl with the changing accents and the Italian kid who had witnessed the murder. Even a man he'd seen speaking to Mr. Andrews on multiple occasions.

Soon, it was down to just him and Master at Arms Turner. As the other man was climbing into the lifeboat he said, "Sir, this is going to need an officer's touch. If the prisoner does anything stupid, I'll just toss him overboard and be done with it. He needs to face justice."

Wilde was nearby listening and ordered, "Will, get on the boat and make sure that fool doesn't take anyone else with him tonight."

It seemed that his fate would be different than what he'd thought at the time of the collision. Will climbed into the collapsible lifeboat giving the order, "Lower away."

0210 April 15th

Fabrizio was mechanically rowing the boat, still in a state of shock. Tommy was dead, Jack likely would be in a matter of minutes if he wasn't already, and he was somehow in a lifeboat. The girl who'd also witnessed Tommy's murder was sitting next to him.

Saint Christopher, you must be working overtime on me. When I get onshore, I will go to the nearest Catholic church and light as many candles as I can get my hands on!

Rowing came easy to him. Some of the memories he had of his father before he died was of him taking Fabrizio out on his fishing boat and having him help row back. The muscle memory was returning, he had rowed almost before he could walk.

A low groan came from the ship as the lights flickered and went out. He could now hardly see his hands. The groan almost sounded human, like an apology.

Once the ship broke from the strain, the end of the ship was flat in the water. However, it soon began to be pulled back up until it was almost straight up in the air, then corkscrewed down.

Then the screams started.

A/N 2: Did you guys really think I was going to let a tagged character die? Or keep Cameron's foolish creative liberties? No. I hope I managed it in a realistic manner. What Will does not yet know, is that he has the other half of the pair in his lifeboat. He will find out who she is. That will be next chapter. So.. What do you all think? SSD

Casting:

Master at Arms Michael Turner: Robbie Coltrane as he looked in From Hell