Chapter 96: Different Perspectives

Riptide lays awake as the morning light slowly starts to creep into the room, still unable to sleep. It's not because of the mattress he's sleeping on or the room that he now resides in, but basically, everything that has happened leading up to this moment. When he had first been hired by the Caledon Hockley, he never expected any of this to happen. He never expected to hurt so many people and follow a man who had become a monster so blindly. Now, he was in too deep and it felt as though there was no way out. When they were caught, he'd spend the rest of his life in prison, there was no doubt about that. This is not how he imagined his life going. He thought that he would work for this wealthy family, provide security and protection to his employer, make enough money to attract an interested woman, buy a home, settle down and start a family. Simple and easy, but now, that expectation is gone, crashed and burned the minute he said yes to spying on Mr. Hockley's former fiancée.

He begged for sleep to take him. Anything to give him relief from his guilt or let him escape this horrible reality for a little bit. Even a dreamless state would be bearable. However, his conscience… or what was left of it, did not allow it. Despite his own exhaustion from the long road trip and the moving of the prisoners, his mind still kept him up. It didn't help that after the prisoners had been placed where Cal had demanded they go, he had to help his master get ready for bed, which took some time including, turning down the bed and providing the Hockley man with a glass of brandy, which the manservant had to somehow find in the dark and in a house that he was unfamiliar with.

Even when granted any room he wanted, Riptide could not settle, and he cringed at the thought of what the new day would bring for him or the two people currently held in the house against their will.

He turns over away from the breaking of dawn and shut his eyes. Praying that his master was satisfied enough to sleep a little longer.

…

Cal awakens to sunlight peering through the curtains of his family's Pennsylvania home. It had been a bit of time since he'd spent the night here and the unfamiliar surroundings had startled him when he'd first opened his eyes. It took a quick moment for him to remember why he was staying here but then it all came back. Dawson attempts to rescue Rose, but him being captured as well and then flees the mansion in haste to avoid the authorities. Now, both were in his possession and at his mercy. He wanted to dispose of the gutter rat as soon as possible, but perhaps making him suffer a little bit before being put out of his misery. That wandering artist had been a thorn in Cal's side since the day he was forced to reward him for saving Rose. If only Rose had not wanted to look at the propellors… or whatever she had intended to do. He suspected all along that the whole story was nonsense, but he had not cared then, nor did he care now about the real reason she had nearly fallen. What mattered was him. If it had been an officer of the ship or any other person, both he and Rose would be married by now and perhaps she would be pregnant with their heir. Perhaps then, they would be visiting this house on holiday rather than her being held here as a prisoner. Regardless, Dawson's days were finally numbered and soon he'd be out of Cal's life for good.

The steel tycoon gets out of bed and lets his feet slide into his slippers. He then goes across the large master bedroom and removes one of his father's robes. While he had his own designated room in the house, Cal could not help but take advantage of sleeping in the vast master bedroom as his father nor mother was here to say anything otherwise. Here, he was the king and the owner of this castle and that's how it would remain.

He then exits the room and walks down the hall to the room that held Rose. He's tempted to go in but decides to have his coffee first before dealing with her. Her soft breathing can faintly be heard behind the oak door.

He descends the stairs and goes to the kitchen. He could very well have roused Riptide to ask him to bring him some coffee, but for some reason, he decides to do it himself.

Fortunately, the pantry was always stocked in case he and his father were forced to stay for business trips, and this included plenty of coffee. While the staff usually made everything, Cal was capable enough to boil some water and make his own coffee. He might as well get used to it. It was very unlikely that they could hire staff now that they were considered wanted criminals. Riptide would fulfill most of these duties, but now the steel tycoon would have to do some things as well. He was not looking forward to it, but it's the way everything worked out.

As the water boils, Cal prepares the coffee grounds and then stirs it. He leaves the water for his manservant to make his own, while he takes his cup and walks towards the servant's quarters. He expected the gutter rat to be there on a cot next to the stove, still trussed up and with no place to go. There was an internal debate occurring in his mind. Did he want to ruin his morning already by staring at Dawson? Then again, the man was at his own mercy and he lived to lord his power over everyone.

Cal carries his coffee into the back part of the house and stands in the doorway. He takes a sip in satisfaction. Jack Dawson lay on the cot, still gagged and with his arms and legs bound tightly. Still unconscious… or asleep. Perhaps that beating was a little too over the top, but it did Cal no good if Dawson had succumbed to his injuries. He wanted the third-class man to suffer for stealing his fiancée and ruining his reputation, before ending everything. He gets a little closer and leans in to see if he is breathing. Sure enough, in the quiet of the morning, the faint sounds of breath were coming from the man.

Deep down, Cal wishes that he was awake, to taunt him for his foolishness in thinking he could rescue Rose and actually win. He always wins.

The rich man then turns and shuts the door to go enjoy the rest of his coffee in peace.

…

The baby is what wakes Rose up from her dreamless sleep. It kicks, perhaps in hunger or confusion, but the thudding against her body is what finally allows the redhead to awaken fully. Her mind is confused as she takes in her surroundings that are not the Carson/Whitman home or even her house back in Philadelphia. This temporary lapse in her memory only lasts a few moments before she tries to move her arms to stretch out, realizing that they are restricted. Reality crashes down on her like the wave of a tsunami, she is still Cal's prisoner, and she remembers the drive in the trunk of his car. And of course, Jack, God knows where the two monsters were keeping him, she just hoped and prayed that he was okay.

Daylight was peeking through the long curtains and Rose could take in the room she was dumped in the night before. It's a large space, similar to her parents' master bedroom in their old Philadelphia mansion with tall windows and equally tall curtains. All the furniture, including the bed, was covered in white sheets to prevent dust from gathering on them and an elaborately decorated fireplace stood directly across from where she lay in the bed. The bed itself was king-sized and had a canopy structure hanging above her. Wherever they were, it was definitely a place where Cal would be comfortable.

Rose adjusts herself as best she can to try and get comfortable, rolling onto her other side, which would also help support her swollen belly. The baby continues to kick and Rose knows that he or she is hungry. They had not eaten in a while and all her time in captivity and the inconsistent nutrition worried the mother-to-be. Would her child be healthy? Would it be born skinny because of what she's endured? She knows that stress is not good for her child, but considering the situation, it's hard not to be stressed.

"It's okay," she whispers quietly to the baby. "I'm here and so is Daddy."

…

Jack's head hurts. It hurts so much that he doesn't want to open his eyes. If he does, he's worried that his brain will explode due to the pain. He has no idea what's happened… the last thing he remembers is trying to rescue Rose and then seeing the people he loved somehow. He wonders if he's dead, but the pain tells him that he's still alive and kicking.

He begins to gain some awareness of his body again. Besides his head, he notices that his mouth is very dry, and sore, and feels full as if something had been shoved into it. His arms are extremely stiff, and he can't feel his hands at all. He also can't move his legs very well, not that he's trying to due to how badly his head hurts. Whatever he was lying on was soft, but a little lumpy and occasionally creaked when he shifted in any way.

Finally, he musters enough strength to open one eye. The brightness of wherever he was is painful and he closes it again. He didn't recognize the location and he's more confused than ever. He forces both his eyes to open, causing him to feel as though a railroad spike is being driven into his brain. He squints in the daylight to try and lessen the intense pain, and while it helps a little, it still hurts.

He shut his eyes, trying to process what he saw and to take away some of the pain again. It's only a slight relief. He had to know what was happening so he forced his eyes open again, ignoring the pain. He was in some kind of room from the looks of it. Tiny and filled with what looks like objects from a kitchen. However, a lot of it looks old and outdated. He turns to see a stove lying near his head, but a very old woodburning stove. A window in the high corner was letting in the light that made it so painful to look at, but it also illuminated everything around him. There was also a closed door on the far side of the room. He heard some movement on the other side, but nothing else.

He then tries to move his body and realizes that his hands are tied behind his back and his feet are also tied together. The weird feeling in his mouth makes him realize that he'd gagged. He begins to move more in an attempt to free himself, despite how much his head still hurts. His thoughts go to Rose and the need to find her overwhelms him. Pain be damned, she needed him. He hoped that she was okay.

However, his struggles for freedom cause the bed or cot he lay on to creak loudly and his grunts of pain create a lot more noise than anticipated.

While Jack continues to try and wriggle free from his bonds, footsteps approach the closed door across from him.

It takes him and minute to realize that the door is open. Jack looks up and his blue eyes meet Hockley's dark ones and his heart sinks.

A/N: It's been quite a while, but this chapter was sparked by my going to see Titanic in the movie theatre (for the first time). I have seen the movie of course, but I experienced it in 3D and for its 25th anniversary. Please follow and review.