Chapter 74

March 2, 1913

Jesse, Jack and Fabrizio laid down their belongings in the soft soil, then looked up. In front of the men stood Jack's old, charred remains of the house, blackened with soot, and severe water damage, as well as the unforgiving Wisconsin weathers had taken its toll on the weakened structure, and it was on the verge of collapsing. Despite the brisk afternoon Jesse took off his coat, laid it down next to their belongings, then ran up to the house, while Jack was too slow to grab ahold of his friend. With no choice, both Fabrizio and Jack went the other direction, and Jesse towards the front of the entrance.

Jesse carefully made his way up the steps to the porch. Despite his slender build he still had enough weight that pressed down on the blackened hardwood which creaked with each careful step he made. He made his way to the black abyss of the front door, which opened up to him like a giant yawn. Jesse pushed his hair back, then carefully peered inside the darkness, hoping that none of the structure was going to collapse. Soon, curiosity took the best of him, and he stepped inside, carefully.

"Jesse!" Jack yelled from behind, but Jesse wasn't listening, for he was too focused to what's going on around him.

"Jesse! Get back here! That house might collapse!" Jack shouted once more, horrified that the darkness swallowed his friend. Inside, Jesse carefully made his way, his hair falling over his eyes and face once more as he examined what looked like the living room, and nearly tripping over a piece of completely burnt late-19th century couch, or so it seemed to him. With his hair completely obscuring his right eye, Jesse looked around the fire-blackened room, as slowly, his curiosity was slowly going away, and that he found nothing of interest. Just as he was about to leave something caught his eye. Jesse pushed aside his hair, then walked up to a dresser that looked like it stood the test of the fire. On top of the dresser, among the ashes, was a charred remains of a photograph. Jesse could barely make out the very young couple and a young child in the picture, until it hit him. It was what was left of Jack's remaining memory, a young, happy couple, with their child. A pang of sadness slowly overcame Jesse, who began to put a hand to his mouth, to control his crying. He took a deep breath, then looked up towards the black ceiling, as a tear rolled down his cheek. He took a deep breath once more, then looked at the photograph for the final time. Pieces of the picture began falling away, blending in with the ashes at his feet, as if another memory began disappearing right in front of him, until it finally turned to ashes completely...

A few moments later, Jesse emerged from the darkness of the house, as a small smile played on his lips.

...

a couple days had passed, since their arrival to Chippewa Falls, that the group gathered their supplies and tools at the nearby millworks. Fabrizio was the leader of the group, because of his experience building houses in the southwest. Jack left Jesse as the designer of his new house, as Jesse and a couple other architects pondered over their drawing, the measurements, and how the final design should come out.

After Jack had the remains of the original house cleaned up and sent away, the new foundation for his house was laid out. Others were starting out the framework for the walls, others started on the wiring and plumbing of the house. Soon, the house was beginning to take shape, the skeleton being put up, and the rafters were soon to follow. Jack helped as much as he could, after he watched his friends and total strangers build his new house. Jack was surprised, as the house was nearly complete, and it was getting dark by the time the outer layers of the house were installed. Jack decided it was time to turn in for the night, as he invited his friends to stay at the small, local inn.

Jesse shakes, then fluffs his jacket, before laying down on the hardwood floor, and yawned as big as he could. Fabrizio had the couch, and Jack took the largest bed, then he heard Fabrizio and Jesse talk amongst each other, followed by the sounds of a paper rustling, and shared each other's laughter. He knew the reason all those people had came out and helped him; his father had worked at that mill, and when they heard his only son was alive all along, they decided to help out by building him a home. Jack hadn't told them the real reason, that he would be getting married soon, but he left that out, until it was time he brought Rose over to his new house. Jack turns in the bed, to look over at where Jesse was laying. He was already sound asleep, his hands clasped over his chest, and his small mouth was open, but no sound came. Each breath he made his hair slowly spill out and spread outward onto his jacket, away from his eyes and eyebrows, revealing his beautiful, youthful face and forehead once more (think: Jungkook). Meanwhile Fabrizio was reading a week-old paper he had brought from Albuquerque, just as Jesse had gone to sleep. He folded it up as quietly as he could, got up to turn out the lights, and soon went to sleep. Jack laid there for a few moments more, as he listened to Fabrizio's light snore, and peeked over the edge of the bed, as Jesse's chest barely moved. Jack slowly falls back in the bed, then slowly drifts to sleep.

...

March 11, 1913

The house was finally finished on the third day, and since the people knew Jack's father beforehand they held a house warming ceremony for Jack and his friends, as they brought various cookware, dishes and even furniture to finally start his life all over again. It truly was a fresh start, since the time he lost his parents, and starting out with a new one, with Rose and their son. Jack cried, as he embraced both Fabrizio and Jesse, and a few other men, as he thanked those who helped him build his future. Jack wanted to pay the men, but they told him that won't be necessary, as they're helping out the late Mr. Dawson's only son. One of the men gave Jack the keys to his new house, so that he can look inside, to see what they had done for him.

Inside, the living room was large, and more modern than the one Jon and Jessica lived in. A phonograph sat in one corner of the room, along with a large bookshelf. The kitchen was also large, and was among the first to have a refrigerator ever installed in a home. The oven was almost identical to the one at Jessica's home, and the table was a little large, with four chairs around it. Jack walks up to the refrigerator contraption, as he had never seen one before. He looks inside, and some food were stored in there. This house was indeed different than he had lived in before, but he was happy. It was also electricity and water ready, just that nothing was connected yet. Jack walks back to the living room, and sees a candle-stick style telephone he didn't notice the first time around. Jesse and Fabrizio came from behind, also taking in the new house they had helped build. Jack runs upstairs, to one of the four bedrooms, and runs in the first room he thought would be the master bedroom. A large bed greeted him in the middle of the room, and a dresser was right in front of it. He finds there is a bathroom in that same room, along with a large bathtub. There was also another bathroom down the hall, next to one of the smaller bedrooms, and a linen closet next to it. He had all sorts of plans for one of the rooms, one of which was to be Tommy's nursery soon, and the other two rooms if Jesse, Fabrizio or any other visitors who ever dropped by for an occasional visit.

Jack went outside, to a cheering crowd as the people made meals for everyone there. He walks over to the expansive Lake Wissota, which was located almost a few yards in front of the house, with Jesse and Fabrizio walking behind. He remembers his father taking him ice fishing at this lake when he was younger, and at one point the ice broke under him, sending him under, as the water nearly suffocated him, just like being back at the Titanic, which was nearly a year now. Jack sobs, as he once again hugs Jesse and Fabrizio, and for the loss of his beloved parents, but he will cherish those memories for as long as he lived. The trio makes their way back, as they are given food, and beers to go along. Jesse never liked beers, or for that matter, smoking. One of the men accidentally mistakes Jesse for a female once more, before he turned completely red of embarrassment when his coworkers informed him that he was about to kiss a man, and one of the workers who helped with the construction. Everyone laughs, then shared amongst each other jokes and tales while everyone else ate their food, and joined in with the laughter, as it filled the afternoon.

...

Soon, it was time for everyone to leave, as the sun began to set, and the air grew cold. Jesse had already chopped some wood, and was bringing them inside the house, at the doorway, before he fed the fire with more wood. Jack thanked everyone who came out and helped him and his friends build the house. Fabrizio had to leave the next morning back to Albuquerque, along with his fellow workers who came with him, and Jesse. Jack sat in his new couch, as Jesse was crouched in front of the fireplace, poking at the fires with a stick, then throwing it in the fire. Soon, the house was warm and toasty, compared to being back in Albuquerque, at that farm house, with the potbellied stove providing the only heat and a source of cooking. Here, it was much better, like being back at his sister's place, only it felt newer, and modern. Fabrizio had brought one of the many kerosene lamps from the farm house, then places it on the table. Jack carefully poured the fluid in the reservoir, then lighting the string, as it gave off an even warm glow, complementing the fire in the fireplace. Jesse walks to the kitchen, as he had never seen a refrigerator as well. He kept food buried behind the house, with a little roof poking up from the ground, and acts as a basement of sorts, for storing food cold. He walks back to the living room, as Jack and Fabrizio were engaged in an impromptu poker game. Jack rolls up the cards before handing them to Jesse, to shuffle and deal the cards.

Jesse looks over his hand, while Fabrizio and Jack kept changing hands. Jack knew he had been beat back at Philadelphia, after he rescued Jesse from Cal, and hoped for a payback. As for Fabrizio, he felt like it had been awhile since he played poker, when he was beat by Eric.

"Hit me," Jesse says, as he puts down a couple of cards on the table. Fabrizio shoves a couple cards to Jesse, face down, before he continues with what was in his hands. Jack looks up at his two friends, as the kerosene lamp slowly diminishes. Despite the weak light Jesse could still see his hand, while Fabrizio scratches his head and adjusts his hat, and Jack adjusts himself in the chair.

"I'm out." Jesse says, as lays his cards face down, then puts his hands behind his head, as he tips his chair. Fabrizio and Jack were the only ones, as they looked at each other over the deck of cards. Fabrizio slides Jack another card, as he puts his card face down into the pile. They now look at each other intensely, to determine who might win the card game, when suddenly the lights turn out. The kerosene had burned most of its fuel, then Jesse determined it was time to turn in for the night. He also reminded Fabrizio to sleep as well, since he needed to leave first thing in the morning, and they had no car, and the train station was a distance away from the house. Jack was content in his new room, that he will be sharing with Rose. He felt lonely now that no one was with him for the night, just his friends, as they slept in separate rooms, and the bed was way too big than he realized. Fabrizio could be heard behind him, snoring up a storm, while Jesse slept with that quiet breathing. Jack laid there, as the moon began to filter through the curtains.

"I miss you, Rose." Jack says, as a single tear rolled down his cheek, before he pulled up his blankets to his chin, then he turned over and finally goes to sleep.

...

March 12, 1913

Jesse, Fabrizio, and Jack woke up early as Fabrizio needed to be at the train depot, and they must trek the nearly 4 miles to the depot. Jesse carried Fabrizio's luggage on his back, while Jack became worried he might injure his back. Jesse was already hurting, when a horse kicked his back, after he tried to break the horse in. They arrived at the depot, and both Fabrizio and Jack helps Jesse take the trunk off his back. Jesse was severely crouched over, then Fabrizio places his foot on his back, while Jack had his shoulders. Jesse knew this was going to hurt even more than that horse, as he braced himself. He squeezed his eyes shut, as Fabrizio and Jack both straightened Jesse. He heard his back crack, then collapsed on the platform. Jack knew his friend might be in serious trouble, as Jesse laid there, wincing in pain, and he tried to move. Jack finally gathers his courage to ask.

"I'm…al…right." was all he could squeak. He slowly squirmed, trying to alleviate the pain in his lower back. Both Fabrizio and Jack carefully stood Jesse back on his feet, then walked him around for a bit, as onlookers were stunned at what they were seeing in front of them. The train whistled, as it approached the depot. It came to a stop, then Jack hugged him for the last time, and hoped to see him when the Olympic set sail from New York. Fabrizio squeezes Jesse as hard as he could, mainly to ease the pain from his back. Then he boarded, as the conductor yelled, "Chippewa Falls to Minneapolis! Chippewa Falls to Minneapolis!" Fabrizio thought he boarded the wrong train, then was relieved that it would continue on to Des Moines, Iowa later that evening, the same route they took earlier in the week. The train let out a whistle, then slowly pulls from the depot, with people waving before slowly scattering away, and Jack needed help with Jesse, as he hurt his back from carrying that bulky chest. Jack had his arm around Jesse's neck, despite the difficulty that he was slightly taller than he was, and Jesse the same. Eventually a man came up, with his horse cart. With Jack climbing into the wagon they carefully place Jesse in the cart, while another man came with a piece of heavy gunny sack from his general store, then carefully laying it on him as well. Jack knelt next to Jesse's side, as he watched him slowly drift off to sleep, from the motion of the wagon.

"Gee, son, don't you think he outta see a doctor?" the man asks worryingly, climbing onto his cart seat, then he lightly taps his horse with the lead rope.

"No, he'll be fine." Jack reassures him, then looked back at Jesse, who was sleeping peacefully. Jack's heart skips a beat, as he couldn't help but stare intently at Jesse's beautiful, delicate face; the glistening earrings from the sun; the silver shining brightly from his necklace that Marion gave him before the wedding; his graceful neck...A dimple appeared as he smacked his lips and swallowed... Jack shook his head, then swallowed a growing lump in his throat.

"Are you okay, son?" the man asks, clearly watching the whole thing.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine." Jack says, then gives the man directions to his new house. Back at the house, the man and Jack carefully place Jesse in the same bed he slept in the night prior. Jack places blankets on him, while the man watches on by the door, and was chewing on a piece of wheat straw. The man soon steps out, and Jack followed, before turning back to his friend/brother once more, still sleeping peacefully and soundly under the covers. Once outside the man marvels at what Jack had in front of him.

"You got yourself quite a view here." He says, before he walks to the lake.

"This was once my father's place. I had that house rebuilt over the old place." Jack says, as he tried to hold back tears once more.

"Oohwee! Boy howdy! Look at this place! You are one lucky son of a gun. Are you sure you can take care of that boy?"

"Y-yeah. I can manage." Jack says, feeling a tear come.

"Now, you both be good, you hear? And you go on and take care of yourselves. And that boy." the man groans as he climbs up onto his cart seat. The horse neighs, then shakes its head, before return to eating whatever grass was on the ground.

"Okay, let's go, Princess." The man says, as he grabs the lead rope, then lightly taps the horse, before disappearing back to the town, as Jack watches on, his hands jammed in his pocket. Jack shakes his head to move a stray hair from his eyes, before going back to his house, and to take care of Jesse.