They had gotten an oddly short and almost cryptic telegram from John.
"Jesse fine; will bring home, John."
They certainly couldn't make sense of what he could have meant. She just knew that it struck a fear deep into her heart.
The newspapers didn't seem to know anything except that something had happened to the Titanic.
With the papers and John's message; one that she felt should have come Jesse, it left her nervous.
To make her nerves worse, they had also gotten another telegram. This other one came from someone she had never heard of, an Edward Piston.
He was a bit clearer in his message.
He was willing to pay their way to New York City and for their lodgings in the city for as long as they might need them, so they could meet Jesse there.
She really wasn't sure she was comfortable taking the offer.
It didn't feel real. Much to like something that was too good to be true, but at the same time much too specific. He had wired them enough money for three, second class train tickets. Making it enough for her, Henry and Joan to go.
"Henry? Should we really be using this money?"
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth Ruth Anne. Pack your bags; we're going. If we don't, who knows how long it'll be until we see Jesse..."
"Do you really think it will be that long?"
"I don't know. We don't really know what has happened and probably won't until we get to New York. Now get moving. I want to catch today's train yet."
"Fine. Is Joan coming with us?"
"No. We discussed it and decided that she's going to stay here. She is choosing to stay, be a contact for us in case we need it. Pack some things for Jesse, just in case. We don't know what type of lodgings we're going to be placed in or get."
oOo
Joan accompanied them to the train station; mainly to see Henry off.
They didn't know how long that they would be gone. Only that they'd be gone for as long as they needed to be. It was going to be a few days at least.
It would be the longest time that Joan and Henry would have be parted for since they had gotten married.
While Jesse was always travelling the world, this would be the furthest she had travelled from home.
If she wasn't nervous about what had happened to Jesse, she'd be more nervous about the travel.
The train ride was long and she couldn't sleep. By the time they arrived in New York she had taken her hair down, having tried to make herself comfortable enough to try and sleep.
It hadn't helped.
She was just too worried.
She wasn't even sure if Henry had slept at all.
The only thing she did before leaving the train was put on her hat, hair still down and free.
She and Henry made their way to the pier that the survivors were being let off at.
There was no sign of the Titanic.
They were told that the survivors would be getting off the Carpathia, the ship that had rescued them.
They had to wait forever before they started release the survivors. They watched as the injured were taken off the ship, then as the first class, the second class, the third class left the ship and then finally the remaining crew followed getting off.
They could finally go looking for him.
When she finally spotted him, she broke away from Henry, ignoring his protests and racing towards Jesse faster than she had run in years. Calling out for her twin, waving her hand in the air.
"Jesse! Jesse! Jesse!"
She hadn't noticed John until she was nearly on top of them. John had his one hand protectively in front of Jesse with his other arm wrapped around him.
"Whoa! Careful there Miss Hudson! Had you come in any quicker, you would have knocked your twin over."
She barely heard him.
Now that she had stopped, she was trying to catch her breath; which was ragged and sent her into a mild coughing attack.
She felt a hand rubbing her back as she was bent over with her coughing. When she looked up she found that John was the one rubbing her back, looking concerned. While Jesse was looking pale and unsteady on his feet.
Henry jogged up beside them, looking to her first, to make sure that her cough was subsiding.
Once it had lightened enough, she hugged Jesse tight, burying her head into his shoulder.
"Oh Jesse..."
"I'm all right... just took a little dip in the ocean..." He ran his hand through her hair.
She hadn't noticed Henry join them and having put a supportive arm around Jesse.
"It's okay, I'm here Ruth, I'm here, I made it, just barely."
She let out a bit of a sob. "Hearing barely doesn't help, Jesse. We didn't know if we'd ever see you again."
"I didn't think I was going to." He tightened his grip around her a little.
John stood just a little ways back, to give them some space.
They didn't talk much as she clung to him for a few minutes, just soaking up each other's presence, as all three of them were together again.
"Jesse, how do you feel? What happened out there." Henry broke their almost silent huddle. She finally let go of Jesse and stepped back with Henry doing the same.
"Weak, I've been better. Don't remember much from the past few days. 'M not sure I wanna. The ship sank, and I only remember it vaguely. John would know better than me."
"John, get back over here. Tell us what happened." Henry demanded.
John nodded and came closer to explain what they experienced.
Henry moved back to let Jesse rest on him as he started to sag. He really wasn't starting to look good.
Joh didn't get far before a gentleman came up to them.
"We need all the crew to come with us. They need to be questioned for the inquiry that's being held." The man said.
"Okay. Can I finish explaining what happened to them?" Asked John.
"No. We need the both of you to come now."
"Does Jesse have to go? He should really be seen by a doctor..." she asked, looking at the man in concern.
"He still needs to come and give a statement." He answered her back, giving her a disdained look over.
"Can't I do so from right here?" Jesse chimed up, now leaning heavier on Henry. It was a good thing Henry could handle Jesse's weight.
"Why are you unable to come with the rest?" The man crossed his arms looking at Jesse in disgust, clearly either ignoring or not paying attention to how much Jesse was relying on Henry to keep him upright.
"Well... it might have something to do with the fact of nearly freezing to death."
The man started tapping his foot.
"I was given orders to gather all of the surviving crew, to be taken to give their statements if they had not been immediately taken for medical attention. Since you are here, you must come and give your statement-"
"What kind of statement do you think you're going to get from a man who can barely keep his eyes open. I remember very little of what happened."
She felt the bubbling of hysteric laughter wanting to break free at Jesse's sarcasm and bewilderment to the reaction of his near death experience. That even now, as he was quickly fading, that he was sharp minded enough to answer so bitingly.
"I'll be able to give you the statement that you're looking for, and I'll come willingly, but Jesse REALLY isn't in the shape for anything like this." John said, setting his feet and crossing his arms, standing between the man an Jesse.
"That doesn't matter, he needs to come. You're both coming, it doesn't matter if it's willingly or not."
"No! You can't take him! He's not well! Can't you see that!" She broke away from Jesse and Henry's side. Ready to pound her fists against the man's chest, had John not caught her and held her back.
"I most certainly can take him Miss. He wasn't taken with the rest of the injured. Therefore he must be well enough to come and give a statement." The man crossed his arms.
She had been so involved with the argument, that she didn't see the other man come over to them with a girl probably around her age, give or take.
He addressed Jesse first, concern lacing his voice and etched onto his face. "Are you all right son?"
"Will be. Just getting tired..." Jesse replied, not sounding as strong as he had been.
"If you're sure lad?"
Jesse just nodded tiredly.
"Now, what seems to be going on here?" The new man glared at the man trying to take both Jesse and John.
The girl going over to Jesse to check on him. Offering him a drink of something it seemed like. Her attention quickly pulled back towards the two men.
"We're taking the crew to get statements."
"How long will that take? This young man, risked his life to help people onto his lifeboat and very nearly payed for it with his life. We may have all came close to death just days ago, but this young man just barely skirted it."
"I can't say how long it will take. I have only been sent to gather the crew so that their statements may be taken."
"You can take my statement. I ended up helping Mr. Winters here empty the lifeboat of people. If you must keep him, at least let me put him and his siblings up all in the same hotel."
"Sir, both sailors must come with me so that all the crew can be held in the same place."
"Will there be access to medical personal where you are taking them?"
"I cannot say sir. I only have orders to gather the remaining crew for Senator Smith."
"Jesse needs medical attention!" She cried out. "You can't take him!"
He sneered at her. "This is an important investigation into what happened. We need as many witnesses to fill in just what happened as possible-"
"I will stop you there sir. Can you not see that you are upsetting this young lady? These two fine young men saved my life and I will not have anyone treated wrongly in their group."
"And you are?"
"Edward Piston. One of the passengers from first class. Now, I believe that you must be on your way with Mr. Winters, while we get Mr. Hudson out of this dreadful weather and back under some medical attention. Unless you would like me to report how you have been treating us survivors and upset family members?"
"No sir."
"Good. I'm glad we have come to an understanding. Mr. Hudson will not leave the city if he is needed at a later date. Mr. Winters, I must thank you again and I do hope that they treat you well, wherever they hold you."
"Thank you sir."
John was hesitating to follow the man, but did.
"Now, I do believe it would be best to get the younger Mr. Hudson inside and out of this drizzle and cold. Two coats or not, I hardly think it fitting for him to be out here, nor should any of us be."