Their Hearts Lived On
Chapter 8

A birght light shone on Rose's face, and brought her back to the world of the living. A nurse saw Rose stir, and came up to her bed. "Miss, I am so glad you are awake! You have had quite a scare. You have been in a coma now for about three weeks. Let me get the doctor!" Rose nodded, and the nurse hurried out of the room.

Rose began to look around her room. There was a white curtain to her left, and the door was on her right. An IV was stuck in her left hand, and there was liquid dripping into it. Everything was stark white, and she could hear muffled whispering out in the hallway. Then the doctor came is, followed closely by the Nurse. They both wore grim faces, and Rose knew instantly that they had some bad news.

The doctor cleared his throat, "miss, first may I ask your name? The man whom escorted you to the ambulance did not know of your name." Rose smiled, remembering Mr. Barrett, and how he kept his promise. "My name is Rose Dawson." The doctor smiled, and nodded his head. "Now I know that you were on the Titanic miss, and I am sure that you had quite a scare from it. But your injuries were suffered from the result of being trampled in the crowd as I have been told. You have suffered a broken leg, bruised kidneys, as well as a skull fracture, which is why you have been in a coma for so long. You also, I assume, from the Titanic tragedy, have suffered frostbite on the tips of your toes and fingers. We were able to revive the skin however, and you should be able to regain all feelings there."

Rose sighed, happy that nothing seemed too tragic. The doctor then frowned, and continued, "do you have any family that you would like to be notified about your whereabouts?" Rose shook her head, and evenm the slight move made her cringe with pain. "You must know miss that you are in a delicate condition as well. You are about a month along in your pregnancy." Rose's eyes grew large, and tears silently spilled out. The doctor rested his hand on hers, and went on, "does someone need to be notified of this??" Rose again shook her head, and whispered, "no. He went down with the Titanic." The doctor then nodded, understanding. "He was then your husband ma'am?" Rose nodded, and whispered, "yes."

The doctor frowned, confused for her clothing that she had worn was not one of a steerage wife, and held her hand, "it will be allright miss. For now we must keep you for observation. You still are not out of the woods so to speak. But I think that you will be allright." The nurse then spoke up, "miss, there is a gentleman waiting outside for you. The one that saved you? Do you wish to see him?" Rose nodded and smiled.

The doctor and nurse left, and Fred Barrett rushed in. He stood by her doorway, and she motioned him to come up closer to the bed. "I have been waiting on pins and needles miss, hoping you will be allright. I couldn't go back home without making sure you were ok first." Rose smiled, her first real smile since the sinking. "Yes, I think I will be allright. Never the same, but I think I will be okay." Fred nodded, knowing exactly how she felt. "That man, that was with you that night, he was the papa right?" Rose nodded, "yes he was. They told you? He would have been the best father." Fred nodded, "yes, they thought that I was the papa, so they told me. Will you be allright after you leave here? Do you have a place to stay?" "Yes, I think I will. I am actually looking forward to finding work, and having a place of my own."

Fred stood from his bedside chair, "well, miss I must be off," he handed her a slip of paper, "if you are ever back in Ireland, stop by and say hello! Or at least write and let me know what becomes of you." Rose took the paper and nodded, "I will, I promise. With that, Fred turned and walked out the door.