A STORYBOOK ROMANCE
Chapter Five

Rose lay on her side on her old bed, in her old stateroom, her hands gingerly grasping at her stomach. He had kicked her again and this time she hadn't been able to get up. He had lifted her up and thrown her on the bed, where she had been since then. It had only been about an hour since Jack had disappeared with Cal and Lovejoy had taken her, kicking and screaming back to first class. It had only been an hour, but it felt like forever.

Jack, you have to be all right. I don't care about myself…but please stay safe. Don't try to save me. Please. I should never have gotten you involved.

Rose felt tiny tears roll down her face, and she closed her eyes, trying to ignore the pounding ache in her body. He had deliberately hit her where it wouldn't be visible, since he didn't want anyone to know he was abusing her. "There's no point in telling the whole world that you've been refusing to honor me like you should. Your little steerage boy won't be bothering us again."

His words rang in her head and she fought back a sob. Please…Jack, tell me you left Cal at once and went down to steerage…you didn't try to find me. Please…

She groaned and tried to pull the covers over her body. She managed to get it over her stomach and then gave up, falling back, panting in pain. Please, Jack, don't come back for me. Go on with your life…

"I hate you?" Rose asked, shocked at her own words. She started to laugh along with Jack.

"That's impossible," Jack said with a smile. "I could never hate you. No matter what." Jack sighed, completely giving up on the guessing game. "I love you, Rose."

Rose's smile became brighter, and she leaned forward to kiss him. As she opened her mouth, she could feel the love between them. It was a long, passionate kiss. "I love you, too," Rose said as she looked deeply into his blue eyes.

I love you, Jack. Now and forever. I don't care if Cal kills me, I don't care…I just want you to stay safe…please. Forget me. Forget that I love you, forget that you love me.

Rose stared up into the ceiling, feeling better lying on her back. If Jack showed up, if he tried to save her, she had to tell him to leave her alone. For his sake.

*****

Jack paced in the cabin, trying to figure out what to do. They hadn't let him go back to the first class deck and the spot where he had climbed over the railing the day before was out of the question. The deck was full of people.

Fabrizio watched him, his eyes tired and weary.

"She come when she wants to, don't think about her."

Jack looked up at his friend, his eyes shining with determination.

"No, Fabri, you don't understand. She's in trouble. That Cal guy, her fiancé…he hit her and he's probably hitting her right now and I can't do a damn thing about it."

He shook his head, starting to pace again, clenching his fists.

"Dammit, I should never have left her alone. It was so obvious that they were going to take her."

Fabrizio looked at him, more attentively now and interest, not sleepiness burning in him.

"Jack…I'll help you, okay? We go when it's dark. I like her, she seem nice and she shouldn't have someone who hurts her."

Jack smiled weakly, sinking down on the bed opposite of his own.

"Thanks, Fabri. It could be dangerous though and I…I'm afraid it might be too late if we wait until tonight." He stared blankly ahead of himself. "I saw the bruises he left on her. He's probably hurting her right now." He got up, punched the bedpost angrily, not even feeling the pain. "Dammit! I should have known it was a trap!"

Fabrizio just looked at him, unable to say something that would calm Jack. He didn't even know what had happened. All he knew was that his friend was in love and that the girl was in trouble. That was all he needed to know. Jack was his best friend and he was going to help him no matter what.

Jack leaned his face in his hands, still feeling her scent in the room. Her dress so soft in his hands, her curls brushing against his face. The black and blue bruises he had seen on her stomach and arms when she had changed her dress to one she had brought from her stateroom. She had gotten undressed with no shyness that morning, not even blushing when he watched her, guarding the door to make sure no one else came. She hadn't flinched until she saw him noticing the bruises. Then she had hurried to pull the dress over her head and he had pulled her close, not saying a word.

Now, she could be beaten up even worse. He sighed lightly, feeling his stomach churning. How could anyone hurt her? How? How could Cal do that to her?

He almost rushed to the door and left, when he remembered that he would only get one chance at surprising Cal. He had to stay calm for now and hope for the best. Otherwise…he would fail for sure and then Cal would hurt Rose even more. He paced the room again and continued to do so until darkness finally fell and he and Fabrizio left the cabin, sneaking back up to the first class deck.

*****

Rose felt her mother's hand on her face and opened her eyes, trying to smile. Ruth looked worried, but stern and Rose didn't speak. She would only tell her mother to go, to leave her alone and right now, she just wanted someone to be close to her, it didn't matter that it was the same person who forced her to be with Cal. Ruth was her mother after all.

"Oh Rose, I'm so sorry he did this, but you have to learn to obey him. He is going to be your husband soon and we can't afford that he changes his mind."

Rose closed her eyes again, deciding it was better not to see Ruth right now.

"That boy, Rose…you have to tell him to stay away. Cal said he would have him killed if he came close to you again and he will. He seemed nice, Rose, not the kind of man you should marry, but I don't want to see him dead. So…if he comes, you know what to do, all right? This will ensure our survival, Rose and…darling, Cal won't hit you like this again. Only if you give him reason."

Rose heard her mother babbling even more, about the wedding, about children, about the house, but she blocked it all out, to hear Jack's sweet voice saying that he loved her. He loves me! I've never been loved like that before. Jack…

Ruth's voice had disappeared now and Rose was alone, alone in her room and it was almost night. Slowly, she got up from the bed, her hand pressed against her ribs. Could he have broken a rib? She pressed her hand harder to her chest and almost cried out. Damn you, Cal. I hate you.

Hesitantly, she made her way to the door, opened it, and stared into the corridor. Cal watched her from inside her stateroom, a smirk being embedded in his face. Everything was going according to plan…if Rose didn't already fear for Jack's life, Ruth's words would ensure that she did. This was too easy.

Rose closed her eyes, leaning on the doorframe as she made her way out into the corridor. Cal followed her silently. This wasn't part of the plan. He had thought he had hurt her badly enough to make it impossible for her to walk. If she could walk, she could escape and that was certainly not part of the plan.

Cal knew from Lovejoy that Jack and that Italian young man had entered the first class deck now and were on their way to rescue Rose. He just had to give Jack and Rose a moment together and he had them exactly where he wanted them.

"Rose?" Jack whispered, walking quickly, but softly through the corridor and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw her, dragging herself, her hands grasping at the wall. "Oh God…Rose…" he breathed, running up to her, holding her gently in his arms.

"Jack," she whispered, pressing herself into his safe body.

"Come on, we gotta hurry back down to steerage," he said firmly, taking her hands in his before reaching down to carry her.

"No," she whispered, pushing him away, causing her own body to slide to the side and she almost fell.

"Come on, Rose, don't fall. Let me carry you. Fabri can help you, too. It's gonna be all right. I won't ever let Cal lay his hands on you again."

Rose just stared at him, her eyes big and sad.

"No, Jack. I…can't go back with you."

"What?"

His blue eyes, full of guilt and love and worry were suddenly empty and only sad, shocked.

"I…it's best if you stay in…your world and I stay in mine. Cal…he…has powerful friends and he could hurt you, Jack. You have to stay away from me."

She felt tears flood her eyes as she spoke and she looked into his eyes for a second. He looked angry now and helpless.

"Rose…I love you and I won't let him stand in the way of us. He…he's already hurt you so badly and…I can't let you go back with him."

Rose smiled bravely, standing on her own now, ignoring the pain.

"I'm just tired, that's all. He didn't hurt me."

Lying…I'm lying to him and he knows it. Why even bother? To try to keep him safe, that's why.

"But he will hurt you, Jack and I can't bear that. So please just…just go."

She moved closer to him, kissed his mouth softly and then stepped back, starting to walk away from him.

He pulled her back roughly, causing her to yelp out in pain.

"So he didn't hurt you, did he? Don't lie to me, Rose. Just don't. I can take care of myself. I'll be fine. Just don't go."

"I'll be fine, really," she whispered, repeating her lie from the gymnasium and then started walking again, but he quickly walked closer, standing in front of her, blocking her way.

"I don't think so, Rose."

Okay, fine, Jack, you want me to go all the way. I will. For your own safety. You think Cal is the only one on his side? He can have you killed in no time and no one will even notice.

"Jack…let me go. I don't…I don't love you and I want to go to Cal. He has the money and safety I need. Let me go."

Jack felt as if someone had punched him in the face and in his shock, he stepped back. She hurried past him and once he had regained his senses, he ran after her, only to find the corridor empty. Her stateroom. Out of breath, Fabrizio behind him, Jack knocked on the door and faced Cal.

"She's resting," Cal said, smugly, pretending to be mildly upset. "I don't know what you did to her, Dawson, but she's not feeling very well."

"That's your fault, you bastard!" Jack said loudly, clenching his fists as he tried to push past Cal to Rose.

"No, Dawson, it's yours." Cal's smile was gone now and he was looking at Jack seriously. "If you come near her again, I'll see to it that she can never use those beautiful legs of hers. Accident on the ship, caused by a steerage ruffian. You'll be happy she won't be pressing charges."

Jack paled and immediately backed away. Cal meant business. He had felt how weak Rose was already from the blows he had been giving her. He had to…as hard as it was…stay away from her for now. He didn't believe a word she had said about wanting to be with Cal, but for now, he had to stay away. He had to. To make sure she stayed alive and to make sure she wasn't hurt anymore.

He backed away, Fabrizio in tow and they returned to steerage. Jack's head was spinning from the night's events and with new plans to save her. The ship was arriving in New York the next day and he couldn't let Cal leave with her. He had to get her out of there somehow. He had to.

Chapter Six
Stories