JACK AND ROSE: PRESENT TIME
Chapter
Forty-Five
Jack and Rose
walked hand in hand down the beautiful shores of the beach. It was a beautiful
night. There were tons of stars shinning bright. It was so romantic.
"I'm so glad
we're alone tonight," Jack said. "I love being with you."
Rose smiled.
"I love being with you, too."
Rose studied Jack's
face like she often did. He was so lovely. His eyes were one thing she couldn't
get enough of. She had no idea such beautiful people existed in real life.
Jack noticed her
starring at him. He smiled at her. He didn't even have to ask why she was
starring any more. They both knew the answer.
Everything was
great until they saw someone in a distance. As they came closer, Jack knew who
it was. Even in the dark he could make it out.
"Jack? Is it
really you?" the strange man asked.
"Uh, yeah.
Tony, why are you here?" Jack asked.
"Why are you
here?" Tony asked, attempting a little humor. "Who is this beautiful
women?"
"This is my
girlfriend, Rose," Jack said, tightening his grip on her hand.
"Nice to meet
you Rose," Tony said. "I'm Jack's older brother, Tony."
"Jack never
mentioned having a brother," Rose said.
Rose noticed a
small dragon tattoo on his left shoulder. Then, the horrible night came
flashing back. The attacker, Tommy, the tattoo...Rose knew it was him.
Rose felt like she
was going to pass out at any second. Jack must have felt her discomfort because
he said a quick good bye to Tony and started to walk away, still holding Rose's
hand tight.
"He's the
one..." Rose whispered into Jack's ear. He new immediately what she meant.
It was really no surprise to him. He had been in prison most of Jack's life
because of attempted murder. They started to walk faster. Jack took a quick
glance behind him and saw Tony catching up. Worse, he was holding a gun.
Jack and Rose
thought they finally had lost him and ran into a small shed. Once they got in
and locked the door they were just in time to see Tony come through the back.
"Leaving so
soon?" Tony said with an evil look on his face.
"Leave us
alone, Tony," Jack said warningly.
"Let me just
see Rose for a while," Tony said. "I won't hurt her...much."
"Listen
Tony," Jack said. "Leave now!" Jack hoped Tony would see the
anger in his eyes. But, all Tony saw was the fear.
"You want me
to leave, Jack? Just like Dad?" Tony said.
"You know Dad
had to leave!" Jack shouted back.
"Yeah, but
when he got back did he visit me in prison? No. Nobody did! And when I finally
got released Mom and Dad decided to parish in a fire."
"Tony,"
Jack said. "I'm warning you. Get out!"
"Jack, you
know either way I'm gonna kill ya both. You might as well face it bro."
Jack protectively
standed in front of Rose. "Do anything you want to me," Jack said.
"Just please, don't hurt Rose."
Tony chuckled.
"That will be the funest part!" He paused. "I won't hurt you if
you leave and keep Rose here with me. You think I wanna shoot my baby
brother?"
"I'm not
leaving without Rose," Jack said.
Tony reached out
his gun. "Well I'm gonna have to shoot ya both."
"Tony,"
Jack said. "I know you have your mind made. But, can you please kill me
first? I couldn't bear to see Rose go."
Rose didn't
understand. Why was Jack giving up so easily? But, deep down inside, she knew
he had a plan.
But Jack didn't
stand a chance against his brother. He probably out-weighed him by a hundred
pounds. He looked in his late twenties.
"Sure, I'll be
glad to kill you first," Tony said. "I have some business I want to
do to Rose."
Jack shook his
head, as if agreeing on what he meant. Out of know where, Jack kicked Tony's
hand, making the gun fly through the air.
Jack didn't take
any chances. He took Rose's hand and ran out of the shack as quick as possible.
Once they were
about fifteen feet away from the shack, Tony came out shooting at them. They
kept running.
"Come on,
Rose," Jack said. "We'll be okay, come on."
Then, Jack fell to
the ground. Rose fell, still holding his hand. She pulled Jack over onto his
back and saw where he had been shot. In his stomach.
"Jack...Jack?"
Rose said. She started to cry even harder.
His eyes were open,
why wasn't he responding? They were lucky they fell behind part of a cliff.
Rose prayed they would remain un-seen.
"Rose?"
Jack muttered.
"Jack..We have
to get you to a hospital."
"Rose! No!
He'll see you, stay here," Jack said, barely being able to speak.
"Jack, if I
don't get you to a hospital you might..."
"Rose, listen
to me," Jack said through his pain. "You must promise me that you'll
survive. That you won't give up, no matter what happens. No matter how
hopeless..." he could hardley finish. "Promise me now, Rose. And
never let go of that promise."
Rose couldn't let
him die. Not after how much they had been through. But, if he was really going
to leave, she couldn't deny his death wish. "I promise."
"Never let
go."
"I will never
let go, Jack. I'll never let go."
Jack attempted a
smile and kissed her hands. Rose started to cry even harder when she knew it
would probably be the last time he'd ever kiss her again.