JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU
Chapter Fifteen
The next seven months went smoothly for the
Dawsons. Jack and Rose easily fell into the role of parents and Josh, their
son, was a healthy, happy and incredibly well mannered baby. Their first
anniversary came and went without event and they were as happy as ever. All
until the evening of October 17, 2002, that is.
October 17, 2002
Rose sighed as a cry erupted from upstairs.
Josh hadn't been feeling well lately and made sure everyone around him suffered
as well. Closing the lid on the washer, Rose headed up the basement steps to
her son's room.
"What's wrong, Joshie?" she asked
as she picked the baby up. When he saw his mother, Josh immediately stopped
crying and started babbling in baby talk. Rose smiled, instantly happy Jack had
talked her into not going back to school this year. "Are you hungry,
babe?" Josh, of course, didn't answer, but gave her a toothless grin.
"I'll take that as a yes. Let's go see what we can find you, shall
we?"
After his diaper was changed, Rose and Josh
went into the kitchen and Rose gave him a bottle. Just then, there was a knock
on the front door. Rose groaned, scooped the child up and went to answer it.
Upon opening the door, Rose was surprised to see the mailman standing there,
looking rather nervous. Why hadn't he just put it in the box? "Can I help
you?"
The man eyed Rose and the baby wearily.
"Is Jack Dawson home?"
"No, he's at work. Could I possibly be
of any help?"
"I...are you related, perhaps?"
"I'm his wife, yes."
The man hesitated. "I suppose you could
take this then. Just see that he gets it."
Rose nodded and thanked him after taking the
envelope. Walking back into the house, she put Josh in his playpen and looked
at the envelope for Jack. There was no indication of who it was from. All the
return address said was Washington DC. Strange, Rose thought. Jack
doesn't know anyone in DC. Shrugging, she put it on the kitchen table and
sat down to observe Josh play. He was so active, so full of life. Rose wondered
how she was going to handle two of them. She'd have to manage, she knew. In
seven months there would be a second addition to their family. Jack didn't know
yet, as she only found out the previous day and Jack had returned home too
crabby and tired from work for her to tell him. Tonight, she would. Smiling to
herself, she got up to get dinner ready. As she listened to Josh coo and
giggle, Rose let her mind wander to how she would tell him...
*****
"Rose! Rose, I'm home," Jack called
as he came in through the garage door. Hearing the baby giggles, he smiled.
Josh was his pride and joy. There was nothing he loved more. Except maybe Rose.
"We're in the nursery," Rose called
back.
Jack dropped his keys on the counter and
walked down the hall. He leaned up against the doorframe and smiled at the
sight of his wife putting on a puppet show for their son. "He's feeling
better, then?"
Rose stood up at his voice and smiled
brightly. "Yes, he is," she said, kissing him sweetly.
"Good. How was your day?"
"It was fine. Oh, there's a letter for
you on the kitchen table. From Washington DC," she told him, looking at
him questioningly.
Jack looked puzzled. "I don't know
anyone in Washington."
Rose shrugged. "Go read it."
Jack nodded, kissed his wife and son and went
into the kitchen. Rose and Josh followed. "Here, put him in his high
chair. Dinner will be done in a few minutes."
After doing that, Jack joined his wife at the
counter to get the plates so he could set the table. "So, what's for
dinner?"
Rose grinned. "Oh, nothing much. Broiled
chicken and such...dessert's a surprise, though."
"Hmm, something's up. Why my
favorite?" Jack asked accusingly.
Rose shook her head as she put a bib on Josh.
"Why does there have to be a reason?"
Jack folded his arms across his chest.
"Because I always have to beg you to make it since you hate doing it so
much."
Rose poked him in the side. "Okay, so
there is a reason. But you have to wait until later." She handed him some
baby food. "Feed your son."
*****
ose smiled to herself as she turned the
dishwasher on. Tonight was going perfectly. Dinner was a success, Josh was
being an angel and Jack was in an excellent mood.
"I've never seen you so happy to load
that thing," Jack commented, coming into the kitchen.
Rose giggled. "That's not what I'm
smiling about. Where's Josh?"
"Blissfully asleep."
Rose was shocked. "Already?"
"Yes." He paused, drawing her
closer to him. "We have the rest of the night to ourselves."
"Mmm," Rose murmured, standing on
her toes to kiss him.
"So," Jack began when it ended.
"What was the reason behind dinner?"
"Not now, my dear husband. Did you open
that letter yet?"
Jack shook his head. "I'll do it
now." Rose followed him out and sat next to him as he evaluated the
envelope. "It's kind of light."
"Well, at least we know it's not a
bomb."
Jack gave her an amused look and pulled the
letter out. He scanned over it, the amused look turning into one of horror.
"Oh, my God," he whispered.
"Jack? What is it?" Rose asked
worriedly.
Jack closed his eyes for a moment before
turning to his wife. "I'm...I've been drafted."
Rose's mouth dropped open. The war that had
been waging for nearly a year over in Afghanistan had never drafted before. Rose
had assumed there were enough people already there and that enlisted when war
was declared. "What...why?" she stammered.
"I don't know. Shit! This can't happen
now!"
"Aren't you considered an only child,
though? I thought they didn't draft only children."
Jack shook his head. "No, I'm not.
Jason, remember?"
Rose closed her eyes. "You can't go,
Jack. Especially not now. Not with..." Her voice trailed off.
"Not with what? Rose?"
Rose's eyes flew open. "Jack, there's
something I need to tell you."
Jack squeezed her hand. "All
right."
Rose gulped. This was not how she wanted to
give him the news. Then again, she hadn't expected a draft notice either.
"You can't go now...not with another baby on the way."
Jack's face went white. "You're
pregnant?"
Rose nodded. "Two months."
"Our anniversary."
Nodding again, Rose looked up at him.
"You can't go, Jack. We'll flee to Canada. Anything. You just can't
leave."
Jack pulled her into his arms as she began to
sob. It really wasn't fair. They spent three years apart and now this. And with
a second baby on the way. "Rose, listen to me."
Rose looked up at him, taken aback by his
serious expression. She hadn't seen that look since his parents died.
"What?"
Jack wiped her tears away before speaking.
"Rose, this stupid war is NOT going to tear us apart, I promise. I have to
answer this draft, you know that, but I'll be back. And then we'll have more
babies and live together for the rest of our lives, okay? I love you too much
to let this separate us."
Rose nodded numbly and then buried her head
in Jack's chest, sobs wracking her body. "I love you," was all he
could make out through the tears.
*****
Later that night, Jack and Rose were sitting
in bed, discussing what they would do while he was gone.
"When do you have to leave?" Rose
asked suddenly.
"November first. I'll have to go through
training before I go overseas, though."
"That's only a few weeks away," she
stated, her eyes filling with tears again.
Jack sighed and pulled her into his arms.
"I know, I know. But we're going to make the most of those few
weeks." He paused to kiss her. "Starting now," he finished
huskily.
Rose saw the passion in his eyes, the passion
they held for her only. Leaning back into his embrace, she felt the world slip
away as they made their way to the stars.