Written by 24Chocoholic24
Based on some situations originated by James Cameron.
He heard her when she promised
not to let go, felt it when she kissed his hand, knew she had released him to
the sea. As he sank down through the freezing water, consciousness returned and
adrenaline kicked in. He was able to bring himself back up to the surface and
begin swimming, half-blinded–temporarily–by the hypothermia. He heard a whistle
and people in two boats; he was sure he heard them rescue Rose before he
himself was discovered and rescued by the other boat. Then, as they wrapped the
blanket around him, his world faded–again–to black.
On board the Carpathia, Jack
awoke in a cabin that had become a makeshift infirmary. He was among several
others overcome by hypothermia and a few with other ailments. Try as he might,
he could not find the strength or get permission to leave the room until they
reached America’s east coast. Then, when they did, he finally made his way out
to steerage.
Rose gazed up into the light
emanating from the giant green statue in the harbor of New York, wondering what
awaited her there. As she took in the sight of land and all who had gathered to
welcome the passengers of the Carpathia, she knew she couldn’t face it alone.
She turned and ran back toward the stern of the ship, determined to escape the
rush toward America. Frantically fighting tears, she made her way to the very
back railing of the ship. The horizon was dark, too dark to see, just like the
bottom of the ocean…just like Jack’s face had been enveloped in as she watched
him sink. In her mind, his arms still extended toward her, his face turned to
hers. She had promised him she wouldn’t give up…but, for once in her life, she
had made a promise she couldn’t keep. She had to return to him, even if just to
fetch his body. Determined to do so or die trying, Rose stepped up onto the
railing and prepared to face the sea. She couldn’t go on without Jack…she just
couldn’t! She lifted her foot to sling it over the rail, but was stopped short
by a familiar voice.
"C’mon; do we have to go
through all this again?" It was certainly his voice, but she dared not
turn around for fear that it was some illusion, a rare deception. So, she held
her position, unmoving and not daring to look toward him, until he spoke again.
"You jump, I jump, remember…Rose?"
At this, she turned, trying to
breathe through the excitement and pure joy that flooded into her heart.
Against all odds, he had survived. "Jack!" she cried as she clamored
down from her perch and into his waiting arms. "Oh, Jack!"
He held her tightly, but gave her
enough room to breathe as she cried into his warm chest. "It’s okay, Rose.
I’m here." Knowing that she had thought him dead, he had searched for her
once aboard the Carpathia, unable to find her. When he had heard the name Rose
Dawson, he had known it was her. Soon confined below decks to recover from
severe hypothermia and exhaustion, he had been unable to make much contact with
the upper decks, much less with Rose herself. Now, his heart and hers had
brought them together, as they would stay for the rest of their lives.
"I love you, Jack! I really
do!" She was about to explain her reasons for jumping at such a promising
time, but before she could speak again, Jack pulled away and took her face in
his gentle hands.
"I love you, too,
Rose." His words came from as deep in his soul as Rose’s came from hers.
Then, knowing that words would do them no more good, Jack pulled Rose into a
passionate embrace that would be shared many more times in many more years to
come--due to one simple promise to never let go.
The End.