IN THE ARMS OF A STRANGER
Chapter Five

The next morning, Rose woke up to Jack's singing. "Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me. Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee. Sounds of the cruel world heard in the day..."

"Jack?" Rose rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "What are you doing?"

"Serenading the most beautiful dreamer in the world." Jack kissed her forehead. "It's nine o'clock, Rose. Time to get up."

Rose turned from Jack to see Fabrizio's sleeping form. "Fabri's still asleep."

"Because he stayed out with Kate 'til two in the morning." Jack laughed. "We'll let him sleep. But now it's time for breakfast. Come on."

Fifteen minutes later, Jack and Rose were heading for the third class dining hall. Rose grabbed his hand when they spotted Sal and Ed at the first table. There was no avoiding them this time.

"Jack..."

Jack squeezed her hand. "Let's try to ignore them. Maybe they won't notice us," Jack said, pulling Rose deeper into the common room.

"Why, Sal, look who it is, and on our ship, too." Ed spoke up.

"Listen, guys, we don't want any trouble," Jack said, pulling Rose close to him. "Just leave us alone."

"Leave them alone. What do you think, Sal?"

"It's too early, Ed. We'll take care of them later." Sal shrugged. "It's a ship. There are only so many places to go."

"Come on, Rose." Jack led her to a table.

"Jack...what are we going to do? We can't stay in our cabin forever."

"No. But we can make sure they won't be allowed anywhere near us. There has to be a way to get into the first class section of the ship and stay there. Do you have any ideas?" Jack asked.

"Hello." A nervous steward approached the table. "Are you Mr. and Mrs. Jack Dawson?"

"Yes, we are," Jack answered. "What can we do for ya?"

"Well, the captain has sent orders that your tickets be upgraded to first class. A wedding gift from the White Star Line." The steward stood straight. "If you two will come with me, I will show you to your room and show you where the first class dining saloon is."

"Oh, that's so nice." Rose grinned. "Jack?"

"We accept," Jack said, standing up from his chair. "But all our things are in our cabin."

"You can always go back and get them," the steward said. "Now, follow me, please."

"Looks like our problem has been solved." Jack grinned, not noticing Ed and Sal glaring in their direction.

Nine Hours Later
Jack and Rose's First Class Stateroom

"But, Jack, why can't I go with you to get our things? I don't understand."

Jack sighed as he turned to his wife. "Because if I run into those two goons, I don't want you with me. You'll be safer up here...I just want to protect you, and this is the best way I know how."

"But..."

"Rose, please...no arguments." Jack placed a hand over her mouth. "I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. I promise." He kissed her, and then he was gone. Rose stared after him, dread building up in her stomach.

*****

Jack was halfway down the hall that led to the cabin he and Rose had shared with Fabrizio when Sal and Ed approached him.

"So, where's the little lady?" Ed asked, blocking Jack's path. Jack turned to see Sal standing behind him. He was surrounded. He was glad he had told Rose to stay in first class.

"That is none of your business. Now, if you’ll excuse me." Jack tried to step past Ed, but it was the older man who refused to let him pass.

"Now, where do you think you're going?" Sal asked. "You're not trying to leave without telling us what we want to know, are ya?"

"Of course he's not, Sal. He knows it's not healthy to do that." Ed smiled, his breath reeking of stale beer. "He's going to tell us where the girl is, and then he's going to stand by and let us do what we want."

"Think again," Jack growled. "Let me pass."

"That's not possible, Jack," Ed said, nodding towards Sal. "Since you're being so uncooperative, we're just going to have to beat it out of ya. How do you like that?"

Sal grabbed Jack's arms, preventing him from fighting back. "We'll give you one more chance, Dawson. Tell us where to find the girl."

"Go to hell."

"Oh, well, I see we'll have to do this the hard way," Ed said, balling up his fist.

*****

It was Fabrizio and Kate, on their way back from a late night date, who found a badly beaten Jack just down from their cabin.

"Oh, my goodness! Jack!" Kate rushed to his side.

"Rose." Jack groaned before slipping back into unconsciousness.

"Who would have done this?" Kate asked. "And where's Rose?"

Fabrizio shrugged. "Kate, go get help. I'll stay with Jack."

"But..." Kate was about to object.

"Go, Kate, please. Jack is in bad shape."

Kate nodded and took off for help. She returned with an officer and the Master-at-Arms.

"Take him to the infirmary, and I'll question the Italian here," the Master-at-Arms directed the officer, who nodded and motioned to two stewards with a stretcher.

"Do you know who could have done this?"

"No." Fabrizio shook his head. "We were heading back to the cabin when we found Jack like this."

"Does he have any enemies?"

"No. Not to my knowledge. Jack's the most likable guy I know. Everybody likes Jack, except for these two men he saved a girl from, but they're back in Southampton." Fabrizio shrugged.

"Does he go off by himself a lot?"

"No, sir. You see, he's a newlywed. He just got married yesterday. He's always with his wife, but I don't know why he's not now."

"We have to find her, sir," Kate interrupted. "She has to know about what happened. She must be worried sick."

"Fabri?" Rose appeared behind the Master-at-Arms.

"Rose, there you are." Kate ran to her friend and hugged her tightly.

"What's going on? Where's Jack?" Rose asked, looking around. "Is he in the cabin? We were upgraded to first class, and he went back to get our stuff, but he told me to stay in first class. But it's been two hours now, and he hasn't returned."

"He's been taken to the infirmary, ma'am. Your friends here found him badly beaten outside the cabin and called me," the officer replied. "Do you have any idea who could have done this?"

Rose was stunned into silence. Jack? What did they do to him? And why? Because of her, of course. He wouldn't tell them where she was, so they took their anger out on him.

"Rose?" Kate asked, noticing how pale her friend had grown.

"It was those men...Ed and Sal. You see, they tried to attack me in Southampton, and Jack stopped them. Then we ran into them here on the ship, and they must have done this to Jack," Rose explained.

"Are they in third class?"

"Yes, they are." Rose nodded.

"Could you recognize them if you saw them again?"

Rose nodded. There was no way she could ever forget their faces leering down at her in Southampton.

"Can you be back down here at breakfast tomorrow morning and identify them for me?" the officer asked.

"Yes." Rose nodded. "But can you take me to my husband, please?"

"Sure. Are you two wanting to go?" The officer turned to Kate and Fabrizio. They both nodded, and they followed the officer to the infirmary.

*****

Jack was peacefully sleeping when Rose arrived in the infirmary. Oh, how could she have let this happen? This was all her fault. Poor Jack.

"He'll be okay," Fabrizio reassured Rose, squeezing her shoulder.

"Sure he will." Kate popped in and then tried to change the subject. "So, Rose, how's first class?"

"The same," Rose flatly replied, staring down at her husband. "Did he wake up any?" She turned to the nearby nurse.

"Once. He just said a name. Rose, I think it was. Then he fell asleep. He should wake up any minute. He's healthy and strong. He'll pull through this just fine." The nurse nodded before going to check on other patients.

"Jack." Rose bent down beside him and took his limp hand. "I'm here, Jack, and I'm never letting you out of my sight again. Is this in anyway unclear?"

Jack didn't answer. Rose just kissed his hand and stared down at his face. She remained with Jack for the rest of the night.

*****

Rose woke up on the cot the nurse had left for her the night before to find Jack staring at her.

"Jack, you're awake." Rose rushed over to him. "How do you feel?"

"Sore," Jack mumbled. "You slept a long time. It's eight o'clock."

"It was a long night." Rose sniffed. "Oh, Jack, I was so worried. It was those two men who did this to you, wasn't it?"

"It doesn't matter now, Rose. We'll never have to see them again. We're first class now, and they're not allowed up here." Jack placed a gentle hand on her cheek.

"Mrs. Dawson?" The Master-at-Arms appeared in the doorway. "Are you ready to identify those men now? The stewards are waiting."

"Identify?"

"Yes, Jack. I'm going down to third class and I'm going to identify those two men. They're not going to get away with this." Rose squeezed Jack's hand. "Don't worry, Jack. I'll be fine. The Master-at-Arms and his stewards will be with me."

"Rose..." Jack tried to protest, but he knew it was useless. By the fire in her eyes, she wasn't going to let him change her mind. "Just be careful. Okay?"

"All right." Rose smiled. "I'll be back soon. I promise."

Jack waved as he watched her leave. He hoped and prayed that the Master-at-Arms would keep her safe.

*****

They found Sal and Ed in the third class dining saloon, eating pancakes and oatmeal. Neither were aware that they were wanted men.

"There they are." Rose pointed them out.

"Come on, men. It's time to make an arrest." The Master-at-Arms led them over to the table. "You two come with me," the Master-at-Arms growled.

"What? Who are you, and what do you want?" Ed stood from his chair.

"The Master-at-Arms, and you're under arrest for assault and battery," the man answered. "For beating up a young man named Jack Dawson. His wife there identified you as the men who committed the crime."

Ed followed the officer's gaze and saw Rose standing behind another officer. He should have known she'd turn him in. "Listen, sir. The boy started it. He stole my watch, and I was just getting it back."

"Don't believe them, sir." Rose spoke up. "Jack would never steal anything. You see, these two men assaulted me once before, and it was Jack who saved me, and these two men have had it in for him ever since."

"She's his wife. Of course she's going to lie for him," Sal piped up.

"Have you two ever heard of calling the authorities about stolen items? You don't just go and beat people up, especially not as bad as you beat Mr. Dawson. Now, come on, and don't resist. You're under arrest. Thank you, Mrs. Dawson, for helping us find these two."

"It's my pleasure, sir." Rose nodded, watching Sal and Ed be dragged away. That was the last Jack and Rose ever saw of them.

Chapter Six
Stories