Rose shook in Jack's arms so severely that Jack was afraid to let go, fearing that she would collapse to the floor. She pressed her face into his chest, her tears staining his shirt. Jack tightened his arms around her and nuzzled her neck with his cheek.
"Shh. Rosebud, it's okay now," he whispered. Jack wasn't quite sure how it would be okay. Cal's body lay in the middle of their parlor. He had gone AWOL. And although he didn't know the specifics, Jack knew that Cal had raped Rose.
Rose continued to cry softly, and Jack stroked her hair with his fingertips. "Jack," she said quietly. Jack felt her arms wrap around him and hold him closer to her. It was almost as if she was finally acknowledging that he was home, and that she was safe. "I'm sorry, Jack."
Jack pulled his face away from her neck and looked at her. "Don't do that, Rose. Don't blame yourself." He wiped another tear from her cheek. Her eyes moved from his face to Cal's body, and her breath caught.
"He's dead," Rose said quietly, almost calmly. The shock was wearing off just slightly, and it was beginning to seem more real. Jack cupped her face gently and turned her to face him again. He kissed her forehead. "What do we do now?" she asked in a whisper.
Jack shook his head. "I don't know, sweetheart." Ideas ran through Jack's mind, a few of them shocking even himself. But burying Cal's body in the woods or burning the house down with his body still inside were both below Jack. But they didn't have much time. Jack was AWOL, and their house would be the first place the military police would look.
Rose shivered in his arms and he held her tighter. "Rose," he muttered into her curls. The scent of lavender and vanilla filled his nostrils. He wished he could take time to appreciate it, but there was none. Jack pulled away and stared into her eyes. "We have to leave."
For a split second, Rose looked at him with confusion. But she understood quickly. "They're looking for you, aren't they?" she asked, referring to the military. Jack nodded slowly. Rose's eyes flicked around the room before returning to meet his gaze. "We built our life here," she said softly. Jack stroked her cheek with his knuckles.
"No. We simply started," he replied, just as softly. Rose felt a familiar flutter in her stomach at his words. "If they find me, they'll arrest me," he said, his voice more blunt. He could see in her eyes that she understood.
"What about—" Rose glanced at Cal.
"This is the first place the MPs will look. They'll find him." Jack hated the idea of simply leaving Cal's body behind, in their home, for someone else to find. But he just didn't see any other way. "Rosebud, look at me. I don't know how much time we have before they get here." He kept his voice tender, reassuring.
Rose nodded. "I can't be without you again," she whispered meekly. "The first time was bad enough, but now, after Cal—" She paused, letting her sentence end there. "I just can't." She swallowed a sob, but a tear slid down her cheek. Jack pulled her close to him again.
"I know."
*****
Rose sat on the bed as Jack pulled a simple brown satchel from the closet. She watched as he grabbed a few basic essentials. Jack had always amazed her with the way he traveled. He took only what he needed, and yet it always seemed to be more than enough. Rose noticed Jack glancing at the bedroom window every few minutes, obviously checking to see if anyone was coming. Given that it was dark outside, though, unless someone was looking in the window up close, it would be almost impossible to tell.
After a few minutes, Jack looked to Rose. Her eyes seemed glazed over, as if she was holding back the tears that were forming. "Rosebud." She didn't acknowledge him. He walked over to her, touching her arm gently. "Rose." She looked at him. "Hey, you okay?"
For a brief second, Rose considered simply nodding. But she didn't. "I'm scared, Jack." A tear escaped her eye, but she wiped it away quickly. "We were so happy. I mean, we both survived the Titanic against all odds." Rose took a deep breath and looked at him.
"You still trust me, right?" He smiled ever so slightly. His words and smile got her to flicker a smile in return.
"Of course I do," Rose replied. The words came out so easily, Jack knew she meant it.
Jack sat next to her on the bed and pulled her into his arms. The movement jostled Rose's ribs and she winced. The adrenaline rush had subsided and her pain was returning. Jack noticed. "What's wrong?" His eyes were full of concern.
Rose breathed evenly for a moment before answering. "It's nothing." She touched her side softly, not wincing this time. "I'm just a little banged up." You have cracked ribs. He needs to know. No. He'll risk getting caught to get me to a doctor. I can last until we're someplace safe. "I'm more frightened than anything."
"It's all right, sweetheart," he said calmly. He stroked her hair gently with one hand and interlocked their fingers with the other. Jack kissed her temple. "We're gonna make it, Rose."
Rose sniffled. "I know." She pulled away from Jack and scrubbed her face with her palms. "Where are we going to go?" she asked as Jack started to pack more.
Jack grabbed some pants and shoved them in the bag. "There's a couple of one room cabins by Lake Wissota." He grabbed a couple of shirts. "It's only a few miles from here. We'll stay there for the night."
"And then what?" Rose asked. I can walk that far. "What if someone's already in them? What if they come looking for us there?" As much as she tried, Rose couldn't stop the sudden panic from rising in her voice. Jack heard it immediately and was back at her side before she could say anything else.
Jack tucked a loose curl behind her ear. "It's pretty unlikely that someone will be there. And we're not going to call attention to ourselves." He swallowed hard, knowing that meant he couldn't make a fire to warm them. It's cold, damp, and dark. Jack feared that Rose would get sick, but if everything went well, they'd only be out in the elements for a short while. "I'll stay up all night and make sure no one's coming."
"Jack, no. You need sleep. I can see it in your face."
Jack held in a sigh. He was exhausted. There was no denying it. But he knew he wouldn't be able to get to sleep, knowing that they simply weren't safe. "Rose, remember what I told you in the gymnasium on the Titanic? About how I couldn't turn away without knowing that you'd be all right?" He reached out and cupped her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "Same logic," he said with what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "I won't be able to sleep. And we'll leave when the sun starts coming up. If we keep to ourselves, keep our heads low, and maybe cover your hair, we'll be able to make it to the train station and get out of here."
Rose let out a deep sigh and stood. "All right, Jack. I trust you. I just want us to be safe again."
Jack kissed her forehead suddenly and turned to finished packing the bag. Safe again. Those two words played over and over in his head. She wasn't safe since the day you left for war, Jack. It doesn't matter that you didn't have a choice. Make it right. Make her safe again.
Less than ten minutes later, Jack had everything they might need packed. Rose was glad she already had shoes on, so Jack couldn't see her struggle through her pain to bend over and buckle them. As she wrapped her scarf around her neck, she watched Jack move the bed over to reach under the floorboard where the diamond was hidden.
"I don't want it, Jack," Rose said suddenly, harshly. He froze in place, startled by her response. He found her eyes, noticing that they were dark.
"Rose—"
"No. Just...leave it. Please." She buttoned her coat up. "I used to see you smiling as you drew me the first time. Now, I just see..." Rose paused, searching for the words. "I see things I don't want to." She saw Cal raping her, she saw him attacking Jack, and she saw his dead body lying on her parlor floor.
Jack nodded, understanding. He reached in, but instead of grabbing the diamond, he grabbed a stack of cash that they had saved over the years. He tucked it into his coat pocket and stood, tossing the bag over his shoulder. Jack grabbed a quilt off the corner of the bed and set the bag down long enough to wrap it around Rose.
"Rosebud, are you sure you want to do this?" His free hand found hers and squeezed it softly. "We can always—"
"Have you arrested?" Rose shook her head. "No. Let's get away from here, Jack."
Jack kissed her forehead and led her out of the bedroom and to the back door of the house. Jack glared at Cal's body as they passed. You did this to her. If she hadn't killed you... Jack gave himself a swift mental kick. Just make her feel safe again, he reminded himself.
Rose didn't look at the body. She instead turned her head just slightly to completely block Cal from her vision. Jack's here now, she told herself. Everything will be all right. It has to be. He promised. The cold air hit her then as Jack opened the back door, and her thoughts vanished as he led her out into the night.