ALL I NEED
Chapter Twenty-Eight

"Step away, boy." Mr. Henderson's voice was now controlled and low, but the insanity in it was still the same. "I want you to watch her die."

"You'll have to kill me first," Harry replied right away, his voice steady.

"Harry..." I whispered, trying to move out from behind him, but he kept his arms blocking my way.

"Catherine, don't move." He gritted his teeth. I looked at Mr. Henderson from under his arm again. His face was red with rage. His eyes were sparking. He was out of his mind and I knew he would fire at any moment.

"Harry, I'd rather die before--"

"Look how beautiful true love is! Will you take too long to decide who's going to die first?" Mr. Henderson's voice was like thunder, grave and frightening.

"If you dare to shoot my sister, I will take great pleasure in killing you with my own hands." A fourth voice came from the doorway, and as I looked at it, I saw Cal coming from behind Henderson, also with a gun in his hand.

"What the..." Harry started, but his voice faded. He seemed as confused as I. Mr. Henderson, however, seemed not much impressed. He kept his gun pointing directly at Harry as he laughed insanely.

"I told you not to come after me, Caledon," Henderson said gravely as Cal moved from behind him to his side, his gun pointing directly at Mr. Henderson's left temple.

"I will not repeat myself. Put your gun down. If you dare to fire, I will not think twice." Cal's voice was more serious than ever before. I heard a small noise, and found that he had just made his gun ready to fire.

"Catherine, listen to me..." Harry whispered very quietly. I nodded. He had his head turned to the side, though his eyes were fixed on the two men. "I want you to crawl behind the couch."

We were a few feet away from the couch. It was on our right. But even so, I shook my head.

"If he fires..." I whispered.

"I don't want it to be at you, so do as I ask. Please, you have to trust me."

"But, Harry--"

"Catherine, please!" he hissed a little louder. My brother and Henderson, who had been looking at each other, looked at us.

I shook my head again, and Henderson might have thought I moved, because he pointed the gun toward where I was watching the scene from under Harry's arm and all I heard was a loud noise, a shot. Harry threw me behind the couch and I screamed as another shot was fired. Then I heard Mr. Henderson screaming and a muffled sound and something heavy falling on the wooden floor.

"It's all right, Catherine," Cal's voice told me, and I stood up, looking in shock at the scene in front of me.

Mr. Henderson was on the ground with a bleeding nose, his gun was beside him. Harry was standing beside Cal, both of them breathing heavily.

I looked at the floor beside the couch and found a bullet hole, and then up at the ceiling and another bullet hole. Suddenly, all the noises that I heard were clear scenes in my mind--as I shook my head, Mr. Henderson fired the gun, but Harry threw me behind the couch and the bullet hit the floor. With that, Harry went over Mr. Henderson, immobilizing him and pointing his gun upwards so he wouldn't harm anybody. Mr. Henderson fired again and Cal whipped his gun against his nose. With that, Mr. Henderson was knocked out and fell on the floor.

"You two have to leave now. Our parents are coming," Cal said, breaking the sudden silence.

Harry walked towards Mr. Henderson's gun and kicked it away from him, and then came towards me, taking my hand.

"Are you all right?" he asked quietly and I nodded, though I was still trying to calm myself over the last few moments. For a moment, I had thought Harry had been shot. "We have to leave now."

I nodded again. It seemed that all that I was able to do was nod. He directed me towards the bed and took his wallet and the two tickets for the ship, stuffing them into his pocket. Then he took another two long coats from the couch and walked towards the door.

Cal had a close eye on Mr. Henderson, watching to see if he would wake up. As we approached him, I stopped and Harry looked at me. I didn't have to say anything. He nodded at me and left the room, staying in the corridor.

"Cal!" I called, and Cal looked intently into my eyes. He was emotionless, but then again, I'd never seen his true emotions. "Thank you. I would never have thought..."

"I suppose there's always time for a man to regain his honor," he said quietly, and I smiled faintly. "I am sorry for what I did to you, Catherine. I never thought I was dooming you until today. All I did was what I thought was the best for you."

"I know." I smiled again and felt tears rolling down my cheeks. All my life I had wanted to be loved by Cal, to be dear to him.

"You said you'd never forgive me--"

"I forgive you." I smiled again and he seemed to be holding back his own tears, nodding as I took his face with both of my hands and kissed his forehead.

"Catherine, we have to go." Harry's voice came from the corridor and Cal nodded.

"Yes, you have to leave. Don't worry. I will take care of everything here." He shook his head as if it was a way to let go of his emotions. I ran my hands down my neck, over my silver necklace with the Egyptian symbol for life that I always wore, and took it off, putting it in Cal's hand and closing it with my own hands.

"I want you to have it," I said, and he smiled. "I will write to you, to your office, so only you will read it."

"Be safe," he said he clenched his hand closed around the necklace, and I nodded, letting go of him and walking out of the room, where Harry smiled at me and took my hand, leading me out of the hotel.

*****

"Do you have the tickets?" Harry asked as I stepped out of the taxi. I laughed at his nervousness and he smiled.

"Yes, I have them." I waved the tickets in my hand and he adjusted his elegant hat on his head.

It was the morning after that long night and we were finally heading away from my nightmare. Everything that day seemed more colorful, with more life. The birds were singing louder and more beautifully, the sun was warmer, and the breeze was cooler. The flowers had all the colors that had faded for me over the last few days, and Harry had even enjoyed shopping for a dress for me before we left. Now we were facing the enormous ship in front of us.

"If you don't stop shaking, I will have to carry you," Harry said as we walked up the wooden ramp towards the first class entrance. Molly had made sure that we would have a comfortable voyage.

"Well, that seems like a lovely idea." I smiled as the officer greeted us and Harry stopped just after we had finally boarded.

"Oh, does it?" he asked playfully, and I frowned. The next thing I knew, he had me in his arms and I had to wrap my arms around his neck.

"Remember how I always told you that you have a beautiful smile and it’s a shame to keep it for yourself?" he said as I laughed, and he walked through the ship to the open deck so we could have a last view of New York.

"Yes," I said with a wide smile as we reached the open deck, and he put me on the ground again, holding my hand.

"I still think the same way, but I am slightly worried about the effect that your smiles, now very common, will have on other men," he said, a little serious, as we walked towards the railing and looked around at the few men barely noticing us. I laughed.

"Well, then, you should be careful with your own jokes, Mr. Lowe. Because you're the only reason I have to smile," I said, and he pushed me in front of him as we reached the railing.

"That seems fair enough. That way other men won't be able to make you smile. That's good for me, yes," he said, resting his hands on my waist. I turned my face to the side to watch his own wide smile, and then he kissed my lips softly.

I could remember how boarding the Titanic was the beginning of my nightmare and how everything changed and there was hope when I met Harry, and sudden again everything was dark and doomed after the sinking. And after I had found Harry again, hope was there for me. This time was different. Hope was going aboard with me and the love along with it, and truly...that was all I had ever needed.

The End.

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