By Amanda Pizzolatto
Word Count: 2472
Rating: PG
Summary: Jack and Rapunzel have to fight to get off the Titanic before they go down with it.
She had never been so happy as she had been these past four days, ever since she met him. He changed her life for the better, he had shown her how to have fun, he had shown her how to truly live. How could she ever thank him for that, especially now that, though his life was in danger, he was still protecting her? Sure, she had freed him from those handcuffs, but it didn’t seem like it was enough for all that he had done for her, and was still doing for her. She glanced down at their hands, intertwined as if they were meant to be together. She glanced up in time to see him put a finger to his lips. She nodded in understanding, trying to slow down her rushing heart and her heavy breathing. But having to run through icy water was no easy task, and nearly sitting in it wasn’t much better. The slosh of a footstep nearly made her stop breathing altogether. He was still after them, and if not Hans himself, then one of his henchmen. How were they going to make it to the boats now? Jack had been insistent on getting her off first, but Hans seemed determined that if he couldn’t have Rapunzel and her inheritance, he’d make sure both of them would die. That thought sent an involuntary shiver up her spine, who could be so evil? And more importantly, how did she not notice it before, or her mother? It took the appearance of Jack to bring this to light, at least for Rapunzel, her mother still thought Hans was the best guy in the entire world. Four more sloshes, they sounded like they were getting closer with every step. Jack put up a hand, signalling her to stay put before letting go of her hand and moving away. Rapunzel wanted to scream, to run, to do something, anything, rather than wait. But apparently Jack had a plan, and she needed to trust him. Just, what was he going to do? She hoped not fighting whoever was looking for them, Hans and his henchmen had guns, and were pretty good with them. She stifled a shivering gasp, whatever Jack was going to do, he had better do it soon, the water levels were rising, and fast.
“So, there you are, little princess.” Rapunzel gasped as she glanced up at the man, his gun aiming at her head. “”Now, where’s your scrawny boyfriend?” In reply, Jack gave a yell as he jumped the henchman from behind, causing the gun to off, the bullet zooming into a nearby pillar. Rapunzel shrieked as two more bullets ricocheted harmlessly into the water before both men tumbled into the water, but Jack was back up quickly and hitting the guy as hard as he could. He finally got an uppercut on the guy, causing him to hit his head and knock him out. Rapunzel rushed forward and grabbed Jack’s arm, pulling him away from the scene, she didn’t know how long that guy would be down, or when the other one would arrive, alerted no doubt by now by the gunshots. Jack broke from her grasp and rammed into the doors, splintering them open. Rapunzel pushed through the doors after him, pausing when she heard him gasping for air. The fight took a lot out of him. She placed a hand on his shoulder, she understood, he needed to rest, he had already put so much on the line for her. She glanced back at Stabbington, he was waking up, and raising his gun.
“Jack! Go!” She pushed him out of the way and followed him, right as a bullet whizzed by her head, hitting the wall behind them. She tried to go up the stairs, but Jack grabbed her and pulled her down.
“Come on!” They went down two flights of stairs before pressing themselves up against the walls. They could just hear the other Stabbington ask his brother what had happened before the two decided to go up the stairs. The couple waited a few seconds before Jack took to looking for another stairway, Rapunzel still holding his hand tight. They went through several halls before they found a stairway that looked drier than the rest and dashed up them. They soon found themselves on the deck, near the front of the ship, though everything was leaning towards the back. All the boats were already rowing away in the water. Jack thought quickly, “Come on, we have to get to the very front!” They dashed for the front railing, going as fast as they could, swerving around people and objects. Apparently several others had the same idea, some already at the front railing, others following them. Jack found an opening between the people, and placed Rapunzel in front of him before grabbing the bars. “Hang on tight!” She didn’t need to be told twice as her hands wrapped around the bars and held as hard as she could. She glanced at the spot, and recognized it. It was the very spot they had first met. But terror gripped her heart, would this be the last place also? A loud crack resounded over the water, and everyone glanced back, the Titanic was breaking in two, and sinking faster. People behind them began to fall as the ship continued to tilt.
“We need to get on the other side!” Jack crawled over her and swung around the other side of the railing. “Give me your hand!” Rapunzel gave it to him, and with his help, also crawled over. She now could see the fast-approaching ocean.
“Jack, I’m scared. What if . . .”
“Look at me Rapunzel, look at me. We’re going to get out of this.” He clasped her hand and pressed his forehead against hers. “We’re going to survive, I promise. If we do get separated, you find a boat . . .”
“But . . .”
“Listen, you find a boat or a piece of debris to get on, I’ll find you, alright?” Rapunzel nodded mutely and closed her eyes, wanting to savor this moment as long she could, but Jack broke contact. She opened her eyes and glanced down, the water was almost upon them. “When I say to, take a deep breath!” Rapunzel nodded as her fingers tightened around his, she had no intention of getting separated from him again. The last time they got separated in this mess, he was handcuffed to a pole, where the Stabbingtons left him to drown. “Now!’ Rapunzel sucked in as much air as she could and held it, right as they went under. The two let go, but got caught in the draft of the still whirling propellers, sending them tumbling around, eventually separating them. Rapunzel began to panic, not only could she not see him, but her lungs were about to burst. She quickly made her way to the surface, where hundreds were clamoring for the attention of the boats and fighting to stay alive.
“Jack! Jack!” Rapunzel called out. She began swimming towards the lights of the boats when something sent her under the water. She fought to get back up, only getting long enough to take a breath before getting dunked again. When the pressure was released, she found herself face to face with Jack as she gulped in air.
“Are you alright?”
Rapunzel nodded, her teeth chattering as she replied, “I-I am, for now. This water’s so cold.”
“I know, I need you to keep swimming.” Rapunzel nodded and followed him as closely as possible. Jack quickly found a door and urged Rapunzel to get on. When he too tried to get on, it nearly overturned.
“Wh-what are y-you doing?” Rapunzel asked when Jack didn’t make another attempt.
“It’s not going to fit both of us.”
“We’ll make it fit us both. Now you get on here, Jack Overland, and attempt to survive, or I’m rolling off and freezing with you. Take your pick,” she barked between chattering teeth. Jack gave her a grin as he tried it again, this time with success. Rapunzel scooted over as far as she could so he could have enough room, the door just barely keeping them from being submerged. Rapunzel wrapped her arms around him, rubbing his back and his chest as fast as she could.
“Thank you, I feel so much warmer now,” Jack stated, though his teeth was still chattering.
“Good, I don’t need you freezing on me,” gasped Rapunzel. Jack began doing the same to her.
“And I don’t need you freezing on me either,” he whispered. A noise resounding above the din of screaming voices caught their attention. Rapunzel had to get up a bit to see over Jack, a man not far from where they huddled alternated between blowing a whistle and shouting out for the boats to come back. Some time went by, Rapunzel and Jack alternating in warming each other up, until Rapunzel noticed that the whistle wasn’t being blown anymore, and the din was quieted down to a few voices. She burst into tears as Jack held her close, this was it, they were going to be next. The boats hadn’t come back, no doubt searching for rescue for the passengers they did have. But it was so cold that her tears dried up quickly. She was grateful for having had a chance to know him a little while, and very grateful to have him here with her now. “Rapunzel?”
“Yes?” she whispered.
“Th-there’s something, I-I have to t-tell y-you,” he whispered back.
“Wh-what?” she asked. She could hear his breath slowing down, her own matching his, and closed her eyes.
“I-I l-lo . . .” A voice rang out over the water followed by a light that flashed over her eyelids. Her eyes snapped open, and new life seemed to fill her at the sight, a boat!
“Jack, there’s a boat! Jack!” She tried to get him to move, but all he did was moan softly, his strength ebbing away in the freezing cold. With all her might, she yelled, “Over here!” But all that came out was a croak, just barely above a whisper. She glanced around, and saw the man with the whistle. She rolled off the door and swam as fast as she could to him. Fresh tears spilled once she reached him, he was clearly dead. Putting that thought to the side quickly, she grabbed the whistle and blew as hard as she could. She blew it again and again, waving her arms as well as she could, though they were still very numb from the cold.
“Over there!” cried out a voice in the boat as the light flashed onto Rapunzel.
“Row! We have to get to her before she freezes!” called out a female voice. Rapunzel blew the whistle again before it dropped from her mouth, and swam back to Jack as the boat got closer.
“Jack! We’re saved! Jack!” she tried to wake him up again, before several arms grabbed her and pulled her into the boat. “No! We can’t leave Jack!” A red haired woman Rapunzel vaguely recognised as being one of the other first-class passengers reached out and pulled Jack into the boat. With some help, the woman’s coat was wrapped around Jack and his head was laid in Rapunzel’s lap, who was also bundled up in a blanket. Tears streamed down her face as she stroked his cold face, attempting to get him warmed up. She glanced up, and her eyes locked with the red haired woman as a tear streaked down the woman’s face. The woman’s face seemed to lock up as she turned to barking orders and shouting out for other passengers while waving the lantern. They managed to save a couple more people before they had to leave the wreckage and look for rescue. It came the next morning in the guise of the Carpathia, where the passengers were greeted with warm food and drink, blankets, and a dry place to lay their heads. Thinking that she was a third-class passenger, Rapunzel was situated on the deck with the rest of third-class while the doctors on board tended to Jack, a good place for Rapunzel. She had no desire to see Hans, who she knew had to have made it. And it was that fear that prevented her from searching for her mother to let her know that she was alright. But it was the very next day that she saw Hans meandering through the third-class, no doubt looking for her. Her throat began to close up in a panic, she couldn’t let him find her or Jack. But the panic soon passed when he went back to the first-class, allowing Rapunzel a chance to breath. Her next thought was of Jack. Would Hans search the ship’s sick bay next, if he hadn’t already? She had to risk it, just to make sure Hans wasn’t attempting to kill Jack again. When she got to the sick bay, she found out not only did Hans pass it up, but also that Jack was on the mend and would be able to get off the Carpathia when they arrived at New York City. She was unable to see him as the sick bay was packed and busy, but she figured he’d find her wherever she went.
The Carpathia finally arrived in New York City, after a few agonizing days of worry about seeing Hans again and Jack’s health, Rapunzel felt that she could breath again. Even more so when they docked, and Hans was among the first to get off. She also saw the red haired woman who had saved them get off with another third-class woman and her baby. The rest of first-class and second-class filed off before third-class followed. Rapunzel was among the last to leave, watching between the doors leading to sick bay and the crowd surrounding the ramp, greeting loved ones as they got off.
“Care to ride off into the sunset, you stubborn woman?”
Rapunzel turned with a grin on her face, “As long as it’s with you, you insufferable man.” Jack chuckled as he pulled her in for a kiss before the two walked down the ramp, Rapunzel having to support Jack as he was still on the mend. They walked on through the crowd and into New York City, disappearing into the night. Rapunzel sent a letter to her mother informing her that she was alive and well, and not to worry. As for Hans, they never saw him again, though they did hear of his death. But they made a happy life for themselves in America, Rapunzel never being as rich as she once was, nor did Jack wander again, their love for each other all that they needed to weather any storm.