32/41
Author: BmblBee
Paring: S/X
Rating: NC17
Disclaimer: The Bee owns none of the characters or products named and
makes no money off anything. Sad state of affairs.
Warnings: Bad language, strong sexual content between M/M.
Second warning: Although I did do a lot of research, this story is not intended to
be an exact historical account so please don't scream and pounce on a detail or
two that may not be entirely accurate.
Credit: The snippets at the tops of the pages are from a web site entitled "Titanic,
A Time Line of Events". Earl Chapman on the Titanic Discussion List originally
published this chronology of events. Chapman modified it slightly in 1997. The
1997 version formed the basis of this timeline.
Summary: AU. It is the spring of 1912 and Xander Harris, who has been living
with relatives in Ireland, is heading home. As a gift of love, he was booked
passage on the maiden voyage of the Titanic with the promise that it will be the
adventure of a lifetime.
Author's note: This story is NOT a retelling of any of the Titanic movies.
It is the tale of one man and one vampire forgotten by history and the destiny they
both find on this doomed crossing.
Spelling checked by the gracious Silk_Labyrinth
As always, thanks to Petxnd for the wonderful banners and the valued friendship.
11:42 PM
Besides the men on the bridge, few others on board know they have been struck.
George Symons who has just gone off duty, thinks the metallic sound is the
anchor being dropped. First class passengers look out their windows and see
large chunks of ice being playfully kicked around by people on deck. No one
shows any signs of concern.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spike was temporarily paralyzed by the implication. Within seconds, his well-honed
sense of survival kicked in and he did the mental calculations of passenger
numbers in contrast to the number of life boats he had seen strapped to the sides
of the vast ship and came to the indisputable conclusion that they were fucked.
It wasn't that he was afraid to drown. Lord knows, a vampire can't drown, you
simply swim for shore. If he knew where the fucking shore was! No, he couldn't
drown but the thought of spending an eternity trapped in this metal coffin at the
bottom of the frigid Atlantic ocean was more horrifying than a simple death by
water. Spike was having a hard time squelching the rising terror that was threatening
to overwhelm him.
He again began to pace.
"Maybe they can fix it. Maybe they have taken precautions in consideration of
an event such as this. Probably at this very moment....."
"WHOOMP"
The engines stopped. The constant hum of the boiler fired engines that had been
an ever present body thumping noise suddenly ceased and the silence that
surrounded him screamed louder than any of the previous mechanics had.
Spike's eyes grew huge as saucers and the sound that escaped his lips this
time was a whimper. He knew the reality. The situation was all he had feared
most. The knowledge that the Titanic was going to go down caused the fresh,
stolen blood in his stomach to churn and try to rise.
No, vampires can't drown but humans can.
"Xander!"
The instant the word left his mouth, Spike's feet were on the steps. He lurched
up, two at a time and slammed open the steel utility door that led to the hallway
of the second class cabins. He no longer cared if he was seen, and anyone who
attempted to stop him or interfere would be dispatched posthaste.
He ran down the corridor, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet till he reached
the door of his beloved and he began pounding. It was a hammering so relentless
that the portly couple in the next stateroom peeked out to see who was disturbing
their sleep. Within seconds, Xander jerked it open. When he realized who it was
he immediately grabbed the vampire's sleeve and tugged him in, slamming the door
behind them.
"Spike! I thought you said........."
Before the boy could waste any time with pointless questions, Spike kissed him
soundly on the mouth to shut him up. He then gripped him painfully by the shoulders
and shook him.
"Listen to me Xander. The ship is in trouble. I don't think any of the other passengers
are aware of it yet but we need to get moving. There is no telling how far this may
go, so you better get dressed. Put on as many clothes to hold in your body heat as you
can and do it fast. If you have any valuables or mementos stick them in the pockets
of your britches. If you have a hat or anything to pull over your ears........"
By now, Spike was aware that Xander was doing nothing besides standing where he
was, hands on his hips and a frown of suspicion and confusion on his face. Spike
threw his hands in the air and fought the urge to smack some sense into the boy.
"Now, Xander! Do it fucking NOW!"
Xander stepped back feeling safety in the space between them. He had never seen
his lover acting so irrationally before. Spike was always cool and mellow.
"Spike. What the hell are you talking about? This is the Titanic. She is unsinkable.
In fact, it has been said that God himself could not sink the Tit........"
His comment was cut off when Spike slapped his hand over the boy's mouth and
his eyes darted about wildly afraid that some unseen specter may have overheard
the blasphemy.
"Don't say it! Fucking Christ, Xander. That is probably exactly why we are about
to go to the bottom of the drink. This is a punishment your human race and its
arrogance has earned."
Xander chuckled.
"Why, Spike, I never would have pegged you for religious. Were you raised Catholic?
Did your mamma dress you in short pants and take you to churc......."
The humor died from his voice when he realized that Spike was not laughing. This
was not a joke. Whatever had happened had put the very fear of God in his vampire's
heart. With a tug, he pulled his nightshirt over his head and he began to dress as
instructed.
"What happened? What do you know?"
Spike fumbled around, grabbing socks and tossing shirts at his boy.
"I was down in the hold. I heard it. We have struck something and the ship is
taking on water. The crew must already know it because they have shut down
the engines."
Xander paused in his dressing and listened. Spike was right. The constant hum
and rumble had stopped, replaced only by the sounds of the night. People
shouting and laughing on deck and the soft whistle of the rare breeze that passed
by his small round window. He snatched another pair of pants from his wall
shelf and tugged them up.
"I felt something a few minutes ago. A bump maybe. Was that it? What could it
have been? Shit, Spike, we're out in the middle of the ocean, what the hell could
we have hit?"
Spike was already scanning the room to see if there wasn't just one more article of
fabric that he could put on his boy.
"Hell if I know. There's a ton of ice out there, maybe it was an iceberg. Don't much
matter now. All I know is that we need to get up on deck. There aren't enough life
boats and when the shit starts flying, I want us to be at the head of the line to climb
in one."
Xander sat, a task made more difficult by the thick layers of clothing he wore, and
he tied up the laces of his shoes. He wished now that he had also brought along
the mud boots he wore and left behind at Paddy's. When there was nothing left
to put on, he jumped to his feet.
"Spike, I'm scared."
His voice was so small and quiet that Spike felt it wrench at his long-lost soul.
Roughly he pulled his boy into his arms and he held the trembling body close.
"You listen up, Xander. I'm scared too but there is no way in hell that you are going
to die tonight. Do you hear me?"
When Spike felt the slight nod of Xander's head, he continued.
"Now, I promise you that somehow we will survive. If I have to kill everyone
on deck to make sure you get in one of those fucking boats, I'll do it. Look
at me, Xander."
Pulling away, Xander lifted his face and wet brown eyes met steely cold blue ones.
"This is not the end of us. I promised you that we would have a long time together
and I intend to keep that promise. Now, we can't waste any more time. When
we get up there, I want you to look happy and calm and whatever happens,
you do not leave my side. Wherever I go, you go. You understand? Are you
ready?"
Xander straightened his two jackets and wiped the tears from his face. He put an
obviously fake smile on his lips and he nodded. Surprisingly, it brought him
enormous relief to know that Spike was here. Spike would take care of him.
"I'm ready. Let's go."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11:55 PM
The post office on "G" deck forward is already flooding. After a quick inspection
of the damage, Captain Smith knows the worst. The Titanic is sinking and the more
than 2200 passengers on board are in extreme peril.