35/41
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.
1:15 a.m.
Water has reached Titanic's name on the bow, and she now lists to port. By this time,
seven boats have been lowered, but with far fewer passengers and crew than
rated capacity. The tilt of the deck grows steeper and boats now begin to be more
loaded, with starboard #9 lowered with some 56 people aboard.
1:20 a.m
A wireless from Cape Race, Newfoundland arrives at the offices of the New York Times,
"Sunday night, April 14th (AP). At 10:25 o' clock tonight the White Star Line steamship
Titanic called "CQD" to the Marconi station here, and reported having struck an
iceberg. The steamer said that immediate assistance was required."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In direct contrast to the growing panic and discord on the decks of the ship, the
first class smoking rooms appeared as they had every night since the Titanic first
launched. They were lit with the soft lights of the oil lamps that were kept in case
of emergencies and they were filled to capacity with the same older, reserved men
of business who had occupied them previously.
After putting their wives and families in life boats and assuring their safe launch
from the doomed liner, these men chose dignity as their legacy. They drank their
expensive bourbons and whisky, they played cards and they spoke in low, subtle
tones of the commerce of Europe and North America. No mention of their present
situation was allowed. To do so would have been an unforgivable sign of poor
character.
At the far end of the starboard side of the ship, Spike spotted what he had been
looking for. A young deckhand with several life jackets looped over each arm was
being jostled and manhandled by a cluster of passengers trying to take all he
had to offer. Immediately, Spike grabbed the back of the first suit coat he could
reach and he tossed the man aside. The next man was mugged in the face and
the third took a fist to his ribcage. When the path was cleared, Spike snatched
two of the life jackets and turned to rush away when the deckhand called after him.
"The deck chairs, Sir."
Spike spun around and frowned.
"What? What did you say?"
The young sailor gave away the last of his wares and tipped his head.
"The deck chairs. They are made of light wood and will float. If we go into
the water, take one with you."
Spike swallowed hard. It had been years, not since he was human, that he had
really known fear. He watched it shine in the eyes of his victims but it's sensation
had become just a distant memory. Now it was fresh and painful. He felt it from
the sick nauseating wave that rolled from his stomach to his bowels and back again
to the blinding urge to scream.
He cursed the day he snuck aboard this vile boat and he swore that if his feet
ever again touched dry land he would take any future excursions by horse and
carriage only.
Feeling himself lose control, Spike squeezed his eyes shut and lowered his
head. He gripped the life jackets to his chest and he tried blocking out all the
sounds that exploded around him and he chanted.
"Get a grip. Get a grip. Bloody hell mate, get a grip."
"Hey! You! Stop!"
Spike's eyes popped open and his head turned in the direction of the voice that cut
through the hundreds of others. Even without the broken broom handle, Spike instantly
recognized the face. Ship's mate Finn
Grabbing him from behind in a headlock, Finn attempted to wrestle Spike to the
ground.
"I'm placing you under ship's arrest! You are a murderer, a fiend!"
Spike had no time for this foolishness. He easily tossed the human off his back
and spun around to face him.
"We are sinking, you stupid fool! You have passengers to see to. Get the fuck
away from me and go about your duty."
Surprisingly, Finn jumped back up and swung, striking Spike in the chin and
causing him to drop the jackets in his hand. Furious now, Spike picked the puny
human up in both hands and with no further ado, tossed him over the side of the
rail. There was a slight satisfaction in the fading yell of fear and muffled splash but
he had given this idiot enough of his time. He then snatched the jackets back up and
took off at a run to return to Xander.
The ship was tilting further now making standing difficult and walking clumsy and
awkward. Clinging to a handrail, Xander stared off into the darkness of the night.
Spike had been gone way too long and the terror that they may not be together at
the end filled him with more despair and horror than the circumstances they all faced.
The irrefutable facts were clear. The ship was sinking and there was no room for
them on the lifeboats. Apparently, like the captain and crew, they were to go down
with the ship. He knew in his heart that he would never see another sunrise.
It was a realization that was dawning on everyone else left on the ship and the mood
now was full blown panic. The hundreds of passengers still on deck shoved, screamed
and sobbed, shouting out into the night for God himself to come and save them, but
apparently God was looking the other way.
He wanted to go. He wanted to rush off in the direction his lover had gone and try
to find him but he had promised. Spike had made him promise to stay put. Fear
and frustration devoured him as he took one step away from the door and shouted
into the darkness.
"SPIKE!"
None of the voices that rose around him was the answering voice he prayed for and
he tried again, not knowing what else to do.
"SPIKE!"
To his left, a small boy of perhaps 10 or 12 cried out as he was pushed aside.
He had gotten separated from his father after being told he was too close to
manhood to take a spot in the boats, too old to be clinging to his mother's skirts.
Now he was lost and alone. Xander briefly considered trying to help, but he was
only one tragedy in a tragic situation. He and Xander were alike, alone and helpless
and for now, all Xander wanted was.
"SPIKE!"
"XANDER!"
Xander's heart lurched at the familiar response and within seconds, the man he had
all but given up hope on appeared; shoving his way through a cluster fuck of humanity,
he ran to his lover's side.
"Oh my God! Oh my God! I thought something happened to you. I thought you
weren't coming back. I thought....."
Xander sobbed his relief as Spike went about the task of stuffing Xander's arms into
the life jacket and tying it securely before putting on his own. When that was done,
he scooped the boy up in his arms and buried his face in the soft brown hair.
Together, a feeling of near calm passed between them and all their fears and terrors
melted away.
Repeatedly they were bumped and jostled as passengers shoved past them in a frantic
hurry to get to nowhere. The clanging alarm bells persisted and the screaming voices
of the doomed rose from the decks of the Titanic but for now, none of it mattered.
For just a moment they allowed themselves the comfort of the other's embrace.
Suddenly the ship gave a violent shuddering jolt, knocking the men off their feet and
landing them in a heap on the slippery deck. Accompanied by the loud noise of metal
buckling and grinding against itself, the Titanic moaned as if in agony and the night filled
with a new higher pitched wave of screams.
Scrambling to his feet, Spike pulled Xander up. He knew time was short and they had
things to discuss.
"Listen, Xander, you know what is going to happen don't you?"
Xander nodded dumbly so Spike continued.
"O.k, When we go into the water I want you to hold onto me. One of the boys
said the deck chairs are floaters so......"
"I can't swim."
"What?"
Xander hung his head.
"I said I can't swim. It's no use. I'm going to drown."