Running Out of Time

Chapter 3 - The Text Where It Happens

"Did you see that? Did you fricking see that?" Alexander was acting like a kid in a candy store as Peggy took him inside the house. "She heard me! Not only that, she thought it was me! Peggy, do you now how cool that is? Man, I love her. I mean, honestly, who else could just hear a ghostly whisper and know exactly who it is? That girl has talent to spare. Man, I wish I could be her. I just love her, I'm so glad we were married that one time. That was a good choice."

"It's pretty cool," she couldn't help but laugh. It had been a very long time since she witnessed him being this excited. It was pretty nice seeing him like this, she couldn't deny it, nobody could. Whenever he got excited he always took it a little over the top. Nobody ever said anything about it, it was something almost everyone liked to see.

"What if she...," he paused for a moment to think, "what if she can find out why I'm like this?"

Peggy plopped herself on the couch, "Hamilton, she works with children, you do not look like a children." Peggy didn't think anyone had the ability to remember anything about their other lives when they were children. It had never worked that way, besides, Hamilton looked like an adult, not a child. As far as she knew, remembering everything happened at a random point in adulthood. Usually they would be just after graduating university or something along those lines when they would remember. It was never an inconvenient thing, it never caused anyone any trouble until now.

That was one of the many things on her mind. Why was this whole thing causing trouble now? Why did it pick Hamilton to mess with? Of all people, Hamilton seemed like that last one anyone would want to mess with. Peggy knew how Eliza looked at this situation that of coming back and living over again, she called it a miracle. Peggy didn't agree, she could use this to back her case about it all being a terrible thing.

"Okay," he sat next to her, "what about Angelica? She might have some idea. She's works pretty high up there, doesn't she?"

"We don't know anything about you," she had to be honest but still gentle with him, "we don't know what the world thinks your name is or who the world thinks you are, how are we supposed to find you?"

"Listen, Peggy," he leaned closer to her like he was about to absolutely blow her mind, "anything is possible. For example, twelve hours ago I was absolutely hopeless and now, a few hours ago, I got through to Eliza! She heard me! You can hear me! Hell, you can see me. It's fricking weird, I don't understand it all but it's a thing. It's happening."

Peggy leaned back against the couch, she wasn't sure what to think at this point. Hamilton did have a point but she was currently in a bit of a tricky position. This was more than she ever had to juggle in any lifetime she lived. This was her first time dealing with any sort of ghost situation. She loved Hamilton dearly and was determined to help him, even if he was sounding unrealistic in trying to boost her mood.

--

"Laurens! Lafayette!" Angelica smiled and hugged them both, this wasn't somewhere she expected to see them. Neither of them worked at this hospital. Nevertheless, it was always good to see her friends. She had seen them the night before but, especially with Laurens, when you don't know how much time you have it's good to see people. "What are doing here?"

"I was transferred here," Lafayette explained. He had been doing some work at a hospital across the city but recently they had hired a few more people so he managed to get moved.

"Oh my gosh, that's great! I'm sure Mulligan will be thrilled." Mulligan was the star of the hospital laundry room, it was a small space but he liked it. "What about you," she turned her head to Laurens.

"Internship," Laurens could have tried to sound more enthusiastic but he wanted some level of realism.

"Who are you working with?" Angelica raised an eyebrow. She was usually the one who ended up being stuck with the interns. Sometimes they could be a pain but Laurens didn't seem like that type. He had always been a good worker and he already knew better than not listening to her.

"Well, as it would turn out, you're now my boss," Laurens smiled.

--

Peggy flopped onto her bed. It was late and she was after having quite the day. Somehow, she had managed to sneak away from Hamilton, he had gotten distracted when Eliza came home. She could hear him talking to her even though they were still downstairs. Peggy sighed, he never did know how to shut up.

She still wasn't certain if she was liking this situation or not. She had to be careful when there was anyone else around, she didn't want to get asked too many questions about it. There had been a few times when she almost forgot that Hamilton wasn't actually there. This thing was starting to be tough and it had only been the first day. There was a lot she had to figure out. She was still thinking about one of the things Hamilton had mentioned. He obviously had a body somewhere, it was a very long shot that they would find it but, like the necklace, it might do something. It was probable that finding his body would have a much bigger effect than the necklace did but that made it something to look forward to. Maybe it could fix everything.

If Hamilton wasn't dead then he definitely wasn't alive at this point, Peggy couldn't see how that would work at all. He had to be somewhere in between. That set the next task for her, she had to find where he stood. She didn't think she was going to tell him, she didn't need another thing for him to talk about.

"Peggy," Hamilton walked straight through her closed door, "holy shit, you are not going to believe this!"

"What? You love my sister a lot?" Peggy laughed a little, he had told her that four times already.

"You're sister is loving someone else," Hamilton paused, "someone she works with."

"Wow! Hamilton, that really narrows it down," Peggy moved her feet to make room for him on the bed. He may have been some sort of ghost but she was still going to be considerate.

"Now, Peggy, don't be like that. You know what I'm talking about," he took his spot on the bed.

"I do?" She raised an eyebrow and sat up a little, now she was interested.

"Yeah! It's been going on for six months apparently."

"What is it?" Peggy was very confused, she wasn't sure what he was going on about. 

"Well, I was bothering Eliza and she was texting and I may have read some," Hamilton tried not to smile, he knew it was wrong but he couldn't resist.

"And?"

"Eliza's been dating Maria."

"What?" Peggy had only half expected this. She knew that the two had become good friends, the best of friends, but somehow this had passed by her. She was certain that Eliza hadn't said anything. Peggy only cared that her sister was happy. Peggy had always liked Maria, she seemed like a good enough person.

Hamilton just nodded, clearly he wasn't sure how to react but he was happy they were happy.