Running Out of Time

Chapter 14 - Time To Take A Shot (Wrong Shot)

Hamilton stood at the end of his bed with his arms crossed. There was no thinking, no anything. He focused on the beeping of the machine that indicated his heartbeat. It was a steady, constant sound. It was a sound that meant he was alive. However, he knew the sound could be a little faster, he knew that he could be able to feel the sound in his chest. He shut his eyes tight in an attempt to focus with more concentration.

"Alright," Hamilton heard the voice but didn't turn to see who else was in the room, he didn't particularly care. "You want this too much, you might make it work." The woman stood next to him, "you got yourself stuck here."

Hamilton turned only his head to look at Maria, she was looking at his body. He wasn't yet sure if she could see him or if it was a bizarre coincidence of some sort.

"It's not easy to do what you're trying to do. It's going to be the hardest thing you've ever done, I'm sure it hasn't been easy to get to now," she walked over and sat in a chair, "you don't even think it's possible for you to wake up anymore, do you?" She looked directly at him, "it is true that thinking about it slows the process but the real kicker is the want."

"I don't get it," Hamilton expresses some confusion. He was surprised that she could see him but he could always bring that up later.

"Wanting is complicated because,deep down, you don't really want it. You only think you do. Hamilton, we both know that you're only trying to wake up so that Laurens doesn't die but you have to remember that it's bound to happen anyway. Even if you do wake up there's no guarantee you'll see each other. If you physically touch anyone it's only going to make you miss them more. You don't want this."

Hamilton looked at her and thought for a moment. He couldn't think of anything to say. He couldn't deny that she was somewhat right. Everything was doomed to happen one way or another. He knew that he was really only doing this for Laurens.

"Alexander, were all stuck in this damned cycle. There's nothing we can do. It sucks but it's how things are." She stood up and moved towards the door. "It's something to think about."

Maria walked out of room to leave Hamilton alone to think. She almost hadn't expected Lafayette to begin following her. She finally stopped for him to catch up when she got to the elevator. "What did you say to him," he asked. He hadn't known that she could see him. He wasn't even aware that she knew about any of this.

"I wouldn't worry a bout it too much," she shrugged.

"Maria, I am not you. What did you say," he lowered his voice. Lafayette knew that Hamilton had been having some doubts about actually getting back to his body but he didn't think Hamilton the type to give up. It was possible, though unlikely, that Maria had said something important to him that could cause his thoughts to swing one direction or another.

She checked her watch, "I have to go meet Eliza. Just give him a few hours, keep an eye on him but don't say anything." The elevator finally reached the floor. "He just needs more time," she smiled as she wales inside.

"He doesn't have more time," Lafayette did his best not to sound too discouraged by his own statement. He had just found out that everything was happening much faster than anyone anticipated. Today was Hamilton's last chance. 

"Laf," she pushed one of the floor numbers, "you've seen what he can do in ten minutes, he has more than enough time."

--

Peggy had left Laurens by himself so she could go get some things ready for when they took him home. Leaving him alone wasn't her best interest but he has been fairly insistent. Currently, Laurens wasn't entirely alone. Hamilton was standing off to the side doing his best to do nothing. Since Maria had left, he had been feeling a little strange but he didn't see it as an important thing. Hamilton looked over and noticed the expression on Laurens' face begin to change slightly, clearly it wasn't in a good way.

--

"Okay," Peggy fiddled with her ponytail, "I've got everything ready. It's all set up for whenever they send you home, Angelica thinks it'll be tomorrow but who-" She stopped mid sentence to observe the scene in front of her. Laurens was still laying in his bed but he had the blankets covered up to his nose. "What are you doing?"

"Peggy," his head poked up, "I think I've made a mistake."

Peggy made her way over and stood beside the bed, "Laurens." She started but stopped as she saw his head shake slightly.

"I fucked up," his voice was only just above a whisper.

"What is it?" Peggy wasn't sure exactly what was about to be said to her but she would deal with it.

"I think," she watched him look around as if he were checking for someone, "I think we might need to get Lafayette."

That was when she realized what was happening. She wasn't looking at Laurens, she only thought she was. She nodded and quickly went on her way to find the Frenchman. She had no idea how Hamilton had managed this one, she wasn't sure it mattered. All she knew was that they had to get things back to as normal as they get.

--

"Lafayette," she walked down the hallway to where he was standing. "We have a bit of an issue."

"Ahh," he turned to face her, "so, you've heard."

Peggy thought for a moment. She wasn't entirely positive that they were thinking of the same situation. She wouldn't deny that the idea of anything else going on worried her. So far, everything has been something they figured out as they went along, not everything worked but they gave it their best shot. However, she was certain that her situation would require a bit of careful and immediate attention. She had no idea if this would have any effect on Laurens or not, she was hoping for the latter.

"No," she shook her head, "how urgent is it?" She was more than a little anxious to get back to Laurens' room.

"Alexandre has until midnight," Lafayette looked at the ground.

"Well," Peggy stopped for a minute. This wasn't helpful at all. They still had no idea how to put him back together.  She had been certain that there was more time but, she guessed she was wrong. After all, they hadn't really been given any proper time frame, it would have happened at some point. "I guess we'll have to work fast," she pushed up her sleeves as something for her hands to do. She wouldn't let all of this drag them down, she was holding most of the determination and hope in this group. She had to hold on to it at this point, it was really all they had left.

"Peggy, what do you mean," Lafayette wasn't sure what work they had to do.

"First, we get Hamilton out of Laurens, then, we put him back together."

"I'm sorry, did you say out of?"

"Yep."