Apology Not Accepted

Chapter 1: Philip vs Eacker

Philip steps off the small ferry onto the dueling grounds. Looking across from him, Eacker checks and rechecks his gun with a neutral expression on his face. Philip bites the inside of his cheek before shouting out to him. "We don't have to do this, Eacker. Just apologize for what you said about my father and we can forget this entire thing!"

Eacker looks up and nods towards the man holding out a gun to Philip. Philip sighs and takes the gun. The two turn away from one another and begin their paces.

"One"
"Two"
"Three"

Philip remembers what his father told him before he came across the Hudson. 'Philip, when it's time to fire the gun, shoot in the air. This will put an end to the entire situation.'  Taking a deep breath, he puts the gun against his chest and prays.

"Four"
"Five"
"Six"
"Sev-"

A single gunshot sounds through the air. Philip crumbles to the ground and holds his hip, a shout ripping from his lungs. Hearing Philip scream in agony,  Eacker drops his gun and stare at the teen in absolute horror. What has he done? He turns and fled the scene.

The doctor and other men carry Philip back onto the boat and try to temporarily treat the wound. 'You're mother can't take another heartbreak'  They set course for the hospital. "Pops, I'm sorry."

(The Next Day)

George walks down the street among the other citizens, heading towards the market. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, he sees people point at him and whisper. He hears a  middle-aged woman so quietly whisper to a young woman, most likely her daughter. "That's him. That's the one who shot him." Eacker flinches at the sentence but keeps his stride. His eyes slowly drift to the ground in shame. Not of his actions, no, the boy had basically ordered him to duel, but of the news spreading. His family name was tainted over a little disagreement. Only one way to fix this.

"Where's my son?!" Eliza busts through the hospital doors with a wild look in her eyes and runs up to a doctor, grabbing his arm as Alexander runs in behind her with a worried expression. He pries her off the doctor and apologizes so the poor man can go back to doing his job. "Eliza. Eliza, look at me." Eliza looks at her husband in anger. She's been upset with ever since he told her what had happened. "I understand you're worried about him but it's not going to do him or us any good if we go around shouting and disturbing the other patients." She sighed and hugged her husband. "I want to see my baby." He lays his head on hers. "I know, Betsey, I know." Another doctor walks up to the couple and taps Alexander's shoulder. "Mr.Hamilton?" The immigrant let go of his wife and nods. "That's me." 

"Follow me."

Philip laid on the cot with his shirt folded at the foot of his bed, bandages wrapped around his waist, the sound of footsteps entering his room drew him out of his dozing state. He tried to sit up but a pair of hands push against his shoulders and force him back down. "Philip, you need to rest. You could pop the stitches and cause the wound to reopen." The doctor says and Philip looks to his left and see Eliza there with tears streaming down her face. "Ma....I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done it." He croaks out and reaches a hand out to his mother. She shakes her head and hugs him carefully. "It's alright, baby. You're okay that's all that matters." Alex stands next to his mother and smiles down at Philip, pride shining in his eyes. "Pops, I did everything exactly how you told me." Alexander leans down and presses a kiss to his forehead and nods. "I know, Philip, and I'm proud of you. Such a brave soul." Philip feels warmth spread throughout his chest at the words. He always admired his father for the things he's accomplished despite his circumstances. So hearing Alexander, a war vet, a graduate of Kings College, and President Washington's right hand man, praise him for being brave made Philip feel invincible even with the burning sensation going through his entire left side.

"He's lucky to have made it. Most would have died from the injury like that. It nearly went through the hip bone." The doctor tells them with a smile. Eliza wipes her tears away and rubs Philip's cheeks. "Our little miracle. God was truly looking after you."