Falling Through Time: Basking in Firelight: Book 2

Familiar Faces

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Warnings: PTSD, mentions of suicide, death, dead bodies, violence. Insane people who are going to do stupid stuff and blow shit up.

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Is it funny Hamilton could be in the middle of the rebel headquarters and still have nightmares about being kidnapped and thrown back in jail? Well, he did. It was even funnier when he went for a walk in search of a quiet place and when he found one, Jefferson was already there, with an extra cup of tea.

"I swear, it's like you always know I'm coming," Hamilton said, scooping up the tea and finding a place to sit.

"I'm psychic like that," Jefferson replied, staring off into space.

"If you're so psychic, can you tell me how this war is going to go?"

"Bloodily," Jefferson said, not moving in the slightest.

"Thanks." Silence. The sounds of drunk men shouting floated over to them. Hamilton did something he never did before, he asked the question, his voice barely more than a whisper, "What was it about?"

Jefferson's gaze focused on Hamilton's face, debating whether or not to tell him. After a moment he finally spoke, his gaze shifting to the mug in his hands. "They came into our cell, threw me to ground, shot you in the head, and then left your body there to slowly rot while I went insane."

"Oh," was all Hamilton said.

Jefferson took a drink of his tea. "What about you?"

Hamilton paused for a moment, unsure, but Jefferson shared so it was only fair. "They dragged me into the room with the one-way glass, except I was on the mirrored side this time. They handed me a gun and then threw you in there with me. Just the two of us, door locked. They said that I would go free if I shot you and if I didn't, we'd both starve to death."

"What'd you do?"

"Eventually, I shot you and then shot myself."

They both took another drink of their tea.

"I had one where they brought in Martha, my wife, she's gone now, but they brought her in with all our children, all of them except my little Martha, shot them all in the head right in front of me and then told me it was my fault for not giving them the information they wanted. Turned out, my little Martha was the one that pulled the trigger," Jefferson said.

Hamilton got up from his spot sat down next to Jefferson, wrapping a comforting arm around him. "They brought in Philip, my son, turned him into one of them to the point where he barely recognized me, then they had him shoot me."

Jefferson set aside his cup and dropped his head into his hand, ruffling his hair before sitting back up, Hamilton's arm fell away. "We should go back to our tents," he said simply, before picking up his cup and heading back the way he came, Hamilton following suit.

***

The next day, Hamilton and Jefferson were sitting around a war table discussing where and what they going to strike next when a lot of people burst loudly into the tent.

"Yo! If it isn't the walking dead!" Mulligan said by way of greeting.

"Dead on the inside maybe," Hamilton commented, earning a snicker from Jefferson and Madison.

"So melodramatic today," Laurens said, clapping Hamilton on the back, "Something got you down?" he grinned broadly.

"Yeah, the fact that I have to deal with a bunch of hooligans now," Hamilton grinned back, standing and wrapping Laurens in a friendly hug, before turning to everyone else only to find himself being hug tackled by Lafayette.

"What was it like when you drove the tank into the base?" Lafayette asked.

"Hilarious. Lots of cheers and shocked faces," Hamilton answered. While he was talking to Mulligan, Laurens, and Lafayette, Madison pulled up a chair next to Jefferson and watched him as he began outlining a detailed plan. It wasn't long before Burr joined them too. Jefferson reached a stopping point, threw down his pen and sat back with a sigh, smiling at the others. "I'm much better company anyway," he said, referring to Hamilton's little gathering.

"Quieter," Burr said.

"More fashionable," Jefferson remarked.

"Is currently sitting in chairs and not standing around endlessly," Madison added. Burr and Jefferson looked over at him.

"Get a cane to lean on," Jefferson suggested, "they work remarkably well. And stylish too." He plucked his up, laid it across his shoulders and rested his arms on it. Madison nodded like he was considering it.  Jefferson leaned over and jabbed Hamilton in the side with it, causing him to jump. "Plus, extended reach for bothering people who annoy you." 

Hamilton growled, snatched the cane away and threw it out the tent door. "Hey! That was rude," Jefferson complained. Laurens and Mulligan laughed. Jefferson grumbled to himself, but pulled another one from out of nowhere. "Fuck you guys."

"Where the fuck did you get another cane?" Madison asked.

"And where were you keeping it?" Burr question.

"Up his ass," Hamilton said, walking back over and reclaiming his seat, looking over the war table again. "You were thinking Pennsylvania, right?" he asked.

"Yep," Jefferson confirmed.

"Wait, I know this, this is scheming. What are you two cooking up now? Are we stealing another tank?" Laurens asked.

"Nope," Hamilton said, "We were thinking bigger."

"An airplane?" Mulligan guessed.

"Bigger," Hamilton said.

"A war elephant?" Lafayette guessed.

"Umm, no. Bigger," Hamilton said.

"What is it?" Laurens asked.

"An airship carrier."

"Fuck," Laurens swore, "You're on a suicide mission."

"Welp," Lafayette grinned, "I'm in."

"Yep, me too," Mulligan said.

"Fuck it, me too," Laurens joined.

"A carrier? Really?" asked Burr, looking between the two.

"Is that even possible?" Madison asked.

"Depending on how many toys you have," Jefferson grinned.

"Well, shit," Burr swore, "Might as well."

"I'm already dead inside, so it doesn't matter. I'm in too," Madison said.

"Should we invite Angelica too?" Laurens asked.

"She went off to England," Hamilton supplied.

"What about Eliza, she was itching to get her hands on a flamethrower," Mulligan said.

"She really shouldn't, she's got Philip to take care of," Hamilton replied.

"Okay, so the six of us then," Jefferson said, listing down all the names. "Gentlemen, we're going to steal a carrier and blow some shit up."

Everyone cheered.

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