Falling Through Time: Basking in Firelight: Book 2

No One Knows Who Knows

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Warnings:

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"Washington has his memories," Hamilton told Jefferson now that he had finally gotten to talk to him alone. They were standing in Jefferson's tent, papers were already scattered everywhere, war plans and formations stacked into different piles.

"What?" Jefferson asked, shocked, "All this time?"

"I don't know. He might've had them before this all started, he might've gotten them after we left. There's no way of telling," Hamilton said.

"How many of the others do you think remember?"

"I don't know, but I can't look at Burr the same anymore," Hamilton said, clenching his fists.

Shivers traveled down Jefferson's spine and he felt a stab of pain in his chest where Burr had shot him. He rubbed it absentmindedly. "*An injured friend is the bitterest of foes,*" Jefferson replied. "But it's not fair for you to treat him so harshly for something he hasn't done. He's not the same person without those memories."

"I know I know, but his face is the same, the mannerisms, everything about him is the same. I just can't let it go."

"You know, I'm the one who got shot."

"And I'm the one who held you in my arms as you died in my place."

That shut Jefferson up. "It wasn't your fault," Jefferson murmured quietly after a moment, joining Hamilton where he sat on Jefferson's cot.

"Yeah, it is," Hamilton said, looking at his hands folded in his lap in shame.

"No," Jefferson said, taking one of Hamilton's hands in his, "it isn't."

"If I hadn't dissed Burr so much, ruining his career over and over again. If I had just answered his question, if I had just apologized-"

"Alexander, that's something I admire so much about you, you stand up for what you believe in no matter what. Even if it's the stupidest shit I've ever heard. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine," Jefferson said. "I'm the one that decided to go after you. I'm the one that stepped into the line of fire. I'm the one who decided that. Not you, not Burr. Everything that happened between you two would've been smoothed over if everyone had lived. You have to give him the chance he deserves."

Hamilton sighed. "What did I do to deserve you?"

"You called me an asshole a whole bunch of times and then passed out in my office."

Hamilton chuckled. "If I had known it was easy as that, I would've done it sooner."

"Are you saying that I'm easy to get?" Jefferson said, placing a hand on his chest in mock surprise. "This package deal easy to get? I don't think my ego can take it."

"Your ego needs a reality check."

"Ouch."

Jefferson's goal was achieved when Hamilton finally smiled. Jefferson grinned and poked Hamilton in the ribs. He immediately jerked away, smacking at Jefferson's hand. "Don't tell me you've been ticklish all this time! All the opportunities I've missed!" Jefferson cried out dramatically.

"Fuck off," Hamilton glared.

"This is my tent," Jefferson gestured around. "But I suppose I could go crash in your tent for the night."

"Imagine Washington's face if he went in there looking for me and found you," Hamilton laughed.

"Imagine the look on his face if he found both of us smushed together on a single person cot."