Apology Not Accepted

Chapter 13: Walk you home?

Eacker wouldn't say he was unwanted in the Hamilton household, not at all. His presence was highly distasteful. But that didn't mean he was any more comfortable. Everyone but the oldest Hamilton son stared him like some sort of pest that needed to be squashed with the dirtiest boot one could find. If it wasn't for Philip standing next to him so relaxed, holding his hand tight as if his life depended on it, he was sure Mrs.Hamilton would've done just that.

The doctor was checking for any physical symptoms or injuries from the fall. He could only find a huge bruise on the small of Alexander's back. It was nasty mix of black and purple, with small patches of yellow here and there, and if one stared long enough, it would send strong waves of nausea. The doctor put his ear next to the unconscious man's heart and frowned.

"His heart is beating but it's having small pauses between beats. Very small, can be missed if you aren't listening close enough, but present," he said standing up and packing up his equipment. "I would say he's fine but make sure he relaxes for the few weeks. Seven weeks at the most. So no working, writing, running. Just rest." He looked across the room and gave a pointed look at Eacker. "So make sure to avoid stressing him out or angering him."

Eliza nodded and stepped forward, giving the man a small smile. "Thank you so much for coming as fast you could, Doctor. I wouldn't know what to do if Alexander were to pass." She was lying through her teeth but nobody needed to know that. The pregnant woman laid a hand over her stomach and led the doctor to door. "Have a goodnight."

The man nodded, "Good night, Mrs.Hamilton. Remember, you also need to rest. Stress is bad for the baby." Eliza chuckled softly. "Will do, sir. Goodbye." She backed up and closed the door. She turned and narrowed her eyes at the intruder. "Why are you here?"

George flinched and accidentally strangled Philip's hand. "Ow!"

Suddenly, Angelica had a book, Eliza Jr had a pocketknife, Alexander had a hand on the back of Eacker's neck, James and John had pulled Philip away, and William had his foot on the man's stomach and a tight grip on both his wrists. George could've cried at that moment if weren't for the fear that little girl would shank him.

Eliza glared and crossed her arms. Eacker swallowed and looked at the freckled teenager for help. Philip stepped forward and slowly pried the man out of his family's grip. "Weapons away. He didn't mean to hurt me. He was startled." He pulled the other into a hug and smiled sweetly. "See? He's harmless." George was tense underneath the boy's touch and nodded stiffly. "Yeah, harmless," he whispered.

Eliza shook her head and walked over to her husband and kissed his damn forehead. "You didn't answer my question. Why are you here?" She sat down and put Alexander's head in her lap, running her fingers through his sweaty locks. George wouldn't admit it but he felt his heart break at the domestic scene. He subconsciously wrapped an arm around Philip's waist, everyone's eyes dropping to the limb, and spoke up. "Well, I wanted to make sure everything was alright," he glanced down at the head of curls and sighed. "That he was going to be alright." Eacker knew how much the boy loved his father. Hell, the boy was ready to die for the man at the drop of a hat.

He looked back up at Eliza and smiled gently. "I understand your wariness of me. My actions in the past," and present," have been incredibly horrendous and distasteful. But please know, I have changed. I have no intentions of repeating any of my past mistakes." He felt the smaller boy laugh into his chest before he pulled away and make his way to kiss his mother's cheek.

Philip looked into his mother's eyes and grinned. He envelopes one of her hands with both of his, squeezing it. "Ma, I forgave him. I'm sure you could too. He really is sorry," He murmured. Philip looked over at his father and frowned. " We can finish this later, Ma, but how did this happen? Pops didn't seem ill before."

Angelica sat kneeled down next to her brother and shrugged. "Don't know. Maybe he's having one of those fainting spells like Mr.Madison. He probably caught something from him," she speculated, running her thumb over the man's cheek.

Feeling her eyes water, Eliza sniffled and looked down at her husband. The man was breathing more evenly than when they first found him. Something told her he was going to be fine but then again, what if he wasn't?

A awkward cough pulls the family out of their brief mourning to look at a nervous George Eacker standing by the door. He glanced down at his feet and nodded outside. "I...gotta get going and I-" "And I can go with you," Philip blurted, jumping up and after receiving a look from his brothers, cleared his throat before explaining himself. "Don't want you getting sick or mugged."

George bit his lip and looked away, stifling his laughter. The boy was trying hard not to make him feel like an outlaw but to walk him home? He's damn near courting him.

"Okay," he choked out. "Let's go."