In Sickness And In Health (Jeffmads): a Hamilton fanfiction

Chapter 17

Chapter 17, darlings! Brought to you by the hot British weather. IT'S SO BLOODY NICE AND I'M NOT USED TO IT. Anyway, enjoy this and enjoy Jefferson's kick-ass mother.

888888

Madison's p.o.v

I hauled Thomas into our room, setting him down lightly on the bed. He didn't even stir, just snuffled into the pillows. I gazed at him sadly for a few seconds before heading back into the front room, where Jane was sitting, chewing her fingernails.

"I haven't seen him like that since he was 14," she told me, her voice trembling. I nodded in sympathy, walking over to the kitchen. I knew for a fact that Thomas had had way more since he was 14, but he hid them well from her.

"Do you want tea? Coffee?" I asked.

"Coffee, please," she replied, joining me in the kitchen. "Black, 2 sugars, if you have it."

She kept glancing towards the bedroom, and I placed a gentle hand on her arm. She jumped a little, turning to me with wide eyes.

"He won't be awake till later," I said softly and as kindly as I could. "Stop fretting."

She gave me a small, sad smile, taking the steaming cup I handed her and sipping at it.

"Does he get like that a lot?" she asked faintly.

"It gets worse if there's a certain degree of stress," I reasoned. "It's not too often normally, but it's been quite bad the past week."

Putting her cup on the side and burying her face in her hands, I think she was sobbing quietly. I wasn't really sure what to do, so I simply stood there awkwardly.

"All because he fell out a damn tree," she said, anger apparent in her voice as she looked up at me. I nodded again, biting my lip. We sat in silence on the sofa, the only sound in the apartment being our breathing, Thomas' soft snores and a repeat of Ellen playing on the TV.

"Can I just ask something?" she said suddenly. I shrugged in indifference, already knowing the question. "What's the deal with the bed in the hallway?"

"That would be your ridiculous son," I answered, chuckling. She laughed as well, and the tension between us eased considerably. "I love him, but Jesus Christ, his common sense just flies out the window sometimes."

"You can tell me that," she replied. "He once woke the entire house up trying to make mac and cheese once because he burnt it and the smoke detector went off."

I shook my head, laughing. We were so absorbed in talking that we hadn't realised that Thomas had woken up, and was lounging in the doorway.

"In my defence, I was only 9," he drawled. We both whipped round to see him shirtless, leaning on the door frame. I felt my face flush as I looked at the floor.

"And you haven't got a shirt on because?" Jane asked, standing up with her arms crossed. She looked seriously pissed.

"It's hot," he replied simply.

"You're making it hot," I mumbled in what I thought was an inaudible voice, but Thomas heard and had to stifle a giggle. Jane raised an eyebrow.