SECOND SHOT [HAMILTON]

YOU CAN BE A NEW MAN (BUT NOT REALLY)

Alex Holt scoffed as he looked out the window. The houses were large, few and far between, reminding him of a lifetime gone by.

A lifetime he would rather not remember.

"Is something wrong, Alexander?" The sharp voice of his social worker called from the front seat, eyes narrowed at him through the rearview mirror.

"Nothing, sir." Alex muttered through gritted teeth. Of all the people who found him this life, it had to be Lee.

Or, Cecil Lance, as he was known in this lifetime.

Cecil wasn't a horrible person, he just could care less about the man who played a part in a wound that still ached.

The man rolled his eyes as he turned his attention back to the road. With a sigh, Alex turned his attention back to the window.

"Alexander," Cecil glanced back at him. "I know you've been dealing with a lot through these last-" he paused, having no real idea when Alex joined the system.

"Five years." Alex supplied bitterly, averting his eyes.

"Christ, Hamilton-"

"Holt."

"Holt, life can't give you a break?" He tried to joke, though it came out as a bitter sound.

Alex only shook his head as Cecil took a sharp turn into a winding driveway with a tall, iron gate.

"Reminds me of the old days," Alex said quietly, eyes trailing up towards the house on top of the hill.

It was large, with tall, white walls and rolling landscapes surrounding it. The roof was a strikingly red color, causing Alex to swallow hard.

"It reminds me of Mount Vernon," Cecil looked up at it with slight interest.

Alex just shook his head, refusing to be comforted by the familiar sight. "What are their names again?"

Cecil sighed. "Gregory and Mary Winter," Cecil paused. "They have another child, Gabriel, so try to keep things civil with them."

With a snort as a response, Cecil rolled his eyes. "Do I need to remind you that it was you and your friend who shot me?"

"Well, it's illegal now," Alex chuckled lightly. "Actually, Burr and I probably helped with that."

"Don't remind me," Cecil joked back, which was rare for the two of them. As they pulled up to the cliche driveway encircling a fountain, he turned back to Alex.

"To continue what I said earlier," he smiled softly. "This is the best shot you have at a normal life."

"You said that about the last one," Alex hummed. "And the one before that, and the one before-"

"Yes, yes, I've made premature claims before," Cecil honestly looked flustered and regretful, a sign of weakness Alex had never seen. "But these people are from our time, Alexander."

Alex bit back a sharp retort as he pushed the car door open, stepping out into the chilly New York air.

I've dealt with one before, asshole. And he abused me.

But Lee would never see his pain, he never wanted Lee to see it.

As far as he was concerned, Jessie Ryan had returned Alex to foster care because of 'insufficient funds'.

Shivering and gritting his teeth, Alex followed his social worker to the door in complete silence.

Lance rapped on the door with the old, worn brass knocker against the dark wood of the door.