The Death Of Me {Jamilton}

Hamilton Knows More Emotions Than Anger? That's New

{Thomas's POV}

I glanced at Alexander before turning my gaze back to the road as the light turned green, were those tears I saw? Either he was just really good at hiding his emotions often or something really bad had happened, I was assuming the latter, seeing as he seemed desperate to get to a hospital.

Luckily the school was only a few streets away from the hospital that Alex had needed to get to. I parked as close to the front as I was allowed and got out, walking into the hospital with him, and I was honestly quite surprised to not hear any complaints or 'why the hell are you coming with me's from the short, normally divisive, guy.  It was actually sort of concerning how quiet and fidgety he was being, this was a side to the guy I had definitely never seen before, and I doubt anyone else had either.

We reached the front desk and I looked at him so he could take the lead, I didn't know what we were here for.

"Are people allowed into Rachel Hamilton's room?" Alex asked, fiddling with his thumbs as he asked.

"Let me check, just a moment." The receptionist replied, grabbing a phone so she could call to check with the doctors in Rachel's section, whoever Rachel was.

The five minutes or so it took seemed to take ages, but eventually we were answered.

"Yes, people are allowed into her room, two at a time, there should be a nurse there to give you a quick briefing on her current condition. Do you know where her room is?"

"Yeah, I do."

Alex glanced at me, then gestured for me to follow, walking to the elevator. Glad I was going to get to find out what this was all about, I was extremely curious about what had Alex so worried, clearly, he was related to whoever this was.

He was silent until we reached a hospital room on the third floor, a nurse stood by the door with a clipboard.

"Are you two here to see Rachel Hamilton?"

"We are, yes, how is she? Is she okay?" Alex seemed very panicked.

"We managed to get her stable, however, he is quite weak, her illness has been getting worse, we've been trying everything we can, but she's not responding well to a lot of the medication. Take this as a warning that she is not doing well, keep that in mind when you see her... And, be very generous with the time you spend with her, just in case."

I looked at Alex, seeing him bite his lip, I assume to keep it from trembling or to try and stop more tears, "Can I--... Can we see her now?"

"Yes, go in."

Alexander opened the door, taking a few breaths and then walking with me.

"Lex?" A raspy voice asked.

"Yeah mama, it's me..." Alex spoke quietly.

This was Alexander's mother? Oh shit...

{Alexander's POV}

I looked at my mother, she was deathly pale, she looked frail... She looked like she was on death's door. I couldn't believe this was happening, it was already scary to have the thought in the back of my mind that she might not get better, but to hear that from doctor's reports that they weren't sure that she'd be getting better? It was terrifying.

"Come here," My mother rasped gently, and I, of course, obliged, "Who's your friend? I want to meet him too."

I pulled a plastic hospital chair to her bedside,

"Pull over a chair for him to Lexi, don't be rude." She tried to use a strict tone.

"Okay, Ma." I pulled over a second chair and glanced at Thomas before sitting one, and soon he was occupying the other one.

"Who are you, dear?"

"Thomas Jefferson, ma'am."

"You don't have to 'ma'am' me. I'm Rachel."

"Well, it's nice to meet you ma'--Rachel."

"Nice to meet you too dear."

I was feeling the anxiety extremely heavily right now, I didn't want to wake up one day for her to just be gone. I didn't want to lose her.

"Lex, dear, could you go get me some water?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah, of course, anything else you want?"

"I couldn't handle food if I tried."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

{Thomas's POV}

I watched as Alex left the room then looked at Rachel, I could've gone to get her water so she could talk with Alex, she was his mother, although I guess if you put two and two together it was rather obvious that the week of school that Alexander had missed was spent in this room with her.

The room was extremely solemn, and nearly silent except for the buzzing and beeping of machines.

"Thomas... I know we just met, but could you please do something for me?" Rachel spoke up after she was sure Alex had closed the door entirely.

"Hm?" I looked at the frail woman laying on the bed in front of me, "Well I, I don't suppose I see a reason why not... What is it?"

"I know that I'm not getting better, the doctors know it, and I think Alex does too... Could you please please try to help him a bit? I don't know how close you are--" She cut off, coughing rather badly, but once she'd got it under control she continued, "--he acts as if he has it all under control... But I know how stressed he is... Just, consider trying to look out for him if you could."

I thought for a moment, I had begun spending a bit more time around Alex, and this woman looked like she was on her last few days, just hoping for her son to be okay.

"Would it be okay if I asked a question first?"

"Of course."

"Does he have anybody else? A father? A sibling? Something of the sort."

"A cousin, but they don't always get along... I haven't seen his father since we emigrated. As for his brother... He's not with us anymore..." Rachel looked away, she clearly didn't like reminding herself of her other son.

"Oh, I'm so sorry..." I pause a moment then nodded, "If anythin' happens, I can do my best."

"Okay, I understand that he can be argumentative, but thank you very much, I just want him to have the best life, and I wish I could give it to him."

A couple of minutes after Alex had returned, and he passed his mother a cup of water, then sat back down.

"Are you feeling any better?"

"Yeah, I'm not feeling nearly as bad." She gave a smile that I noticed to be rather bittersweet, she was lying, she was lying through her teeth.

"Alright, good." He seemed to relax a little bit at her answer.

"Do you boys want to hear a story? If you don't need to go."

I glance at Alex who seemed to be more than glad to listen to his mother's story, so I gave a nod.

"This is a story I've told Lexi since he was very little... About the Curly Tailed Lion." Rachel began to tell the story, her voice rather weak, and she often paused to cough, but she clearly loved this story, and so it seemed did Alex.

{A/N: Apologies for this chapter taking so long, but I hope you guys like me trying to do more in Thomas's POV! I know there aren't many of you, but I love each and every one of my silent readers :) please consider voting and commenting and have a lovely day!}