Chapter Text
“Could you give us descriptions of the attacker?”
“Yes,” replied Alexander, his eyes narrowed as he tried to remember. “There were two. One tall, one short. They were both kind of skinny. One had a scar on his cheek.”
The police officer scribbled on their notepad, nodding their head in acknowledgement. “Is that all you remember?”
“Yes.”
“Now, your doctor — the man who found you directly after the attack — he stated that you said something to him that he couldn’t understand. Could you tell me what that was?”
Alexander tried to remember what he said to him, and suddenly it clicked. He did mutter something to him, something he knew he wouldn’t understand but tried to get out anyway.
“I told him, ‘I saw Burr.’”
After a few days, Alexander was officially and finally discharged from the Liberty Hospital. As per usual, Alexander was pushed out in a wheelchair, his legs too weak to carry himself after laying in a bed for so long. As if on cue, he felt infinitesimally tired than he was before; his shoulders slumped, his hands fell to his lap, and though he was happy that he was leaving such a terrible place, he couldn’t help but look back at the tall and sleek building feeling as if he was forgetting something. Nevertheless, he smiled weakly at John Laurens as he beamed back at him, speaking rapidly about their home and how glad he was that Alexander was coming.
“You know, I forgot that one of our friends actually worked at that hospital,” John said, but afterwards made a face akin to frustration and disgust: “I mean, he’s not really our friend. He was in college before he ran to the farthest medical school and broke contact with us all.”
Alexander blinked. Did he know him? “Who’s the friend — or acquaintance?”
John scoffed, puffing so hard that a strand of his curls flew from his face to the side. “Aaron Burr. I swear, he’s such an ass. Not even a goodbye. I finally see him after years after…” John faltered and ultimately changed the subject. “But I’m so glad you’re comin’ back home! Hopefully you can look around your room and finally sleep in it; even before this, you’d never sleep.”
Alexander didn’t want this conversation, but at the same time, he wanted to know more. He looked at the hospital again, then at John. “Was I in school?”
John shook his head. “No, we all got out a couple of years ago. Our friend group really split up after that. Some went to medical school or law school. But me, you, and Hercules?” John shrugged and dug his hand into his pocket, pulling out his keys to his car. With a click, the car beeped, and John continued: “The three of us are inseparable. Or were. Hercules is dating this girl now and she’s a sweetheart, but he’s been spendin’ a lot of time with her.”
Alexander nodded and smiled once more, this one a bit more genuine than the last. John was a nice man, and he’d already regarded Alexander as a friend, so it wouldn’t be hard for them to get along hopefully. John opened the passenger door, then came to Alexander. He held him up, helped him to the car, and sat him down. John, instead of going to his own seat, leaned against the car door and continued talking.
“Valentine’s day is tomorrow, though, isn’t it? That’s pretty exciting.”
Alexander blinked, looked up at John, and replied, “It is? I thought it was January still.”
“Nope” – John popped the p sound in the word – “I would imagine comin’ out from the hospital you’d be a bit confused and what not, but I don’t blame you. I don’t think any of us are doing anything, though, except watching some movies with Hercules and Peggy.”
“Peggy?”
“Hercules’ girlfriend. She’s a real doll, that one.” John sighed again, slumping onto the door for a moment before straightening quickly as if he’d just remembered something. “Oh, shoot — I almost forgot we were supposed to be at the house by ten. I swear, I’d forget my own head if it weren’t attached to my neck.” John closed Alexander’s door and crossed to his own, plopping himself to the set before keying the ignition. With a sputter, the car turned on and backed out of the parking space. During the entire ride home – though he didn’t know if it really was home anymore, but it’s better than nothing – Alexander kept his head on the window. His eyes caught some of the cars passing by and wondered where they were going.
The apartments weren’t as far as Alexander expected, and he was surprised to find that he could remember something about it. The dull red paint and large windows were familiar somewhat, and even the small shrubs near the stairs seemed to spur something. Nevertheless, Alexander was led down the hallway with John, though at a slow pace. This seemed to make John uncomfortable, because he was usually running a mile a minute, and his mouth, too — but Alexander was frail and John cared more about him than himself. So, John walked behind him, walking slow though speaking fast.
“I’ve been cleaning a lot, so I apologize in advance if you see me worryin’ over a spill on the counter. Now that I think of it-” they were close to the door now, and John was pulling out his keys- “Do you want to rest today, instead of havin’ this great celebration of your arrival? I know Hercules might have one, but I don’t know if you’d be up for it. You never were a party person.”
Alexander smiled at the sentiment, happy that he was being considered. “No, I’m fine. I think I’d like to meet everyone before heading to bed. Maybe a snack, too.”
John seemed happy at that, and beamed wide. “Well, that’s great! Better cover your ears, though, ‘cause Hercules might just scream. Or faint, then Peggy would scream.”
Upon walking in the cold apartment, Alexander was happy to note that there wasn’t any screaming. There wasn’t a party, either, but it seemed like one with the way John was smiling. There was a lot of hugging, though, from Hercules and Peggy. Peggy smiled big at him after hugging, since it was the first time they’d met, and sat with him on the sofa as John and Hercules bickered over whether or not to order pizza or Chinese, or perhaps from the new Italian place down the street-
“You liking us so far?” Peggy couldn’t help but ask. She was happy to see him here, but a tinge nervous to make a good first impression. “Three people can be a lot to deal with everyday, but we can make it work, I’m sure. If we bother you at all please feel free to tell us, we don’t want to-”
“I’m sure I can handle it,” Alexander chuckled, watching the pink in her cheeks grow. “You guys have been nothing but kind to me since I’ve arrived, and I can’t thank you enough.”
And for the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening, the four stayed together, finally deciding on a meal and eating among themselves until they all tuckered out.
It was the eve of Valentine’s Day and there was red everywhere. Reds and pinks all over the damn hospital. This did not soothe Thomas’ headache in the slightest. He was still worked up about Alexander — what he said to him, garbled and mangled. How he was doing. Who attacked him. Burr. John and Hercules.
Jefferson’s head did not fare well with these burning thoughts. It didn’t help that he was hungover for the third time that week. He passed it off as migraines, and nothing more, though Schuyler had none of it. She didn’t pry, mind you, but she still reprimanded him (“You are a doctor, you know. You know the effects of alcohol.”) and eventually apologized (“I know this is hard for you, considering… My apologies.”). Schuyler was, as Jefferson noted, a saint. She would bring seltzer water to his office when he was laying in a puddle of pain and often gave him advice on how to get rid of particularly nasty headaches.
But as heavenly as Schuyler was, this pink-and-red-massacre was hell. There were more visitors - mostly young adults with red roses and chocolates and stuffed toys - and, thus, Jefferson was forced to interact more with people in general. Madison had noticed his irritated eye and brought him over to speak with.
“You alright?” he questioned, looking at his friend critically. “What, the Valentine’s blues getting to you or something?”
Jefferson shrugged, not wanting to comment. Instead, he took note of the people in the hall. “Busy day today.”
“I suppose.” Madison shuffled, obviously sensing the discomfort. They stood in near silence before Jefferson spoke again.
“You up for some drinks tonight? Figured you’ll be busy tomorrow with Dolly, so I hope it’s not too late to suggest it now,” He spoke in a hurry, with no hesitation as he continued. “Just like when we were younger.”
Madison smiled. “I suppose I can have a couple drinks tonight. Are be going to a bar or at your house?”
“My house, of course. But only if you bring the drinks."
"You have a deal."