I'm in love with Turn, it's so great! I had to write a quick something tonight, before I lost my courage.
Just a quick one-shot, takes place after Episode 2.5 "Sealed Fate" (premiered on May 4th). References to major spoilers.
…
William was packing up Washington's articles when the tent flap was pushed aside and the quiet voice of Major Tallmadge asked for the general.
"He's not here, sir."
The major had stepped inside. His every movement was composed and collected, but his eyes betrayed the grief that had settled there. It took a moment for him to process William's words.
"Do you know when he will be back?"
"No, sir, he didn't say."
Tallmadge finally nodded, a grimace of displeasure almost twisting across his face, and that was too much for William.
As Tallmadge began to push aside the tent covering, William spoke. "You shouldn't have said that to him, sir. It wasn't right."
He almost wanted to regret his words, almost feared a reprisal for daring to berate a white man, but…William had spent a lifetime observing people, studying them. He thought of himself as a pretty good judge of character. Even Washington knew it, on rare occasions asking him for his thoughts on the more peculiar visitors he might receive. Not ever heeding his opinions, of course, but sometimes, privately, asking for them.
And William had watched Tallmadge this past year.
Tallmadge had turned back around, and though his eyebrows rose at his outburst, there was no anger in his expression. He met William's eyes. "I know. That's why I came here." His eyes slid to the ground. "I was still wrong, too. I thought they were after him, not –" he stumbled to a halt. He pulled a shaking hand into a fist.
Now, William did regret his words. "I apologize, sir," he began, but stopped as the major dismissed it immediately.
"Don't. You're right. It was reprehensible of me. I know the burdens he carries. I should not have –" again he couldn't continue.
"The general knows you were grieving, sir."
A ghost of a smile appeared at his words, but there was no happiness in it. Tallmadge's gaze shifted to Washington's writing desk overflowing with letters, but William was sure he was seeing a different one at that moment.
"It should have been me." The major's voice was barely more than a whisper. "Washington needs Nathaniel Sackett a hell of a lot more than he needs me."
William had nothing he could say or dare to say to that, and after a moment, the major shook himself out of his reverie, and, bidding him a good night, he spun on his heel and disappeared into the darkness.