Control

-We Have Evidence-

Two days later. A lot had changed. The soldiers now had respect for Peggy as well, referring her to Sir's Second-in-Command. Peggy helped along all the training, although secretly all she wanted to do was watch Laurens more. Their time is limited and not very private. So they take all the seconds they could get.

The Peggy and Laurens couple finished their date, they found out Hamilton and Eliza was in Washington's tent. Mulligan was in charge of guarding a post and Burr was reading a book in the dining hall. Laurens and Peggy walked in the squad's tent with Peggy's arm looped around Laurens' arm. The second they walked in, Lafayette whistled. Peggy rolled her eyes while Laurens chuckled. She pulled her arm from Laurens and informed Laurens and Lafayette, "Well, I have one mission before I leave."

"You're leaving?" Laurens whined, didn't even hold back. He pulled her to his bed and sat down, pulled her to sit on his lap. Peggy giggled as she played with the man's cheek. Laurens let her do so.

"Well, I'm only here to 'bring extra clothes for Eliza'. So yeah, I'm heading back."

"Oh I see." Lafayette continued, sat up on his bed. "Well mademoiselle, what is this mission you're talking about?"

"Promise you won't tell anyone?" Peggy pouted as she rested her head on Laurens' chest. Nods from Laurens and Lafayette. "My older sister, Eliza, have a huge crush on Mr. Hamilton."

Laurens and Lafayette blinked then shouted, "That means, their feelings are mutual!"

"Mutual?"

"Peggy." Laurens held her shoulder and looked her straight in the eyes, "Alex won't shut up about Eliza."

A playful smirk appeared on Peggy's lips, drew the two men to curiosity. Peggy stood up and offered her hand to Laurens, "Let's confront her."

The two men think, processed then shouted, "What!?"

Peggy's sudden decision making is something Laurens' used to by now. Hamilton told him that Eliza said if he can't deal with it, there's no way he would stay with Peggy. To be honestly speaking though, Laurens loved it when Peggy made sudden decisions. Felt the fun and how funny it was. She lead both men to Washington's tent. Hamilton and Eliza walked out of the tent, shy and bashful as they said their goodbyes and went separate ways. The three tried their best, tiptoeing behind Eliza, making less noise than the soldiers in tents. But as Eliza was standing in front of her tent, she sighed and turned around, "You can get out of your hiding spot now Peggy."

"Caught red handed." Peggy complied and walked out of the spots. Eliza smiled at her.

"You're getting better but the two behind you still needs more training for a sneak attack." Eliza mentioned. Laurens and Lafayette felt defeated and walked out of their own hiding spot. Eliza welcomed them in the tent. The girls settling to sit on their bed while the boys sat down on the chairs. Eliza looked at Peggy, "So? What do you need? I'm pretty sure we said goodbyes just few minutes ago."

"Well sis, we just wanted to ask you about your feelings toward Mr. Hamilton."

"Peggy. If there's a prize for rotten judgment, I've already won that. But no man is worth the aggravation. That's ancient history, I've been there, I've done that." Eliza noted, taking her head pillow to hug to her chest.

"Yeah," Peggy said boldly, "You don't actually like the wedding candidates Daddy gave you. They don't count."

"Who'd you think you're kidding? He's the Earth and Heaven to you!" Laurens shouted, mentioning Hamilton while looking at Eliza to tease. She's been teasing him, it's time for payback.

"Trying to keep it hidden? Honey, we can see right through you." Lafayette chimed in with her oh-so-France accent.

"Sis, you can't conceal it. We know how you feel and who you're thinking of." Peggy said. Laurens and Lafayette showed all the letters on top of the desk, which was all Hamilton's letters that Eliza always kept. Not one letter was thrown away.

"No chance! No way!" Eliza shouted as she grabbed all the letters, folded it gently and locked it away in her precious box.

Lafayette grabbed her shoulder and tried to break her mask, "You swoon and you sigh. Why deny it?"

Eliza ran for Peggy's bed and grabbed Peggy's hands and was suddenly on the verge of crying. "I thought my heart had learned its lesson…"

But she was unable to continue. She ran out of the tent, tears falling from her eyes. Peggy suddenly felt guilt overcome her. Laurens and Lafayette was about to run after her but Peggy stopped them. She fell to Lauren's embrace, sobbing to his chest. It broke Laurens' heart to see Peggy crying in his arms. The only thing he was able to think of was to brush her hair quietly. Lafayette took one step back to give some privacy to the couple. Peggy started mumbling that they had taken it a bit too far. Laurens leaned in, whispering apologies and sweet words to soothe her. After a few minutes, she calmed down. Peggy sat on Laurens' lap. Lafayette and Laurens waited patiently for her to talk and so she did, "When we were little, Eliza really liked this boy. They were close, I bet they would've been such a great couple. But… it didn't turn out well for both of them. One thing lead to another and ever since then she was scared of love."

Lafayette and Laurens shared a look, guilty. They didn't think that far. They triggered a rather unpleasant memory to their own friend. Peggy said, "No. It's not your fault. Eliza rarely break down like this. I've been teasing her for such a long time but it's the first time she was ever like this. Leave her alone, give her some space. She'll be fine after a few while."

"You sure, mademoiselle?"

"Positive." Peggy nodded. Then she stood up from Laurens' lap, took her suitcase that was laying next to Eliza's desk, "I better head out, any longer than this and I might fall asleep in the middle of the woods."

Laurens pouted, begged her to stay another day but knew it's useless. The two men sent her to her horse. Laurens helped her climbed on it, kissed the back of her hand, "Promise me to write when you arrive at home."

"Promise."

"Go leave before you make John beg Mr. Washington for you to stay." Lafayette deadpanned and Peggy laughed. They said their goodbyes and eventually, Peggy took her leave. Laurens whined the whole thing about missing Peggy already to Lafayette on their way back to the tent. Till his eyes caught on someone particularly suspicious. Benedict Arnold.

"Lafayette. You go ahead without me."

"You sure, John?"

"Yeah. Yeah." Lafayette walked away first. Laurens took out his pocket watch, it's the middle of the night. The only ones awake are soldiers that are working, on guard or just having some personal time. Laurens decided to tail on him. He was glad when he saw Arnold passing by the dining hall. He made a quick trip inside, finding Burr reading a book.

"Aaron!" Burr looked up from the book and find Laurens' eyes. Laurens looked at him dead serious, "Let's go."

Burr quickly took off, no questions. He didn't need to ask when Laurens directed his attention on Arnold. Laurens and Burr separated as they tailed him. They were surprised when they found him with another soldier, one they knew sort of well, John Andre. Burr was closer to them, at least close enough to hear whatever they were talking. Sure enough, Burr found them talking about some confidential information.

But that's nothing. They're still sharing inside the America soldiers. It's not something that would be enough to prove they're traitors. Benedict and Andre separated ways. Burr and Laurens took mental looks. They decided Laurens would follow Andre and Burr would follow Benedict. Laurens saw it all.

Imagine Laurens' surprise when he found Andre switching his uniform to a British soldier uniform. He knew he was outnumbered when he heard more British soldiers coming, so after listening to the important stuff, he retreated. Taking precautions. He practically ran back to the tent, glad that Burr was already there. He didn't take a second look on Hamilton, Mulligan or Lafayette. He grabbed Burr's hand and ran to Washington's tent. Didn't knock, came in frantically. Inside, Eliza and Washington was having a talk. Laurens cut in, "We have evidence."

"Evidence?" Washington raised an eyebrow, looking confused. "Evidence of what?"

"I told them to spy on Benedict Arnold." Eliza stated. She put down the papers she was discussing with Washington and faced the two soldiers she employed.

"You did what!?"

"They're my best soldier in sneak attacks. I trust them enough as fellow soldiers. Look where it got us, we have evidence now." Eliza explained. Washington's surprised face turned soft. Burr and Laurens stared at each other, they thought Washington gave the orders. When both of them met Washington's eyes, they froze in fear. But Washington calmed down and smiled.

"I still can't believe this is happening." Washington looked at Eliza. He sighed, not disappointed. but because he knew Eliza made her mind up. There's nothing changing that.

"Mr. Washington, they got the evidence. That's all we need." Eliza pleaded back. She walked toward Burr and Laurens with cups of water. They needed it, they didn't even realize they were panting so hard.

"We don't actually have it with us." Laurens continued, after Burr and Laurens finished their drink. Eliza and Washington frowned. For the first time Laurens felt little. Burr took a step in front of him. Like Eliza said before, if Laurens started going wild that's when Burr stepped in.

"We saw him sharing information to a John Andre."

"In which John Andre's also spy from the British soldier." Laurens added. Burr looked at Laurens, as surprised as Eliza and Washington was. Laurens gulped but continued his report, "He kept his British uniform hidden well. He's the one sending the messages from Benedict to the British soldiers."

"If so, then we can conduct search on him, we will find the letters he kept from the British officer and maybe some of the bribe money." Burr explained. Laurens started regaining his composure behind his friend's back. Eliza nodded along, she agreed with him.

"To suddenly conduct search on stuff. Won't it be rather suspicious?" Washington exclaimed. Eliza frowned. True, it would be weird if they just suddenly conduct search on only one person. Well, they could do it with everyone but then he would have time to hide the evidence.

"We could do it secretly." Eliza offered. Washington, Burr and Laurens stared at the girl. "If you can distract him from his room, I can search his tent thoroughly."

"It's too risky." Washington declined.

"It's better than conducting search on everyone."

"Eliza does have point Mr. Washington." Burr continued, "I think Alex can distract Benedict with some letters. Herc can distract John Andre. If the plan goes well, we'll have better condition."

"But if it doesn't, Elizabeth would be known throughout the British soldiers. No."

"Mr. Washington." Eliza called. Washington stopped massaging his scalp and looked at his hitman. She was looking at him with cold eyes, "This would be the first time you ever doubt my skills."

Washington think. This wasn't actually the first time he had doubt her skill, but it was the first time he had ever voiced it out. His head went back to previous missions. It was impossible in his head but Eliza made it possible. So why now, why now is he having doubts? Washington shook his head, "Forgive me. I was… distracted. Okay. We'll do this mission tomorrow. Before lunch. I'll ask Alexander to talk about the inconsistencies in his letters and Aaron, John tell Hercules about distracting Andre. John, I want you and Lafayette to stand on guard for Elizabeth at the hour of the mission. Aaron, you'll replace Eliza as the teacher tomorrow."

They saluted, "Yes sir!"

"Elizabeth." Washington called, just before the three of them was walking out of the tent. Eliza stopped her tracks, turned to look at Washington. Now he knew why. It's not that he doubts her. It's not that he doubts her skills. It was that he's scared. If Eliza was caught by the British soldiers, what would Hamilton react. He had the instincts of a father over Eliza and Hamilton, to see them lose each other would hurt him as well. He sighed, gave an undertone of pleading, "Be careful tomorrow."

"Yes sir."

She left the tent. Washington put the candle out, decided he need some sleep for the night.