ELIZA'S POV*
I couldn't do it. I could not muster the strength to look him in the eyes. I had to run; I had to be free from his gaze. He looked into my eyes and I was sent into panic. Flashbacks from the way his lips crashed into mine in the bathroom at Peggy's house. Flashbacks from being forced into the door of my husband's office while he let his vicious hands roam over my body. Flashbacks from his draping his body over mine, making it clear that he was going to whatever the hell he wanted with me. Flashbacks from highschool as I was pulled into storage closets and locker rooms when other people took advantage of me. My body was reacting to the sight of him, so I ran. I ran to my living room, but even my own space had memories that triggered my body to react more. I could feel the tears, the lack of oxygen to my brain, and the immense panic as I tried to find a place not tainted by his existence.
Alex came after me moments later. He wasn't a side effect of him, he was clean and pure compared to Thomas. He was safe, Thomas was not. I was perched by the fireplace, trying to melt away the feeling of his eyes meeting mine. Alex cradled my body into his. I wasn't too much shorter than Alexander, maybe 3 or 4 inches, but I felt much smaller in his arms. He pulled me away from the fire. I didn't realize that I was sitting so close to the flames. He mumbled into my hair things that were supposed to calm me down. They didn't, I was still panicking.
My husband was the kindest thing. He lifted me off the floor and on to the couch. He just held me as I started to finally control my breathing. He kissed my head. I felt better. I was breathing better, now. Still crying, but not enough to worry.
"Are you feeling better, Betsy?"
I nod, "Just the sight of him… it brought everything back."
"I know, sweetheart, I know." He rubbed my thighs, trying to rub away some of the blood that I missed. He was gentle with me, "We need to go see him, I know you are not exactly in the best place, but for the sake of closure you need to.'
"Shouldn't we do this in court?"
"I called Burr this morning. He is willing to be our lawyer for this case. We don't have a date or anything."
"Can we call him or something?"
"We could. He would have to come here, though."
I grabbed Alexander's wrist, forcing his eyes to mine, "Then, you need to call him. I need closure, and if you think this is going to help, then you need to call him. Make sure you get Jefferson one, too. Or see if he has one."
He nodded to me. I stood up and he followed me. I felt stronger, somehow. Alex went to call Burr. I went to ask Jefferson about his lawyer, or more accurately if he had one. I walked over to the door and stood in the door frame looking just past his head.
"Do you have a lawyer, Thomas?"
"I do. Can I call them?"
I nodded, "Who is it and what is the number?"
"Does it matter who?"
I dare to look him in the eyes, "Unless you would like no attorney in a court of law or the same attorney that I have, then yes. It does matter. Who is it?"
"James Madison."
"Alright. Give me the number."
I type it in as he says and I put it on speaker phone. It rings and the voice joins us.
"James Madison here. How may I help you?"
"James, it's Thomas. I need an attorney, care to join us at Hamilton's residency?"
"I'd be happy to." He hung up. I walked away from the door. That was enough of Thomas's crap for now. I found my husband pacing the kitchen, still on the phone with Burr.
"Yes, I understand that this is extremely informal, Burr… I know, but it's my wife it's not-"
He looked upset, I gave him a side hug, "Please. I don't ask many favors from you, but this is extremely important. Please… Thank you so much, Burr."
He hung up. His arms enveloped me, and I felt safe again.
"Burr didn't want to come over?" I ask against his chest.
"He claimed it would be too informal for the meeting. I told him the urgency and he still said that it would be informal. Something about being a set up on the verge of a hangout. That's when you came in. He finally caved when I mentioned you."
I chuckled and he joined in, "I am a very convincing case."
"Indeed you are. How did it go with Jefferson?"
"James Madison is coming over."
He sighed, "He hates my guts."
"Well he won't be able to hate you when you tell him that his client broke our family." It was the truth. Not only did Thomas break Alex and I, but his actions gave me trauma that led to the miscarriage of our 5th child. Alex was upset, and I was just numb to the idea. It wasn't right, none of it felt right.
He kissed my head, "I hope so, baby. I definitely hope so."
"Shall we wait for our guest on the porch?"
He nods, grabbing my hand. We walked out to our porch, and James Madison was pulling up in a red pick up truck.
"I heard that Thomas Jefferson needs a lawyer at this address!" He announces as he exits his truck.
"Mr. Madison." Alex holds out his hand for him to shake.
"Mr. Hamilton, it is a pleasure. Where is my client currently residing?"
"Walk through that door, turn left. Should be the third door on the left hand side."
"I'll show you in." I say, opening the door for James to walk in.
"Mrs. Hamilton, I'm quite surprised to see you dressed down so casually on a work day."
"Well, I got the day off, so…"
I stopped outside the door, motioning for him. He enters and I walk away as quickly as I can.
When I go back to the door, Burr is standing with Alexander. I don't want to interrupt their conversation, especially since it looks important so I just listen in.
"...she has been through a lot, Burr. I don't know what to do. That's why I need your help, I need you to help fix this. She doesn't sleep without nightmares. She can't look at him without going into a state of panic. She can't hear his name without almost collapsing. I'm worried about her."
"I know you are, Alex. That's why I'm here."
I hear a sob, "She said that she wanted to kill herself, Aaron. What the hell do I do?"
"We win this case. We show her that she is safe and that he is gone forever. That's the start."
"She said that before she was raped and before she had a miscarriage because of him. I remember her crying saying that if she lost this one… if she lost this one she would be shattered." His voice hiccups, "Now she did, and she hasn't exploded in sadness. She cried a little bit, but I think she only cried because of me. Because of my reaction. She's hiding because of this, because she's afraid to let people in now."
"I know. That's why we are going to fight for her. For her justice, and for her safety. You hear me, Alex?"
I don't hear any more words. I decide to step out to see them. They are wrapped in a hug, a brotherly hug too. I knock on the wooden door frame, "Sorry to intrude."
Alew wipes his eyes, as if that will make him look like he wasn't crying, "No worries. Aaron, you've met Eliza."
Aaron wraps me in a hug, "Good to see you, Mrs. Hamilton."
"Please, Eliza is fine."
He pulls away, "So we have a case to discuss and justice to ensure. Let's go inside and get started."