"Did you hear? Alexander Hamilton was shot!"

John lifted his head from his textbook. His heart started pounding in his chest. Surely it couldn't be... His Alex. Could it?

"He was in a re-enactment of a 19th century duel with Aaron Burr and-"

John's heart sank. It was his Alex. He and Aaron were really great friends. John just couldn't believe that Aaron would up and shoot Alex. John suddenly found himself standing up and going to the congregation of students. He recognized three of them as campus gossip William Van Ness, Alex's friend Nathaniel Pendleton and the kindly law student Dolley Payne.

"What happened?" John asked.

"Oh man." William shook his head. "They were doing a re-enactment of that famous duel-" He was interrupted by another student.

"We all had to do something like that, it's for history class." Dolley said.

"So Burr fires the gun and holy crap, it's not a blank. There's a fucking bullet inside." Nathaniel said. "Ripped through Hamilton's side."

"Blood everywhere!" William blurted out.

"Hamilton just collapsed to the ground." A fourth student said. John didn't recognize her. "And Burr just stands there with the gun in his hand thinking 'holy shit, what the fuck just happened?'"

"Professor Washington ran over to Hamilton." Nathaniel continued. "Even Jefferson, who despises Hamilton, tried to help. I mean, so did I." He said.

"Hamilton passed out, and I called an ambulance." The fourth student showed John her phone.

"Burr tried to walk over to Hamilton, but I pulled him away. I mean, the dude was just shot by Burr. It was totally accidental, but man, I wouldn't wanna see anyone right after they'd fucking shot me." William said.

John could hear his heart pounding in his ears. This couldn't be happening to the man he loved. All he could think about was Alex. Before he knew it, he'd walked away from the group of Hamilton's classmates and he had his phone to his ear. Who was he calling? He took his iPhone from his ear to look. Eliza Schuyler. Of course. His and Alex's girlfriend. Three weeks into their new relationship, John knew to go straight to her.

"John?! John, are you okay?!" Eliza shouted down the phone. "John!"

"Yeah, I'm here." John replied.

"Are you okay? Something seems... Off."

"Alex got shot. Apparently."

"Shi-John. Is he okay?"

"No. He was shot in the stomach, I think."

"John-"

"Eliza, I'm going to the hospital. I'm taking you too, you have to go, I-"

"Okay. I'll meet you at your place." Eliza said.

After that, John wasn't quite sure what happened. Everything seemed to go by in a blur. As if he was on autopilot. He picked up Eliza and drove them both to the hospital, neither of them saying a thing. At least, John didn't think so anyway. He couldn't remember.

Once in the hospital, John ran up to the receptionist. "I'm John Laurens, Alexander Hamilton's boyfriend and I need to see him right now!"

"Are you his emergency contact?" She asked.

"Yes! Both of us are." Eliza said.

"And who are you to Mr Hamilton?"

"I'm his... B-best friend." Eliza said hesitantly, not wanting to admit that she was his girlfriend, especially after John had just loudly announced that he was Alex's boyfriend. "Elizabeth Schuyler."

The receptionist nodded and lifted the phone off the receiver next to her and pressed a few buttons.

"I have the two emergency contacts of a Mister Alexander Hamilton here." A pause. "Yes. Mister Laurens and Miss Schuyler." Another pause. This time with a change in facial expression. "Oh. Okay, I'll tell them."

Before she had even hung up the phone, John had another outburst. "Tell us what?!"

"Thank you." The receptionist put down the phone and turned to John. "Mister Laurens, Miss Schuyler, Mister Hamilton is currently in emergency surgery."

"Is he going to live?!" John slammed his hands down on the desk.

"John!" Eliza hissed.

"Eliza!" John said exasperatedly.

"I can direct you both to our waiting room." The receptionist offered. "If your friend survives surgery, he'll be taken to the recovery room. The waiting room will be around that area."

"Yes! Yes please!" Eliza nodded.

The receptionist guided Eliza to the waiting room. Eliza had John by the wrist. Her lips were moving, but John couldn't make out what she was saying. Everything seemed numb. All he wanted was to know if Alex was going to live. Since he was unsure, he was afraid to cry. Afraid to breathe. Afraid to survive.

John sat down on the seat with Eliza's hand in his. The receptionist had long gone, John had noticed. Every time Eliza spoke, it sounded muffled. Almost like John was wearing earmuffs, even though he wasn't. She was probably saying something encouraging. Maybe asking if John wanted a coffee. Hopefully not saying that Alex had died. John nodded anyway. Eliza nodded back and gave John a kiss on the cheek before walking away.

Almost as soon as Eliza left, Hercules Mulligan walked in, followed by Lafayette.

"John?" Hercules asked. He crouched down in front of John. "Hey, you okay?" He asked.

"Alex..."

"Alex is in surgery." Hercules said. "Aaron's upset. Angelica's on her way."

Eliza walked back, carrying two plastic cups full of water. "Here, John." She handed John a cup. "Hey, Hercules. Lafayette."

"Eliza." Lafayette greeted.

"How're you holding up?" Hercules asked.

"I think better than John." Eliza sighed and looked over at John.

A doctor walked inside the waiting room and everyone stiffened, bracing themselves for bad news. John looked up at the doctor before he stood up.

"Is Alex okay?" John asked softly.

"I'm afraid Mister Hamilton-"

"Alex." John corrected. "His name is Alex."

"Alex." The doctor nodded. "I'm afraid that Alex lost a lot of blood in the accidental shooting. Several of the major organs in his abdomen have been damaged, either by the bullet itself or by the contents of the organs spilling out. A few of his ribs are also fractured. And speaking of the bullet, it was lodged in his spine. There is a high chance that even if Alex survives his extensive injuries, he will be paralysed from the waist down."

"Oh my god." Eliza clapped her hand to her mouth.

"Aaron's going to be devastated." Lafayette mumbled.

"My poor little brother." Hercules shook his head.

John said nothing. He was too busy processing what the doctor said.

"We've had to place Alex in a medically induced coma. He's on several forms of life support. It's important you know that he is as critically ill a person can get. There is a low chance that he will survive but if he makes it through the night then it's a good sign." The doctor said.

John continued saying nothing. He just gave a small nod.

"Alex is unstable, but we can ask that family only go into the intensive care unit to see him." The doctor continued.

"Can I see him?" Eliza asked quietly.

"What is your relation to Alex?"

"I'm his best friend and one of his emergency contacts."

"Yes." The doctor said without hesitation. "As his emergency contact, you have the right to see him."

"John is his other contact. He's Alex's boyfriend." Eliza said.

"He also has a right to see Alex." The doctor said. "Does anyone else here have any relation to Alex?"

Hercules put his hand up. "I'm his brother."

"You three? Okay. Once Alex is out of the recovery room, you can see him, but no more than two at a time. He's still unstable. His condition could change very quickly and along with not wanting to overcrowd the patient, we don't want to overcrowd the ICU. If we do that and there's a change in Alex's condition, then he might not get the care he needs." The doctor paused. "I'll let you know when it's okay to see Alex.

CNN

Britain Suffering From Economic Woes After 'Brexit'

Mexican Woman Comes Forward With Further Donald Trump Sex Allegations

Columbia University History Student Accidentally Shot in Re-enactment

John turned his phone off. The fact that Alex had made national news wasn't surprising, after all, it's not often that students get shot and end up in the hospital because of historical re-enactments. He'd been expecting it.

Aaron Burr looked at the news on his phone and clicked on the headline about the Columbia University student. He suddenly wished that he hadn't.

Columbia University History Student Accidentally Shot in Re-enactment

A history student at Columbia University was shot on campus in an accidental shooting during what was supposed to be a historical re-enactment of a 19th century duel. History Professor George Washington was hosting historical re-enactments for his students. Five students chose to re-enact the infamous 1806 duel between Andrew Jackson and Charles Dickinson.

The two students who were involved in the shooting-who will not be named at this time-are reportedly friends and...

At this point Aaron stopped reading. He felt physically ill. It wasn't enough that he'd been questioned by the police, but now it was the third highest trending story on CNN. At least people were more interested in Donald Trump and Brexit than what he did to Alex. His friend Alexander.

Every time Aaron closed his eyes, it was like he was right there, still stuck in that scene. His hand frozen to the prop gun that was supposed to be carrying blanks. Just looking on in horror as a bullet he'd accidentally fired ripped through his friend. The blood flying everywhere. The look of utter betrayal on Alex's face. Professor Washington screaming out in horror and running to Alex. Even Thomas Jefferson's look of concern for Alex. Professor Washington propping Alex's up on his knee and stroking his hair to keep him calm, taking on a fatherly role. Thomas Jefferson stopping Alex from bleeding to death by pressing down on on his wound-and even sacrificing his cravat. It was at that point Aaron tried to walk over to Alex, but William pulled him away. All he could do was watch helplessly as Alex bled out and-

"Aaron?"

Aaron was extremely grateful for having been distracted. "Yeah?" He turned to face Professor Washington.

"It's not your fault."

"But, Sir, it is my fault." Aaron said. "Don't go all Good Will Hunting on me."

"Aaron it's nobody's fault. It was just a horrible freak accident." Washington said. "And I don't blame you."

"Sir-"

"Aaron. Don't beat yourself up." Washington put his hand on Aaron's shoulder. "You're my student and my foster child's friend. I care about you. And I know this will have a negative effect on your history work. Please, Aaron. Don't worry."

Aaron simply nodded.

"Besides, if anyone has reason to worry, it's me. This could cost me my job." Washington said.

"I can't let you take the blame for something I did, Professor."

"You didn't do anything, Aaron."

"I pulled the trigger and shot Alexander! I don't even know if he's dead or not."

"He's alive, Aaron." Washington resisted the urge to say 'just barely'. He had been told about Alex's condition by Lafayette.

Aaron nodded again, unsure of what to say.

"It was a freak occurrence." Washington said. "You didn't intentionally shoot Alexander. It was a re-enactment."

"He was Andrew Jackson! Andrew Jackson survived the duel!"

"This is survivors guilt, isn't it, Aaron?" Washington asked.

Aaron looked down at his feet. This was when he realized that he was still dressed like he was from the turn of the 19th century.

"That says it all." Washington patted Aaron on the shoulder. "Take care of yourself, Aaron. Go to the counselling service. Eat. Sleep. Listen to your RnB music."

"I need to see Alex." Aaron said quietly.

"They're only letting family see him right now."

"How do you know?"

"Lafayette is at the hospital. They told me everything. They can't see Alexander because they're not related to him, but Hercules Mulligan and John Laurens are both with him right now. Alexander isn't alone." Washington explained.

"Will I be able to see him?" Aaron asked.

"At some point... Probably." Washington said.

"Okay. Thank you, Sir." Aaron sighed softly before he walked away from Washington.

Washington looked on at Aaron and his heart broke. The situation was just awful.

Over at the hospital, John and Hercules were given clearance to see Alex in the ICU. They'd both scrubbed themselves down and were wearing plastic aprons and surgical gloves. They entered the ICU-being Alex's brother, Hercules went first.

"John, you okay?" Hercules asked.

John nodded, not saying anything.

"Just making sure." Hercules said. He was nervous too, John could hear it in his voice. When they got to Alex, Hercules took one look at him before taking off in the opposite direction. When John saw Alex, he understood why. In fact, he wanted to do the same himself. But someone had to stay with Alex. Someone had to.

(Flashback)

"Okay, Aaron. You got everything?" Alex asked.

"I think so." Aaron replied.

"You look very 1800s." Alex smirked. "You know, if you weren't black. And bald. They wore a lot of stupid looking powdered wigs back then and everyone looked the same, I mean, there was no diversity-not just in skin color, but in hairstyles, because like I said, those powdered wigs, and clothes, they all wore the same clothes, and yeah, skin color, everyone was all super white like what the hell, you know, man? What the hell is the point with that? I'm sure not everyone back then was white and aristocratic. Did everyone just hire the exact same portrait painter or something? Like seriously, I can't tell Andrew Jackson from King George the third. The only dude who looks vaguely different is Ben Franklin and that's because he's old and kind of fat, same with King Henry the eighth, but that's just because he was super fat, I mean, he probably died of diabetes or heart failure, right? Maybe stomach cancer-"

"Alexander, stop rambling." Aaron said.

"Sorry." Alex said. "I'm just excited."

"Yes, I can tell." Aaron adjusted his coat.

"It's fine, Charles Dickinson, I'm not really going to kill you."

"Whatever you say, future president Andrew Jackson." Aaron chuckled. "Right. We're going to go through the-what you call-ten duel commandments. You remember them, right?"

"Yep." Alex nodded excitedly. "Let's go check our seconds are ready."

"William and Nathaniel?"

"Yeah." Alex said. "William and Nathaniel."

Aaron and Alex walked across the hall into the small office where William Van Ness and Nathaniel Pendleton were waiting along with James Madison.

"You guys ready?" Alexander asked.

"I'm definitely ready, Alex." Nathaniel replied.

"Me too." William said.

"So am I. All I have to do is stand there." James shrugged.

"Come on then." Aaron said. He led the four of them out into the quad, where the rest of the history class-including Thomas Jefferson-and Professor George Washington were waiting.

"Aaron Burr, Nathaniel Pendleton, William Van Ness, James Madison and I will be re-enacting the most famous duel in American history-the duel between future President Andrew Jackson and the lawyer Charles Dickinson that took place on May 30th 1806. The duel took place in Logan, Kentucky because dueling was Illegal in Tennessee." Alex announced. "I will be playing the part of Andrew Jackson and Nathaniel will be playing the part of Andrew Jackson's second, Thomas Overton."

"I will be playing the part of Charles Dickinson. William will be playing the part of Charles Dickinson's second, the name of who was lost to time." Aaron said.

"And I will be playing the part of the doctor." James added

"Without further ado, here is the Code Duello, or what we call, the Ten Duel Commandments." Aaron said.

"Number one: demand satisfaction." Alex began.

"If they apologize, there isn't any need for further action to be taken." Aaron continued.

"Number two: if they don't apologize, then you get a friend who will be your second." William said.

"Your lieutenant when there's reckoning to be reckoned." Nathaniel said, getting a chuckle from the group.

"Number three: the seconds meet face to face." Alex said.

"This is when they negotiate a peace or a duel, in which case, they discuss a time and a place." Aaron explained. "At the time, dueling was particularly common among those in the military. Most other disputes got settled without anyone having to shoot."

"Number four: if no peace is reached, then it's time to get the dueling pistols." Alex said. Both he and Aaron took their prop guns.

"You also get the doctor." James said. "In this case, me. I would be paid in advance and when I got to the duelling ground, I'd turn around for plausible deniability." James turned around.

"Number five: time to choose where to die!" Nathaniel announced. "It should be dry because there's less chance of something going wrong with the gunpowder."

"The act of dueling should commence before dawn." William said.

"Number six: time to write that note to your loved ones. You know, just in case you die." Alex shrugged. "Now would also be a good time to pray to God that you get into Heaven."

"That's why for number seven, you should confess your sins. Religious or not, you're totally going to be praying to any higher entity that you survive the duel." Aaron said.

"Number eight: the last chance for any hope of peace negotiations." Alex said. Both Nathaniel and William walked to each other and mimed out talking to each other. They ended with shaking their heads.

"Okay, so we're doing this." Aaron nodded.

"Number nine: look your opponent in the eye and aim no higher." Alexander said. "Turn."

Aaron and Alex turned their backs to each other. William and Nathaniel both turned their backs to the duel. "Count."

"One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten paces." Aaron and Alex counted their steps together. With each number, they took a step and turned to face each other when the counting was done.

"Fire!" Nathaniel and William shouted.

What happened next was a complete blur, but it ended with Alex bleeding on the floor. Aaron had pulled the trigger on his gun. It wasn't supposed to be loaded, but it fired a real bullet. One that had ripped through Alex. Alex looked at Aaron, feeling nothing but betrayal. He'd thought they were friends. But friends don't shoot other friends in the stomach. Immediately, he collapsed to the floor in a bloody puddle.

"Alexander! No!" Washington sounded distressed. He ran over to Alex.

A scream. That's all Aaron heard. He wasn't sure who it was from. After that, he couldn't pay attention. He felt completely numb and trapped in himself as everyone rushed to help. He tried to walk over to Alex, but William pulled him away.

Martha Wayles called an ambulance as Washington cradled Alex's head in his lap. Thomas Jefferson kept his hand pressed to Alex's bloody wound. He ripped off his cravat and pressed it to the bullet hole. By now, Alex's breathing was labored and he was drifting in and out of consciousness.

Suddenly Aaron could hear everything. It was, in a word, chaos.

"Alexander, son, stay with me." Washington said desperately. "Look at me, you're okay. It's okay. Stay awake."

"Fuck you for doing this to me, Hamilton." Jefferson's voice was shaky. Almost as if he was trying not to cry. "I hate you."

Other students were frantically trying to get hold of their loved ones. Alexander's accidental shooting reminding them how fragile life is.

"Alexander, breathe, in... And out. In... And out-" Washington trying to be helpful as Alex gasped for breath.

"H-hu...urtss..." Alex croaked out.

"Shh, I know, son." Washington stroked Alex's head. "You've been shot. Save your strength."

Alex moaned in pain and Washington held his hand tighter. "I'm here, Alexander. So is Thomas."

"Just don't die on me, Hamilton." Jefferson said. It was sincere. He really didn't want Alex to die. Nobody did.

"J... Jo-"

"Shh, don't talk." Washington said calmly. "Don't talk."

"J...ohn."

"Your roommate?" Washington asked.

Alexander nodded weakly.

"John is fine, Alexander." Washington answered. "But, son... You're not."

"Li...za..."

"His girlfriend." Jefferson supplied.

Alex's eyes closed and he stopped breathing. Keeping one hand pressed to his wound, Jefferson slapped Alex on the cheek with his other hand. "Wake up, Hamilton!" He shouted desperately. "Please wake up."

Aaron caught a glimpse of Alex. He didn't like what he saw and dropped his gun. Alex's normally tan skin was now grey and clammy. And there was a bloodstain in the shape of a handprint on his cheek.

Aaron stayed staring at Alex, but left in panic as soon as he heard the sirens.

(Now)

John continued to hold Alex's hand, despite the IV that was sticking out of his vein. He looked down at Alex's hand in his. Alex's skin was grey as opposed to its normal tan color. Bandages covered most of his hand, keeping the IV in place. If you took away everything else, it looked almost... Normal.

John couldn't bring himself to look at the rest of Alex-the sounds of the medical equipment didn't leave much to the imagination. He just wished Eliza was here.

"Hey John." A voice said. Not Eliza. Hercules. John looked up at him.

"Oh god, you look like hell." Hercules wrapped his arms around John and pulled him in for a hug. John didn't protest. He simply let Hercules hug him.

"Hercules." John said into Hercules' chest.

"Yeah, it's me." Hercules nodded. "Sally's in the waiting room with Laf and the others."

John nodded.

"You know who else is there? Thomas Jefferson." Hercules chuckled. John could tell that Hercules wanted to cry, but was hiding it.

"Aaron?"

"Aaron isn't there." Hercules said. "Mom and Dad are. The Washingtons. The Schuylers. John, have you even looked at Alex? Apart from his hand?"

John looked down at Alex's limp hand in his and back up at Hercules. "I can't bring myself to." He said quietly. "I'm sorry."

"Nonono, don't be sorry." Hercules said. "It's... Just as shocking for me. I had to run to the bathroom to puke, John you're strong for staying here with him."

"I had to, Herc." John stroked Alex's hand lightly with his thumb. "He needs someone with him. And I'm his boyfriend."

"I'm his brother." Hercules said.

"Did you hear that Thomas Jefferson tried to save Alex's life?" John asked.

"I doubt that."

"It's true." John said. "Nathaniel Pendleton and William Van Ness told me."

"Huh." Hercules shrugged.

One of the machines surrounding Alex started beeping rapidly.

John jumped from his seat. "What's going on?" He panicked.

"I don't know, I don't know what any of these things do." Hercules said.

A nurse rushed over to check on Alex, clearly knowing exactly what she was doing. She injected something into one of his IVs and the beeping slowed back to normal.

"What was that?" John asked.

"An antibiotic." The nurse replied. "The last thing he needs is an infection. It would kill him."

"But he might die anyway." John felt completely helpless. The reality of the situation was setting in What would happen if Alex died? He would still have Eliza. But he wanted Alex. He wanted Alex to be okay. To not die.

A/N: Yay! Angst! Or boo! Angst. Depends on your view, really. This is just something I've been thinking about for a while. What if the Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton duel took place now? Well, it's for history class! And it was super accidental. But it's historically accurate in two duels. Kind of. I did fiddle with history a bit. But so did Lin-Manuel Miranda!

Andrew Jackson did duel the lawyer and sharpshooter Charles Dickinson in Kentucky over a horse racing bet and an insult of Jackson's wife. Dueling was illegal in Tennessee. And after the duel between Burr and Hamilton, dueling wasn't popular in public opinion. I chose this duel, arguably the second most infamous duel in American history, because the Hamilton and Burr duel obviously didn't happen in this world and that made this the most infamous duel. Andrew Jackson was shot in the chest, about an inch from his heart. But he survived the duel and became president later on. The bullet stayed in his chest and gave him health problems throughout his life. He coughed up blood a lot because of it. He also shot and killed Dickinson after his gun jammed, not exactly following Code Duello or 'the ten duel commandments'.

Washington was super dead at the time of the duel with Burr and Hamilton's duel. He didn't hold Hamilton's head in his lap. But Hamilton's second Nathaniel Pendleton did. Pendleton also thought that Burr walking towards Hamilton after shooting him meant that Burr felt remorse for shooting Hamilton. We don't know if he did. All we can do is speculate. I like to not be completely cynical and think he did feel a bit bad for it, given that they were apparently friends before the fall out over Philip Schuyler's senate seat. Also, the bullet from the duel with Burr actually did rip through Hamilton's internal organs and breaking his ribs before lodging in his spine, leaving him paralysed from the waist down until his death a day later. Not really a pleasant way to die. Like at all.

Jefferson didn't help Hamilton, he was too busy being president and owning slaves. But I like to think a much as he hates Hamilton-even in this world-he wouldn't like to witness him bleeding to death.