A/N: Sorry for the late updates guys, I've been sick all month and refusing to go to the doctor for real presription medication. Anyways, I've finished the demon report and will resume efforts to stock up chapters so I can update more often. Enjoy this one!

Words: 1488

A knock resounded from the door. Hamilton announced his presence softly, "Yeah!"

Jake slid into the room and glanced at Amy's sleeping form. He made eye contact with Hamilton, who was sitting close by her side,  which, if the clenching of his jaw was any indication, did not fly well with him. As if he felt the hostility, Hamilton held Jake's gaze, a challenge igniting in his eyes.

The beginnings of a silent battle went unacknowledged as Jake casually strode over to the bed. "I can take over here," he offered. Hamilton shook his head, not taking his eyes off Amy.

Wordlessly, he watched as Hamilton moved to take the towelette off her forehead, the sound of the bed creaking and Amy's rhythmic breathing the only noise in the room.

"Why are you doing this?" Jake had to ask, his arms crossed, looking perplexed.

"Doing what? Taking care of her?" Hamilton bounced back, the sarcasm in his tone evident. This time he did turn his gaze to Jake, staring him down, dissecting him with a watchful eye.

Jake shrugged. He looked indignant, but said nothing as he judged the situation in front of him. He couldn't explain the feeling of loss gaping in his chest. It was a feeling he had long gotten accustomed to, but seeing Amy at the hands of another guy sent shudders down his spine. He tried to reason with himself, because how could he lose someone who was never truly his? (Though he liked to think that had the situation been a little different, they would've worked perfectly.) After an insubstantial amount of consideration, he couldn't help from blurting, "Do you really like her?"

Hamilton startled. At first he seemed put off by the sudden question – but it quickly morphed to a more relaxed expression. He seemed to be contemplating the definite answer for the present as he studied Amy's peaceful face, but his answer has always been definite. "Yeah," he confirmed before he turned, putting his challenge into words, "Why, you still into her?"

At the implication, Jake's expression flickered with emotion. "We dated, but it's not like the circumstances really allowed the relationship, or any relationship at all, to last."

"Well, there's a reason for everything, bud."

Ignoring the comment, Jake continued unfazed, "I was planning on asking her out again."

The room fell silent again. The two studied each other, both wanting to say more, neither finding the words tactful enough not to start a fight.

After a moment's hesitation, Hamilton retorted, "Get in line."

Jake sighed. He seemed exasperated that his point was not getting across. "Stop this, Holt. You're not serious about her. You'll end up hurting her," his voice rough and his eyes stormy. "Even if you don't intend to."

Hamilton glared. "Don't try to tell me what I feel," he snapped. "I do like her." His tone softened marginally when he chanced a glance of Amy. "Let her go."

"You think it's that easy to get over her?" Jake scoffed. "You're just infatuated. What, she's pretty enough so you chase after her? I don't know if you noticed, but I like her for her." The thought vaguely flitted across her mind that they were being immature about this and there were far better ways to handle the situation than they were before he dismissed it.

Abruptly standing up, the chair scraping against the tile floor and the water basin toppling over, Hamilton grabbed the collar of Jake's shirt and reeled his arm back. "Don't be petty," he growled.

"And that's when you woke up." Jake was seated on the edge of Amy's bed, forehead resting against his clasped hands.

Amy stared into space. She stifled a grin. "He's into me?" There was a tingling sensation in the pit of her stomach and the depths of her heart, and her mind warned her that this was dangerous grounds she was treading, but she didn't care. The thrill of having a crush was back after a long time, and it was an unfamiliar familiarity.

Jake looked up, perturbed by her contentment with the news. "So am I," he revealed, largely to get a reaction, but he also wanted to get the weight of his feelings off his chest. She stared at him, not knowing what to do with the sudden information.

Speechless, all Amy could get out was a soft, "Oh." She looked awkwardly around the room, racking her mind for something, anything substantial to say back. But before she could, Jake spoke up.

"Don't worrry about it. I know you're interested in Hamilton." He teased, a smirk plastered on his face.

Amy's sighed in relief, but her heart twinged. Jake was a great guy, and she hated letting him down, but before she could say anything, he spoke up again instead.

"But that doesn't mean I won't fight for you." He added with a wink.

She ducked her head, an embarassed smile gracing her features.

"Now go, find the boy. He's probably waiting for you." He urged.

He sighed as Amy bolted out the door.

***

She sped down the block, wrapping some jacket she grabbed at random off the coat rack by the door tighter around her. The sun was setting and the air was getting chilly. Her eyes darted everywhere in search for a familiar head of blonde hair and a tall, broad frame.

She tried thinking of where he could've gone, but they haven't been close enough to hint at secret places. He doesn't live in Boston anyways, and she didn't get his number yet. She was really at a loss.

Before she knew what she was doing, she was heading towards the park. Straight for the jungle gym. Because where else would Hamilton be in the vicinity?  It was a short walk, but it was long enough for her heart to pound at the prospect of seeing Hamilton, pumping her with adrenaline. A figure seated high atop a set came into view.

She jogged the rest of the way once she recognized the tense back and blonde hair curling into the breeze, messing it up even more.

"Hamilton!" Amy called. She came to a stop in front of the bars, peering up at him. He smiled and gestured for her to come up.

"Need a hand?" Hamilton offered when she began to climb the set. She shook her head and swung herself up next to him once she got near the top. Settling onto the cold, hard metal, Amy sighed and took in the surroundings from her high vantage point.

It was peaceful, especially because the park was empty now that the sun was setting. The wind rustled the trees, the sun kissed the horizon, the sky lit up with vibrant shades of pink and orange, and the shadows made for a great mood.

The serenity was topped with the amazing scent of Hamilton – maybe it was his shampoo, or his cologne, or just him, but it wafted over to Amy with the breeze and she almost toppled over at how great he smelled.

Shaking herself out of the weird trance, she looked over to see Hamilton in the same daze. "So, you come here often?" She interrupted.

He opened his eyes and cracked a smile at her corny line. "No, but I will if you tag along everytime."

Amy laughed at his flirtatious response. "Penny for your thoughts?"

His smile flickered. He looked at Amy, as if evaluating whether he should tell her or not. He came to a rather quick decision.

"They're not particularly cheery thoughts." Hamilton warned.

She shrugged. "I don't care. I wanna hear them all."

"I assume Jake told you everything," he looks to her for confirmation. She nods. "Then you can imagine that I felt extremely frustrated. With him and myself. At him because he was taunting me. He dated you, and it was real. You guys had the hots for each other and he knew it. He was using that as leverage, something I didn't have because I was new to you.

"But I was indescribably mad at myself for knowing he was right. He did like you for you – I just thought, 'Damn, she's a babe,' and wanted to take you out for a date." He paused, turning to Amy and taking her cold hands in his warm ones, engulfing her small fingers in his large grasp.

"But I do seriously like you now, and it kills me that you're so popular and that I didn't see it way sooner. I don't want to hurt you because I know I'll mess up and be a Holt and I'll regret it all my life, but I don't want to let go of this," he squeezed her hands , rambling on. "Of you. Because I am living proof that one can fall in love in a matter of hours."

Amy sniffed. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears. That was the single most genuine thing anyone has ever confessed to her, and she wasn't about to let go of the guy that said it all. "Hey, if it's any help, I like you too."

Hamilton grinned, his radiance rivaling that of the sun behind him. "Let's get to 'love' together." He bumped foreheads with her, contentment washing over them. They stayed like that for awhile, staring into each other's eyes, taking in every detail. Her heartbeat sped up, her breathing became shallow, and her lips dried. She licked her lips, watching as Hamilton's eyes darted down to follow the movement.

And then, their lips were meshed together in a fiery tangle. They moved in harmony. Discord struck when Hamilton parted his lips and nudged Amy's apart. She whimpered into his arms, his tongue hot on hers. She clutched at his back and he gripped her hips, bringing them closer together.

When they finally separated, they were breathless, and the pain from the metal bars under them was becoming prominent. She exhaled and laughed. "Let's go back."

Hamilton smiled in agreement and jumped off, offering his hand to her from the ground. Amy took his hand. It was time to resolve this conflict.

A/N: If y'all liked it, vote? Thank you~