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jesterladyficRandomly Destined
This chapter's title is from a Missy Higgins song.
Chapter Four:
Nathan really didn’t know how to look anyone in the eye. Despite his well learned politician veneer, he felt shame. Part of him was ashamed to look at Heidi, Peter or Claire for his personal failings regarding each of them, as well as for even considering letting a bomb destroy so many lives. The other part of him was afraid to look at his mother to see himself through her eyes as weak and yielding.
He’d come home to find his brother in charge, assertive and taking initiative. People with abilities seemed to have flocked to the house.
What he really wanted to do was rush into Congress and forget everything. But even that would only cause more problems. So he stayed missing to the outside world. He felt useless.
He’d been home for two days now. Apart from the initial relief and a brief shower of attention, everyone left him alone. So that’s why he was surprised when Peter came into his study.
“We have to talk,” his brother said without preamble.
“Not now, Pete.”
“Yes now,” Peter said firmly. “Our entire family is going to talk now. It has to be done or none of us will ever get anywhere. There are important things happening.”
“Why are you…?” Nathan trailed off, suddenly not wanting to know. “Fine, let’s go.”
“Thank you.” Peter left and went into the living room with Nathan behind him. Heidi, Angela, and Claire waited for them there. Each looked as uncomfortable as the other two felt.
Everybody settled in, but nobody said anything. Then after awhile, to everyone’s surprise, including her own, Angela spoke,
“This has been going on for years,” she announced. “My husband and I were part of an organization that used their abilities for good. But we all had different ideas about what the greater good is. Because of my own ability, I often disagreed with the popular view.”
“What is it?” Peter asked, knowing it would be in his repertoire also.
“Think, Peter,” she said dryly. “Use the brain you must have under all that hair.”
“My dreams,” he gasped. “That’s why you said it couldn’t be stopped. You saw it happen.”
“I did. So you can understand my trying to change the aftermath instead of the disaster.”
“Never stop trying to change what seems inevitable,” Peter told her. “You just saw that it can be altered.”
“Yes.” Angela didn’t say anymore.
“You used me,” Nathan said after an awkward silence. Angela turned toward him.
“But you didn’t go through with letting Peter blow up New York.”
“Not really the point, Ma.”
“I’m happy you’re strong this way, Nathan,” she said finally. “I think a little more attention to family and some openness would help everyone.”
Nathan didn’t look at Heidi.
“We all know what each other can do?” Peter questioned everyone. There were nods all over. “So we have a pretty amazing family.”
“I do seem to be the outcast,” Heidi said self-deprecatingly. “Even my children will be what I’m not.”
“We need you,” Peter said softly. Nathan whispered even more quietly,
“You ground me.” She smiled a real smile at him. He found himself smiling back.
“There’s a man named Sylar on the loose,” Peter brought up another issue. “I have to stop him. I would like help. But before that can happen, we need to do some things. I have to find Hiro Nakamura, whom all of you know of. But there are other people out there apparently. We need protection from them and perhaps from ourselves. I think Claude can help us do that.”
“The other people could be my dad,” Claire said softly.
“I’m sorry, Claire,” Peter told her gently. “Still, I think your dad wants to protect you more than anything.”
“I know,” she said. “I think he’ll help now, but he still really only wants to protect me, not anybody else.”
“We’ll deal with that,” he told her. “I think you should stay and learn from Claude, what do you think?”
“I agree,” she said without elaborating.
“Claire,” Nathan said suddenly. “I-I saw Meredith.”
All heads turned.
“And?” Claire asked. Nathan took a deep breath.
“I suppose I better just tell you what happened.” So Nathan explained the events from his view of the explosion until he landed in Texas and Meredith’s sheltering of him and his subsequent departure.
“She said to tell you she was sorry,” Nathan informed Claire.
“For what?” she asked.
“I don’t know. But I think we all should maybe apologize for things.”
“Thanks,” she said and turned away.
“You have three families really,” Angela told Claire. “Your adopted family, your birth father’s family and your birth mother. They’ve all made mistakes, but I think you’re where you belong.”
“And you’re always right, Ma,” Peter said sarcastically.
“I’m sorry, Peter,” she said, turning to him. “Do you have something else you would like to say to me?”
His expression softened a hair. He knew what it was like to be obsessed with knowing his dream would come true.
“Talk to us,” he said instead of yelling at her for trying to get him to blow up and become a mass murderer.
“Okay,” she said simply. “Now you best go rally your friends, seeing as we are all in the know about everything.”
“Okay,” Peter repeated. They all scattered, Peter and Claire going to talk to Claude and Ando. Angela retained some of her secrecy and didn’t tell anyone where she was going. Nathan and Heidi were left alone.
“I’m sorry, Heidi,” Nathan said, meeting her eyes for what felt like the first time since the accident. “You know what happened, you know about me, our kids, Linderman, my guilt, Meredith and Claire. Yet you’re still here,” he ended in amazement.
“Grit comes with the territory,” she said, standing up and walking (walking!) over to him. “Rough patches.” She sat by his side and took his hand. Nathan felt a sudden need to actually talk to his wife, something that hadn’t happened in a long time.
“Let’s talk, okay?” he inquired. “I have to tell you everything. It might make you hate me. But if you still don’t, can we see our boys?” Heidi gave him a genuine look of pure happiness.
“I’ll hear you out. And I can arrange that.”
***
He finally just dropped onto the couch clutching a photograph. DL was out of ideas. It frustrated him to no end because he’d always had a plan, something substantial, to motivate him. His brain never shut off and his body was always ready for action. Except for now.
He wondered how long he’d been here. Time really had no bearing, but he could feel a smothering weight settle over him. He was so tired.
But he was also determined. He gazed at Micah and Niki. He needed them so much!
DL started in surprise. He could’ve sworn he could hear her speaking to him. It was from far away and…was her picture moving?
“Baby, please wake up. I know this is all my fault. I became her and I blamed you. I let them take our son. But you can’t run away from me now!” Niki was crying wherever she was. It broke his heart.
“Mom, are you okay?” Now Micah was talking.
“Yeah, sweetie.” He could hear her brushing the tears away, getting herself under control. “I just want your dad to wake up really bad.”
“So do I. I wanted both of you back and I kept having just one at a time. It’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not,” Niki and DL said at the same time.
“Hold on, Micah,” DL whispered, looking at the picture of his family. “I’m coming for you. You and your mom.”
He meant it.
***
He wasn’t exactly trying to dream, but Peter wouldn’t have minded having one that helped him know what he was supposed to do. And he was tired.
Everyone kept looking to him, even Nathan, for heaven’s sake. Peter felt like he should be enemy number one, instead, Claire teasingly called him ‘Super Everything Man’ and Ando had picked it up. Somehow, he knew Hiro would too.
He had to admit; he was in a perfect spot to empathize with everyone, being able to do what each of them could. And if it weren’t for all of the others, including the powerless, he would be nothing.
In the end, he did dream. It felt hazy while he was going through it, but when he woke up he could recall it with perfect clarity.
He was standing on a grassy hill. He could barely make out some buildings far away, but everything else was open, unused.
Peter walked down the hill but when he reached it, he was in a primitive room. Hiro was there and Peter could see an emptiness in his eyes. Hiro was without his powers.
“He like you, Peter Petrelli,” Hiro said without looking at him. “Only you are better. You take without stealing, he steals and never gives back.”
Peter found he couldn’t say anything.
“Kensei rules Japan and me,” Hiro continued. “I was not made to die in 1671-so I’m told.” Then he laughed. “But Super Everything Man will save me!”
Then Peter knew he was just dreaming. Hiro faded away and Peter woke with a start, as he always did from a dream that was more than a dream. But, he reasoned with himself, now he could find Hiro.
***
“Much as it warms the cockles of my heart to know you had a dream,” Claude scoffed at Peter. “You’ve still got some rounding up to do, lad. All your little friends need training, no matter how many Japanese kids end up in the bloody seventeenth century.”
“You’re going to be a great teacher, you know that?” Peter said dryly as he got his phone and called Mohinder.
“Dr. Suresh.”
“It’s Peter.”
“What’s happening?”
“I know where Hiro is. But I need you to talk to everyone you know like us and see if they are willing to get training from Claude and to help find Sylar. Have them meet us here at my house. I hope to leave soon and be back as soon as possible.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Mohinder reassured him. Peter thanked him and hung up and turned back to Claude.
“There, I’ve got your pupils, I’m just going to fetch one more.”
But just then there was a knock at the door. Peter went to the entryway and saw Claire opening the door and joy and fear crossing her face. Standing there was her family.
***
After Mohinder hung up the phone, he sat down and stared at it for a few moments. As anxious as he had been to secure Peter’s help, now that events were moving forward, he was reminded of what was at stake and who would be involved. He moved into the kitchen where Molly was sitting, coloring at the table.
“Dr. Suresh,” she beamed up at him. He smiled slightly and sat down next to her.
“Molly, I want to talk to you about something very important.”
“Okay.” Her face was so trusting.
“You have an amazing ability, Molly. You already know that people may try to hurt you for it. I’m very sorry for that. I also know that you can’t use your ability right now until my blood has a chance to fix you entirely. But I have some friends who want to try to help you learn more about yourself and what you can do. It would be really great if you could do that and also, help us find anyone who would hurt you.” Molly processed the information for a few minutes.
“Like the bogeyman. He didn’t die.”
“Like the bogeyman.” Molly reached over to him and placed a kiss on his cheek.
“Of course I’ll help. I want to learn and not be sick.”
“I will help you with that, Molly, I promise,” Mohinder whispered to her. “Now would you like to visit Officer Parkman?”
She nodded vigorously and ran to get the coat he’d bought her the day before.
They arrived at the hospital and were admitted straight away to see Matt. Janice had been as good as her word in letting them in to see him any time. They found the two of them awake and cheerful in Matt’s room.
“You’re awake,” Molly squealed and flung herself at Matt. He smiled and winced at the same time, but wrapped his arms around the little girl.
“I said I’d watch over you and I will,” he assured her.
“You’re going to be all better?” she asked anxiously. He nodded.
“The doctors say he’ll be fine,” Janice said to herself as much as to Molly.
“That’s wonderful news,” Mohinder said. “I do hope we’re not intruding.”
“I’m glad to see Molly,” Matt said. “And you. We haven’t really met under good circumstances.”
“No, I’m afraid not,” Mohinder agreed. “But I fear I don’t come today under any better ones, unless you count Molly here.”
“Which I do,” Matt inserted, to Molly’s delight.
“I don’t know if you would want to talk in private or not,” Mohinder began. “But what I have to say is of a secretive nature.”
“I’ve finally come clean to the wife,” Matt answered good naturedly. “Unless you’d like Molly to leave, I’m good.”
Janice squeezed Matt’s hand appreciatively.
“As you wish. I have reason to believe that Sylar survived the attack from Hiro Nakamura.”
“Who?”
“A Japanese teleporter. He stabbed Sylar after you were shot, but then disappeared. Peter Petrelli is going to fetch him. But at the moment what concerns me is the fact that Sylar is still at large and possibly killing and gaining more abilities.”
“That wouldn’t be pretty,” Matt agreed.
“I have asked for Peter’s help, but I’m asking for everyone whose ability I know of to help me find him and put an end to him once and for all. In the meantime, Peter has found a man who could possibly help people with abilities control and develop their powers. We’d like to know your position on helping and/or being involved with that.”
Matt looked at Janice. He found his answer in her eyes.
“I’ll help. I’m pretty useless at the moment, but I’ll pitch in when I’m walking. But my family comes first.”
“I understand,” Mohinder said. “Molly and I will leave you to it. We’d like to meet at the Petrelli home. I shall contact you with more information.”
“Thanks.” Molly gave Matt one more hug and exchanged a shy embrace with Janice. Then they left to find Niki and Micah.
They were in DL’s room. He didn’t look very good. He was still in his coma and the doctors had apparently lost hope.
“Hi.” Niki stirred as she saw their guests and covered Micah with a blanket as he lay sleeping, slumped over his Gameboy.
“I know this is a terrible intrusion,” Mohinder began.
“You’re letting us stay at your apartment,” Niki interrupted. “I think you’ve
earned some leeway.”
“Thank you. But I’m afraid I’m here on business.”
“I can always handle more of that,” she said wryly. “What can I do for you?”
“You remember Sylar?”
“Nasty guy at the plaza. Hit him with a parking meter.”
“That would be the one. Well, he survived and he most likely will be going on a killing spree.”
“Not a good thing,” Niki surmised.
“Precisely. I would like anyone’s help I can get in stopping him. I know it’s an awful lot to ask, but all three of you could contribute a lot to the task.”
“Yeah, we probably could.” Niki laughed a little bitterly. “It feels like we’re cursed that way.”
“I can see you probably don’t want to take that part of the offer then. But I do have something else as well. Peter Petrelli, whom you met at the plaza, knows someone who can help people with abilities. Help them control their powers; learn about them. We’ll be meeting at his home for both parts.”
Niki didn’t say anything for a while.
“I can go if you need more time,” Mohinder offered. Molly sat looking at Micah as if she wished he’d wake up and play with her.
“It’s okay,” Niki finally said. “I want to help, but my family is more important to me right now.” She smoothed the hair off of Micah’s brow. “DL has to wake up before I can make any decisions. But let me know what’s going on, okay?”
“Of course. We’ll let you be.”
“See you back home,” she said, turning back to her husband.
“Yes.” Molly waved goodbye to Niki who gave her a small wink. Mohinder and Molly left, with Mohinder thinking that he hadn’t done so badly.
***
Peter strode quickly to Claire’s side.
“Please come in.” He gestured the Bennets inside. Claire instantly hugged her mother whom she had not seen in what seemed like forever. After Sandra had clung to her, Claire turned to Lyle, who looked pleased to see her.
“Hey,” she said, giving him a tiny hug.
“Hi, freak,” he said quietly teasing. Claire let the corners of her mouth turn up slightly.
“Daddy?” She turned to her father and gave him a hug. “What’s going on?”
“Let’s sit down,” he said, avoiding the question and leading his family forward.
“In here,” Peter said, taking them into the living room. “Would you like anything? Do you need privacy?”
“I would like you to stay, Peter,” Mr. Bennet told him. “This concerns you too. But perhaps Lyle could get something in the kitchen?”
“I’ll be right back,” Peter answered and took Lyle to the kitchen and set him up with some cookies and the television.
Claire was left with her parents. Sandra couldn’t keep her eyes from Claire.
“Mom, are you okay? What about your head?”
“Oh the doctors are working on it,” Sandra replied, brushing it off. “I need lots of rest and your dad thought I could get it better up here.”
“Where I’m bunking with a bunch of freaks with powers?” Claire inquired of her father. He didn’t answer her. Peter came back into the room and sat down next to Claire.
Mr. Bennet stood and faced the other three.
“I’ve been trying to stop anyone from coming after you or anybody like you,” he explained. “But it’s difficult. There have been a lot of serious blows to the company, including the deaths of some important people and the loss of both of their tracking systems. Yet there are a lot of people who I never even knew were involved, insisting that you’re dangerous and a whole lot of other things.”
“Should we be worried?” Peter asked, furrowing his forehead.
“Not yet. I’m holding them at bay, but it’s taking all my time. I want my family to be safe. I’d like to ask you to keep them that way, Peter.”
“Of course, sir,” Peter readily agreed. “But I am currently undertaking a rather important…mission, I guess, is the word.”
“What about Claire?” Sandra asked sharply. “What’s she doing?”
“Whatever she wants,” Peter said quietly. “I will not force her to come along, but I could certainly use her.”
“I want to go,” Claire said firmly.
“Oh, Claire,” Sandra sighed.
“Mom, this keeps happening to me,” she explained. “I’d rather it happened because I chose it to. Stay here with Lyle, you’ll be fine.”
“I don’t like you talking that way to me,” Sandra said. But her tone spoke less of disrespect and more of the thought of a child becoming independent being sad.
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Don’t be.”
“Where exactly are you going?” Mr. Bennet asked Peter.
Peter sized him up before answering with a vague description of his quest.
“I have reason to believe Sylar is still alive. I would like to stop him and I need Hiro to help me. I’m going to get him and then we’ll go from there.”
“Hiro Nakamura?”
“Yes. Do you know him?”
“Of him.”
“Course he does,” came a new voice. “His father was involved in the whole thing.”
Claude had come into their midst. Mr. Bennet was not shocked to see him, but disconcerted. Claude grinned.
“Like a ghost, yeah? Well, these are my orphans now, so you can bog off back to your precious company.”
“Claire will always be my child,” Mr. Bennet said firmly.
“Since we gave her to ya, sure,” Claude answered. “But the point being that we’ve got important work going on here. I’ve got to get these bloody amateurs up to par before we’re all doomed.”
“But you, you’re…”
“I’m what? Slightly deranged? Happens when your partner turns on you.”
“I was doing my job,” Mr. Bennet said firmly.
“You were moral-less,” Claude shot back. “And gutless and co-dependent.”
“I was no worse than you. I’ve made my choice now.”
“But only after it hit close to home.”
“Not my fault.”
“But so many other things are,” Claude reminded him. “Don’t get me started on the list. Not that that’s the point. What are you doing here anyway?”
“Peter, I’m not so sure this is the best place for my family now,” Mr. Bennet said, turning to Peter. “Perhaps we should leave.”
“Your decision.”
“Don’t go now, we’re just getting to the fun part,” Claude taunted him.
“Sweetie,” Sandra addressed Mr. Bennet. “You have to get back. That Candice girl is waiting for you and she’s on her own.”
“But Claude is…”
“Claude’s what?” Claude prompted. “Your ex-partner, a mutated human, perhaps a cat with nine bloody lives?”
Mr. Bennet looked around the room, obviously thinking furiously.
“I have to go,” he finally said. “Claire, Sandra, I love you. Tell Lyle goodbye for me. I will keep you updated, Peter.”
“Goodbye,” they all said, except for Claude. He just stared in the direction Mr. Bennet was exiting.
“I think I won that round,” he said softly to himself.
This chapter's title is from a Missy Higgins song.
Chapter Four:
Nathan really didn’t know how to look anyone in the eye. Despite his well learned politician veneer, he felt shame. Part of him was ashamed to look at Heidi, Peter or Claire for his personal failings regarding each of them, as well as for even considering letting a bomb destroy so many lives. The other part of him was afraid to look at his mother to see himself through her eyes as weak and yielding.
He’d come home to find his brother in charge, assertive and taking initiative. People with abilities seemed to have flocked to the house.
What he really wanted to do was rush into Congress and forget everything. But even that would only cause more problems. So he stayed missing to the outside world. He felt useless.
He’d been home for two days now. Apart from the initial relief and a brief shower of attention, everyone left him alone. So that’s why he was surprised when Peter came into his study.
“We have to talk,” his brother said without preamble.
“Not now, Pete.”
“Yes now,” Peter said firmly. “Our entire family is going to talk now. It has to be done or none of us will ever get anywhere. There are important things happening.”
“Why are you…?” Nathan trailed off, suddenly not wanting to know. “Fine, let’s go.”
“Thank you.” Peter left and went into the living room with Nathan behind him. Heidi, Angela, and Claire waited for them there. Each looked as uncomfortable as the other two felt.
Everybody settled in, but nobody said anything. Then after awhile, to everyone’s surprise, including her own, Angela spoke,
“This has been going on for years,” she announced. “My husband and I were part of an organization that used their abilities for good. But we all had different ideas about what the greater good is. Because of my own ability, I often disagreed with the popular view.”
“What is it?” Peter asked, knowing it would be in his repertoire also.
“Think, Peter,” she said dryly. “Use the brain you must have under all that hair.”
“My dreams,” he gasped. “That’s why you said it couldn’t be stopped. You saw it happen.”
“I did. So you can understand my trying to change the aftermath instead of the disaster.”
“Never stop trying to change what seems inevitable,” Peter told her. “You just saw that it can be altered.”
“Yes.” Angela didn’t say anymore.
“You used me,” Nathan said after an awkward silence. Angela turned toward him.
“But you didn’t go through with letting Peter blow up New York.”
“Not really the point, Ma.”
“I’m happy you’re strong this way, Nathan,” she said finally. “I think a little more attention to family and some openness would help everyone.”
Nathan didn’t look at Heidi.
“We all know what each other can do?” Peter questioned everyone. There were nods all over. “So we have a pretty amazing family.”
“I do seem to be the outcast,” Heidi said self-deprecatingly. “Even my children will be what I’m not.”
“We need you,” Peter said softly. Nathan whispered even more quietly,
“You ground me.” She smiled a real smile at him. He found himself smiling back.
“There’s a man named Sylar on the loose,” Peter brought up another issue. “I have to stop him. I would like help. But before that can happen, we need to do some things. I have to find Hiro Nakamura, whom all of you know of. But there are other people out there apparently. We need protection from them and perhaps from ourselves. I think Claude can help us do that.”
“The other people could be my dad,” Claire said softly.
“I’m sorry, Claire,” Peter told her gently. “Still, I think your dad wants to protect you more than anything.”
“I know,” she said. “I think he’ll help now, but he still really only wants to protect me, not anybody else.”
“We’ll deal with that,” he told her. “I think you should stay and learn from Claude, what do you think?”
“I agree,” she said without elaborating.
“Claire,” Nathan said suddenly. “I-I saw Meredith.”
All heads turned.
“And?” Claire asked. Nathan took a deep breath.
“I suppose I better just tell you what happened.” So Nathan explained the events from his view of the explosion until he landed in Texas and Meredith’s sheltering of him and his subsequent departure.
“She said to tell you she was sorry,” Nathan informed Claire.
“For what?” she asked.
“I don’t know. But I think we all should maybe apologize for things.”
“Thanks,” she said and turned away.
“You have three families really,” Angela told Claire. “Your adopted family, your birth father’s family and your birth mother. They’ve all made mistakes, but I think you’re where you belong.”
“And you’re always right, Ma,” Peter said sarcastically.
“I’m sorry, Peter,” she said, turning to him. “Do you have something else you would like to say to me?”
His expression softened a hair. He knew what it was like to be obsessed with knowing his dream would come true.
“Talk to us,” he said instead of yelling at her for trying to get him to blow up and become a mass murderer.
“Okay,” she said simply. “Now you best go rally your friends, seeing as we are all in the know about everything.”
“Okay,” Peter repeated. They all scattered, Peter and Claire going to talk to Claude and Ando. Angela retained some of her secrecy and didn’t tell anyone where she was going. Nathan and Heidi were left alone.
“I’m sorry, Heidi,” Nathan said, meeting her eyes for what felt like the first time since the accident. “You know what happened, you know about me, our kids, Linderman, my guilt, Meredith and Claire. Yet you’re still here,” he ended in amazement.
“Grit comes with the territory,” she said, standing up and walking (walking!) over to him. “Rough patches.” She sat by his side and took his hand. Nathan felt a sudden need to actually talk to his wife, something that hadn’t happened in a long time.
“Let’s talk, okay?” he inquired. “I have to tell you everything. It might make you hate me. But if you still don’t, can we see our boys?” Heidi gave him a genuine look of pure happiness.
“I’ll hear you out. And I can arrange that.”
***
He finally just dropped onto the couch clutching a photograph. DL was out of ideas. It frustrated him to no end because he’d always had a plan, something substantial, to motivate him. His brain never shut off and his body was always ready for action. Except for now.
He wondered how long he’d been here. Time really had no bearing, but he could feel a smothering weight settle over him. He was so tired.
But he was also determined. He gazed at Micah and Niki. He needed them so much!
DL started in surprise. He could’ve sworn he could hear her speaking to him. It was from far away and…was her picture moving?
“Baby, please wake up. I know this is all my fault. I became her and I blamed you. I let them take our son. But you can’t run away from me now!” Niki was crying wherever she was. It broke his heart.
“Mom, are you okay?” Now Micah was talking.
“Yeah, sweetie.” He could hear her brushing the tears away, getting herself under control. “I just want your dad to wake up really bad.”
“So do I. I wanted both of you back and I kept having just one at a time. It’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not,” Niki and DL said at the same time.
“Hold on, Micah,” DL whispered, looking at the picture of his family. “I’m coming for you. You and your mom.”
He meant it.
***
He wasn’t exactly trying to dream, but Peter wouldn’t have minded having one that helped him know what he was supposed to do. And he was tired.
Everyone kept looking to him, even Nathan, for heaven’s sake. Peter felt like he should be enemy number one, instead, Claire teasingly called him ‘Super Everything Man’ and Ando had picked it up. Somehow, he knew Hiro would too.
He had to admit; he was in a perfect spot to empathize with everyone, being able to do what each of them could. And if it weren’t for all of the others, including the powerless, he would be nothing.
In the end, he did dream. It felt hazy while he was going through it, but when he woke up he could recall it with perfect clarity.
He was standing on a grassy hill. He could barely make out some buildings far away, but everything else was open, unused.
Peter walked down the hill but when he reached it, he was in a primitive room. Hiro was there and Peter could see an emptiness in his eyes. Hiro was without his powers.
“He like you, Peter Petrelli,” Hiro said without looking at him. “Only you are better. You take without stealing, he steals and never gives back.”
Peter found he couldn’t say anything.
“Kensei rules Japan and me,” Hiro continued. “I was not made to die in 1671-so I’m told.” Then he laughed. “But Super Everything Man will save me!”
Then Peter knew he was just dreaming. Hiro faded away and Peter woke with a start, as he always did from a dream that was more than a dream. But, he reasoned with himself, now he could find Hiro.
***
“Much as it warms the cockles of my heart to know you had a dream,” Claude scoffed at Peter. “You’ve still got some rounding up to do, lad. All your little friends need training, no matter how many Japanese kids end up in the bloody seventeenth century.”
“You’re going to be a great teacher, you know that?” Peter said dryly as he got his phone and called Mohinder.
“Dr. Suresh.”
“It’s Peter.”
“What’s happening?”
“I know where Hiro is. But I need you to talk to everyone you know like us and see if they are willing to get training from Claude and to help find Sylar. Have them meet us here at my house. I hope to leave soon and be back as soon as possible.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Mohinder reassured him. Peter thanked him and hung up and turned back to Claude.
“There, I’ve got your pupils, I’m just going to fetch one more.”
But just then there was a knock at the door. Peter went to the entryway and saw Claire opening the door and joy and fear crossing her face. Standing there was her family.
***
After Mohinder hung up the phone, he sat down and stared at it for a few moments. As anxious as he had been to secure Peter’s help, now that events were moving forward, he was reminded of what was at stake and who would be involved. He moved into the kitchen where Molly was sitting, coloring at the table.
“Dr. Suresh,” she beamed up at him. He smiled slightly and sat down next to her.
“Molly, I want to talk to you about something very important.”
“Okay.” Her face was so trusting.
“You have an amazing ability, Molly. You already know that people may try to hurt you for it. I’m very sorry for that. I also know that you can’t use your ability right now until my blood has a chance to fix you entirely. But I have some friends who want to try to help you learn more about yourself and what you can do. It would be really great if you could do that and also, help us find anyone who would hurt you.” Molly processed the information for a few minutes.
“Like the bogeyman. He didn’t die.”
“Like the bogeyman.” Molly reached over to him and placed a kiss on his cheek.
“Of course I’ll help. I want to learn and not be sick.”
“I will help you with that, Molly, I promise,” Mohinder whispered to her. “Now would you like to visit Officer Parkman?”
She nodded vigorously and ran to get the coat he’d bought her the day before.
They arrived at the hospital and were admitted straight away to see Matt. Janice had been as good as her word in letting them in to see him any time. They found the two of them awake and cheerful in Matt’s room.
“You’re awake,” Molly squealed and flung herself at Matt. He smiled and winced at the same time, but wrapped his arms around the little girl.
“I said I’d watch over you and I will,” he assured her.
“You’re going to be all better?” she asked anxiously. He nodded.
“The doctors say he’ll be fine,” Janice said to herself as much as to Molly.
“That’s wonderful news,” Mohinder said. “I do hope we’re not intruding.”
“I’m glad to see Molly,” Matt said. “And you. We haven’t really met under good circumstances.”
“No, I’m afraid not,” Mohinder agreed. “But I fear I don’t come today under any better ones, unless you count Molly here.”
“Which I do,” Matt inserted, to Molly’s delight.
“I don’t know if you would want to talk in private or not,” Mohinder began. “But what I have to say is of a secretive nature.”
“I’ve finally come clean to the wife,” Matt answered good naturedly. “Unless you’d like Molly to leave, I’m good.”
Janice squeezed Matt’s hand appreciatively.
“As you wish. I have reason to believe that Sylar survived the attack from Hiro Nakamura.”
“Who?”
“A Japanese teleporter. He stabbed Sylar after you were shot, but then disappeared. Peter Petrelli is going to fetch him. But at the moment what concerns me is the fact that Sylar is still at large and possibly killing and gaining more abilities.”
“That wouldn’t be pretty,” Matt agreed.
“I have asked for Peter’s help, but I’m asking for everyone whose ability I know of to help me find him and put an end to him once and for all. In the meantime, Peter has found a man who could possibly help people with abilities control and develop their powers. We’d like to know your position on helping and/or being involved with that.”
Matt looked at Janice. He found his answer in her eyes.
“I’ll help. I’m pretty useless at the moment, but I’ll pitch in when I’m walking. But my family comes first.”
“I understand,” Mohinder said. “Molly and I will leave you to it. We’d like to meet at the Petrelli home. I shall contact you with more information.”
“Thanks.” Molly gave Matt one more hug and exchanged a shy embrace with Janice. Then they left to find Niki and Micah.
They were in DL’s room. He didn’t look very good. He was still in his coma and the doctors had apparently lost hope.
“Hi.” Niki stirred as she saw their guests and covered Micah with a blanket as he lay sleeping, slumped over his Gameboy.
“I know this is a terrible intrusion,” Mohinder began.
“You’re letting us stay at your apartment,” Niki interrupted. “I think you’ve
earned some leeway.”
“Thank you. But I’m afraid I’m here on business.”
“I can always handle more of that,” she said wryly. “What can I do for you?”
“You remember Sylar?”
“Nasty guy at the plaza. Hit him with a parking meter.”
“That would be the one. Well, he survived and he most likely will be going on a killing spree.”
“Not a good thing,” Niki surmised.
“Precisely. I would like anyone’s help I can get in stopping him. I know it’s an awful lot to ask, but all three of you could contribute a lot to the task.”
“Yeah, we probably could.” Niki laughed a little bitterly. “It feels like we’re cursed that way.”
“I can see you probably don’t want to take that part of the offer then. But I do have something else as well. Peter Petrelli, whom you met at the plaza, knows someone who can help people with abilities. Help them control their powers; learn about them. We’ll be meeting at his home for both parts.”
Niki didn’t say anything for a while.
“I can go if you need more time,” Mohinder offered. Molly sat looking at Micah as if she wished he’d wake up and play with her.
“It’s okay,” Niki finally said. “I want to help, but my family is more important to me right now.” She smoothed the hair off of Micah’s brow. “DL has to wake up before I can make any decisions. But let me know what’s going on, okay?”
“Of course. We’ll let you be.”
“See you back home,” she said, turning back to her husband.
“Yes.” Molly waved goodbye to Niki who gave her a small wink. Mohinder and Molly left, with Mohinder thinking that he hadn’t done so badly.
***
Peter strode quickly to Claire’s side.
“Please come in.” He gestured the Bennets inside. Claire instantly hugged her mother whom she had not seen in what seemed like forever. After Sandra had clung to her, Claire turned to Lyle, who looked pleased to see her.
“Hey,” she said, giving him a tiny hug.
“Hi, freak,” he said quietly teasing. Claire let the corners of her mouth turn up slightly.
“Daddy?” She turned to her father and gave him a hug. “What’s going on?”
“Let’s sit down,” he said, avoiding the question and leading his family forward.
“In here,” Peter said, taking them into the living room. “Would you like anything? Do you need privacy?”
“I would like you to stay, Peter,” Mr. Bennet told him. “This concerns you too. But perhaps Lyle could get something in the kitchen?”
“I’ll be right back,” Peter answered and took Lyle to the kitchen and set him up with some cookies and the television.
Claire was left with her parents. Sandra couldn’t keep her eyes from Claire.
“Mom, are you okay? What about your head?”
“Oh the doctors are working on it,” Sandra replied, brushing it off. “I need lots of rest and your dad thought I could get it better up here.”
“Where I’m bunking with a bunch of freaks with powers?” Claire inquired of her father. He didn’t answer her. Peter came back into the room and sat down next to Claire.
Mr. Bennet stood and faced the other three.
“I’ve been trying to stop anyone from coming after you or anybody like you,” he explained. “But it’s difficult. There have been a lot of serious blows to the company, including the deaths of some important people and the loss of both of their tracking systems. Yet there are a lot of people who I never even knew were involved, insisting that you’re dangerous and a whole lot of other things.”
“Should we be worried?” Peter asked, furrowing his forehead.
“Not yet. I’m holding them at bay, but it’s taking all my time. I want my family to be safe. I’d like to ask you to keep them that way, Peter.”
“Of course, sir,” Peter readily agreed. “But I am currently undertaking a rather important…mission, I guess, is the word.”
“What about Claire?” Sandra asked sharply. “What’s she doing?”
“Whatever she wants,” Peter said quietly. “I will not force her to come along, but I could certainly use her.”
“I want to go,” Claire said firmly.
“Oh, Claire,” Sandra sighed.
“Mom, this keeps happening to me,” she explained. “I’d rather it happened because I chose it to. Stay here with Lyle, you’ll be fine.”
“I don’t like you talking that way to me,” Sandra said. But her tone spoke less of disrespect and more of the thought of a child becoming independent being sad.
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Don’t be.”
“Where exactly are you going?” Mr. Bennet asked Peter.
Peter sized him up before answering with a vague description of his quest.
“I have reason to believe Sylar is still alive. I would like to stop him and I need Hiro to help me. I’m going to get him and then we’ll go from there.”
“Hiro Nakamura?”
“Yes. Do you know him?”
“Of him.”
“Course he does,” came a new voice. “His father was involved in the whole thing.”
Claude had come into their midst. Mr. Bennet was not shocked to see him, but disconcerted. Claude grinned.
“Like a ghost, yeah? Well, these are my orphans now, so you can bog off back to your precious company.”
“Claire will always be my child,” Mr. Bennet said firmly.
“Since we gave her to ya, sure,” Claude answered. “But the point being that we’ve got important work going on here. I’ve got to get these bloody amateurs up to par before we’re all doomed.”
“But you, you’re…”
“I’m what? Slightly deranged? Happens when your partner turns on you.”
“I was doing my job,” Mr. Bennet said firmly.
“You were moral-less,” Claude shot back. “And gutless and co-dependent.”
“I was no worse than you. I’ve made my choice now.”
“But only after it hit close to home.”
“Not my fault.”
“But so many other things are,” Claude reminded him. “Don’t get me started on the list. Not that that’s the point. What are you doing here anyway?”
“Peter, I’m not so sure this is the best place for my family now,” Mr. Bennet said, turning to Peter. “Perhaps we should leave.”
“Your decision.”
“Don’t go now, we’re just getting to the fun part,” Claude taunted him.
“Sweetie,” Sandra addressed Mr. Bennet. “You have to get back. That Candice girl is waiting for you and she’s on her own.”
“But Claude is…”
“Claude’s what?” Claude prompted. “Your ex-partner, a mutated human, perhaps a cat with nine bloody lives?”
Mr. Bennet looked around the room, obviously thinking furiously.
“I have to go,” he finally said. “Claire, Sandra, I love you. Tell Lyle goodbye for me. I will keep you updated, Peter.”
“Goodbye,” they all said, except for Claude. He just stared in the direction Mr. Bennet was exiting.
“I think I won that round,” he said softly to himself.
