Title: Shifting Gears

Rating: Teen-Mature

This is set shortly after Powerless (the end of Season Two) when HRG left to go back to work with the Company, and the Bennet's planned on moving again.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters (except those I make up that exist in my mind and not in the series) and I do not claim to own official characters, locations or anything copyrighted. I'm just borrowing them, I'll give them back unharmed. :)

Claire's POV:

Chapter One: Nostalgia

I've tried remembering the good memories I had of my father. I couldn't believe he had been so cold and seemed so detached. One of the last times I saw him before his passing was when he demanded that I skip school early so we could finish packing the SUV and moving trailer to leave Cape Verde. I always used to watch those Dramatic TV shows and wonder why the girls always seemed so whiney. I suppose one could say I was whiney, but in reality I think I've held up pretty well considering how turbulent the last couple years have been. I do feel guilty that the last thing I said to him was how much I hated him before storming out to the field to meet West. That isn't the only thing I regret though.

I regret not trying to be a better daughter and listening to him. If I had listened to him and stayed, I wouldn't have been kidnapped by Bob and then dad wouldn't have been forced to negotiate a trade off for me with Elle. I would still have my father then...

I remember feeling so shocked and livid at the fact that he was alive, even after Mohinder shot him just like was predicted by the paintings. The only other time I've felt so angry, and torn was after I figured out my memories were erased to ease the pain of the "Brody incident". Some days I wonder why I even wanted my memories back. Then again, it seems like it's necessary that I have my healing power. It's saved not only my life but the lives of others over the past while. Though I may not like it, I'm still connected to all of the people and fellow gifted people I've touched.

Why did he have to come back so suddenly and abruptly? I had just started the whole grieving process and he went and uprooted our family again. And even now we're apparently going to Salt Lake and who knows where after that. We have to start over for a second time. Or third, if you count other obstacles I've come across in the last two years. He explained that he'd made a deal with the Company to negotiate that we would be left alone if he continued working for them to keep us safe. I don't buy it for a second, especially with all the lies we both seem to tell each other.

"Claire."

I didn't even register the voice as I continued sealing cardboard boxes.

"Claire!"

"What?" I demanded suddenly to my mother who stood in the kitchen looking at me with empathy dripping from her eyes. She gestured towards my hand and sure enough I looked at it and I had sliced it open several times by getting my anger out with the packing tap dispenser's razor sharp edge.

I sighed, and batted the idea away with my other hand. I didn't even feel little cuts like this anymore. They were pointless and really just a nuisance now, compared to when I first learned about my abilities.

"Here, let me get that." My mother moved over with a damp washcloth to wipe away the drying blood that now dotted my good hand.

I let her wipe my hand gently, even though the accelerated clotting had already taken affect and I was already healed. I opened my mouth, but bit my lip as I thought better of it.

"If there's anything you need, I'm here for you sweetie," she said softly. It was amazing, even though I technically had two mothers and two fathers, how I could only really call the Bennets my true family. Peter though might be an exception to that rule.

"I love you too mom." I murmured before burying my face into her peach coloured sweater and letting myself go to the embrace. I held it for a long moment and then turned my head to gaze out the door my father had exited ten minutes earlier.

"I'm really tired mom; I think I'm going to go have a nap." Yes, I realize it was probably a lame excuse since I haven't taken a nap since I was a toddler running around in in the sprinkler in the hot summers in Odessa. 

Still, my mother didn't argue and nodded sympathetically. "I'll wake you when we finish loading these boxes up."

I didn't need another cue and I turned to leave the kitchen to hurry up the stairs near the door that lead to my room. I shut the door to make sure I was alone as I looked around my room which was devoid of everything except a hollow looking bed frame. Moving towards the white curtained window which overlooked our backyard, I was able to see the chimes swinging in the window just outside the sliding glass door. He wasn't coming. I didn't see him and even though West had objected to me keeping the chimes in the window I put them back up as soon as he had left. I was sick and tired of feeling so helpless as if I was caught in the spider's web, connected to everything around me but with no ability to do anything about it. I just wanted, just needed to forget everything. Maybe then, I'd finally be at peace and not feel like a nervous wreck in addition to being a freak.

I awoke with a start, completely unaware how much time had passed. I didn't wear a watch so the only timepiece I had lying around was my cell phone because everything else was packed and loaded on the truck and that... where was it? I dug around in my purse which sat on the floor beside the empty bed frame and found my cellphone. The digital purple numbers read 8:30pm.

I'd been asleep for four hours?! I guess, considering the emotional turmoil our whole family had experienced in the last few days was enough turmoil to account for a loss of four hours. Still... managing to sleep on an empty bed frame with a blanket and pillow was still an interesting situation to wake up to.

There was a gentle knock on the door and I whirled my in its direction. "Mom?"

There was no answer, so I slid out of my blanket and slowly moved towards the door. I pulled the door open and came face to face with someone who I was only too glad to see.