Disclaimer: I do not own any of these people, places, or things nor the rights to them.

This is my first ever fic. Not a native speaker and it's unbeta'd so please disregard any misspelling or grammatical errors. Please review if you have any comments. Rating this 'M' for language, violence, and probably some smut down the line.

Sylaire fic, that takes place directly after "Brave New World." So spoilers through the entire series.

"Shit."

Noah Bennet wasn't the kind of man that cursed very often, but when the occasion called for profanity, he wouldn't hesitate to let it out. The occasion called for it.

It had happened in a flash. She had changed the world and there was a pit deep in her stomach. She didn't know what was going to happen but she was tired of hiding her ability. It was a relief, for the first time she could remember she was in charge of her life not her ability.

The cameras pressed in closer, surrounding her. Microphones force down her throat with questions attached that she couldn't answer. She couldn't breathe or move. Claire stuttered. Her savior was probably the most disappointed person among the crowd.

Noah Bennet, who had tried to prevent this exact moment all of Claire's life, pushed in front of her. Shielding her from the flashing bulbs and reporters; he protected her even with his heart ripped out of his chest. His vague answers and attempts to deflect questions were obvious damage control. But, there wasn't anything to control now. Most of the news feed was going out live and none of the reporters were going to let a story like this die.

Noah turned around when he realized his daughter wasn't behind him anymore. He caught a glimpse of Claire being led away from the rabid reporters by the arm. Noah started answering more questions, drawing attention away from Claire's escape as her uncle pulled her along deeper into Central Park. His eyes met Peter's, and with a nod Peter disappeared behind a carnival booth.

"Peter… where are we going?" she questioned.

"They're finding a car on the other side of the park. We need to get you out of here," Peter answered not looking back at his niece. He dragged her the entire way, making sure nobody followed them.

The streetlights from above illuminated the small parking lot. Though cars filled the lot, only two figures stood within eyesight, an already running SUV next to them. The woman stood leaning against the driver's side door. The tall dark man stood with his back to them talking to her as Peter and Claire approached.

"Got one running?" Peter inquired placing his hand on the man's shoulder.

"Cars are a lot easier than watches," he said smiling and looking back at Peter. His eyes locked on the small blonde still being pulled along, the shock in them disclosing the fact that he didn't expect Claire to return with Peter. "Hello cheerleader."

Anger boiled over inside of her. She turned to Peter not acknowledging Sylar's greeting.

"Peter. What the hell is this? He- he-," she stuttered, so shocked and angered, that all words were lost. She could only think of one thing. It crept out of her mouth like a whisper. "He killed Nathan."

"It's a long story," Peter started to explain. "A very long story," he said glancing back at Sylar for a second. "But, what you just did… it changes everything. And… we will… we… we just have to get out of here. Especially, before the cameras come looking for you."

"News crews might be the least of our worries," Sylar said with a piercing glare going straight through Claire.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" she said, still fuming from her father's murder's presence. Peter climbed into the driver's seat. Emma joined him in the front in the passenger's seat as they talked.

"It means get in the car," he quipped back calmly, opening the rear driver's side door for her. Coolly, she walked towards the open door but, instead quickly turned and threw a right cross up into Sylar's cheek. The unexpected punch rocked him. He stumbled back a few steps. Even with fire in his eyes, he clinched his fist and held them at his sides. At his sides even as Claire stepped forward to attack again. Seeing that he wasn't going to fight back she decided to opt for a combination. A fury left and rights struck his face.

Sylar fell backwards and landed on his side. He felt the impact of her boot on his nose. He felt it dislodge as blood poured out of his nostrils. Claire looked down at the man she was pummeling in time to she his nose shift back into place. Seeing her own ability used by him set her ablaze. But, to her consternation, she only got in two more good kicks before her uncle pulled away from Sylar's bloodied body.

"Damn it, Claire, calm down," Peter insisted.

"No. I am pretty sure I deserve a lot worse than that," Sylar said sitting up and realigning his jaw then wiping the blood from his face with the sleeve of his dark coat.

"You're damn right you do, you son of a bitch," Claire yelled still flailing in Peter's grasp.

Peter turned Claire to face him, holding her by the shoulders.

"Claire, can you please just hold off for now. I will explain everything. But, this isn't the place or time to work through this."

"There isn't anything to 'work through,' Peter," she said through a set jaw, "He has to pay for all the people he's killed, the lives he's ruined."

"Your absolutely right, Claire," Sylar agreed, "I have paid and will continue to pay for what I have done. But, why don't we get to better scenery before you beat the hell out of me."

"I am not going to beat anything out of you," Claire murmured matter-of-factly with a satisfied smile on her face, "I am going to kill you."

"Claire, I said calm down," Peter yelled now officially annoyed with his niece, "And, please, don't threaten my friend's life."

"Your friend? Your friend?" the disgust in Claire's voice was palpable, "Let me tell you about some of the things your friend has done..."

"Claire! That's enough!" Claire recoiled as Peter's voice boomed through the parking lot. She had seen him mad but not like this. "Get in the car."

She pushed past him; her eyes still narrowed and fixed on Sylar as she stepped into the spacious SUV. Sylar went around the back of the car and got into the seat next her.

"So you're just going to stick me back here with him?" Claire snapped at her uncle.

"Emma this is Claire, she's me niece," Peter said ignoring Claire's question while putting the SUV in gear and exiting the parking lot. Emma turned around in her seat to look at Claire.

"Nice to meet you," Emma signed as she talked out of habit. "Samuel talked about you a lot."

"Nice to meet you, too," Claire responded, with an undertone of annoyance. Not with Emma, but being stuck in the backseat of a car with Sylar.

"Claire, how could you do that? Not everyone with an ability wants to be out in the open," Peter said prodding at her with his words.

"People are welcome to keep their secrets. I just was tired of mine," she said her forehead was now resting on the window as streetlights illuminated her face from the darkness every few seconds. She was, once again, not in control of her life, in the backseat of a car with no definite destination.

"I think it was courageous. Maybe not the best venue, but it was something no one else was brave enough to do," Sylar interjected.

"Oh thanks, I am really glad I have the approval of a murdering sociopath. That's exactly why I did it," she said, the nod of her head almost as sarcastic as her words. "Why don't you just leave us the hell alone."

"Claire don't talk to him like that," Peter commanded sternly.

"What is this? You guys are all buddy-buddy? And, now you're protecting him? Peter he murdered your brother and countless others. He cut my head open. And now you're picking him over me?" Her questioning had turned into screaming half way through her tirade.

"Claire, you know that's not true," he said reaching to the seat behind him offering his hand to her. "Claire, you're my family. You're my only real tie to Nathan."

"You sure your only tie to Nathan isn't the last person to have seen him alive, the person that lived as him for months?" she said nodding her head towards Sylar and folding her arms in front of her chest declining Peter's hand.

"Claire, I know it has to be terrible and strange for you, but I am a different person now. And I want to make it up to all the people I've hurt," Sylar said somberly. His words caught in his throat, "Well, the ones that are still alive."

"And you are buying this crap, Peter? Master manipulator here is playing you," Claire yelled, bearing her teeth. "There is some angle here and you don't see it."

"Claire, everyone else has done the manipulating in my view. I have been lied to, used, and controlled, mostly by your family. And, now I am trying to do something-" he stopped himself mid-sentence realizing he was now yelling. "I just want to change Claire, and I will leave you alone. But, Peter is helping me."

"Let's just get back to my apartment and we can work it out from there," Peter said mediating between Claire and Sylar.

"Just take me back to my dad's place," Claire pleaded.

"No, I think it's not a good idea for you to be alone, with media still buzzing around New York looking for the indestructible girl," Peter joked looking back at her in the rearview mirror hoping to lighten the mode.

"No, I am not going anywhere with him," she scoffed nodding towards Sylar.

"You know what? Fine. Peter pull over. I will come by your apartment once everything has clamed down," Sylar demanded.

"Do you really think you should be alone… again?" Peter questioned softly.

"I'll be okay. This obviously can't work. Just pull over here," Sylar reasoned,

Peter grudgingly complied, finding an acceptable place to pull over. It had started raining outside. Sylar flicked the collar of his peacoat up, before exiting into the dark street.

"Emma, it was very nice to meet you," he said after tapping her on the shoulder to get her attention. Emma exited the car, as he opened his door. He was surprised when she met him outside of the car and pulled him into an embrace. His arms stayed out to his sides awkwardly for a moment before finding an acceptable spot on her back.

"Thank you for saving me," she signed and spoke as they broke the hug.

"It was no problem, good-bye Emma," he said smiling sheepishly and rubbing the back of his neck.

"Good-bye."

Emma re-entered the car as Sylar's shape disappeared into the darkness of New York's streets.

The drive continued relatively quietly. After about a half a mile the car began to shake violently.

"Peter!" Claire screamed from the backseat.

"I'm not doing it!" he yelled back.

Peter could feel the tire's grip on the road waning. The car rocked from side to side. Peter swerved trying to keep the tall car balanced. Over-correcting, he pulled the steering wheel to his right. The car slid perpendicular to the street for a second before it tilted too far. The driver's side hit the pavement first. Momentum pulled the car onto its roof and over again until it rested on the passenger's side.

Slowly a dark figure stalked out of the shadowed alley towards the wreckage in the middle of the street. His prey only feet away, he could feel the infinite power so close.