Chapter 1: Safe Haven

8 Months Later

Costa Verde- Virgil Dupre

The restless Cajun checked into the Sleepy Time motel and quickly took out a stack of files from his bag and covered the bed with them.

His cell phone started vibrating and he picked it up, it was Marek.

"What else you've got fer me," he took hold a pen and started to take notes.

"Sylar is responsible for countless murders. You have all the files that I've been able to access from The Company database. Since killing the man in New York there haven't been any murders tied to Sylar. They've also got on here that he has a wife now. Did you know about this?" Marek's voice became concerned.

"I saw 'er through a kitchen windo the last time I was 'ere," Virgil's eyes looked over at the photo was of a man in a suit, "Na'tan Pe'trelli, of course. I'll start with yeh," he said to himself.

"Be careful Virgil, this man is highly dangerous. Isabel is worried about you…we all are," Marek confessed.

"I thank yeh fer your concern. Tell Isabel and the others I'll be home soon and I'll check with yeh tomorrow. Keeping tapping the Company database and let me know if anything enterestn' comes up. Night Marek."

He hanged up the phone and could hear the rain start to fall outside.

Over the past couple of months it was evident that Sylar needed to be forced into joining them, because having him on the other side would mean failure. It wasn't something Virgil wanted to do, but using his abilities to manipulate Sylar's vision might reignite the anger that's still inside him somewhere.

Virgil had been working on this plan while back at home with the others. Marek had a special gift with computers and it was easy to grab files without leaving a trace.

The day that he feared the most was when they'd find their hideout. Suspicious looking men in town led them all to believe that they were close. Now they were prepared, but having a safe location was not something he was willing to give up without a fight.

Costa Verde- Sylar and Kate

Sylar was checking his surroundings, it was dark and the asphalt was wet. A shadow ran by him and he started to chase after it.

"Stop!" he shouted to the woman and even tried to use his power, but realized this was a vision, it wasn't real...yet.

For a moment she stopped to turn back, looking right through him. And as Sylar turned around he saw who was chasing her, it was Virgil, the man that had come to his house eight months ago.

When he turned back she was gone, but a loud screaming pierced the silenced and he ran towards it. A man was lying dead by the woman's feet…It wasn't until later that he realized this woman's ability killed him by accident.

"Get away from me! I told you I wasn't interested in working for you. I'm looking for Sylar; he knows what I've been through. I can't control this power." She looked down at the dead man on the street and sighed, "follow me again and you'll end up like him."

Sylar found himself back in bed staring at his reflection in the large closet door mirror.

Kate's nails lightly scratched his back, "Are you okay? You're sweating."

He turned around and faced her, "I saw him going after a woman. It was dark and it looked like downtown Los Angeles, which is not far from here. I'm going to check it out tomorrow night. I don't know her name, or what she can do, but she said my name. She said she was looking for me."

"For you? How? Why would someone want something from you?" Kate tried to sit up but it was greeted by a kick in her stomach, "Ow…I can't wait to have this baby."

"I know. You've been strong Babe." He got up as his mind kept thinking back.

Sylar went over to the window and looked out at the rain, "her ability…it must be what he wants from her. That's why he came here...because he knew that I have power."

"So you're saying he's still building an army. That he's just going to march up to the white house and expose us?"

"Yeah, I do. Bennet and Angela are working on finding their hideout. No luck, but they know he's somewhere in Harvey, Louisiana. None of that matters anyway. Virgil's here and I'm going to take him down. Then we can move on."

Kate put a pillow over her face, "I thought we were through with them...helping them. I don't understand your loyalty to them after what they did to you."

"I still have power over them and they need me, I don't need them." Sylar reflected on that a moment, it was true, but perhaps a tiny part of him still needed them.

New York City- Peter Petrelli

Peter and his partner were responding to a three car accident on the Brooklyn Bridge. Every time he went on that bridge painful memories rose within him. He often had strange dreams of people he couldn't recall ever meeting and of pent up rage inside him.

"Dude you alright?" his partner's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Yeah…just had some trouble sleeping last night."

"Right…" He said not believing Peter's countless excuses for his strange moods. "You should think about taking some time off you know? You've been working nonstop since boss made us partners."

"I'm fine. But you're right….I'll think about it."

When they arrived a woman was helping an older man with a head wound to the curb. Another vehicle was upright, but it looked like it had rolled over during the crash. Inside was a young teen unconscious but there was no visible wounds.

"We've got some head trauma over here," he called out.

With the help of his buddy they were able to get the man out and onto a stretcher. However there was one more car involved and suddenly a spark ignited from leaking gasoline. Flames shot up from the car's engine and were coming close to their victim.

Peter tried to get closer but the heat was too intense. The flames were spreading quickly.

The crowd that had gathered to watch on the bridge started to yell as a blonde haired woman came running. With quick speed she raced to the driver door and pulled it open with her bare hands. The heat of the metal must have burnt her to the bone.

People were screaming for someone to stop her, someone to pull her away from the scene. However no one dared to get close to the flames.

A concerned look was fabricated on Peter's face but it couldn't hide his feeling of surprise.

The badly burned young woman pulled the driver out and his partner took hold of them while Peter wrapped a large blanket around the woman to shield her wounds from the crowd.

"What were you thinking Claire? People can't see you going into flames and coming out unharmed."

"I know. I was just driving and I came to see what was holding up traffic. It was a gut instinct I guess. Is he gonna be alright?" she curiously asked.

"Yeah," he chuckled, "He's going to fine."

Peter's partner came and tapped him on the shoulder, "Come on, we gotta deliver this guy now. Hi Claire," he gave her smile, "Nice work out there."

She grinned back, "Thanks Toby."

Toby and Claire had met while she tried her hand at college. As it turned out Toby was just as special as they were. He could manipulate animals of any kind, which he displayed for them using Mr. Muggles after he went to have dinner with her family.

It was simply luck that brought Toby to Peter and they became good partners on the field as paramedics.

"Shifts over now, let's meet up for lunch once I'm done here?" Peter asked Claire.

She nodded; this was actually why she had come to Manhattan. "Alrighty, let's meet at the usual place then."

"Ok got it. Take care Claire," he said before hopping into the bus and watching her slyly leave the scene.

Peter drove as quickly as he could with Toby in the back stabilizing the driver.

"Dude I still can't believe that's your niece! You sure she's not seeing anyone?" Toby gushed.

Peter laughed it off, "I don't wanna hear it Toby…"

Once they were all done for the day, Peter and Toby parted ways as he left to meet Claire to talk.

After Nathan's funeral they had drifted apart. Claire went to college and he went back into the medical field. They'd meet every once in a while, but it wasn't like before.

Peter sat down at the table and placed his order.

"I'm thinking about taking some time off work and working for the Company again," he confessed. "I've been thinking about it a lot lately. About what we've been through and about the others that are out there and how scared they might be. I want to reach them; I want to tell them that a normal life is possible."

Claire nodded, "I know what you mean Peter. But I tried working there before I went to college and it was too much stress. I can't…give these people hope of a normal life when I know that mine is anything but normal. I was thinking about becoming an activist. I worked at the animal shelter for a couple months. Seeing the abuses of these poor animals that couldn't defend themselves made me sick. I want to do something about it; I think having a purpose to do something that's real is what I need to do."

"Uhh. Yeah I guess," he was a little surprised by her choice. "I think you'd make a great activist Claire, and if you're passionate it about it then do it."

She raised her brow, "what? You think I'm joking?"

"No, I didn't say that! Geeze. Have you even told your dad yet?"

Her eyes shifted away, "No…he's been so busy with work. I don't even think he remembers that I quit school."

Peter felt bad; Noah could get caught up in his work easily. "Oh, speaking of animals, Toby still won't shut up about you," he laughed.

"Still? Oh my god," Claire laughed and at that moment things seemed just like they used to be during better times.

New York City: 2 hours later- Angela and Noah

"All the resources this company has and we can't find a group of people in Louisiana?" Angela fired off on her phone to Noah.

"Rural Louisiana. They must have a fortress somewhere in the swamps that can't be reached by car…" Noah explained but she cut him off.

"I'll be sending a team soon to search every inch of that town till we find them. What about the girl? Virgil's possible next target?"

"Well with no name it was difficult. But I have found a woman that matches your description and I'm going to meet her tomorrow."

"Good. I'd use her as bate for Virgil but this one is unstable, if he gets to her first, then we'll never get her back. I gotta go Noah, my son is calling, but call me tomorrow and let me know how it went," she said then clicked to the other line after Noah hanged up.

"Hey Ma."

"Hello Peter, I haven't heard from you in a while."

"Yeah I know. I was thinking…is it possible I could do some work for the Company for a while? I just need a change and I'd like to help."

Angela gave a half a smile, but now really wasn't the time for Peter to decide he wanted back in. She wasn't sure him knowing about Virgil and his plan was such a good idea.

"Well what did you have in mind Peter?"

"I wanna help other people like us. A Safe Haven. I think it would be a good idea; I know that's what I would have wanted when I found out about my abilities. Don't you think it's time we tried to put ourselves out there for them?"

Angela thought this would be a great idea since it would keep Peter busy and also away from the current crisis.

"That's a great idea. I'll come see you tomorrow and we can work this whole thing out. How does that sound?"

Peter was a little confused by how fast she had agreed to this. He wanted to question her about it, but that usually amounted to no good, so he didn't.

"Alright Ma, love you."

"Love you too Peter," she hanged up the phone and Angela got up to make herself a drink.