BLIND
Summary: Takes place after "Family Man" and sometime during "0.07". PAIRE. Claire goes to Peter's apartment and finds Peter after his confrontation with Sylar. (Mohinder brought him there). She ends up staying with him and they fall for one another, but their worlds are turned upside down once they find out they're uncle and niece. R&R
Disclaimer: The plot and characters do not belong to me but to Tim Kring & NBC
Chapter 1
She took a deep breath and paused. Letting out one last sigh, she collected herself and knocked on his door. As her fist made contact with it, the door slightly squealed open.
She pushed it in a bit more and peeked her head in. She called out a 'hello?' but there was no answer. Though she knew she shouldn't, she entered the apartment and scoped it out. Once she was in the living room, there was still no sign of Peter. Or so she thought. A shadow near the coffee table in front of the sofa she was standing behind caught her eye. She peeked closer and kneeled to it hurriedly once she realised what it was. Or rather who. "Peter" she whispered devastated as she saw his lifeless body. She shook her head confused, not understanding how this was possible. After all, wasn't he like her?
She stroked back loose strands of hair that were covering his face.
"I didn't even get to know you. I thought you were like me"
A flashback of the time she had awoken in a morgue after part of a branch was removed from the back of her head came to her. She slightly and delicately turned his face to the side and examined the back of his head. Bingo. She removed a piece of glass that was lodged into his brain. His eyes regained their color and she looked on in disbelief and joy as he gasped for air and sat up to face her.
Peter: "You saved my life" he managed to say between his breaths.
A tear sled down her cheek. She smiled.
Claire: "I guess we're even now"
He brushed it away with the back of his hand.
She quickly got up and ran to the bathroom, her eyes hunting for a piece of cloth. She opened the cabinets and wet the cloth with some disinfectant then immediately ran back to his side.
She applied it on his forehead, on the leftover trail of blood. He cringed as he felt the sting.
Claire: "Sorry, is this okay? She asked as she reapplied it but a bit more gently. The wound healed itself.
He nodded. She saw the expression on his face change from gratitude to worry, as he realised the magnitude of her presence in his apartment, here in New York.
Peter: " Hey, what's happened? Is it Sylar? Did he try to come after you again?" he asked, inching closer, with growing concern.
Claire: "No. No, it's the people my dad works for. They hunt people with…abilities and use them like lab rats."
Peter: "You mean, your father--"
Claire: "No, he tried to protect me, he risked his life to keep them from getting to me, but--" her bottom lip started to quiver so she bit it. She cleared her throat. "Anyway, I can't go home. It's not safe there for me anymore. I just--"
She looks down and fiddles with the hem of her shirt.
'you're the only other person whose ever made me feel safe other than my family' he heard her think.
Claire: "I didn't know where else to go". She vulnerably stated.
Peter: "Hey", he waited till their eyes met. " You came to the right place, ok?" he nodded reassuringly. She nodded back with gratitude.
Peter tried to lift his weight from the floor as he pulled his arms backwards to support himself on the sofa.
Claire got up and put one arm around his waist and raised his on top of her shoulder with her other one to help him stand up straight.
Claire: "Who did this to you?"
Peter looked at her then away and wondered whether this was the best time to tell her that it was Sylar, considering what she just told him about the people her dad works for, she didn't need to have one more thing to be afraid of.
Peter cleared his throat. She could tell he was keeping something from her.
Claire: "What is it?" she probed still helping him stand.
Peter thought that she deserved to know that Sylar was still on the loose and out to kill more people for their powers so she could stay aware and protect herself. He went after her once, he'd surely go after her again given the chance.
Peter: "Sylar. He's here"
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After explaining to Claire what Sylar was after and telling her about the future, Isaac's drawings and Hiro's warnings, he thought he'd give her some time to process all that information and took the opportunity to shower and change. Once he was finished, he came out of the bathroom to find her looking out the balcony.
It was night time. Way past sunset, perhaps even close to sunrise. He came closer to her, yet maintained his distance, drawn in by her thoughts and wanting to give her some space at the same time.
Haitian: 'I work for your father. He sent me here to make you forget. Like he sent me to your friend, and your brother. And to your mother so many times. He'll be here soon, expecting that you won't remember anything. But it is very important that you do. Tell me, Claire. Can you keep a secret?
Mrs. Bennett: 'Go away, you!'
Claire: 'Mom, what's going on?'
Mrs. Bennett: 'This mangy thing came at me out of nowhere. I think it has rabies. Go away! Scat!'
Claire: 'Mom, this is your dog, Mr. Muggles. You love him'.
Mrs. Bennett: 'I don't have a dog. I don't know any Mr. Muggles. And I don't know you'.
Mr. Bennett: 'She had an appointment with a neurologist. Your mother's been having some headaches".
Claire: 'Yeah, she's also been having some memory loss. Did you tell them that?'
Claire: 'Mom, you know how you sometimes forget things?'
Mrs. Bennett: 'It's just some headaches. Honey, I don't want you to worry.'
Claire: 'What if it's not some thing that's responsible for it but someone?'
Mrs. Bennett: 'What on earth are you talking about?'
Claire: 'What if you knew a secret, and they had a way to brainwash you?'
Mrs. Bennnett: 'You have been studying long enough. Let's curl up in my bed, piece of pie, glass of milk, and watch an old Cary Grant movie.'
Claire: 'Mom, I'm serious.'
Mrs. Bennett: 'I know this is a little scary, but Dad's in charge of talking to the doctors, and they will come up with the answers'.
Claire: 'Maybe you shouldn't trust Dad so much.'
Peter was taken aback. He held a more intent gaze at the back of her head.
Mr.Bennett: 'The doctor told me you had an interesting theory about your mom's condition'.
Claire: 'It's not a theory. You did this to her. You erased her mind!'.
Mr. Bennett: 'We'll get through this. Your mom needs us. Lyle, too.'
Claire: 'I don't even know if I'll even remember any of this tomorrow. All I want to do is run away, but I can't. Somebody has to protect this family from you.'
She started to shake, yet he didn't hear the sound of her sobs as she bit them back. She rubbed her shoulders up and down as she felt the wind assault her. He approached her from behind and put a blanket around her. She flinched at first and turned around, forgetting where she was. She saw him, and became calm, remembering. She accepted the blanket and held on to it. She faced him, offered a faint smile and wiped some tears away.
Peter: "Your father, he did all that?"
Claire was taken aback, confused. "what?" had he heard her thoughts?
Peter: "I'm telepathic" he answered. "I'm sorry, I can't always control it. But, what your father did to you--" he give a disgusted look.
She started to well up again shaking her head.
Claire: "No, I told you, he tried to protect me"
Peter: "By wiping your memory away? How can you defend that?"
Claire: "You don't understand"
Peter: " You're right, I don't". He looked at her questioningly. "Help me understand".
He waited. "You can trust me".
'I do' she thought, without hesitation. He led her to the couch and they both sat down.
She looked at him than at his hands. She took one in hers for support, than closed her eyes, letting a swarm of flashbacks come rushing back.
Mr. Bennett: 'Claire, talk to me!'
Claire: 'What's the point? Am I even gonna remember this conversation?'
Mr. Bennett: 'Would you keep your voice down?'
They see Ted who comes out of another room.
Mr. Bennett: 'Lyle, take your mother and get out of the house right now!'
Lyle and Mrs. Bennett come downstairs. Parkman makes his presence known and keeps them from leaving. He points his gun at Mr. Bennett.)
(Mr. Bennett and Claire turn around.)
Parkman: 'I'm sure you have a lot of questions. We all do.'
Mrs. Bennett: 'Honey, what's happening?'
Claire: 'Yeah, Dad, what's happening?'
(Ted looks at his hands.)
Parkman: 'Let's just everyone stay calm. Okay, everyone stay calm, nobody's going to get hurt.'
Mr. Bennett: 'This is Officer Parkman of the LAPD.'
Parkman: 'Formerly of the LAPD thanks to you.'
Mr. Bennett 'What do you want from me? You come into my house with guns?'
Ted: 'Not guns. Gun. I don't need a gun, do I, Mr. Bennett? Not after what you did to me'.
Claire: 'Tell him what he wants to know!'
Parkman: 'Come on! He's willing to kill us all'.
Claire: 'Shoot me if you're going to shoot someone!'
gun shot
Mrs. Bennett: 'No, no, no. Claire. CLAIRE!'
Mr. Bennett: 'You bastard! You killed my little girl!'
Parkman: "If you're thinking about being a hero, don't. That man downstairs can generate a chain reaction which would be like dropping a nuclear bomb on this house'.
Claire: 'You can read my mind.'
Parkman: 'Yeah, that's something your dad did to me'.
Claire: 'It didn't just happen?'
Parkman: 'I wouldn't be here right now if it just happened'.
Claire: 'Has my dad done this to other people?'
Parkman: 'Yeah. As far as I can tell, it's different with everyone. (sighs) I've seen some weird things. I'm sure you have too, like that stuff at your school'.
Claire: (thinking) Peter Petrelli.
Parkman: 'Peter Petrelli? He can do what I can do. What do you know about him?'
Claire: (thinking) He can do what I can do.
Claire: 'Did you make me this way? Is that why you adopted me? Am I some sort of experiment?!'
Mrs. Bennett: 'Don't talk to your father like that'.
Claire: 'He's not my father'.
Mr. Bennett: Claire. The people I work for, they give you to me when you were 2 years old. I was to be your guardian and was instructed to hand you over once you developed supernatural abilities. Last year, you cut your hand with glass and after I removed it, you regenerated. The cut healed itself and there was not trace of it. I was dumdfounded. I thought it was so incredible but yet, i felt a knife to my gut because I realised that it meant that I had to give you up. So I had the haitian erase your memory and anyone else's that could give your secret away.
Claire: 'Dad!'
(Mr. Bennett is holding the syringe he wants to stop Ted with)
Mr. Bennett: 'Get out!'
Claire: 'Not without you!'
Mr. Bennett: 'I can't get close enough'.
Claire: 'Give it to me'.
Mr. Bennett: 'No!'
Claire: 'I'll be okay'.
Mr Bennett: (screams) 'Claire!'
Mr.Bennett: "You have to leave now. It isn't safe for you anymore. Now that they know what you can do, they won't stop looking for you until they find you.
Claire: 'Where am I going?'
Mr. Bennett: 'I don't know'.
Claire: 'Will I see you again? Mom? Lyle?'
Mr. Bennett: 'I don't know. I wanted to protect you'.
Claire: 'You're my dad'.
Mr. Bennett: 'I tried to be the best dad. I couldn't'.
Mr. Bennett: 'This is good-bye'.
Claire: 'You don't have to do this. There's got to be another way.'
Haitian: 'This is the best way. There can't be any doubt cast on your father'.
Mr. Bennett: 'Right here'. he says pointing to his side. 'Two inches higher and I'm dead. Claire, turn around. Cover your ears'.
Gun shot
Mr. Bennett yells in pain
Claire: 'Dad!'
Mr. Bennett: 'Go deep. Take anything that would lead them to her'.
Claire starts to cry, runs to her dad's side and hugs him
Claire: 'I love you, Dad.'
Mr. Bennett: 'I love you, Claire-Bear.'
He was speechless. He couldn't believe it. Ted, the explosion, her courage. She's been through so much and was still so strong despite of it. Many would've cracked. But she's still standing. She opened her eyes and tears were now falling freely down her cheeks. 'Do you understand now? He took a bullet for me'. At that thought she winced and cried harder. 'I'm sorry dad, I can't believe I ever doubted you'.
His heart went out to her. Here she stood, heartbroken in front of him. He cupped her face with his hands on either sides and wiped some tears away. Shortly after, he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, giving her soothing strokes to the back and caressing her hair. He didn't need to say anything. As her sobs subsided, he was going to suggest she get some rest, but she had already fallen asleep in his arms. He didn't want to wake her up so he stayed there, holding her as she slept on the couch. It wasn't long until he fell asleep too.
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AN: I wrote the flashbacks while rewatching the episodes and with help from
Feedback is love so let me know what u think ;p