Author's Note: The first few chapters are a little short (okay, really short) because I want to see how much I can get established before the new episode airs. Because he has to be coming back soon, right? Thanks to everyone who's already reviewed!
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Chapter 1
Elle rubbed her face, pinching her nose hard. She tried to sit up, but she still had that thing on her chest. Mohinder pulled it off, tossing it on the floor, and took her arm to help her up.
"Where are we?" she asked.
Mohinder pulled her up to her feet and put his arm around her shoulder to help her stand. "I'll explain in a minute, but we have to get out of here."
Elle was going to tell him that she did not need help walking, but as soon as she took a step, her legs gave out under her. Mohinder caught her and picked her up completely, like she did not weigh anything. "We don't have time for this."
As he carried her up the stairs, Elle marveled at how strong he was. She never would have guessed that he possessed this kind of strength. Climbing the stairs with her in tow, he did not even struggle. At the top, he set her down, and Elle tried out her legs again. "I was in the hospital for a couple months, so I guess--"
Mohinder craned his head to look down the next hallway. "You've probably been in here for a couple months," he interrupted without looking at her.
She let that sink in. "Right, so I guess my muscles are a little weak." He darted out, and Elle hurried clumsily to follow him. "You said you'd tell me what's going on."
He sighed and turned around to look at her. His eyes settled on her forehead. Elle instinctively raised her hand to feel the scar. "I see you're admiring my souvenir from Sylar."
Mohinder shook his head like he was trying not to stare. "It looks like you were luckier than most."
"I guess," Elle said, but she was not sure if he heard her because he had started jogging down the hall again. She tried to chase after him, but her legs gave out again in protest. She hit the floor face first. Another woman ran by, almost stepping on Elle.
Mohinder came back for her, picking her up off the floor and carrying her again. Feeling stupid, Elle put her arms around his neck for balance. "You know, when we first met, you were the one with the broken nose. I guess everything has come full circle."
He glanced at her face. "It's not broken."
He navigated the halls in a way that suggested he was familiar with the building. Juggling her weight like it was nothing, he pushed open a heavy metal door with one hand. The light that came through the open door was so bright Elle felt like she had been blinded. She turned her head into Mohinder's chest to shield her eyes, and it took her a second to realize this was just the daylight. The sun seemed so much brighter than she ever remembered it being.
She heard the door slam behind them, and then Mohinder just stopped. Elle forced herself to open her eyes so that she could see what the trouble was. They were in a city, but it did not look like New York. The people on the sidewalks were frozen in place, mid-stride. "Where are we?"
Mohinder set her down on her shaky legs. "Washington. There's government program that's rounding up evolved humans." He started to back away from her. "Hide," he said before turning around and walking off.
Taking careful, deliberate steps, Elle tried to catch up to him. "Where am I supposed to go? I don't even know what month it is." He ignored her. "What do you have to do with this? Do you work for them?"
He turned around. "What? No!"
She did not realize that would offend him. "I don't know. Just seems like something you'd do. It's kind of your field " She deliberately left off the part about his easily changing loyalties when he worked for her father. "Why were you there then?"
"Because..." He started walking again. "Stop following me."
"I'm not following you," she blatantly lied. "Maybe I'm just also going in this direction."
Mohinder headed back the way they came. "Fine. Then I'll go in this direction."
She caught his arm as he passed her. "Mohinder," she whined. She was at a loss for what she could say. There were so many things she was still confused about. "I need help. Isn't that what you've been trying to do since you came here, help people like me?"
He narrowed his eyes at her as the people on the sidewalk and the cars on the street began to move again. Elle's orange jumpsuit earned her sideways looks from the passers-by. Mohinder noticed this and sighed, pulling her along with him. "You need new clothes."