And now for something completely different…

3 – To Entrust is Sometimes to Abandon

October, the same year.

Looking out the window as if anticipating someone, she almost swore she saw headlights in the distance this time.

Turning back to her surroundings, Candice Wilmer slouched on her barstool, stirring her drink absentmindedly and sighing loudly just to distress the bartender. The (current) redhead stared at one of the garish neon signs in the window, willing it to look a little more respectable.

Truth be told, the illusionist could have transformed the drab little motel, and adjacent bar, as much as she pleased since she was almost part owner now. But her business partner-slash-husband had strongly advised her not to; the motel had been around forever and people would get suspicious if it suddenly 'changed' overnight. Candice wrinkled her nose and worked on convincing herself he was just jealous of her.

Candice happened to glance over at the door in time to notice the stranger enter. The mysterious person had the hood of their jacket pulled up, but the figure was so obviously female. Sure enough, she pushed back her rain-splattered hood, and Candice found she wasn't the only one staring anymore.

The woman was a knockout, a tall shapely blonde with facial features equally unique and beautiful. She crossed the room, either ignoring or unaware of the attention given to her, and sat down on the stool next to Candice. The two sat in silence, letting music from the tinny jukebox fill the void.

"So, can you tell me how far it is from here to Las Vegas?" the blonde finally asked as Candice took a drink of her beverage.

" 'Bout seventy miles that way," Candice replied after swallowing. She pointed out the window in a generally north direction. The stranger nodded. "You looking for work up there?"

"Yeah," she replied, fidgeting a little. The bartender offered her a beer, which she refused.

Candice stared at her again. "You a stripper?"

"What? No," her companion responded, her expression slightly appalled.

"You could be," Candice muttered into her drink. The other woman smiled slightly at her remark. Candice noted that even her smile was amazing, not a crooked or chipped tooth in sight.

"I'm Niki by the way," the blonde added.

"Michelle," she lied, offering Niki her hand to shake. "So is that really all that brings you here to my lovely bar on this night? Directions to Vegas?"

"Your bar? Oh, no, I was actually at the motel looking for… someone, but there was no one at the desk. Do you own the motel, too?"

"The motel belongs to me," a gruff voice answered instead.

Both women looked behind them. In the spot the bartender had occupied moments ago now stood a different man whom Candice wrinkled her nose at disapprovingly. He slightly reminded Niki of a hawk with his angled features and dark, looming presence.

"This is my 'significant other,' Sylar Gray," Candice remarked dryly. Niki would never have guessed the two were close. Business partners, maybe…

"So do you need a room?" the stranger questioned. "Are you traveling alone?"

"No, I don't need a room," she said, looking up, "and I'm not exactly alone. I'm traveling with my daughter."

Candice's eyes grew wide, and an awkward silence followed. Niki never should have mentioned it; she was feeling guilty already.

"Hold old is she?" Candice asked softly after a pause.

"Eight," Niki answered, her voice starting to break. She had to ask; it was now or never. She dabbed at her eyes with her jacket sleeve. "So, do you have any kids?"

The rain was still coming down in buckets as Niki ran to her car, splashing through the puddles in the parking lot. I was only gone a minute, she told herself. Claire had been sound asleep, and the lot had been empty so she had taken a gamble and simply locked the car.

She knew this was a shitty thing to do. Not just the leaving-Claire-in-the-car thing; the leaving-her-behind-with-strangers thing. But they had kids, too, right? Niki had seen them herself, a dark-haired son and daughter fast asleep back in the motel like her own daughter would be soon. It would be good for her to have a chance to settle down and make some friends.

By the time Niki returned carrying Claire, her teeth were chattering and her jacket was nearly soaked through. Carefully, Candice helped Niki transfer the sleeping girl into her arms. Niki also thrust a suitcase onto the ground near her feet.

"I think that's all her stuff."

"And you'll pay us?" Sylar asked, though it sounded more like a statement. He had this perpetually hungry look in his eyes that Niki was trying to ignore.

"Yes," she answered him. "I'm not sure how much I'll earn yet, but I'll let you know as soon as I do. I can pay whatever you ask."

A look passed between the strange couple, but their faces appeared the same as before when Niki looked again.

"Remember to write when you get there so we can get your address," Candice reminded her. She offered a sad smile, which made Niki feel worse than before. She swallowed hard, hoping to remove the persistent lump rising in her throat.

"Right," she said simply. "So… I should probably go." And with that Niki turned away, her tears mixing with the rain, and hoped she had done the right thing.

It's not like this is permanent, she thought. You'll get to see her again when you make enough money, get back on your feet.

Once again in her car, but this time alone, Niki cast one last look in the rearview mirror before speeding off into the night.

As soon as the heart-broken woman and her car were out of sight, Sylar turned toward his partner, already planning his snide remark. Candice was still looking out into the distance, as if she expected Niki to turn back at any moment. Then, steadily, her appearance began to change. Her shock of red hair slowly darkened, as did her eyes, which grew colder by the second.

"Was that really necessary, or do you enjoy showing off?" Sylar sneered in reference to the 'children' Candice had readily shown Niki. As if either one of them were children people. And now they had a real one on their hands.

"Don't act so upset. I'm making you money," Candice snipped, and with that she turned on her heel and strode back into the gloomy bar and out of the rain.