-1988-

Megan was watching him repairing watches again. He didn't know how she found the patience to just sit there for hours on end watching as he fiddled with the delicate insides of a watch.

'How does it work?' She asked unexpectedly she eyes still fixed on his watch. It was quite strange to think that a sixteen-year-old girl was sat on his bed watching him work. She was a year older than him. Surely she had something better to do?

'You see this cog?' He asked as he pointed to one of the turning wheels.

'Yes.'

'That's what keeps the time. The battery powers this cog which turns a certain number of times a minute with different amounts of power. At the moment it's turning exactly sixty times a minute.'

'Right…' He could tell that she didn't understand. But he didn't mind. For a moment he allowed himself the luxury of a glimpse of his friend. The sunlight filtering through the window was making her look even more beautiful than normal. Since when did I think about beauty? He asked himself.

Megan wasn't the prettiest girl in her year or the cleverest. She had light brown hair, curly and almost golden, a little dusting of freckles and stunning grey-green eyes.

But as the sunlight fell over her as she lay on her stomach on his bed she was the most amazing thing in the world. It took all he had to tear his gaze away and to go back to repairing the watch. Minutes passed in silence but he could feel her eyes on him.

'Gabe,' Megan began timidly. Gabriel stopped working and turned to face her.

'Yes?'

'Are you doing anything this Friday?' The question threw him. He'd assumed that she was going to ask about the watch again.

'I don't think so, why?' Intrigued he pulled off his glasses and gave her his full attention.

'It's just occurred to me that we've been friends for years but we've never actually gone out together. You know, just to socialise.' Megan looked adorable with the slight frown that now adorned her face.

'I know we haven't.'

'Well, do you want to come and see a film with me, on Friday that is?' Gabriel paused, he knew his mother wouldn't approve, but she didn't approve of Megan sitting and watching him work. She didn't trust Megan not to 'hit' on her special boy.

'I'll see.' Megan nodded, taken the answer as an uncertain yes. After a moment she looked down at her watch, only to see that it had stopped.

'Gabe, could you do me a favour?'

'Sure.' She took off her watch and handed it to him. Bursting into laughter as a bemused expression passed across his face.

'It just broke.'

'Oh.' He fixed her watch in record time as she collected her things and pulled on her shoes. By the time she was ready her watch was as good as new.

'Thanks Gabe.' She said and hugged him before leaving, 'See you on Friday!' She called over her shoulder and then she was gone.

Friday, he could do that.

-2008-

A year had passed again. Usually Sylar would be happily celebrating with the rest of the world but this year all he had for company was a cockroach and four empty walls.

The watch had long since become a boring project. He'd broken and repaired more times than he could remember and Bennet hadn't come by to pick it up yet. Perhaps he'd forgotten about it. At least he knew what the time was now, so he didn't have to guess between the times what they called 'food' was shoved into his cell.

But at least they were feeding him now. He was seriously beginning to think that they'd forgotten him altogether.

Yeah, sure they'd forget a serial killer who talks to himself.

It's not my fault you get lonely.

It's not mine that you answer back.

Well, it's someone to talk to.

I feel so wanted, your only company.

Silence filled his head as he blocked Gabriel's voice out. The brief exchanges were the only contact he had with anyone except the doctors who occasionally came and poked him with something. The loneliness hadn't been too bad at first but he was beginning to understand why people left in solitude tended to go mad. They craved contact.

He'd even be willing to talk with Bennet right now, just to know that someone was there.

Much to his surprise it wasn't Noah Bennet who ended up standing outside his room. It was Claire. He didn't notice her prescence until she actually knocked on the glass to get his attention.

See, there are still people there.

I never said there wasn't.

You thought it though.

'Sylar, is that actually you?' Claire looked remotely surprised at his condition. Well he knew he was pale, probably had a decent stubble, he looked tired, underfed, the list went on.

'What were you expecting, for me to leap up and try to kill you?' Claire raised an eyebrow.

'Yeah, I expected something like that.' He managed a snort of laughter before swivelling around and standing. It surprised both of them when his knees buckled and he landed in a heap on the floor. He hadn't expected to feel so weak, so helpless.

'Sylar, are you alright?' The compassion in Claire's voice shocked him. After all he'd done to her she was concerned about him?

'No.' Short and simple and bound to satisfy.

'What have they done to you?' She had a hand pressed against the glass now, slowly kneeling so that they were level with each other.

'They've done just what they promised. Taken me apart piece by piece to see what makes me tick.' He told her allowing a hint of venom to enter his voice. Claire looked down, dropping her hand. She looked almost guilty, 'It's not your fault.' He added absentmindedly, allowing Gabriel to come through for a brief moment.

Claire's head shot up.

'What did you say?'

'It's not your fault I got caught, that they've experimented on me, that I look like this.' He told her, shuffling forwards so that they were inches apart, 'Although I wouldn't mind a shave.' He commented, running a hand over his stubble. Claire hadn't moved.

'You've changed.' She said quietly.

'You haven't.' He shot straight back. Claire flinched slightly and he nearly apologised, nearly.

'I've got to go.' She said after a moment, 'Dad will notice I've gone.' He nodded, struggling to stand.

'It was good to have someone to talk to.' Then he was gone, back turned and Claire left before she felt compelled to help the shattered remains of the once powerful Sylar.

I think she's forgiven you.

She shouldn't.

Doesn't mean she can't.

You sound like Megan.

Is that such a bad thing?

Only if she stays put.

Sylar blocked Gabriel out again. He didn't want to have that conversation. He'd left Megan behind so that she wouldn't get hurt. But if she found out where he was…

He shuddered at the thought. Megan was safest where she was. If he revealed her location to anyone he would be condemning her to a fate worse than death. Suddenly he knew why they were giving him the drugs. The wanted him to tell them where Megan was so they could take her apart too.

They knew about Megan.

Of course they did, he'd woken screaming her name for the past two months. They'd probably looked her up the moment he'd started having the flashbacks.

Megan.

She was his exact opposite.

The only person could take away his powers completely, forever, the only person who could stop the hunger.

He needed to protect her. If he didn't it was bad news for them all.