Wow... I got this done fast. In fact, I wrote all but the first section today. XD... but then, a lot of it is scenarios from the show, reworked to fit my designs. =P

to Serias and Catyuy, who suggested I post this on livejournal: As freakish as this may sound... I don't have an account on LJ.

Thanks to those who have reviewed so far... Keep at it, cuz when I know people are liking a story, I tend to write more =P

Chapter Two

Gabriel, Elle, and Peter

Costa Verde, California

Gabriel got the distinct feeling that Elle was still mad at him. Not for the Sylar incident, but for telling her that she couldn't come with him, and Peter. She hadn't moved from the couch since he and Peter had agreed on the best course of action, and she'd had her bottom lip stuck out in a pout the entire time. Gabriel had muttered a quick "I'll be back soon" to her, and was now heading out the door, with Peter. He was just about to step outside when he heard Elle call for him to wait. He turned and discovered that she had crossed the room rather quickly, because she was right behind him, by the time he got turned all the way around.

Elle bounced on the heels of her feet for a moment, as if she were trying to decide if she wanted to say what was on her mind. Finally she looked up and met his gaze, "Don't get yourself killed, Gabriel... Please."

Gabriel couldn't help smiling at her, "I'll do my best." He wasn't sure who moved first, but suddenly she was in his arms, their lips fused together in a desperate kiss. Gabriel pulled her flush against him, deepening the kiss, tightening his hold on her. Both forgot that Peter was standing right behind them.

Finally, the need to breathe forced them to separate. "And don't let anyone convince you you're anyone other than who you are," Elle panted.

"And who am I?"

"A good man, in spite of everything," she said it with such confidence in the fact that she was right, Gabriel couldn't bring himself to argue with her. So, he settled for kissing her again, softer this time.

"I'll keep that in mind," he paused, and looked around the room for a moment, then added, "If I'm not back in a few days, I want you to get out of here... Find someplace safer to stay."

"What happened to not dying?" Elle protested.

"I can't die... Doesn't mean I can't get caught. Or have my powers taken, and then be killed..." he should have quit at being caught, because now Elle looked worried. "Just... Please, if I don't come back, find somewhere safe."

Elle nodded reluctantly, and started to say something, but was interrupted by Peter clearing his throat loudly. Gabriel wanted to ignore his brother, and continue his chat with Elle... After all, it could be the last time he saw her. Besides, he was enjoying the soft side of her. After the evening before, she had stopped flinching every time he touched her, hadn't hesitated to initiate contact. She hadn't yet said she'd forgiven him, but she was at least acting as though the incident on the beach had been exactly what she'd told Peter: a momentary relapse, that didn't matter. To Gabriel, it mattered- it mattered a lot, and he swore to never let his guard down again- but Elle had seemingly put it out of her mind. Still wanting to ignore his brother, Gabriel leaned down to give Elle one last kiss- which was meant to be quick, but she "forced" him to stay in contact longer- and muttered, "Goodbye Elle." With that, he straightened, and stepped out the door with Peter, and refused to look back.

Peter and Gabriel remained silent for several long minutes, as they walked along the beach towards the highway. Apparently, Peter couldn't stand the silence- and to be honest, it was kind of awkward-, "So, how did that happen? You've known her what, a week?"

"A year, actually," Gabriel replied, "I met her after I killed for the first time... Tried to kill myself. She saved me."

"Ah.... What happened with the 'momentary relapse'?" Peter had obviously been dying to find that one out.

"Bennet got to me... I... Sylar needed to find out the truth," Gabriel looked towards his brother, "But you know all about that feeling, don't you?"

Peter suddenly found great interest in his feet. He nodded reluctantly. Gabriel actually felt sorry for him. While on one hand it was nice to have someone who knew exactly what his ability did to him, on the other, he also knew that Peter was not a killer. On some base level, Gabriel was. Even after learning of his true lineage, and deciding not to let his power rule him, he'd still killed without hesitation- the doctor at Pinehearst, several guards on his way in... He'd very badly wanted to kill Suresh- and he likely would again, if the situation called for it. But Peter... Gabriel prided himself in being able to understand how people worked, and Peter, when it came down to it, just wasn't built for murder.

And amidst all those thoughts, a question he'd been meaning to ask for a while suddenly came to mind, "Which of us is older?"

Peter looked at him as if he didn't really understand the question for a moment, before replying, "You, according to mom... by half an hour."

Gabriel could have been mistaken, but he thought he heard a bit of a "go figure" tone in Peter's voice... as if he was annoyed with still being the youngest, despite having discovered a second brother.

Angela, Claire, and Hiro

Primatech

Angela could dream the future, and was therefore not often surprised by much. However, her granddaughter, and Hiro Nakamura suddenly appearing on her desk caught her very much off guard. Apparently, they were as surprised by it as her, because for a moment, they seemed to not know where they were. Angela, whom had shoved herself away from her desk, willed her heart to slow down; she didn't need to be dying of a heart attack just yet.

"Claire," she said rather calmly, all things considered, "Hiro."

The two clambered off the desk- knocking things off as they went- both looking panicked. Before Angela could even ask what was going on, Hiro blurted, "Arthur Petrelli has the catalyst." He looked like he was about to cry.

Angela blinked at them for a moment. Surely she had misheard...

"He said it's over. He won," Claire said, grinding her teeth, and proving that Angela had in fact heard correctly.

"How did he get it?" Angela forced her voice to remain calm and steady. She wasn't about to let either of them see her upset.

"He took it. From me," Hiro replied, and proceeded to explain in great detail his and Claire's little adventure in the past, ending with Arthur taking the catalyst, and nearly Hiro's power. Had it not been for a well aimed rock from Claire, they might not have made it back.

"This... complicates things," Angela finally said, still struggling to maintain her cool exterior, "But Peter is already on his way to deal with Arthur," or so she hoped. She focused her attention on Claire, "We should get you home, dear, before your father loses his mind."

Pinehearst

Peter, Gabriel and the Haitian strode through the front doors of the Pinehearst building, gathering the attention of the two guards that stood near the elevators that would take the group to Arthur's office, as well as the labs. The guards looked at each other for a second, before the one nearest them stepped forward.

"ID plea-" he didn't get farther than that, before Peter had the gun he was carrying aimed at the guard's head. Gabriel wondered for a moment if Peter was really going to shoot the man. But the Haitian stepped forward, and with nothing more than a hand pressed to the man's forehead, the guard was down.

The second made to grab his radio- likely to call for help- but didn't get very far, as Gabriel sent a globe of electricity his way; using Elle's power was fun. He didn't get off as lucky as his companion; he was dead. Both the Haitian and Peter gave him odd looks, but he only shrugged, and with a nod of his head, telekinetically pushed the button to call the elevator.

------

In the lab, Mohinder was putting the finishing touches on the formula. Tracy, Nathan, and Arthur stood back, watching.

"We'll need fifty doses to start out," Tracy said, with a smug smile, "One for every marine." the latter was a half-question directed at Nathan.

"We'll start out with just one first," Nathan said, as Mohinder moved towards them, preparing a dose of the finally-complete chemical, "Gotta make sure this stuff works," he looked at Mohinder for a moment before adding, "No offense."

Mohinder didn't even grace him with any reply beyond a short glare. Arthur wasn't even paying attention to the exchange. There was something on the very edge of his telepathic hearing that didn't belong. Blocking out the sounds of the lab, he tried to concentrate on the thoughts he was hearing. Dad's office. We'll wait here. Peter. He should have known Angela would send someone after him... But he hadn't thought it would be Peter of all people. She could have at least sent someone who had the sense to shield their thoughts- which took no special ability, just a strong mind- so he didn't know they were coming.

Nathan caught on to his father's apparent distraction, "Something wrong?"

"No, nothing," Arthur replied, "Just a minor inconvenience," he turned to walk out, but paused a moment to ask, "Has everything else been taken care of?"

"Yes," Nathan replied, "He should be there soon."

"Good. Call your first Marine. I'll be back."

-------

Gabriel watched from his hiding place as Arthur entered the office. Both he and the Haitian were out of sight- element of surprise and all.

"Peter," said Arthur, "I'm glad you're here. Nathan and I were jus-"

The click of the gun cocking as Peter raised it was enough to shut Arthur up. Gabriel's fingers twitched; it would be so easy to just kill Arthur right then... kill him, take all his powers. He knew Arthur could teleport, read minds, time travel, see the future. Even with the Haitian preventing Arthur from using any of those abilities, Gabriel knew they were there, could feel them. Sylar wants to come out to play, that dreaded voice in the back of his mind said. He did his best the stop the urge to let his power take over (it would only be just this once, Gabey... Just this one teeny little time). He knows he can't let Sylar come back. He might not regain control, and if that happened, the first place Sylar would go, after taking Arthur's powers, would be to Elle... To kill her, to get rid of his one pesky little weakness.

"Don't be ridiculous," Arthur's voice brings him out of his inner struggle, into the real world. Arthur waved his hand, expecting the gun to go flying from Peter's grip. No such luck.

There was such confusion apparent on Arthur's face that Gabriel found it hard not to laugh. Peter jerked his head in direction of the Haitian, whom had emerged from the shadows. Now fear replaced confusion. For the first time, in the short time Gabriel had known him, Arthur Petrelli was afraid.

"So," Arthur said, voice shaking slightly, "You're here to kill me."

"I'm here to stop you," Peter replied. Gabriel was beginning to get the feeling that he, as he had thought at first, was going to have to step in, and do what Peter couldn't. "Creating abilities... Giving them out like this. It's gonna destroy the world."

"In your opinion," Arthur shot back.

It wasn't an opinion, Gabriel thought, from what Peter had told him. The planet splitting in two... That pretty much sounded like the end of the world from anyone's point of view. "I've seen it," Peter insisted, "This ends now."

Arthur took a brave step forward, and for the first time, Gabriel noticed the gun sitting on the bookshelf... right within Arthur's reach, now. He tensed up- he knew he was going to have to save Peter's ass at some point during this little mission. "I don't think you have the nerve to kill me, Peter."

He doesn't. Gabriel thought. But I do. And I will. But Peter surprised him when he didn't lower the gun, and his finger started to tighten on the trigger.

Elle Bishop

Costa Verde

Elle tossed and turned as she tried to sleep. It was doing no good, thought. Her mind was too abuzz with worry. Staring up at the ceiling, she sighed in frustration. She still couldn't believe Gabriel hadn't let her come with him. Up until the point where he'd disappeared from sight, she'd been hoping that he would turn around and tell her to come with them, anyway. In fact, up until several minutes before, Elle had been toying with the idea of following them, to help. She had decided against it, though, when she realized that Gabriel was right. Arthur wouldn't hesitate to use her against him, or kill her. Hell, he wouldn't hesitate to use Gabriel against her. From what Elle had seen, both Mr. and Mrs. Petrelli loved to use people against each other. It was a screwed up family, that was for sure. The only part of it that she wanted anything to do with was Gabriel. And she could at least be nice to Peter. But Gabriel...Her Gabriel. She didn't know when exactly he'd become hers, but now that was how her mind chose to view him.

She still hadn't fully forgiven him for what had occured the other night, but she was at least on her way to that point. Enough so that she had stopped trying to avoid him. Enough that she was truly afraid of what would happen if he didn't come back. Without Gabriel, she was truly alone in the world. Daddy was dead, both Primatech and Pinehearst viewed her as a traitor. Gabriel was all she had. If she lost him, there was no one else.

And however much she liked to pretend she was tough, the one thing in the universe that truly frightened Elle Bishop was being alone.

Pinehearst

Come on, Peter, before I do it for you, Gabriel thought impatiently. The Haitian was struggling to keep Arthur's powers suppressed, he'd said as much.

"Think about this, son. You don't have to pull the trigger. The formula is finished, Nathan's here... We can give you your abilities back, and start over."

"No," Peter hissed.

"Peter, shoot him now!" the Haitian shouted. Gabriel could see that he was about to collapse.

"No, wait!" Peter insisted, "Just... Wait."

"That's your problem Peter," Arthur said, "Too much thought, not enough action.... How could you be my son?"

Everything happened so quickly after that... Arthur grabbed the gun from the shelf, and aimed it at Peter. Both pulled the triggers at the same time. Peter's shot missed. Arthur's would have hit, had Gabriel not stepped into the open, and stopped it. The bullet hovered a few inches from Peter's face, which seemed to confuse Arthur, until he spotted the reason behind the floating bullet.

"Hello Arthur," said Gabriel, enjoying the fear that suddenly showed in his father's eyes.

"Gabriel? You're... here..." He sounded as if that was the last thing in the world he'd wanted.

"I am," Gabriel replied, "No place I'd rather be than with family. But then, you're not much of a part of this family, are you?"

"Of course I am."

"No, you're not. You've tried to kill all of us, at one point or another. You're not family, Arthur," Gabriel looked at Peter, "I told you you're not a killer, Peter. But I am." And with that, the bullet that had so nearly killed Peter was sent flying towards Arthur. It hit him squarely between the eyes; Arthur Petrelli was dead before he hit the ground.

Peter let out a sigh of relief, and the Haitian sank to the floor, exhausted. "It's over," said Peter, staring at his father's corpse.

"Not yet, Peter," Gabriel said, "We have to deal with Nathan."

Almost as if on cue, the door opened, and Nathan stepped in. "Dad?"

He didn't even have the chance to see the intruders before Gabriel had him pinned to a wall. "Gabriel, don't!" Peter shouted, as if he was afraid Nathan was going to get Sylared. It was tempting... Gabriel had always wanted to fly. He made no move to scalp his elder brother, though. Both because he was refusing to let Sylar out to play, and because Peter clearly wanted to attempt to talk Nathan out of whatever he had planned. However, he didn't let Nathan off the wall. Keeping him there, while he busied himself with other things wasn't too hard.

He payed little attention to the conversation going on between his brothers; a piece of paper on his father's desk had captured his attention. It was a sketch of himself, and Elle at the Canfield house, and beneath it were more sketches. All of himself and Elle... And... That could only be the boy Peter had mentioned. He flipped through them all, and one in particular interested him, this one was just of Elle, sitting alone, with something in her hand. Gabriel could easily guess what it was, judging from the other sketches. But the date on the calender in the background was what surprised him. That was barely a month from then. Which meant that... Oh, shit. Shitshitshitshit... Before his mental exclamations could become verbal, the door flew open again, this time apparently made to do so by a large blur.

When the blur stopped moving, it revealed its self to be Matt Parkman, and some woman Gabriel had seen only once before... The speed ability had to've been hers, because he knew Parkman read minds.

"Whoah," said the tiny blond, as she spotted the corpse, and Nathan pinned to the wall. Gabriel knew her... She'd tried to get him to join Pinehearst...

Matt glanced around as well, but his gazed locked on to Gabriel, and in a second, he'd drawn the gun he never seemed to go anywhere without. Gabriel, considering what he'd just discovered, wasn't in much of a mood to have guns pointed at him. With little more than a twitch of his fingertips, the gun flew from Matt's grip.

"Let's all play nice," he said, "I'm helping Peter."

Matt glanced at Peter, who nodded, and resumed trying to talk Nathan out of whatever plan he had. Matt relaxed... some. "Angela sent us as backup for you... Apparently you didn't need it."

"Not at all," Gabriel muttered, once again not paying any attention to what was going on... another sketch caught his eye. Oh, fuck. He glanced at the blond who accompanied Matt, "You, what's your name?"

"...Daphne," the woman replied, hesitantly. Gabriel stared at her for a moment, and in an instant understood how her power worked. He couldn't take it, yet... So far absorbing a power had only worked with Elle... So he was going to have to hitch a ride.

He approached her, after shoving all the sketches into a folder, save for the last one. He could feel Parkman poking around in his thoughts, looking for any sign that he was going to harm any of them, "Well Daphne, I need you to take me here," he handed her the sketch, "And I need you to do it fast."

"Where is this?"

"Costa Verde."

"Daphne-" Matt began, likely to tell her no, but Daphne cut him off with a glare.

"I'll get you there, but I'm not sticking around."

"I won't need you to." Gabriel looked at Peter, and Nathan, "Sorry Peter, you're on your own for now."

Before Peter could ask what was going on, and before Matt could tell Daphne to stop, the woman had grabbed Gabriel's hand, and they were gone. With Gabriel no longer present, Nathan fell to the floor in a rather undignified heap.

Costa Verde

Elle was finally starting to feel drowsy. It was about time, considering how long she'd spent staring at the ceiling. She had just almost fallen asleep, when she heard a floorboard creak in the living room. Her first thought was that the owners of the house were there... But it was near midnight. No one in their right mind would decide to move back into their summer- which it certainly was not- home at midnight.

Elle started to call out, and see if it was Gabriel... But he wouldn't have been back so soon. He'd only left that morning. Also, he wouldn't have made the floorboard squeak in the tone that only someone sneaking could cause a board to use. She didn't know why such a sound only occurred when one was sneaking, but that was just the way things were. Regardless of tones of squeaks, there was an intruder in her little sanctuary. Of course, she was technically an intruder as well. But that made little difference at the moment.

She slid out of bed, manifesting a small globe of energy in her hand as she made her way into the living room. She was tense, prepared to attack anything that moved, or run, if whoever it was proved to be too powerful for her to handle. She wasn't, however, betting on the intruder to have been a step ahead of her. She didn't even know he was behind her until she felt the needle being jabbed into her spine. Whatever he got her with stung like a bitch, but Elle refused to let herself mind that, and instead focused on shocking her attacker with as much energy as she could. For some reason, though, she found that her power wasn't wanting to work anymore...

Her legs went rubbery, and she collapsed, knocking a lamp off a coffee table as she did so. The lamp shattered, and Elle was sure she was putting her hands right in the glass, as she tried to crawl away, but she couldn't feel it. Her entire body was going numb. Her arms didn't want to pull her along so she could escape the thudding of the heavy boots that were approaching her. The intruder grasped her under the arms, and started to drag her towards the door. Elle tried to protest, but her mouth felt like it was full of cotton....

And then the cold hands were gone... There was a loud crash, as more glass shattered- it sounded like it came from the direction of the big mirror that was hung on the wall. Then the room was filled with a bright blue light- the same light her power gave off- and for a few brief seconds; screams. Then it was dark again, and the screaming had stopped- and there was a funny charred smell in the air- and someone was leaning over her.

"Elle," Gabriel... "Elle, can you hear me?"

She tried to nod, but her head felt too heavy to move, and her eyes wanted so badly to close... "Elle! Elle, wake up."

Elle let her eyes fall shut. She needed her sleep anyway...

"Elle!"

----------

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Those of you who reviewed the last one get their date with Gabriel/Sylar/Elle... Fair warning... Dates with Gabriel may result in death by electrocution when Elle discovers you're sneaking around with her man. Dates with Sylar may end in death via a Sylar haircut, when he decides he wants to know why you lied about your age... And dates with Elle may result in death via electrocution/telekinetic strangulation/being turned into gold/sound waves when Gabriel discovers that you have been sneaking around with his girl.

You have been warned ;)

Oh, and to anyone who's wondering... in my head, Gabriel was born on Halloween- cuz how fitting is that?- and Peter on November 1st (what's this madness!? Twins born on different days!?... It's happened... in my family. It confuses people all the time =P)