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CHAPTER FOUR

If you would have told her a few months ago that she'd be in a mess now, she wouldn't have believed you. She would have laughed straight in your face. Now, Claire wasn't laughing. In fact, she was sitting in a lonely corner in the crowded room with others that were similar to herself. So far she had met Isaac, Ando, Hiro, D.L., Micah, and then of course Nathan. There were still a few others from what she understood. Niki had failed to show up yet for an unidentifiable reason and that reason probably included Jessica. Also, Peter had a tendency to change a bit whenever she was around. Claire didn't know it for a fact but Isaac had explained it to her thoroughly. In fact, he had explained a majority of things. Understandable, though, considering he was the eyes of the nearing future and the escaping past.

Peter watched the two interact carefully and finally cleared his throat, "So…exploding man?"

Claire gave a soft smile to Isaac as he stood up and headed for the canvas that was covered with a multi colored sheet, "I painted this last night."

He pulled the sheet off revealing a skyline view that was broken with flames and smoke pouring from the empty windows. Peter starred at the canvas of his impending doom. He felt his stomach churn again at the thought of destroying the city he loved, the people he loved…

Everyone seemed to be talking at once now, spurting out ideas to stop the explosion. Isaac stepped back to the stool beside Claire who was starring intently at the painting. Peter looked down at his boots trying to block everyone's voices out. He shut his eyes and breathed deeply. He was trying think of what to do. He never received a handbook on, 'How to Stop Yourself from Exploding.'

He opened his eyes and looked back up at the painting, "Kill me."

Claire shifted her eyes to him not sure if she heard him right. Everyone looked back at Peter as he repeated himself again, "Kill me…no explosion."

Nathan shook his head, "No...no. That's not gonna happen."

Isaac stood quietly moving back into a vacant back room with supplies and such. Micah agreed, "That would be bad, right?"

D.L. lowered a hand on his son's shoulder giving a faint nod, "We're not doing that man."

Peter shook his head, "No…look, when I saved Claire back in Texas. I died."

He stood suddenly and appeared in front of Claire with a crazed smile, "Dyin's no big deal..."

Claire starred up at him, mouth slightly agape unsure what to say. Peter turned back to Nathan, "You have to kill me Nathan."

Nathan's heart fell as he searched his brother's eyes. Words. He reminded his brain to form some sort of word that resembled, 'No'. Peter stepped closer to his older brother and Nathan could have sworn his younger brother surpassed him in age just then. He whispered, "We need to do this Nathan…to save everyone. Heidi, mom…the boys…."

Nathan felt his eyes cloud over, "We…this is a bit quick Peter don't you think? We, all of us, we all should agree on a plan that doesn't involve…that."

"You told me anything I needed, Nathan," Peter said placing a hand on his brother suited padded shoulder, "I need you…I trust you to do this…for me."

Peter looked back at Claire, "She'll help me."

Claire brushed away tears, her mind had already wondered toward the possibility of Peter not coming back. Isaac stepped into view holding a notebook, "I drew something early this morning and I didn't…know what it had to do with our situation until now..."

He handed it to Claire and sucked in a breath as a few more hot tears rolled down her rose tinted colored cheeks. She gazed back up at Peter who met her sad look with confusing wonder. She stood slowly and hugged the notebook close to her chest as she stopped almost a foot in front of him. She nodded with a small smile and sad tears, "I'll help."

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She hadn't spoken the rest of the night. It caused Peter to wonder what was on the paper that Isaac had given her. She seemed alright. She wasn't crying anymore, but she was just too quiet. He opened the apartment door and let her in first. She went straight to the couch and laid down not even turning on one light. She still held the manila envelope that Isaac had put the drawing in. She rubbed her fingers over the cool paper, thinking. Peter closed the door locking it slowly daring himself to ask her for a look inside, maybe even a peek. He just needed something to comfort him in his silence with her. He tossed his coat onto the nearby chair as he sat down on the floor in front of the couch. He could hear her breathing behind him. It echoed in his mind. If that was the most he could get from her then he'd take it. Just to hear her breathe was fine. He shut his eyes as he felt her fingers graze over his hair. It was too dark in the room and they were probably too close for comfort's sake. But right now, that didn't matter. She ran her hand down his neck and the length of his arm feeling for his hand. He turned his head blindly at her in the dark as she pulled his hand towards signaling for him to move to the couch with her. The fact that they hadn't known each long enough to know secrets about one another didn't stop Peter was climbing onto the couch with her.

He wasn't sure what compelled him, but the next thing he knew he was snuggled as close to her as possible as she clutched on the folder. He wrapped his arms her as she laid her head on his chest. The smell of her shampoo, strawberries maybe, flooded his nose as he caressed her blond hair softly. Claire let her eyes drift shut, the smell of his cologne and fabric softener lulling her to relax, calming her. She felt safe here. If she wanted to stay here, then she knew she would have to do her part in order to save the world and she was prepared to do anything just to stay this way.

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He'd flipped through the channels with the volume on mute. He was still in the same position as last night. Claire's legs tangled with his and her head resting on his chest still asleep. No, nothing happened. They just slept holding each other. Peter knew it was just friendly although he hadn't felt friendly feelings toward Claire since the moment he had seen her in Odessa. He glanced down at her sleeping form and automatically brushed the hair from her eyes. His hand froze when he realized what he was doing. Claire wasn't his. He shouldn't be doing that. He let his hand fall slowly back to its original place on her back, upper back, he made sure that's were it stayed. He went back to flipping channels and finally landed on the news. He sat the remote on the floor and his eyes stopped as they were captivated by the envelope on the floor. Claire had apparently tossed it there during the night because it was wedged between them last he could remember. He leaned to the side a bit in order to pick it up. As soon as his fingers had attached themselves to the yellow envelope, he felt Claire stir. He looked back down, she was still asleep. He eased back into his original position and gnawed on his lip as he gazed at the manila envelope as if he could see straight through it. Finally, he peeled back the small metal prongs which held the flap down. He swallowed as he pulled out the drawing. He blinked a few times as the drawing burned itself into his mind.

Isaac always out-done himself as an artist and in this particular drawing, Peter felt like he was there. Claire was dressed comfortably in tennis shoes, faded jeans, and a rust colored shirt while holding Hiro's long lost sword of destiny in her right hand at her side. Not a half a foot from her was himself. He was dressed just like in his dream, but it was different now. His shirt covered in blood along with half of the sword. His eyes traced back up to his right hand that was cupping Claire's cheek, intimately, he thought. Maybe that was what he wanted to see.

"It's not Nathan…," Claire said softly, but it was enough to make him jerk slightly in surprise. He met her eyes and she nestled her head back into his chest, "Nathan doesn't kill you."

Peter looked back at the drawing. He was alive. He was alive because of Claire. Peter nodded in agreement, "I don't want you to have to do that. We'll find another way."

Claire sat up suddenly giving Peter a cold feeling in his chest, "Isaac drew it Peter."

"You can't change it. He draws what's going to happen. Please…you saved me…let me save you."

Peter gazed intently into her eyes, she was serious. He sat up throwing his legs over the couch as she shook his head, "No. Nathan is. This drawing…means nothing. We'll change it…'I'll' change it."

He was standing now, paper still in hand as he mad his was to the balcony doors. Claire moved from the couch to his side in a split second, "Why can't I do this?"

Peter never looked at her, but continued starring out the glass doors at the cloudy sunrise of reds and oranges, "Because."

Claire rolled her eyes. It was all about her age and that she was a girl. Claire sighed in frustration, "I'm invincible Peter!"

Peter turned toward her, "But I'm not."

Claire's face riddled in confusion. She shook her head about to say something and he continued, "If something happens to you…then I'll die…permanently Claire. I need to know you're safe. If I save you then 'you' save me that way."

Claire crossed her arms as she looked down starring at his chest listening to his every word, taking in his meaning. Peter found his hand cupping the side of her face intimately as he had seen in the drawing, "You have to promise me that you will stay away…stay alive so that you can bring me back Claire. You have to promise me."

She leaned into the warmth of his touch unintentionally. She didn't even realize she had closed her eyes until she felt Peter's arms engulf her in a hug sealed with a soft kiss on the top of her head, "Promise me."

She felt tears burn her eyes as she wrapped her arms around him in return and whispered, "I promise."

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