Hurray for Heroes! And also for readers, reviewers, and other such nice people. I appreciate you all!
"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."--Winston Churchill (my slightly distant cousin, actually)
Chapter Four
As Gabriel came jogging around the corner, Peter practically jumped to his feet, reaching down to pull Phoebe up to his side. The elder brother's jog screeched to a halt as his brown eyes clouded with confusion. "Peter? What--?"
"I'll explain later," said Peter quickly. "I sense someone coming. We've got to get out of here."
Gabriel nodded. "This way," he said, starting off toward the exit at a quick pace. "I've slowed them down, but that won't last forever."
Peter looked to Phoebe, smiling slightly. "Come on," he said, taking her hand.
Phoebe ran with him down the hall, stunned into silence. There was a strength about Peter now, a confidence, that she found suddenly and shockingly… attractive. She shook her head as she trailed behind Peter, trying not to think of the strength and warmth of his hand or the graceful, athletic way his body moved when he ran. There's no time for you to have a silly crush, Phoebe… Not until we're safe…
"We're almost out!" Gabriel called back breathlessly to Peter and Phoebe as he neared the front doors of the hospital reception room, a room that was oddly empty and silent.
"They're closing in!" Peter called ahead to him. "I can hear their thoughts!"
Phoebe suddenly slid on a slick spot of the floor. One foot slipped forward and the other slipped backward, and her free arm flailed wildly.
Peter's strong arms were suddenly wrapped around her waist, and with superhuman strength, he hoisted her over his shoulder. "I've got you," he told her as he continued to run.
Eyes wide, Phoebe clung to his shoulder. "Don't drop me!" she shrieked, white-faced.
Peter laughed wryly. "I won't."
"Stop right there!" cried a harsh, high-pitched female voice.
Phoebe lifted her head. She could see Hart and Mara standing in the opening to the hallway. Mara's arm was raised.
Gabriel suddenly cursed, and Phoebe turned her head to see what was the problem. "Oh no," she muttered, going cold inside. A force field had risen up in front of the hospital doors. They were trapped in the lobby!
Nathan leaned closer to the guard, narrowing his eyes on the man. "Excuse me? His other two?" He shook his head, frowning. "I think you must be mistaken. Arthur Petrelli only has two sons, and I'm one of them."
The guard shrugged. "Well that's what I heard. One of his sons came here looking for him, then the other one came looking for his brother. Seems to me they left earlier today."
Nathan felt an unpleasant chill run up his spine. "What were--what were… Do you remember their names?"
The guard frowned up at Nathan. "I don't think I should be telling you all this."
"You'll tell him," said Tracy, stepping forward, arms crossed, "Or else."
"Or else what?" the guard asked, suddenly brave again.
"Or else this," said Tracy. She placed a hand on the counter and froze a pen that had been lying there, then picked up the pen and shattered it easily.
The guard's eyebrows raised. "So you're one of them."
"Uh-huh," said Tracy, smiling coldly. "And you're going to answer Nathan's questions."
"What were their names?" Nathan repeated, his lips twitching with a repressed smile.
"Well the one who got here first… I think his name was Peter," said the guard, keeping his eyes on Tracy. "The other one kept hollering that at him when they were, uhm, fighting in the hall."
"Fighting in the hall?" Nathan's eyebrows shot up. This was getting more and more ridiculous… But unfortunately, the fighting in the hall part sounded like something Peter would do…
"Uh… Yeah…" said the guard reluctantly, gulping. "I don't think Mr. Petrelli wanted them to leave. But they got out anyway. And the one named Peter almost didn't make it out alive. He took some pretty bad hits from some of the other guards."
Nathan winced. "I see." And that also sounded like Peter. "Did he--did he display any… unusual abilities?"
"Nope," said the guard. "Can't recall that he did."
Nathan frowned. Now that was unusual. Why hadn't Peter used his powers in the escape?
"But the other one did," the guard continued, finally looking away from Tracy and meeting Nathan's eyes.
"The other one." Nathan tried to remain calm, tried to breathe evenly. What other secrets could his mother have hidden from him? "Who is he?"
The guard raised an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair. "Seems to me you'd know, seeing as you must be his brother."
"Just tell me," Nathan growled.
"Goes by the name of Gabriel Gray, I think," said the guard casually, oblivious to the effect his words were having on Nathan. "And sometimes, they called him Sylar."
Nathan's knees suddenly felt weak. He leaned heavily on the counter. "S-Sylar?"
"That's right." The guard shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Is that all, sir?"
Nathan cleared his throat, trying to keep his composure. "No. That's--that's not all. I insist on seeing Arthur Petrelli. Now, if you don't mind."
Matt Parkman had still not made up his mind. He stood in one of the hallways of Primatech, leaning against the wall, eyes closed, hands in his pockets. Should he do as Noah had first suggested and watch over Phoebe while Phoebe watched over Peter and Gabriel? Or should he travel to Pinehearst to offer his aid to Nathan Petrelli, who obviously had no clue what he was getting into?
He remembered then that Noah Bennet was going to Pinehearst. Surely Noah would look after Nathan.
Matt frowned.
Did anyone ever really know what Noah Bennet was going to do next?
Matt took a deep breath as he opened his eyes. He had to trust that Noah could look after Nathan, Claire, and Tracy. Because Matt had decided that he had to look after the others.
Peter gently set Phoebe down on her feet, then moved to place his body between her and the two villains who were stalking into the lobby.
"You're good, Sylar," said Hart, panting. He smirked, then, his small eyes nearly disappearing into his high cheekbones. "But you're not as good as us."
"The name is Gabriel," Gabriel announced calmly, standing beside Peter. "And are you sure I'm not as good as you? Because I could swear I saw a vision that the three of us are going to make it out of this hospital alive."
Peter glanced quickly at his brother, wondering whether or not Gabriel was bluffing. Then he glanced at Phoebe. She didn't have to wonder.
"Just shut up and come with us," Hart snapped.
"That's not on our agenda for the day," said Gabriel calmly, stepping forward.
"Peter… Peter…" Phoebe was tugging frantically on Peter's arm. "We need to just get out of here. One of you needs to break down that force field, and the three of us need to--"
"Stay back, Phoebe," Peter told her firmly, moving to Gabriel's side.
Phoebe gritted her teeth and stomped her foot. "I'm your bodyguard. Let me protect you!"
The brothers ignored Phoebe and stepped even closer to Hart and Mara.
"Peter, you can't let them find out you have your powers back," Gabriel hissed to the younger brother, keeping his eyes fixed on the two villains.
"I won't let you fight them alone," said Peter stubbornly.
Gabriel glanced at Peter. The younger brother's eyes had that intense, determined look that Gabriel had seen so many times before. "Peter--"
"Time is up, gentlemen," Mara announced, stretching out her hands toward the two brothers. Suddenly, the force field moved from the doors of the hospital and wrapped itself in a ring around Peter, Gabriel, and Phoebe. "You're coming with us whether you like it or not."
"I don't think so," said Peter, narrowing his eyes on the nurse. "Come on." He reached out and grabbed hold of Gabriel's arm.
Gabriel frowned. "What--?"
Peter walked right through the force field, dragging Gabriel along with him. He faced Mara and Hart with his chin lifted.
"What!?" exclaimed Hart. "He's supposed to be powerless!"
"Surprise," growled Peter. Blue sparks began to flicker above his hand.
"Don't come any closer!" snapped Mara.
"Give me one good reason," Peter replied, his eyes dangerously dark.
"How about this?"
There was a whooshing sound, and Phoebe screamed. Peter and Gabriel spun around just in time to see the force field wrap itself around Phoebe's face.
(LINE)
The girl could remember little but this darkness. It enveloped her, cold and suffocating, blocking her from anything outside of itself.
The girl drew her knees up to her chest, whimpering as she wrapped her arms around them. "Please… Someone… Anyone…" Teeth chattering, she lowered her head to her knees. "God, please…"
Something came to her then, a memory of a face and a voice, of warm brown eyes and a shy smile. With the memory of the smile came the name.
"Gabriel," the girl whispered, raising her head. "Gabriel will rescue me."
Peter will rescue me. I have to stay calm. Peter will rescue me. Oh, God, please! I can't breathe!
Phoebe's vision was beginning to blur, her airways tightening, her lungs burning. She clawed at the bubble wrapped tight to her face, but her efforts were useless. Dizzy, she dropped to her knees, spots winking on her vision as her body starved for air.
"Let her go!" she heard Peter shout.
"Hang on, Phoebe!" called Gabriel.
She wanted to cry in reply, "I can't! I can't!" But she could not even do that. Instead, she collapsed to the ground, fighting to stay conscious as her body fought to survive without air.
"Phoebe!" Peter shouted, flinging his hand toward her. With telekinesis, he ripped the force field from her face, smiling in relief at the sound of her deep gulp of air.
Suddenly, pain shot through his body. He cried out in shock, staggering, spinning to face Hart and Mara.
Hart stood pointing a finger at Peter, grinning. "Nerve manipulation is certainly a handy skill to have," he proclaimed proudly.
"So is this," said Gabriel, raising a hand toward Hart. The doctor went flying backward, slamming hard into the wall.
Mara took a step backward, drawing her force field closer to herself to form a wall between her and the brothers. "This isn't over," she spat, glaring. "We'll meet again."
"So did you see any… unusual persons exit the train?" Matt asked one of the Westbrook station workers as they stood on the platform of the station.
"No. Not today." The tall, skinny man shook his head. "Sometimes there are hobos or drifters or high school kids looking to have fun hitching rides, but… Not today."
Matt sighed. "Thanks anyway," he told the man before turning and walking back toward his car. He had hit a dead end; that was for sure. Shaking his head, he unlocked his car and sat heavily in the driver's seat, resting his forehead against the steering wheel.
"Excuse me!"
Matt looked up. An older man in a white coat was rushing through the train smoke and mist. "What's the matter?" Matt asked, frowning.
"Are you Matt Parkman?" the man asked quickly, breathlessly.
Matt blinked. "Who wants to know?"
"I have a message for you," said the man, panting. "I can help you find Peter Petrelli and Gabriel Gray."
"Peter, are you all right?" Gabriel asked, looping a steadying arm through his brother's.
"I'm fine. I'm fine," Peter insisted, shaking his head as if to clear it. "I just--Phoebe!" He broke from Gabriel's protective grasp and ran to where Phoebe still laid on the ground, sliding to his knees beside her. "Phoebe, are you okay?"
Phoebe sat up, coughing. "I'm all right," she asserted. "Where did they go?" She motioned with a shaky hand toward the empty hallway.
"I don't know," said Peter, helping her to her feet. "But we're getting out of here."
The Pinehearst guard was finally taking Nathan seriously. "Uhm, I'm sorry, but Mr. Petrelli is in a meeting right now. He won't be out for another--" He glanced at his wristwatch. "--thirty minutes."
"Can't this meeting be interrupted?" Nathan asked, fighting with everything he had to stay calm.
"Sorry, sir. It's very important. But as soon as thirty minutes are up… I'll let you in to see him." The guard tried on a tight smile. It didn't fit.
"I guess we'll have to wait, then," said Nathan, turning to Tracy.
They crossed the lobby to a where padded benches were set up under sweeping glass windows, and there they sat.
"I'm sorry your life is going crazy," Tracy said, taking Nathan's hand.
"Me, too," said Nathan tightly, not meeting her eyes. "And I'm sorry about--about your life, too."
"I'm not," said Tracy, lifting her chin. "You saved it."
Nathan met her eyes, then, and he grinned ever so slightly. "That's right. Maybe I'm not totally worthless then."
"Maybe not," said Tracy with a smile.
Across the lobby, the guard's phone rang and he hurriedly answered it. Nathan watched with detached curiosity as the guard's expression changed. Poor guy looks like he's getting harangued… Then the guard's eyes turned to Nathan and Tracy. Nathan frowned. Why the heck is he--?
"Sir?" The guard covered the speaker of the phone and motioned to Nathan with his other hand. "Sir? Mr. Petrelli says he'll see you now."
Nathan blinked. "Good. Thanks." He stood and glanced at Tracy. "That was an awfully fast thirty minutes," he told her quietly as they approached the guard's counter. "Something's up. Something's gotta be up."