Title: Connecting Roses
Author: Bunny
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Still not mine. Will never be.

Summary: Post- Let it Bleed. Sylar leaves Claire a trail of breadcrumbs so she will discover what he needs.

A/N: Guess who found out she works Monday night for the first time in months… Yeah… Not happy…

A/N 2: I do not read spoilers. I just gleefully watch promos and read the synopsis that NBC puts out, so if anything in this fic is like what happens then it's purely coincidence.


Claire had spent Christmas and New Year's with her mom and Lyle. The incredibly quiet break held Sylar's promise as she he hadn't seen or heard from him at all. Oddly she felt detached as a result. The day before term began she visited the Sullivan Brothers Carnival, a brief trip from her school. She was welcomed back enthusiastically by the inhabitants. Walking in barely thirty feet Samuel swept over to her. "Claire, how wonderful to see you again!" Waving his arms in a welcoming gesture he stepped towards her. "What do we owe this unexpected visit?"

"I had a little time after my flight from California and since the dorms don't open for a few hours, I just wanted to stop by. To make sure everyone was okay," she admitted, looking around finding comfort in familiar faces.

Samuel smiled. "If I didn't know better I'd think you were beginning to think of us as family."

Offering a tight smile, Claire chose to ignore the comment moving on to the other reason she came. "Is Lydia busy right now?"

The carnie nodded knowingly. "So this is a girl talk visit."

"Sort of." Claire pointed behind the tents. "Is she in her trailer?"

"Yeah," answered Samuel, moving in closer to her lowering his voice to keep patrons out. "You may need to wait a bit though. Her daughter is having a bit of trouble with her ability at the moment."

Claire nodded, heading towards the back area. Even if she didn't already know which trailer was Lydia's, the one with smoke pouring out of the open windows and door would've been a solid hint. As she jogged towards it, she could hear the remnants of an argument.

"I don't want to meditate anymore! Clearly it's not helping!"

"It's the only way to calm yourself down and claim control!"

"I don't care! It's not working!"

Stepping on the first step of the trailer Claire could see Amanda huddled in the far corner tear marks on her face, walls and linoleum scorched all around her. Every few seconds a poof of flame would burst from surrounding objects. Lydia knelt on the floor on the opposite end also showing signs of crying.

"Amanda, it's going to be alright –" started Claire, but her sudden appearance caused the girl to explode a cabinet by Claire's face. Loosing vision in the left side of her face she knew that she had been severely burned and her eye had been burst. If Amanda's hysterical shouting was any indicator it wasn't a pretty sight.

"Claire!" Lydia moved towards her to help with her injury, forgetting that she would heal herself. In a matter of seconds, her vision returned and her sight settled on the trembling girl who covered her face in shame.

Looking at the shaken empath, Claire gently requested she leave. Assuring her daughter she would be right outside, Lydia slid out of the trailer closing the door. "Amanda, look at me." She shook her head. "Amanda, I'm fine. See? I can heal myself."

The young brunette looked up seeing her reconstructed face couldn't help but reach up to be sure it was real. "How can I make it stop?" she whispered terrified.

"What happened?" asked Claire, pushing her hair out of her wet face. "To lose control like this, something must've happened."

"I killed a man," she sniffed. The room began to heat slightly. "It was right before you visited and he was threatening mom –" The sob ripped through her simultaneously occurred as the wall to the right of Claire burst into flames, along with part of her shirt.

Holding onto her face with both hands, she forced Amanda to look at her. "It's alright. You certainly aren't the first person to lose control of their powers and you most certainly won't be the last."

Jerking away, the girl scowled, "What do you know about losing control? You have the power to heal. That's nothing that can go wrong. You have no business telling me what to do."

Blinking in shock and annoyance, Claire recognized this was an incredibly hormonal teenage so not becoming upset was necessary. "You're absolutely right, I don't have consequences with my powers when I lose control. But I've been around people who lose it." Chuckling lightly, she thought of Tracy. "In fact the last person I helped calm down their ability ended up freezing me solid and snapping off my foot."

Amanda couldn't hold back a disturbed laugh. Turning somber quickly she asked, "Had she killed someone?"

"Yes, she had," replied Claire with a nod. "And she was a senator's aid. Just goes to show that can happen to anyone." She seemed to calm down, but the room was still simmering with heat. "You feel guilty killing him?"

Gulping Amanda nodded. "I just got so angry. I couldn't stop."

"You can feel when you're going to explode usually, right?"

She again nodded.

"Maybe you should set up your own private combustion place. Then when you feel that coming on you should excuse yourself there."

Amanda smirked. "Not the most original advice."

Claire sucked in breath and had to agree. "Yeah, that's true. But you need to find a way to cool yourself down. Because you hated that man you killed right?" She nodded emphatically. "And yet you still feel all this guilt?" The fire to her left and the walls stopped smoldering. "Imagine if that had been someone you really cared about? Imagine if that had been your mom?" Amanda bit her lip and started crying again, but nothing was becoming hot. "That's a guilt you probably couldn't stand."

Leaping forward Amanda hugged Claire tightly. "Thank you," she whispered. Coming out of their hug, Amanda rubbed her cheeks dry. "If there's anything I can do for you, let me know."

"Actually, there is something you can do for me," the blonde ventured immediately. Looking at her charred pants and nearly gone top she asked, "Could I have a change of clothes?"

***

Hopping down the steps Amanda skipped over to her mother giving her a strong hug. "I'm going to go prepare for my act," she said kissing her cheek before wandering off.

Lydia gently grabbed her arm. "Are you sure you're fine?"

The young teenager did a short nod combined with a bright smile. Claire exited the trailer as Amanda departed, smoothing down the green top she had given her.

Gaping after her daughter in disbelief Lydia stated, "I'd almost say you were the empath here." Switching her gaze to the petite blonde she continued. "You were very good at that."

Struck a little shy by the blatant praise, Claire shook her head, "It was nothing. She just needed to hear it from another person."

An amused look settled on Lydia's face, "I assume this wasn't just a social call."

"No, it looks like you caught me," she admitted slipping her hands in her pockets. "Is there somewhere more private we can talk?" Lydia pointed to another trailer down another path. Once inside Claire jumped immediately to the point. "How did Sylar get your power?"

Taken aback, Lydia distracted herself by wrapping a shawl around her. "What makes you so sure he did?"

"Because he keeps trying to make it work around me, but…" Claire hesitated, not sure of the point she was heading towards.

Lydia slowly tilted her head, looking at the younger woman as though in a new light. "That's why he wanted you here."

"What do you mean by that?" A bundle of nerves tightened in her stomach when Lydia sat down in the chair, flipping the shawl off her shoulder, offering her hand. "It won't work. Sylar's been trying for days asking me what I want, but nothing ever comes up."

She chuckled lightly, still holding out her hand. "Sylar's only had that power a few weeks now. I've lived with it my entire life. I think I know how to manipulate it better than him." Taking another beat, considering her options. What would appear? Why was she so scared? Not caring to be so cautious, Claire closed her eyes and tightly gripped the offered hand. Lydia inhaled deeply, shuddering as her power worked. She couldn't help but grin. "Oh, yes. He did come to find you, didn't he."

Claire opened her eyes back up to glare at the empath, but was distracted by the ink on her shoulder slowing into a picture.

A rose.

Releasing her hand as though it had been shocked, Claire took a step back rubbing her hands together. Her heart was pounding so hard it resonated in her head.

"I think we both know what the rose represents." She slid the fabric back up to cover herself sliding around in the chair. "The question is why are you so hesitant to follow through?"

Claire ticked her head down in disbelief. "Seriously."

"I'm not saying it won't be easy, but won't you be more disappointed if you don't give him a go?"

She laughed sarcastically. "Just because I don't burn with hate for him anymore doesn't mean I want…that from him. When I'm with him my brain screams at what a bad idea –"

"That's your problem," interrupted Lydia, pulling her hair behind her back. "You need to stop feeling with your brain. That's not how these things work. It's more a matter of heart."

Claire did not believe she could possibly feel more stumped than right now. That was not a piece of advice she was expecting to hear.

"When Sylar was here last, I read what he wanted before he took my ability. It turns out he is terrified of dying alone."

Claire stood corrected.

"He came here with the intention of murdering Samuel and other members of The Carnival for their powers. But when the time came, he couldn't complete the kill."

"Why not?" The stunned girl clarified, "Not that I'm not grateful you're all alive, but that's so unusual."

She shrugged, messing with her hair again. "I'm not sure. I don't even think Samuel is positive. But that hunger to kill and take still exists within him, it's just being suppressed by the overwhelming need to have love in his life."

Reeling back at the use of the 'L' word, Claire was about to contradict when the trailer door swung open to reveal Samuel. Seeing Lydia visibly jump, Claire took a step back to observe the interaction between the pair. "I hope everything is alright in here."

"We were just finishing up," rushed Lydia standing.

The ringleader nodded, turning his attention to her, cutting Lydia completely out of the picture, "Claire, you are more than welcome to join us for dinner."

Making sure to look remorseful, she declined. "I need to be getting back. But, thank you for letting me come back for a visit."

"Not a problem. You are always welcome here. Next time make sure your visit is longer. I know the children miss you." Switching back to Lydia, the twinkle which he talked to Claire was gone. "I need to speak with you when you're ready." Agreeing with only a head nod, Samuel smiled. "Claire, as always. Good to see you."

Once he closed the door Claire opened her mouth to speak, but was silenced by Lydia holding a palm up. Looking out the tiny window she waited until Samuel moved away. "You're scared of him," observed Claire.

"Doubtful," she corrected. "I would be more vocal about my doubts, but I have Amanda to worry about and after Edgar left so fast…" She trailed off losing herself in her thoughts. "I can't put myself in a position to get in trouble with him or the family."

Claire smirked. "If there's one thing I'm certain about in life is that you're always supposed to be in trouble with your family."

Lips turning upwards, Lydia wrapped her arms around her. "Thank you for helping my daughter."

"No problem. And thanks for…well I don't know what yet, but thanks." Leaving the trailer, Claire inhaled the crisp air before pulling the rose earrings out of her pocket. Twirling them between her fingers a moment. Her mind yelled at her to throw them in the dirt and leave, but her heart…

After pushing them in ears Claire grabbed her cell phone. Observing the mother/daughter pair made her nostalgic for her own family. Dialing she put the device to her ear while walking towards the exit. "Hey, Happy New Year, Dad."