I do not own any character from the series of Heroes, and neither do I make any monies from the writing of this story. It is purely for my, and hopefully your, enjoyment.
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Chapter Four
Eve breathed a sigh of relief as Gabriel pulled into a motel just outside of Cleveland, and she leaned against his back, feeling too tired to support herself upright. The shock of seeing her husbands killer had preyed on her mind throughout the whole journey, and coupled with her doubts about the man who had come to her rescue, had drained her both mentally and physically.
"You okay?" Gabriel asked as he killed the engine.
"I will be," she replied wearily, accepting his help off the machine. She groaned as he eased the straps of the backpack from her shoulders, and massaged her neck as Gabriel went to the reception to book a room. 'Two rooms,' she urged silently, not entirely trusting herself if they slept naked again, despite her misgivings. "You get two rooms?" she demanded as soon as he stepped out of the reception area.
"No, one... it's safer that way," Gabriel explained, smiling inwardly at her obvious discomfort at having to share with him again. "I got shower gel and body lotion..." he tempted, holding up a small bag containing his purchases from the reception.
"Angel Gabriel, indeed," Eve smiled, her worry at sharing a room, and indeed about what sort of person Gabriel truly was, temporarily forgotten.
Ah... room ten," Gabriel told her after looking at the room key to remind himself of which room it was, and he lead the way, carrying the heavy pack. "You have a shower first," he offered as he opened the door. "I'll get us some food."
"Okay, thanks," Eve nodded, waiting until he had left the room before hurriedly stripping off and grabbing the shower gel and sponge, which Gabriel had also purchased, and headed for the small bathroom off the side, groaning with pleasure as she turned the unit on and felt the reviving hot water wash over her.
Gabriel sighed with disappointment when he returned, to find Eve towelling dry her hair, already washed and changed into her spare clothes, even though he had not been long getting the food from a burger bar across the street. "That was quick," he mused, putting the paper bags and polystyrene trays on the double bed.
"Yeah, I didn't want to use all the hot water," she lied. "I know how quickly it runs out in these places."
"Thanks," he nodded as he shared out the burgers, fries and drinks, glancing at her with a rueful smile. "We should hit Chicago tomorrow."
"Yeah... are you sure it's a good idea?" Eve fretted. "Wouldn't it be better to go to a smaller backwater town?"
"Who hate strangers... remember when we stopped at... Bellfonte? The cop who questioned us just because we'd pulled over for a while? You can lose yourself better in a city."
"I guess so," Eve agreed. "You said... that you had a push to become... you know. Who did it, and why?" she frowned.
"Ah, Eve... you sure like to change the subject!" Gabriel chuckled. "That is a long, long story and I'm hungry and need a shower."
"Okay," she nodded, falling silent as she ate her burger.
"If you really want to know, I'll tell you about it tomorrow, yeah?"
"Only if you want to..."
"Eve," Gabriel began, "I will tell you anything to make you trust me, okay?"
"You can't really blame me for being a little scared... you've killed people... I know that you've had opportunity to hurt me, but..."
"You remember I told you that I could dream the future; a gift from my dear mother. You also remember that I told you that you kept appearing in my dreams? This is meant to be, Eve; don't ask me why, I just know that you're supposed to be a part of my life."
"And if I don't want to be?" she gulped, wishing that she had sat on the chair in the corner of the room, and not on the bed next to him.
"Let's get to Chicago and see what happens, hmm?"
"Okay," Eve nodded, tensing as Gabriel reached for her, torn between wanting to give in to the inevitable, and wanting to run.
"I won't hurt you," Gabriel murmured as his lips closed in on hers, his hand snaking around the back of her head to stop her from pulling away, and he pushed her down on the bed, covering her body with his own.
"Gabriel..." Eve protested, trying to break free from his kiss. "Please..."
"Shhh," he soothed, cupping her breast with his free hand, a mild electric current running through his fingers as he tweaked her nipple, heightening the sensation for her. "It's okay, Eve, everything's going to be okay," he whispered as she groaned with pleasure.
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Eve opened one eye then the other, and moaned softly as her body ached. She smiled to herself as she felt Gabriel's body curled around hers in a possessive embrace, and she closed her eyes again, not wanting reality to cast its shadow over the blissful, peaceful moment. That could come later. Her mind drifted to the previous night and their loving that had lasted well into the early hours, and she wondered what the time was. Eve opened her eyes again, picking up Gabriel's wrist to look at his watch and frowning when she saw it was not only broken, but smashed.
'Weird,' she mused to herself, giggling as his finger flicked the tip of her nose. "Morning," she greeted sleepily.
"Is it? Damn!" Gabriel murmured. "I was hoping the night would never end."
"Same here," she sighed, turning over to face him, brushing hair from his eyes, then capturing his lower lip between hers, gently sucking on it. "We could always stay here one more day...?"
"Why not forever?" Gabriel teased as he pulled her on top of him, his fingers tracing down her spine.
"Because I'd want a bed that is a darn sight more comfortable than this thing!" Eve grinned.
Gabriel smiled as he kissed her before breaking away and shaking his head slowly. "We need to put a few more miles distance in," he sighed. "Disappear first, then we can spend as long as we want in bed, hmm?"
"Okay," Eve nodded with a rueful smile, and she rolled off him and sat on the edge of the bed, groaning as her body protested again at the movement.
"I didn't mean right away," he chuckled, sitting up and wrapping his arms around her, preventing her from standing. "There's plenty of time," he murmured as he nuzzled her neck. "Chicago can wait a little while longer...."
"You wanna share a shower?" Eve suggested, running her hands along his arms and lacing her fingers through his. "Save on hot water..."
"Mmm..." Gabriel purred, nipping the soft flesh between her neck and shoulder, then licking it better. "And shower gel, being as somebody used most of it last night..."
"I did not!" Eve protested, pushing him back down on the bed and turning over, playfully beating his chest with her fists.
"Did too!" he teased, grabbing her wrists and rolling them both over so that he was on top. "But I'm sure you can find a way to make it up to me..."
"I'm sure I can..." Eve breathed, reaching up and kissing him hungrily, not wanting to face up to reality yet a while.
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'I can't believe I am acting like this,' Eve mused as she waited outside a grocery store for Gabriel. 'I am screwing a man I have known for a few days; a man I know to be a killer. I am on the run, I am homeless, penniless, and I am letting him totally run my life. I'm going to have to get away... but how?'
"You okay, Eve?" Gabriel asked as he walked over to her, carrying a box of supplies. "You were miles away."
"Yeah... a lot's happened," she evaded. "I guess I'm trying to take it all in."
"I know," he sympathised, kissing the top of her head as they began walking back to the motel. "Things will settle down once we reach Chicago."
"What are we going to do when we get there?" Eve frowned.
"You mean when we're not in bed...?" Gabriel teased.
"Yeah!" she laughed nervously. "Seriously, though. We don't know each other, Gabriel. It might not work out, or..."
"Or what, Eve? I might go back to what I was?"
"Yeah," Eve frowned, glancing at him. "I... I'm scared. Of the future, of... you... I just don't know what I'm going to do."
"You're going to stop worrying," Gabriel replied, stopping and taking her hand. "I'm not going back to what I was; I'm going to take care of you."
"Why?" she demanded. "Because of some dream? I just don't know, Gabriel..."
"I have seen and done many weird things," Gabriel mused, casting his mind back over the past two years as they started to walk again. "Life, the world, just isn't the same any more. When the general public start to realise that there are people out there who can do things... I dunno what will happen."
"I've heard rumours..." Eve began. "That they're rounding up people... like the Nazi's did to the Jews..."
"Who are?" Gabriel demanded, looking sharply at her. "Who?"
"The government..." she fretted, chewing her lip. "It's just rumours, but..."
"But you think they're taking people with powers?" he frowned.
"Yeah," Eve nodded. "You think it's a good idea to go to a city?"
"And you don't think a small town would turn someone with powers in, twice as fast?"
"True."
"No, we'll head for Chicago, but we'll keep our heads down and noses clean, okay?"
"Okay..." she replied hesitantly.
"I had thought of starting a riot or two," Gabriel teased, reaching down and kissing her. "But if you want the quiet life, the quiet life you shall have! It's going to be okay, Eve," he assured her as she looked at him nervously, "no-one can stop me..."
"Dammit!" Officer Emanuel Hernandez cursed as his request for back up was turned down due to a hold up at a bank in the centre of town. "Don't they know how dangerous this guy is?" he wondered aloud as he watched Gabriel and Eve walk back towards the motel. "It's Sylar, dammit!" Hernandez had taken a particular interest in the notorious serial killer after a cousin of his, also in the force, had been killed by the man. 'Well fuck you all; I'll get him myself,' he thought angrily as he started to tail the couple.
"So, we going to start out first thing tomorrow, or travel through the night?" Eve asked once she and Gabriel had got back to their room.
"We'll head off first thing," Gabriel decided. "See if we can't get some sleep tonight, huh?" he winked.
"So... what does that leave us to do today?" Eve asked with a glint in her eyes.
Gabriel grinned and opened his mouth to reply, frowning as someone knocked on the door. "Go to the bathroom," he ordered quietly, waiting until Eve was out of sight before going to the door. "Okay, okay!" he protested as the person hammered more persistently. He cursed as he realised there was no spyhole in the door, and opened it a crack, drawing in a breath as he was confronted by a police officer aiming a gun right at his face.
"Open the door!" the officer shouted, shoving it open with his free hand. "Turn around and put your hands on your head; slowly!"
"What's the problem, officer?" Gabriel enquired in an even voice as he did as he was told.
"I know just exactly who you are! Now git against the wall. Git! Where's the woman?"
Gabriel winced as Hernandez slammed him against the wall, in two minds whether to fight back or let the scene play out a while. "She's gone to reception; she'll be back soon..."
"Not so clever now, are we, Sylar?" the officer taunted as he snapped his cuffs expertly on to the wrists of the criminal , whilst keeping hold of his gun, aiming it at the back of Gabriel's head when he had finished.
"My name is not Sylar," Gabriel replied, starting to turn to face the policeman.
"Stop!" Hernandez ordered. "Turn back, now!"
Eve gasped as she watched, her eyes growing wide with terror as the officer's finger started to squeeze on the trigger.
"I'm going to kill you," Hernandez spat. "I can claim it was self defence; I'll be a hero!"
Eve carefully opened the door and reached into the box of groceries, pulling out the first thing to hand, which was a bottle of wine. She took a step forward and smashed it against the police officers head, gasping as he fell sideways and banged his head against the corner of the chest of drawers.
"Eve!" Gabriel screamed as he spun around, using his power to unlock the cuffs, which fell from his wrists. "What the fuck did you do that for?"
"I... I don't k-know," Eve gasped, looking in horror at the prone figure of the police officer on the floor. "Is... he...?"
Gabriel bent down with an exasperated sigh and felt for a pulse, shaking his head when he found none. "I can't die, Eve! You know that!" he exploded as he stood and faced her. "You should've let me take the shot!"
"I didn't think, all right?" she yelled, shoving Gabriel in the chest. "I just... didn't think!"
"Get your things; we're going to have to go, now!"
"I-I'm n-not going w-with you..." Eve stammered. "I don't want all of this!"
"Well you should've thought of that before you brained the bastard!"
"H-he knew who y-you were... you'll g-get the blame for it..."
"Oh gee, thanks, Eve...!" Gabriel snarked.
"What's one more, huh? What's another count to your tally, Gabriel?"
"It still won't change the fact that it was you who killed him, Eve, not me..." he crooned menacingly, his face inches from hers. "Now by the police's reckoning, that's three people you've killed, although they can't prove your husband or that jerk I saved you from. But what do you think they'll do to you, Eve, killing a cop? Slap your wrist and tell you what a naughty girl you've been? No, it'd be death row for you..."
"N-no..." Eve gasped.
"Eve..." Gabriel sighed, his voice now gentle and calm as he reached for her, frowning as she flinched and pulled away. "What will you do, hmm? You'll end up on the streets, selling yourself for food and shelter, that's if a pimp doesn't find you first; then you'd be selling yourself for the next fix. Do you want that, Eve, hmm? Because I don't want that for you... I just wanna look after you, help you."
"I should have stayed at the farm," she gulped, fighting against the hysteria that threatened to overwhelm her. "Why did you make me come with you?"
"I didn't, Eve; you came of your own free will. In fact, you even told me to set fire to your house so that no-one could take anything from you, remember?"
"I wasn't thinking straight!" Eve screamed, launching herself at Gabriel, struggling as he took her in his arms and held her tightly, whispering soothing noises as she gave in to the tears.
"Come on, Eve," Gabriel urged after a few minutes. "Someone might have heard all that; we have to go."
Eve tensed, still fighting the urge to run away; to pretend that the past two days had never happened, but she knew that was impossible. "Okay," she eventually conceded, pulling from his embrace and went to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face.
"Maybe I should have tried to help you stay at the farm," Gabriel offered as he watched her from the doorway. "I guess I'm just too used to running when trouble hits... sorry."
"I was held in the county jail for three days as they tried to get me to admit that I killed Sam," Eve sighed. "It was only Mario, the guy who collects the milk twice a week, looking after the animals for me, otherwise they'd have died and I'd have gone under. You're right, Gabriel, they would have found some way of linking me to Walt's death. Maybe it hadn't rained as much back home; maybe they could have followed the tire tracks to and from the farm? It doesn't really matter now, does it?" she mused, looking at the dead body of the policeman. "Que sera, sera..."
"Y'know...?" Gabriel mused wryly as he stroked her face. "You probably saved my life back there..."
"How, I thought... oh! If he had shot you in the back of the head...?"
"...I'd have died," Gabriel finished. "Thank you."
"Call it quits," Eve shrugged with a nonchalance she did not feel. She busied herself with packing, taking bottled water from the box of groceries and shoving them in the backpack.
"Come on Eve, we have to go," Gabriel chivvied, breaking her thoughts.
"Okay, I'm ready," she nodded, taking a last regretful look at the body before shutting the door behind them, unable to believe that no-one had seemed to have heard the commotion. She put it down to it being mid-morning and people going about their business rather than being in their motel rooms.
"Shit!" Gabriel cursed, as the key to the bike fell from his hand and down a drain. He tried to bring them back up using his telekinesis power, glowering at the drain when they did not re-appear.
"Where are they?" Eve fretted, a panicked look in her eyes.
"I don't know!" Gabriel hissed, trying again to bring them up to no avail. His anger turned to astonishment as Eve knelt down beside the drain and closed her eyes.
"T-they're caught on a twig," she whispered hesitantly. "If you can move them up a little, then forward, they should come free."
Gabriel's mouth formed words that did not come, but he did as he was bade, watching her carefully and with consideration.
"They're free!" Eve breathed, opening her eyes and reaching through the slots in the drain as the keys neared the top, grasping them in her hand and pulling it free.
"How...?" he gasped, looking at her in bewilderment.
"I..." Eve gulped, unable to look him in the eyes. "I never told anyone," she whispered, "not even Sam..."
"You can...?"
"I can see anything; even if it is not in sight..." Eve flinched as Gabriel reached for her, closing her eyes as she waited for the expected pain as he killed her for her ability.
"Eve...?" Gabriel gasped, his voice catching as he realised her fear, and how she had trusted him despite it. "Eve, I'm not going to hurt you," he swore, tilting her head so that she was facing him, albeit with her eyes still firmly shut. He gently pressed his lips against her forehead and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly.
Eve gulped down a sob, wanting nothing more than to return the embrace, but still terrified that it would be the last thing that she would do.
"I can see inside the room..." Gabriel mused incredulously, seeing in his minds eye the room they had just vacated. He concentrated on the next room, grinning as he saw the layout of that room also, right down to the pile of dirty linen on the floor at the foot of the bed. He broke away from her and wiped away her tears. "I told you, I don't need to kill any more."
"What?" Eve gasped, her eyes wide as she stared in to his, looking for any sign of a lie.
"I have your power, Eve; now will you trust me?" he smiled, brushing his lips against hers.
"I will try," she whispered, managing a small smile. "C-come on, let's go."
"Yeah," he agreed, taking a look around to see if anyone had been watching them as he helped Eve on with the backpack, and then onto the bike, before climbing on himself, firing the machine into life and roaring out of the car park.
'I killed a man,' Eve thought as they hit the highway and Gabriel accelerated, eager to get away from the motel. 'I'm a killer...' she shuddered and leaned her head against Gabriel's back, closing her eyes. 'What is happening to me?'