AN: So this was written for heroes_bigboom on Livejournal. There's art and a fanmix to go along with it over at my LJ (livejournal . com / b_dsaint) and thank you Annie for betaing and listening to me whine... here's a new part!

Thank you to everyone who's put this story on their favourites/left a review. It's so nice to hear from readers!

Disclaimer: Heroes belongs to NBC and Kring... and I suppose maybe other people? I have no idea. I wish I owned Sylar though... and Elle. YUM


Elle stared at the phone in her hand, anger coursing through her. He'd hung up on her! The bastard! She contemplated going to Primatech. Finding Gabriel and electrocuting him until he agreed to let her help. Her fingers sparked at the idea and a wicked grin crossed her face.

After a moment she sighed and let the sparks die. Even if she did go to Primatech, she wouldn't get there until well after Gabriel and she'd miss all the fun. Gabriel was more than capable of handling whatever Primatech could throw at him, she had no doubt of that. But of handling what Angela could throw at him? That she wasn't so sure about. Angela'd spent her entire life manipulating everyone around her to do her bidding, and Gabriel had already proven to be easy prey for her.

Elle's eyes narrowed at the thought of the Petrelli matriarch. She'd easily manipulate Gabriel, Elle knew. Especially now, when he was more Gabriel, less Sylar. Working for his father had seemed to mellow him a bit. Still psychotic as ever, but less aimless. He'd devoted himself to his family's cause with hardly a thought, so trusting that his parents had his best interests at heart. Never mind they were on opposite sides of each other.

Now though, it'd blown up in his face, and Elle wasn't sure how it would ultimately effect him. She could still hear the desire in his voice, even through the tinny reception of the cell phone. The longing for family, the yearning for a place to belong and people to care about. It reminded her of the shy watchmaker she met months ago, before everything went to Hell in a hand-basket.

Elle shoved the phone into her pocket in annoyance. She was going to have to go after him, just to make sure that bitch of his mother didn't get her claws into him again. Angela was nothing if not manipulative when it came to her sons, and Gabriel had been turned into a killer on her orders once before. Not to say that he wasn't still a killer, but Elle knew he'd found some control over the hunger in the past few weeks. Angela could potentially ruin all the progress he'd made if she thought it would fulfill some grand scheme.

Besides, Gabriel had told her not to come, and she wasn't a fan of following orders. No one got to tell Elle Bishop what to do. Not anymore.

Decision made, she frowned as she looked around the street. No money, no car, and Primatech easily an hour away. Travel had definitely been easier when The Company had been footing the bill.

Her eyes landed on a red motorcycle parked by the side of the road. Elle's frown melted into a smile and her fingers twitched with a brief spark. Perfect.


more to come!