Chapter 8: Among Friends
Claire was certain something not right was going on. Nurses ran back and forth in front of her window. There was shouting. Something was happening. It sounded crazy, but she was starting to feel comfortable in her small cubicle. Now she was scared again. She saw men and women in black uniforms with the words FBI stitched on the back. FBI…. FBI! Help was coming!
Seconds later, her door was kicked down, and a woman with shoulder length blonde hair followed by a portly man with short dark hair entered her room. They looked vaguely familiar…
"Claire Bennet?" The woman asked.
Claire nodded.
"I'm Audrey, this is Matt. We're here to get you out of here."
"I'm getting nothing." Matt said, "What is this place?"
"Where's Peter?" Claire demanded.
And then she saw him run by her window and into her room.
"Peter!" She cried and threw her arms around his neck. God, it felt so good to have physical contact with him besides handholding, and she might have held onto longer than she should have.
Matt cleared his throat. "We're clear, it's time to go, folks."
"Where's my brother?" Peter asked.
Matt shook his head, "There are no other civilians here. What's his name?"
"Nathan Petrelli."
Matt shook his head again, "Just you two."
"What about Jacques?"
Matt shook his head, "We're clear."
"How did you find us?" Claire asked Audrey.
She nodded to Matt, "He did."
Xxx
Peter and Claire sat side by side in the small holding room.
"Not another cell…" She mumbled.
"It won't be long." Audrey said, "Matt just has a few questions." She left the room and Matt walked in.
"Are you guys okay?" He asked. "Do you need anything?"
"We're fine." Peter said.
What makes you two special?
The thought barged into Peter's head. But it was more than that… it sounded like a voice, like… the FBI officer who sat before them.
"What?" He asked.
I didn't say anything….
Now that sounded like Claire. Like Claire was speaking without moving her lips.
Peter grabbed the glass of water that was on the table and chugged it down. He was hearing voices inside his head.
Is he feeling okay?
Claire again.
Both of them watched Peter anxiously.
Can you hear me?
Matt pulled out a bottle of aspirin, watching Peter.
Peter could feel himself start to sweat.
Please be okay, Peter. I need you.
Claire put her hand on his arm. He gave her a quick smile.
"Do you need to lie down?" Claire asked him. What should I do? I should do something…
Peter locked his eyes on Matt. "What are you doing to my head?" He got out.
Can you hear me? It was the officer.
"Yes." Peter grunted. He put both hands to his temples. What the hell was going on?
"Do you need aspirin?" Claire asked. Should I heal him? Am I healing him? Can I heal headaches?
Matt studied Peter closely and pushed the bottle to him, Look at me.
Peter turned his attention to Matt.
Matt gave a nod. So there are others.
Claire looked back and forth between them.
So that's why he kidnapped you…The voice drifted into Peter's head. He kidnapped me too.
"What's going on?" Claire demanded. The two of them sat there, just staring at each other. Should I get help?
And what can she do? Matt thought.
Nothing. Peter thought back immediately. She just happened to be with me.
It's okay, you're among friends here. The officer thought.
"Someone say something!" Claire demanded and smacked her hand on the table, unfortunately going through the glass of water.
Peter finally turned his attention to Claire.
"Peter?" She asked softly. Are you okay?
"Claire!" He nodded to her hand.
She looked down and then noticed the smashed glass. She moved her hand up and lamely cried out in pain. She began pulling the shards of glass out.
Matt jumped to his feet. "I'll get some first aid…" His voice trailed off as he watched her skin heal almost instantly. Oh my God…
"It didn't even break the skin…" Claire said nervously, and then followed Matt's eyes down to the red stains on the table. "Oh." She laughed nervously and turned to Peter, her eyes as wide as dinner plates. Oh no, he knows…
But Matt didn't go running from the room. He simply grabbed a paper towel off the roll and said calmly, "When did it start?"
Claire looked to Peter.
"It's okay," He reassured her, "He's one of us."
