Title: Obsession

Fan dom: Heroes

Rating: T - Violence, Adult situations, Moderate Language

Notes and Spoilers: Through "Volume 1: Chapter 23: How to Stop an Exploding Man", Graphic Novel Chapters 39 to 42 "Betty" and the Fan Fictions Squall and Fatigue. And some random things from non-specific episodes of Volume 2. This story is part of an alternate universe of course after the close of Volume 1...


Chapter 9

"The bomb must go off."

"But it already went off!" Peter shouted!

"Yes it did. But in the sky."

"I'm not a mass murderer"

".07 percent is an acceptable lost to anyone!"

"I'm not part of this anyone!" Peter shouted louder.

"You should do what you are told!"

"I'm not a murderer!"

Nathan watched as Peter slept. He stood to the right of the bed and held onto Peter's hand.

"You are your own enemy Peter. You are weak. You ignore your own potential You grasp for the approval of others. You do not deserve these powers."

"Who are you?"

Nathan closed his eyes. He wondered. He wondered if his brother was dreaming. If his dreams were once again troubling him.

"Peter," he whispered.

"Nathan?"

The mysterious voice laughed.

"He cannot save you. It's time for you to grow up and meet your destiny."

The mysterious voice roared louder. "They are all going to die."

Peter held his hands to his face.

"No! I fixed this. We saved the world."

The voice laughed.


"Claude?" the familiar voice said.

Claude glared at the man in Horn-Rimmed glasses, his left foot glued behind him, and his right foot frozen to the side of him.

He became visible instantly. A few minutes of concern for Alex drained when he saw his old partner again.

Quickly, he sought to get away but a firm arm grabbed him at the fore arm.

"Let go of me."

Noah's grip held firm as he stared back at Claude, making his best guess where his one time friend would be.

"I'm not part of that company anymore," Noah stated.

"Then why are you here?" Claude snapped.

"Why are you?"

Claude stepped back farther into the corner.

"I asked first."

It was a phrase that could have been uttered from a five year-old but all the same it was the truth. He did not owe Bennet anything. He was not the one that betrayed him. Noah could not understand. He thought he would. When he begged Noah to understand. When he attempted to approach Noah's softer side, Noah did not budge.

"What if it was Claire?"

He chose the company over the family.

He made his choice. He did not dare break the stare, but his insides blinked.

He thought he was over what happened those years ago, but he knew he was not. When he saw Noah and the Haitian on the roof he ran away.

Once again betraying the boy he promised to protect, the boy that was now a man.

He called it Destiny.

Bah.

Noah narrowed his eyes.

"Why should I trust you?!" Claude snarled.

He yanked his arm out of Noah's grip and made himself invisible again.

"If I am able to do this a good person like me is in terrible danger."

"Let me help you," Noah stressed.

Claude rolled his eyes.

"Now how in the hell are you going to manage that?"

"Its been years since you have been at Primatech. For me, it only been months. I would say that I have the advantage here. If you can only trust me."

"Well, I am not going to trust you, but I suppose I could use you. You owe me at least as much."

Noah nodded.

Claude grabbed Noah's hand and the two faded into the air.


Alex stood, her ankles crossed against the wall.

She stared at Angela, doing her best to hold her resolve.

Angela stared back.

It was a game of spirits and quick draw and the two women stood at her respective corners waiting for the time to attack.

Alex felt the bile of her throat burn her tongue as she dared to breathe.

She started to open her mouth when Angela opened hers.

"I know you care for my son," she began as she walked closer to Alex.

"But I know him. I know what is the best for him. And I been in this world a lot longer than you and I know what I am doing. I would recommend for you to watch how you use that tongue of yours before you lose your head for it.

Alex stared back at Angela. She did not say any words.

Angela walked closer, and Alex felt her heart beat in her flesh. She would steal the woman's power if she had to.

Angela smiled at the young woman.

"You do not want it. Trust me," she whispered.

And she walked away, but not before pausing for just a few extra moments at the doorway.


"For some reason..." Taylor began, "All the good Christmas movies are either on Thanksgiving weekend or Christmas Eve. Yuck. Like I really care about. Who Wants to Marry Santa?"

"Oh I see," Mohinder replied.

Taylor nodded. "Or Naughty or Nice: Will You Get Coal in Your Stocking?"

Mohinder laughed. "Are you sure?"

"Who thinks of this crap?" Taylor ranted.

"I am sure there are some people that really enjoy this type of programming."

Taylor rolled her eyes.

"Well, it could be yet another version of "A Christmas Carol." Don't get me wrong, I love that story but how many versions can there be? Oooh! I know!"

Taylor ran to her bookshelf, she grabbed a DVD off the shelf and then promptly tripped on a shoe box.

Mohinder sprinted to Taylor's side.

"Are you okay?"

Taylor closed her eyes and nodded her head. "Yeah, I'm fine. Here this is what we got to watch."

Mohinder eyed Taylor, raising his eyebrow slightly.

Taylor smiled.

"I know. I know. Totally stupid I know. But you have to trust me. This was one of my favorite Christmas specials from when I was Molly's age."

Mohinder did not look very convinced.


Alex closed her eyes and let her visible self fad in to the back drop of paint and wall paper.

She wished she could dissolve with the colors and just melt sometimes. Perhaps then her rejection would go away with her worry.

She wished she had x-ray vision or some way to see among those walls. Peter probably had a bunch of powers she could play with on a cloudy day. If he allowed it.

"Who are you?" a child's voice called.

Alex stood still.

"Do you hear me?" the child asked again.

"I can see you, you know."

"Yeah," she whispered. "I'm not exactly invisible. The wall is probably all lumpy."

The child smirked.

Alex smiled back.

"Which one are you?" she whispered.

The boy folded his hands across his chest.

"Who are you?"

Alex opened her mouth to say something and then closed it and then opened it again to say something else.

"I'm Alex."

The child took a deep breath, as if he was preparing a big speech to say before he lost his nerve.

"No I mean—"

"It's okay Simon," she replied. "I'm a friend."

Simon did not appear convinced.


Nathan placed a cold wash rag gently against Peter forehead. "Pete, can you hear me?" he whispered before he returned to his seat at the side of the bed.

"The bomb must go off..."

Nathan was not sure if he should be frightened or relieved as Peter started stir somewhat urgently in the bed.

"Peter..." Nathan called.

"The bomb will go off..."

Peter opened his eyes and locked eyes with Nathan for a few seconds.

Nathan started to open his mouth, a smile peaking from each corner.

"Nathan", Peter called instead, "What happened?"

"You don't remember?" Nathan replied.

Peter closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, before answering.

"Not all of it. How did I get here?"

"Alex and I, we...Peter it been two weeks since that day in the Park."

Peter sighed.

"Really?"

He started cough harshly.

Nathan handed Peter a glass of water.

"Peter."

Peter took the glass of water and rubbed his throat. "Very dry."

"Peter..."

Peter patted Nathan on the shoulder. "I'm fine."

"Fine?" Nathan almost laughed. "Peter...you didn't see how you were just a moments ago. And don't you even try to pull that stunt you did after Texas."

"Heh," Peter smirked. "Seriously Nathan, I am fine.

Nathan made a half smile.

Nathan was not convinced.

A knock on the door, caused the two brothers to turn into the direction of the hallway.

Angela made contact with her younger son.

The bomb must go off.


To Be Continued


Author's Note: Sorry for the delay in this chapter. Real life got in the way. I hope this chapter did its job. Chapter 10 will come hopefully somewhat soon.