Claire lay spread out on the beach, eyes pinched shut to avoid the blistering sun. She was still fuming about her father's avoidance of her question, simply refusing to give her a straight answer. At this point Claire was no closer to deciphering the mystery that was Gabriel. All she could hope for now was for another vision. She had to admit she was not a very patient individual.
Rolling over on her side, Claire watched as her dad's black jeep came ambling up the driveway. Noah had left hours ago to "take care of some business" and he had finally returned. Some vacation, he was still always going off to god knows where. Maybe his important "business" was kidnapping another innocent special. She wouldn't put it passed him. Claire could see right through him, Noah was keeping something from her and she was going to find out what it was. He knew who Gabriel was.
From her position she could just make out her father exiting the jeep. Claire was shocked to realize he wasn't alone. The slender backside of a blonde woman slid out of the passenger side. Claire stood and began wrapping her towel around her bikini clad body. The distance to the pair took only a minute, but it seemed to last forever, drawing out each second.
"Hello Claire," Noah said over joyously. The woman turned at Noah's words, a brilliant smile spreading at this happy reunion. Claire could not return the sentiment.
"Claire it's so great to see you again," she offered her hand and waited expectantly.
"Lauren right?" Claire knew who she was, her dad's former partner turned girlfriend; she only wanted to be difficult. She reached out her own hand and grasped Lauren's firmly before dropping it as discreetly as possible.
"That's me. I hope you don't mind me crashing you and your dad's vacation. When Noah told me that you two were in Barbados," she gave a short pause waving her hands out to describe the sheer size of her excitement. "Well, I begged Noah and after many hours of arguing here we all are."
"Actually it wasn't that strenuous. I thought you two can get to know one another a little better."
"Yeah, Noah was just telling me on the ride here that you wanted to visit the town. Maybe after I get settled we can take the jeep and go, just you and me."
Claire had to remember to be civil; she couldn't project her issues with her dad on her. In all honesty, she had no reason at the present to think ill of this woman, so she laced her reply with sincerity, "That would be terrific Lauren. I'm going to go take a shower."
"Okay then." Claire could feel their eyes on her back all the way to the house. Were they making sure she entered? Claire ran to her room, quickly discarding her towel and bathing suit on the floor, rushing about her room looking for a suitable outfit. She was fully dressed in record time.
Peeking out the window to see if Noah and Lauren were still by the jeep, she discovered that they had retreated on to the beach. There heads were angled close together. Claire doubled back through the house, exiting through the back entrance. She took a quick look around the corner of the building to make sure the coast was clear and sprinted to the adjacent foliage. Careful not step on anyhting, Claire sneaked closer to the edge of the beach. She could just make out there voices as her father believed her to be still inside safefully in the shower he was not stressing about volume control. What kind of secret agent was he? Wasn't stealth one of the requirements? However she wasn't going to complain.
"I think she knows something. She asked me about Sylar this morning," Noah said harshly, nearly spitting out the name. Claire was confused? She had asked about Gabriel, not Sylar. Maybe they weren't talking about the same person.
"Noah don't you think you are being a tad paranoid?"
"Absolutely not, she knows something; she's starting to remember." Okay what the fuck was going on here? "I made a mistake, Lauren. I called Angela and she was telling me about Peter, how the Haitian had taken away his memories as well, but obviously they all came back to him. It's that damn healing ability. I should have thought of that. I wasn't thinking clearly, blinded with my rage."
"Ask Renee to take them away again."
"Well there is the slight problem that he told me he wants nothing more to do with me. And I can't go to Parkman; he'd never agree to do this to Claire, especially after what happened with Sylar. The whinny piece of shit is completely rejecting his gift."
"So what are you going to do?"
Noah grabbed Lauren's shoulders and paused briefly before unfolding his plan. "I'm going to take care of Sylar once in for all. Claire will eventually regain her memories and hate me for the rest of eternity, but at that point I couldn't give a shit."
"I'm guessing there is a reason you asked me to come down here."
"Look after Claire, keep her occupied, and if necessary restrain her."
"Noah this is your daughter we are talking about."
"Don't you think I know that? I love her far too much to let her do this. I am going to end this." He began shaking with rage.
Hearing enough, Claire stumbled back to the house. What had her father done to her, taken away her memories, virtually mind raping her? She had to escape and find Gabriel, Sylar, whatever his name was. Claire knew that with all her heart she could trust him. There was only the small part of finding him. The world was rather large and she didn't even know where to begin.
Packing her bag, she didn't notice the items she threw in, focusing more on speed. She packed light, knowing that her father and Lauren would soon discover that she had disappeared. She couldn't risk going out the back. The area outside her window was completely obscured from view. Sliding it open gently, she threw her bag out first. Nearly out the window, she could hear Lauren at the door. "Claire, are you ready?"
"Almost, just getting dressed, I'll be out in ten," Claire eased herself fully out the window. She grabbed her bag and tore down the path. Claire wished she had the keys to the jeep, but there was nothing she could do about it now. She had never acquired the skill to hot wire cars. Maybe she'd learn for the future.
After twenty minutes, Claire figured they'd realized she wasn't still in her room. How long would it take before they came chasing after her? Never losing her breath, Claire continued to sprint down the dirt path, wondering when she'd ever reach the main road. From there she'd have no problem hitching a ride into the city and buy her way off this island.
Claire heard the engine of a car and her heart dropped. She looked back at the approaching black blur. Claire cut into the trees, deciding that getting lost in the forest was more appealing then going back with her father. Over confident that she could easily outrun her father, she did not realize the extent to which her father would go. Claire heard a shot fire, before she felt a dull throb at the back of her head.
A/N: I apologize for the lack of Gabriel in the past two chapters. I promise he will be in the next one : )