Chapter 10 Catch me when I fall

They spent the night together in his bedroom at the mansion.

Claire snuggled in him with wide-open eyes. She could not sleep, relived the pictures from this night – her going at the Homecoming; the scary man grabbed her, trying to rip off her head; Peter came to rescue her; the sight of him lying motionless on the ground and finally his hug. Claire winced.

'Why are you still awake, beautiful?' Peter asked huskily and Claire smiled.

'I can't sleep.'

'Because of this night?'

'Yeah.' Claire pressed her back against his chest and slid her hand lay over Peter's. He had wrapped her waist and now he had buried nose in her hair.

'You don't have to worry about.' He said calmingly. His voice was like a caress. 'I'm gonna be there for you and nobody could hurt you!'

'Did I tell you that I love you today?' She asked finally closing her eyes.

'Considering that it's little after midnight, no you don't.' Peter chuckled lightly.

'I love you.' She mumbled drowsily.

'I love you too.' He whispered into her hair and closed his eyes too. He felt so tired like never before. Some strange weakness possessed his body and he fell asleep.

He woke up by the ringing phone. It was early in the morning and Peter frowned. Who might be? He looked at still sleeping Claire and picked up.

'Hello?'

'Peter Petrelli?' asked woman's voice.

'Who is this?' Peter frowned. Claire woke up from his voice and looked at him quizzically.

'I'm agent Audrey Hanson. I'm calling from Police.'

'What? What happened?' Peter's blood froze. Maybe something had happened with his brother, or his family.

'Some people saw you falling from two story building with some guy and the walked away without injury.'

'Some people saw me last night?' Peter sat on the bed and Claire followed her example. 'Where?'

'They saw you with your niece.' Audrey continued.

'My niece?' Peter said huskily and looked at Claire. Her eyes widened.

'You have to come to Police as soon as it possible.' Audrey said.

'Sure. We'll be there.' Peter answered and closed the phone. 'We have to go to Police, beautiful.' He looked at Claire.

'For what?' Claire looked scared.

'For the last night.' Peter sighed and got off the bed. Claire followed him.

'They saw us?' She asked. 'I heard that they asked about me.'

'They saw us with that man and how we just went away.' Peter said putting on his jeans. ''I think you should get dress and let's get over it quickly before Nathan's come back.'

'You are right.' Claire said and opened his door. 'Give me fifteen minutes and I'll be ready.'

'Okay' Peter watched as she closed the door behind and sighed tiredly. Something happened with him and he did not know what. He still felt the same weakness as the previous night and his hands trembled. Peter looked at the mirror and froze. His face was pale. He was pale in general, but now he looked pretty scary. He was glad that Claire had not noticed that in the morning light.

Fifteen minutes later, she was ready and they walked out of the mansion. Peter looked around and then squeezed his eyes teleporting them away and just behind the Police Station. When he opened his eyes, he felt sudden dizziness and would fall if it was not Claire to hold his arm.

'Hey, are you okay?' She asked anxiously.

'Yeah. I'm fine.' Peter tried to smile. 'Come on, let's do this.'

'You look pale.' She stared at his face and touched his forehead. 'And you have a fever! Peter, why didn't you tell me?'

'I said that I'm fine!' He snapped, grabbing her hand. 'Let's go!'

Claire did not say a word more. She could see that he was not good, but he was so stubborn. He would not admit that ever.

They walked into the building and asked for agent Audrey Hanson. Five minutes later, one tall blond woman was standing before them. She was weaning a suit and her hair was short, but she looked beautiful. However, her eyes were cold and she looked at them closely. She was not alone. One tall dark-haired man was standing beside her. He was little shorter than her and looked older than Peter. His face was strange and focused. Audrey presented him as Matt Parkman.

They leaded Peter and Claire into one small room with one giant mirror, on the one of the walls. Claire looked around with confusion and her look stopped at Peter. He had leaned hands over the table and massaged his temples. Claire frowned. He was not good and his black jacket made him look even paler.

'Are you alright?' Parkman asked him.

'Just a little headache.' Peter tried to smile, avoiding Claire's look.

'Help yourself.' Parkman slipped one phial with Aspirin in front of him and handed him one bottle with mineral water. Claire still was staring at him with concern. Her phone rang and she saw her father's name.

'Dad?' She called.

'Give me Peter! Now!' He sounded grumpy and Claire handed the phone to Peter. 'Dad wants to talk to you.' She said and Peter took the phone.

'Nate?'

'Don't say anything without a lawyer!' Nathan snapped.

'What?' Peter looked surprised. 'How would you know where we are?'

'I know.' Nathan snapped again. 'And we'll have lots to talk when I come home.'

'Okay.' Peter said and hung up the phone. He looked back at Agent Hannah. 'My brother said not to talk.'

'We don't need you to talk.' Agent Audrey Hanson nodded at Officer Parkman and suddenly Peter felt something strange. He could hear his own thoughts like an echo. Then there was only one loud sound, deafened his ears. Peter grabbed his head with painful moan and turned around to look at Parkman.

'What did you do to me?' He asked and saw that the Officer was holding his head too.

'Peter, are you okay?' Claire lay hand on his arm and he looked at her.

'Yeah…' He tried to smile, but it was too hard for him.

'He wanted to save her.' Parkman said and sat on the near chair. 'He wanted to save her from Sylar.'

'Sylar?' Claire asked, trying to distract their attention from Peter. 'Is that his name?'

'Yeah. That is his name.' Audrey Hanson said and heard Peter's cough. 'Are you okay?'

'No!' Claire answered instead of him. 'He is not and we are leaving!' She said, helping Peter got off his chair. He lost his balance and she wrapped arm around his waist, so he could lean on her. 'We are leaving now.'

'We aren't finish!' Agent Hanson frowned.

'Yes we are. You can talk with our lawyers from now on.' Claire snapped and walked out of their room, supporting Peter in his walk. 'We should take a cab to home.' Claire said and heard his quiet laugh.

'Who is the adult now?' Peter said and looked at her face.

'You are.' She said, continued walking while they got out of the Police Station. 'I'm just your…' She stopped and looked up at him. 'Wait! What am I for you?'

'I love you.' He just said simply and her eyes shone.

'And you are totally my hero!' She said smiling.

'Why he is your hero?' The sound of her father's voice, made her flinch and she almost dropped Peter. Claire looked up and saw Nathan standing before them with arms, crossing around his chest. 'I told you, Claire! I told you not to go there and you did!'

'I'm sorry.' She said quietly and felt Peter pulled back from her. She released her grip around his waist and watched him with concern. He was trying to act like normal, but the truth was that he was not good at all. 'Look, can we leave this talk for later?'

'No, we can't!' Nathan snapped, looking at her. 'Don't try to walk away!'

Just then, Peter fell on the ground. Claire screamed his name and knelt down, putting his head on her lap. She bent over him with pounding heart.

'He is breathing!' Claire said looking up at her father, but her eyes went teary. 'Call 911.' She said, but Nathan already was talking on the phone.

'I… am!' Claire heard his harassed voice and looked down at his face. 'I could… destroy everything!'

'Peter!' Claire whispered and rubbed his chest. He breathed heavily.

'I could…' He coughed and his eyes closed again.

'No!' Claire yelled. 'Peter! No!'