Chapter 21: Watercourse

Sylar ran down the street as fast as he could, cursing himself he had never taken that teleporting ability, nor something that would have made his rush back home a little faster. He didn't bother with waiting for the elevator, there were only the stairs to take now and he was home, whatever situation awaited him there. Little Noah's father had completely freaked out when he got Claire's call that their son disappeared and she could not find him anywhere.

First first reaction was dread, then anger started to build in him. It had only been a week since he had seen Noah Bennett departing from the play area his son was at and he didn't quite reconcile with Claire on the issue of having talked to her father and most of all, not having been discussed it with him previously. The meeting could've perhaps been better organized then and he would not have to fear being hunted down by Bennett or the company, same thing, family and all.

But he had no time for feelings right now, main importance was to get up into their rented apartment, pick up the pieces and clues and find his little boy before it was too late. Not caring whether it was a trap or not, he burst into the hall and came to a halt. There was giggling coming from the kitchen, no different than other times when he came home from work.

With bated breath, he slowly walked round and peeked into the kitchen to find Noah standing up tall and beaming on one of the stools where Claire had put him so she could cuddle him up. She was squeezing him tight.

"Daddy's here!" Rejoiced the child.

"Oh, so sorry Sylar," Claire turned, not letting go of Noah with one hand, "it did occur to me to call you back and tell you it's not necessary you come back, but then I thought you might like to see this! Noah has found his ability, Sylar! We were actually playing hide and seek, but I couldn't believe he could actually hide that good, that's why I feared he was missing. Noah eventually realized I was upset, or I dunno maybe he got bored hiding and showed him to me. Do your trick again, Noah!"

The boy didn't have to be told twice. The edges of his body shimmered merely for a millisecond and then he did not seem to be there anymore. Using his superhearing, Sylar however could still pick up the child's quickened breathing as he jumped off the stool and reappeared next to him after a short period of being invisible.

"He can do it a lot longer and a lot better," Claire assured him.

"Well done, Noah," Sylar managed half a smile and ruffled through the boy's hair, "I'm proud of you, son, you mastered that one very quickly and well. But there are some very important ground rules about using your ability, understand, little champ," he turned serious, "cause otherwise we could end up in trouble. Did you explain it to him yet, Claire?"

She shook her head, beaconed the child over and sat him on her lap. It will be taken care of just like they had previously discussed what they will have to do when Noah developed an ability. Sylar let out a shaky breath. He had hoped that Noah would have a power that was similar to theirs, perhaps something insignificant, or an ability like one he himself already possessed. But invisibility, it was utile, it was compelling, suitable and worthy, desirable, delectable even, sought-after and to be taken..Sylar swallowed hard, trying to will the haze away from his knowledge focused, stricken mind. That crippling need inside him, it was one ability he would never understand, his own. It was no coincidence he had mostly kept to his family only these last few years, avoided meeting new people or even did anything much with his own abilities. Even though the hunger still reared its ugly head now and again, especially if there was some fresh ability somebody had close by, he had learned to curb his craving. All he had to do was think about his wondrous wife and his beloved son. What is he going to do now?

Claire looked over at him. She told Noah everything that she could think of necessary when explaining the state of play about abilities for a four year old and looked for confirmation and perhaps some input at her husband. Besides, Noah usually listened to him more than he listened to her. She had to rethink addressing him this time. Sylar had sank down to a chair and started at the middle of the empty table, supporting himself on it. It didn't stop him shaking though, his eyes a shade of dark she had not seen for a number of years now. "Noah," she said quickly, "you know where the chess set is you're not usually allowed to touch? You can have a shot at it." She would've normally laughed at his happy squeal, but the situation was too serious.

She had recognized the signs, she knew what was eating at the once killer. She had not doubted him, his son was at the center of his world, he would have never harmed him in any way, but she needed Noah out the way for a little while so she could remind him of that as well. But he didn't wait for her to talk.

Sylar was hyperventilating and was extremely pale as he stood, "I need to go Claire." He willed some control over himself and started towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Claire jumped concerned, standing in his stumbling way, even though she knew she could not stop him if he really wanted to leave. He was far more stronger, and not just abilities wise.

"Texas," Sylar mumbled.

"What on earth would you want in Texas?" Claire shrieked alarmed.

"Pills, Claire. The company stores large amounts of Mohinder's inhibiting formula in pill form. I have to steal some," he looked back at her, his brokenhearted gaze boring into her soul, "I can not risk hurting my son."

tbc