Author's Note: Short, but sweet chapter. Elle's still having her mood swings. Anyway enjoy.
CHAPTER 26: Sheer Independence
"Sit Elle." Elle Bishop had heard that line from one Angela Petrelli. She was stuck inside the woman's office like the weeks before. She sat in the same chair watching the same woman shuffle papers behind her desk. "Due to some recent occurrences we feel that your talents would be best suited outside the field." The lights flickered as Elle stared at the woman. She made a face.
"So let me get this straight," The blonde stood up letting electric sizzled against her fingertips. "You hire me only to fire me again?" She asked letting the lights flutter above her. Angela obviously seemed concerned.
"Miss Bishop please," The woman began raising her hand as if that would stop Elle. "We are only thinking of your health. Of your child's health." Elle sneered.
"Like you give a damn about me. You'd soon as throw me to the lions then give a crap about my child." One hand went to her stomach as the other raised sparking gently.
"You don't understand how much a pull that child has on our future." Angela warned. "All of ours."
"And you've seen it huh? The future?" Elle asked letting her eyes show her emotion. Two missions with Gabriel. Only two and she had been fired. The second being to bring in a willing participant in the manner. A NYPD cop who was now on their side.
"Elle, you are not being rational. You're emotional, pregnant, and not handling the Luke situation well." Angela clarified. Elle knew she was right. God she knew she wasn't an agent with a full suitcase. "When you have dealt with this maybe you can be allowed to come back, but for now maybe for your whole pregnancy we can allow you to be out there. To jeopardize a mission." She ground her teeth lifting her hand again. Angela Petrelli sure had the ability to piss her off.
"I'll jeopardize your mission." She said knowing it made no sense. She was about to hit the woman with a bolt when something caught her hand. The sparks retracted.
"You should probably get going Elle." Noah Bennet recommended.
She turned her head closing her eyes. Killing her boss would not give keep her in good standings with Gabriel. Or Peter. She followed Noah Bennet back swearing she heard Ms. Petrelli tell her to keep her temper in line. She ground her teeth as they exited.
"What the hell are you doing?" Noah Bennet snapped at her. She spun her head around.
"Exactly what I was fired for." She snapped back. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go home and sit around for the next nine months feeling sorry for myself." She started to turn when Nah mumbled something.
"I don't think he would want you to feel sorry for yourself?" She turned.
"What?" She asked. Noah suddenly smiled. The cat who ate the annoying canary. "Did he . . .?" She moaned turning on her heels and looking determined down the hall. "I am going to kill him!"
--
"No, I'm sure this is right," Gabriel told the woman before him listening to the old watch tick in time with the others. "In fact I'm positive." She shook her head. Her graying curls bouncing.
"No it has to be wrong." She lifted her own wrist to him, full of brown spots. "See four thirty seven, not thirty nine. All your clocks are fast." Gabriel sighed again wishing this woman had some kind of power he could take. That way he could chalk her death up to a relapse.
"Every single clock in this store is set at standard New York time. It's the same in all the government building, ma'me." He attempted not to rub his temples and just hold the watch. Again she shook her head and again Gabriel's fingers itched to tear open her noggin.
"Well I want it at this time. The right time." Stubborn old hag didn't know much about anything. He took the watch opening it up. His glasses still attached to her face. "Careful. It's an antique." Gabriel was aware and let out the sigh. He could see the woman become stubborn. Maybe if he killed her just a little . . .
The bell went off and heels clacked. He had never been so glad to heel Elle's too expensive heels in his life. Maybe she could tell him it was alright to murder this annoying customer.
"Gabriel," Her voice sprang. He shifted a cog letting the watch sound off. Just the way she wanted it. He looked up to see Elle looking like she was about to kill him. When the customer turned his girlfriend's face softened. "A word?" Her tone sure didn't change.
"Excuse me for a moment." He told the woman. She was annoyed as he placed the watch and his glasses on the table. He led Elle to the back where he kept all the antiques. It was dark and a bit unpleasant. She spun on her heels as he shut the door behind him.
"What do you think you are doing?" She asked smacking his shoulder. He didn't seem to move.
"I wasn't aware I couldn't protect you." He stated folding his arms across his dark blue long sleeved shirt.
"Protect yes. Take away my ability to do actual work. That's taking away my womanly independence." He stepped closer to her and Elle instinctively went on the defensive. He laughed slowly to himself. She wasn't sure what was funny.
"I'm not trying to take away anything from you." He assured her. "You're still crying."
"No." She lied crossing her arms.
"Elle we share the same room. We share the same bed for God's sake." He declared lifting her chin up. "You cry almost every night." She slowly closed her eyes turning away. "I miss Luke too, but this isn't about me or you. It's about him. He needs to find himself." She flickered her eyes up at him.
"Like you did?" She was referring to the mass murdering he had done due to her influence. He laughed lightly.
"Tempted to revert back to my old ways." He stated making sure the door was still closed. "People can be annoying. Especially women who don't know the unique fundamentals of time." Elle stepped forward.
"Mmmm?" She purred out. Touching his collar lightly with a suspicious and seductive look in her eyes. "So tell me more about finding yourself?"
"I wanted to find Gabriel again. The person who I met when I was with you." His hands ran over her hands and down her arms smoothly. "I want that guy to come back to start our family."
"He's not back?" She wondered stoking his cheek.
"No, I'm still looking." His eyes ran over her body. She leaned up catching his lips. He held her face kissing her roughly before he pulled away. "I'm at work."
"So?" She huffed. "You're the boss. Take a little time off." She pressed her hand to his chest. "You deserve it Mr. Gray."
"Aren't you still pissed I basically took away your freedom as a woman?" She shrugged at his response.
"I'll do office work. You're little speech convinced me that I actually should start acting responsible for our kid." Her eyes eyed the door as she bit her bottom lip. "Now are you going to tell that lady off or do I have to black out the entire block?" Gabriel grinned taking Elle's hand. He kissed her palm before going out to tell his customer that the shop was closing.