Chapter 54 Question marks
Mohinder arrived into the hospital two days later. Peter had asked his help and his friend was here now. The first thing he saw was sleeping Claire. Her pale face was obvious and she looked thinner than before. Then he looked up and saw Peter sitting on the nearest chair and staring at him. Mohinder nodded.
'Thanks for coming here.' Peter nodded too and got off his chair.
'You asked for help and I'm here.'
Peter smiled. He remembered the words of future Hiro when he had told him to save the cheerleader. Hiro had told him that his future self never pleaded or asked for help. Now Peter could understand his surprise of his relation to Claire. Maybe that Hiro had seen his son in to the future.
'Why are you smiling?' Mohinder looked at him strangely.
'Oh, it's nothing.' Peter shrugged and nodded at the free chair. 'It's just a memory.'
'So how can I help you?' Mohinder took the chair. Peter sat back on his own chair.
'Claire.' He looked at the sleeping woman. 'She is… normal.'
'What?' Mohinder stared at him with confusion. 'What are you talking about?'
'She had difficult labor.' Peter tried to explain. 'I thought that she would get better, because of her ability, but look at her now.'
'So you're saying that she is lost her ability?' Mohinder pulled the notebook out of his bag. He scratched something there. 'Before or after the labor?'
'I think it happened after the labor.' Peter frowned. 'I'm not sure though, I was too busy to worry about!'
Mohinder rubbed his eyes and the looked at his friend.
'Look Peter, I know that you're concerned about her.'
'I'm freaking out actually!' Peter ran fingers through his messy hair.
'Okay.' Mohinder patted his notebook with his pencil. He looked at the sleeping Claire and then at his friend. Peter looked much paler than she did.
'It's because of my skin.' He spoke and tilted his head. Mohinder looked at him with surprise this time. 'I can read you mind, remember?' One tiny smile appeared on Peter's lips. 'It's annoying I know, but…' He shrugged.
'I think I have to be very careful with my thoughts.' The Indian doctor smiled.
'I think you should.' Peter shrugged.
Claire fluttered with her eyes and Peter saw her looking at him. Then she threw one look at the crib.
'He is fine, beautiful.' Peter tried to smile for her. Claire just nodded.
'Hi Claire.' Mohinder spoke to her and Claire looked at him with confusion, but then smiled too.
'Mohinder… Hi!'
'You have one wonderful son!'
Claire blushed with pleasure.
'Thank you.'
'Now I have to run some tests on you.' Mohinder turned serious and saw how her face faded. 'Don't worry, Claire. We're going to find out what is wrong with you.'
'Okay.' Claire nodded again and sat on the bed, frowning. Peter helped her with worried expression. She laid one hand over her flat stomach and sighed tiredly. 'I'm happy that my son is okay. Everything else could wait.'
'No!' Peter snapped and shot her one frowning look. 'It couldn't wait! Not when it comes to your health!'
'Calm down, Peter!' Claire spoke softly and saw his features relaxed. 'I'll do what you need me to do.'
Mohinder looked their behavior and rubbed his chin. He knew about their relation. He knew about their illegal love. However, they acted as every other married couple. If Mohinder did not know it, he would not guess that they are related. He took some blood from Claire and asked Peter where the lab here was.
Peter called one of the nurses and gave her the blood sample. He told her that it was for him. The nurse nodded and walked out of the room. Mohinder looked at Peter.
'It could be easier.' He shrugged. 'And – it's faster this way.'
Mohinder nodded and few minutes later got out of the room. Peter and Claire had left alone with their little son. They smiled at each other and Peter came close to her, taking her hand in his. He kissed the back of her fingers and her eyes glowed against his.
Later that night, Claire was awake. It was late and she just could not close her eyes. She stared at the baby in the crib. She felt Peter's hand over her waist and his breath, ruffling her soft hair. Claire had to admit that he was right today. She could have ended hurt. Claire sighed and shifted in his arms. Peter sighed too and pulled her closer, careful with the pressure over her stomach. One thin smile appeared on her lips. Peter was careful with her even in his sleep. He had not slept well these days. Claire could see the dark circles under his eyes. Thanks to her ability, Peter would be fine too. However, it was not fast enough for her. Claire wanted him strong and healthy as soon as it was possible.
'Mhm… me too.' She heard his sleepy whisper and smiled.
'I can't believe that you're reading my mind again!'
Peter did not answer, but Claire could swear that he was smiling. She closed her eyes and her back rested on his chest.
'I thought that I was going to lose you there.' Peter whispered and Claire opened her eyes immediately. She could not bear the pain in his voice. Claire turned around to him and her hands buried into his hair at the both sides of his face.
'I'm here, baby.'
Peter released one sad smile and Claire felt his hand on her waist.
'I know, but I got scared.' He sounded like a small child and her heart ached. 'I don't think I could do this.'
'What?' Claire ruffled his hair.
'I can't live without you!' Peter closed his eyes and took deep breath. He tried to calm his pounding heart. Claire slipped one hand over his chest. 'I can't lose you!' Peter continued and opened his eyes. 'I know that this sounds weak and whatever, but it's true. That's how I feel now. That's how I felt then.'
'I'm here baby.' Claire smiled. 'We are here. Joshua and I are fine and you don't have to worry about anything now. You have to relax.'
Peter shook his head and took her hand in his.
'Not yet. You have to get your ability back and I have to take care for that killer!' He frowned and Claire winced under his look. 'Then I have to talk with my mother and make sure that she would leave us alone!'
'What about our family?' Claire frowned too. 'I know that my mother care about Joshua and us. But dad?'
'Nathan stopped my mother, beautiful.' Peter spoke quietly. 'I can't understand what is his purpose, but he sure care about Joshua.'
'You think?'
'Yeah.' Peter saw her yawned and caressed her face. Clare closed her eyes with smile.
'Thank you for making me part of your life, Peter!' She whispered and sighed in his hands. Peter could not suppress his smile. Claire snuggled in him and fell asleep. Now Peter lost his sleep.
Claire was right. Yeah, sort of right, but still. Peter knew that she is fine. However, fine was not work for him. She had to be indestructible. Peter wanted her like that. He would be a lot calmer than now.
He could not sleep at all that night, but he was afraid to move. Claire obviously felt good in his arms and he did not want to disturb her. When Joshua cried at the early hours of the morning, Claire opened her eyes with a sigh. She did not yawn. She smiled and reached hands for her son. Peter placed Joshua into her arms and watched her feeding him. She loved to do that. It had written in her face. He had never imagined Claire as a mother. However, now she was and obviously felt good about it.
When Joshua had fed and his mother looked at him with longing eyes, Joe got into the room. His face was dark and Peter prepared for the worse. Maybe something was wrong with their baby. Maybe there was something wrong with Claire.
'Cousins?' Joe snapped and came closer to Peter. 'Really Peter? Cousins?'
'What is that supposed to mean?' Claire frowned with Joshua into her arms. 'Peter?'
'He said that you two are cousins!' Joe looked at Claire. 'He lied to me!'
'No!' Claire frowned even more. 'We lied to you! Peter just said what he had to say!'
'Damn it!' Joe cursed. 'You could go in the jail!' He looked at his friend. 'She is your niece and she is a minor!'
'You don't know us!' Peter snapped and clenched his fists. 'You don't know anything about us!'
'Why did you lie to me? Why?' Joe looked angry.
'Because, this is not of your business!' Claire was the one, who answered him. She hated when someone tried to hurt Peter.
'Yeah, right!' Joe snapped again and looked at her.
'Is this has something to do with Joshua?' Peter took back his attention. 'Have you read his results? Is he okay?'
Joe just glared at him frowning.
