(10) The Guessing Game

"Incoming call from Tirzah Gatineau."

Sylar stopped the car near the edge of the parking lot of the hospital. "Go."

"Gabriel, you left your glasses at the hospital," Tirzah began. "Jason grabbed them."

"Oh is that what happened?" Sylar replied. "I'm just leaving the hospital now. Gave up looking for those things."

"I didn't know until we got home last night," Tirzah said. "When can I bring them over?"

"Tell you what, how about I pick up both boys from their schools & drop Jason off?" Sylar asked. "I can get the glasses then."

"Uh sure, if that isn't out of the way?"

"I'll be taking Noah out anyway," Sylar said. "He just about died yesterday. He might need someone to talk to."

"It's a miracle what happened to him!" Tirzah exclaimed. "Are you alright?"

"I'm sure science has some explanation or other," Sylar gently reminded her they were atheist. "As for Noah, he'll probably forget it once he finds yet another plushy."

"He is quite the collector."

"Yeah, until he outgrows it, then I will be stuck with the damn things," Sylar laughed dryly. "See you this afternoon." He turned the car towards the road & headed home.

When school ended, Sylar picked up Noah first even though Jason's school was technically closer. He sent Noah in to fetch the other boy while he waited in the car. Noah took his time, though; looking around at the school he had never been in before. It had more religious symbols lining the walls, Torahs among other religious books, could be found in nearly ever classroom. He finally entered the principal's office to find Jason waiting for him.

Once the pair left, Jason pulled Noah into an empty classroom. "What happened to you, yesterday?"

"I got hit by a truck," Noah said. "I thought you were there?"

"Noah, you died!"

Noah thought about his father's warning, but surely that didn't include his best friend, did it? He wanted to tell him, but then he remembered how he had seen his father last night. He had seen Sylar without realizing it. He decided to plan this conversation instead of just telling Jason right away. "Maybe the doctors did a better job on me than they thought?"

"You don't have a scratch on you!" Jason pressed. "I saw you lying in the road after the truck ran you over. All that blood! It wasn't from the driver."

"Jason, I do have something else to tell you, but not now."

"Why not?"

"My Dad," Noah said. "Let's wait for some other time."

"Ok then," Jason gave up. "There is something I need to show you when we get to my place, by the way. Something really weird."

"We better go," Noah turned for the door. "Dad's waiting." He led Jason out to the car & both got into the back seat.

When they got to Jason's house, both he & Noah got out. Sylar thought Noah was moving to the front seat, but instead he followed Jason to the door. "Noah, where you going?"

"Um inside?"

"We're not staying today," Sylar stated.

"I know," Noah said. "Just for a minute. I will bring your glasses out."

"Alright, but hurry up."

"It's funny seeing your Dad without glasses," Jason remarked as they headed up the stairs.

"Jason!"

Halfway up the stairs, Jason stopped & rolled his eyes. "Yes, Mom?"

"I can't find Gabriel's glasses. Can you find them?"

"I have them, remember?" Jason shouted back. "I'm going to get them now." He hurried the rest the way up the stairs & down the hall. Once they got into his bedroom, Jason grumbled. "I hate being asked to do something I'm literally in the process of doing. Don't parents OBSERVE some times?"

"Dad does it all the time," Noah agreed. "Drives me insane. Yet they claim to watch us twenty-four-seven or something stupid like that."

"Yeah, good luck with that!" Jason laughed. "Here." He picked up a pair of glasses from his table.

"Those aren't Dad's."

"No, they're not," Jason said. "That's my Grand-mamma's spare pair. Take a look through them."

Noah held them up. "It's all blurry for me."

"Now try your Dad's," Jason finally handed them over. "Look through them, then look at the window."

Noah did so. "It's the same view. Your Grandmother needs a new pair."

"No," Jason said. "These glasses are perfect for her. It's blurry for us since it isn't set for our eyes. For her eyes, they would show clear sight. But your Dad's are just windows, no lens." He leaned closer to Noah. "They're fake."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive," Jason nodded his head. "It's just for show, I think. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But he doesn't need glasses."

"I'm usually in trouble when the glasses are off," Noah began. "It's an exception right now 'cause of the accident & all, but Dad got really strange last night." He described how Sylar looked for a moment. "It's like he was in some sort of trance all of a sudden. Never saw anything like it before. When I told him he was starting to scare me, all he said was 'I know' like he enjoyed it or something."

"I doubt he enjoyed it," Jason said. "Why would he even want to scare you like that?"

"I don't know but he got pretty upset about it right after," Noah proceeded to explain finding his father on the floor of the garage. "He doesn't know I saw him. Jason, I've never seen Dad cry. I don't know what would have made him do that, but I think he is scared of something. too."

"Your Dad?" Jason asked in surprise. "Afraid of something? I didn't think he would be afraid of anything. He doesn't seem the type."

"I know, right?" Noah pocketed his father's glasses as the two started down the stairs once more.

"Oh, almost forgot," Jason suddenly said. "I'm going to America for three weeks this summer. Going to visit some family in Utah."

"Oh, alright," Noah said somewhat dejectedly.

"I asked," Jason went on. "You can come."

"No, I can't," Noah scoffed. "Dad hates America, remember? It's blacked out on our globe. I'm not allowed there."

"It isn't for a month & a half still," Jason said. "Maybe you could work on him?"

"I'll try but I really don't think he'll say yes."

"He can't keep you from travelling wherever you want, forever," Jason said. "Sooner or later, you will be able to go where you want." They came off the last stair & stood by the door. "It would just be Utah, though. Wish we could go to New Mexico & see Roswell, but maybe some day."

"I want to see Roswell, too," Noah admitted. "Also the Grand Canyon & Mount Rushmore. But ultimately, I'd love to go to New York. I want to see Ground Zero. The Statue of Liberty, too!"

"That would be fun. It be great if your Dad would come," Jason said. "Maybe he will learn to like America. Has he ever even set foot outside of Israel?"

"Sure," Noah replied. "Plenty of times."

"Wait, you've been travelling?"

"We went to France & Alaska & a few other places. Just never America."

"Uh Noah? Alaska is America."

"No, it isn't," Noah shook his head. "It's part of Canada I think, or its own country."

"No, it is the forty-nineth state of America," Jason pulled out the phone he had gotten as a gift at his bar mitzvah. "Here. See?"

Noah stared at it for a long time. "It isn't blacked out on our globe."

"Maybe your Dad thought the same as you," Jason laughed.

"Maybe."

"I don't remember hearing about you going any where," Jason mused, putting his phone away. "When did you ever get the time to travel?"

"It was when I was younger," Noah shrugged. "Maybe I forgot to mention it? I gotta go."

"Ok, good luck with your Dad," Jason said.

"I'll try," Noah promised as he went outside to the car. He got into the front seat at last & handed over the glasses.

"That's better," Sylar said once he put them on. He drove out to the main road.

"You looked really weird without them, yesterday," Noah remarked after a few minutes of silence.

"It was a weird day, yesterday."

More silence slipped by. "Dad?"

"Yes, Noah?" Sylar said absent-mindedly as he was looking around at the intersection before driving through.

Noah looked up at him. "They're fake."

"What's fake?"

"Your glasses," Noah said. "I compared them to the glasses Jason's grandmother has. Hers has lens in them. Yours is just plain glass."

"Well, I don't actually need glasses," Sylar said.

"So why do you wear them?"

"Because before my own abilities showed up, I was blind as a bat," Sylar laughed. "I was an adult when it happened for me, but I've been using glasses since I was a kid. I'm just used to them."

Noah waited a moment before asking, "Dad, why do we go to Alaska, sometimes?"

"Well, Israel is useless for winter," Sylar shrugged, slowing to a stop at a red light. "I brought you there several times so you could experience a proper winter." He drove through when the light changed.

"But you hate America."

Sylar came to a screeching halt. "I do not hate America! Whatever gave you that stupid idea?"

"Oh I don't know," Noah sighed sarcastically. "The fact that it is all blacked out on our globe. Same for Mexico. You said we can't ever go there to either country."

"You're right. We can't."

"So you hate both countries."

"No, I don't," Sylar was almost ready to take the glasses off. He continued driving instead. "It's just that both countries, especially America, aren't uh, well, they aren't ... " He chanced a glance at Noah while on a straight stretch. "Safe, Noah. For people with abilities. I was wondering if you would have an ability someday & now you do, the most sought after one."

"So why do we go to Alaska then?"

"That's Canadian, I think. Don't really know or care."

"It's the forty-ninth state of America," Noah said. "Look it up."

"What makes you say that?"

"Jason showed me on his phone. It's American, Dad. We've been going to America plenty of times & never got hurt."

Sylar pulled off to the side & checked for himself. "Well," He sighed heavily. "It's very remote as compared to the rest of that country. Never mind."

"So, uh, do you think I could, um, go to Utah?"

"N—Utah? What are you, Mormon all of a sudden? Why would you want to go there, of all places?"

Noah rolled his eyes shut for a moment. Some days he wanted to shake his father! Frustrating. "No! It's just that Jason is going in the summer to visit some family. He invited me along."

"Oh is that it?" Sylar muttered. "Well, unlike Alaska, Utah is right in the middle of the country so no, you're not going anywhere."

"But Dad!"

"I said no!" Sylar retorted. "Don't make me take the glasses off again. The discussion is over & I don't want to hear another word about it. Understand?" Noah sighed & lay back in his seat, out of sorts. "I said UNDERSTAND?!"

"Yes," Noah snarled. But of course he could never truly understand it. He didn't know he was riding in the car of the worst serial killer the world had ever seen outside of wars, borne out of America from New York itself.

"Now, I thought maybe we could go out & get something to eat this time," Sylar went on, changing subjects. "You had a crazy day yesterday & I had to take care of something last night. So perhaps we could talk a bit more about your ability, if you want." He parked the car in front of a restaurant & reached under the seat to pull out a paper bag. "I also got you this. It was in the hospital's gift shop."

Noah pulled out a large swan about the size of a basket ball. "A swan? Whoa, thanks! I don't think I have one of those!"

"Neither do I," Sylar glanced around. "Noah, I gotta ask. What do you intend to do with all these plushies in a couple years?"

"Uh, leave them exactly where they are?"

"You're going to outgrow them sooner or later."

"These aren't my toys, Dad," Noah half-snapped, offended at the very thought. "It's a collection. That's for life! Like how some get seashells or stamps. I have plushies from every place we visited. I found rare ones in magazines or online & some are extra special depending who gave them to me."

"Sure, sure," Sylar sighed. "Let's see how it goes in a couple years."

"My collection better have doubled by then," Noah gruffly replied. Sylar groaned as he got out & waited for Noah, who delicately placed the pure white swan in the center of his seat before closing the door. "Snapper can watch over the car while we eat."

"Snapper."

"That's the mood I'm in, right now," Noah went for the door of the diner.

Sylar rolled his eyes skyward. "It starts. The teen years. If there is a God out there, send help. Aye, yuk!" He narrowly missed having his face swiped by a low hanging web with the beast dead center of it close to the door as he followed Noah inside. "Disgusting creatures," He muttered under breath, letting Noah lead the way to a table by the window. He was glad at least that his kid wasn't a teenage girl, which was worse than a boy at this stage. Apparently. So he was told & if Claire was anything to go by, it was probably true. Wait! Now there was an idea! Once they had made their order, Sylar asked, "Ok, what about women? You'll want to get married some day & I doubt she'd want all those plushies. Gals like a good strong man."

"Not interested in women," Noah replied evenly.

"Oh ... kay," Sylar was at a loss for a moment. The kid was starting his teen years. Surely he was feeling things by now. Must be a late bloomer. "Maybe not now."

"Not now, not ever."

"What do you mean, 'not ever'?" Sylar laughed. Noah just shrugged. "Oh come on! I've been banging on girls since I was nine."

"DAAAAAAD!" Noah was absolutely horrified. "That is on a need to know basis! UGH!" He put both hands over his eyes & shook his head.

"You're right," Sylar agreed. "I need it & you know it."

Noah just glared. "What is wrong with you? Oh my God! Why are you so WEIRD?"

"Oh you walked into that one," Sylar laughed, before adding, "Girls are fun."

"This from the guy who never had any girls."

"Excuse me?" Sylar raised one brow. "How do you think I ended up with you?"

"I mean recently," Noah corrected himself. "In all my thirteen years, I've never seen you even glance at a girl like that."

Sylar sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "That's just because I still miss your mom. Anyway, I have you to worry about. I don't have time right now."

"You don't speak of her. There aren't any pictures of her in the house. All I know is that she died but I don't even know how that happened."

"She died in an explosion that would have taken you as well had I not been holding you," Sylar started. "She was very beautiful. But if you want to really know her, look at yourself. She collected plushies, too."

"WHAT?" Noah finally smiled.

"Not as many as you & it was only teddy bears, not a variety," said Sylar. "I think she had like, twelve, or something. You like dancing. So did she. A cheerleader in fact. You look a lot like her & you're just as much trouble as she was when she was a kid."

"You knew her that long?" Noah gasped.

"Since she was fifteen," Sylar replied before adding in a low whisper, "Noah, just look in the mirror. It's her looking back."

"Did she," Noah hesitated before asking. "Did she have an ability?"

"Yeah," Sylar looked away. "She had an ability."

"What was it? What could she—"

"Noah," Sylar cut him off. "We will talk more about your mom some day, but can we just stop for now? It's enough for me." He continued looking out the window but seeing the past.

Noah watched him for a few moments. "Oh. I think I get it. She died."

"Yeah, she did."

"You said we can't die," Noah started slowly. "Which means ... "

"Yeah, something like that."

"You really love her, still."

"Mhm."

"Dad, what are you going to do in a hundred years? Or a thousand?"

"What?"

"You said we will live forever," Noah reminded him. "So if that's true, then we will both be here a thousand years from now. But not Mom. You plan on going girl-less for all that time?"

"Girl-less? Hm," Sylar scoffed. At the same time, he was amazed at having his own words thrown back at him by his son. He remembered having a similar conversation with Claire about how they were immortal & everyone around them would eventually die. It was the same day he failed miserably at proposing to her & then cutting her father's throat right after. "Oh man, I'm a friggen idiot."

"Dad?"

"Never mind," Sylar held up a hand for a moment. "Let's eat up before it gets cold."

For a while, they ate in silence. But then Noah thought of something else. "Dad?"

"Now what?"

"How do you plan on keeping me out of America for thousands of years?"

"America again? I thought we discussed that matter & closed it?"

"Only of Utah," Noah pointed out. "But in all our lives, how exactly do you plan on stopping me some day in the future?"

"I'll think of it when the future gets here," Sylar said. "Why are you so interested in that country, anyway?"

"I hear lots of interesting things about it yet it's one of two places I'm banned from," Noah said. "Of course I am more interested in America & Mexico than usual because of how you act when the topic comes up."

"Oh don't try pinning this on me," Sylar complained. "You're just like your mother."

"Good," Noah gloated.

"Oh thanks for the vote of confidence," Sylar glowered. "Brat."

"Just like Mom."

"God help us all."

"Thought we were atheist?"

"Shut up!" Sylar ordered in frustration. "What attracts you most to America or Mexico?"

"The fact that they're banned."

Sylar rolled his eyes. "Besides that. Noah!"

"When people go on vacation, they often go to Mexico," Noah began. "They say it has some great beaches there. I want to see some of America's famous places, like Roswell, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore," he went on. "Also there is Disneyland & Disneyworld. Isn't everyone supposed to go to those at least once in their life? I want to see the Statue of Liberty & Ground Zero & I'd like to walk around the streets of Manhattan at night & see all the lights like in the pictures."

"Manhattan at night," Sylar wheezed, choking on his coffee. Just like HIM! Those streets were some of his old stalking grounds. How many people died at his hand just in New York City & Manhattan alone? Not to mention Peter would be there waiting for him.

"I'm just a kid right now but you can't hold me back forever," Noah went on. "Seriously, Dad. What do you plan to do with me in a hundred years? A thousand? A MILLION?"

Sylar put his coffee aside before it found a way past the Regen to kill him. He looked Noah over. Unlike his mother, Noah seemed to accept the fact that he was immortal. It was strange hearing his own words coming from his son now. "This really isn't the conversation I thought we'd have."

"My ability is Regen. I can't die & my pain receptors are dulled. There. We discussed it. Now let's get back to the fact that somewhere down the road, America is waiting."

By now, Sylar was sitting back in his chair, one hand over his face, with his eyes closed. How did it get to this point so fast? He remembered when Noah was just a baby who knew nothing & didn't have such needs. But he knew back then that this moment would eventually come. "Ok," Sylar finally leaned forward. "Ok you do bring up some valid points. You're right. I can't hold on to you forever. I wish I could. I lost your mother & now ... "

"Dad, you won't lose me," Noah said. "I'm just going to spread my wings is all."

"I could lose you if you go to some of those places," Sylar whispered softly. He didn't mean for Noah to hear but it just came out.

"What are you talking about?" Noah asked. "Dad, I'll always be around somewhere."

"I know," Sylar's voice was still low. "I know. It's just ... Noah. I need some time to think about that. I think some of those places are harmless. We could probably take a whole day for things like a Mexican Beach or the Grand Canyon or one of the Disney parks & come right back here. No one would even know."

"Does it matter if someone knows or not?"

"Oh it matters!" Sylar exclaimed. "I told you, it isn't safe for those with abilities there. We are better off in the Kabbalah."

They sat in silence for a bit, finishing their meal. Noah finally asked, "You said some of the places. Which ones?"

Sylar looked at his son long & hard. "Noah, no matter what, New York is out."

Noah looked crestfallen. "Why? There are so many things there I—"

"There are other things," Sylar interrupted. "Things that can kill or hurt. You can see the statue from the air & if we take a plane at night, you can see Manhattan in all its glory but you must never set foot in that entire state for at least a couple centuries!"

"Why that long?" Noah asked. "What if something happened & I miss my chance of seeing the place?"

Sylar took the glasses off. "Noah! For that one place you just have to wait! I'm sorry but it isn't feasible right now. Let an entire generation or two die out first. Then perhaps we can go to what's left." After a moment, he put the glasses on. "Then there's the issue with Roswell. I think that should be off the list as well."

"Why? Don't you like aliens?"

"I know you & Jason are very much into that stuff," Sylar began. "But there are plenty of other places for aliens. Roswell is in America in a far out desolate place. It could very well be a base to trap people with abilities instead. So no, we will never go there. Ever! Not even in a couple centuries. You can wait for New York & you will, but I hope by the time you grow up, you will realize just how dangerous having powers can be. Now," He went on with an air of changing the topic. "As for the other places you mentioned, give me some time to work on it."

They finished in silence. Noah held Snapper close for the entire ride back home. Neither spoke until the car pulled into the garage & Sylar turned it off. Noah continued to stare at the dashboard as he finally spoke. "You were there."

"What? Where?"

"You were in New York, weren't you?" Noah looked up at him. "You were there. Something happened to you. That's why you don't want to go back. Isn't it?"

Sylar unfortunately hesitated before starting. "Noah—"

"ISN'T IT?" Noah demanded loudly.

Sylar let the seat belt slide back & opened the door. "This discussion is over."

"You're from New York, aren't you? You're American!"

"ENOUGH!" With one hand, Sylar removed the glasses & with the other, he silenced Noah with his force power. "I said this discussion is over." They stared at each other for a long moment before Sylar released Noah & headed for the house.

It wasn't for several minutes until Noah came in as well. He found Sylar lying back on the couch, Aviv curled up in his lap. "Mom died there, didn't she?" Noah asked. "An explosion. Was she a victim of the Twin Towers?"

"Noah, no," Sylar sat up. "I mean yes, she died there, ok? I admit it. But the explosion was at home, nothing to do with the Towers. Now please stop talking about it! I'm warning you!"

"I know enough of it now," Noah turned to head upstairs. "But Dad, if YOU ever need to talk about it, you know you got me, right?"

"Thanks," Sylar groused.

Noah brought Snapper to his bedroom & found a place for the swan on his desk near the window. He stared out over a fantastic view of the Mediterranean as things started to make some semblance of sense now. He was still reeling from the fact that he was the son of an American! But some things still didn't fit. His mother dying in New York explained only that one place.

Noah moved to stretch out on his bed, pushing Willy aside. It was a large four foot long killer whale plush. Noah had even managed to curl the top fin down & sewn it in place to make it look like the whale in the movies. He stared at the ceiling. What was wrong with the rest of America? What was wrong with Mexico? He felt like he was playing a guessing game. Noah was sure it all had to do with his mother. He was on the right path to figuring out 'the black' at last but he had to be careful about it. Things from there obviously still hurt Sylar. He would instantly get defensive if the subject was brought up. He wished he could talk to Jason right now. He had so much to say! But unlike Jason, Noah didn't have his own phone yet. He sat up & wondered if now would be a good time to ask for one. Everyone else in school had their own phones or tablets or whatever. Should he try?

Going downstairs, Noah looked around for his father but couldn't find him anywhere. Aviv was sitting by the door as if expecting it to open soon so Noah knelt down beside the little dog. "Did Dad go out?" Aviv barked once. "Ok you stay here. I'll go look for him."

Keeping the dog trapped inside, Noah eventually got out & glanced around. He saw the side door to the garage standing ajar again & quietly hurried over. He somehow knew his father was in there again, having another episode. But why? He swiftly peeked in. Sure enough, Sylar was kneeling on the floor with head bowed to the cement, his glasses off to the side. Noah could hear him crying softly. He headed back to the house, trying to understand. He put a hand to the doorknob & then it struck him. "You caused that explosion, didn't you? I bet it's your fault mom died. But it's just an accident!" Noah didn't dare ask his father this one. There was a chance he was wrong, but he felt it was an even greater chance he was right. He went back inside & eventually, he & Aviv went to bed.

"Noah!" Sylar burst into his room, making him all but jump out of his bed. Plushies went everywhere. Aviv yipped & darted under the bed. "Come on, get up! We're running late for school. Hurry up."

" … Wha … ?" Noah hated mornings, especially rushed ones.

"Down stairs. NOW!" Sylar ordered again before disappearing into the hall. He yelled up the stairs at least once a minute until a very disgruntled Noah finally decided to grace the rest of the house with his presence.

"Why are we so late?" Noah complained.

"Never you mind," Sylar shoved a sandwich into Noah's hands. "Eat this on the way. Let's go."

"Dad, have you forgotten you can teleport?" Noah scowled. "I need my beauty sleep you know!"

"It's called routine & we can't risk exposure anyway," Sylar reminded him. "Now shut up & get your royal ass in the car this instant. Aviv! Hush!" The dog had been yapping, sitting close to his empty food bowl but they left, forgetting all about feeding him. Aviv lay down & whined.

It was fortunate that the drive was long. Noah was soon asleep in his seat like he usually tried to do. But a sudden stop shook him wide awake & he wouldn't sleep again for a couple of days.

There was smoke in Haifa. Sylar turned on the radio & both listened in shocked silence to the news describing a school bombing. When the announcer mentioned the name, Noah sat up straight. "That's Jason's school!"

"Audi, call Tirzah Gatineau." Sylar let it ring but there was no answer. He tried again & for Noah's sake, he tried a third time. He looked his son over. "You're not going to school today."

"They said forty-two are dead!" Noah gasped. "What if Jason's one of them?"

"We don't know that for sure," Sylar started driving again. He headed straight for the Gatineau home. "Let's just get to their house as quickly as possible."

"Dad, what if they aren't there?"

"Noah," Sylar hushed him. "One thing at a time." He continued driving, slightly speeding. He soon turned into the driveway. The two of them were barely halfway out when Tirzah appeared in the door. "Is he, ok?" Sylar asked as they came onto the porch.

"Nehemiah was dropping him off when it happened," Tirzah began. "They're ok. They're coming home right now."

"How could that come here? I thought we were away from the front lines. Haifa was listed as a safe city."

"It's rare here," Tirzah said. "It's why we moved here away from what's been going on in other places. But it does happen."

The three of them looked around as another car came into the driveway. Nehemiah & Jason got out a few moments later. "Half the building is gone," Nehemiah began. "We were lucky we had been among the last to show up. But others ... not so much."

The adults watched the two boys console each other for a moment before Tirzah brought them inside, leaving the boys on the front porch. "I'm just glad you're ok," she said as the three of them gathered in the living room to watch the news.

It was early afternoon by the time any of them could tear themselves away. Tirzah disappeared into the kitchen to start on a meal while trying to hide more tears, leaving the two men alone for a moment. They moved outside to the backyard where Noah & Jason had been sitting together, looking up the bombing on Jason's phone for themselves.

"Looks like both our boys have a knack for escaping danger," Nehemiah said. "Gabriel, how's Noah doing after getting run over?"

"I think it's like it never happened for him," Sylar shrugged, accepting the tea Tirzah offered. "Maybe someday it might sink it. I'm just glad Noah didn't lose his best friend." He caught Tirzah's eye as she laughed under breath. "What?"

"Here we go," Nehemiah turned & walked away to sit at the patio table.

"Ever get the feeling they might end up something other than friends?" Tirzah asked Sylar.

Remembering how Noah had blatantly denied liking girls, Sylar suddenly understood. He put his tea aside. "Possibly." Both turned away, snickering. "So Nehemiah won't like it?" Sylar asked once they had composed themselves.

"Oh it's nothing like that," Tirzah replied. "He just thinks I'm imagining it."

"Well, I don't think you are," Sylar said. "Noah explicitly told me yesterday he wasn't into girls, not now, not ever. I didn't clue in then as I was too busy teasing him."

"Why am I not surprised?" Tirzah laughed before calling the boys inside with her to help serve the food.

Sylar paused as he thought about something else. Claire had dabbled in lesbianism during college. "Oh you really are like your mother. Why didn't I think of it before? Got the gay gene from her, no doubt!" He soon sat down across from Nehemiah.

It was late in the evening by the time Sylar left with Noah. The next few days seemed to run into each other especially for Noah who didn't sleep much for a while & surprised Sylar by already being up & at the table for breakfast on more than one occasion. Noah had gone back to his own school the next day, but things didn't sink in as easily for a while. Neither had heard from Jason or his family in almost two weeks. They had gone to one mass service the next day & had spent time with the various families. It was the longest Noah & Jason had gone without hanging out together.

It wasn't until the third week that Noah saw Jason again & it was at school. "What are you doing here?" Noah asked in surprise after a moment.

"It's my school now," Jason said. "I asked for it & Mom pushed for it. Dad wanted me to go somewhere else, so we ganged up on him.

"You're part of this school now?"

"Yup," Jason nodded. "Starting today. I have some extra classes to take to catch up but it's all here now."

Sylar watched the boys enter the school then looked at Tirzah. "You did this, didn't you?"

"Whatever gave you that idea, Gabriel?" Tirzah replied innocently.

Sylar smiled shortly. "Looks like we wont have to deal with pregnant girls any time soon."

"Oh that would be a tragedy," Tirzah teased as she got into her own car & drove away.