(20) The Price For Truth

Noah was silent while in the back seat of the car with Luke. Natalia was driving them somewhere to where her father was hiding. Noah knew better than to trust random strangers & take car rides in the middle of the night with them but right now, he was still processing the idea that he was the son of a notorious mass murderer. For the first time in a long time, Noah felt a headache. His Regen wasn't picking it up right now. This was stress-related, not an illness & there were some things Regen couldn't heal. Noah wiped away another tear. He felt something touch his hand & looked up into the eyes of someone claiming to be his uncle. Despite everything, Noah was accepting of Luke's calm & caring manner, a trait all Grays had but was it real or was it a ruse as Sylar often did?

"You hanging in there?"

Noah looked away. "I can't accept your story of my father."

"I know it's a lot to take in," Luke said. "It's not really his fault, though. The power he got born with made him do it."

"All those people ... " Noah sighed. "So many murdered. I could accept it if it was just that." He shook his head & looked at Luke again. "But that cruel savagery? Never! I can't even fathom it. They way they all died. No human could come up with that!"

"Humans invented crucifixion & burned each other at the stake for being different," Luke said. "Don't get me started on the Holocaust as that is something I'm sure you know of well if you're really from Israel. We are a terrible race on this planet, if you think about it. Your father is quite human. His power is something else. Highly volatile. Sylar's power is extremely dangerous & we all paid the price for it. That includes Gabriel."

"Dad has many powers."

"He stole them," Luke said. "His power is the one that made him do that. The one he got born with. Noah, he didn't ask for it. None of us did."

"If you don't mind my asking," Natalia spoke from the front while they were waiting at a red light. "What power do you have Noah?"

"I can heal like my Dad, like Claire," Noah answered. "But a lot faster. You can't hurt me. Dad calls it a super Regen because of how fast it works."

"A super Regen? Now that is interesting," Luke said. "I wonder how you got it?"

"Got run over by a truck at Jason's bar mitzvah," Noah grinned sheepishly for a moment.

"What?" Luke half-laughed.

"Yeah, it flattened me," Noah explained. "So when I came to the next day, I had my power ever since."

"No wonder it works fast!" Natalia said.

"So did Sylar give you a bar mitzvah?" Luke asked.

Noah took a moment to answer. Sylar beyond being a broken watch was still a strange concept to him. "No. Dad isn't religious."

"But you said he is a Rabbi," Luke reminded him.

"Don't have to be religious for that," Noah said. "He inherited the group from a previous Rabbi & he acts like a teacher of sorts to those under him. They started calling him Rabbi out of respect for his help & also the position was appointed to him by another Rabbi. It's a little odd how it works but that's how it happened for him."

"How can he teach Torah if he isn't religious?" Natalia asked.

"Um, it isn't the Torah," Noah replied slowly. "The Kabbalah is basically magic for Jews. Or what America calls abilities."

The car came to a screeching halt. Ignoring angry honks from others, Natalia turned in her seat to look at Noah. "I've always known that the Kabbalah was a certain sect of Jews, but is that really it?"

"That's it," Noah shrugged. "Everyone knows it has to deal with mysticism, or magic, but few know what it really is."

"The Kabbalah is thousands of years old!" Luke gasped as Natalia started driving again.

"People having powers have shown up all over history," Noah pointed out. "From Yeshua to Vlad Dracu & several in between."

"Who's Yeshua?"

"Sorry," Noah rolled his eyes, silently berating himself. "The Christians call him Jesus."

The car skidded to a halt for the second time. "Jesus existed?" Luke & Natalia both exclaimed.

"Sure, why wouldn't He?" Noah waved it off. "His existence was never up for debate. Him being Messiah or God or whatever, that is debatable, but most Jews won't deny He was a radical Rabbi from two thousand years ago." He looked at Luke & Natalia, slightly amused. "Puts a whole new spin on your Bible if you think about people with abilities & maybe there's a record of some in there."

"I will certainly tell Dad what you just said," Natalia began. "He's Catholic. I think he will like you in spite of everything."

"I hope so," Noah said.

"Dad won't harm you, don't worry," Natalia tried to reassure him. "ALRIGHT YOU SON OF A BITCH! I'M MOVING! Oh my gosh, I hate people some days!" She sped forward to catch up for lost time while holding up her middle finger to the window.

Noah leaned close to Luke. "Is she okay?"

"Hmm," Luke pretended to stroke a beard. "That remains to be seen."

Luke & Noah had to cover their mouths to smother any laughter. They listened to Natalia ranting for another fifteen minutes before she drove into a dark parking lot behind a closed building. Still swearing, she got out, slamming the door behind her. Luke got out next & held the door open for Noah who took his time before cautiously coming out.

Noah looked around at the dark place. "Be advised, I am Israeli military. I can defend myself."

Luke smiled. "You won't have to."

"We didn't bring you out to kill you," Natalia said. "I could have tried that in my apartment."

"I highly doubt it," Noah said. "IDF have a rigorous training program."

"Well okay, if it weren't for your military background, maybe I could have," Natalia corrected herself. "But I don't want that & neither does Luke. This is just the current place my Dad is hiding. He will move as soon as we are done." She led the way to a back door.

Hurrying ahead up the stairs, Natalia turned onto the fourth floor & went down the hall. She opened the door to a large flat & went to the man sitting by the window. He stood up to greet her. "Natalia, what are you doing here?" He held her close for a moment.

"I brought a new friend," Natalia pulled away & nodded towards Luke & Noah.

"Oh, hi Luke," the man extended a hand & Luke grabbed it for a moment. "Long time no see." He then checked on Noah. He saw the badge on Noah's shirt close to a small flag of Israel. "Um, Luke? Why did you bring the IDF here?"

"He just randomly showed up from Israel," Luke said. "You're not going to believe who he is either!"

"Okay, I'll bite," the man moved closer to Noah, into the brighter light. Noah could see the large facial scar going right across. "I'm Peter Petrelli. Who might you be?"

"Petrelli?" Noah gasped. "You're a Petrelli? Did you know who Nathan was?"

Peter's face hardened. "He was my brother. He was murdered by Sylar many years ago. What do you know of him?"

"My Dad said he's my grandfather!" Noah was panting in shock. "I'm Noah Petrelli Bennet Gray!"

Luke & Natalia both gasped but Peter slumped back into his chair in tears. "Are you really?" Peter finally managed to ask. "I saw you die in an explosion. I've been trying to save you all these years. Is it really you, the son of Sylar?"

Noah moved forward. "Luke & Natalia told me about Sylar a couple hours ago. I never knew. I'm sorry but I can't accept that as my Dad. That is not the man I know. My father is Gabriel Gray. He's a good man. He wouldn't hurt anyone, unless they are some sort of terrorist. If you knew him, you'd know he is a very soft, good-hearted soul."

"I only met that man once in my life," Peter said. "It was really weird for me as I'm used to him as Sylar. But timelines were shifting. I was going all over the place. I walked into that man's house expecting a fight to the death. But then, something wondrous happened. You came down the stairs. Couldn't have been more than four or five. You said Daddy's making waffles. You went to the kitchen. I followed & there he was. But the glasses were on. It was good ol' Gabriel Gray. Not Sylar."

"The glasses," Noah gasped. "Dad wears glasses except when I'm in trouble. Then he takes them off."

"That's what he told you," Peter said. "The glasses is just Gabriel. If they're off, run."

"I don't remember ever seeing you?"

"No," Peter took Noah's hand in his own & almost seemed to be near tears again. "No, you wouldn't. I was only there a few minutes, but in that time, I never saw another more perfect father than in Gabriel Gray, watching over you."

Noah smiled softly. "A lot of people say that about him."

"It was all my fault," Peter turned away.

Noah heard a sniffle. "What happened?"

"Something went wrong," Peter tried to keep his voice steady. "I led them right to him. To you. I didn't know they'd be so brazen as to bring weapons into the place of a young child. I didn't know that child even existed until I laid eyes on you. You got killed by accident. It ripped the soul of Gabriel asunder, leaving only Sylar behind but he too, could not handle it. He had nuclear power & the shock set him off. That explosion has been the bane of my existence ever since. I've been trying to get you back for you are the stopper of blood that man needed! He gave it all up for you. He took extra care to control his dread power Sylar for you. The only thing that kept him sane was you." Peter let Noah go as he stood up sharply, startling Noah. "But she is the one who took it all away."

"Who's she?" Noah asked in quiet awe.

Peter curled his fists by his hips. "My niece. Claire." He turned to the window & leaned on the sill. "I've been battling her ever since. I'm trying to fix the timeline to get you & Gabriel back & get rid of Sylar." He turned back to Noah. "Obviously I did something right. You're here! You're alright now." Peter grabbed Noah in a fierce hug & broke down on his shoulder. "You're alive! You've grown up. In the military now, the IDF no less!" He held Noah at arm's length. "Tell me. How is your father now? Is he sane? Is he living free of the madness within?"

"Dad's a Rabbi in the Kabbalah," Noah said.

"What?" Peter laughed. "Is he really? I never would have guessed! Israel. Wow the timelines sure shifted beyond what I expected. But I'm glad you're here. Sylar is finished if you're here. Sylar & Noah Gray can not exist at the same time."

Noah looked at Luke & Natalia, standing together by the wall as they watched the strange exchange. "This," Noah pointed at Peter. "This is what my Dad is. Peter knows him! Properly." He turned back to Peter. "Tell me, please, do you know who my mother was? She died in an explosion when I was born. I never knew her & Dad misses her too much to talk about her. Do you know who she was?"

"I always thought it was Claire right up until the moment you just said your Mom is dead," Peter stared, slightly deflated. "It had to be Claire. All the signs were there."

"She doesn't have kids," Luke pointed out.

"Not in this timeline," Peter returned. "Don't forget I'm dealing with several timelines here. Besides, where else would you get the name Bennet? That's her last name! Petrelli is from my brother & I. Nathan was Claire's biological father, but Bennet is from her adopted family. Everything fits. I don't understand."

"Neither do I," said Noah.

Peter began pacing, thinking. He stood at the window again. "When you died, the explosion took out Costa Verde. But that city is still here now, untouched. You're here. Your mother is the one that died in an explosion. But your names indicate Claire & my brother. You're from Israel now, instead of California. I'm guessing this time, the explosion was by terrorists?"

"That's not quite true," Noah said slowly. "I'm actually born in New York but Dad left with me to hide in Israel from a killer. He never told me he was the killer. He falsified my birth records which is why I'm in the military at the moment. All Israelis have to serve some time."

Peter stared at him. "Did you just say you're from New York? Here?" Noah nodded. Peter took a moment to consider that, then looked at Noah in a rather strange way. In the same altered voice Sylar sometimes used, Peter said, "Luke, take Natalia outside for a moment."

"Are you sure that's wise?"

"I can see into Noah," Peter said. "I understand his power. I can't kill him. But you two can die so go now!" After the two left, Peter advanced on Noah who found he couldn't move. He was pressed against the wall by an unseen force. Peter used his normal voice again. "Relax, Noah. I have no intention of harming you. Even if I did, I can't. Not with that amazing Regen you have."

"What are you doing?"

"I have your Dad's power," Peter said. "Sylar resides in both of us but I have always had a lot more control over it than Gabriel. I got it when I met him as your father on that day. It'll help me work something out. That's what the Intuitive Aptitude is supposed to do if used properly but it comes with an almost insatiable lust for knowledge. That's the killer we know in America as Sylar. I can control it & with you here, so can your father. Now just let me think for a bit."

After several minutes, Noah felt the pressure leave his body. Peter leaned over, hands on knees, for a moment. "You okay?" Noah asked.

Peter stood straight. "It's been a while since I used that one. I'm still missing something but the important thing is, you're alive."

"You said a while ago that this power you & Dad have has a lust for knowledge," Noah began. "But when everyone else talks about it, they say it has a lust for blood."

"Depending on how one obtains that knowledge, people can die," Peter explained. "I can look into you with it. So can your Dad. It's a soul-searcher. I can tell if you have an ability, what it is, if you have cancer cells, where they are. All by looking at you. But if I rip you apart, study the node where abilities form that's at the base of your brain, I can learn so much more in a very short time instead of spending years trying learn things the long way around."

"That's why D—that's why, he ... " Noah refused to say the word Dad. He put a hand to his forehead for a moment.

"Yes, Noah," Peter put his hands on Noah's shoulders. "That is indeed why. Your father is Sylar but is also Gabriel. The two are one. Whichever mentality takes over his brain determines whether one lives or dies, but with you here, Gabriel has the control while Sylar is nothing more than a dangerous power."

"You said you can control this power better than my father," Noah said. "Why?"

"Because Sylar himself taught me how to use it & I could take an outside look at it," Peter answered. "On the other hand, when these abilities started cropping up, Sylar had no one to turn to, no one to study his very own power from. He had to learn by cold hard logic. I'm more empathic & had a better understanding of it." He hesitated before adding, "It doesn't make me perfect though. When I first got his power, I was a mess & in a different timeline, I'm the one who murders Nathan."

"You killed your own brother?" Noah exclaimed in a shocked whisper.

"Mhm," Peter wiped away a tear before saying. "In this timeline, your Dad did it. Cut Nathan's throat & laughed about it. I crucified the bastard for what he did."

Noah suddenly remembered something. "Several years ago, Dad was picking on me about finding a partner. We got into a really weird conversation I don't care to repeat, but he did mention that someone crucified him & he wasn't too pleased about the placement of the third nail. Is this true?"

Peter grinned nervously for a long moment. "Yup. That's pretty much how it happened."

"Why?" Noah demanded. "Isn't that sexual assault?"

Peter held up his hands. "I didn't think about it like that. I was thinking, I wanted to cause him about as much pain as he had caused me by taking my brother away from me. Also, it was the only place I could reach from my position over him, so ... "

"Well that ... that ... he's going to kill you for that, you know."

"He can try," Peter said. "I can heal now, just like him. We both got it from Claire." Noah shook himself, trying to process that, as Peter sat down on the couch & patted the place beside him. Noah sat down as Peter continued. "Ohh your Dad & I sure had some grand ones when it came to fighting each other. We used all our powers on each other any chance we got. He killed me the first day we met. Threw shattered glass in the air & one struck my spot & down I went. Claire pulled the piece out hours later. I still have it."

"Is that when," Noah hesitated. "Um. A few years ago, my boyfriend found a video of you. That scar. Is that how it happened? Did Dad do it?"

"No, it wasn't him," Peter said. "This dumb thing, oh I was stupid. For some reason, I had a hard time learning Hiro Nakamura's power. He can move quickly through time & space."

"So can Dad!" Noah exclaimed.

"Hmm, wonder where he got it from then," Peter said. "Hiro is fine. Anyway, I needed to get to Hiro for something, so I transported over into what should have been his living room. I ended up by one of his swords, knocked the damn thing over & well," he indicated his face. "This is the result. I had lost my regenerative power at the time so it had been fully healed when I got it back & the Regen won't pick up a scar."

Noah tried not to laugh. "So it was an accident?"

"Yeah, it was."

"What about that glass Dad threw at you? Did it leave a scar?"

"No, that happened while I had Claire's power. It was fine when she pulled it out," Peter said. "Next time I met Sy ... " Peter glanced at Noah. "Your father, he was so confused as to why I was still around. We had another big fight. He got run through with a samurai sword."

"Dad got run through with a samurai sword?"

"Yeah," Peter said, adding with a laugh. "The same damn sword that will do this to my face a few years later, too."

"Seriously?"

"Yup," Peter nodded. "Hiro keeps all his swords on display & that's why I knocked it over. But that was years later. He ran your Dad through with that sword. Caused a lot of pain for him but Hiro missed every vital organ. Your father survived & that's when he really started going after Claire for her Regen. We tried to keep them apart, but he got her. She still hates him to this day for what he did to her. I don't blame her."

"But she can't die," Noah said. "Why would she even care?"

"I'm not sure I'm the one who should answer that one," Peter evaded.

"Please Peter," Noah begged. "Dad doesn't talk about his past. I'm starting to see why. I couldn't accept this Sylar from Luke & Natalia. What they showed me was raw & brutal. I can't imagine my father doing that. But you see Dad the way I do & still understand Sylar. You're the only one who can answer me."

Peter sighed heavily. "If it had stopped at him grabbing her power, maybe she would have forgotten him, eventually. But it didn't stop. He was constantly after her, teasing her. Playing with her like a cat with a mouse. He had a sick twisted perverted little crush on her. He even stalked her all the way to her college & harassed her there. It went on for a couple of years. The day he killed her father was the day he dared propose marriage to her."

"He asked her to marry him?"

"Naturally, she refused," Peter said. "In retaliation, he killed Nathan. Her own father by blood. My brother. That's why Nathan died in this timeline & why your father went for the throat instead of the forehead. All in the name of unrequited love like so many Shakespearean plays."

"Ok, I'm going to go back to not believing Dad is Sylar!"

"It was him, alright," Peter insisted. "How we all hated him, especially Claire & I to this day as it got rather personal between the three of us."

"In more ways than one," Noah remarked without thinking.

Peter just laughed. "Alright, maybe I went a little far with that third nail."

Noah held up one hand, putting his fingers together with a slight space. "Just a little."

"I'm glad now that he had the healing power," Peter gave Noah a pointed look. "Eunuchs can't have children."

Noah dropped his face into his hands laughing. "Yeah, I guess it is a good thing he took that power. Still must have hurt, though."

"Oh yeah! I won't say he didn't deserve it either," Peter went on. "I've hated that man for what he did to my family all my life, until today."

"Why is today any different?"

Peter looked at him. "You. If you're here, then I can forgive him for what he did because I know he is sincere now. Otherwise, he would just say what you want to hear but then turn around & stab you in the back. Literally. Besides which, since you're here, Gabriel is now family. Brother-in-law, I guess. Maybe more like nephew-in-law. Something like that. Petrellis value family."

"Do you think Claire is my mother?"

"There's only one way to find out," said Peter. "I used to be a medic before all this started. But I still know how to do things. I can get a DNA check done on you & we'll know exactly who she is."

"That's what I was thinking," Noah agreed. "How do you do that, exactly?"

"Hang on," Peter got up & disappeared into the washroom for a bit. He came back & held out a Q-tip for Noah. "Lick on that for a bit. I can figure it out from there." Noah did so before gingerly dropping the wet thing into the bag. "Why don't you get Luke & Natalia back in here while I check this? I have my own little lab, usually for medical reasons. It was my profession after all."

"Alright," Noah went out into the hall to retrieve the other two & then sat on the couch. One way or the other, he was about to find out who his mother was. "So what's your powers?"

"I can produce microwaves," Luke demonstrated, melting a nearby metal stand.

"Mine temporarily relieves disabilities," Natalia said. "The blind can see while around me, the deaf can hear."

"That is a strange one," Noah remarked. "I guess since your Dad was into medicine, maybe it had an effect on how your power came about."

"No, it was my mother," Natalia said. "Emma Coolidge was a deaf nurse. My power affects such aliments when I'm around people like her. She was able to hear for a while before she got killed. Claire's fault. That woman was aiming for my father."

"Why is Claire so against her own family?" Noah asked.

"She's misled," Natalia said. "She's in the wrong but won't admit it. My Dad is very upset about it. They used to be so close. He says she changed a lot since they first met. He even said once that Nathan is better off dead than to see what has become of his daughter."

Noah suddenly realized something. "Did Peter name you after his brother?" He asked Natalia. She nodded slowly. "Where does Montel come from?" Noah added.

"Nathan had three children," Natalia answered. "Two sons, Simon & Monty, & a daughter, Claire. She's the oldest. Monty died in a car accident almost twenty years ago. There was a big pile up on the road in the middle of New York City. Monty was at the bottom of it. He was being driven home & never made it."

"It happened right after I fought Sylar the last time," Peter said as he returned. "When I kicked him into the future. Oh I see. He probably picked up time travel from someone there & came back. Anyway, the next night was a huge mess. Four ambulances, mine included. I took Monty back myself in mine."

"Do you think Dad had anything to do with it?"

"Nah, he couldn't have," Peter said. "I don't think he was even in this timeline then & anyway, he doesn't kill children willingly. His serial killer code. It was just a stupid accident." He sat down on the couch between Natalia & Noah, not knowing that Sylar had been back by then, after almost three years in the future. It was the night Sylar had left for Israel with Noah as a baby. He had heard those sirens, not realizing what had happened. Peter handed Noah a printout. "So uh, it is definitely Claire."

"That's not possible," Luke said.

"She doesn't have children," Natalia pointed out.

"I ran the test five times," said Peter, giving another printout to Luke & a third one to Natalia. Both reread their papers more than once. "It's her alright. Damned if I know how, but Claire is your mother." He waited for a response but Noah just sat back in his seat. "You're not even surprised?"

"I knew it was her," Noah said. "The moment I saw that picture in Dad's box back home. I just knew it."

"I don't know how your Dad did it," Peter said.

"Isn't it obvious, Peter?" Noah began, letting a few tears fall. "He raped her. She probably gave me up & didn't say anything to you."

"That, uh," Luke stammered. "Sylar is a very bad man," he paused as Peter glared at him. "But that, Noah it isn't his style."

"Peter just told me, himself," Noah said. "My Dad was constantly after her. All the way through college he stalked her. There's no other explanation."

"While I agree with Luke," Peter said. "I also agree with you. Sylar was always a killer to me. I never thought he was a rapist but let's face it, he was pretty hot for Claire since he first laid eyes on her." He stood up & paced again. "He barely waited for her to be legal before he tried bigger moves on her."

"He raped her," Noah repeated. "I can't believe it! No wonder Dad never wanted to talk about her. I thought he loved her. He seemed to truly feel—but what else is there? It's obvious how I got born."

"I don't want to believe this either, Noah," Peter said. "Sylar is a killer first of all. There's something else I don't get. The explosion that killed your mother."

"He lied," Noah said. "He made that up. He lied to Israel about my birthplace. He lied about everything. My entire life has been a lie."

"No!" Peter grabbed Noah & held him close. "No, it isn't! Your life is just fine. If you're here, that means he has changed. He is ashamed of what he did now. Everything. Including that! It all points back to you, Noah."

"How do you think I feel about all this?" Noah sobbed. "I'm the product of a vile act. All this time, I thought he loved her."

"Maybe he does now," Peter tried. "He probably regrets it all."

"I want to see her," Noah said. "I have to tell her how sorry I am for this whole mess."

"Noah, you are the only innocent person in this situation," Luke said. "Right now, I'd rather you go back to Sylar. Claire has become far more dangerous than him, by now."

"I don't care," Noah said. "She is my mother after all. I knew it all along. Anyway, I can't die. Just tell me where she is & I'll go by myself. I won't mention meeting any of you."

"I really don't think this is a good idea," Natalia warned.

"I swear I won't mention any of you," Noah insisted. "I'm not going to get involved with your internal war. I'm going back to Israel in a couple of days. I'll stay with Jason for a bit until I can figure out what the hell am I supposed to do with my father! But I will do that on my own time. Right now, I think if Claire sees me, maybe she'll settle down. I'm her son. Maybe she wants to know what happened to me, despite who my father is."

"Maybe," Natalia sighed. "But be careful of her. You can't die, but there are other things that can happen to you."

"I still can't believe it's rape," Peter turned away. The power of Sylar was coursing through him once more, telling him something was off, something was missing. But what else was there? They had covered everything, hadn't they?

"My Dad did tell me," Noah suddenly spoke again. "In his own way. He told me he knew her since she was a child. He left it at that. I'm starting to realize now how much he actually told me without really saying much at all. He left out the important detail of him being a ... a ... " He spoke under breath. "A murderer." Noah gasped before going on. "He left a lot out, but a lot of things he said to me make sense now & boy do I ever understand now why he wanted me to avoid 'the black' at all times. Why he acted so strange when he brought me into 'the black' just recently. He was avoiding this. He didn't want me to know about," He looked at Peter, Luke & Natalia in turn. "About Sylar & I'm sure he certainly never intended for me to find out about my mother. What he actually DID to her! OH GOD! Why?" Noah fell to his knees. "I have to see her," he whispered finally. "I need to get back to the hotel. I need Jason right now. But tomorrow night, I'm going to find Claire."

"I'll help you," Peter said.

"Dad, no," Natalia pleaded. "She'll kill you. Unlike Sylar, you never moved your spot."

"I'll be careful," Peter promised. "I can shape shift. She'll never know it's me."

"I really don't like it," Luke said. "What's 'the black'?"

"Dad has a globe," Noah said. "Bright gold & dark blue. He covered America & Mexico in black ink. Said never to go to either country. I get why now. He killed people in both. Someone in Mexico was the brother of one of my substitute teachers! But she didn't recognize him. It's around the time René showed up. Dad must have gotten him to alter her memory."

"René?" Peter raised a brow. "I know him. Haven't seen him in a few years though."

"He works for Dad," Noah said. "Usually looking over Jason & I. Bit annoying really. Do you think he knows about Dad being Sylar?"

"Oh yes," Peter nodded. "Before you were born, we actually did manage to incarcerate Sylar for a while. René was working with Noah Bennet at the time, another of your grandfathers, & saw Sylar in the prison before he eventually escaped. We didn't keep a good enough eye on him."

"My Dad in prison," Noah could barely imagine it.

"We are ready for him again if he ever comes back," Peter said. "But since you're alright, I don't think we have much to worry about any more."

"Dad, why didn't you tell us Sylar had a son?" Natalia asked.

"Because I didn't know if he still existed or not," Peter answered. "He is the reason I've been meddling with time so much. I've been trying to find him & now here he is."

"I've been around for almost eighteen years," Noah said. "Grew up in Israel."

"I never thought to look outside of America," Peter said. "I always focused here, mostly on California since that's where I saw you." He took Noah by the hand. "Just tell me where you want to be."

"Hey Noah," Luke passed a small paper over. "That's my number. If you ever want to talk about, ya know, my brother's not-so-secret life here. Or anything at all."

"Thanks ... Uncle Luke."

"Just be careful around Claire," Luke warned. He went back to Natalia's side as Peter left with Noah.

They appeared in the hotel room a moment later to find Jason sitting against the headboard of the bed, staring into space as if shocked. Jason looked at them & got up to grab Noah before noticing Peter standing next to him.

"You look familiar," Jason said. "I've seen some videos of you."

"This is Peter," Noah said. "Peter Petrelli."

"Petrelli?" Jason gasped. "You're related to him?"

"He's my Great-Uncle," Noah said.

"You must be Jason," Peter quickly shook hands with him for two reasons. "Now that I've touched you, I can shape shift into your form, if that's all right? I can't be seen tomorrow night & it's best if I appear as someone Claire has never known." He looked around & noticed that mere shape-shifting might not work as well. Jason was a Jew. Peter had never worn anything Jewish before. It was a perfect disguise, though.

"Who's Claire?" Jason asked.

"My mother," Noah said. "That woman in the picture we found. It is her."

Jason looked Noah over. He seemed shaken from something. "Are you alright?"

"No," said Noah before turning to Peter. "You'll come here as soon as it's dark, then?"

"I'll be here. I need Jason's help with something before we go," Peter promised before disappearing.

Jason grabbed Noah & held him tightly as he sobbed into his shoulder at last. "I found something you will not like. I don't know how to start."

Noah slowly pushed Jason away. "I think I already know. You found Sylar?"

Jason stared in surprise for a moment before looked at the floor. He nodded quickly. " ... Noah ... "

"Natalia & Luke told me," Noah said hoarsely. "Luke is another uncle of mine. Dad has a half-brother."

Jason dropped back onto the edge of the bed & rubbed his temples. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know, Jason!" Noah burst into tears again. He tossed himself onto the bed & buried his face into the pillows. "I hate that I came here! I should have never tried getting on that plane! I hate knowing what he is!"

Jason moved up to lay back on the bed & pulled Noah onto him. He gently stroked Noah's back. "At least you found your mother. Are you still going to bring her to Israel?"

Noah lifted his face from Jason's chest to look him in the eyes. "Jason," Noah closed his eyes. "My Dad raped her, I think."

"What?"

Noah told him everything he had heard from Peter. By the time he was finished, both were sitting up against the pillows, holding onto each other. "Rabbi Gray is not the man I thought he was!" Jason finally managed to speak.

"He's not the father I thought he was," Noah said.

Jason shook his head. "It's like we're talking about two different people. Everyone saw Rabbi Gray as a good father to you. After all, he raised you! He doesn't seem to be anything like this."

"I know," Noah sniffled, before allowing more tears to come. "I know. He lied, my entire life he lied!"

Jason wrapped his arms around Noah once more, kissing him deeply. They lay back on the bed with Noah underneath. Jason stroke Noah's cheek while he kissed him, moving down to his neck before putting his hand on Noah's chest. He broke off their kiss to look down at him. "Don't come back to Israel. Stay here with your mother."

"I kind of wish I could," Noah said. "But from what I've heard of her, she sounds dangerous as well. Maybe what Dad did to her made her that way. That's why I want to meet her. Maybe I can stop her from continuing what she's doing. But what about you or the IDF? I can't just leave. But I don't know how to face him, again."

Jason slipped off the bed & dug around in his bag for a bit before returning with a small box & a bottle of wine. He got a glass off the counter, poured some wine & dropped what was in the box into it. A small tinkle was heard. He then pulled a folded paper out of his pocket & wrote something on it before picking up the full glass in one hand while holding the paper in the other. "I was going to wait until summer, after you converted. I had been carrying the ring with me for a while. But after five minutes of reading about your father, I went out & got the wine."

Noah stared as Jason held out the paper & glass of wine, a simple gold band sitting at the bottom, to him. "Jason!"

"So not the way I planned to propose," Jason said. "I had it all figured out. But now, why don't you come with me right now? Then you won't have to worry about either of your parents?"

"Jason I ... " Noah sat bolt right up, hands on face as he stared at it all. He quickly skimmed the paper. It was an official contract with almost everything neatly typed out. It had already been signed by one Rabbi, Jason's father. Jason had scribbled on one more thing. To get you away from them! He looked at the glass of wine before taking it with both hands & nearly downing it in one go. He drank enough to get the ring which was then placed on his right index finger. It slipped down close to his black ring on the middle finger.

"I'll make it a bit more official when we have time," Jason said, as he put the empty glass & document aside. "I had expected your Dad to sign it as well, when next I got a chance, but I'm not going any where near him."

"I don't blame you," Noah replied in a shocked whisper. He got up & aimlessly moved around the room. Putting his back to the far wall, he slid down to the floor in a crumpled heap. "Why didn't I stay dead when that truck ran me down?"

"Noah!" Jason came to sit beside him.

"I miss him, Jason," Noah breathed a pained sigh. "You know how close my father & I are but now ... I just want my Dad back. But I can't ever look him in the eyes again & call him father, knowing what he did!"

"Can René wipe our memories, perhaps?"

"Yours maybe but not mine, I heal too fast." Noah closed his eyes, feeling weak. "It's ruined. It's all ruined & I can never get my life back. I thought I would make it better by reuniting my parents. She must hate him so much, though. Maybe I shouldn't see her." He bowed his head between his knees. "I just want to go home."

"Well, I don't want you to go home," Jason said. "Not back to him."

Noah looked up at his fiancé. "I'm not afraid of him, Jason. I can't die. There is little more he can do to me than what he has already done." He turned away, weeping. "He broke my heart more than any lover ever could & that is a fate worse than death. But worse than that, it's my fault. I'm the one who snuck over here. Had all these grand plans." He bowed his head in sorrow. "It's all my fault."

"You didn't kill those people," Jason shook Noah. "Rabbi Gray is the guilty one. He messed his life up & then hid from the world for all these years. You're not to blame."

"If I didn't come here, I would never have known but now I'm paying the price of learning the truth about him," Noah fell silent & put his head against Jason's chest. He stared at the floor as they sat together.

Suddenly, Jason spoke. "Your father killed people for powers, right? Now he is with a Kabbalah group full of people with powers. What if he's still killing?"

"But it's the same group all the time," Noah said.

"Explain what happened to Ariel, then?" Jason tried.

"Dad was soaked in blood that day," Noah thought it over. "He claimed it was a raid in Jerusalem."

"There was a raid in Jerusalem that day."

"But did she die in it?" Noah remarked. "Or did Dad get lucky & used the raid as a cover?"

"It's possible," Jason said quietly. "I can't stop thinking about the night he picked on us during that slasher movie."

"Oh God!" Noah gasped. "No wonder it came so easily to him. He does it all the time!"

"But there hasn't been a trail of those types of murders in Israel," Jason went on. "In fact, it just stops completely right around when you were born."

Noah wiped his eyes before saying, "Peter did say something. He told me that Sylar & I can't really exist at the same time. Said I was the stopper of blood & my father gave it all up for me."

"Do you think that's true?"

"I hope so!" Noah exclaimed. "It might be. I grew up with him. This Sylar ... I don't know that person. I just know Gabriel Gray."

"What about Peter?" Jason added. "Can we even trust him? He wants my help with something when he comes back. I'm not sure I like that."

"I think Peter might be okay," Noah shrugged. "When Dad first mentioned a New York serial killer, he said that he didn't mean to do it. When Peter talked about Dad's powers, he also said he didn't mean to do it but his birth power made him. He didn't learn it properly yet & was out of control. They both said the same thing without even knowing it. Luke said the same thing as well."

"So for that, you're willing to trust a complete stranger?"

"Well, what choice do we have?"

"Let's think about it later today," Jason got up & pulled Noah to his feet. "We have about an hour & a half to sleep before we are expected to be with everyone else."

"I'm not going out today," Noah complained tiredly. "I just want to stay in bed the whole time until we fly back to Israel."

"I know but I don't think they'd allow us," Jason pushed Noah into bed & lay beside him. "I've already set the alarm. Just stay close to me."

"Hold on," Noah sat up & reached for his phone. He began texting someone. "Uncle Luke, is there a list of all the powers Dad has?" He put it aside & lay down beside Jason again. "I want to know what Dad can do."

"Please try to sleep," Jason shushed him with a short kiss before settling down. He draped one arm protectively over Noah's hip, holding him close.

"You sleeping yet?" Noah asked after several minutes.

"Give it time," Jason murmured.

Noah sighed heavily. "I understand now."

"What?"

"Why Dad hates God."