(26) Left Behind

"What are you going to do?" Claire asked.

"Well, first I need a car," Noah shot a dark glare at the burning garage. Thank any God it wasn't attached to the house. "Also, that needs to be put out."

Claire handed over her phone. "Use mine."

Noah called the fire department first, then held the phone in his hand for a moment. "They should be here soon."

"Isn't Haifa over an hour away?"

"Almost two hours," Noah said. "We're closer to it than Jerusalem. But it's okay. There's a firehouse out here in the country. You can hear them coming now."

"Alright, what next?"

"I need Jason."

"So call him, then."

"No," Noah held the phone up. "If I contact him before my nineteenth birthday, he'll get his memories of me wiped. He can't heal."

"Is René here?" Claire asked in surprise. "Tall black Haitian guy?"

"You know him?" Noah exclaimed. "He's been working for my Dad for years. Usually babysitting Jason & I. It was so annoying at first but I know now why Dad didn't want us snooping around on the internet. He didn't want us finding out about him any time soon."

"Let me deal with René," Claire took her phone back for a moment. "Then you can call your boyfriend."

"Alright," Noah gave her the Haitian's phone number.

The firetruck appeared in the meantime. Noah left Claire for a bit to go deal with them. On his way back to her, he nearly got run over. Someone had sped up the driveway & swerved to miss him. The passenger door opened. It was Jason.

"Get in!" Jason said.

"Should I?"

"René knows," Jason started. "He said we can have this day, considering what's going on. There aren't that many people who can face your Dad or Peter & live to tell the tale. If anyone can stop them, it's you."

Noah ran forward & threw himself into Jason's lap, kissing him hard. After breaking apart, he moved over to the other seat. "Mom, get in the back."

"Your mother's here?" Jason looked around.

"So is Uncle Luke & my grandfather," Noah said.

Claire got into the back seat. "René had already sent Jason here the moment he heard that my Dad was in Israel."

"I headed straight here," said Jason, pulling out of the driveway.

"That's why you got here so fast," said Noah. "Don't go to Haifa."

"But they're destroying it."

"Go to the base, Jason," Noah ordered. "There's nothing we can do in the city. It's too crowded. Besides, judging by those clouds of energy, I think they are moving towards the desert plains, anyway. I hope so. I need Dad out in the open."

"What are you going to do?" Claire asked.

"Dad needs to be distracted so Peter can get him down," Noah said. "After that, I'm not sure what to do. Dad needs to calm down but those two aren't exactly friends."

"Would a sedative work?" Jason joked.

"Yes, actually," Claire answered. "The drugs need to be a constant stream from an IV unit but it would weaken someone like us. However, we've tried that on Sylar on more than one occasion. It works, but his telekinetic power is very strong & he is very persistent. He'll spend literal days slowly turning the taps off if he has to."

"Like father, like son," Jason teased. "Noah can be like that when he wants to be." He smiled as Noah scowled at him. "He's such a cute little strawberry when he blushes like that!"

"JASON!" Claire & Noah both yelped. Jason just laughed harder.

Noah didn't speak again until they neared the base. "Get ready to bolt," He said as he got out. "I'll be right back."

"Ohh what's that guy upto now?" Jason moaned as he watched Noah skirt around the edges & climbed into a window. A few moments later, Noah came back out the window, dressed in uniform & carrying something really long inside a bag. Jason had an ominous feeling. "What's in that bag?"

"You'll know soon enough," Noah said, putting the thing into the trunk. "Now follow the crazy weather patterns."

"That better not be what I think it is," Jason complained as he drove away down the road.

"Just get me to them," Noah insisted. As they headed out into the plains, Noah turned to the back a bit. "Let me deal with Dad. Once I distract him, we need to separate him from Peter."

"How?" Claire asked. She pointed to the energy clashes in the sky. "That is years & years worth of pent up frustration! Getting them to stop is next to impossible."

"Take Dad out for a short date, like coffee or something," Noah said. "That'll give him something to think about."

"Whoa!" Claire put up a hand. "That is not happening for five thousand years. I don't like him either right now, remember?"

"Well, it's either that or my entire country gets torn to shreds if they continue!" Noah snapped. "We've spent years in battle, longer than any of us were even born. Israel is only starting to know some peace now thanks to the intel Dad found, but we are still fighting. If those two battle it out much longer, they could damage Israel enough to let the terrorists back in! So what's it going to be, Mom? Your ego or the death of a country?"

"Told you," Jason said.

"It's just to get rid of Dad so Peter can go home," Noah went on, ignoring Jason.

"Noah!" Claire buried her face in her hands for a moment. "How do you even plan on getting them to stop fighting?"

Noah didn't answer but Jason kept shooting him glares. "Are you really planning to do that?" Jason finally asked.

"Do what?" Noah asked innocently.

"Don't mess with me right now!"

Noah leaned forward to look up at the sky better. "Where'd they go?"

They continued in silence for a while as all three of them kept glancing at the sky to find any tell-tale signs of a super-powered fight. There was suddenly a bright flash of fire on Galilee's shores. Jason sped up in that direction.

"Go there," Noah pointed to a tall building. Jason parked nearby & they got out. Noah opened the back & unzipped the bag. He leaned over for a bit & then pulled out his sniper rifle.

"I knew it!" Jason gasped. "You're not planning to shoot him, are you?"

"Wouldn't be the first time today," Noah said as he headed for the glass doors of the hotel complex. He held up his badge & was soon let in. "I'm going to take care of them," He said in Hebrew. "I need to get high just in case they try to fly again." The manager nodded & showed the way to the stairs.

"What do you mean, it wouldn't be the first time?" Jason asked as they ran up the stairs.

"Noah shot Sylar back home," Claire said. "He was about to kill my Dad. It worked, but only for a moment."

"You shot your father?" Jason gasped. "And now you're going to do it again?"

"What's the big deal?" Noah shrugged. "He can't die. He can feel the pain & he needs time to heal. So I'm going to shoot him multiple times. Keep him distracted so Peter can get away. He'll be okay, don't worry."

"Yeah, until he heals," Jason said. "He'll come after you, or worse, come after me."

"Then I'll blast him again," Noah shrugged as they stepped out onto a balcony. "Hmm, it's about three kilometers away."

"There's no way you can make that shot," Jason said. "Let alone more than once. You could hit Peter."

"That actually doesn't matter," Noah looked into the scope, watching them fight on the beach. "He can't die, either. Now be quiet! I need to concentrate." He shut them both out & focused on what he was seeing. The conflict still raging between Peter & Sylar far below in the shallows was intense & it was hard to get a fix on either one of them. Suddenly, Sylar somehow got on top of Peter. He had raised something to stab his victim from behind. "Here goes nothing," Noah muttered, pulling the trigger. The bullet barely had time to leave the barrel before Noah already quickly set it to fire again.

"Did you get him?"

"Right in the chest," Noah said. "I'm going to fire another shot before he can heal enough to fight."

"Looks like Peter is still standing," Claire pointed.

"Uh Noah?" Jason glanced through the scope for a moment. "Your Dad's not getting up."

"He should be almost healed by now," Noah said.

"Peter is trying to move him," Jason said. "Look."

Noah watched through the scope. Peter was holding Sylar in his arms, shaking him, but his father's body hung limp & lifeless. " ... Dad ... ?" Noah stared a moment longer before dashing through the room, into the hall & down the stairs, leaving the rifle behind. All he could think of right now was that his father wasn't moving. Something had gone horribly wrong.

He didn't care who he knocked over as he ran into the street. He tripped twice & tumbled down but was on his feet sprinting once more before anyone could even blink. Noah was running to the beach so fast, his breath was starting to sneak past the Regen & hurt him but he didn't stop. All he wanted to do was get to his father.

Noah charged onto the beach & stampeded down the stretch of sand. "DAD!" He screamed out, ignoring the piercing pain of air in his burning lungs. "DAD NO! NO!" Peter turned to catch Noah in his arms. Noah was screaming in hysterics by now as he saw his father still lying as if dead in the waves. "What have I done? WHAT HAVE I DONE? I thought he can't die!"

"Noah!"

"NO LET ME GO!" Noah fought hard against Peter.

"NOAH!" Peter shook his great-nephew. "Calm down!"

"I killed him!" Noah sobbed.

"You did this?" Peter glanced at Sylar. "How?"

"I just wanted you guys to stop," Noah gasped. "I shot him from a balcony back in the city. I thought it would distract him! Why is he dead?" He finally managed to pull away from Peter & dropped beside Sylar. He lay over Sylar's body, sobbing hard into his father's chest. "You're not supposed to die! Did you lie about that, too?"

"Noah!" Peter shouted at him. He put a hand on Noah's back. "I don't think he's quite dead."

Noah lifted his head to look into Sylar's face. He petted back the wet bangs. "What do you mean?" He gasped for breath. "Why won't he respond then?"

Peter knelt beside him. "Your parents & I have a weak spot, remember? No one knows where Sylar's is anymore, just that he moved it. He said so a long time ago. Did he tell you where it is?"

"No," Noah placed one hand on his father's face, stroking the cheek with his finger tips. "Why won't you wake up?"

"I think you hit his spot," Peter said. "He won't die so long as René stays away from him. He'll be okay."

Noah turned to Peter. "Will he wake up?"

"As soon as I pull that bullet out of his heart," Peter said.

"Then do it!" Noah was crying again. "Don't let him die."

"I'll take care of him, Noah," Peter said. "But you understand what he is, what he did, right? He can't stay here with you for a while. I have to take him in. Then I'll pull the bullet out. He'll live, but he has a lot to answer for."

"This is all my fault," Noah leaned over Sylar once more. "Dad, I'm sorry!" He sat back in the sand, sniffling. "Oh God, what have I done?"

"Noah," Peter put a hand on Noah's head. "I promise you, he'll be okay. But I have to take him away for a bit, alright?"

Noah looked at his father still lying partly in the waves. "What am I supposed to do without him?"

"Aren't you getting married?" Peter pointed out.

"I'm grounded from Jason for a long time."

"Yeah, I doubt all that is going to happen now," Peter said. "You're going to go on & live your own life for a bit now. Sylar won't come home for a while. You & Jason can get together now."

"Dad promised to buy our rings & pay for the wedding," Noah half-laughed.

"I'll make sure he gets the bill," Peter smiled for a moment. He pulled Noah up & held him close. "It'll be okay. I'll come check up on you sometimes. So will Luke." Peter looked around as two others came running up. "Claire can look you up, too. You'll be fine."

"You & Claire are trying to kill each other," Noah said.

"I don't think that will happen any more," Peter said. "You helped me break the time-loop." He looked at Claire. "But you & I do have a lot to discuss!" Claire cast her eyes downward. Peter sent her a sharp look before backing a few paces to get close to Sylar. He bent down & put one hand on Sylar's arm before looking out over the Sea Of Galilee. "Never thought I'd see it. It's amazing He walked on these very waves so long ago." He watched the ancient water sparkle for a moment, not noticing that Noah had gotten close to him.

"Noah, no!" Jason jumped forward at the precise moment Peter beamed away with Sylar.

They landed on the cement floor of a room with no window to the outside. It only had one window made of three glass panes one behind the other, facing a hallway. The other three walls were solid cement as were the floor & the ceiling. Peter tried to stand up but felt a weight on him. Looking around, he saw both Noah & Jason were right there next to him. "What are you doing?"

"I need to be with him," Noah said before turning to Jason. "What are YOU doing?"

"You think I'd let you go off by yourself?" Jason replied. "Claire & I put your rifle in the car before going to the beach. You're going to get in trouble with your commander for taking that thing off base without permission."

"I don't care," Noah skittered around Peter & knelt at his father's head, putting his hands on Sylar's face.

"Come on, you guys," Peter said. "I gotta bring you back."

"You will," Noah said. "But I need to see what you're going to do to him."

"Alright," Peter gave up. "Come with me." He led the pair out into the hall & up some stairs into a small office. Micah was sitting at the desk.

"Hi, Noah," Micah looked around as they came in. "How are you doing?"

"I'm not sure yet," Noah answered.

"It's been a long day," said Peter.

"I know," Micah half-snapped at him. "What you & Sylar were doing in Israel got broadcasted every where. I watched the whole thing!"

"It was a long time in coming," Peter shrugged, not really caring. He turned to Noah & Jason. "You can see & hear everything here." He flicked on the computer to show screens from cameras filming the cell. "Stay here for now. I'll come get you later." He went back down, pausing to look through the main window which was higher up than the other two. Sylar was still knocked out. Peter went inside. "Ok, you!" Peter lifted Sylar by the force power & moved him to the singular bed. He laid Sylar on it, then put one hand over the wound. He summoned the bullet out, then turned & ran up the stairs out of the cell. The large door banged shut & Peter locked it both by a bolt as well as a code. He pressed a second panel & the air in the cell became a misty white. Sylar gasped wildly a moment later. "Good," Peter muttered to himself. "Keep sucking that in."

Peter stood outside the cell & watched while Sylar took in a few unfortunate long breaths before slowly sitting up. First thing he did was check the wound. It was just finishing the healing. Second thing he did was try to stand but the gas in the chamber made him weak. He leaned back against the bed, then looked right at Peter.

"How long do you think you can keep me in here, Peter?" He asked almost pleasantly as if this were a normal thing between them.

"As long as I have to," Peter said. "Notice you don't have any tube or IV around you? We learned the hard way, but we learned! Good luck turning that off."

Sylar crossed his arms. "You don't need it. I won't try to escape." There was a moment of silence while Peter processed that. Sylar prompted him. "Well, did I lie?"

"No," Peter said. "But coming from you, that doesn't mean anything. What are you scheming, old man?"

"As if I'd tell you." Sylar slowly got used to moving in the white plumes. "Where am I?"

"As if I'd tell you," Peter evenly returned.

They glared at each other for a long moment. Sylar eventually got bored with Peter & began slowly moving around the cell, dragging his fingertips along the walls & the lowest glass pane next to him. It was thick & would not be easy to punch through without his powers. But he didn't bother accessing any ability right now. The gas had gotten into his system, making him incoherent. It was hard enough just focusing to talk.

Sylar came close to the glass again & looked up at Peter. "What will America do with Noah?"

"Nothing. The Company hasn't existed for many years," Peter said. "You can thank Claire for that. She wrecked just about everything here. But even if it was still around, I would never hand over your son to them! Noah is safe & he's going to be home with Jason now."

"Home?" Sylar repeated.

"In Israel," Peter said. "Where he belongs."

Sylar considered it. Peter wasn't lying. "When I came back from the future, I ended up in New York. I left immediately so no one could take Noah away from me. People like you or Noah Bennet would love to get their hands on a son of mine. Study him. I guess I have Claire to thank after all, despite her betrayal of special people like us."

"Don't even get me started on what she did!" Peter punched the glass in front of him. "She ought to be in a cell right next to you but the problem is, a lot of what she did depends on which timeline we were all in. I know everything since I can travel through time. Some crimes Claire committed don't exist here. I don't even know where to start with her!"

"You be careful with my future wife, Peter," Sylar warned.

"Future wife?"

"You threw me ahead in time," Sylar said. "I ended up with her there. We had a few years together. Noah got born but then the planet explodes three months after."

"Ohh," Peter raised a brow as everything finally made sense. "I thought Noah was born here in this time."

"No," Sylar said. "He will be born five thousand years from now so you be careful with his mother. You could erase my son!"

"That is the last thing I want," Peter said. "Sylar, believe it or not, if you have a son, I'm on your side. I've seen you two before & I've been trying to get that life back."

"Us? The same side?" Sylar scoffed. "That will never happen!"

"But it did!" Peter insisted softly. "It does. Without your son, you are nothing more than a monster. The murderer of so many people, including my brother. I could never forgive you for that! But in that timeline, when I first unlocked this power we both have, I am the one who killed Nathan. But I saw you with that little boy. You were sane again. Had your birth power under control. You're that boy's whole universe & he is all yours. I've spent years searching for you."

"Just not five thousand years ahead where you dumped me," Sylar retorted.

"Gabriel, I was wrong!" Peter's voice broke. His old physical disability showed up once more, as it was partly based on nervous energy which Regen wouldn't pick up, making him stutter. "I-I ... I'm ssss-sssorry."

Sylar was surprised at both the apology & the use of his proper name. "Still have that stutter, do you?" He began. "Regen can't heal emotional problems."

"I-it comes & g-goes. I was ... born this way," Peter shrugged, focusing hard to talk straight. "Sort of."

Sylar softly laughed. "I know the real story about how you got born."

"I highly doubt that."

"Oh but I do," Sylar insisted. "When Matt Parkman shoved Nathan's memories into my body & tried to suppress me. I have all of your dear brother's memories of you."

Peter glared at him. "Shut up, Gabriel!"

"Only my friends call me Gabriel," Sylar turned his back to Peter. "We aren't friends."

"We were in that window of time," Peter sighed. "I think I helped you keep Noah safe from something like a Company."

"Well, that's not this timeline," Sylar walked away from the glass walls & sat on the edge of the bed before finally looking at Peter again. "I will kill you Peter, but not until after we save the planet from exploding. Regrettably, I apparently need your help. I'm going to get my wife back, reunite her with our son. Then I'll finish you."

"You really think you can keep hating for that long?" Peter asked.

"You can bet your life on it!"

"FFF—FFFive millennia is a l-long time," said Peter. He rested his forehead on the glass wall for a moment, trying to maintain control of his voice enough to not stammer again. "A lot can happen in just a few weeks. You & Noah are having a lot of problems lately, haven't you?"

Sylar raised his hand & pointed at Peter. "Don't you dare talk about my son!"

"But we have to," Peter said. "He's here. He jumped on me when I teleported out & Jason jumped on him. They're both here, upstairs."

"I thought you said he was in Israel?"

"No, I said he can stay home in Israel," Peter corrected. "I'm bringing them both back home to your house by the Mediterranean in a few minutes. But you're going to have to stay here for a bit."

"Just a bit," Sylar replied.

Peter watched him for a moment, feeling uneasy. Sylar was definitely planning something. "I know you've turned your life around. Your son is proof of it. It's your past you need to confront. I'll take care of you. I promised Noah & I'll watch over him while you're here. I won't let anyone take him."

Sylar rolled his eyes. "You really need to get over this idea of us being friends."

"We can be if you stop being such a stubborn asshole!" Peter finally lost it on Sylar, which made his lips go sideways. That movement momentarily affected his scar that went diagonally across his whole face. He curled his fists by his hips for a moment, forcing the old birth defect to right itself once more.

"You said it yourself," Sylar began, standing up & slowly advancing back to the glass barriers. "All you can see when you look at me is your brother's murderer. I am truly sorry for killing Nathan." He paused before adding, "It should have been you I put down. I slaughtered the wrong brother. I won't make that mistake twice."

"Why you!" Peter snarled. "I just—oh! How I hate you!"

"Not as much as I hate you!"

"I'll double it!" Peter thumped on the glass in frustration. He turned away & stormed off. He burst into the computer room a few moments later. "Freaking idiot! God, I hate that man!"

"You just gave him exactly what he wanted," Noah said. "He's laughing at you right now. He was goading you."

Peter glowered at the screen for a moment, watching Sylar all but kill himself laughing. "Keep laughing, old man," Peter snarled. "You'll suck in more of that gas." He turned away. "I'm going to get changed so I can return these clothes, then I'll take you both home."

"Can I go down there & talk to him?" Noah asked.

Peter slowly nodded. "This must be very weird for you, isn't it?"

"You have a gift for understatement," said Noah as he headed down stairs by himself. He found himself standing before the cell a moment later, staring in at his father.

Sylar moved along the glass pane closest to him, like a dolphin trapped in a tank, until he got as close to his son as possible & looked at Noah. "I really didn't want you to see me this way."

"I just wanted to see if you were ok," Noah said. "I thought you died." He took in a shaky breath before going on. "I didn't want this either, Dad! Why is nothing going how I planned it, lately?"

"What did you want?"

"Just to knock either of you off course before your fighting ripped Israel apart," Noah slid down to the floor & leaned back against the window he was next to. "I didn't want you locked up. Never even thought of that."

"Well, you should have," Sylar snapped. "Especially with Peter around! You shot me again, didn't you?"

"I used my sniper rifle from a hotel back in Tiberias," Noah answered softly. He wiped his eyes but it was no use. "Dad, I'm so sorry. Ohh! This was the worst holiday season ever & two weeks later, it's still all screwed up!" He wrapped his arms around his bent up legs & put his face into his knees, crying.

Sylar pressed the side of his face to the glass. "Noah."

Noah lifted his head for a moment. "Dad, you & Peter can manipulate time. Can we just go back & undo all this please?"

"That isn't how it works," Sylar said. "The events happened, there is no going back. We would just end up making copies of ourselves. Our future selves in the past with our past selves. Messing with time can have repercussions in the future as well."

"Then what good is that power?"

"Sometimes to watch an event, learn from it & if you go to the future to see it, then perhaps when you come back to normal time you can avoid it," Sylar said. "But to redo the past? Something that has happened as opposed to something that might? That is too dangerous. The future is not set in stone. The past is."

"Then I ask again, what good is that power?" Noah demanded. "'Cause we really need to go back to the start of Hanukkah last year & do it over."

"We can't," Sylar stated simply. He watched his son sitting on the floor outside his cell. Noah had his face on his knees again, shaking with sobs. "Noah?" Sylar tapped on his glass pane until Noah turned to kneel in front of him. "You need to go home."

"I'm going to get you out of here, Dad."

"No," Sylar shook his head. "You have to go home. Marry Jason. Never mind our previous arrangement. It doesn't matter now. Forget about me for a little while."

"What about this next year?" Noah asked.

"You still have to redo Grade twelve & I've already signed you up for summer school to finish what you skipped," Sylar said. "That's between you & the school if you want to graduate. Same goes for your commander."

"We were supposed to try working things out. I'm not converting this summer so I can have Christmas with you & another proper birthday since I screwed it all up this year."

"You didn't screw it up," Sylar said. "I did." He held up both hands. "I'm a killer, Noah. There is so much blood on these hands even though I rarely touched my victims. All I have to do is raise a finger & they'll die."

"I know how you do it," Noah murmured, looking down at the cold cement floor. Cold as his father's black heart.

"I'm the one in the wrong, not you," Sylar said. "What you told Claire & I earlier, about punishing you & Jason for our crimes—"

"Dad, I was wrong!"

"No, you weren't," Sylar disagreed. "I was way too hard on you for simply sneaking off like that. I was afraid you'd hate me for my past crimes but I ended up making you hate me for how I treated you afterwards."

"I don't hate you," Noah said. "I'm very disappointed in you maybe, but I don't hate you."

"Either way," Sylar shrugged. "I'm no good to you right now. You need to go home." Noah began shaking his head but Sylar pressed on. "You need to leave me."

"No, no Dad!"

"Whoa, whoa what is he doing now?" Micah sat straighter in his chair from the upper room level where he was watching Sylar on security camera. Peter came back in at that moment, dressed in his usual clothes that were mostly black. He carried the Jewish garments folded together in one hand. He stood next to Jason behind Micah as all watched the screen.

Sylar leaned back slightly, holding his breath. The Regen cleared his mind long enough for him to strike the first pane with all his powers. It shattered. Sylar panted for a much needed breath which reduced his control for a moment.

"Dad?" Noah jumped back.

"Please!" Sylar begged. "Just GO!" He held his breath again barely long enough for the Regen to clear his mind just so that he was able to let loose for a moment & shatter the second one. Noah moved away. "Go, now!"

There was only one glass pane between them now. Peter's hand moved to the mouse & he called up a screen. He put the cursor over the program to put in an extra dose of gas if Sylar dared try to break the last one.

"What are you waiting for?" Jason asked. "He's getting out!"

"No, I don't think so," Peter said. "He's driving Noah away. Noah deserves better than to be here seeing his father like this & Sylar knows it. I put up extra windows in case he did try to break out. But that isn't what Sylar is doing. Besides, the cage is hanging free over an underwater lake several miles under the ground. He has a lot to go through to get out even if he does bust out of his cell."

Noah came into Peter's office a few moments later. "He doesn't want me here."

"In spite of everything, he is a good father," Peter said. "I've seen it before. Sylar's right. You should go home. I'll take care of him, don't worry."

"You hate him."

"Yeah, so?" Peter laughed. "Your Dad & I go way back. But I don't hate you, alright? I'll watch him for you & ONLY you!" He clicked on the program & Sylar dropped like a deer shot dead by a hunter. "Oops," Peter smiled. "Don't worry, he's fine," He waved at the computer screen as Noah glared indignantly at him. "I'm sure he'll pay me back for that later. We'll go secure him so Micah can watch him in peace, then I'll take you both home." Micah was already half way down the stairs & Peter hurried out after him, leaving Jason & Noah alone at last.

"I have to admit, that was kind of funny," Jason remarked.

"Jason," Noah whined.

"Well!" Jason held up his hands before grabbing Noah's head & kissing him. Noah shoved him away. Next moment, he had pounced on Jason, pressing him into the wall, kissing him right back.

"Let's strap him to the bed until we can get this glass cleared & replaced," said Micah once he had shut the gas off. "Hurry, before he wakes up." Peter used the force power to lift Sylar onto the bed & Micah clamped the binds firmly in place. "Why did you bring Noah here?"

"It wasn't by choice," Peter shrugged. "He grabbed me as I teleported out."

"He is really attached to his father."

"The bond between this father & his son is exceptionally strong," said Peter. "I've seen it before when I met them in that other timeline."

They sealed the door once more & Micah turned on the misty flow. The white swirls wafted upwards as Sylar suddenly woke up only to find himself strapped to the bed. Micah glanced at Peter as they went up the stairs. "Claire wasn't the only one getting worried about you jumping around in time. You really should have told us Sylar had a son somewhere."

"I didn't know if I could find him again," Peter defended.

They entered the office room. Micah went back to the desk as Peter took hold of Jason & Noah. He whisked them away to Tiberias, close to Jason's car. Claire was leaning next to it. Noah went up to her & grabbed both her hands as Peter disappeared once more.

"He's in prison now," Noah barely managed to say.

Claire pulled her hand up to Noah's face, wiping away some tears. "Your father is a very dangerous man," she said. "It's where he belongs."

"But he isn't really like that any more."

"Isn't he?" Claire glanced at Peter who had returned but no longer had the set of clothes he had been holding. "Look at how he reacted when Peter showed up. That encounter set him off. It's going to take some time for things to settle."

"Peter's a special case," Noah said.

"I'm standing right here," Peter pointed out in a mock pout.

"So you are," Noah managed a small laugh. He opened the passenger door as Jason got into the driver's side. "It's just really strange going home but Dad won't be there."

Peter put one arm around him. "I'll drop by some times, ok?" Noah nodded silently as he sat down. Peter turned to Claire & held out a hand. "As for you," He glared at her. "We need to have a really long talk. Let me take you home. Your Dad & Luke are already on the plane back."

Noah had his window down by now. "You should listen to him, Mom. Things aren't always what they appear to be. I mean, just look at how my life turned out, lately."

Claire slowly grabbed Peter's hand. "It's still strange, being called Mom, especially knowing who your father is."

"Yeah, I don't blame you," Noah said. "Maybe after all this settles down a bit, we can see each other later."

"Maybe some day," Claire said. "It's a lot to get used to."

"I know," Noah said. He watched Claire disappear with Peter.

Jason turned the car towards home. It was another long silent drive. Noah had fallen asleep on the way & Jason had to shake him awake when they pulled up to the base. Noah didn't bother to hide this time. He brought the rifle right into the command center & handed it over to Tohar. He explained his reason why & expected to be thrown out.

"There isn't much I can do to you," Tohar said. "You're already restricted. Besides, what you did might have very well saved Israel for the time being."

"I guess so," Noah shrugged it off. After receiving the next schedule, he got back in the car.

It was dark by the time they got to Noah's home. Jason parked close to the blackened pile that was the garage. "What a mess!" He complained as he surveyed the damage. Noah's car & Sylar's Buell would never run again. He took a step towards the blackened building but Noah pulled him away.

"Let me go check it," Noah said. "I can heal. You can't."

"I doubt it can hurt me now."

"It's radioactive, so yes it will," Noah said. "That's why I had to tell the firemen to be careful as well. Dad & Peter have nuclear power." He moved into the pile of rubble. The car & the bike were fused together. Half a wall was still standing & another wall with the side door was also standing but the burned door was twisted sideways, hanging on by one hinge. The cupboard where Sylar had kept his box of secrets was still there, set into the half wall still up. Noah was able to pry it open since the door was ripped open right down the middle. He tossed the two pieces aside, causing the wall to crumble. The shelf fell & the box slid to his feet. It was burned at the corners & slightly twisted from the heat of a nuclear bomb. He picked it up & headed for the house.

Jason followed Noah to the door. "I'm going to stay with you until Sunday. You don't have a car to get to school & if you miss any classes, you're really going to be screwed next year."

"What about your parents?" Noah put the box under the swing on the porch to look at later & went inside with Jason.

"I told you, I don't care about my Dad any more," Jason reminded him. "I'll call Mom later."

Aviv came trotting down the hall. Noah picked him up. "I'm glad Mom couldn't keep him."

Jason patted the dog's head before stepping into the living room. "Want to spend the night watching slasher movies?"

"Hell no!" Noah shook his head wildly. "I grew up with a real life slasher. I'm never watching those movies again!"

"Thank G-d!" Jason exclaimed.

"Oh shut up."

"No, I mean it," Jason laughed. "After a declaration like that, I'm half inclined to believe in Yeshua!"

Noah gasped in mock horror. "Sacrilegious!"

"I said HALF, Noah," Jason rolled his eyes.

Noah just shot him an evil grin, bringing out the more fatherly features he inherited from Sylar. "I'm going to feed Aviv, then I think we should just go to bed." Jason made it to the top of the stairs by the time Noah caught up with him. Noah hesitated before slowly opening his bedroom door.

"Whoa!" Jason glanced around the empty room. "You weren't kidding when you said he took everything out."

"Nope," Noah sighed dejectedly.

"I've only ever been in your room twice before now," Jason glanced at the mattress on the floor. "Man, your Dad was pissed!"

"I think he regrets it now," said Noah. "But it's too late. He got rid of the entire collection."

Jason lay back on the makeshift bed. "You really like collecting those things, don't you?"

Noah plopped down beside him. "I thought I'd outgrow them eventually, but I get it now. The obsession is inherited from my father. I just got lucky I went for plush instead of blood."

"Seriously?" Jason stared at him. "Are you sure?"

"It's like a bit of his birth power got into me," Noah said, lying back next to Jason. "Just not the killer instinct bit of it."

Jason put his free arm over Noah's side. "I'm glad you didn't. I've had a few nightmares."

"Nightmares?"

"Of Rabbi Gray," Jason said. "What he did. Ever since I found out, I can't get those images out of my head. He's so ... vicious!"

"At least you can wake up from them," Noah said. "I, however, have to live this nightmare."

"I hope it's at an end now," Jason pulled Noah a little closer. "He's where he belongs now. You know it."

"Mhm." Noah murmured, not trusting his voice.

Jason leaned over to quickly kiss Noah's forehead. "Just try to sleep. We're starting a whole new life tomorrow." He cuddled next to Noah, settling down to sleep himself.

But Noah moved a little to lie flat on his back. This caused Jason's hand to shift from Noah's hip to somewhere between his legs, causing him to gasp sharply. Jason was suddenly wide awake. He raised himself up on his other hand to look down at Noah. A long moment of not even breathing passed before Jason whispered. "Do you ... want to try?"

Noah's heart was pounding. He could still feel Jason's other hand between his legs, resting on a slight bulge of his he suddenly had which was growing. Jason had yet to pull away. They had discussed this moment countless times but had never gotten the urge to just do it yet. But with everything that had just happened, what Noah really needed was a distraction, comfort & a need to feel safe again. All of which he could have with Jason. He put a hand up to run his fingers through Jason's short wavy brown hair. "Now is as good a time as any."

Jason suddenly curled his fingers in, grasping Noah firmly. Noah stiffened as his back came off the bed a little. He let out a short groan, partly from surprise, partly from the sudden rush. Jason moved his hand inside, keeping Noah going for a moment, then moved upward, pushing Noah's top up as he stroked his chest.

Noah sat up to get it off, then removed the pants. Jason already had his own top off & finished getting undressed while Noah stretched out on the bed once more. Jason soon joined him, lying partly on him. Noah put a hand on Jason's shoulder then moved to pet his back, taking it slow. They had seen each other naked countless times, but this would be different. They were about to go that one step further. Both needed time to mentally prepare for it.

It took almost two hours of caressing & fondling, but Noah was able to forget everything else for that one long moment. They rocked back & forth a few times, both vying for the upper hand. Noah eventually won out, another trait inherited from his sire. He left a trail of kisses going up Jason's spine before finally pressing down into him for the first time.

Jason matched Noah's drawn-out firm thrusts, slowly working his way inside. He guided Noah's free hand around his hips to take hold of his own length. They moved together as one for several minutes before finishing at the same time. Noah stayed within him for a moment, pressing his face between Jason's shoulder blades as they caught their breath. Noah soon rolled off & Jason cuddled up to his chest.

"So is that what all the fuss is about?" Jason suddenly asked.

Noah burst out laughing. "Can you believe some people do that three times a day for the rest of their lives?"

"It's a lot of work."

"Oh this from the one on the bottom!" Noah teased. Jason curled up in a ball, crying from laughing too hard. "You had it easy."

"STOP!" Jason yelped.

Noah pressed his hands to his eyes for a while. "That sounded better in my head."

"I bet it did," said Jason as he sat up. He looked down. "So it even feels a bit different when it's not cut."

Noah pushed himself up a little, leaning back on his hands. "Dad mentioned something about it." Jason cast Noah an awkward look. "He's got a point. Jason? How am I supposed to convert? I can't get circumcised."

"Why?" Jason smirked. "You scared?"

"No," Noah rolled his eyes. "I'll heal. Remember?"

"Right," Jason lay back again. "That's another reason I need to become a Rabbi. I would just say I did it. No one has to know any better."

"You gotta talk to your Dad," Noah stretched out beside Jason.

"Nope. Not happening."

Noah pressed his lips into Jason's shoulder for a moment. "I know, I know. Both our fathers are idiots."