(28) A Matter Of Time
The Judge sat back in his chair & passed a hand over his brow. He looked down on America's greatest terror so far, as if in disbelief that he was finally caught & in his courtroom. "I still do not understand these abilities," the Judge finally said. "Even though I know people who have powers. If I could have you executed, I would in a heartbeat. It is no less than what you deserve. But, Mr. Petrelli says that's impossible but on the other hand, you literally can serve the multiple lifetime sentences I can only give you." He shuffled a few papers on his desk before going on. "Gabriel Gray, the killer known as Sylar, for all murders we know you have done, you are hereby sentenced to four lifetimes in prison. For the missing victim known as Elle Bishop, another fifty years has been added."
"Elle's not mine," Sylar muttered low under breath. Oh yes, he had killed her, but he considered it to be assisted suicide, not murder.
"For any unknown murders you may have done, I add another fifty years for good measure," the Judge went on, not hearing, or perhaps choosing not to hear. "A total of three hundred years for you. This case is finally closed!" After banging his gavel, the Judge got up & swept from the room.
Four guards took hold of Sylar, glancing to Peter for reassurance. Peter followed closely as they went down the hall. When they reached the door, he took the lead. Turning to the group he said, "Keep him in the middle & get to the van, quickly. There are to be no comments!" At that, he opened the doors & entered the crowds of press.
All swarmed in on Peter first, begging for comments. A few got by & tried to get at Sylar but Peter shoved them aside with his own telekinetic force. Sylar kept his eyes ahead on Peter & seemed mildly amused in spite of everything which put the ex-medic even more on edge. Sylar was soon loaded into a large black van & the compartment he was in filled with white vapor to keep him from using any of his powers to escape.
About half an hour later, Sylar found himself being led back into the secured cell under New York City. Micah locked him in & turned on the mists. "Get used to the scenery, Sylar. It's all you'll see for the next three hundred years!" Sylar merely smiled as he turned away. Micah rolled his eyes & stomped up the stairs to the office to watch for a bit.
The next day, Peter finally had a statement prepared for the press. It was short & to the point. "We have Sylar secured in an undisclosed location here in New York. He will stay there for three hundred years. None of you will see him again!"
"What do you plan to do after three hundred years?" one news crew asked.
"I hope to come up with a way to keep him contained forever or until we find out how to destroy him, whichever comes first," Peter said, but only half meaning it. There was no point telling them what was going to happen five thousand years from now. They would all be dead. So would their children & their children's children many times over. It was not their problem.
"It is said you are unable to die as well," another one asked. "You are Peter Petrelli, the arch enemy of Sylar, are you not?"
Peter regarded the man who asked, noting the strange boxy shaped lettering on the microphone. Hebrew. Israel had shown up. The whole world was here! "My statement is to announce we have Sylar contained for three centuries. That is all." Peter disappeared on the spot. Teleportation.
Peter landed on the steps going down to the cell & eventually made his way in front of the glass, facing Sylar once more. They regarded each other in a long silent moment before Sylar finally asked, "How is Israel?"
Peter stared at him. Israel? Not Noah? He thought again of the Israeli newscaster. "She's fine."
"For now," Sylar turned away & sat on the bed.
Peter thumped on the glass. "You are not getting out of here for three centuries! More if possible!"
"Oh really?" Sylar smiled pleasantly. "Did you announce to the whole world that you are keeping me incarcerated or is it a secret?"
"I made a statement earlier," Peter admitted, suddenly wishing he hadn't made the statement. Something was wrong, but he couldn't figure it out just yet. Sylar softly laughed, making Peter demand, "What the hell are you scheming?"
"Nothing, Peter," Sylar said. "Use that lie detection. I'm scheming nothing. But unlike you, I know everything that's going on. You have no idea what you just did & unfortunately, Israel is going to suffer a bit until you understand what exactly just happened. You'll let me go back to Israel soon enough."
"Never!"
"You'll have no choice," Sylar insisted rather sadly.
"Gabriel I swear, I will do everything to keep Noah safe during this time," Peter began. "But you have to atone for your crimes. You're not going anywhere for three hundred years!"
"Exactly, Peter," Sylar agreed. "I have to atone. ME! But only me. Not Israel!"
"Israel is fine!" Peter turned & walked away without another word.
"Not for long, Peter," Sylar whispered as he hung is head. "Not for long." He knew his presence in Israel was the main thing holding everyone off. The terrorists were scared of him as well they should be. The Jews had their own ideas about him he still didn't quite accept but fact was, so long as he was in Israel, it didn't have as many problems.
But now he was stuck in America & Peter had just announced it to the whole world. It was only a matter of time before the wars bled into the holy land once again. Noah & even Jason would have to not only fight in it but also survive it. Noah would but Jason would most likely die & it was all Peter's fault. But the worst was, Peter couldn't possibly know that right now. He could not understand just how much Sylar had changed, even from the man he had briefly glimpsed in another timeline. Neither did he have any knowledge of the fact that the Jewish nation was slowly viewing Sylar as more than a celebrity killer Rabbi. He was becoming a celebrity for another very personal, to Israel, reason. Sylar lay back on the bed & waited. It was only a matter of time.
Noah walked into the largest car dealership in Haifa about half an hour after school. Jason made a bee-line for the latest Audi cars, which seemed to be the main car chosen by the Gray family all the time, but he soon found himself alone. He retraced his steps to find his boyfriend among some of the most expensive cars there.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm feeling rebellious."
Jason smiled at him. "Ok, have a look at them. Just know there is no way you can afford any of these."
"I have five hundred thousand in my account at all times," Noah stated simply, making Jason stare at him. "I don't know why," Noah went on. "I don't buy much & the amount of plushies I ever bought maybe cost around three thousand. But no matter what, I always find exactly five hundred thousand in my account. Obviously, Dad replaces it, probably linked up our accounts so it is automatic, but where the hell does Dad get it? No Rabbi makes that much! But there it is, just the same."
"I knew you guys were well off," Jason gasped in awe. "But that ... that ... Noah ... "
Hearing a thud, Noah glanced around, then down to find Jason passed out on the floor. "Whoa!" Noah yelped. "Uh someone? Help!"
A few moments later, Jason was perched up against the wall, sipping iced tea. "I can't believe I did that!" Jason remarked after a few minutes. Noah just laughed at him while Jason finished drinking. Jason handed back the empty glass to the clerk that had helped them a few moments later. They were left alone for a while. "If you buy anything now," Jason started. "It might not get replaced any more. Your Dad can't replenish his own account while he is in jail. I'd be careful if I were you."
"I expect I have a turn or two before it stops," Noah shrugged. "I need to do this. I need something new, different, bold."
"I know," Jason sighed. "You've had it rough. More so than me."
"Yup," Noah stared dead ahead at one car slightly hidden in the back behind a few others. It was sleek & black.
"It might be a power of his," Jason went on. "Check through the list Luke sent you."
"There's a power to make money appear?" Noah scoffed. Jason just looked at him until Noah gave up & humored him. "Oh," was all Noah could say after scanning through the list saved in his phone. He handed it to Jason. "Bob Bishop's power. Could turn any metal to gold." After almost a minute, Noah finished. "Dad killed him." Jason handed the phone back with a loud groan. The pair got up to stand among the shiny new cars.
"There's an Elle Bishop listed as well," Jason went on. "She had electricity as her power."
"I've heard that name before," Noah went on. "Elle. Electricity is on Luke's list of Dad's abilities. I think it's safe to say she is the same one Dad knew a long time ago. Mom accused Dad of hiding her body, unlike all the others. Dad said he didn't kill Elle. She isn't his murder. She was a suicide. Dad got really strange, talking about her. I just know they were together for a bit. Wonder if Bob Bishop was a husband of hers or something?"
"I don't know," Jason shrugged.
They walked in silence down the rows of cars. Noah seemed to be zeroing in on one in particular. They soon stood before the sleek black car, the latest model of the Rolls Royce Wraith. * Within the hour, Noah was signing the papers for it, just under four hundred grand & a few moments later, Noah was driving it out onto the road with Jason sitting in the passenger beside him, his face half wonder, half terror. Before heading home, Noah checked the bank & sure enough it had already been replaced, proving his account was linked to his father's. Jason breathed a sigh of relief but warned Noah not to make a such a large purchase again as Sylar would not be refilling his own account any time soon.
Noah drove Jason around in the Wraith for almost two hours before they parted ways for a while. Noah went home to Aviv. Jason returned to his mother & tried to avoid his father as best possible. The next couple of weeks passed by in a daze for Noah. First thing he did was have a new garage set up for the Rolls Royce. He had moved it to the other side now, away from the lingering radiation but still off from the house. He & Jason were left alone at school & could hang out as they pleased. Noah was an instant hit among classmates with his new car. Girls all over the school were begging rides with him despite his relationship with Jason being well known. Noah was slowly becoming annoyed with them, worse when Jason didn't bother to hide his amusement.
"You can ride with him, but you can't ride him," Jason said one day, kissing Noah firmly to prove it. "Remember who he belongs to." Noah wanted to run Jason over with the Wraith. He blushed furiously as he got in & drove away, ignoring swooning girls & Jason's laughter. He'll deal with the idiot later as they were planning to go surfing over the weekend at the beach by Noah's place.
But for the moment, Noah's biggest problem was that he was now, unusually, alone. Aviv was with him, but he was no longer with his father. The house they had shared together also felt strange to him. It was the home of a retired notorious killer & Noah was beginning to feel the ghosts creep up his back. He saw the faces of his father's victims whispering through the windows, unable to be heard. Sometimes in the mirror, they seemed to be behind him but for a moment. Noah knew it was ridiculous, That they weren't actually there. It was just his imagination. If anything, reality was sinking in him at last. He was sitting on the floor of the living room, petting Aviv's belly, when he finally figured it out.
The walls bled!
Everything in his life was drenched in blood! The money that paid for the house, the food, the clothes, the plushies, hell, even the damn dog. Bob Bishop's power. It was all blood money! Noah got the box out from under the porch swing & looked through it to find Claire's picture. It was singed on the edges, but somehow it gave it a nostalgic look. He saved it, framed it to put into his empty room. Starting over. He burned the rest of the contents of the box. Eventually, he locked the dog in the Wraith, pulled out almost everything in the house & torched it all in the place where the rubble of the old garage still stood. He knew his Wraith was also a thing of murder, but let's be reasonable. He needed it to get to school, the base, the city. Same for the house. He needed something to live in. It was stone & brick anyway, hard to burn. He left it standing but mostly empty except the bare necessities.
Noah was sitting in his car in the new garage, watching the smoke die down while Aviv curled up in his lap when someone knocked on his window. Expecting Jason, Noah looked around but it was Peter instead. Noah turned the car on to put the window down with a mere touch of the button.
Peter leaned in to look inside. "Sweeeeeeeeeeet riiiiiide!" He kept ogling the leather seats.
"Rolls Royce Wraith," Noah said.
"Dude!" Peter was still gaping. He suddenly grinned like a kid. "Can you please just drive me up the road in this beautiful beast?"
"Sure," Noah laughed. "Get in." He gripped Aviv's collar while Peter went around & slipped into the passenger side. He backed out & was soon gliding down the road. "How's Dad?" he finally asked.
"We just finished his trial the other day."
"That was fast."
"There wasn't much need to drag it out," Peter shrugged. "Noah, I'll look out for you during this time alright?"
"Just say it." Noah wasn't fooled.
"Your Dad's going to be incarcerated for," Peter paused before deciding to get it over with. "For three hundred years."
"Ok," Noah muttered.
Peter looked at him. No emotion. No surprise. No worry at suddenly becoming an adult on the spot. Just ok & done. "Noah? You won't be totally separated from him for that long. I'll make sure you can see him whenever you wish. I'll come check up on you as often as you want."
"Thanks, Uncle Peter," Noah replied nonchalantly. "Appreciate it."
Peter watched Noah for a long time. The Wraith swooped around curves & sucked up the road under its wheels like a puppy lapping milk. It smoothed over bumps in the asphalt so that its riders didn't feel a thing. "Alright, Noah," Peter finally spoke. "What's going on? You're Dad doesn't seem to care that he will be in a cement box for three centuries. Now you. It's like nothing to either one of you. Why are you both acting so tough? It's going to be three centuries, Noah. There is no escaping it."
"You really don't understand Israel, do you?" Noah asked.
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"Everything," Noah stated simply. "Do you know anything about this country at all?"
"You guys keep Sabbath, don't eat pork."
Noah laughed. "We don't eat anything unclean, not just pork. No rabbits either. Some fish we can't have. Like eel. It's got to have fins AND scales, or it isn't a good fish. No shellfish either. The good Muslim folk here don't bother with Sabbath. That's just a Jewish thing, some Protestants as well. Adventists. Messianic folks, too. But not all. But the one thing all Israel knows is that these wars won't last forever. Someone's got to put a stop to that."
"You think your Dad's going to do that?"
"He already has for the most part," Noah said. "You interrupted him." The Wraith pulled off to the side of the road. "If Israel falls now, it is not going to be the fault of any terrorist factions." He looked at Peter. "It's going to be yours."
"Excuse me?" Peter all but glared. "You know what your father did. He was bound to be locked up sooner or later."
"That's fine," Noah said. "But you didn't leave it at that, did you? I heard you, Uncle Peter. I saw your broadcast. The whole fucking world saw it. Everyone knows Sylar is no longer in Israel where he is supposed to be. Ask Mom. She knows."
"What does Claire know?" Peter rolled his eyes. "She is a very deceived, lost woman."
"Dad told her he can't leave Israel for five thousand years," Noah said. "Figure it out! First of all, he needs to stay out of time's way for my sake. But also, the enemies of the Jews stopped coming in here because they are terrified of my father! I always had a feeling they were scared of him because he somehow was able to figure out their plans & blab it to Israel. Of course, I know now that they are scared of him because he is Sylar. But either way, his presence here was the biggest protection Israel had but you took him away. Whatever happens next is on you! When the war comes back in here & if Jason dies because of it, that's going to be on you as well. That broadcast never should have happened. It would have bought Israel some time before people realized he is no longer here, but you ruined it all."
"You really think so?"
"You really don't get it, do you?" Noah went on. "My Dad already is a prisoner, but his jail is the country of Israel, not your cement hole! So long as he is here, Israel is safe. There will always be people who hate the Jews. Dad can't leave! Ever! Three hundred years? Nothing compared to eternity!"
"Being incarcerated under New York for three hundred years will definitely keep him out of time's way," Peter tried. "He can come back to Israel for however long he likes after that. As for the enemies of Israel, there will always be someone. Wars happen all over the planet. It's a part of history."
Noah turned the car around to head back home. "Israel is supposed to have peace."
"Some day," said Peter. "But it has little to do with anyone on Earth right now."
It was a silent ride back home apart from Aviv ruffing under breath now & then. Noah knew there was no point trying to tell Peter the real reason. Unlike his silly father, Noah wasn't about to get into a religious debate with Peter any time soon. The fire was mostly done by the time Noah pulled into the driveway.
"What are you burning?" Peter asked.
"Everything," Noah stated simply. "I just realized everything here is bought with blood money. Dad has Bob Bishop's power. I just felt like everything was covered in blood. So I torched it all except for the things I need."
Peter put a hand to his brow for a moment, feeling part of the long scar across his face. "Yup. You're right about that." He got out but before closing the door, he added, "I have to get back. Keep an eye on your father. But I will drop in next week. In fact, I'll check up on you at least once a week until Jason moves in." He winked conspiratorially. "Then I'll leave you two love birds alone for a bit." Noah just rolled his eyes as Peter vanished on the spot a second after closing the door.
Jason showed up mere moments later & the pair instantly went to the waves with Aviv running behind them on the beach. They spent most of the day in the water. It was the first day since Noah had run off to New York that things seemed semi-normal & there was little talk of killers or prisons apart from Noah explaining to Jason why he had just torched the ever-loving hell out of ninety-nine percent of everything.
They entered an almost empty house that evening. The couch & TV were still in the living room but everything else was gone. Noah pulled Jason into the kitchen to grab some food which was all that was left besides the built in bar stools along one edge of the central counter. On that counter, the Menorah still stood along with fresh Sabbath candles.
"I kept them for you," Noah shrugged. "Friday evening so ... " He held out the lighter for Jason. "How is your Dad?" He asked as Jason began lighting the wicks. Jason just shrugged. "You want to go to the synagogue tomorrow?"
Jason put the lighter away & stared into the seven flames. "Mom wants me there, so I go for her."
"I suppose you want to drag my sorry ass out of bed at that ungodly hour as well then," Noah teased.
"Ohh yes!" Jason grinned for a moment at last. "If I'm going, you're going!" He pulled out his phone to answer it. "Hi Mom, yes I'm going, don't worry." A moment later, he said, "Jerusalem? Alright. ... It doesn't matter since it's basically the same distance from Rabbi Gray's home. ... Yes Noah is coming. ... Of course he is already complaining. You know him!" He laughed as Noah held up both middle fingers & scowled. "Shabbot shalom!" He hung up, still laughing.
"I hate you both!" Noah muttered, leading the way back to the couch to sit down. "So why Jerusalem?"
"Dad's taking over for a friend who is gone on vacation with family," Jason shrugged. "Been a while since I've gone there."
The last time Jason was in Jerusalem, he had run off to try becoming a Rabbi on his own only to be caught at the Wailing Wall; but neither of them mentioned that fact. Noah had some of his piece of bread before saying, "They are still rebuilding the mess Dad & Uncle Peter made. They have people all over scouring the ground for each & every piece of the Via Dolorosa to put back in place."
"It's going to take a long time," Jason replied.
"Yup," Noah nodded, tossing the last bit of bread to Aviv.
They went to bed early for Noah's sake, but the next morning he was still cranky & had to be dragged out, anyway. He tried, but mornings were never his friend. Jason tossed him in the back of his own car & drove for Jerusalem just as dawn began to turn pink. By the time they got into Jerusalem, Noah was finally acceptable for the public (though Jason didn't both to mention Noah's hair was all shoved up from being pressed against the seat) & was wide awake by the time they entered the temple.
There was the usual tense greeting between father & son while Tirzah immediately went to work on smoothing down Noah's dark brown hair. The three of them sat together near the front while Nehemiah went up to face the congregation.
It was late afternoon by the time everyone stepped outside. Nehemiah & his family had been invited to someone's home nearby for lunch but it took a while for people to sort themselves out & move to their cars. Noah eventually pried himself loose from a group of middle-aged or older fuss-bodies all glimpsing a look at the now famous son of Sylar & eventually made it towards Jason's car, but he never got into that car again. He lost track of it in an instance of white light & booming sound.
Noah lay flat on his back at the bottom of a small crater, staring up at the sky as debris & body pieces rained down. He looked to his right to see only half the synagogue remained standing & as he stared at it, that half begin sliding down towards him. He jumped up & ran along the opposite side of the crater to climb back onto whatever was left of the road. It took him a long time to understand what had just happened & by then, the place was swarming with rescue teams who lined the side with any bodies they found.
A suicide bomber had been in the parking lot, waiting for them. The blast had killed nearly everyone. The few survivors had either been on the outskirts of the area or had been among the first to leave. Noah should have been dead for he had been at the epicenter of it. Only his Regen had saved him. He looked around wildly for Jason first, but found only bloodstained rubble. With a grim look, he turned to the covered bodies. He kept telling himself he was born from Death himself. His father had looked down on countless dead people without problem. But Noah still flinched at lifting the corner of one sheet to see someone lying dead there. Sylar would be so disappointed in his son at that moment, was all Noah could think of from then on. It didn't get easier as he checked under more sheets for anyone he knew, especially when only bits were there waiting for him instead of a full corpse.
He eventually moved away from the dead & found a place to lean over for a bit, hands on knees. "How did you manage it, Dad?" Noah muttered, hoping he would never see a dead body again, knowing that would be impossible.
When the ambulances started leaving to make room for others, Noah asked which hospital they were going to, then made his way there. He wanted to take a break from the dead to find any survivors. He couldn't remember Jason being near him at the time of the bomb going off & hoped that perhaps Jason & his family had been away from the main disaster zone. He spent most of the afternoon at the hospital, checking survivors, asking if anyone of the Gatineau family had been brought in. Finally, someone told him that another hospital was in use as this one had filled with the first ones found alive. Noah quickly headed to the new location. It was nearly dark by the time he got there. Within five minutes, he finally found someone & nearly ran to the room.
Nehemiah stood up from the bed as Noah came in. "There you are," he started. "I knew you would be alright because of your magic bestowed to you by both your parents, but where were you? I tried calling."
"I was right at the center of it, so that phone is gone," Noah said. "Got all my clothes ripped as well." He waved a hand over himself as he moved in closer. "Are you alright, Rabbi?" Noah paused, looking around. Nehemiah did not look well. Besides having his left arm in a sling & some bandages over his face, he also looked like a man who had lost everything. His eyes fell on the bed. "Jason?!" Noah hurried over & half lay over his lover, petting back some hair. "Jason!"
"He's gone, Noah."
"What?" Noah glanced back at Nehemiah. "No no no! He wasn't with me! He should be fine!"
"The machines are the only thing keeping him alive," Nehemiah said.
"He'll pull through," Noah gasped between tears. "People on machines have done that before."
Nehemiah came around the bed to sit near Noah. "There is no life left in him," he tried again. "The machines are keeping his brain activity going but he will never survive without them. Noah?" He tried pulling Noah away but it was no use. "Jason has his will done up. He doesn't want to be on a machine. You know what this means, right?"
Noah buried his face into Jason's chest, sobbing. After a long while, he hoarsely asked, "Can I have some time with him before you do that?"
"You can have all night," Nehemiah said. "I'm not pulling the plug until I can bury him the same day & I can't do that until I know what happened to Tirzah." He stood up. "I'm glad you are here, Noah. Stay with him for me until I get his mother."
Noah could only nod, never taking his eyes off Jason. These final moments with him shouldn't have happened for many years. He knew it would come some day but why did that day have to be now? He lay next to Jason, gently holding one hand that had been wrapped as if Jason could still feel pain. Noah looked over the damage done to his partner's body. Even if Jason pulled through, he would have been scarred for life. He had wounds from his face down his chest & had even broken both legs. Noah watched the fake breath go out as the machine pumped in some more air. Tomorrow. Noah would be totally & completely alone tomorrow. His father gone to the prison of living criminals. His boyfriend gone to the prison of a grave. Neither would be getting out any time soon.
Noah aimlessly wandered down the hall & eventually wound up in the lounge room. He found the coffee & poured some. After drinking it, Noah went back to watch over Jason for a while longer. But what he really wanted at that time, was his father. Sylar knew all about death. He should have been here to help his son through this! Noah suddenly bolted & ran into the street. He made his way to a gas station that was open twenty four seven. Non-Jewish. Didn't have the Sabbatical restraints. He went in & got a new phone. Half an hour later, Noah was walking back to the hospital, calling Micah.
"Noah, how are you?" Micah picked up on the third ring.
"Jason is going to die tomorrow," Noah said first. He fell silent. He didn't mean to dump it on Micah like that but it was done now.
"What?" Micah stared at the screen watching Sylar stretch out on the bed.
"We were in Jerusalem," Noah started.
"Jerusalem?" Micah exclaimed. "I saw it on the news. The city got attacked today."
Noah paused with a hand on the door to the main entrance of the hospital. "What? We had a suicide bomber blow up at the synagogue."
"Noah, the whole city was blasted," Micah said. "What happened to Jason?"
"He got hit pretty bad," Noah explained. "So the plug will be pulled as soon as we find his mom."
"I'm so sorry to hear that Noah," Micah turned away from the screen. "How are you doing?"
Noah took a long time in answering. He sat down in the lounge room on the base floor. "Can I talk to Dad, please?"
"Of course, you can," said Micah. "Peter has something set up down there so you two can still communicate. Bare in mind, it is going to be recorded."
"Yeah, I figured as much."
"You just hold on a few minutes," Micah got up. "I'll bring this down & connect you."
Noah leaned back in his chair & looked up at the TV. It was then he saw the whole story. Two planes had flown over & dropped bombs on the other side of the city from him & the suicide bomber in the parking lot was not the only one blasting off that day. It had been a large scale attack, hitting all sides at once. If one was in Jerusalem, there was currently no way out, either. A few minutes later, he heard Micah talking to him & then he heard his father's voice.
"Dad?"
"Hello, Noah," Sylar stood near the sealed door, leaning back on the window. There was a speaker there connecting to a phone outside. "How are you?"
"How do you do it?" Noah asked. "Look at someone who is dead & not care?"
Sylar slid down to sit on the floor. "I care quite a bit, Noah. I tried to hang myself after my first kill. I was just a young kid. A nerd. Shy guy. I would never have hurt anyone. Then abilities started showing up & I not only got stuck with the strangest one, I was also studied like crazy because of even having any power. It makes me go into a trance. I take the power. I come out of it. Someone is dead at feet. I actually didn't want any of them to die but it couldn't be helped. At the same time, I also liked the hunt but again, that was the power surging through me. Works on adrenaline. That's what made me kill. That was how I looked at it back then. I both loved it & hated it. Noah, I was messed up & out of control. But through it all I seemed to have developed some sort of serial killer code. It saved some lives while I was destroying mine & countless others."
"You don't kill children," Noah sighed. "I know."
"The only exception was your Mom," Sylar said. "But I knew she wouldn't die. That's the time I knew I wouldn't kill children because of the screw up. I thought Jackie was your Mom. That was the biggest mistake of my life & I will never forgive myself for it." There was a long moment of silence before Sylar said. "Why are you asking me this? You pretty much already know."
"Jason is going to be dead tomorrow & I have to look at him when they bury him."
Sylar was on his feet before the thought crossed his mind. "What the hell happened, Noah?" He listened intently as Noah told him everything, even the new information that the whole of Jerusalem City had been bombed. Sylar pressed his forehead to the cool steel door as Noah fell silent at last. "So it starts," Sylar finally spoke.
"We both knew it would," Noah replied. "But I thought ... " He wiped away a tear. "I thought Jason would survive a bit longer than this. But it's in his will. He is going to be taken off as soon as Tirzah is found."
"Actually, Noah," Sylar began. "You might be able to save him."
Dead silence followed as Noah processed what he had heard. "What? How?"
"Are you with him?"
"I can be in a minute."
"Okay, go to him. Tell me what you see."
Noah took the stairs up & was by Jason's side a moment later. "He's all hooked up. Machine is breathing for him."
"Any heartbeat or brain wave activity?"
"Brain waves, yes. No heartbeat."
"That's fine."
"What do you mean that's fine? His heart is dead!"
Sylar slapped a hand to his face for a moment. "I mean, it will be fine. Noah, your blood can save him. Get a syringe. Stab yourself & pull out a vial of that stuff."
"How do I know if our blood is compatible?"
"Noah, you, your mother & I all have special blood," Sylar began. "It's because of the Regen. Peter can do it too, now. It's compatible with anyone. Your mother's blood did it with Noah Bennet when he was severally injured. I stole a whole vial of hers when I had the Shanti virus. It can heal but not resurrect. Those brain waves are a bit of life left in Jason. Get some of yours out. Then either put it into the IV pack or shoot him up with it."
Noah couldn't believe what he was hearing but he was desperate for any chance to save Jason. He put the phone aside & began frantically looking around. Sylar heard a thud as if a door banged & had to wait a bit. Noah went into the hall & searched around until he found a needle. He went back to Jason's room & filled a vial of his own blood, then picked up the phone again. "Dad, are you sure this will work?"
"It should," Sylar shrugged. "It's the only chance he has. Just stick it in him."
Noah grinned widely. "I already did."
Since Sylar wasn't there, he didn't see Noah's face or get the fact that Noah was talking about something else for the first time in his life. "Ok good," Sylar went on. "Tell me what's happening."
Noah rolled his eyes, put the phone on the table & poked the needle into Jason's limp arm. Once the blood drained in, he tossed it aside & grabbed the phone again. "Nothing yet."
"Depending how badly he is injured, it might take some time," said Sylar.
"Dad? Will he become immortal?"
"No, it will just heal him," Sylar answered. "You have to be either born with Regen, like you & your Mom, or have mimicry like me, or Peter."
Noah sat down on the bed & took hold of Jason's hand. There was a short beeping sound. Noah watched the machine for a while until it beeped again. "Dad," Noah all but whispered. "I think the heart monitor just beeped." It made the sound again as he said it. "Yes, it did!"
"Good, that means it worked," Sylar said. "Let him heal. It might take all night. Why don't you try to get some sleep & call me back when Tirzah is found?"
"Alright!" Noah breathed a sigh of relief. "I will. Dad? Thanks for that."
"Noah, I don't want Jason dead."
* What? Yes it is a modern version of Zach Quinto's car in NOS4A2. Bite me! I've read the book & have the series on DVD. The Wraith does seem to have a mind of its own.