Chapter 4:

"HRG?"

"Bailey? What's wrong?"

"Eden's dead."

"What!"

"She killed herself. Sylar escaped."

"What!"

"He's gone. Almost everyone here is dead."

Clutching the steering wheel with one hand, HRG said, "Where are you?"

"At the base."

"Stay there."

"The police are here including Parkman."

"Fine. Don't let him see you. I'll call you when I get there."

"Okay." The call ended.

"Damn it!" He swerved the car around on the empty road, speeding back toward headquarters.

Pacing back and forth in an ER waiting room, Nathan Petrelli watched the doctor approach him. The expression on his face reminded Nathan of the doctor that told him that his wife would never walk again. A knot formed in his stomach as the doctor now stood before him. "How is he?"

" Peter is no longer critical. However, he is still unstable. We're keeping him under close observation."

"Why? What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know? What the hell do you mean that you don't know!"

"We can't find anything wrong with him. We're running more tests."

"When will you know?"

"Hopefully, tomorrow. I'm sorry."

"Can I see him?"

"Yes. Follow me," and the doctor led him down the hall.

A few minutes later, Nathan stood by Peter's bed. He noticed how pale he looked. Taking his hand in his, his eyes searched for his brother's gaze. "How're you doing, Peter?"

"How's it look?" Peter finally looked at him.

"Well, don't worry. The doctors are doing what they can to help you."

"Nobody can help me."

"Don't say that, Peter."

"No, Nathan, nobody can help me. I kill everyone, Nathan. Everyone including you!"

"Peter..."

"I saw it, Nathan. I saw it." He coughed hard as Nathan held his hand tighter.

"We'll get through this, Peter. We'll get through this! I promise you that."

Walking into headquarters, HRG spotted Matt Parkman taking a statement from a shaken woman. He watched her brush tears aside as she recounted what had happened. Realizing that Parkman was now staring at him, HRG turned to walk away.

Excusing himself from the woman, Matt rushed after him. "Going somewhere?"

"Actually, yes, I am. I would like to check on the rest of my staff."

"Well, they're all either having their statements taken, or they're in the hospital or the morgue."

"I see." They stood a few inches away from each other. "Anything else?"

"Yeah. Where were you tonight?"

"On business, officer."

"Really?" He inched closer. "Where's Bailey?"

"Maybe, you should focus your efforts on finding Sylar. We both know that he did this, and he's out there right now, probably killing more people."

"People like me? People like Clare?" He saw he had hit a nerve with that last statement. "Maybe, you shouldn't mess with people. This is what happens when you do."

HRG's cell phone began to ring. "Excuse me, officer," and he moved away from him.

"This isn't over," but HRG continued to walk away from him. "This is far from over."

"That it is, Matt," HRG said to himself. "I'm here. I see. Is he stable? Okay. I'll be there shortly."

As he moved further away, keeping his back to him, Matt read his mind. First, nothing. Then, finally, something. "I have to get her to the hospital to help Petrelli," and Matt wondered if HRG was talking about Bailey.

Walking into the men's bathroom, Nathan turned the sink on. He began to wash his hands. Turning toward where the paper towels were, he realized that someone was standing behind him. It was the Haitian.

Grabbing him from behind and covering his mouth, the Haitian ignored Nathan's attempts to break free from his grip. He waited until the man in his vice finally calmed down. Then, he put his face very close to Nathan's ear. "We need to talk. It's about your brother." Nathan stopped struggling. "I'm going to let go of you now. If you do not resist me, you won't be harmed. Do you understand?" Nathan nodded. "Good." He released him.

"What the hell do you want, and what the hell do you know about my brother?" The Haitian stepped toward him, causing Nathan to stumble back. "What do you want?"

"I am going to help you, Mr. Petrelli, and then you are going to help me."

Walking into the hospital, HRG guided Bailey toward Peter Petrelli's room. He looked around for Nathan but didn't see him. He smiled, thinking that the Haitian took care of him like he was asked to. He looked at Bailey, noting her uneasiness. "You know what you have to do."

"I know. I just don't know how much life is left in me. If I do this, then I might die."

"If you don't do this, then Sylar wins, and you die anyway." He stared at her for a long moment. "How are the treatments coming along?"

"I can control my… Ability now, but your doctors still can't find a cure for me. I still have to take life to live."

"There is no cure, Bailey." They stood outside Peter's room. "Your body chemistry is too different, too complex."

"So, I have to kill people to live?"

"Yes. Yes, you do." He opened the door to Peter's room. "This has to be done."

"I know," and she walked into the room with HRG, closing the door behind them.

Walking into the hospital, Matt asked a nurse where Peter's room was. He walked down the hallway toward the room. Cautiously approaching the room, he put his ear against the door, trying to hear if anything was going on inside.

"Who are you?" Peter looked up at Bailey and then over at HRG. "It's you. Clare's father."

"That's right, Peter, and do you remember what I told you?" Peter shook his head. "I told you that I would be there when you needed me." He gestured to Bailey.

"What is she doing?" Bailey placed her hands on his chest and closed her eyes. "What is she doing!"

"She's going to help you, Peter."

Matt burst into the room with his gun drawn. "Nobody move! Bailey, stop!"

"She is going to help him, Mr. Parkman."

"No. She's not."

HRG lunged toward Matt. They wrestled for the gun. He pushed Matt against the wall. Finally, he got hold of the gun and now pointed it at him. His finger moved around the trigger.

White light exploded from Bailey's hands. It poured into Peter's chest. Static electric energy flowed around them. Then, the light vanished, and Bailey stumbled back, falling into Matt's arms.

"Thank you," and Peter passed out.

"What have you done?" Matt now carried Bailey's unconscious body in his arms.

"I did what I had to do. He's the only one that can stop Sylar."

"And Bailey?"

"She's alive." He watched her chest slowly rise up and down. "Give her to me." The gun remained in his hand. "Now, Parkman."

"No. You want her? You're gonna have to shoot me."

"Who do you think you are?"

"You should ask yourself that question."

"I'm saving people. People like you, Peter, and Bailey."

A shock raced through Matt's body. He fell to his knees, still holding Bailey tightly in his arms. He blinked, dazed, and then fell forward, almost crashing on top of Bailey. The Haitian stood behind him with a taser in his hands.

"Is it done?" The Haitian nodded. "Good," and HRG lifted Bailey up off the floor. "Let's go," and they left the room, leaving Matt and Peter behind, unconscious.