Apocalypse by SLynn
Summary: Three years have passed since the explosion and life has drastically changed for everyone. This isn't the world they imagined they'd be saving.
Spoilers: Up to 'Fallout'
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing and will return them all when I'm done, virtually untouched.
Notes: My beta is out of town for the weekend, so forgive me my mistakes.
Chapter 4: Refuge
"You're awfully smiley."
Matt turned to Claire, puzzled not just by the smile that had crept onto her face, but by the blush he couldn't seem to keep off of his.
"What?" he asked, trying to ignore what had to have been a chuckle out of both Hiro and Ando in the front seat.
"Smiley," Claire repeated. "You. We've been on the road now for half an hour and you haven't stopped smiling once."
"And that's different from how I normally am?"
"Yes," Claire said with a laugh, "it is. Very different. Nice, but different."
Matt shook his head at her, at himself, but the smile still came back.
"So," Claire continued, "I take it you worked things out with Audrey?"
"Yes," Matt answered, "she's going to follow us tomorrow. Pack a few things. Get Mohinder out as well."
Claire fixed him with a knowing look. Matt tried to resume looking out the window, but couldn't as she continued to watch him.
Smirking.
"Well," Matt said to try and turn the conversation, "how long is this trip going to take?"
"D.L. wasn't certain," Ando said from behind the wheel. "We can't take the interstates, so it's going to be awhile."
Matt nodded, but couldn't think of anything else to ask.
And Claire was still giving him that look.
"Stop it," he finally said with a laugh.
"Tell me what happened and I will," she returned.
"That's not… it doesn't concern you… so, you know… mind your own business."
"When I have my own business to mind I will," Claire retorted. "Until then, I plan to live vicariously through yours."
"Not going to happen," Matt said, looking straight ahead, shaking his head with a decided 'no'.
"Oh come on," Claire begged. "Just tell me…"
Matt suddenly grabbing hold of her shoulder stopping her immediately.
"Why are they slowing down?" Hiro asked, looking first at Ando and then back at Matt.
The car carrying the others was just ahead of them, almost stopped in the road.
"It's just a check point," Ando said, sounding as if he was trying to reassure himself.
"No," Matt said slowly, "I don't think…"
Before he could finish speaking his thought out loud the car Niki was driving took off, ramming the barricade in its path, and speeding away.
It didn't get far.
Still not comfortable with the sensation, Matt blinked several times and took in a long pull of air.
"I wish you'd warn us before you did that," he said to Hiro.
"There was no time," he responded, already getting out of the car and hurrying towards the scene.
With hour upon hour of practice, Hiro had finally managed to not just stop time for himself, but for a select few around him. Four people were the most he could manage, himself included. It was much more difficult to pull off, and he found that the more people he chose to remain unfrozen, the shorter the duration of the freeze.
Matt was out of the car immediately after him, following closely behind.
"This is why she ran," Matt said, pointing to the man he spotted in the bushes with an automatic rifle. "Check point guards aren't usually this well armed. Or camouflaged."
As they discussed it, Claire was busy taking the few bags they had out of their car and heading towards the other. Ando, for his part, was aiming what would soon be their empty vehicle towards the area where most of the militia was; taking special care to wedge down the gas pedal as well.
"This looks like a trap," Matt said, having just cut the tires on the four Jeeps that had been hidden just behind the check point station booth.
"But for who?" Hiro asked, following after him and quickly turning off each engine, removing and tossing the keys as far away as possible. "Not us. They were raiding our house tonight."
"They could have set up this up just in case," Ando added.
"Let's just get out of here," Claire said, handing off some of the bags to the others.
"Good idea," Hiro said with a nod.
The four of them hurried to the other, now stationary, car.
"Hurry," Hiro urged. "I don't think I can keep it up much longer."
That was all anyone needed to hear.
Ando got in first, taking most of the bags and throwing them in the very back seat of the large SUV. Once everything was inside, Hiro got in next.
Claire knew something was off from his expression. As soon as Hiro sat down, he turned to her with a look of shock. It was just then that the world shifted, or so it seemed.
For a split second the world stuttered back to life before halting once more.
"Get in!" Hiro yelled. "Now! Claire, Matt! Get in!"
With no time to fight it, Matt practically dragged Claire to the car that was now several feet away from where it had just been.
Hiro reached out his hand to Claire. Now both he and Ando were yelling, encouraging them to move faster.
Matt, not thinking about himself, pushed Claire forward first, up towards the open door, but it was too late.
Just as Claire got her foot on the sidebar, the vehicle screamed away, the momentum knocking her and Matt to the ground.
At first they were both too stunned to do anything.
"Come on," Matt said, recovering his senses as he shot to his feet.
Claire followed without question and quickly they rushed off the road. The best they could do was to hide and wait.
Fortunately, the militia who had previously been poised to chase them was now thoroughly detained. All the commotion they had caused had been worth it.
"What are we going to do?" Claire whispered, fearfully watching the chaos they'd caused unfold from a too close distance.
Matt didn't answer.
Instead, he silently took in the area. It was wooded, but not heavily. Not the best cover but it was all they had.
"Let's go," he said as he tugged gently on her elbow.
Claire could hardly believe he was serious.
"We have to move," he said firmly. "If we stay here they're find us for certain."
"Okay," Claire said hesitantly.
'I trust you,' her internal monologue echoed.
'I know.'
"Don't do that," Claire admonished, trying to shake off the eerie feeling it left her with.
Matt gave her a smile before taking her by the hand and leading the way.
They ended up walking for nearly an hour straight, crossing three smaller roads and one minor stream, before coming upon civilization in the form of a house.
"It looks lived in," Claire said.
Matt nodded. He thought so too. Even without any lights on, sometimes you could just tell when a house was occupied.
Claire didn't bother asking if he could hear anyone or not. She knew they were too far away for that.
"So, now what?" she asked.
"I don't know. We need a phone to call the rest. But I don't know…"
"We could knock."
"And say what exactly?" he shot back.
"The truth," she answered. "That we had car trouble."
Matt stared at her in disbelief.
"Well, have you've got a better idea?"
"No."
"Okay then."
"Alright," Matt said beginning to move towards the house but not sounding entirely convinced.
"Besides," Claire reasoned, "you'll be able to tell if something is wrong."
"True," he agreed. "But knowing what they're going to do isn't the same as being able to stop them from doing it."
"You can always hide behind me."
Matt stopped dead in his tracks.
"I'm not going to hide behind you."
"Why not?"
Matt shook his head and muttered as he picked up his pace, determined now to reach the house first.
"Really, why not? They can't hurt me. It would be safer."
"I'm not hiding behind a girl," Matt said as he knocked loudly on the door.
"I'm not a girl," Claire argued.
"You know what I mean."
Claire clicked her tongue impatiently at him as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"And that doesn't make you look any older," he commented.
Claire put her arms back down but refused to wipe the scowl off her face. Matt knocked once more, louder this time and nearly jumped back a foot when the door flew open.
"What is it?" an elderly man carrying a shot gun hollered out to them.
"Sorry to disturb you," Matt began.
"Then you shouldn't have knocked."
"Sir," Claire tried, "can we use your phone? Our car broke down and we just needed to call some friends."
"We don't have a phone. Not a working one. Hardly anyone around here does. Phones are luxuries few can afford."
'And you're a horrible liar little lady.'
"Do you know where we…"
Claire didn't finish the question as the man began shaking his head midway through.
"Most of this area is deserted. Like most everywhere else I imagine. Nearest populated place is Baltimore."
'She's a cute thing. Familiar. Where have I seen her before?'
Matt watched uneasily as the man continued to stare hard at Claire.
"Thanks anyway," Matt said, eager to put an end to this. It had been a horrible idea. He should have known better than to approach perfect strangers, but exhaustion got the best of him. He could hardly think straight.
"Wait a minute," the man called out as they turned to go. "I can't offer you a phone but I can offer you a place to sleep. It's not safe out at night, not anymore. Tomorrow morning I'll drive you down to Baltimore myself, first thing."
Claire looked at Matt uncertainly. Waiting for him to make the decision.
'Poor folks. They look dead on their feet.'
"Thanks," Matt said. "That would be really nice of you."