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.

Chapter 30: Going

"We're here."

Peter awoke with a start.

"You okay?" Niki asked, giving him a probing look.

"Yeah," he said, trying to shake the uneasy feeling that had begun to well up inside him. "Fine."

"You don't look it," Niki said.

"I just… I had…"

"Another dream?" Ando asked expectantly.

"Was it about Claire?" Niki asked just as eagerly.

"No," Peter said, trying to catch the image in his mind. "It was… It was Nathan. Nathan… he was worried or troubled by… I'm not sure."

Niki gave him a short nod.

"Let's talk about it inside," Ando said quickly. "We shouldn't stay on the street too long."

"It's nothing," Peter said dismissively as he got out of the car. "It'll pass, I'm sure it will."

The three of them gathered up their things and headed for the front door only to be met by Micah.

"What's going on?" he asked from the doorway.

"I should ask you that," Niki returned. "What are you doing just standing…"

"I saw you on the monitor," Micah interrupted as they all moved inside.

"You should have waited."

"Okay, yes," Micah gave in. "I should have. Now what's going on?"

"Where's your father?" Niki asked, hugging him to her.

"They left half an hour ago to bring back Matt, Audrey and Mohinder."

"I thought we'd get here before they left" Niki said, shaking her head.

"What is it?"

"They captured Claire," Ando finally answered. "Last night."

Micah stared at them for a moment, absorbing the news before finally jumping back onto his laptop.

"I never checked," he muttered.

"Never checked?" Peter repeated, coming to stand over his shoulder.

"No," Micah answered. "I just… I assumed. There were three cells occupied, but that doesn't mean… Good. Good. They're all… they're all still in the same place. They're all in the same block. It's going to be fine."

"What are you talking about?" Niki asked as she and Ando joined them.

"When I accessed this block I assumed because there were three cells in use that it was just the three of them, but the files show four prisoners so they've got two of them in one cell. That's all."

"Which two?" Ando asked.

"I'm not sure that matters," Niki returned. "Not if they bring them all back."

"They've got a radio with them," Micah said. "We can let them know about Claire and it will be set."

"I'll do it," Peter said, wanting to be doing something; anything to keep his nerves in check. His stomach felt oddly unsettled.

"Oh," Micah said as Peter picked up the receiver, "you won't be able…"

But as soon as Peter had it in hand, pressed the call button, they were connected.

"What's up son?" came a voice over the radio crystal clear.

"D.L. it's Peter. Niki, Ando and I are at the house. You've got four to pick up, not three. They've got Claire too."

"Peter?" was the stunned reply.

"Did you copy that?" Peter asked instead.

"Yeah, I copy."

"How long do you think it will be?"

There was a short pause.

"We're in position now. Give us an hour. Hour and a half tops."

"Alright. Out on this end."

"Copy that. Out."

Peter turned around to find three very surprised faces.

"What?"

"How'd you do that?" Micah asked. "Did you remember? You do, right? You remember who you are."

"Yeah," Peter said, unable to keep a small smile from escaping.

"That's great," Micah exclaimed. "So you can use your powers now. Peter, that's…"

"No I can't. I mean, I don't…"

"But you just did," Micah objected.

"I only used the radio."

"Peter, no one but Micah can use this stuff," Niki informed him.

Peter shrugged them off, not quite believing it.

"So now what?" Ando asked, eager to help deflect the attention off of Peter for the moment. "Do we wait?"

"I think that's all we can do," Niki answered. "If they need help, they'll call us."

Peter nodded in agreement, but in the back of his head he couldn't shake that feeling of unease.

He hoped it was just his nerves.

"Ready?" D.L. asked the two other men with him.

"As ready as we're going to get," Jacobs answered.

"We're certain this is the spot?" Hiro asked.

D.L. paused to consider it.

They had to be certain; there would be no second chances.

They'd gained access to the basement through the sewer system, bringing with them the only real equipment they'd need – a collapsible ladder. Jacobs had made quick work of connecting the two, with Hiro stopping time to ensure they weren't heard. That was the basics for their rescue operation as well. Once underneath the cells, Hiro would do his thing again and then it would be D.L.'s turn.

Still, they had to be quick.

Once the holes were dug and time was back in motion, they'd have to quickly get Matt, Audrey, Mohinder and Claire out, this time without Hiro's help.

Hiro couldn't stop time for so many of them.

D.L. didn't think he'd need to.

"Stop it for me and let me check," D.L. said.

In a blink, Hiro did.

D.L., from his spot on the ladder, merely pulled himself up through the ceiling above him.

A quick look around confirmed it.

"Okay," he said, moving back down to talk to Hiro once more. "Audrey and Mohinder are in this one."

Hiro unfroze time again and gave him a nod.

"We'll probably come back through over there," D.L. said pointing to a blank spot on the floor a few feet away. "Jacobs?"

"I've got the door," he told him. "If anyone comes this way, well, they'll wish they hadn't."

"And I've got the ladder," Hiro said with a small smile. "You know, so, don't land here."

D.L. smiled back and gave him a small smile.

"As soon as I'm back down…"

"I'll freeze us again," Hiro finished for him. "We'll move right to the next one. No delay."

D.L. nod once more, took in a breath and pulled himself up through the floor for a second time.

Mohinder was asleep in his cot, but Audrey was wide awake. Wide awake and nearly so surprised to see D.L. pop up out of the floor that she'd almost screamed.

"What…"

D.L. put a hand over his lips and she nodded in return.

"Get him up," he said quietly.

Audrey moved quickly to where Mohinder slept and gently shook his arm.

"What's wrong?" he asked, rubbing his eyes a few time.

"Our ride's here," she said with an odd gleam in her eyes.

"Our…" Mohinder started to say, but stopped, overcome with a smile when he saw D.L. in the room with them.

"Thank God," Mohinder said quietly, getting up and hugging the man. "What took you so long?"

"It's a long drive," D.L. said. "I'll tell you about it later. We've got friends waiting for us downstairs."

Audrey and Mohinder nodded.

"It's going to be a long drop," D.L. warned them. "Keep your knees bent and roll with it."

Audrey shut her eyes and let out a breath.

"Ready?" D.L. asked, taking each of them by the hand.

"Yes," Mohinder said with a nod.

"Let's just get out of here," Audrey answered.

"Alright."

D.L. could only phase two people at a time. He was working on more however right now that was his limit. It took a little extra concentration, but it wasn't that difficult. All he had to do was think it. And he did. He thought it and the three of them melted slowly into the floor.

They landed rather well and D.L. felt that familiar hitch he came to associate with Hiro's power.

"Too soon?" Hiro asked.

D.L. stood and dusted himself off, leaving the other two frozen on the floor; Jacobs unmoving at the door.

"No, that was perfect," D.L. answered, already moving the ladder to the next spot they'd marked off ahead of time.

He quickly climbed the ladder and checked the cell just to be certain.

"We're good," he told Hiro and time lurched forward once more.

D.L. made it into Matt's cell with relative ease. Matt was also awake, but didn't seem either surprised or startled by D.L.'s arrival.

"I thought you'd get me last," he said, coming over and even helping D.L. through the floor.

"You heard us down there?" D.L. asked with a smile.

"You are all incredibly loud thinkers," Matt said, so genuinely happy to see him that if he didn't joke about it he thought he might break down completely.

"Seriously?"

"No," Matt answered. "I heard Audrey."

"Of course you did."

Matt continued to smile as if he had to.

"Well, let's not keep you from her then," D.L. said, grabbing Matt by the elbow.

"I hate this part," Matt sighed.

D.L. only chuckled as they slid through the floor.

Once again, perfectly timed, Hiro stopped time just as D.L. hit the floor.

"One more," D.L. said to him with a smile.

"I'll be glad when we're out of here," Hiro sighed.

"Well, we almost are," D.L. returned, moving the ladder to the last spot needed.

After D.L. made sure it was really Claire above him, Hiro set the world back in motion and D.L. made his last trip up.

"Claire," he whispered, seeing her sleeping on the cot across the room. "Sweetie, time to go."

Claire shot up and looked at D.L. as if she'd never seen him before.

"No," she said shaking her head slightly. "No, stop it. Get out. Get out of here."

"Claire, what's wrong?" D.L. asked, really concerned at her sudden agitated state. "We're here to take you home. Everything is going to be…"

"No. No, I don't believe you. Stop. Stop."

D.L. had only a second to consider it. The block was too quiet and Claire was making way too much noise. Any minute now a guard could show up to check on her. He had to act fast.

"I'm sorry about this," D.L. said, striding over to her.

"What are you doing?" Claire asked frantically. "What…"

D.L. took her by the arm, pulled her to her feet, and sank into the floor with her still struggling and yelling at him.

As soon as they hit the floor, Claire's hysterics got worse. She was so completely confused.

"What happened?" Hiro asked.

"Claire?" Matt said, moving to her side. "It's alright. None of that… I'm sorry I couldn't help you. It wasn't real. None of it was. Whatever she showed you…"

"We need to move," D.L. said sternly.

Jacobs came down the steps and joined them.

"Is she alright?" he asked.

"Was it that woman?" Mohinder asked.

"Guys," D.L. repeated. "We can talk later. I think they heard us. They check those cells and it won't be long before they check the building. Come on."

"I'm alright," Claire said, her hands still shaking. "I thought you were… but, she couldn't have done all this… This is real? This is…"

"Yes," Matt nodded. "This is real. We're getting out of here."

"Okay," Claire said with a short nod.

"I'm sorry I scared you," D.L. said sincerely, "but I had to get you out of there."

"No," she returned, her eyes still a bit wide and panicked, "I understand. Thank you. I couldn't stay…"

"You don't have to stay here any longer," D.L. assured her. "Let's go."

"This way," Hiro said, motioning them all towards the tunnel in the back of the room.

They'd almost made it when the room was suddenly bathed in light.

"Stop right there," a man's voice called out loudly from the top of the stairs. "That's not the way you're going."