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: Two chapters today, I'm exhausted. Seriously, I know everyone keeps asking how I'm doing this and I can't explain it except I'm getting very little sleep. And neither is Tripp3235 who has been kind enough to review this for me. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 31: Nerves

Nathan sat alone in his office.

How had it come to this?

It was all caving in around him, and he knew it. He knew Heidi was right. Knew what they were setting him up for. And he also knew that his time, his usefulness, was coming to an end.

Primatech wanted Parkman and he couldn't let it go.

Claire said Peter was alive and he wanted to believe it almost as much as he wanted not to believe it.

Davies was looking to replace him.

How had it come to this?

What could he do now to stop it?

Nathan knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to get Heidi and just get away. He wanted to go down and ask her again, ask Claire if it was true.

Claire Bennet wasn't a liar. She had never lied to him, not once. And if he was being honest with himself, Matt Parkman wasn't a liar either.

And it was Matt's wife Janice who had died watching, maybe even protecting his sons.

Nathan had been the last to arrive, a year later at his former home in New York, and discover the note; the apology. It was a survey mission for the Order, but all he wanted was information about his family.

He'd never fooled himself into believing they had survived, that anyone in New York had survived, but seeing it and knowing it was a lot harsher than imagining it ever could be.

And that note, the note originated by D.L. full of apologies and directions should anyone else have made it, sealed it all for Nathan.

They were all there, all their names one after another, signed and dated, all except those who hadn't made it. Janice, Monty and Simon had been dead by the time the first group had arrived; had been buried by the time the note was finished.

Claire and Matt had been there last. Had been there much later than anyone else and had added nothing about Peter's fate.

Nathan couldn't forgive them for that, for not at least writing something. Anything. A word, a line, just to let him know.

That's when he started blaming them. From that point on, it was easier to blame them.

"Sir," Sullivan said, rousing him from his thoughts.

"What is it?"

"You have that meeting with the Board in ten minutes."

"I'm on my way," Nathan said, standing to go.

"Also," Sullivan said, pausing momentarily. "We've had word that a few of the outer alarms have been tripped. That there may be…"

"What alarms? Where? Near the cell blocks?"

"About half a mile…"

"Get Franco on the line," Nathan barked. "Tell him to keep his eyes open."

"Right…"

"No wait," Nathan said, suddenly decided. "I'll go myself. I have a visit to pay on the block anyway. I'll let him know."

"But your meeting."

"Tell them I'll be late."

"Peter," Niki said. "No offense or anything, but could you please sit down. The pacing is making me nervous."

"I can't help it," Peter said, throwing his hands up in air as he continued to walk around the room.

"They'll be fine," Ando said.

"D.L. said it would only take an hour," Peter returned.

"It was a guess," Niki answered.

"Something is just… it's wrong," Peter said, nervous without reason.

"Are you sure it's them?" Micah asked tentatively. "I mean, couldn't it be…"

"What?"

"Well," Micah continued. "Couldn't it be Nathan?"

"Why would I…"

"Because you're an empath," Micah explained. "You've always had a strong connection with him and this is the first time you've been so close… Maybe you're just picking up on his feelings or something."

"Why would he be nervous?" Peter questioned no one in particular. "I feel like I'm going to be sick or something. It's… you don't think he's in trouble, do you?"

Niki refrained herself from saying that 'she didn't care', but just barely.

And then in washed over him, really hit him. Something bad was either about to happen or already had. It was an unmistakable sense of dread; of terror.

"I've got to go," Peter said quietly.

"Go where?" Ando asked.

"Just," Peter said, turning to them all, "just stay here. I'll be back but I have to go and see…"

"Peter, don't be stupid," Niki said, jumping to her feet. "What are you going to do, walk in the front door?"

"I can't sit here and do nothing."

"You don't even know what's happened," she tried reasoning. "If anything has happened."

"I hope it hasn't, not yet… but I have to try."

"It's suicide," Niki said disbelieving. "I know you love him, that he's your brother, but he's changed Peter. He's not the same man you remember him as. He's…"

"But he's still my brother," Peter said as if that decided it.

And it did for him. Nathan was still Nathan no matter what and if he needed Peter's help, Peter was going to give it to him.

"I don't expect you to come with me."

"Good," Niki shot back.

"Just…"

"We'll wait," Ando said quickly. "We'll wait until tomorrow for you."

"Thanks," Peter said with a nod.

"Don't do it, Peter," Niki said. "Don't go."

"I have to."

"What is it?" Heidi practically sighed, her back still to him. She had seen him through the mirror, seen him enter the room. "What more can you possibly…"

"To talk," he said calmly as he approached her, making eye contact with her reflection. "I just wanted to talk."

"There's nothing left to say, Nathan," she returned, looking down at her hands. "You've said it all."

When he didn't immediately respond, she looked up again; back into the mirror and was surprised by the look on his face.

He actually looked remorseful.

"Nathan," she started, not even knowing what to say. Never finishing.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

He'd said it, raised the gun, and pulled the trigger, just that fast.

"Oh," Jenny breathed out, "I'm so sorry."

She hadn't looked as she'd done it. Hadn't kept her eyes open as she'd pulled the trigger, but she knew she had to. She had to look if just to ensure it was done. That it was real.

Jenny had to look so that the next time she'd know what to expect.

Taking one last deep breath, she opened her eyes and nearly gagged at the sight.

Heidi Petrelli was definitely dead. No one could have survived that.

Her hands shaking, Jenny turned and took a few steps away from the body. Away from what she'd done. Still reeling…

There was no time for this. Jenny had things to do. Commitments to fulfill. She just had to remind herself that it had to be done. That she was only doing what was best, best for herself.

The first time was always bad. The next time would be easier. The next time couldn't be as bad as this.

Jenny needed to remember that.

Bracing herself, she went for the door and was surprised when it opened before she reached it.

Sullivan.

"I thought I heard…" he started to say, but froze when he saw Jenny with a gun in her hand.

His eyes darted quickly from her to Mrs. Petrelli and back again. Fearfully.

"I'm… I…"

"Clean this up," Jenny ordered, remembering her job and her position. Her new position. "Now. And not a word to anyone. Is that understood?"

"I…" he stuttered, unable to move.

"Sullivan," Jenny said stepping closer to him and lowering her voice. "Things are changing around here. Do you get my meaning?"

"Yes," he answered with a short nod. "Yes…I'll… I'll take…"

"Good," she said shortly, breezing past him and back out into the main corridor.

Once the door was shut behind her, she shuddered. Her whole body shuddered and she couldn't control it. Momentarily, she gave into it.

She'd killed someone.

It felt unreal.

It felt…

Jenny straightened up, pushed the thoughts aside. There was no time for this. She had a strict schedule to keep. A meeting to attend. A man to replace.

One down, five to go.