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 32: Positive
"That's not the way you're going," the man said loudly. "It's not safe. They've already got men stationed outside."
Matt tentatively stepped forward to get a better look at whoever it was speaking. Shocked to find it was the main guard, a man whose name he didn't even know.
"Why are you…" Matt started to ask.
"It's not important why," he returned. "What is important is that you get out of here. Now. I'll take you as far as I can, the rest will be up to you."
No one moved. No one knew what to do. If they should believe him or not. Either way was risky.
"Why should we believe you?" D.L. finally asked.
"Because I could have turned you all in hours ago and I didn't," the man returned. "I've been watching you all night."
"Watching us how?" Matt asked.
"How?" he said, an almost laugh. "How do you read people's minds? How did that man move through the floor? How did that woman heal you? I saw you. I saw all of it. That's why I'm down here, so they don't need surveillance. I am the surveillance."
"Heal?" D.L. said quietly, casting a quick glance in Claire's direction.
"That doesn't explain why you're helping us?" Audrey asked, knowing time was running out.
"I am, alright. I just am," he said, obviously feeling the pressure as well. "But it has to be now. We have to go…"
"Is that you Franco?" Jacobs asked, stepping forward now to get a better look as well.
"Yes," the man answered frantically. "Are you coming or…"
"He's good," Jacobs interrupted. "Jon Franco. He works for us."
"Sorry," Matt said, "but what?"
"The colony," Jacobs explained as he headed up the stairs. "He's here on assignment."
"Okay," Claire said shaking her head, "that doesn't exactly fill me with a lot of confidence. No offense."
"Trust me," Jacobs said, shaking the man's hand. "Franco is a good guy. He gets people out of here all the time."
Matt and D.L. exchanged a quick glance, no words, and it was decided.
"Let's go," D.L. sighed, heading up the stairs after Jacobs.
"Seriously?" Claire asked, grabbing Matt by the arm. "We're seriously…"
"It's our only option," Matt returned.
"I don't…"
"Neither do I," Matt finished. "And we won't. I promise."
Claire nodded, still uneasy, but momentarily reassured by his confidence.
Matt looked at Audrey who gave him a brief smile, ready to follow him as well.
He hoped he was mistaken again.
The group made their way up the stairs and to the waiting guard who finally had a name; Jon Franco.
"Is that why you never told me?" Matt asked. "You thought I might…"
"I knew enough about how you'd gotten away to suspect Jacobs was involved, so yeah," Franco answered. "I couldn't be sure he didn't tell you about me, so I couldn't risk it. I couldn't risk saying anything."
"Don't worry," Matt said with a nod. "And Jacobs, when we get out of here, I'm going to owe you a very long apology."
"Me?" the man said oddly surprised.
Matt nodded tightly.
"Are we ready?" Franco asked.
They were.
"Stick close to me," he advised. "I'm going to lead you out to the main corridor. It'll be empty this time of night. I've got my men out of the way, so it will be a straight shot. From there, from where I leave you, it's just out the main door and onto the lawn. Jacobs can get you through the fence."
"Got it," D.L. said.
The walk through the hallways was just as event free as Franco had promised, but still incredibly tense. When they reached the designated area, he stopped.
"You're on your own from here," he said. "Good luck."
"Come with us," Jacobs urged. "They may…"
"No, this is where I need to be. It's where I can help the most," Franco said quickly.
"You're positive?"
Franco gave him a slight nod and a smile.
"Have a safe journey," he said, and then headed back the way he'd came.
"Let's go," Hiro urged, hating being so out in the open as they now seemed to be.
"Yes," Mohinder seconded. "There are too many of us. We need…"
"Is that Peter?" Claire interrupted him, looking across the atrium at the hallway just opposite them. "Is that…"
"It can't be," Matt said automatically.
"No, it is," Claire argued. "Where is he going? We've got to…"
"We've got leave," D.L. said.
"Not without him," Claire said quickly. "I'm not leaving anyone behind again. Ever. I'm not."
She looked up to Matt for support and he didn't know what to tell her.
D.L. had explained it all to them, had relayed the fact that Peter, Niki and Ando were supposed to be at the safe house. The betrayal of the colony. Peter getting his memory back. It was a lot to take in.
"Matt?" Audrey said expectantly.
'What are you doing? You can't seriously be thinking…'
"Claire's right," he said finally. "If Peter is…"
"No," Audrey interrupted.
"No arguing," Hiro admonished. "We don't have time for arguing."
"Claire and I will go," Matt said. "I think we owe… We owe him that much. Just to check. To bring him back this time."
Audrey shook her head in disbelief.
"I'll go too," D.L. said. "Hiro and Jacobs can get you both out of here."
"Why don't we all…" Mohinder started to suggest.
"Because Hiro can only freeze time for three people and I can only phase for two," D.L. quickly countered. "This way is safer. And we're wasting time. Get going. We'll be right behind you."
Audrey continued to stare at Matt.
'You'd better come back.'
Matt nodded at her, letting her know he's heard. That he planned on it. And then, not really caring that everyone was watching the exchange pulled her to him and gave her a brief but fierce kiss.
"Ready?" Hiro asked, as soon as they'd moved apart.
Audrey just nodded and in a blink the four of them were gone, Hiro having done his job once more.
"Which way?"
Nathan met Jon Franco, his head guard, in the hallway just outside the main block.
"What's going on down here?"
"Nothing as far as I'm aware, sir."
"Are you coming from the block?" Nathan asked, suspicious as to why the man wasn't at his station.
"No, sir," he answered immediately. "I'm coming from the mess hall. Everything has been quiet so I took a late dinner."
Nathan nodded and together they moved onto the block.
"I've been told that some outer perimeter alarms were tripped," Nathan said as they headed to the duty guard's desk.
"Yes, sir. We noted the time and I sent four men out to ensure everything was secure."
"And was it?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary was found but I had two men stay behind just in case. They are sending back reports every fifteen minutes."
"Good," Nathan said, pausing to consider it; if he really should talk to Claire.
"Is there anything else you need?" Franco asked.
"No," Nathan decided. "That's all."
"Goodnight, sir."
Nathan nodded briefly, turning to go.
Talking to Claire would be a waste of time anyway. Her fate was decided. Even if Nathan believed her, he couldn't help her now.
And he had a board meeting to get to.
Nathan hurried down the hallway, taking a few short cuts, to the late night meeting that could only mean trouble. The Board never met this late unless it was bad news.
The receptionist that typically sat outside the conference room was absent, the first sign Nathan had that something was off.
There was always someone at that desk, day or night, but especially if the five members of the Board happened to be meeting. As it was, Nathan was in such a hurry, there was only time for a passing thought, a 'that's odd' expression, as he pushed open the doors to the main room.
"I know I'm late…" he began to say and then froze at the sight.
They were all there, all four of the other Board members, all in their typical seats; all dead.
Nathan took in a shaky breath and knew what this meant.
Quickly leaving the room, Nathan headed straight for his office.
This was bad. This was it. Davies was making his move, replacing the leadership within the Order. Nathan was next. He had to get his things, get Heidi…
Nathan skidded to a sudden halt.
Heidi.
Changing directions, he began to run towards his personal quarters. Towards the rooms he and Heidi shared, already believing it was too late.
To his surprise, Sullivan was standing outside the door looking pale.
"Sir," he said, his voice was tight. "Don't go in there."
"What's happened? Is she…"
"I'm sorry," Sullivan said, shaking his head. "I didn't… I got here just after. I'm sorry."
"Move aside."
"Really, you shouldn't…"
"Move!"
Sullivan reluctantly stepped out of his way. Nathan paused momentarily at the door before finally moving inside.
Nathan was never sure how long he stayed in there, just staring and in shock.
"Who did this?" he asked as he rejoined Sullivan outside the room.
"Jenny Yi."
"Where is she?" Nathan said through gritted teeth.
"In your office," Sullivan answered quietly.
Nathan nodded and turned to go, to confront the woman who killed his wife.
"Sir," Sullivan called out, "are you sure…"
"I'm positive."