Title: A Snitch in Time

Fan dom: Heroes

Rating: T

Couples: None, seriously. It's a friendship story. But do I like Peter and Niki? Yeah, a little. But I like Nathan and Niki and Nathan and Jessica too. (Speaking of which, I am thinking about updating "We're Pregnant"...)

Notes and Spoilers: Through Volume 2: Chapter 2: "Lizards",Though Some background take through chapter 5: Fight or Flight (so contains some spoilers to that), slight AU

Part 7

Ando was reading the scrolls that Hiro left for him in the sword. The discovery reminded him of one of Hiro's favorite movies.

"Are you Marty McFly?"

"Yeah..."

"I have a letter for you..."

"A letter for me? That's impossible. Who the hell are you?"

"Western Union."

Getting a letter trapped in time. Or perhaps more like that movie Frequency. It was quite exciting. It was like staring in his every own movie, that is until Ando found a scroll that ended in mid-sentence.

"Fear what?" Ando whispered again. "I hope Hiro will be okay."

"I am," a voice said. "Well, as far as I can be."

Ando looked up and stared at the owner of the voice.

"Hiro?!" shouted and ran to his friend and embraced him warmly. "You are alright. What happened?"

Hiro hugged his friend back. "Too much. It is a long story and I will tell you."

Hiro bowed his head.

"Hiro...You heard about your father?"

Hiro nodded.

"I came back from the future last night. Sorry for not visiting you sooner..."

Ando nodded. He frowned. Hiro looked so drained, so hollow. He was so removed from the Hiro he knew. Similar to the Hiro he met in the future, but not still not as much.

"Ando, how did this happen? We were supposed to save the world?"

Ando bowed his head.

"I am just so happy that you are all right."

Hiro shook his head.

"My father is dead. Peter Petrelli might be dead. And I know if I go back time will just be worse."

Ando hugged Hiro not sure what else he could say.

And then he had an idea. He turned around and grabbed Hiro's sword.

"Here."

Hiro looked up and Ando.

"Thank you."

"You told me you would be back and you kept your word. So I kept mine. Please tell me the rest about what happened with Kensei and Yaeko ."

Hiro turned away.

"I don't want to talk about them."

Niki held onto Peter tightly as he flew the two of them high into the sky.

"Do you know where you are going?" she asked. She felt asking questions would ease her nerves a little. The scenery was breath taking but she didn't realize how scared she was. They were so high and what if she fell. It wasn't that she didn't trust Peter but that she really didn't trust anyone. She never really had that much luck with trust. Even though she always at least tried.

"New York?" Peter answered.

"You know where New York is?" Niki asked.

Peter turned around to smirk at her. "North?"

"Hey keep your eye on where you are going!" Niki shouted.

Peter turned around. "What are you worried about Niki? Opposing traffic?"

Niki bit her lip.

"Yeah. By an airplane or something."

Peter laughed. "Not quite high enough for that. I don't want to suffocate you."

Niki rolled her eyes. "Oh good."

Peter smiled.

"Well, I was assuming north. Correct? Where are we anyway? You never did tell me."

"Utah."

"Ah." Peter replied. "Well, Northeast then."

"But do you have a good sense of direction?" Niki asked.

"I guess we will find out."

Nathan opened the door of the Petrelli mansion for his mother. He took a deep breath, it was weeks since he be within these doors.

It was quiet. Heidi took the boys and moved them to DC. It been a while since he stole visit across the street. Simon was old enough to understand and the pain he saw in his son's eyes caused his heart to sting even more.

"How did Uncle Peter die?" Simon asked.

"There was an accident."

"What kind of accident?"

"One with a helicopter. It exploded in midair."

It was a lie. But it was one that satisfied the child. If just for that moment.

Nathan closed his eyes tightening.

Simon wasn't much older than Peter was the day Peter came home in tears.

"Nathan!" he cried as he came into the door. "Thank goodness you are home."

Peter wrapped his arms around Nathan and wouldn't let go.

Nathan accepted Peters embrace with open arms and tried his best to comfort the child. He was glad he was home that day.

"What happened Pete?" he asked.

"Didn't you watch the news?" the six- year-old said and then he looked up at him, his eyes bloodshot and his face flushed.

"The news?" Nathan asked. "Why was a six-year-old kid like you watching the news? I mean when you could be watching Sesame Street?"

Peter started to hyperventilate.

"Nathan, don't you remember? That space rocket with the teacher. It happened today. The whole school saw it. Nathan, she died. She wanted to go to space and she died! She blew up!"

Nathan held in a gasp and instead held Peter closer. That's right, the Challenger. No, Peter didn't need to see that.

And even at 39, Nathan didn't need to see his brother die of an explosion. No one should see such a thing.

Angela walked into the house right after Nathan, but Nathan stood there in time and just kept the door open.

Angela placed a hand on Nathan's cheek.

"Come on," she whispered. "You are going to catch cold."

She closed the door behind him.

"I will tell the cook to expect a guest."

To Be Continued

Author Note: I was six years old when my teacher aired the live launch of the Challenger on January 28, 1986. It was a big school event because a teacher was on board. I remember all the excitement. The exciting potential learning experience turned into muffled gasps in just a few seconds. It was so sad. It gave me nightmares. My heart goes out the families that was affected by that tragedy over twenty years ago. I am thinking maybe one or two more chapters.