Title: A Snitch in Time

Fan dom: Heroes

Rating: T

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, the Graphic Novel Chapters 31 and 32 "Walls: Part 1 & 2"; and Graphic Novel Chapters 47 and 48 "Heroism is Found in the Heart, Part 1 & 2"

Part 8

"So where are we going to land?" Peter asked Niki while they were somewhere above New York.

"Well, I found this address in the cell before we left," she said as she tried to grab the address from her back pocket, but nearly lost her grip on Peter. "Whoa."

"Be careful," Peter exclaimed.

"Somewhere in Mid-Manhattan," Niki said.

"Hmm...People are going to see us. It would be nice if I had some type of teleport ability."

Niki laughed.

"Do you know where you were going?" she asked again.

Peter looked at her and shook his head. "What's so funny?"

When Niki didn't answer, Peter tried his best to locate a semi-deserted field to land into.

"Okay I think no one saw us," Peter said.

Her feet on the ground, Niki let go of Peter's back.

"I'll hail a cab," she informed him.

Ando glanced at Hiro and frowned.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Perhaps we will talk about it later?"

Hiro nodded. "Once again. I fell in love just to have my heart broken."

Ando snapped on an empathic and sympathetic smile. He was listening to every word Hiro told him, but he also thought about Kimiko. Now wasn't the time to talk about her.

Ando gave Hiro a reassuring pat on his shoulder.

"I'm just glad to have you back."

"I'm glad to be back."

"Do you want to go to the bar and get some drinks?"

Hiro hesitated for a few seconds.

"Hai."

There was no way the two of them could pretend that the last five months did not happen, but some drinks and some bad karaoke did wonders for the human psyche.

Nathan closed his eyes tightly. He wasn't sure why he let his mother talk him into going home. It didn't sound like home. But then he realized it was not really a matter of being home, it was more a matter of distraction. His mother was on bail for a crime she did not commit. His mom was many things but she didn't kill Kaito especially since someone attacked her at the station. That wasn't the only reason however, and she knew it. His mother cared for Kaito. They had an affair. She admitted as much at the station, but he suspected it for years. It was a look in his father's eyes.

Nathan sighed. His father. His father to his knowledge was the first of the twelve that died. Nathan had to wonder, did his father get a picture as well before he took his own life?

Nathan stood up. He stood up to make his way to the bar.

He picked up a glass and filled it with his favorite poison when there was knock on the door.

Now filled, Nathan held the glass firmly in his hand and stared at it. Stared at it as if he and the glass were in an epic war. He promised his kids that they would be a family again. He–The door knocked again. And Nathan wondered why they weren't using the door bell or why the help seemed to be on a permanent vacation. He studied the glass and brought it to his lips.

"Here's to you–All right already!" Nathan shouted when the door knocked again. Where did his mother go?"

Surrendering to fate, Nathan put down his undisturbed glass and answered the door.

"Niki?" he asked surprised. "What are you doing here?"

It would be easy to add Niki to the reasons he and Heidi were not together but he wouldn't. He couldn't. What did Peter always say? It was fate? Destiny? That they were all connected somehow? Pete?

He could not believe his eyes. Too many times his mind played tricks on him. His burnt skin taunted him, the byproducts of his gluttony.

"I brought some–" she began.

"Peter?" Nathan mouthed, at first words would not come, "Peter?" this second time audible. "I knew it!"

He wrapped his arms around him.

"I knew...you told me that you would survive, and I believed you but then...never mind. You're alive. It is all that matters now."

Peter returned the hug.

"Nathan?" he called.

And Nathan looked up and made eye contact with Peter. Nathan's eyes were red and watery, his skin flush, he was so happy to see his brother but the look in his baby brother's eyes did not lie; something was wrong.

A pang of panic radiated from his spine, he made a quick glance to Niki. He never moved his head, just his eye, but just for that second. Something was wrong.

His brother Peter was alive and he was standing in front of him. His prayers were answered. Everything would be all right. But eyes did not lie. Something was wrong.

The tone, the pitch, the look in Peter's eyes. Nathan had a new fear, a new prayer, hoping his thought, hoping it wasn't true.

Don't you know who I am?

To Be Continued

Author's Note: So what do you think? The two brothers met. And no this isn't one of my Candice related mind games, that was Peter. ;-)