I Can't Survive

"Sylar," I said fearfully and he tightened his grip on me.

I pushed his hand off me and took a few steps back.

"I don't think so," Sylar said as he pinned me to a tree, without touching me, I had no idea how he did it.

"What do you want?" I asked him, trying to break free from my invisible bind.

"Your power," Sylar said as he took a step closer to me.

"Power?" I questioned trying to act confused. "I don't have a power."

"Well we'll just have to see then," Sylar said as he raised his hand up and moved it slowly across… midair.

I was confused at what he was doing until I felt the immense pain. I tried not to scream out as he cut my head open. He was taking his time, savoring it. I tried to read his mind, but it was blank. I thought to my other powers. Flying wouldn't work as I was stuck against the tree, and healing… well I just hope I was healing right now, but it didn't feel like it.

I was at a loss. None of my powers could help me now.

He threw me against the tree, full force, using just his mind. Maybe I had the power to do that too. I noticed a fairly heavy tree branch lying on the ground and I concentrated really hard, willing the branch to move, and to my surprise it did. I lifted it slowly as to not draw Sylar's attention. I raised it just above his head and dropped it.

Sylar fell to the ground. I knew I didn't have much time. I bent my knees and let out a little pray this would work. I jumped up in the air and thankfully flew. I flew away, far away. …Now how do I stop, I never actually thought of that before. I aimed for the diner and landed safely out the back, at least none of the townspeople had seen me. I quickly ran around to the front of the diner and ran inside.

"Jess, what happened?" Rory asked me concerned as I hugged her.

"I don't know," I replied still in pain from the cut on my head. "It happened so fast."

Mohinder made his way out of the diner just as Parkman and the guy in the horned rimmed glasses arrived completely out of breath. They came inside together. I started to panic, what if they were working with Sylar. What if they were the bad guys. I tried to get away, but I had nowhere to go.

"Sylar," the guy in the horned rimmed glasses stated as he looked at the cut on my head.

"The murderer?" Rory asked them.

"It appears to be," Mohinder replied concerned.

"How did he find out about the kid?" Parkman asked confused.

"Eden's place," the guy in the horned rimmed glasses explained. "He must've overheard us."

"Well that would explain a lot of things," Parkman said as he took a seat at the counter.

"Can somebody please tell me what's going on?" I asked them confused. "Who are you?"

"I'm Bennet, this is Matt Parkman, whom you've apparently met, and this is Mohinder Suresh," Bennet explained quickly to me.

"Bennet?" I questioned. "As in Noah Bennet?" He had to be Claire's father, what were the chances of two different Bennet families being involved in this.

"How did you know?" Mohinder asked confused.

"Claire," I responded.

"What about her?" Bennet demanded. "What do you know?"

"Nothing," I replied. "I only know what I read in the paper this morning."

"Look," Parkman said amazed as he motioned to my head.

"He's healing," Mohinder said. "But how?"

"How are you healing?" Bennet asked confused.

"I don't know," I replied as I touched my head and felt no cut. "It just happens sometimes."

"What's going on?" Luke demanded, well I had just healed right in front of his eyes.

"Sylar," Parkman questioned ignoring Luke.

"He won't come into a populated area," Mohinder explained.

"Okay, everybody out," Luke said.

"No," Bennet stopped him. "That's probably not a good idea."

"Yeah," Parkman agreed. "It's safer in here."

"What's going on?" Luke asked again, he was totally confused… Well everyone was confused.

"Yeah," I added. "That's what I would like to know."

"Well…" Bennet started. "Mohinder, you're probably the best one to explain."

"We're trying to stop Sylar," Mohinder explained to everyone.

"That handsome serial killer?" Miss Patty asked.

"Yes," Mohinder answered and everyone gasped.

"But what does this have to do with our Jess," Babette asked.

"We thought he could help us stop Sylar," Mohinder explained.

"Jess?" Gypsy questioned in disbelief.

"Yes," Bennet answered. "He's the only person who has faced Sylar and survived."

"The cut?" Luke questioned as he motioned towards my head. "Well the cut that used to be there."

"Yeah," Parkman agreed. "Sylar's signature."

"That would mean Sylar's here in Stars Hollow," Kirk said stating the obvious.

"Oh no," Taylor shrieked. "He can't be, not Stars Hollow. It's so peaceful, he just can't be…"

"Shut up, Taylor," Andrew said.

"Yeah," Joe agreed. "We get it already."

"Wait," Lorelai said finally finding her voice. "Aren't we all in danger then?"

"Sylar won't come into a public place," Bennet repeated.

"Umm," I said to them as I motioned out the diner window. Sylar was standing in the middle of the street, watching us.

"Well usually," Bennet corrected.

"Everyone calm down," Parkman said, he must've read their minds because no one had moved.

"He won't hurt any of you," Mohinder told everyone.

"Well unless you get in his way," Bennet clarified.

"He just wants Jess," Mohinder said.

"Why?" I asked confused. "Why me?"

"You have a great power," Mohinder said. "You're the only person on the list who can stop Sylar."

"The list?" I questioned, remembering Parkman's thoughts from the other day. "There are other people like me?"

"Yes," Bennet answered. "There are others."

"Claire, Parkman, Nathan Petrelli?" I asked them. "They all have powers?"

"Yes," Parkman answered. "We all do."

"How do you know Petrelli?" Bennet asked me.

"I don't," I replied. "I might've met him once, I'm not sure. But he can fly right?"

"Yes," Mohinder said. "Does that mean you can fly too?"

"Yeah," I replied. "That's how I got away from Sylar, well after I hit him over the head with a large tree branch, I still have no idea how I did that though."

"Telekinesis, you can move things with your mind," Mohinder explained. "It was one of Sylar's first powers."

"First powers," I questioned confused.

"Sylar kills people with abilities," Mohinder explained. "It's how he obtains them."

"But how?" Rory asked still confused.

"We don't know," Parkman replied. "Some said that he eats brains, yet there's no evidence of that."

"Oh," Rory replied shocked. "I see."

"It's best not to know," Bennet replied. "But we have to make sure Sylar doesn't get to Jess, if he gets Jess' power then he will be virtually unstoppable."

"Wait, what?" Lorelai said. "Jess has powers?"

"Yes," Mohinder answered.

"What are we going to do about him?" I asked, motioning to Sylar who was still standing motionless outside the diner.

"He's fine," Bennet replied. "He'll wait for you to leave."

"Yeah," Parkman agreed. "He's a good hundred feet away, so unless he comes any closer we don't need to worry."

"But what are we going to do?" I asked them again. "He's not going to leave and although it's lucky we're trapped in a diner, the supplies aren't going to last forever."

"He's right," Luke agreed.

"We'll think of something," Bennet reassured us. "Don't worry about it."

"So we wait?" Rory asked me as the three guys went into the storeroom to discuss the matter further.

"I guess," I replied, bringing her into a hug.

"I don't want him to take your brain," Rory said to me and I let out a dry laugh.

"Me either," I replied, pulling out of the hug. "We'll get through this… I promise."

"Jess," Luke said as he waved Rory and me behind the counter with Lorelai and him.

"Yeah," I asked him as I grabbed Rory's hand in mine. I liked knowing she was with me, without her here, I didn't know what I'd do.

"You have powers?" Luke asked me confused.

"Kind of," I replied.

"But that's not possible," Lorelai said in disbelief.

"You're telling us," Rory said slightly amused.

"What kind of powers?" Luke asked, trying to wrap his head around it.

"Umm…" I said nervously, I had no idea how they were going to take this. "I can fly, read minds, heal and move things with my mind."

"All that?" Lorelai asked amazed.

"Yeah," I answered. "They don't work all the time, but Rory's been helping me control them."

"You knew?" Lorelai asked her daughter. "And didn't tell me."

"Yeah," Rory said. "I kind of caught him in the act, so to speak."

"What?" Luke asked confused.

"That doesn't matter right now," I interrupted.

"Show us," Lorelai said. "We're not just supposed to believe this without any proof."

"You just saw me heal the cut on my head," I replied, but she stayed silent.

I looked into her mind, I knew this would convince her without a doubt.

Purple monkey dishwasher, purple monkey dishwasher, purple monkey dishwasher. -Lorelai

Now I had no idea why she was repeating this, but I've learned that it's best not to question anything Lorelai thinks.

"Purple monkey dishwasher," I repeated and she gasped.

Casablanca, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory… -Lorelai

"Casablanca, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," I recited, interrupting her thoughts, that list could've gone on forever.

Rory used to like Dean, maybe she still does. -Lorelai

"I'm not saying that," I said slightly angry. "You have your proof."

"What just happened?" Luke asked confused.

"He read my mind," Lorelai explained.

"Can I make a suggestion," I said to Lorelai. "Maybe you could keep your… fantasies on the down low, I know you know what I'm talking about."

"Okay," Lorelai said shocked as she realized I was talking about her fantasies with Luke. "I'll try."

"Still confused," Luke replied.

"Oooh," Lorelai said excitedly. "Let him read your mind, it's freaky."

"Fine," Luke said as he lets out a sigh.

This isn't even going to work, no one can read minds let alone Jess… Boston Red Sox. -Luke

"Boston Red Sox," I repeated. "Plus you doubted it was going to work."

"Whoa," Luke said completely surprised. "And how long has this been going on for?"

"I don't know a week or so," I answered truthfully. "But the dreams started before then."

"Umm," Rory said quickly. "Is it just me or is Sylar closer to the diner?"

I looked out the window and it looked like Rory was right.

"Hey," I yelled to the three guys. "You might want to get out here."

They all came rushing out of the storeroom.

"What?" Parkman asked concerned.

"It looks as though Sylar's trying to sneak up on us," I told them as I squeezed Rory's hand. "He's gotten closer to the diner."

"That's it," Parkman said angrily as he headed for the door. "I'm not waiting for him to get any closer."

"Wait," Bennet said, trying to stop Parkman.

Parkman left regardless of Bennet's protests. Parkman drew his gun and Bennet followed suit, they began firing at Sylar, but he just stopped the bullets midair and let them fall to the ground. Sylar disarmed both men, their guns went flying out of reach.

"Stay here," Mohinder said to me as he too headed out to help the others. Mohinder drew his own gun only to have Sylar disarm him before he even got one shot off.

Bennet approached Sylar and tried to throw a few punches, which Sylar skillfully avoided. Sylar was just toying with them, waiting for me to come out. Parkman approached too, but he only got a few steps before Sylar threw him against the wall of Miss Patty's and held him there.

"Stay there," Mohinder re-informed me as he too went off to face Sylar one-on-one.

Bennet was still trying to punch Sylar and Sylar is starting to get bored. Sylar threw Bennet across the road and into the newly built traffic pole. Bennet's was knocked out cold. Mohinder didn't make it far before Sylar noticed him.

"Ah, Mohinder," Sylar said, still pinning Parkman to the dance studio wall. "It's nice to see you."

"Duck," Parkman yells and Mohinder quickly complied. Just in time as Miss Patty's ballet/baton twirling sign soared straight over Mohinder's head.

"Oh, no," Miss Patty gasped in horror.

"This is all my fault," I said to Rory as I led her away from Luke and Lorelai.

"No, it's not," Rory tried to reassure me. "You didn't ask for any of this."

"Those guys," I said to Rory. "That I don't even know, are out there trying to protect me… Me of all people."

"Come on Jess," Rory said, still trying to reassure me. "It's not your fault."

"I have to go help," I told her. "They shouldn't risk their lives for me."

"No," Rory protested. "It's too dangerous."

"I can help," I reassured her. "I can match any power that he uses. They're losing, Rory, don't you see that, I can help them."

"I believe you," Rory replied. "But I don't want you to get hurt."

"I won't," I replied as I kissed her. "I can heal remember."

"Just be careful," Rory said sadly as she kissed me again. "I don't want to lose you."

"Okay," I replied as I gave her one last kiss and headed out the back.

I waited out the back listening to the diner patrons through Rory's thoughts. I was scared, Sylar was powerful and I didn't know how to control my abilities properly. But here I was about to put myself in danger just to save three men I didn't even know.

"Where's Jess?" I heard Luke asked concerned through Rory's thoughts.

"Rory?" Lorelai asked.

"He can help," Rory defended.

"You let him go?" Luke asked in disbelief.

"Yes," Rory said firmly. "Those men out there don't stand a chance against Sylar and I believe Jess when he says that he can help."

"But Sylar's a serial killer honey," Patty said to Rory. "What can he do to help?"

"I don't know," Rory replied. "He just has a gift."

"A gift?" Andrew questioned confused.

I don't know what was going on, hadn't they all seen me heal in front of them earlier, maybe they hadn't noticed. I searched all their heads quickly and everyone was confused, no one seemed to know what was going on. How could they not have seen me though, were they all that self-absorbed?

"A gift?" Kirk repeated. "Like Superman?"

"Kind of," Rory replied. "Though if you ask me he's more powerful than Superman."

"What do you mean more powerful?" half the diner asked confused.

"Just trust me," Rory said, starting to get irritated. "He believes he can help, which means that I believe him."

That's all I needed to hear, Rory believing in me gave me the strength to go and face Sylar. I bent my knees again and took off for the sky. I took a lap around as to not get Sylar's attention and landed softly behind him without him noticing.

"Sylar, I presume," I said sarcastically and he immediately turned to face me.

His dead black eyes should've sent fear through my body, but they didn't and I think that annoyed him.

"I was wondering how long it'd take to draw you away from the others," Sylar replied, losing his concentration, Parkman dropped from the ballet studio wall to the ground.

Parkman and Mohinder immediately ran over to Bennet's unconscious body and dragged him into the safety of the diner, effectively leaving me alone with Sylar.

"You know," Sylar said to me. "I could spare you, but only if you join me."

"No thanks," I replied firmly. "I'm no good to you alive."

"But we could rule this world together, Jess," Sylar explained. "Think about it. You would survive. Your friends and family would come through this unscathed." I let a shock of fear go through me when he mentioned my family. "You didn't think I'd let them live did you? They are witnesses and although I don't like to kill people who don't deserve it, they would just get in my way further down the track. I guess what I'm trying to say is join me or they all die. Their blood will be on your hands, Jess, think about that."

And I did think about it.

Even if I did fight Sylar, would I be able to win… would I be able to make him leave and never come back. I was starting to doubt myself, maybe I should join him. Everyone could move on… Except Rory, maybe Rory could come with us, but she'd never agree. But what price was I willing to pay to keep my family safe… Hell to keep the whole of Stars Hollow safe. Sylar stood there letting me make up my mind. Maybe I would join him, it was definitely the safer of the two options, and he's the one on a killing spree which means I didn't have to kill anyone.

So here I was in the middle of one of Stars Hollow's usually quiet streets contemplating whether or not to join forces with pure evil just so I could spare the lives of the ones I love and I was definitely heading towards that outcome. And then I heard it, one lone thought and I knew what I had to do no matter the consequences, nothing or no one could change my mind now, it was set, and I'd just have to deal with the fallout.