Chapter Eight

Big Boys do Cry

A/N: Sorry it's been so long, the next chapter is ready!

Reviews:

Syelle: thank you I'm a big fan too, even though they never actually met in the show.

Optimisticgirl94: thanks for being such a faithful reader! Yes Sylar is a good guy now.

Twin03: Thanks for the tip, Sylar does need more motivation, but I always saw him as the sort who would do something for no reason what-so-ever, then again... Anyway, yes, Angela and Olivia will be very interesting in upcoming chapters.

Marinawings: Yay! Nathan! We should start a fanclub! Anyway, thanks for the review!

Nathan turned to face his enemy. He was surprised to find that Bob was not alone. There was a tall dark skinned man and a younger pale man with an air of menace about him. Bob held a gun, not that he really needed it. Nathan stepped in front of his family; it was time to be a hero, and all of the sudden he had a horrific notion of what that might necessitate.

"I must congratulate you Mr. Lawrence," Bob said to the man on his right, the menacing one, "I didn't think he would be so reckless."

"What do you want?" Nathan said in a voice that frightened even him.

"Ha! What do we want?! You should know better than anyone, but I am willing to entertain any pleas for mercy."

"Just let my family go."
"Of course, but don't you even want to attempt to save your own life?"

"No."

"Hmmm… perhaps you're not as promising as Noah expected."

"Noah?"

"How many times have I told you not to listen to Noah Bennet?" The one called Lawrence said.

"How many times do I have to tell you to shut-up?"

"Not that this isn't fun," Nathan interrupted, "but if it's all the same to you, we'll be going now."

"No you don't," Bob raised his gun and stepped forward, "I have a proposition for you."

"No proposition you could make will affect me."

"You may wish to reconsider. Your family will be safe. All we ask is your cooperation."

"What exactly does 'cooperation' entail?"

"You do whatever I say. The company will leave your family alone as long as you keep your end."

"All of my family?"

"Nathan," Heidi interrupted, "You're not actually considering this?" he paused for a moment, but he had to ask,

"That includes Peter and Claire?"

"Claire is taken care of," Bob said, "and Peter… isn't as special as was originally assumed. We have what we need from him."

"Then what do you have to offer me?"

"Haven't you deduced that your abilities are hereditary?"

"If so much as breathe on them again I'll—"

"Come now, we are wasting time. What is your answer?"

"You want me to work for you?" Bob nodded. "And I won't be able to see them?"

"That is entirely dependant on the circumstances."

"Basically, no," Drew said. Bob glared at him. Nathan was silent, pensive.

"Let me say goodbye," he finally said.

"Nathan!" Heidi exclaimed, but the look on his face silenced her.

"Of course," Bob said, gesturing toward the cell, Heidi had previously occupied.

H

Claire stared at her cell phone. She knew she should call West, but she was afraid. Dealing with people was not one of her strong points. She could put herself back together after falling infinite stories, but she had no power over broken relationships. She suspected she was extremely lucky to have an adoptive family who loved her so much. She was sure Nathan and Meredith would have gotten tired of her after a few years, had the circumstances been reversed. She was, of course, wrong, but there was no one to inform her of that. Suddenly, the cell phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. It was West. For a second she considered not answering, but that would have been wasteful.

"Hello?"

"Claire, please don't hang up! Did you see the news?"

"What? Hang up? What news?"

"The day before yesterday, it's been on ever since. You didn't see it?"

"We haven't watched any TV lately. What happened?"

"There was a press conference in Texas or something and this politician from New York was shot, but you have to see the rest to believe it." Claire felt a sinking feeling as she turned on the TV. Her fears were quickly confirmed and she dropped the phone.

"No!" she cried as she watched her father fall. Like some horrific spatial defiant instant replay, Claire felt as if the bullets had been projected into her own heart. Her knees failed and she found herself sitting on the couch. She fell to one side and her tears began soaking the cushions. She felt darkness and despair creep up next to her.

"Dad…" her voice was barely a whisper, "you were all I had!"

H

Elle didn't hear the intruder like she should have, and Sylar would curse the day he made her sleep. Noah Bennet hated himself more every hour, but he saw no alternative. Carefully he approached Elle's bedside. Warily, he lifted her from it and carried her out of the apartment. He laid her in the back of an inconspicuous car and took the drivers seat

"That was too easy," he said to the dark man next to him. The other made no reply, but stared forward in silence, knowing more than he revealed.

H

Heidi was not too thrilled about re-entering the room in which she had been confined. Inside she sat and stared at the wall, while Nathan spoke to Simon and Monty.

"Be good," he said, "take care of your mom and Peter. They need a lot of looking after."

"Is Uncle Peter back?" Simon asked, surprised. Nathan smiled, bitterly.

"Yes, he is. You tell him not to worry about me, and be nice to his new friend." Nathan held his sons tighter. "I love you both." He grudgingly let them go and gazed into their faces. Tears flowed freely on all three.

"Dad, I though big boys didn't cry," Simon said.

"Yes they do," Nathan stood and gave them one last look, "and don't ever be ashamed of that." Monty and Simon backed against the wall and waited patiently while their parents said goodbye. Though they were young, Simon and Monty had noticed how hard the past few months had been for their mother, and they knew the next few would be no picnic either.

H

Olivia gasped and sat up in bed. Something was very wrong. She heard her door beginning to open and reached for the gun in her nightstand.

"Are you ok?" John asked coming into the room. Olivia sighed and relaxed slightly. Sam had jumped off the bed when she woke and was standing between John and Olivia with his fur standing on end.

"It must have been a dream," Olivia said, distantly, "but I can't remember it." John carefully navigated his way around Sam and sat beside Olivia.

"There's something else," he said.

"Yes, there is. In the dream something terrible happened. I lost something I didn't know I had, something important."

"Could it have had something to do with Drew?"

"I don't think so, for some reason. It's bigger than that. There's a storm coming."

"Ooh, ominous."

"Oh, shut up!" Olivia threw a pillow at John. Sam dashed away, and John followed. They were a team now.

H

Of the three sleepers, Matt was the first to wake. He resolved never to fall asleep on the couch again, as he rubbed his neck and walked down the hall. After making himself somewhat presentable he decided to make breakfast for his two favorite people. Unfortunately, the refrigerator was rather empty. So, he grabbed his jacket and keys and headed for the door. He glanced back at the two who were still sleeping, and he hoped they wouldn't wake up while he was gone. After, deciding on the menu and finding the necessary ingredients, he returned home to find things just as he left them. In the kitchen he prepared the greatest breakfast in the history of the world, while in the living room another event was taking place.

Mohinder opened his eyes, but still there was darkness. He closed them again; pointless! His eyes had become pointless and it was pointless to be angry about it. Tears of frustration began to fall as he sat up. He was angry and that made it worse. He felt movement by his side. Molly threw her arm around his shoulders and said in a sleepy voice,

"What's wrong?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"You're crying." He wiped his eyes.

"I guess they're still good for something." Molly turned his face toward her.

"Eyes… aren't just for seeing. I know now you can't, but I used to feel like you were looking right through me. You don't have to read my mind. You just know… and now, I don't mind." She wrapped her little arms around his waist and hugged him as tightly as she could. She thought if she were much bigger, much stronger, it might have made him feel better. Little did she know how much good she had already done.

H

Heidi still stared at the wall. The secret she forced herself to keep might never be known to her husband. He had enough on his mind without worrying about their future. Future… she had little hope for that now. Nathan stood behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders. She felt tears escape her eyes.

"This isn't what I had in mind," he said, "I had hoped… I don't know." Heidi turned and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, burying her face in his chest. He could feel her body shaking as she whispered,

"Don't leave me."

"I'll never leave you," he said, holding her tight, "I am always going to be yours."

"What's going to happen to us?" Nathan pulled away and looked her in the eye.

"Peter will take care of you… I'll have to trust him."

"I mean you and me."

"This won't be forever."

"How long is not forever?"

"Too long," he hugged her again, "I love you, Heidi."

"I love you too, Nathan."

H

Claire didn't hear the doorbell. She was not aware of Sandra opening the door and talking to someone. She didn't notice that someone enter the living room where she was still lying on the couch. All she heard were gunshots, Peter's screams, and the last word on Nathan's lips; fly. He was about to tell the world and someone shot him! There was no way he could have survived, but if Claire had been there… She was brought back to reality when West's face appeared in front of her. He was about to say something, but she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.

"Don't leave me," she said, "everyone leaves me."

"I won't," he replied, "I never will." Claire pulled away and pointed at the TV.

"My dad," she said, "my real dad… Nathan Petrelli."

"You were adopted?" Claire nodded

"I only met him a few months ago. He thought I was dead. My mom ran away after I found her. She didn't want me… They all leave me."

Secrets will be revealed in the next few chapters, stay tuned!