Title: Forget Me Not

Author: Bunny

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Nope, do not own at all.

Summary: Set around Shadowboxing; Claire discovers an amnesiac Sylar wandering around and takes it upon herself to help him.

Ain't no mercy there for me.
Do you bury me when I'm gone?
Do you teach me while I'm here?
Just as soon as I belong,
Then it's time I disappear.

~ I Disappear, Metallica

An urgent knock at the door broke the daydream as Claire got up to answer it. Sylar watched her quickly groom herself decent as she went. Standing he did the same, finishing just as Sweetie swept into the room. "A little bit of a problem," she announced with controlled panic, pausing for a moment when she absorbed the state of her attire. "Did I just interrupt something?"

"No, no, not at all," rushed Claire with a higher pitched, obvious lie voice.

He grinned and made eye contact with Sweetie to indicate otherwise. When she didn't grin back as she normally would, Sylar felt his body become alert. "Sweetie, what's wrong?"

"There's a mind reader downstairs and he is asking a lot of questions. I tried not to let him know anything, but you know, mind reader."

"You sure he was a telepath?" Claire asked, throwing a worried glance at him.

"My husband was best friends with one until his death. Trust me, I can tell." She pursed her lips in disapproval, "Plus I don't appreciate having ideas pushed into my head. He was desperate, so it was sloppy and it hurt."

"What did he look like?"

"Dark hair, dark eyes, white boy, about my height, when he flashed his badge his name I think started with an M –"

"Parkman?" she exclaimed. "What's he doing in Arlington?"

"I take it you know him?" inquired Sylar though he knew the answer. He just needed a better feel on the problem.

"Yeah, I haven't seen him since –" She cut herself off, more worry filtering into her eyes as she looked at him. "It's just been awhile."

"Not much longer, cuz I can tell you he will be on his way up here soon," Sweetie gestured with her thumb towards the hallway.

Claire's eyes grew wide as she ushered the woman to the door. "Go, hopefully he won't see you." Whirling around, she picked up a pair of shoes and tossed them to Sylar. "You need to get out of here too. Through the window."

He put on the shoes while Claire went to the window to open it, sticking her head out to try and spot the visitors. Finishing, he went over to where she was. Understanding the severity of the situation, he still felt a pull to take the time to comfort her. Her restlessness affected him in ways he couldn't believe. Since he had become aware of his existence, the only honest constant had been her.

Approaching her from behind, Sylar wrapped his arms to hold her and placed a kiss on top of her head. As her muscles eased in their tension slightly he whispered into her ear, "It will be fine. We don't even know why he's here."

She nodded against his chest as a knock sounded. "You're right. But you should still go. Matt really doesn't like you."

Letting out a small chuckle, he stepped around to the sill. Before she could step away he gently pulled her towards him to land a kiss. Though simple and short, Claire returned it in full. The next knock was what broke them apart. With a lip pop they both looked to the door. "Go," she instructed, nudging him gently. "I'll come find you when everything is alright."

She laid one more quick kiss on him before going to let Matt in. Crouching on the sill, Sylar glanced over his shoulder to get one more look at what could only be described as his universe. As he took flight, something deep inside him knew Claire's last statement wouldn't ring true. Everything wouldn't be alright again.

X~X~X~X~X

Matt knocked on the door again as he propped an arm against the door jam. His unwanted specter leaned against the wall next to him, not at all trying to hide his satisfaction with the situation. "In a hurry, Parkman?"

"Extremely," he signed, exasperated. "Are you positive you're in there?"

"Yup," he answered, almost giddy with excitement. "Though I don't know who else is."

"Well I don't care, because they are not going to stand in my way of getting your ungrateful, crazy mind out of mine."

"And is that any way to treat me after I saved your life?"

"Except you did that to save your own ass."

Sylar nodded to the side acknowledging the comment. "That's true."

The door swung open to reveal a slightly disheveled Claire Bennett. Her eyes grew wide with surprise, mimicking his own, as she stepped forward for a hug. "Matt! It's good to see you. Is everything okay?"

Matt returned the hug, eyes going up to see Sylar already in the apartment behind Claire shrugging his shoulders before looking all around. Once allowed inside he began examining things as well. The nearby table had a crystal bowel centerpiece and two sets of dirty dishes. Shoes neatly by the door, a large space between 3 sets of female shoes which indicated a missing pair. "Fine. Everything's fine," he breathed out, watching Sylar walk up and down the hall. "How are you?"

She flipped her hands down at her side. "Fine too."

"I must have just left," stated Sylar reentering the sitting room. "But I can tell I was just here."

"You sure?" asked Matt while keeping eye contact with Claire, but directing the question to the other person in the room.

"Of course," she answered slowly in confusion.

"Positive," he replied coming to stand next to Claire. "I told you I can sense where I am, it's like a mask was taken off." He took a moment to side glance the blonde at his side. "Does she look off to you?"

"Can I get you something to drink?" she offered heading to the kitchen.

"Yeah, iced tea would be great," he suggested with a smile, struggling to contain his worried bewilderment. Smiling back she left the room and he turned his attention to the ghost. "Something is very weird here."

"Maybe you should check out the rest of the apartment," suggested Sylar, still looking where Claire exited the room.

Getting into his face, Matt pointed a finger, "Do not put any images into my head, or so help me –"

"Hey, I am just as confused as you are Parkman," he admitted, nodding in the direction of the girl. "I don't understand how she fits into this, but quite frankly, I don't care. I just want my body."

Going towards the little kitchen, Matt poked his head in. "Could I use your restroom before we get started?"

"Yeah," she agreed while pouring. "It's just down the hall to the right. Can't miss it."

"Thanks." As Matt turned he noted that Claire's bedroom was shut, so he instead went straight to the bathroom. Looking into the mirror as he swung the door closed, Sylar's form appeared behind him. Talking out what he saw, Matt observed, "From what I can tell there are doubles of everything in here. Toothbrushes, shampoos, towels, shaving kits. Half for Claire, half for a man."

"Has Claire Bennett been a naughty girl with a night time visitor?" stated Sylar, still endlessly amused with the situation. Leaning towards the darker bottles in the shower, he observed, "This is stuff I use." He came over to read the label of shaving cream and deodorant Matt held, "I use this too, you know, when I'm corporeal."

Suddenly, a series of events clicked in Matt's brain. The hygiene supplies, the shoes which likely led to more men's clothing, the pair of dishes, Claire's outfit with the messed up hair, men's button up shirt, the sweat pants… "Oh my God…"

Sylar's jaw dropped as he evidently connected the dots at the same time. "I slept with Claire Bennett," he muttered in complete shock, staring through the barrier as though he could see her through it. Waiting a beat, he turned toward to Matt. "And I missed it!" Matt rolled his eyes at what he caught from the realization. "Come on, Parkman, you have got to admit, that is not fair!"

"Matt, you alright in there?" came the girl in question's voice.

"Uh, yeah, just finishing up," he spit out, still in a little world of shock. Flushing the toilet and running the water from the faucet, Matt splashed water on his face to get a hold of himself.

When he reentered the living room, Claire stood up to hand him a glass of iced tea. "So what brings you here?"

"Ask her how the sex was," requested Sylar all of a sudden very smug with the recent development.

Throwing a side glare at the annoyance in the room, he worked to focus all his attention on Claire. "I'm actually looking for someone and I've heard whoever lives here might be able to help. Had no idea it was you until I got here."

Sylar distractedly walked from side to side inspecting her, head tilted as though considering her as prey. "If I can," she offered with a shrug. "Who is it?"

"It's Sylar."

Claire's eyes grew unmistakably wide as she let out a nervous laugh. "He's dead, Matt. I don't even know where he's buried, so I'm not too sure how I could help you there."

"She's lying."

"Probably because you've been sleeping with him," pointed out Matt, not wanting to waste anymore time.

"Nice one, sliding right into that."

Instead of a panicked expression, Claire's face locked into one that indicated she was closed off as she set her tea down. "Get out of my head, Matt."

"Oh, I'm not even in there yet," he informed, mimicking her action with his beverage. "And I'll stay out of your mind as long as you tell me what I want to know."

"Jumping ahead now to playing hardball, someone's getting desperate."

Her eyes narrowed as she tilted her head. "I don't appreciate being threatened."

"Then tell me where he is," demanded Matt, taking a step forward.

"Well lucky for me, I don't know where Sylar went to. And why do you need to know anyway?" she asked taking a step back.

"Last chance, Claire," his voice rose without being able to stop himself. "I have to find him."

"Why?" she asked concerned.

"Tell me!" he yelled, pinning her shoulders against the wall.

"I don't know!" she shouted back pushing him away.

"She's telling the truth, Parkman," defended Sylar, not appreciating the aggressive way he was handling the situation. "Back off."

"No, you back off!" snapped Matt, still holding Claire to the wall.

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "Who are you talking to?"

Matt looked back at her, leaning his head to the side. "If you won't tell me, I'll just have to take it from you." Widening his mind, he pushed into Claire's head to extract the information he needed. But when he tried to even just get a glimpse of her brain, there was nothing. Frowning he tried harder, but was only met with emptiness again. Momentarily thinking that something was wrong with his ability Matt concentrated on the minds in the neighboring apartments and could hear them clear as day. So why wasn't it working on her?

"Stop it!" Claire yelled still trying to fight him off. "I don't know where he is! So stay out of my head!"

"I can't get in there," Matt murmured in shock.

Sylar looked back and forth between them trying to figure out what went wrong. "Why not?"

"I don't know why not," he stated, just as sullen as before, trying even harder to scan her mind. His grip loosened on Claire for a second so she took the opportunity to try and step away, but it only served to snap him back into a panicked rage. Squeezing even tighter onto her arms, he slammed her against the wall. "Why can't I read your mind?"

"Easy, Parkman!"

Blinking away the jolt, Claire took a moment to answer which resulted in another shake. "I don't know, maybe something's wrong with your power."

"I can hear everyone in this apartment building except for you," he explained with another rough push. "Why can't I hear yours!"

"Cut it out! I said I don't know!" Claire yelled back, squirming to get away.

"You're lying then!"

"Why would I lie about that!"

"Matt, that's enough!"

"Is it because of him?" demanded Matt, not thinking straight, only focused on getting answers. "You fuck Sylar, so now abilities won't work on you! It also gives you the right to keep secrets!"

"Get off of me!"

"I said that was enough." Sylar stepped up to Matt, putting his hand through his head. The telepath flinched and cried out in pain as Sylar worked to take control. He loved having corporeal form no matter how he got a hold of it. Once back in control, basic sensations were always more intense. The one thing he was acutely aware of was the body heat rolling off of the woman in front of him. "You have no idea what answers you really want, so it's my turn."

Matt shook his head and all of a sudden found himself outside his body, looking at Sylar pressed against Claire. "No, that's not fair! Put me back!"

"No way…" gasped Claire, eyes wide as she looked at the man pinning her.

"Shut up and make it so she can see me," instructed Sylar, only making eye contact with Claire.

"Even if I could, my power isn't working on her," he informed, standing helplessly to the side.

"I can see you just fine, Sylar," murmured Claire, face still in shock. Equally stunned by her admission, he released her. "So this is where your mind disappeared to."

"How do you know about that?" he demanded calmly, all things considered. "And for that matter, how can you see me?"

"How did you get in there?"

"What makes you think she's going to answer your questions, Sylar?"

All the voices overlapped each other so Sylar put his hands up. "One question and one answer at a time please!"

"Is Matt still here? Is he alright?" asked Claire, looking around to try and see the third party.

"He's pacing right over there," he pointed. "And if by fine you mean annoyingly giving advice, then sure."

She cracked a grin. "So he's your Jiminy Cricket?"

Sylar held up a finger. "My turn." When her lips bit closed in annoyance he continued. "I believe you when you say you don't know where my body is, but you do know how to find me, don't you?"

Stony faced, Claire looked down knowing she would not be able to fool him. "Yes."

"Ah, I knew it!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "You see," he addressed Matt, "it's all in how the question gets asked." Readdressing the blonde, he nodded at her, "Your question now."

"I don't get a turn?" yelled Matt, getting up into his face.

"You're not in control of the body, so no," snapped Sylar, before returning his focus forward.

Her eyes flicked from his to the apparent dead space beside him. Beginning slowly, she asked, "How did you even get into Matt's head in the first place?"

"Well, your grandmother, dear old Dad, and this guy here decided to take full advantage of my shapeshifting ability by forcing my mind out of my body and shoving the memories of your bio-Dad in." Her eyes grew steadily wider as he spoke, leaving him to grin and shrug. "Side effect, my brain had to go somewhere. So it got shoved into this useless hunk of flesh."

"Hey!"

"Why would you do that!" she yelled, but it wasn't directed at Sylar. She was yelling at where Parkman stood next to him. "What would possibly make you believe that would be a good idea!"

Sylar leaned over, "I don't think she's mad at me right now."

"Oh, I will get to you in a minute!" she side scolded before turning back to air. "Did you even stop to think how this would affect everyone? Did you honestly believe that we would never find out?"

"How did you find my body?" he interrupted, suddenly bored rehearing the information he already knew.

Angry eyes snapped back at him. He could tell she was about to argue, but instead settled on giving an answer. "You ran into me in an alleyway about 3 weeks ago," she admitted, voice wavy with emotion. "You had all your powers, could remember everyone you murdered, but that was all you knew about yourself. Your mind is completely wiped, which makes sense now."

The corner of his lip lifted. "So was it pity or curiosity that made you slept with me?"

Claire's eyes narrowed and he took pleasure at the anger rolling off of her. "Why now? All this time later, why now have you started the hunt for yourself?"

"I…I wasn't in control," he admitted, finding the words difficult to state.

"You must've hated that," she observed, completely amused for the first time since he had seen her here. "The man who craves power and control could have neither." He sneered in response and turned away. "You don't even have Matt's power now do you?"

"My turn," Sylar gritted out, eager to move on. "Where was my body before you found it?"

Letting the moment pass, she continued, "I'm not completely sure. Though, from the story you just told me, I'm pretty sure you've been walking around being Nathan for more than a few months."

"Well isn't that… precious," he spat.

"You never did answer, are you in control of Matt's telepathy?"

"No. Now, I have one question that you have to answer in complete honesty." He spoke with utmost seriousness and came up close to her as though wanting to share a life saving secret. "How was the sex?"

Rolling her eyes she stepped away, "It really is all guys think about, isn't it?"

"Come on, man, back off. I really don't want to hear this."

"I mean, it sounds as though it was a repeat thing," Sylar reason, loving the way Claire squirmed and tried to avoid the blatant truth.

"I am not going to stroke your ego," she snapped, making it sound as though the conversation were finished.

"It wasn't my ego I was talking about," he suggested. She put her head in her hands and turned away. "Oh, don't be shy. I have a feeling that's not your style. I see you more wild, liking things a little rougher –"

"Okay, fine!" she turned, appearing taller and full of confidence. "Yes, we had sex! We had a lot of sex. We had sex several different ways in every room in this apartment, and even some outside of it. You even told me, that I was the best you had ever had. And you know what the best part about all of that is, right at this moment?" Her words were laced with sensuality. With every sentence she had moved closer until she was up near him, not quite touching, but the building energy nearly caused Sylar to snap. "That for the rest of Matt's life, you're going to be left wondering what that was like."

Stepping back, Claire laughed mockingly at him. Not appreciating being shut down so rapidly, Sylar growled and pulled her up against him roughly. One arm pinned her waist to him tightly and the other came up her back to hold her neck. Her laughter stopped with a sharp breath intake. Once again with the upper hand, he was more than glad to put her in uncomfortable, yet familiar territory. She didn't struggle against him so he pressed his luck by hovering his lips over hers. "We could change that right now."

"I think I'm going to be sick," uttered Matt, ignored off to the side.

Sylar ignored his mental ghost, focusing intently on the blonde in his arms, all other goals were temporarily forgotten. Her hand came up though it was going to run through his hair, but instead it came to rest on his chest as a sign of resistance. "It wouldn't be the same, and you know it."

Giving her a slight taste of freedom, he allowed Claire to gain a little bit of distance away from him before yanking her back into him. As soon as their chests collided, he dropped his mouth down onto hers. Devouring her, Sylar clung tightly onto her small frame, relishing every moment of the kiss. The way she responded surprised him a little, but he was more pleased with her enthusiasm. There was no way he was going to let her get away with only words of their time together, he needed some sort of example, no matter how simple. Pulling back with a little shiver, from who he wasn't sure, he whispered, "Bring my body to me, Claire."

"She's not going to do it! Not after that stunt you just pulled!" exclaimed Matt, still off to the side and almost entirely forgotten. "We should leave and follow her. She's going to come across you sooner or later –"

"Answer me one last question," Claire demanded, somewhat shaky. "And you had better tell me the truth. No lies, no tricks, 'pity me' pleas, no trying to tell me what you think I want to hear, and no long winded speeches. To the point, complete honesty."

"Alright," he agreed, not entirely sure if he was going to keep his promise.

"Why do you want your body back?"

He stared at her for a beat. "Seriously? Why wouldn't I want my body back?"

"Just the first thing that comes to your head."

"Great, you're stuck here forever now," sighed Matt, tapping his head.

Sylar pushed down any innuendo or sarcastic comment that nearly came out of his mouth and instead just closed his eyes, trying to make his mind quiet. "Because a part of me is missing, Claire. My body is lost and I want it back. It's better now than it has been in a long while, but I can still feel that hole." Opening his eyes he found a pale Claire holding her breath. "Wrong answer?"

"No," she choked out pushing out of his arms, running hands through her hair. "No. Just… Just wait here. Let me get changed and I'll go find you."