Hands framing her face, he held her gaze. "I…Claire, I- I can't." He turned his face away.

She took a deep breath, watching him, his pained expression, the way he pulled back, and thought about his words. He didn't reject her, so much as avoid being rejected. Mustering up some courage, Claire ran fingers through his hair and stroked his stubbly cheek. "I still want you," she said softly, kissing his jaw.

She didn't miss his shaky breath or the way he leaned into her kiss. "No Alice, no plots…just us."

His eyes were watery when he turned back to her, pressing their lips together so gently.

Hands shaking, she braced them on his strong shoulders, head falling back as she was overwhelmed by pleasure. Claire started to move again, but he held her hips immobile.

"Wait, just…just wait," he gasped. "Don't rush this." He pulled her body to his, holding her close, and buried his face in her long hair.

Claire took a deep breath, forcing her body to calm down a bit. She wrapped herself around him, arms and legs, squeezing them in between his body and the chair. After a minute, her lower body began to lose patience and she started to shift about.

He chuckled, lifting his head at last, but wiping his face before looking at her.

"Sorry," she said with a shrug. There were damp traces on his cheek; had he been crying? She ran her thumb across it; kissing him when he tried to pull away. "Stay with me here, okay?"

Closing his eyes tight, he nodded. "I do, Claire," he whispered, "love you." Opening his eyes to confront her was incredibly hard, but the fist squeezing his heart eased when he saw her smiling at him.

"I know." She kissed him again as she rolled her hips, making them both moan.

Once she started moving, she couldn't stop, it felt too good. Especially since Sylar was no longer holding her motionless, but urging her along, driving them both mad with desire.

They moved so fast together, that her cries became one long call. Finally, her body clinched so tight, that she couldn't draw breath or make a sound. He moaned loudly as his body shook. Spent, they both collapsed against the chair, Claire still draped loosely around him. Before either found the energy or desire to move, they drifted off to sleep.

Claire woke first, a little confused and disoriented. She blinked and pushed her upper body off of Sylar; he looked so peaceful as he slept. Suddenly, she felt a strong urge to go outside, someone was there and she needed to see them.

She stood, moving towards the door, but knowing that she shouldn't. Her hand had just gripped the doorknob, when an arm slipped around her waist.

"Don't answer her call, Claire," Sylar whispered, tugging her back and removing her hand from the knob. "We need to get dressed; it's time to go."

"Time…but you said in the morning, it's still dark out."

"If they're coming for you, we're leaving."

"And Alex?"

He sighed, "Yes, him too."

The urge to go outside returned, stronger than before and Claire had to grit her teeth to fight it.

"Clothes now!" he ordered, spinning her by the arm over to the dresser. "Hilda's trying to be subtle and not call me, too. It won't be long before she gives up and uses her full ability." He was pulling his shoes on before Claire had managed her jeans. "Move!" He shoved a shirt into her fumbling hands and drug out their bags.

"I'm trying," she hissed, pulling her shirt on and working next on her sneakers. The pull was making her hands shake with effort. "Why is she calling me?"

"Maybe because she's half obsessed with you. Maybe because someone told her to." He paused, tilting his head to the side. "Yes, Charlie. He's using her desire to talk to you, to separate us."

"But, why would she be obsessed with me? She doesn't know anything about me."

"That's just it." He pulled her towards the bathroom window. "She doesn't understand the draw you hold for me. She thinks I can only resist her, because I want you so badly." Opening the window, he stuck his head out. "Go." He shoved her out of the window, following quickly behind with the bags. "Keep going," he whispered, hand on her back, directing her towards a few trailers.

She followed him, ducking and running for nearly ten minutes before they came to a stop. He tucked their bags close to the corner of a large tent.

"Wait here," he whispered in her ear.

"No way! I'm coming with you."

He grimaced, it wouldn't be easy to get them all in and out, and with Claire in tow, it would be next to impossible to dump Alex if the need arose. "Complete silence. Do not rush over to him, no matter what. Understand?"

"Yes. Let's go." But, he grabbed her arm to stop her.

"Gotta take out the guards first."

"Oh. Right."

"Eli," he breathed, spotting one of the clones. Silently, he crept upon it, snapping its neck, making Claire cringe. As the body fell, it disappeared. He prowled onward, fully aware of the young woman sneaking along nervously behind him.

He held his hand up for her to stop; he had found another Eli. And…unless he was mistaken, it was the real man. He held out a hand, silently choking the man, until he passed out. His solid body hit the floor seconds before an alerted clone, running to the rescue, vanished. He grinned. "Got him."

He led the way inside the tent, sticking to the shadows and making sure Claire did the same. In the center, still tied to a chair, was Alex. He felt Claire's gasp, but was relieved to note that it was silent. He put his mouth to the shell of her ear.

"Don't move. Don't talk."

She nodded uncertainly, hunkering down in the dark. Meanwhile, Sylar morphed into Samuel and strutted into the clearing.

"Samuel," Alice blurted, standing suddenly. "I thought you were gone for the night. Lydia…?"

"Bored me." He ignored her and moved in front of Alex. "Are you prepared to do as I've asked?"

"We were never lovers! I can't pick up where we left off, if all I've ever done was kiss her," he pleaded, lip bloody.

"I have it on good authority that-"

"Well, she's wrong! I don't care who she says she is to Claire; she's wrong."

Sylar narrowed Samuel's eyes. "Alice, bring her."

The girl scampered off, returning a minute later with a scrawny brunette, looking smug.

"Gretchen, love, come here, please?"

The skinny girl scurried forward. "He's lying. Claire slept with him. She has sex with all the men; even her own uncle."

Sylar was frustrated that the girl wasn't lying, or rather she didn't think that she was. But, he had to play his part.

"Did she tell you she had sex with our young friend?"

"No, of course not. But I could tell, I can always tell."

Sylar rubbed his forehead, feigning disappointment. "It's time to end this."

"No! Please!" Alex sobbed, struggling against his bindings.

"I have no further use for you. Alice," he barked.

"Yes?" She moved timidly forward.

"Find Eli. We finish this now."

"Right away." She ran for the exit.

As soon as she was out of sight, Sylar pulled a knife and Alex increased his pleas. "Shut up. We don't have long." He cut the bonds, yanking him to his feet. "Let's go." He shoved the kid towards Claire's hiding spot. "Claire, get behind us."

She darted forward to obey. "Where do we go?"

"Away. As fast as possible. I can't carry both of you, so we'll have to run." He led the way out, surprised not to meet resistance. Grabbing the bags, he gave them to his younger counterparts.

Again they set off, but it wasn't long before they ran into Charlie and Hilda looking furious.

"Uncle Samuel? What's going on?"

"Escape," Sylar growled, sending Charlie flying backwards into a building. He hit with a sick crunch and fell to the ground.

Eyes wide, hands up, Hilda backed away. "Please, don't? Samuel, whatever's happening, I won't say anything." She licked her lips nervously.

"Get lost," he snarled and led the way past them.

"Samuel! Quick! Eli's been knocked out! Samuel!" Alice's voice trailed behind them.

"Oh shit," Claire gasped.