SYLAR

LONDON

"Mr. Grey, it is good to see you up and about."

"Thank you, but I prefer Sylar." Sylar rubbed a hand over his neatly shaved head. His dark eyes shifted around the room hesitantly. The room was unfamiliar to him even though he had technically been living there for over two weeks. Those two weeks, however, he had spent in a medically induced coma, during which his mind had been filled with dreams and terrors that he had never known were possible for his imagination.

"Sasha tells me you have recovered exceptionally well, considering."

"Yes, clearly." Sylar's hand unconsciously touched his stomach, feeling the ripple of stitches beneath his shirt that marked where the irritating Japanese guy had stabbed him. He felt his anger rising at the memory.

"I sense that you're uncomfortable."

Sylar's eye twitched. "Not uncomfortable, no. Confused, and perhaps a little curious."

"Oh?"

He folded his arms and stared down at the man who was sitting in a chair. "Yea, curious about what the hell I'm doing here and who you are."

"My apologies, Mr. Sylar, I thought Sasha had filled you in."

"Sasha?" Sylar shook his head. "Never heard of her."

The man frowned slightly, but then his calm expression returned and he explained. "Forgive me, I shouldn't have assumed. You are here because I had you brought here. Tell me Mr. Sylar, do you remember what happened that night in Kirby Plaza?"

"Which part?"

"Any of it…all of it. Do you remember what happened to you?"

"Of course. I was stabbed." Sylar thought about it for a minute. "I thought I was dead."

"You were, in a manner of speaking, but it has been my experience that things are not always as black and white as they may seem."

Sylar nodded slowly. "Umm, so, who exactly are you?"

"My name is Mr. Oakland. You may call me Mr. Oakland." He told Sylar plainly.

"Right, Mr. Oakland then, do you want to explain to me why I am not dead?"

Mr. Oakland smiled and opened a door that Sylar hadn't even noticed until that moment. In walked a young woman, who was smiling at Sylar broadly. She tucked her short dark hair behind one ear. "It's good to see you up and around Gabriel."

Sylar's eyes narrowed. "Nobody calls me that."

She blushed slightly. "Sorry, but while you were sleeping I didn't have anyone to correct me. Gabriel is just such a nice name…"

"Don't use it." He growled.

"Fine!" She held up her hands in surrender. "Whatever you say Mr. Sylar."

Sylar's eyes darted back to Mr. Oakland for an explanation.

"Mr. Sylar, this is Sasha." Mr. Oakland introduced. "You have her to thank for your life."

Sylar looked her over curiously. "What do you mean?"

"She has a gift, just like you, though I suppose not exactly like you considering how you have obtained so many…" Mr. Oakland gave him a slightly approving smile. "Don't get any ideas though, Sasha is not going to be an addition to your collection."

Sasha laughed a little, but then seemed to grasp the meaning of Mr. Oakland's comment and she instantly became less joyful.

"So, what's your…talent?" Sylar asked her with a slight purr to his voice.

She glanced at Mr. Oakland who nodded and then answered. "I manipulate people's vitals."

Sylar's eyes widened; he was clearly intrigued. "That is quite the talent."

"That's how I was able to keep you alive for the past two weeks while you were in a…coma."

"Coma? Is that right?" Sylar frowned. "I have distinct memories…"

"Memories?" Mr. Oakland inquired.

"I was having dreams…" He explained. "They didn't feel like dreams though…there were times when I thought I was awake…"

"Well, that's understandable." Sasha smirked.

"Understandable?" Sylar shook his head. "Hardly. Are you going to explain to me what's been going on?"

"Not at the moment, no. Sasha." Mr. Oakland cut her off before she had a chance to finish her explanation to Sylar. "You are excused."

She nodded and obediently vacated the room.

"What was she talking about?" Sylar asked.

"As I said, nothing that you need to know at the moment. Now, why don't you get some rest? You're going to be rather busy starting tomorrow."

"I am?" Sylar questioned. "Why?"

"Oh, we'll discuss that tomorrow." Mr. Oakland smiled and left Sylar alone.

PETER & CLAIRE, MATT & JANICE

HOSPITAL, NEW YORK

"Stop it." Claire sighed.

"Stop what?" Peter pretended to be confused.

"You're trying to read my mind."

"What? Am not!"

"You are too!" Claire insisted turning to glare at him.

"Claire, you know I would never invade your privacy like that."

"Oh, right." Claire rolled her eyes. "You were trying it last night while we were eating dinner. You were trying it this morning when I was putting on my makeup, and you're trying it again right now."

"It's not true!" He argued.

"I can tell by the look on your face."

"What look is that?"

"You're eyes are serious and your teeth are clenched very tight." Claire poked a finger at his jaw for emphasis.

His lips turned up in a slight smile and his eyes relaxed. "I'm sorry."

"I knew it!" She shook her head. "You promised you wouldn't use your powers on me unless it was an emergency."

"I have to practice on somebody and Mohinder's never around!"

"Then use Molly!"

Peter shook his head. "She's just a kid."

"Exactly. Her thoughts aren't as private as mine are."

"Oh! I get it. You don't want me to read your thoughts because you don't want me to know what you're thinking." He was grinning now. "What're you trying to hide from me Claire?"

"None of your business!" She started walking faster, wondering how much space she would have to put between them in order for Peter not to be able to hear her thoughts.

"Now, are you walking that fast to get away from me or to get to Jaden?" Peter easily caught up to her.

"Oh my god! You so are in my thoughts!" Claire punched him in the arm.

He started laughing. "I didn't read that Claire. I didn't have to. I know that you haven't been coming to the hospital every day just to check up on Matt."

She blushed, but couldn't deny what he said. "I don't even know if he's here today…"

"Yea, but you're hoping." Peter reminded her.

"Maybe a little." She started walking faster and didn't slow down until they had reached the door for Matt's room. "Hello!" She entered the room with a beaming smile, which froze when she realized he wasn't alone.

The woman, who turned at the sound of Claire's voice, had her dark hair pulled back into a braid and a loose dress hanging over her pregnant stomach. She smiled warmly. "Hello there."

Claire took a minute to process the stranger, but with one glance at Matt's grin she understood. "You're Janice!"

"I am." Matt's wife confirmed. "And you are…"

"This is Claire, honey." Matt introduced. "I told you about her, remember."

"Right, the girl from Texas." Janice smiled. "It's good to meet you and it's really nice of you to visit Matt."

"It's good to meet you too." Claire returned the smile. "Matt talks about you nonstop. I'm so glad you were finally able to get here."

"Yea, it took me a little longer than I would have liked. I had an ultra sound I couldn't reschedule." She explained.

"You're here now, and that's all that matters." Matt took her hand before looking back at Claire. "I thought Peter was going to be coming with you today."

"What?" Claire glanced over her shoulder, noticing for the first time that Peter wasn't behind her. "He was…" She frowned. "I don't know what happened to him. He was right behind me."

"Umm, Claire…"

Claire's eyes brightened when Jaden appeared in the doorway behind her. "Hi!"

"Hey, umm, Claire, can you please ask your uncle to stop following me?"

Claire frowned. "What do you mean?"

"He's been following me around!" Jaden told her.

Peter popped into the doorway with his usual straight-faced countenance. "Sorry I'm late." Jaden stepped further into the room, automatically moving away from Peter. "Dr. Hill, it's good to see you again."

When Jaden didn't respond, Claire knew that he was uncomfortable with Peter. She glared at her uncle and gripped his arm tightly. "Excuse us for a minute, please." She shoved him back into the hallway. "We need to talk."

"About what?"

"Don't even try to play innocent." She glared. "Jaden says you were following him. You were reading his thoughts, weren't you?"

"Come on Claire, what interest would I have in his thoughts?"

"I don't know Peter." She rolled her eyes. "I never know what's going on in your head, which is why it isn't fair for you to be in ours."

He shrugged. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure that he was good enough for you."

She was at a loss for words. "You were reading his thoughts because of me?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Claire, I don't know if you've noticed or not, but you don't exactly have a lot of people looking after you right now. I'm just trying to make up for some of that lack."

She smiled, instantly forgetting that she was upset with him. "I appreciate your concern Peter."

"Really?"

"Really." Claire confirmed. "Thanks for caring." She hesitated briefly and then gave into her curiosity. "So, what did you read in Jaden's mind?"

"Like I would tell you." He smirked. "You don't get to lecture me for using my power and then hope to benefit from it."

"Fine." Claire sighed and returned to the hospital room, glad to see that Jaden was waiting for her. "Sorry about that."

He smiled at her. "Not a problem. I was hoping you would stop by today."

"Oh? You know you could have called if you wanted to see me."

"I know. I've been busy with work though…I did want to see you though. In fact, I'm off tonight and I was wondering if we could do dinner."

"Sounds perfect." Claire decided. "Why don't you pick me up at seven?"

"Are you still staying with your uncle?"

"Yea, I am." She glanced at Peter who was watching their interaction intensely. "Don't worry, I'll meet you out front so you won't have to come in."

"It's okay Claire, I can handle your uncle. He's just a little creepy."

"He's better once you get to know him."

"I'll just take your word for that." Jaden touched her arm gently. "I've got to go, but I'll see you tonight, okay?"

She nodded. "Bye."

Raising his voice so the rest of the room could hear, Jaden nodded to Matt. "I'll come by to check on you later, but I feel that it's safe to tell you that you can count on checking out by the end of the week."

Matt let out a breath and squeezed his wife's hand. "That's good news."

"Yes it is." Janice kissed him quickly.

"Have a good day." Jaden acknowledged the whole group before exiting the room.

"So, another date with the doctor?" Matt attacked Claire the instant Jaden had left.

"Yes, another date." Claire smiled.

"Claire!" Peter exclaimed suddenly.

"What?" Her head snapped to him and she felt her cheeks flushing instinctively.

His eyes were wide and he was staring at her hard. "Nothing…" He glanced at Janice cautiously and Claire caught on.

"Oh my god! You heard that!" She felt her cheeks burning, knowing that her thoughts hadn't been exactly innocent at that moment. She had let herself start to think about how much she wanted to kiss Jaden, but if she had known that Peter was going to read her thoughts she would have been much more careful to filter them.

Matt was laughing slightly, but Janice looked confused. "Claire, it'll get easier for you to live with him, I think…" He looked at his wife. "She's gotten used to it."

"Gotten used to what?" Janice asked.

"Me hearing your thoughts." He glanced at Peter. "He can do it too."

"Really?" Janice looked at Peter who nodded slowly. "So now I have to worry about both of you?" She shook her head. "Claire, would you like to join me for a snack? We can let the boys have some time alone to read each other's thoughts. Plus I'm craving a blueberry muffin."

Claire smiled and nodded. "That sounds good. I'd like to talk to you anyway. I don't really know many normal people who know about us. It'd be fun to hear your perspective."