CLAIRE & MOLLY

NEW YORK

"Molly!" Claire started calling to her the moment she stepped outside of the apartment complex. When she couldn't immediately see the girl, Claire panicked. "Molly!" She looked up and down the street, not sure which direction to go. She finally just chose one and ran to the right, tripping in the slip-on Uggs she had stepped into before running out the door.

After a block, she still hadn't found a trace of Molly, and she was starting to doubt her earlier confidence in being able to find her at all. At the next corner, she stopped, debating turning around and heading back the other direction, but then she heard the soft sniffling of a hopelessly sad little girl.

"Molly!" Claire turned around and spotted Molly, huddled in the doorway of a closed coffee shop, but she wasn't alone. "Jaden?"

"Claire!" Jaden stood up from where he was kneeling beside the little girl. "Wow, I didn't expect to see you tonight…"

"Umm…yea, if we're going to talk about the unexpected…what the hell are you doing here?"

"I was taking a walk and I saw this girl crying all by herself…" Jaden motioned to Molly who was still sobbing quietly.

"You were taking a walk?" Claire frowned at him skeptically. "And you just happened to end up finding Molly a block away from where we live?"

"Wait? You know her?" Jaden motioned to the little girl.

"Of course. This is Molly! She lives with my cousin and me. I'm sure I've mentioned her." Claire shook her head. "Look, whatever, what are you doing here?"

"I told you I'm taking…"

"A walk, yea, I heard. You want me to believe that you just happen to be walking around by my apartment at three o'clock in the morning?"

"Claire, I didn't even remember that this was your street. Honestly. I've got an hour break from my night shift at the hospital. Instead of taking a nap like some of the other interns, I like taking a brisk walk to keep up my energy!" He insisted. "I ran across this little girl crying…and I was worried!"

Claire took a minute to make up her mind. She still thought it was weird that Jaden just happened to show up there, but she had to admit that she was thankful he had found Molly and not some creep off from the streets.

"Thank you for staying with her." Claire said finally. "Things got a little crazy…" She stopped, deciding that this wasn't the moment to get into the dramas of home life. "Molly, I have been looking everywhere for you!"

"You shouldn't have come after me." Molly insisted, lifting her watery eyes up to Claire. "It's not safe to be around me."

Claire glanced up at Jaden, wondering what could possibly be going through his mind about this whole situation. "I was worried about you." She knelt beside Molly. "You shouldn't have run out like that. You could have gotten really hurt!"

"I'm fine."

"Luckily," Claire pointed out. "If Jaden hadn't come along when he did, who knows what could have happened to you!"

"I don't care." Molly mumbled through her sobs.

"Molly, please listen to me. What happened tonight wasn't your fault." Claire placed her mouth close to Molly's ear and whispered so Jaden wouldn't hear. "Peter is going to be fine. I promise."

"I can't go back. You can't take me back there." Molly begged, wrapping her arms around Claire's neck, clinging tightly.

"It's okay sweetie," Claire rubbed Molly's back soothingly. "I'm going to take you to stay with Niki and Micah for a while, so I can help Peter."

Molly shook her head. "I shouldn't be around anyone…"

"Molly, you aren't dangerous to everyone. Peter's special. You know that." Claire used the sleeve of her sweatshirt to dry off Molly's tears. "You will be safe with Niki, and they'll be safe from you. I promise."

"Is she okay?" Jaden asked, kneeling down beside Claire and peering at the little girl curiously. "Is there something I can do?"

"No." Claire responded a little too quickly. "I appreciate your concern, but this is kind of a personal thing."

Jaden frowned and stood again. "Are you sure? You know, it's not really safe out here for a couple of girls…"

"We'll be fine," Claire assured him. He didn't look convinced though. "Actually, could you try to flag us down a cab? I know it's kind of dead right now, but…" Claire glanced towards the street; there wasn't a yellow car in sight.

"A cab? Don't you just live around the corner?"

"I thought you didn't remember that I lived around here," Claire reminded him quickly.

"You're not exactly dressed for a long outing. I had to assume…" He corrected himself even more quickly.

"Right, well, yea, my uncle's apartment is two blocks that way, but I'm actually taking Molly somewhere else for the time being." Claire gave him the most winning smile she could muster. "Could you get us a cab, please?"

"Of course." Jaden walked into the street, scouting out potential transportation for Claire and Molly.

"Molly, I need you to listen to me for a minute." Claire placed her hands on either side of Molly's face. "You are one of the best kids in the world. You are not a bad person. You're not going to hurt anyone, okay? I know these nightmares are scaring you right now, but we're going to figure it out and make it better. I promise."

"You don't know if you can do that." Molly was still crying, but it had calmed a little.

"I know, but I can try," Claire assured her.

"Claire, cab…" Jaden called out to catch her attention as the cab he flagged down stopped beside the curb,

"Molly, come on. Please. I need you to cooperate with me." Claire stood, holding her hand out to Molly who reluctantly took it and allowed Claire to pull her up.

"I still don't think I should…"

"Molly, I don't want to hear you talking like that anymore," Claire reprimanded.

"You ask and I provide." Jaden held the back door of the cab open for Claire and Molly.

"Thanks Jaden," Claire ushered the girl in first. "I know this all must seem really weird to you, but I appreciate you not asking any questions."

Jaden smiled. "I hope you know that you'll be making it all up to me at dinner tomorrow night."

"Really?" Claire smiled a little. "Dinner?"

He nodded. "I'll call you."

"Okay," Claire slid into the cab and he shut the door, waving as the driver pulled away from the curb.

Jaden watched the car disappear around the corner before pulling out his cell phone to make the call that he was dreading. It rang only once before he heard his boss's familiar voice answer.

"Well?"

"I'm sorry, but I failed."

"You failed?"

Jaden sighed. "I went to the spot that you said the moment I got your call, and I found the girl just as you said I would."

"So then, what's the problem?"

"I was only there for a minute before Claire showed up."

"Claire? As in Claire Bennett?"

"Yes Sir."

"That was very sloppy of you."

"I gave her an excuse, and she bought it, but obviously taking the girl after that was impossible." Jaden explained. "And even worse, Molly won't be returning to stay with Claire and her uncle. Claire got in a cab with her; they're going somewhere else."

"Please tell me you were able to acquire the new location?"

"No, Sir."

Silence greeted Jaden's ear. He knew silence was a bad sign.

"I am very disappointed in your performance tonight."

"I can make it up," Jaden said. "Tomorrow night I asked Claire out for dinner. She trusts me. I'll get her to tell me where she took Molly Walker."

"Don't fail me again."

MOHINDER, ADAM, MADELINE

SEATTLE

"Ow! No! Please, no more…" Adam hollered in pain.

"Adam, I am sorry, but this is necessary to see how advanced the virus is in your body." Mohinder apologized sincerely as he adjusted the morphine drip connected to the IV in Adam's arm. "Please, just try once more." He held his hand behind his back. "What am I holding in my hand?"

Adam squinted, focusing hard on Mohinder, trying to see through him. After a minute he gave up, again screaming in agony as his head erupted in unbearable pain. "I can't do it anymore."

"Mohinder! What's going on?"

Mohinder turned as Madeline pushed open the door and stepped in—terror showed clearly in her face.

"I'm sorry Madeline, but I have to test him." Mohinder apologized meekly. "He's doing well though…much better than earlier."

"He's in pain!" Madeline protested, rushing to her brother's side and taking his hand.

"I'm sorry." Mohinder said again. "Perhaps we have done enough for today, Adam."

"Just rest now, Adam." Madeline brushed her hand across her brother's forehead. "We'll be back to check on you in a little while."

Adam nodded feebly, and turned his head to the side, ready to end the conversation with his sister or doctor.

Madeline glanced at Mohinder and then at her brother. She let out a short breath of frustration, clenched her lip between her teeth and shook her head. "Ready to go?"

Mohinder nodded and grabbed his jacket off a chair, following Madeline out of the room. "So, where did we decide to go?"

"I'm not picky. There's supposed to be some great seafood down at the pier." Madeline shrugged. "Do you like seafood?"

"Sure, seafood sounds perfect," Mohinder decided. He placed his hand on her back, directing her towards the front exit of the hospital. "I know we agreed that we wouldn't talk about your brother on our first official date, but I just want to ease your mind. He may have sounded like he was in a lot pain a moment ago, but most of it was just his head. He's can't access his ability because of the virus, and it makes his head hurt to try. Honestly, the virus isn't as advance as it could be though."

"Thanks," Madeline smiled. "I know you genuinely care about helping him get better, which is one reason I was so willing to agree to this date. You aren't like other doctors, Mohinder. I think you're a really great guy."

"It's all an act I'm putting on, just to get you to go out with me."

She laughed. "You're not a good liar, and I'm pretty sure that you're not any better at acting."

"You hardly know me."

"I've seen you every day for two weeks straight! I think I know you pretty well." She winked at him. "I've been watching you, without you knowing it."

"I'm sorry to tell you, but you're not very good at being sneaky. I've noticed you observing me when you think I'm busy with your brother." Mohinder admitted. He noticed her blush and quickly comforted her. "I don't mind though."

Her calm smile returned and she slipped her hand into the crevice of his elbow. "So, are we walking to the pier?"

"It's not far," Mohinder commented pointing down the street towards the water that could be seen peeking out over the tops of the buildings that cluttered downtown Seattle. "It might take a little longer though, do you mind?"

"Not at all. It will give us more time to really get to know each other."

Mohinder's phone chirped and he pulled it from the pocket of his jacket, glancing at the caller ID with a sigh. "I'm sorry, but I have to take this. I'll be quick, I promise."

"Mohinder! It's bad manners to answer a phone call on a first date," Madeline protested.

"I know, but this call is from New York, so it must be important or they wouldn't be calling so late." He flipped open his phone. "Hello?"

"Mohinder…I'm sorry to bother you…I don't know who else to call…something happened tonight…"

"Peter? What's wrong? Is it Molly?"

"Molly's fine. She's with Claire."

"With Claire? Aren't they with you?"

"No…Molly ran out and Claire went to find her."

"Ran out? It's the middle of the night Peter! What aren't you telling me?" Mohinder had pulled away from Madeline to give his full attention to the phone call. She sensed the dramatic urgency, and let him have a moment alone.

"I absorbed her ability."

Mohinder could hear Peter breathing heavily on the other end of the phone and he knew that he was still suffering the aftermath of the toll Molly's power took on Peter. "Is this the first time?"

"Yes. Claire told me that you were worried about it…"

"Yes, I have been. I'm assuming it wasn't a pleasant experience."

"Good guess."

"May I ask what happened exactly?"

"Claire and I were outside and we heard Molly calling for us and when we got in to her room she was stuck in another nightmare. I can't remember exactly, but all of a sudden I felt like I was somewhere else. It felt so real…but everything that I saw was so horrible…" Peter fell silent again. Mohinder thought it best not to push him back into the bad memories.

"How did you come out of it?"

"Claire brought me out. I don't know how…I think she slapped me." Peter laughed a little.

"Peter, I have to be honest with you. I have been very concerned about you acquiring Molly's abilities because of everything else you can do. If what Claire has told me about Molly's nightmares is true and people are getting hurt, I couldn't imagine how much worse it could be if this nightmare man started using you."

"I know." Peter agreed. "I'm calling you because I don't know what to do. Claire's taking Molly to stay somewhere else, but I don't think Claire should come back either. I'm not safe for her to be around."

"Claire is fairly capable of taking care of herself."

"I don't care how indestructible she is, she can still die." Peter sighed. "I'm not going to be the one to make it happen."

"You're not safe for yourself either, Peter." Mohinder told him. "I don't think it's wise for you to be alone. Claire may be the only one who can protect you, or any others. Truthfully, my advice would be to keep her close. If she ever sees you falling into a nightmare she can wake you up from it." Peter's silence told Mohinder that he wasn't pleased. "I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, but I think it would be best for the time being."

"You're just giving your opinion. That doesn't mean I have to agree."

"I hope you do though," Mohinder said. He glanced at Madeline who was starting to shift impatiently as she gazed into the window of independent an art gallery. "I have to go now. Call me with any new developments."

"Goodbye."

Mohinder hung up and returned his phone to his pocket. "I'm terribly sorry about that."

"It's fine. Is everything all right back in New York?" Madeline asked. "I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but I heard you mention Molly. That's the little girl who's sick like Adam, right? Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Mohinder assured her. "There are just some things that I wish I could prevent, but I can only do so much." He held his arm out to her again and she returned her hand to its place. "So, dinner?"