PETER, NATHAN, & CLAIRE

PETRELLI RESIDENCE, NEW YORK

"And then I looked down and instead of shoes, there were books strapped to my feet, and I was trying to run through the snow…" Claire broke down into a fit of giggles and had to stop talking.

Peter and Nathan stared at her, slightly confused, and slightly amused.

"And I thought I had strange dreams." Nathan grinned. "You win though."

"Speaking of strange dreams," Peter spoke up. "I had one last night."

"Oh?" Claire turned to him quickly. "Tell us about it."

"There's nothing really to tell…I mean it was just a dream."

"Come on, I told mine!"

Peter had almost forgotten how difficult it was to refuse anything Claire asked. He stared into her pleading green eyes and gave in easily. "Well, there was this man, and he kept asking for my help."

"That's it?" Nathan snickered.

"It was weird."

"How so?" Claire at least pretended to be more interested than Nathan, encouraging Peter to continue with his explanation.

"The way he asked…it was like he knew me, but at the same time he seemed afraid of me."

"Did you know him?"

"I never saw his face. That was possibly the strangest part." Peter shrugged. "His voice sounded familiar though." He glanced at Nathan and then looked away. "To be honest, he sounded a bit like dad."

"Dad?" Nathan wasn't laughing anymore. "Pete…"

"I know." Peter sighed. "You think I'm revisiting my grief through my dreams or some psychobabble like that, right?"

Nathan gave Peter an understanding smile. "I don't know. Maybe."

"Whatever. It was just a dream."

The phone rang in Nathan's office and he quickly excused himself to answer, leaving Peter and Claire alone for the first time that night.

"I didn't think he was ever going to leave."

"Yea…" Claire hesitated, suddenly nervous that she was alone with Peter after so much time. "Umm, do you want some more water…" she stood quickly and reached for his half-empty glass.

"Claire…" He took hold of her wrist, preventing her from leaving.

She pulled her hand away instinctively and he cleared his throat awkwardly, instantly regretting his decision to touch her at all. Her emotions were radiating off her like flames; the shame and regret and pain…it was almost unbearable.

"I'm so sorry."

"For what?" Claire took her seat again and tried to smile at him.

"I know that my being here is making you feel things…things that make you uncomfortable…"

"Are you reading my mind?"

"No. I don't have to. I can sense it in your emotions."

"That's new."

"Yea. I got it from Sarah…" he paused when he realized she had no idea who Sarah was. "She's one of the girls that I work with…" he stared directly into Claire's eyes. "We've been dating."

The shock of his statement forced Claire to look away briefly. He could sense a new emotion on her, but wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Possibly anger, or frustration…

"That's great Peter. I didn't realize you were dating anyone."

"It's not really that serious. Actually, I think we might've broke up."

"Really?"

"I think she was taking it too seriously, but I had warned her from the beginning…"

"Warned her about what?"

"That I wasn't looking for a real relationship."

"Why not?"

"She's just not the right person for me."

"Why not?"

Peter hated all her questions because he couldn't give her the true answer, so he just stopped answering her completely. She understood his silence and stopped asking.

"Well, Jaden and I are doing really well."

"You are?" Peter had almost forgotten about her boyfriend. Hearing his name reminded Peter of the Claire he had met in the future—the one who had told him to 'kill Jaden.' "Are you sure?"

She frowned. "Of course I'm sure. He adores me. And I think…" she stopped.

"What?"

"Never mind. It's not important."

He looked at her skeptically. "Claire, are you in love with him?"

They both fell silent as Nathan returned to the room suddenly.

"Sorry about that. Where were we?" He smiled and took his seat.

Peter and Claire were both silent and Nathan knew he had interrupted something.

"I don't know if this is the best time to bring it up, but someone has to…" Nathan looked from Claire to Peter slowly. "Sweetheart, are you going to be staying here with me, or are you going back to Peter's now that you're speaking again?"

Peter focused his stare on his food and let Claire answer.

"No Nathan," she told him quickly. "I was planning on staying here. If that's okay with you…" she looked at him hopefully.

"Of course it's okay with me!" He looked relieved. "I've really enjoyed having you here—we all have. Pete's just going to have to come around more often."

"Don't worry, I will." Peter smiled slightly at Claire, but he felt her getting uncomfortable again and looked away.

"Daddy…"

Everyone looked towards the door where Monty stood calling for his dad.

"Why aren't you asleep?" Nathan asked.

"I had a nightmare and it woke me up," Monty explained.

"Do you need me to come put you back to bed?" Nathan started to stand, but noticed his son shaking his head. "What do you need, son?"

Monty turned his round eyes towards Claire.

"Do you want me to tuck you back in?" She asked sweetly.

He nodded.

Claire stood obligingly and took Monty's hand. "Come on…let's go." She led him from the room and back up the stairs to his bedroom; his brother slept in the next room.

Monty climbed back into bed obediently as Claire folded down the blankets for him. She sat on the side of the bed as he started getting himself comfortable.

"Do you want to talk about your nightmare?" Claire asked him softly as she pulled the blankets up to his chin. For a moment she felt like she was back at Peter's apartment tucking Molly in after one of her nightmares, and she realized how much she missed that routine.

"No, it's okay…" he let out a deep breath and rolled onto his side. "I've already forgotten most of it."

Claire smiled. She was glad that Monty's nightmares were the normal sort, and nothing like the horrible ones that haunted Molly for weeks after she had them.

"Do you want me to stay with you until you fall asleep?"

Monty's eyes traveled past Claire, towards the door of his bedroom. She turned around and spotted Peter hovering in the doorway watching them. Claire realized he was staring at her, and not Monty, and she did her best to ignore the intensity of his gaze. Turning back to Monty, she repeated the motion of tucking her half-brother in tightly.

"Are you going to be all right now?"

Monty nodded and smiled a little. "Thank you Claire."

She leaned down and kissed his forehead before joining Peter in the hallway; she closed Monty's door softly.

"Where's Nathan?"

"Downstairs."

"We should go and join him."

"Claire, please talk to me."

"We are talking."

"Stop, please!" He touched her arm, and again pulled away.

She stopped and looked at him. "Peter, you're asking too much of me."

"I'm just asking for you to talk to me! To trust me like you used to."

"Things aren't like they used to be. I've forgiven you and decided to put that night out my mind, but things are never going to be how they used to be again." Tears came into her eyes and she couldn't hide them. "I'm happy with Jaden. I think I love Jaden, but when you're around…" she shook her head. "We shouldn't be alone together."

Peter hadn't even realized that while she was talking he had taken her hand and was now holding it tightly. He didn't let go this time.

"You can't love Jaden."

"Why not?" She didn't try to pull her hand away.

"He's not good for you."

"Oh really? And who is?" She stared hard at him as though daring him to give her an actual answer.

Peter knew he couldn't tell her what he wanted to say, and he finally dropped her hand. "Please, just trust me Claire. Don't let yourself fall for him."

"He's not a bad guy. You just don't trust him because you're jealous." As soon as she said it, she regretted it. "I'm going to go downstairs now."

"Claire…"

She shook her head at him and continued downstairs.

ANGELA PETRELLI

COMPANY HEADQUARTERS, LONDON

"What do you mean 'no'?"

"That little girl's been put through enough. I won't do it."

"You won't do it?" Angela laughed coldly. "You will do what you are told."

"And if I don't?"

"Oh Arthur," Angela smiled and shook her head. "My poor, dear husband. If you had any real power against me you wouldn't be locked up in here, would you? There is no one to help you. Nobody is on your side here, and outside of here, no one even knows you're alive."

Arthur Petrelli let out a sigh and looked away from his wife. In his mind he tried to pretend that they had never married, but she insisted on wearing that damn ring and playing the pathetic part of the grieved widow. He hated her, but he knew he was helpless in his current situation.

"Send her the dreams, Arthur," Angela demanded. "Do it now." She left his cell and closed and bolted the door. She then stood outside the cell watching through the window as her husband closed his eyes and began to concentrate, as she had seen him do so many times before.

Grateful that his wife did not have the power to get inside his head, Arthur continued taking the small liberties that he had started a couple weeks ago. He knew it would be a process, especially after all the pain he had been the child through, but he was determined to be patient and in the end he hoped he could win her trust.

Arthur focused hard on Molly Walker's mind as she slumbered peacefully thousands of miles away, but instead of giving her the nightmares that she had seen for so long, he sent her a plea for help.

MOHINDER

BOISE, IDAHO

"Hello?"

"Hello Peter."

"Mohinder. I have to admit, I'm surprised to be hearing from you. After we last saw each other I didn't think you'd want to talk to me ever again."

"It's important."

"It usually is. What do you need?"

"Actually there are a couple things."

"I'm listening."

"I need to know more about the girl."

"The one that we saved from the company?"

"The one that is infected and I was trying to help."

"Sorry, but I actually can't help you much with that. I'm not a part of their group right now."

"Did something happen?"

"They weren't too pleased with my telling all of you about them. I don't think they trust me right now. Besides, I've never been good with secret organizations; there are too many secrets. I'd rather be a part of a team that trusts each other and works together."

"I see."

"If you want to know more about her, you should talk to Hiro, or even Claude. He's the ringleader of the group. I'll tell Hiro to give you a call."

"Thank you."

"What else did you want to talk about?"

"Claire."

"What about her?"

"There's no need to sound so defensive. I am concerned about her safety and I'm not sure whether or not I should discuss it with her."

"What exactly are you referring to?"

"Her boyfriend, Jaden, he can't be trusted."

"Well I agree, but do you have any proof?"

"He's my partner's boyfriend."

"What do you mean?"

"He's using Claire. She's a part of some plan, but I haven't figured it out yet. All I know is that he doesn't really care about her."

"That bastard. I knew he was evil, but I didn't know why."

"Should I tell her?"

"No. I don't think so. Not yet. I know Claire, and I know she won't believe anything we say until we have some substantial proof."

"What should we do?"

"You need to keep a close eye on your partner and try to find out everything you can about her and her plan with Jaden. I'll try to follow Jaden and see what I can find out."

"All right."

"Thank you for calling me, Mohinder."

"Anytime."