"Don't talk to anyone, ok? And don't look them in the eye. We don't want them recognizing us, alright? We're just going to pop in her and see if they will let us get some rest, ok? Then we'll go back on the road…maybe go see Tia Rosa down in Mexico City? You remember Tia Rosa, don't you? She came last summer, after mama and daddy…well, she came and stayed with us for a few weeks, remember?"

Vally nodded, eyes blinking closed as the two pulled into the shelter parking lot. The sun would not rise for hours, and, from the looks of it, neither would Vally.

(Madrid and Valencia Alverez- New Mexico)

Madrid killed engine, looking around at the empty spaces for a few moments before sliding out of the car. She hurried over to the passenger side, the tar from the lot digging into her bare feet. Not for the first time, she wished she had remembered to put on shoes. Lifting Vally from the passenger seat, she also wished she had brought a car seat.

Carrying her to the door, Madrid shook her head, forcing herself to cry. She needed to play the part, if she wanted to secure a good nights rest and a mind secure in the knowledge they were safe.

Moving quickly to the door, she pulled it open, hurrying into the florescent-lit hallway, making her way to the sleepy check-in girl. The large woman blinked, forcing the cobwebs from her brain.

"Can I help you?"

Madrid's voice came out shaken and weak, a far cry from the independent and sophisticated Hollywood girl she was. She purposely put on the heaviest Spanish accent she could, so stereotypical and thick she was sure her mother and father were screaming at her in Heaven. "I…I told this safe place…when you no have place go?"

The old woman gave her an understanding smile. "Husband giving you problems, sweetie?"

"No." Madrid said with a have morose, half bitter laugh. "My papi." She sniffed, tears pouring down her face. "All we have is clothing on backs…"

The woman nodded. They got a lot of girls like this: knocked up when they were still babies themselves, living at home because they couldn't afford anything else, dealing with an alcoholic father…if they were lucky.

"Come on…we got a nice little room the two of you can share. Been a long night, I wager. Once you have a good nights rest, you and I can sit down and discuss what options you have."

"Gracias." Madrid said as the woman led her back into one of the small one-room bedrooms. 'And the Oscar goes too…' Madrid thought with a laugh.

&&&

(Doctor Linda Frey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

'How did we end up like this?' Linda thought, sitting on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum. It was early morning, maybe 6 am or so, and the November sun was just beginning to rise. It was a warm fall, but Linda felt as if it were 50 below. Her heart ached that much.

It had taken 30 minutes for Carter's mother to get a handle on herself. She had sobbed so hard, Linda was for sure they would not leave until the day staff of the Mint came in to investigate the destruction. And that Linda could blame her. She felt like collapsing in her grief as well.

But then, Helena had stood up, and she had lifted her son's body like it was nothing. Black trench coat draped like a funeral shroud over the young man's body, Helena had calmly marched outside, somehow managing to grab her cellphone and call up someone named Marshal to come and pick them up.

Hank had been the first to leave. He had promised to meet them in the parking garage at 7, to discuss what to do next, to get some answers about what Helena was doing there. Then, he'd just walked away, fading into the darkness.

Kelly had wandered off, mumbling something about needing time to think, before she too left. Marshal wanted them to stay, but Helena disagreed.

"We all need time to think." She had said.

And that is how Linda had found herself here, perched on the top step of the most famous stairs in America. The stairs where Rocky had climbed, a moment of American history. Everyone knew Rocky. You didn't even need to have seen the film to know of the Italian Stallion. It was ingrained in people's brains: The underdog that became a boxer, a champ, a winner.

Once, a statue of Rocky had been discussed, placed at the top step. Something for the tourists, but outcry had killed that idea.

Linda wished there was a statue.

She wanted to smash its head off.

She had once been like them too, the people that knew Rocky without even seeing a single frame of him and his movie. She had even crowed the famous line to DL, "Yo Adrian!". It had been engraved in her mind too…

'What did he ever do though? Fight in a stupid ring against another muscle-headed idiot…didn't even do that, it was all fake. They wanted to make a statue to some fictional character?' Linda gripped her head in her hands.

She was pissed. She was pissed that Rocky would even be considered for a statue. That so idiot actor that had made only a handful of good movies might get a statue based on his character…when real heroes died without fanfare.

Carter had done more then Rocky. He had been a shy, stammering young man that could barely speak to people he knew, let alone strangers. He had become their leader, a confident commander who giving rallying speeches and inspired ordinary people to rise up and fight for what they knew was just.

Carter had been their everything. He had taken them into war, had fought shoulder to shoulder with them, and never let any of them give up. And when all had turned dark, and their lives were at risk…Carter had, without thought, sacrificed his own life to protect them.

There would be no one to quote his famous words. No one to dress like him on Halloween. No one to make crappy sequels about his life…there would be no sequels period.

Carter Daniels would get no statue.

And that's why Linda finally broke down and cried.

&&&

(Hank Delpine- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

His footfalls echoed through the church as he made his way to the front most pew. His shoulders squared in determination, his set on his destination, Hank made his way to the pew, his every movement filled with purpose.

The holy water felt cold against his skin, a drip forming on his fingers as he knelt down on the kneeler. Above him, towering over him as only the Son of God could, was the image of Christ, hanging on the cross, dying for the sins of man. The savior's eyes were closed, head tilted down, body in that familiar position. This was a sight Hank had seen many times before, and each time he liked to think he saw Jesus a different way. The young man that had not asked for his burden. The humble man that just wanted to aid the sick and the weak. The forgiver of sins. The blesser of the shunned. The son. A third of the holy trinity.

And now…he was Hank's last hope.

"God in Heaven…hear my prayer." Hank began, voice soft and formal. He stopped himself, jaw working slightly, before he began to talk again. This time, his tone was more casual, but with respect…like how a son would talk to a father. "My name is Hank Anthony Delpine. These many years, I have come to you and prayed. I prayed for forgiveness, for advice, for someone to merely hear my sadness. Today, I come to you for a favor.

"It concerns Carter Daniels. I have talked you about him before. I have told you about my frustrations, my disappointment in him. I asked you to help him, to show him the way into your light." He paused. "Maybe you did…I just didn't see it.

"Much has changed…since I last spoke of Carter. I have learned so much, Lord, about the world, about myself…and about Carter Daniels. I have seen the man that lay hidden in the boy, and I came to realize that I had been gravely mistaken about him. About a lot of things.

"But that is not why I am here now, my Lord. I have come for a favor, as I said earlier. You saw what happened just a while ago. You saw what Carter did for all of us. He gave his life…so that we might live. I hated him…for so long. Hurt him, made him a leper…scared every day that I would come after him.

"And so…I come to you, with but a single request." Hank opened his eyes, tears running down his cheek. "Take me instead. I have no powers…no purpose. I am not a hero…I'm nothing. Carter…he can do so much good in your name. More then I could ever do.

"So please…take me instead."

The church was silent as Hank closed his eyes. He looked skyward, waiting…hoping…wishing for a sign that his prayer would be answered.

Silence greeted him.

"Why would you keep me around? I used your name in vain, in my own attempts for greatness. I am a speck!" His voice grew frantic. "Carter should be here, not me! He can change the world! He's strong enough to do so…please…take me." Silence. "TAKE ME!"

After a few minutes, Hank stood up once more, making his way out of the church. His body language had changed greatly from how he had entered. His shoulders slumped, head down, eyes downcast, his strides were hurried and clumsy.

Rushing out of the church, he continued running, not stopping until he reached the Schuylkill River, emptying the contains of his stomach into the waters below. Gasping, Hank clawed at his shirt, fingers frantic, until he found what he was looking for.

The cross he always wore upon his neck.

In anger he ripped it off, fist clenched around it, before throwing the gold chain and tiny symbol of his faith into the water.

And as he walked away, for the first time, he knew the truth. No one was listening to him up there.

And, not for the first time…Hank was completely wrong.

&&&

1 ½ hours later

"Let me get this straight." Linda said, leaning against Helena's car. She didn't bother to look over at Lee's prone form, knocked out and tied up in the back. She had no desire to see the man they all blamed for the death of Carter Daniels. All she hoped was that whatever prison they were taking to, it had big guys like DL that would take it out on the like skinny guy's ass. "You are really a member of a secret organization ran by the Linderman Group."

"Yup." Helena said.

"You track people like me and Carter, let Linderman's main agent Thompson know, and he collects said people?"

"Yea."

"And this guy can turn into animals."

Marshal nodded.

"Ok…so, when Carter began to show powers, you were assigned to bring him in, because your bosses think him and his sisters are special?"

Helena nodded. "Sarah Ellis, aka Eden, had powers like Carter, only she could use her voice to thrall you. Claire Bennet…"

"Who is Carter's sister and the adopted daughter of one of your fellow agents…" Kelly added.

"Right, she can regenerate." Helena finished.

Linda nodded. "Anyway…you were telling them you were going to bring him in, but really planned on having him help you free someone like us from the prison you're taking…" She jerked her thumb at Lee.

"Pretty much."

"Except a man that can make smoke, the same man that gave Carter his coat and explained that he was the last scion of two powerful families, appeared to tell you he had taken your husband, Carter's dad, and wanted Carter in exchange?"

"That's the gist."

Linda nodded, Hank crossing his arms over his chest and Kelly just standing there. Finally, the professor spoke. "What happens now?"

Helena licked her lips. "We…we're going to take Carter's body back to them, to show them that he is really dead. And then…then I want you guys to help me free the prison I spoke of. Tina. We're going to need her help, if we are going to take down the people that kidnapped my husband."

Marshal nodded. "I'm gonna get another car…"

"No."

Helena stared at Kelly. The young woman had raised her head at least, and her eyes were hard with determination. "What?"

"We're not going with you."

Helena shook her head in denial. "I…I can't do this alone. Tina is a victim, just like Carter. She doesn't deserve to be locked away like an animal…" Marshal growled, and Helena continued, "…she can help me free my husband…you need to come with us."

"No." Kelly said sternly. "We aren't going with you."

Marshal glared at her. "Carter would want you to save the girl."

"And we will." Kelly snapped. "But we have to help someone else first."

"Who?"

"Claire." Hank answered, on the same wavelength as Kelly.

"Claire…Claire is fine. Her adopted father, last I heard he was going after her…"

Kelly cut her off. "I don't care." She took in a few ragged breaths. "We only know of two of Carter's sisters: Eden and Claire. This man that is after her…Carter called him Sylar…" Helena shivered at the mention of that name. "…he already is the cause of Eden's death. I won't let another one of his sisters die."

Hank stepped forward in support of Kelly. "We're going to find her, and we are going to tell her how her brother was a hero." He smiled weakly. "I can think of no better fate then to protect my friend's little sister."

Linda nodded. "And then…all of us, Kelly, Hank, Claire, and me…we are going to come to your office, and we are going to free Tina and get Carter's body. And after we bury him…we are going to save his dad."

Helena blinked, getting a bit teary-eyed again at this brave display. "You were such good friends to Carter…I can't thank you enough for making his last days so happy." She managed a smile. "You'll find Claire in New York, that's where the last sighting of her was. I kept the info hidden, so you shouldn't have to work about my employers. Find her…" she gave Linda a cellphone. "Then call me up. I am the first number on the speed dial. I will arrange for pick-up, and then we will all go get Tina and Vic."

Linda nodded, pocketing the phone. "We'll see you soon. Goodbye Mrs. Daniels."

Helena nodded, shaking hands with each of them. "Goodbye…see ya soon."

&&&

"You did the right thing calling us." Terence said, watching as his men loaded Madrid and Valencia Alverez' unconscious forms into the van.

It had been so easy to nab them. Once they had gotten the call, one of their local teams had driven up, snuck into the room and shot them both with a mild sedative. Kinda sad, in Terence's opinion. The girls had never woken up, probably had no idea they were taken. And they wouldn't until the drugs wore off, and by then they would be at their new home. Terence sighed. He had wanted a most spectacular showdown, but he would take the by-the-book grab when he needed to.

The tranq darts had been removed, and the girls would be out until they were back on base. There, he could let his bosses worry about what to do with them. "We've been looking for these two for a few days now…"

The check-in girl nodded. "Don't know who they were fooling. Their pictures were plastered all over the news. I nearly crapped my pants when I saw movie star Madrid Alverez walk into the shelter."

The agent nodded. "I'm sure."

"I assume there is some reward in all this?" The woman asked. Terence shook his head. Tell people to turn in a killer and they would protect him. Tell people there was a reward for 2 young women that ran away from home, and everyone was looking to cash in. "Will I get it in cash? I got my eye on a new corvette, and I'd like to avoid going to the bank and dealing with a check…"

Terence shook his head. "Oh, don't worry, you'll get your reward right now."

The woman smiled, greedy little eyes darting about as she sought her prize…only to widen as Terence pressed his fingers to the back of her skull. Instantly, the electrical signals within the woman's brain, the ones that told her arms to wiggle in glee at the thought of cool hard cash in her hands, fizzled out.

As did the ones that told her heart to beat.

With a groan, she fell to the ground, Terence's lips twisted in a sneer.

"Maybe in your next life you'll learn to care more about people and less about cash, ya heartless bitch."

&&&

Author's Note: Terence was first seen in the chapter Parasite.

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